Marc Urban

Dear Team,
Suzanne already wrote a review for both of us, but I would like to use this opportunity and to add, that it was Marc, who created our itinerary and even we didn't meet him, he was with us along the whole trip. It gave us a very good feeling of safety.
Deep thanks to Marc and to all the wonderful team!
All the best,
Yoram

As we both reached this year 80, we decided that instead of a big party we will travel to a very special place. Indonesia was the best choice we could do - and it was beyond all our expectations. The trip was planned very well by Marc - we could experience unique historical sites like Borobudur or Pure Besakih, being overwhelmed by the majestic nature like Bromo and to meet wonderful people of Indonesia. We even learned a bit about the excellent Indosian cuisine. Marc was always there for us, patienly dealing with all kind of questions which occured close to our departure (volcano erruptions) and also during the trip. Marc is super!!!
We liked very much our guide in Jawa - Coco - who was most attentive, knowlegable, intelligent and pleasant person. We also liked our driver in Bali - Made - who was gentle, atentive, always precise and an excellent driver.
All our hotels, recommended by Marc were beautiful and on a very high level.
In short - our trip was an absolutely amazing experience and we thank you for making it such.

Our guides were all awesome! So knowledgeable and patient. They really made the trip worthwhile. It felt great to have a personal guide and driver to help with translations and overall experiences. Our guide in Lombok was amazing!

I feel that our guide in Ubud could have been a bit more proactive, we mentioned twice wanting to try the Kopi luwak (as we passed multiple places selling it) but he did not offer for us to stop. At the moment we didn't realize that we could have just asked him to take us there, as it was the first day of our trip so we weren't aware that we had that liberty.
He also did not offer for us to stop at any shops to buy souvenirs, so we ventured out on our own when we got back to the hotel. In hindsight I didn't realize we had the option to ask for further beyond just the biking excursion, so maybe that could have been communicated a bit better, but it did not take away from the trip or experience by any means!

What an incredible trip!

If you ever have the opportunity to travel with KimKim and work with Marc, don’t hesitate—just do it. In an ever-modernizing world, this was the kind of authentic adventure that stays with you forever.

Marc Urban was our trip planner and made so much of this trip possible. My partner had more questions and worries prior to our departure than any two people could address, but Marc persevered. He planned and revised and answered questions and researched options and generally went above and beyond the call travel arranging to make it our dream experience and for that we are grateful.

Our journey began in Jakarta, where we stayed at the extraordinary House of Tugu. From the moment we arrived, we knew we were somewhere special. The team are true masters at creating a memorable guest experience. It is part boutique hotel, part living museum, and everywhere you look there is something beautiful to discover. We enjoyed a couples massage with traditional scrubs and oils, followed by dinner, and it was absolutely magical.

From there, we traveled to Bukit Lawang, determined to see the orangutans. We stayed at Ecolodge Bukit Lawang, which was wonderfully rustic and perfectly immersed in nature. Our guides, Lucy and Sugay, were brilliant. Lucy was an endless source of knowledge about Sumatra, its history, its people, and its agriculture.174c9fd1-20d8-4f7a-b701-b6bb00d6c7ed.JPG

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The trip also provided one unforgettable surprise: I was taking a shower with the balcony door open when a macaque decided to help itself to our luggage! I came out to find it enthusiastically going through our bags like someone shopping at Filene’s Basement. 😂 It finally accepted a banana as payment to leave. It remains one of my favorite travel stories.

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Unfortunately, I became ill and couldn’t complete the jungle trek to see the orangutans, although my partner was able to continue. Even so, I saw many other monkeys and still had an incredible experience. We toured terraced rice fields in a motorcycle-powered sidecar, watched dark sugar being made from the sap of sugar palms, drank from fresh coconuts, and watched sunrises turn the sky the colors of fire. The lodge restaurant served simple, delicious food, and I highly recommend the becak tour and palm-sugar demonstration.

Our next stop was Plataran Borobudur Resort & Spa in Yogyakarta. What a beautiful contrast—from a rustic ecolodge to a luxurious private villa complete with our own pool. The staff were exceptionally gracious and attentive, the food was outstanding, and the expansive grounds were filled with beautiful surprises, including rehabilitated local animals and a koi pond.

