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Emerson Siimer

Hello, I'm Emerson, a travel specialist. Originally from Tartu, Estonia, I've had the privilege of calling Australia and New Zealand my home.

With a master's degree in nature-based tourism, I'm passionate about responsible travel. I've shared my love for nature through wild food workshops, guided hiking expeditions, and assisting fellow travelers.

My favorite part of the world is North Finland, where I've experienced the magic of snowboarding, hiking, husky sledding, reindeer encounters, and thrilling snowmobile adventures.

I'm here to craft unforgettable travel experiences that blend adventure, nature, food and culture. Let's embark on incredible journeys and create lasting memories together.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Baltic states and Finland. Food, adventure, nature and culture."

How did you get involved in travel?

"My travel journey began at the age of 17 with a thrilling hitchhiking adventure across Europe, setting the stage for a lifetime of exploration. I've since explored diverse destinations, from Europe to South Africa, Japan, Iran, and Southeast Asia, enriching my understanding of the world's cultures and landscapes.
"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"My trip to Iran turned into an incredible adventure filled with unique experiences. Initially, I went there for a snowboarding trip and, quite unexpectedly, crossed paths with two Iranian girls. To my surprise, it turned out that these girls were living and studying in Estonia, just like me, a rare and serendipitous encounter.

Our journey in Iran went far beyond the slopes. We explored the local culture by visiting the homes of the welcoming Iranians, indulged in the extraordinary experience of diving in the Persian Sea, and embarked on a one-of-a-kind desert adventure with the locals. We also trekked through stunning mountain landscapes, savored a variety of unconventional local dishes, and discovered places that I might not have ventured to otherwise.

As fate would have it, we managed to leave Iran just a day before the onset of the global COVID-19 lockdowns, making it a remarkable and fortunate experience, filled with luck and a touch of craziness that will stay with me forever."

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Emerson

Emerson is the best travel agent. He was wond...
Finland | Jul 18 - Jul 27, 2026

David
David A.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Aug 20, 2026
Emerson is the best travel agent. He was wonderful at helping us plan our trip to Finland. His knowledge of the country and its environment is superlative. He was quick to understand our preferences and gave us great advice on where to go, how to get there, where to stay and what to do. He is patient and responds to questions and requests quickly — almost immediately — starting with my first communication with him and continuing through planning the trip and even during the trip, when he... Read more

Emerson is the best travel agent. He was wonderful at helping us plan our trip to Finland. His knowledge of the country and its environment is superlative. He was quick to understand our preferences and gave us great advice on where to go, how to get there, where to stay and what to do. He is patient and responds to questions and requests quickly — almost immediately — starting with my first communication with him and continuing through planning the trip and even during the trip, when he would check in with us just to see how we were doing.

Once, at about 10PM, we decided we needed a driver for early the next morning. I messaged Emerson. I heard from him 20 minutes later—he scheduled our driver!

He also booked wonderful guides for us, one of the best aspects of our trip—Jonna in Helsinki (she is a historian and seems to know everything about her city), Felipe for the Helsinki design district tour, and Emmi in Tampere. These guides were the best!

We hope to return to this beautiful part of the world. As I told Emerson, when we do — he will be the first to know!

Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Aug 24, 2026

Thank you so much! It was genuinely a pleasure working with you, and I really enjoyed being a small part of your adventure. I’ll definitely hold you to that promise of letting me know when you’re ready to come back!

Marvelous Finnish Adventure
Finland | Aug 6 - Aug 15, 2026

Tess
Tess W.
Philadelphia, PA | Reviewed on Aug 16, 2026
We had a marvelous trip to Finland. Emerson established our itinerary, and every phase of the trip played out exactly as planned. For example, every driver we expected for a transport showed up early. I never felt worried that we would be stuck somewhere and have to figure out an alternative plan; things occurred as stated in the itinerary.
I loved the app too - it kept all of the important information, directions and tickets together in one source. I will definitely use KimKim again for...
Read more

We had a marvelous trip to Finland. Emerson established our itinerary, and every phase of the trip played out exactly as planned. For example, every driver we expected for a transport showed up early. I never felt worried that we would be stuck somewhere and have to figure out an alternative plan; things occurred as stated in the itinerary.
I loved the app too - it kept all of the important information, directions and tickets together in one source. I will definitely use KimKim again for international travel.
Emerson was available during the trip via the app or email, just in case we had questions or concerns. It was reassuring to know that we could consult with our travel specialist at any time. He was pretty quick to get back to us when we did contact him.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Fabian
Helsinki

This was a nice hotel, set in a very convenient location for walking around Helsinki. It is a smaller hotel, but the room was quite adequate.

Authenticity & Character
This was a smaller hotel, but was pretty adequate for most amenities.
Location
Close to downtown activities , businesses and parks.
Staff
Very friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was good.
Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone
Turku

A very nice hotel in a great setting in Turku.

