Jenny Booth

The trip was spectacular and would only have been better if the weather had cooperated. We did almost all the activities including the optional ones that Jenny included in our trip plan and had a lot of fun. The accommodations were very good and typically nicer than expected with clean rooms and friendly staff. We especially enjoyed the Glacier Hike and the Glacier Lagoon zodiac ride. Plan to take advantage of the many hot spring spas throughout Iceland. We really liked the GeoSea spa but also some of the smaller ones like the Secret Lagoon were also nice. Be prepared for driving in the Westfjords, the roads can sometimes be harrowing. If we changed anything about the trip it would be to trim some of the optional items as doing almost all of them we ended up driving over 2000 miles. In addition to the Iceland weather and road conditions sites I would highly recommend downloading the Parka.Is app to make paying parking fees easier. We hardly used any cash as virtually everywhere took our Visa with tap-n-go convenience. You MUST also have a debit or other card that has a PIN code for buying gasoline as most stations are automated and won’t take credit cards. The KimKim team was awesome and very responsive to changes we needed to make on the fly. Our trip advisor Jenny was incredible and put together an amazing Iceland experience for us that included all the things we were interested in.

Some tips we learned: be prepared for changeable weather and wind and have lots of layers that you can mix and match. We were there in late September and my typical apparel was long underwear, long sleeve T-shirt, medium to heavy weight hiking pants. long sleeve shirt, fiberfill shell jacket and a knit cap. If there was rain or high winds I’d add a rain shell and zip-on pants rain proof pants. Good waterproof hiking shoes, gloves and a scarf or neck warmer are important also.

Lastly, our rental car came with a plug in WiFi access point with an internal battery. It had unlimited data so we used it in the car, in our room at night ( often better than the hotel WiFi) and even walking around with it in a pocket. As long as it could connect to the cell service It allowed us full internet access, WiFi calling, texts, etc. without using our own cellular data. I highly recommend this add on. Cell service is pretty good even in relatively remote areas but wifi can be very spotty.

Activity Reviews

Glacier Hike

Iceland

Grab your crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe and go glacier stomping.!! Very fun and educational and a bit strenuous. A must do in Iceland!

Quality of Experience

Such a unique experience to actually walk on the glacier ice

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledge and helpfulness on the ice

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon Zodiac boat tour

Iceland

The glaciers floating in the lagoon were spectacular! Especially some that had recently flipped to expose the deep blue ice that hadn’t been exposed to the air. Large stable zodiac with a great skipper took us right among the ice.

Quality of Experience

Seeing the ice bergs up close was great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly, helpful and safety conscious

Transport

GeoSea Geothermal Baths

Iceland

You haven’t had a real hot springs experience until you try salt water. It’s an incredible feeling on your skin. The walk up bar at the far pool was very convenient 😁

Quality of Experience

The organization was run by another member of our group, but we were cc’d on everything and the response was quick
Out tour guide for the Laugevegar, Emma, was fantastic. The only concern was the guide to client ration, 16:1. On the first day one of our group suffered from a near sun opal episode and could not continue- only Emma’s quick thinking and the luck of her knowing another guide avoided the need for our entire group to abort our trip- this is not ver safe and also does not represent the cost of the trip-which was not budget ( nor consistent-different people paid different prices-up to an $800 difference. It worked out, but not because of any system for safety built into the system. Also, trh amount of work born by a single guide cooking and cleaning for 16 people made Emma’s job more difficult and longer than was reasonable. A lot of participation in meal prep and cleaning was not consistent with the marketing for the guide service. I cannot express enough how commentary is not a reflection of the actual guide, Emma. She was outstanding: knowledgeable, positive, attentive, and a boundless source of energy. The ratio was not safe and made for a more rustic experience of cooking and cleaning for ourselves ( with alarmingly variable participation by other hikers, which is not a great situation) than was expected.
I just want to let KimKim know what went on with the tour, as they seem to outsource things and Kimkim seems very focused on outstanding service. The trip was great because there were some great folks and the country is beautiful. But that 16:1 experience makes me rethink any group trips in the future. This is my first guides group tour and I thought it would be easier/cheaper than a private guide or sled planning (both of which I have done fairly extensively). It ended up not being easier and honestly not much cheaper either
I gave the stars for KimKim. I wrote
The review for the trek. I do not need to see the written review in public-it was written strictly for informational reasons, not to publicly air grievances. Everything is a learning experience in life. I learned this type of tour is not in my sweet spot. Thank you

Jenny from Kimkim was amazing. From start to finish revert aspect of our trip was flawless. Jenny was patient and attentive and got us everything we wanted in this trip. Emma from Icelandic Mountain Guides was a true hero on our hiking trip along with Antoine and Eythor of Icebikes for our gravel biking adventure.
I can’t recommend these folks enough. Trust in them to provide you with a truly memorable and rewarding experience
Ernie Johnson.