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The views were breathtaking. In one direction, we could see Borobudur; in another, an enormous jungle-covered ridge rose dramatically into the sky. Our guides were consistently prompt, warm, and knowledgeable, taking us effortlessly from temples to towns to palaces. We even enjoyed a private gamelan lesson!

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Visiting Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was unforgettable, and Prambanan, the magnificent Hindu temple complex, was equally breathtaking.

Next, we headed to Munduk, which completely changed our perception of Bali. Forget the beaches—this was cool mountain air, lush cloud forests, waterfalls, and remarkable round cabins built on stilts high above a steep valley. Some were even reached by funicular.

Our guide expertly navigated the narrow, winding mountain roads that we would never have attempted ourselves. We hiked through beautiful countryside, explored waterfalls and mountain lakes, and paddled a canoe across a peaceful lake to a hidden temple. We also visited Rumah Desa, where I learned about village life and local cooking and even had the opportunity to plow a rice field with an ox! My partner was unfortunately sick during this portion of the trip, but it became one of my favorite cultural experiences.

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From there, we continued to Kappa Senses Ubud, another exceptional property. It is a beautifully subdued and elegant resort, with peaceful facilities, wonderful restaurants, and private bungalows with their own lap pools.

The Sacred Water Temple purification ceremony was one of the highlights of our journey. We also visited the Monkey Forest, which, although popular with tourists, was absolutely beautiful and so much fun.

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Rather than rushing to see every temple, we chose to slow down and immerse ourselves in the local culture. I created my own batik artwork and made a silver ring—two experiences and keepsakes I will always treasure.

Then came one of the greatest highlights of the adventure: our liveaboard from Labuan Bajo.

Our new ocean home, the Floresta, was a beautiful, traditional two-masted Indonesian sailing ship. The crew quickly became our friends and could not have been more gracious. Special recognition goes to our onboard concierge, Fansi, and to the charming young woman who prepared all our abundant meals and snacks. Every day, we were treated to multi-course meals featuring delicious local specialties made with fresh ingredients.

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We visited Komodo National Park, where we saw and photographed several incredible Komodo dragons roaming freely in their natural habitat. We snorkeled along lush underwater cliffs filled with coral and marine life and walked along Pink Beach, where tiny fragments of deep-red coral give the sand its famous rosy color.

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One evening, we witnessed something truly unforgettable: tens of thousands of bats emerging from their island caves at sunset and filling the sky as they began their nightly hunt. It was spectacular.

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We ended our voyage at Seraya Island, where we enjoyed extraordinary snorkeling and some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets imaginable. If you visit, don’t miss the walk up to the Sunset Bar—the view is worth every step.

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Finally, we returned to Jakarta and once again stayed at House of Tugu. Coming back felt like returning home. We were welcomed with tea and a leaf inscribed with the words “Welcome Home,” a simple gesture that perfectly captured the warmth and hospitality we experienced throughout Indonesia.

As wonderful as the destinations were, what made this journey truly unforgettable were the people. Every driver, guide, crew member, and hotel team welcomed us with genuine kindness and pride in their country.

We returned home with incredible memories, new friendships, and a much deeper appreciation for Indonesia’s culture, beauty, and hospitality. We were genuinely sad to leave, but enormously grateful to every person who helped make this adventure so extraordinary.

Thank you to KimKim, Marc, and everyone who made this journey possible. It truly was the adventure of a lifetime.

This trip was an adventure. Something different every day and the guides were fabulous. I could not tell you which activity was my favorite. Sometimes the days were too long and could have been made a little shorter by eliminating some of the village trips. However village trips like the one immersing the culture of Bali was wonderful. But trips where we watched someone make palm sugar and tempeh were not. The hotels were absolutely great and we wished that we could linger in them a little longer like the one in Jiwa Jawa. I know that this was an adventure trip but I wish that we had some time to explore local markets. I like to buy a souvenir to remember my trip.

Hotel Reviews

FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta

Tangerang, Banten

Nice hotel but rather removed from everything, therefore it was not possible to go and walk outside. The plus was that it is near the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sun of Granary Resort and Villas

Ubud,Bali

Beautiful hotel. But the restaurant had a rather limited menu.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Menjangan Dynasty Resort - CHSE Certified

Pejarakan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ketapang Indah Hotel

Banyuwangi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jiwa Jawa Bromo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very inviting lush gardens where you can linger all day

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

YOGYAKARTA

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Anara Kualanamu

Sumatera Utara

Only slept there so cannot make a comment

Ecolodge Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa

Indonesia

Wonderful introduction to the culture of Bali. Taking part in the a religious ceremony and helping to cook a meal as well as a close excursion in the rice field and watching the field being prepared and the rice transplanted.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sekumpul Waterfalls Adventure

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver and staff were excellent. They insisted that we get out of our wet clothes after a drenching rain and brought our suitcases to us. Then we enjoyed a warm home cooked meal at the local restaurant,

Transport

Snorkeling around Menjangan Island

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Local Plantations

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise from the Mount Bromo Caldera

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Traditional Javanese Villages

Indonesia

Sharing the culture and food with the family of this village was wonderful. Interacting with the young children added to the trip. The home cooked meal was one of the best.

Quality of Experience

Food

the home made food was one of the best

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Borobudur: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prambanan: Indonesia’s Largest Shivaite Temple Complex

Yogyakarta

Quite crowded but we went at the end of the holidays, so many people there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bukit Lawang trek to bat cave and Landak River

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Becak tour

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jungle Exploration & Adventure Day - Meet the Orangutans

Indonesia

I never thought that I would see an orangutan this close. The orangutan performed for us for 20 minutes. This activity alone made my trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had all wonderful guides who were prompt and took us to all the places that they were supposed to. They were all knowledgeable and helped us to understand what we were seeing. Due to the holiday after Ramadan the traffic was unusually heavy, and we spent a long time traveling. One guide seemed to be on a schedule and she took so much time getting us to our next place. She did not want our arrival to be before a set time. It was late and we had an early flight out. It was much too much for one day.

Marc, our travel agent, prepared the trip to our specifications. The hotels were all good.

Thanks for planning this trip so well. We enjoyed it.

Judith Lewin-Kossover

Our driver, Odik, was just a delight. He was always early, which meant we were never running behind schedule. He answered our questions, and provided commentary from time to time, especially when the Guide wasn't with us. He was very alert to my desire to take a photo from inside the car and would stop or slow down as traffic permitted. And speaking of traffic, it's a little crazy navigating the roads. There were a few times when I closed my eyes because I thought something bad was about to happen, but it never did.

Our guide, Badi, was likewise very engaging and informative. He provided lots of great historical and background information on the places we visited. He dealt with our on-the-fly requests to find an ATM we could use, and to buy some liquor to take home with us.

All of our outings were much better than the descriptions. We were particularly happy with the cooking classes at Rumah Desa and Paon Bali were excellent! Well-organized, efficiently delivered, and informative. The Monkey Forest was a delight as well, getting to be up close and personal with the animals.

One tiny downside...it would have been helpful to have a level-of-effort rating on some of the walks. I was able to do pretty much everything, but my traveling companion had to forgo some of the walks, or sections of walks, because they were just a little too strenuous.

In the end, though, I will be happy to recommend Kimkim and our consultant, Marc Urban to anyone who asks!

Hotel Review

Tejaprana Resort & Spa

Bali

We felt like we sat down in the lap of luxury when we arrived at Tejaprana. Once you turn off the very busy street, you descend (literally) into an island paradise of quiet and green and luxury. Frankly, we were happy to spend all of our free time at the resort, partly because we'd been traveling for a long time, and partly because it's just so damn nice. Similarly, Aruna Restaurant is excellent! We ate our way through most of the Balinese offerings they had on the menu, sometimes more than once. Staff is very friendly and welcoming, from the top management to the people cleaning the resort.

Authenticity & Character

I can't speak to the authenticity of the establishment, since I've had little exposure to the culture. But the character was very much in line with what I expected.

Location

It was relatively central to all that we wanted to see. It took us a while to understand that you can't move very fast in Bali, particularly in congested areas. But all was great.

Staff

From top to bottom the staff was excellent! Pandi, the restaurant manager, was particularly helpful and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

When your hotel is in the middle of nature, as is Tejaprana, you can't expect it to look 100% pristine at all times. So there were times that there were leaves and other natural debris scattered about. But it wasn't in the least offensive. Cleanliness was top-notch.

Activity Reviews

Visit a local market & enjoy a cooking class

Indonesia

The market walk was interesting, because it gave us such a good glimpse into daily life. The cooking class was exceptional, start to finish!.

Quality of Experience

well-run and delightful from start to finish!

Food

OMIGOD! SO GOOD!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was really great! It seemed like they very much enjoy what they do!

Transport

Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa

Indonesia

It was absolutely fascinating to step into the world of a Balinese family, if only for part of a day. Our guide (I wish I could remember his name, but he was 6'5" tall, so very distinctive among Balinese men) did a great job introducing us to religious traditions and other aspects of daily life. I enjoyed learning about their 18-character alphabet, and getting a memento of my name written in Balinese. It was also interesting to see the amount of labor that goes in to producing coconut oil, coconut milk, and grated coconut.

Quality of Experience

Nope. Start to finish, it was excellent.

Food

The meal we helped to prepare was excellent!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I've talked about our driver elsewhere. The staff was uniformly warm and welcoming.

Transport

Discussed elsewhere.

We used Kimkim to plan our honeymoon to Bali and Lombok, and it was an incredible experience. Our specialist, Marc, was thoughtful, responsive, and truly understood what we wanted—romantic, relaxing, and stress-free. All three of our drivers/guides were fantastic.

When I asked about making changes to the itinerary, Marc took the time to explain why it was originally planned the way it was, and I’m so glad we trusted his expertise and left everything as he designed it. The trip flowed perfectly, the accommodations were amazing, and we never had to worry about a single detail. We also got pretty lucky with the weather since it was rainy season in Indonesia, but much less crowds and I couldn’t imagine going when it’s crowded everywhere and humid!

We’re so grateful to Marc and Kimkim for creating a honeymoon we’ll never forget. We would absolutely use them again and highly recommend them to anyone planning a special trip.

Hotel Reviews

Merusaka Nusa Dua

Bali

Very nice hotel and room. We had some issues with the TV and AC in our first room, which required some elevation to management and finally requesting a new room to get fixed. The hotel itself is the nicest we stayed at. It’s also a very touristy area, so it’s very catered to western standards and safety. Also loved how close to was to the airport for the end of our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Qunci Villas Hotel

Senggigi

It was a great hotel overall, but the rooms could use some updates. The cleanliness was OK. A few issues with cleaning that they promptly fixed when asked. It should be noted the shower is outdoors, which is so fun but can be a bit of an issue sometimes with rainy season. There is also only a shower, no tub. The restaurants were fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tejaprana Resort & Spa

Bali

Our favorite place we stayed. The cutest little villa with our own private plunge pool. The welcome drink and massages were great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to ubud but far enough away from the hustle and bustle

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kecak Dance Performance

Indonesia

We loved this! So unique and it was great to do the temple tour prior to the performance. Our guide was very experienced and spoke English so well. I am so glad this was a part of our itinerary.

Quality of Experience

The show was spectacular, especially at the earlier time because sunset happened during the show.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide spoke really good English compared to most people in this country and he had been doing this almost 30 years!

Transport

Waterfall Exploration and Traditional Sasak Village Visit

Indonesia

The waterfall was so beautiful! It was a really cool little hike through a river and forest there. Our guide was so fun and took great photos.

Quality of Experience

Sooo worth it. Beautiful.

Food

The fried chicken was awesome, meal was authentic and fresh

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best Beaches of Lombok

Indonesia

I’m sure the beaches are really great, unfortunately it was raining the day we had this scheduled so we got stuck in some rain storms. It’s also a little far from the resort we stayed in.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balinese massage

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Boat trip and snorkeling around the Gilis island (Meno, Air)

Indonesia

Our favorite activity- highly recommend this. We even went back to the gili islands another day because we loved it so much. So so many sea turtles!! The viewing glass upgrade to the boat was nice, but overall a speed boat would have been amazing for faster travel. Also, a nicer boat with a better area on the front to lounge would have made it perfect.

Quality of Experience

Food

Sitting on the beach to eat was awesome!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A fast boat or nicer boat would have been ideal