Authenticity & Character
It has unusual decor inside.
Location
Perfect setting in order to walk downtown, yet it feels like it’s on a quiet street.
Staff
So friendly and accommodating in every situation that arose during our stay!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was plenty big, and there was plenty of comfortable space to sit in the lobby or dining/bar areas.
Overnight Train

The sleeper cabins with private bathrooms are extremely small for two people! You barely have room to do anything in the room or the bathroom.

Authenticity & Character
Definitely not a typical space to stay in. Very unique!
Location
Very convenient to use for a long travel distance, making overnight travel attractive.
Staff
Helpful. Answered questions that we presented.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sleeper cabins for two people need to be a bit larger to allow both to be able to move around.
Arctic Light Hotel
Rovaniemi

This is an amazing hotel! The room was incredibly spacious, and staff was friendly and helpful. The breakfast buffet was incredibly eclectic! We loved it!

Authenticity & Character
It has its own bar and restaurant, and has a beautiful lounge area with an outdoorsy decor.
Location
This is a great location to walk to city center businesses and shops, but feels like it is on a quiet side street.
Staff
So helpful and friendly. We asked for directions to locations and businesses multiple times and always received friendly help.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room had so much space I. It and that made it feel exceptionally comfortable to stay in.
Activity Reviews
Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea
Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea
Helsinki

We enjoyed a really nice hike through a forested nature area.

Quality of Experience
Very nice hike at a good pace, with free time given for exploration.
Food
The guide prepared traditional Finnish food, and the presentation was terrific!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was very nice and interesting, and knowledgeable about forest plants.
Transport
She drive the van very carefully along these windy roads.
Helsinki City Walking Tour (3h)
Helsinki City Walking Tour (3h)
Helsinki

Nice walk around the city with a nice guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Turku City Walking Tour
Turku City Walking Tour
Turku

The guide was very knowledgeable, and gave us a nice mix of historical information as well as local cultural information.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
As mentioned previously, he gave a good mix of information. The only downside was that he seemed to become distracted by his personal wants when we entered the library.
Archipelago Ring Road Tour
Archipelago Ring Road Tour
Turku

This was a nice tour, but not quite what I thought I was getting. I thought we would get out of the vehicle more to see incredible sights. I didn’t realize that most of the time would be spent in the vehicle because it takes so long to complete the Ring Road.

Quality of Experience
Food
We only stopped to eat at once place to eat. The food was great, but we should have had a little more time to eat it.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The tour guide was very nice, and shared some good information.
Transport
Car was comfortable.
Korouoma Canyon & Auttiköngäs Waterfalls Adventure
Korouoma Canyon & Auttiköngäs Waterfalls Adventure
Rovaniemi

This was a fun, amazing, mostly moderate hike, and it had some nice viewpoints.

Quality of Experience
Good pacing
Food
I loved the fireplace at the shelter. It was so user-friendly and safe.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable tour guide.
Transport
Electric Fatbike Trip to the Reindeer Farm
Electric Fatbike Trip to the Reindeer Farm
Rovaniemi

The Fatbike made the ride so comfortable and easy. The reindeer farm experience we great.

Quality of Experience
Nice ride the farm was terrific.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was terrific. He quickly and adeptly made us lunch at the fireplace.
Transport
Ooo
Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire
Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire
Rovaniemi

We enjoyed the campfire and whole experience.

Quality of Experience
Making pancakes was fun.
Food
The pancakes were good. We thought there might be other food provided, since it said dinner was included.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Martin told interesting stories.
Transport
Mushroom and Berry Picking
Mushroom and Berry Picking
Rovaniemi

This mostly involves picking blueberries to make juice.

Quality of Experience
It was fun and interesting.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was nice and personable.
Transport
Canoe Trip in Lapland
Canoe Trip in Lapland
Rovaniemi

We had a great canoe experience that included our ability to look at a solar eclipse.

Quality of Experience
Excellent training by the guide before we began.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Martin gave clear directions and explained how to stay safe.
Transport
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Aug 17, 2026

Thank you so much, Tess! I’m really glad you had such a great time in Finland. And thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed review — all the feedback about the different experiences really helps us a lot.

It was a pleasure planning your trip!

Overall the trip was successful. Everything p...
Latvia | Aug 2 - Aug 12, 2026

michal
michal l.
New York City, NY, USA | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2026
Overall the trip was successful. Everything planned worked like a clockwork.the drivers were polite smart and I enjoyed talking to each one of them.they spoke perfect English. The tour guide in Riga was exceptional. She knew a lot about architecture art and history. She went well over her time slot to accompany me to different areas to experience the city..
The same goes for Rolanda in Kaunas who was extremely informative and friendly..
Ramune in Vilnius was one of the best. Not only her...
Read more

Overall the trip was successful. Everything planned worked like a clockwork.the drivers were polite smart and I enjoyed talking to each one of them.they spoke perfect English. The tour guide in Riga was exceptional. She knew a lot about architecture art and history. She went well over her time slot to accompany me to different areas to experience the city..
The same goes for Rolanda in Kaunas who was extremely informative and friendly..
Ramune in Vilnius was one of the best. Not only her vivacious and energetic personality but her knowledge and efforts to learn more about me and from me. I must point out that she visited the towns I requested a few days beforehand so she can learn and prepare herself. That is remarkable.
Emerson and Moonika were on top of things and were accommodating,responsive. I had the pleasure of meeting them both.
Ad I mentioned to Emerson ,I would not recommend the Koventa Seta hotel in Riga but rather choose a smaller more intimate hotel . This one was noisy ,it has a few bldgs which don’t have elevators that they don’t tell you even when you check in.
I will definitely choose KimKim again for my future travel.

Hotel Reviews
My City Hotel
Tallinn

A beautiful old town charm

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Pleasant friendly accomodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Konventa Seta Design Hotel
Riga

The location is fantastic but the hotel has 5 bldgs all on the same old street. The ONLY BLDG which has a lobby is the main one where the reception is. It has a restaurant across the main bldg which serves as a beer garden during the evening. Extremely noisy if you stay in one of the bldgs close by. The restaurant for breakfast is excellent. Most of the bldgs they assign to you DO NOT have elevators.they don’t tell you this when you check in. I asked for a high floor so they gave it to me upon checking in not fleeing me I am in a separate building without an elevator. Upon asking the front desk they responded I should have known!. The room was above the noisy rest where music was on until 2 am. I would think twice before staying there again..

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Too busy can be more accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lydia Hotel
Tartu

Clear cut modern hotel. With everything you need. The restaurant for breakfast is clean spacious and elegant, it has everything you need.warm and pleasant staff

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Santa Hotel
Cesis

One of the most beautiful places on this trip. Quite serene and simply elegant . The dinner at the restaurant is top notch. Breakfast unfortunately starts at 8:30 which is late for early risers. The manager was willing to accommodate me for a 7:30 room service but the kitchen was not prepared and I received it 30 minutes late. It would have not been an issue but I had preplanned a guide and driver picking me up. I suggest to staff to open early to accommodate the guests.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Neringa Hotel
Vilnius

Great location rooms and staff. I love the rooftop bar and view

Authenticity & Character
I love an old bldg which is modern and slick
Location
Staff
Activity Reviews
Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour
Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour
Tallinn

Jonas is a pleasant experienced tour guide

Private Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park
Private Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park
Estonia

Our guide Kristo Parne is very good. He is polite knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor. I highly recommend him

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Gauja National Park's Hike
Gauja National Park's Hike
Cēsis

Beautiful scenery although the guide’s English could be better. She was not very talkative and didn’t know much of the history. It was a very long walk of 12 kms.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Riga Old Town & Central Market Walking Tour with tasting
Riga Old Town & Central Market Walking Tour with tasting
Riga

The guide was fantastic. Unfortunately I forgot her name but she was very knowledgeable of the history and architecture. She went the extra miles to accommodate me and walked extra time to see a very different area of the city

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Vilnius City and Jewish History Walking and Driving Tour
Vilnius City and Jewish History Walking and Driving Tour
Vilnius

Very good guide ant tour

Private Kaunas Jewish Tour
Private Kaunas Jewish Tour
Kaunas

Rolanda was one of the best guides. Pleasant fluent in English very knowledgeable in her history .

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Aug 14, 2026

Thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing your feedback. It was a pleasure helping you with your trip, and Moonika and I were very happy to meet you in person as well!

Thank you also for the feedback about Konventa Seta. I’ll definitely keep this in mind when planning future trips to Riga.

I’m glad everything went smoothly overall, and I hope we’ll have a chance to help you with another trip in the future!

Private 11-day tour of the Baltic Countries
Lithuania | May 25 - Jun 4, 2026

C
Connie M.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jun 29, 2026
We booked a private 11-day tour of Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia and Emerson did an amazing job. The accommodations were perfect and the guides were very knowledgeable, helpful and punctual. The drivers were much more than just a driver as each one provided information about the countryside and history of the country. One driver even included a special stop at an old soviet ICBM silo.
During the planning for the trip, Emerson provided recommendations for unique activities that were off...
Read more

We booked a private 11-day tour of Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia and Emerson did an amazing job. The accommodations were perfect and the guides were very knowledgeable, helpful and punctual. The drivers were much more than just a driver as each one provided information about the countryside and history of the country. One driver even included a special stop at an old soviet ICBM silo.
During the planning for the trip, Emerson provided recommendations for unique activities that were off the charts (i.e. Old Võromaa smoke sauna ritual) that we really enjoyed. From start to finish, he took care of every possible detail and everything went exactly as planned.
It was a great trip, Connie & Bud

Hotel Reviews
Hotel PACAI
Vilnius
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A22 Hotel
Riga
Authenticity & Character
The Michelin star chef prepared an amazing meal with a wine pairing that was magnificent.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Schlössle Hotel
Tallinn
Authenticity & Character
Location
Located in the old town with wonder food. The list of famous people that have stayed there was impressive.
Staff
Very attentive staff and they responded quickly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
We loved the pillow menu!
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Jun 30, 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for taking the time to share your experience. It was a real pleasure meeting you both, and I'm especially happy to hear that you enjoyed the Old Võromaa smoke sauna ritual—it's one of my favorite experiences in Estonia to recommend.

I'm delighted that everything went smoothly and that you enjoyed the guides, drivers, and accommodations throughout your journey.

Thank you again, and I hope our paths cross again on another adventure someday!

A wonderful adventure
Finland | Jun 4 - Jun 15, 2026

A
Amy B.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 16, 2026
It has been a wonderful adventure. We have many many pictures that record all our travels. Our personal agent was Emerson and he answered all our questions during the planning stages and some small issues during the actual trip. In the planning stages, he worked to schedule what we wanted to do, what we wanted to see, with our preferred travel times, the kinds of hotels we like, and the types of tours that became very meaningful as the 10 days progressed. We had a phone meeting which... Read more

It has been a wonderful adventure. We have many many pictures that record all our travels.

Our personal agent was Emerson and he answered all our questions during the planning stages and some small issues during the actual trip. In the planning stages, he worked to schedule what we wanted to do, what we wanted to see, with our preferred travel times, the kinds of hotels we like, and the types of tours that became very meaningful as the 10 days progressed. We had a phone meeting which really helped the backs and forth, about a month before all the details were finalized, and was always responsive to messages sent through the website. He gets an A+!!!!!

During the trip, we were in regular touch by text with Emerson, and again he was SO responsive and we applaud him for helping us like that. All those small issues related to drivers not being in the location given to us in our instructions. That is the only area of planning that needs improvement. For example, we were told to be at the door to the lobby of our hotel, but the driver was around the corner at the restaurant entrance, making us almost late for an inner city bus.

The tour guides were excellent in explaining history and culture and answering numerous questions we had. We enjoyed hearing from the diverse group of people who guided us on their experiences too, as not all were Finnish and one had lived in the US. That made for great conversations and we loved that the tour guides shared their stories with us, plus gave us all kinds of information on Finnish history.

We would definitely work with KimKim in the future.

Hotel Reviews
Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone
Turku

Breakfast was lovely and the restaurant had great choices when we didn't go out for dinner. The room was clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lapland Hotels Tampere
Tampere

Breakfast was amazing and the restaurant had great choices when we didn't go out for dinner. The room was clean and comfortable, although a bit small for Americans!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Apartment with Sauna in Kluuvi
Helsinki

The apartment was really nice. We didn't expect 2 full bathrooms, a nice addition since we were traveling with our adult son. The primary bedroom was roomy and the bathroom nicely setup. Our only issue was the pre move-in process, which we had to complete more than once as our data submitted before we left the US wasn't there when we needed to get our keys. We also found it difficult to find some information, and luckily our travel agent stayed in touch with us to guide us and get the info we needed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Easy walk into the middle of Helsinki and to the National Cathedral where we were attending a wedding.
Staff
Issues with the pre move in process.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Helsinki City Walking Tour (3h)
Helsinki City Walking Tour (3h)
Helsinki

Our guide was Ruslan. He took us all around the center of Helsinki, meeting us where expected at the train station and then ending the tour with recommendations for authentic food! He was knowledgeable and fun to talk to, including my brother and his wife who were in Helsinki at the same time although not touring with us for the duration of our vacation. He planned the tour to meet our request to show us the history, which we learned was not as many years as that of other parts of the country, being the capital only about 200 years.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
All walking....!
Rauma City Tour
Rauma City Tour
Rauma

Riina was our guide and despite a constant drizzle, she showed us the old city of Rauma. We wandered the narrow streets, saw lace being made by a small shop run by women who do this all by hand, toured a small church and saw many old buildings that explained the history of the old town.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
all walking....!
Tallinn Day Trip
Tallinn Day Trip
Helsinki

Our guide was Christopher Robert. We liked our tour so much we referred my brother and his wife, who were in Tallinn a few days after our trip there, to him. Christopher took us to many different areas of the town, which we didn't realize had such a mix of old and new. We navigated a meeting of heads of state which blocked some streets but didn't interfere with our walking, very different from the US security around such events. We loved that Christopher shared his background including time in the US, and how that played into the tour and his expertise on the places he showed to us.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
all walking....!
Towers of Tampere Tour
Towers of Tampere Tour
Tampere

Liked our time in Tampere with Peter but the tour was laid out oddly so we lost some time in getting around via bus and tram. Being at each of the 3 towers gave us a great opportunity to see different areas of Tampere. It made less sense to us that we went from our hotel, across town via tram to tower #1, a long walk back to the observation from a hotel only a block from where we started, then a bus ride to tower #3 at the amusement park. That bus ride was so long because lots of riders were going to the park and traffic was backed up. Each location was good to see, and the walk across town gave us a feel for the city, but the transport took away from the experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
We ended with a lovely lunch.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
See above comments.
Unveiling Turku: History, Culture, and Culinary Gems
Unveiling Turku: History, Culture, and Culinary Gems
Turku

Laura from Magni Mundi was our guide for a 5 hour walk and lunch throughout Turku. She was very knowledgeable about the history of the town, and the current conditions. We liked how she blended history with today.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great tour guide.
Transport
We walked, Laura picked us up promptly where we were told to be.
Magical Taiga Forest Hike
Magical Taiga Forest Hike
Helsinki

SO SO much fun. Quintos was our guide. He shared his story of being an environmentalist and working to show the national forests in both the Helsinki and Lapland areas to folks like us. He really loved showing us where all the goodies (fruits/berries/mushrooms) would soon be growing, making our lunch of salmon soup, and walking through different areas of the forest. He seemed extremely knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience
We enjoyed hearing of his move to Finland and what made the country special to him, while we shared a bit of ourselves.
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Quintos was our driver and guide, and made the trip easy.
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Jun 17, 2026

Thank you for the detailed review and for taking the time to share your experience!

It was a pleasure helping you plan this trip, and I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed Finland and all the guides you met along the way. I also appreciate the feedback regarding the driver pickup locations and the Tampere tour logistics. These are valuable points that will help us improve future trips.

Thank you again for your kind words and for trusting us with your adventure. I hope we will have the opportunity to help you plan another trip in the future.

Best regards,
Emerson

Perfectly planned trip.
Lithuania | May 17 - May 27, 2026

H
Helen S.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on May 28, 2026
Emerson did an amazing job of planning our trip. All hotels, transportation, and guides were great. Excellent planning, some city tours and some forest hikes. Thank you so much. Read more

Emerson did an amazing job of planning our trip. All hotels, transportation, and guides were great. Excellent planning, some city tours and some forest hikes. Thank you so much.

Hotel Review
Hotel Kamp
Helsinki

Wow! This hotel is perfectly located and the newly renovated rooms are luxurious.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour
Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour
Helsinki

Great guide and very comprehensive tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on May 28, 2026

Thank you so much for the kind words. It was a real pleasure planning this trip for you, and I’m very happy to hear everything went smoothly. Hope to welcome you back to this part of the world again someday!

Dream Trip to Lapland , Perfectly Planned
Finland | Mar 6 - Mar 14, 2026

Suzanne
Suzanne G.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 21, 2026
Not knowing where to begin when planning our trip to Finland, I started by searching online for travel specialists who focus on the Lapland region—and that’s how I came across kimkim. After completing a quick questionnaire about the type of trip we were hoping for, we were connected with Emerson, who took care of every detail from that point on. We scheduled a Zoom call to go over our wish list and discuss the level of accommodations we had in mind. Emerson’s personal experience in... Read more

Not knowing where to begin when planning our trip to Finland, I started by searching online for travel specialists who focus on the Lapland region—and that’s how I came across kimkim. After completing a quick questionnaire about the type of trip we were hoping for, we were connected with Emerson, who took care of every detail from that point on.

We scheduled a Zoom call to go over our wish list and discuss the level of accommodations we had in mind. Emerson’s personal experience in the Lapland region really stood out—he offered thoughtful suggestions on where to go, what to do, and even shared valuable insight on some of the stops we were considering. We truly appreciated his honest input.

Following our call, Emerson provided a detailed itinerary that outlined everything—from accommodations to excursions to transfers. We were able to adjust it several times to better suit our schedule and interests, and he was always responsive and helpful in answering our questions leading up to the trip. During the trip itself, he remained quick to respond whenever needed.

Everything unfolded exactly as planned. The accommodations met our expectations, and the tours and excursions were led by knowledgeable, professional guides. One guide was also a professional photographer who led us through a national park and sent us home with beautiful photos of our day!
The day-by-day itinerary made everything seamless and stress-free. A couple of our northern lights tours were unfortunately canceled due to cloudy weather, but we were pleasantly surprised to receive refunds for those experiences.

We’re already looking forward to planning our next adventure and would absolutely work with kimkim again. We can’t recommend Emerson and the company highly enough—thank you for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime trip!

Hotel Reviews
Glass resort
Rovaniemi

We were thrilled with this accommodation. A private cabin with plenty of windows to search for the northern lights. It was located at the back of Santa Claus Village which is a busy area , but you didn’t feel that at the resort. It allowed us to check out SCV in our free time. It was the perfect first stop on our trip which the led us to more remote areas of Lapland. Hotel is close to the airport which was appreciated after traveling from the US. Gallis restaurant was delicious and the staff was very friendly. Cabins were clean and well-appointed. Would recommend to Family or friends heading that way.

Authenticity & Character
Authentic finish foods were served in the style of the accommodations gave you the perfect amenities for a winter in Lapland.
Location
Close to airport, close to Santa Claus Village without being in the busy, crowded touristy areas
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Northern Lights Ranch
Köngäs

We love the location of this resort, as well as the food, style of the cabin and it being a smaller size. We also loved getting to have our welcome cocktail in the igloo. We got to see the northern lights at this location on a night when the clouds were not supposed to allow it, so it will always hold a special place for us. We loved the glass walls and glass ceilings and the simplicity of the cabinet itself.

Authenticity & Character
Traditional finish foods were served as well as this as a style of the cabins.
Location
Close to the Taurus town of Levi but far enough away so that you’re not mixed in with the busy crowds.
Staff
Kind and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Apr 22, 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share this—it means a lot.

I’m glad the trip came together the way you hoped and that you felt supported throughout the process. Lapland can be unpredictable, so I’m especially pleased you still had such a memorable experience despite the weather challenges.

It was a pleasure planning this with you, and I’d be happy to help again whenever you’re ready for the next trip.

23 days, 5 countries, and memories for a lifetime
Finland | Mar 3 - Mar 25, 2026

Jane
Jane M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Apr 07, 2026
This trip wouldn't have been possible without all the help from Emerson, he was a rockstar in planning! With his help and expert guidance we managed to pull off 5 countries in 23 days and never felt stressed about any of the moving parts. During the trip we traveled by plane, train, bus, car and ferry, with only one minor delay because of a "wildlife accident". The small guided tours he arranged exceeded our expectations, everyone was so nice, helpful, and knowledgeable. We learned so much... Read more

This trip wouldn't have been possible without all the help from Emerson, he was a rockstar in planning! With his help and expert guidance we managed to pull off 5 countries in 23 days and never felt stressed about any of the moving parts. During the trip we traveled by plane, train, bus, car and ferry, with only one minor delay because of a "wildlife accident". The small guided tours he arranged exceeded our expectations, everyone was so nice, helpful, and knowledgeable. We learned so much more than if we had joined a big group tour or a bus tour. All of the hotels were also top notch, with friendly staff, comfortable beds, and superb breakfast buffets! Any questions we had along the way, we answered right away, and even checked in to make sure things were going smoothly. If you're on the fence about letting someone else make your travel plans (I know I had been) I would highly recommend Emerson and his fellow travel specialist, they know what they are doing, they now the areas you want to visit, and help take the stress out of vacation planning!

Activity Reviews
SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience
SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience
Rovaniemi
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure
Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure
Finland
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit
Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit
Rovaniemi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Helsinki City Walking Tour (3h)
Helsinki City Walking Tour (3h)
Helsinki
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tallinn Day Trip
Tallinn Day Trip
Helsinki
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Aurora Ice Floating
Aurora Ice Floating
Finland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snowmobile Tour to the Border of Three Nordic Countries
Snowmobile Tour to the Border of Three Nordic Countries
Kilpisjärvi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ice Fishing Experience
Ice Fishing Experience
Kilpisjärvi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Winter Arctic Landscapes Tour
Winter Arctic Landscapes Tour
Tromsø
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mostraumen Fjord Cruise
Mostraumen Fjord Cruise
Bergen
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Copenhagen in a Nutshell Tour
Copenhagen in a Nutshell Tour
Copenhagen
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Food & Culture Walk
Food & Culture Walk
Bergen
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Apr 08, 2026

Thank you very much for this — really appreciate you taking the time to write it.

It was a fun trip to plan, and you made it easy by being open to suggestions and trusting the process, especially with such a busy route. Five countries in 23 days is not simple, so good teamwork on that.

Thanks again for the recommendation — it means a lot. If you plan another trip, just let me know.

Best Vacation Ever!!!
Finland | Mar 21 - Mar 25, 2026

B
Beth M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Mar 29, 2026
Our planner with KimKim, Emerson, just got it right! We had no idea what to expect or what to ask for. Yet, somehow Emerson knew exactly what to plan for us. Our first 3 nights were in Rovaniemi. We stayed at the Artic Lights Hotel. The accommodations were amazing and the staff were so helpful and friendly. The restaurant on site was phenomenal!! I recommend the roasted reindeer as it was outstanding! Risto our guide from Johka made sure we saw the Northern Lights. He drove us almost to... Read more