I started working with Jenny from KimKim a year ago to plan a trip to Iceland to celebrate my 50th birthday with four of my dearest friends. Jenny took special care to include all the activities and sights we wanted to see and do during our 9 day trip. Her planning and communication was flawless. We were able to navigate our way through the itinerary and had the best experiences with all the activities planned. This trip lived up to all my dreams and expectations, we couldn't have done it without Jenny's suggestions and thoughtful planning, no detail was left out. Everyone in our group commented on how they would use KimKim's services for their future travel plans.
We especially loved our first guesthouse Stundarfriour in the Snaefellnes Peninsula. This charming little guesthouse was the perfect way to spend our first days in Iceland. The staff was friendly and gracious, we were even greeted by a beautiful dog that roamed freely throughout the property. We had some of the best meals here and would come back to stay in the future.
Our excursions with Jokulsarlon Glacier Kayaking Adventure and the Solheimajokull Glacier Hike were once in a lifetime experiences that will hold a special place in our memories of this trip. Plume from the glacier kayaking experience was cheerful and made us feel comfortable, some members of our group had never kayaked before. Emmy from the glacier hike was knowledgable and taught us so much about glaciers and spoke about climate change. Seeing how climate change affects the glaciers firsthand is an experience that our whole group will continue to share with others.
Thank you Jenny for such a memorable trip and all your thoughtful planning.
Warmly,
Ann Gilbert

Hotel Review

Stundarfriður

Stykkisholmur

This guesthouse is warm, charming and a great way to experience Icelandic hospitality. The food was amazing and the customer service was exceptional.

Authenticity & Character

Sweet and comfortable place to stay.

Location

The location is set in a remote area with beautiful views. It's quiet and cozy.

Staff

Everyone we came across was polite and caring.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable and clean space. The sweet embellishments on the duvet covers were so beautiful.

Activity Reviews

Jokulsarlon Glacier Kayaking Adventure

Iceland

One of the best experiences I've ever had. Kayaking amongst glaciers in this beautiful and peaceful space is an experience that I will never forget. Plume, my guide was professional, easy going, and very knowledgeable. He eased the nervousness of a few of my group members that had zero kayaking experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Solheimajokull Glacier Hike

Iceland

We loved the whole experience of exploring a glacier. Our guide Emmy made it especially wonderful with her knowledge of glaciers and climate change. She went above and beyond to answer questions and ensured everyone was safe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reykjavik Food Walk

Reykjavík

Bardi our guide was charming and sweet. We really enjoyed speaking with him and learned so much about Iceland's history and folklore. I would recommend this adventure to anyone that would like to speak with a local and learn about Iceland.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jenny was fantastic and did a great job of putting together our Iceland vacation. The trip itself went off without a hitch. It was easier than I could have dreamed to rent a car and get around in a country none of us had been in before. Our guest houses were so hospitable, it felt like we were saying goodbye to old friends when we checked out. The hotels were comfortable and safe. Our only tour guide was Bardi from Your Friend in Reykjavik. He was our guide on the walking food tour and he was so knowledgeable about the city, the food, and the history of Iceland in general it created a unique and unforgettable experience. We started out the tour with the Krauma geothermal baths and ended it with the Blue Lagoon private retreat experience and did so much hiking and adventuring in between, it truly was an unforgettable experience. When I return with my husband and son, I'll definitely go through KimKim again!

Jenny did an excellent job! I told her that I need to plan a trip to accommodate my husband, a professor of geology and my son, a thrill-seeking teenager. She totally did it!

Her itinerary was very logical, the accommodations at the guesthouses were lovely and the food was delicious.

Our trip began with a crisis, as our flight leaving out of Minnesota was cancelled due to the pilot being in a car accident on his way to the airport. I worked with Sigurour Jokusson to make sure that we didn't lose any of our reservations. He was very helpful and calming during this bit of crisis. I greatly appreciated him and his insights.

Our trip to Iceland was wonderful and memorable. Jenny provided an excellent day by day itinerary which we followed religiously. Along the way we a few things we discovered on our own. Driving the Ring Road is an experience that we will not forget. This is our first time using Kim Kim and we’re not disappointed.