Our planner with KimKim, Emerson, just got it right! We had no idea what to expect or what to ask for. Yet, somehow Emerson knew exactly what to plan for us. Our first 3 nights were in Rovaniemi. We stayed at the Artic Lights Hotel. The accommodations were amazing and the staff were so helpful and friendly. The restaurant on site was phenomenal!! I recommend the roasted reindeer as it was outstanding! Risto our guide from Johka made sure we saw the Northern Lights. He drove us almost to Sweden where the skies were clear just so we wouldn’t miss out. The photo’s he took belong in a magazine. Again, he was knowledgeable and personable. We had such a good time out on the frozen lake staring at the sky.
We visited Korouoma Canyon where our guide Geowdy from Wild About Lapland took us on a 5km hike to see the frozen waterfalls. She was so perky and upbeat you almost forgot you were hiking!! Our last night we ate at Gustav. This is a must stop!!! Delicious!! The folks at Sieriporo Reindeer Safari took really good care of us. We all learned so much about the reindeer. The sleigh ride was relaxing and beautiful!
From Rovaniemi we went to Levi where we stayed at the Northern Lights Ranch. Such a unique experience to sleep in a glass room !! Food was exceptional and the staff was amazing. For our last day we took a snowmobile safari with Lowry at Lazy Santa safaris. He was super! I don’t even have words for the scenery. Absolutely breathtaking!! The tour was very personal, just the 3 of us. He equipped us with everything we needed to stay warm and dry. Super knowledgeable and friendly!! Every driver we had for the transfers were professional and informative. Best vacation ever!!! Thank you KimKim and Emerson!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Fabian
Helsinki

In the heart of the city center. Beautiful room and very clean. Staff were helpful and friendly. Complementary breakfast was delicious!

Authenticity & Character
Mix of old and new. Cobblestone street but modern amenities.
Location
Walking distance to everything.
Staff
Knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was comfortable and clean.
Northern Lights Ranch
Köngäs

Rustic but modern. Sparse but everything you need. The personal hot tub was a big hit. So cool to enjoy under the stars with it snowing. Staff were friendly and the restaurant was great! Even had a few reindeer on site to feed and interact with.

Authenticity & Character
Just what you would imagine Nordic design to be.
Location
Close to ski resort but far enough away from city that if conditions are right viewing the Northern Lights would be ideal.
Staff
Friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were well thought out. Everything you needed for a comfortable stay was provided.
Arctic Light Hotel
Rovaniemi

This hotel is beautifully appointed. The staff were very friendly, welcoming and helpful. It was within walking distance to everything. The breakfast was outstanding!! Everything from bacon and eggs to fruits and oatmeal to cold sandwich fixings. The restaurant on site (The Artic) was phenomenal!! The perfect stay! Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character
Quaint but not small. Complementary sauna. Beautifully decorated
Location
Walking distance to everything
Staff
Everyone was friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms were warm and inviting and it was fun to shower with a polar bear!!
Activity Reviews
 Snowmobile Safari from Riverside Lodge
Snowmobile Safari from Riverside Lodge
Levi

Lowry our host made this experience outstanding!! He provided everything we needed to stay warm and dry. The actual ride was amazing!! Plenty of time on the snowmobile with lots of spectacular views. We all had a blast. I loved that it was just the 3 of us in our group. Made you feel catered to.

Quality of Experience
Lowry at Lazy Santa Safaris was a stupendous guide!! A perfect host! We felt like we were just out riding with a friend!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I loved the small group. I felt catered to.
Transport
Land Rover was clean and we all felt safe.
Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit
Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit
Rovaniemi

The staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. You could tell they were proud of their heritage. The farm was beautiful and the ride was relaxing and offered views of the forest that were stunning!

Quality of Experience
Our host’s knowledge of the reindeer was exceptional
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly and knowledgeable.
Transport
Aimilee was very personable and friendly. We felt safe and the van itself was comfortable and clean
Flexible Northern Lights Hunting
Flexible Northern Lights Hunting
Finland

Risto our guide was outstanding!! Even though conditions were not optimal for viewing the Northern Lights he drove us to nearly Sweden where the skies were clear enough to see. The photos he took were magazine quality!! Being on a frozen lake added to the experience of the lights! This was an incredible experience and the main reason for our trip.

Quality of Experience
Viewing the lights while standing on a frozen lake was spectacular!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly and funny. Risto really wanted us to see the Northern Lights.
Transport
Comfortable van. Clean and warm. Conversation was good.
Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure
Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure
Finland

Geowdy our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Very upbeat. The falls were beautiful and the hike was good. Challenging but doable. They provided everything needed to stay warm and dry.

Quality of Experience
Beautiful view. Challenging hike.
Food
Very fatty sausage.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Geowdy was upbeat, very personable and knowledgeable
Transport
Safe driver.
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Mar 30, 2026

Thank you for the kind words – I appreciate you taking the time to share this.

A lot of that comes down to you, as a traveler, as much as the plan itself. You trusted it, stayed flexible, and that makes a difference.

I’m glad it all came together the way it did.

I’ll pass your feedback on to the team — they’ll value it.

Our 11 day trip to Finland started out with b...
Finland | Mar 11 - Mar 21, 2026

Gail
Gail M.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 22, 2026
Our 11 day trip to Finland started out with both my husband and myself very sick and we had to cancel some of our activities for the first day. Lilla was very accommodating in getting the cancellations done. We arrived in Helsinki and took the overnight train to Kolari where our driver picked us up and took us to the Levin Iglut Glass Igloos in Levi where we spent two nights. Unfortunately, it was very foggy both days and we were unable to see the Northern Lights which was a huge... Read more

Our 11 day trip to Finland started out with both my husband and myself very sick and we had to cancel some of our activities for the first day. Lilla was very accommodating in getting the cancellations done.

We arrived in Helsinki and took the overnight train to Kolari where our driver picked us up and took us to the Levin Iglut Glass Igloos in Levi where we spent two nights. Unfortunately, it was very foggy both days and we were unable to see the Northern Lights which was a huge disappointment.

We went on a reindeer adventure with Eanan company. The guides were very informative and we got to feed the reindeer and take a short reindeer sled ride.

The next day a driver picked us up from the hotel and drove us to Rovaniemi. We spent the day at the Arktikum Museum because ice skating was canceled at the Winter Leisure Park due to warm weather. In the evening we took the bus to the Snow Hotel where we had a guided tour and a lovely 3-course dinner. Afterwards, our driver took us to the train station where we boarded the overnight train to Tampere.

In Tampere we stayed at the lovely Solo Sokos hotel which had a sumptuous breakfast buffetwe. In the afternoon we visited the Moomin Museum which was fantastic.

The next day we took the train to the city of Turku, the oldest city in Finland and also the first capital of Finland. We had a very informative private walking tour with our lovely guide Laura from the Magni Mundi company.

Then we took the train to Helsinki where we stayed at the grand Home Hotel Jugend for four nights, which is a former castle built in 1903. We had a lively and informative private tour of Helsinki with our guide Ruylan from GreenCap tours which included some delicious Finnish food tastings. We then took a short ferry ride to Suomenlinna Island. We spent the next couple of days exploring Helsinki by tram and visiting their new modern library.

Our final day was a day trip to Tallinn, Estonia, starting with a 2-hour ferry boat ride. We had a very informative private tour of the old city with our guide from EstAdventures. The next day our driver picked us up from the hotel and drove us to the airport.

All of the hotels we stayed at were lovely. Each of our drivers was very friendly, polite, professionaland punctual. And our tour guides were genuinely interested in relaying the history and facts of the towns they were representing.

All of the private drivers we had were wonderful. They were all very professional, polite, and friendly. We were very impressed with all of them!

We want to compliment Emerson for the very careful and detailed planning of our trip, and for answering my endless questions. And special thanks to Lilla who helped to implement all of the activities of the trip and rearranged our itinerary as needed, and also answered my endless questions. We had a very memorable trip.

I would highly recommend KimKim for any of your future travel plans!

Hotel Reviews
Levin Iglut Glass Igloos
Kitilä

Levin Iglut Glass Igloos were excellent and offered a unique experience. They were clean and aesthetically pleasing. While we didn't see the northern lights, lying under the glass ceiling amidst the fog was still a memorable experience.

Solo Sokos Hotel Torni Tampere
Tampere

The Solo Sokos Hotel in Tampere was exceptional with the best breakfast buffet we've had. Everything imaginable for breakfast was available, laid out perfectly. The beds were wonderfully comfortable, making it a standout accommodation on our trip.

Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone
Turku

Solo Sokos Hotel in Turku was very elegant and quite nice. We liked it there a lot; it was definitely one of the better accommodations we stayed at during our trip.

Overnight Train

The train cabins were very small, but had very comfortable and clean beds.

Authenticity & Character
Riding the train through the forests of Finland was an amazing experience.
Location
The overnight train was a great way to see the wonderful Finnish countryside.
Staff
We had very little interaction with any staff on board.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The cabin, bathroom and beds were very clean and the beds were very comfortable.
Activity Reviews
Turku City Walking Tour
Turku City Walking Tour
Turku

The Turku City Walking Tour was excellent. Our guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Turku, making the experience very enjoyable. Despite being a lot of walking, it was well-organized, and we discovered many interesting things about the city. It was a really great tour.

SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience
SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience
Rovaniemi

The SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience was interesting and unique. Although there was a mix-up with our schedule, the staff was accommodating and quickly served us dinner so we wouldn’t miss our train. The food was very good, and the ice hotel, with its unique rooms and ice sculptures, was fascinating, despite the slippery floors due to melting ice.

Reindeer Adventure
Reindeer Adventure
Levi

The Reindeer Adventure was definitely a standout of our trip. We loved visiting and feeding the reindeer, and the ride was a unique experience. Learning about the reindeer lifestyle and the people who care for them was fascinating. It was an outstanding part of our trip.

Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Mar 31, 2026

Thank you so much for your kind and detailed feedback — we really appreciate it.

We’re sorry the trip started on a difficult note and that the weather didn’t cooperate for the Northern Lights, but we’re glad to hear you still had a memorable experience overall. It’s great to know the guides, drivers, and hotels all met your expectations.

Lilla and I truly enjoyed working with you and helping to put this trip together.

Hope to assist you again in the future!

Best regards,
Emerson & Lilla