My family and I had a fantastic experience with Jenny and KimKim overall. It was such a memorable experience. We wanted an adventure style vacation with our 2 young sons, and this didn't disappoint. Jenny took all of my feedback on the type of vacation we wanted and she curated a wonderful itinerary that hit all of the sites and excursions we wanted to see/do all within our budget and timeline. We will absolutely be back to Iceland and will use KimKim for my future vacations.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Eldhestar

Ölfus, Hveragerði

Wonderful hotel - clean and quiet close to our daily activities and with an awesome horseback riding experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hunkubakkar Guesthouse

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Comfortable and quiet guesthouses that are in a great spot if you are traveling on the south coast. Very friendly staff, nice breakfast. Quiet and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshotel Baron

Reykjavík

Great location - you can walk and don't need a car. Very clean and great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Horses and Hotsprings

Iceland

We loved this experience. It was more than just horseback riding on a farm. We went with a great tour and it was a real horseback riding adventure that took your experience into account.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jenny was responsive and understanding of most of what we were looking for during our time in Iceland. I was skeptical of some of the process and how the system and planning worked. Everything was so well coordinated and she was very responsive when we had one hiccup in Iceland. It was a terrific and busy trip that we won't soon forget! Thankful for KimKim and Jenny!

Activity Reviews

Crystal Blue Ice Cave

Iceland

Our tour guide Tate was amazing and made this a terrific experience we won't soon forget!

Quality of Experience

Small group, unique experience, adventurous, but safe!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tate was an expert, funny, and very personable

Transport

Myrdalsjokull glacier snowmobiling

Iceland

The only reason I give it 4 stars is because we didn't actually get to go on the snowmobiles due to a snow storm the day prior to our experience. The super jeep would not be able to pass through the snow. They had to pivot and take us on the ATVs. We were very disappointed, but had a really good time on the ATVs anyway. They did offer a full refund, scheduling a different day with snowmobiles as an alternative, but we couldn't schedule another day so we decided on the ATVs. It was still a terrific experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Iceland has been our favourite travel destination so far with its extraordinary experiences. We worked with Jenny for the last 5-6 months to plan the itinerary. She was supportive and patient while listening to our interests and suggested a trip plan accordingly. I was very keen on seeing the Northern lights and thankfully she booked the ‘superjeep tour’ for us instead of the regular bus tour as it was faster and we could do off-roading. The tour was booked on the second last day of our trip, however after my request it was rescheduled to the first day in order to maximise our chances of viewing them. We were so lucky that we saw the lights on the first day itself, that too within 30 minutes of meeting the tour operator. The experience made all the difference to our Iceland trip. The other tours – Golden Circle, South Coast 2-day tour and dog sledding – were all amazing. The suggestion of booking a two-day South Coast trip was a great one by Jenny. It included glacier hiking which was wonderful. We had told her early on to avoid a strenuous hike and so she had booked accordingly.

One of our feedbacks would be to have a whatsapp group in order to enable quicker communication during our stay in Iceland. We had one when we went to Greece with kimkim last year and that was super helpful. Also, it took a long time to receive a final itinerary because of weather-related concerns, which made us nervous. But ultimately it all worked out and we are thankful to Jenny and the team for their hard work and for organising an amazing trip for us. Iceland is truly one of a kind.

Thank you,
Nilanjana and Cody

Activity Reviews

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

This is definitely a must-do in Iceland.

Northern Lights Hunt Super Jeep Tour

Iceland

This tour was definitely the cherry on top of the cake. The guide (Hjortur with Arctic Adventures) was funny and knowledgeable. He took us straight to a breathtaking view of Northern Lights within 30 minutes of picking us up from our hotel. The hot chocolate was spot on. We are glad Jenny booked the superjeep tour as it was faster, more efficient and we could do off-roading and go to places where a regular bus wouldn't. The aurora forecast was just moderate but the lights turned out more than spectacular and we consider ourselves very lucky. We are glad we booked this tour on the first night of our trip because it kept raining continuously the last three days of our stay.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skaftafell Ice Cave Tour & Glacier Walk

Iceland

The name of our mountain guide from Troll expeditions was Sighvatur. He is 68 years old but very fit and active. He guided us very well through the glacier. The weather forecast showed rain on the second day of the two-day South Coast tour so he wisely scheduled the glacier hike on the first day of the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dog Sledding

Iceland

The dog sledding was exhilarating and every bit as good as we imagined. We were concerned about the lack of snow but it proved to be just as wonderful. Jenny was quick to rebook us on dry land when the tour company said there would not be any snow.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport