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active 19 hours ago

Marc Urban

Passionate about travel, discovering new places, new experiences to try and getting to know people are the reasons why I became a travel specialist.
I really love to be able to share all my experience and prepare unforgettable trips for those who wants to discover the Wonders of Indonesia, its great heritage and culture.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I prepare customized trips to most of the Indonesian Islands, such as, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Bali, Lombok, Gili and Flores.
With various activities, local encounters, off the beaten track experiences, adventure, wildlife, gastronomy, cultural and sea activities."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I always wanted to visit the world and discover all those unknown places, I started travelling through Europe and North America when I was 16 years old, I crossed and lived through 46 countries and have been living in Indonesia for almost 10 years now."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"So many to tell ! But the very first weeks I arrived to Indonesia are the ones I will never forget. I spent my time living and going fishing with the fishermans in a small village of the East coast of Bali, leaving at 4am to open sea before sunrise with those amazing people."

Marc is part of the following groups: Indonesia Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Marc

The trip to Bali was amazing! Saw some beauti...
Indonesia | Jun 6 - Jun 18, 2024

A
Audrey D.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2024
The trip to Bali was amazing! Saw some beautiful sights and experienced wonderful adventures! Our accommodations were fabulous (though some had problems with the air conditioning which was frustrating). Marc provided amazing service and professionalism. He organized some great outings, along with drivers and upgraded at several of the hotels. He was responsive at all hours and made sure everything ran smoothly! Read more

The trip to Bali was amazing! Saw some beautiful sights and experienced wonderful adventures! Our accommodations were fabulous (though some had problems with the air conditioning which was frustrating). Marc provided amazing service and professionalism. He organized some great outings, along with drivers and upgraded at several of the hotels. He was responsive at all hours and made sure everything ran smoothly!

Hotel Reviews
Ecozy Dijiwa Canggu
Canggu

Comfortable and clean hotel Situated walking distance to shop and restaurants. It was my boyfriend’s birthday and the travel agent and staff arranged an incredible arrival with Blake and flowers on the bed! So nice after a long travel day!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Sang happy birthday upon our arrival and presented a cake! So nice!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wapa di Ume Ubud
Ubud, Gianyar, Bali

Incredible room. Marc was able to upgrade us to a 1 bedroom pool suite at no extra charge which was so awesome! Although the hotel was located a bit far from anything, we enjoyed our time here immensely.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Jul 09, 2024

Thank you for the review, Audrey! I appreciate it.

Ensuring comfort and organizing memorable outings is a top priority for me. I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the air conditioning issues at some of the accommodations.

I'm glad that Tommy and Jess enjoyed their trip to Bali and the Gili Islands.

Looking forward to assisting you with your next adventure in Indonesia!

Best wishes,
Marc

Amazing local experience
Indonesia | Jun 15 - Jun 20, 2024

A
Aneal R.
Denmark | Reviewed on Jul 01, 2024
My wife and I had an incredible experience in Flores with our guide Sergio and driver Eto. Both gave us a lot of good local insights into the culutre, people and food. We were treated to beautiful scenery in the form of canyons, waterfalls and unique rice fields. And the last 2 days were on a boat which was a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks to Marc and his team for creating the itinerary and giving us a great local experience mostly away from the tourist crowds in Laboan Bajo. Read more

My wife and I had an incredible experience in Flores with our guide Sergio and driver Eto. Both gave us a lot of good local insights into the culutre, people and food. We were treated to beautiful scenery in the form of canyons, waterfalls and unique rice fields. And the last 2 days were on a boat which was a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks to Marc and his team for creating the itinerary and giving us a great local experience mostly away from the tourist crowds in Laboan Bajo.

Hotel Reviews
Mbeliling Mountain Ecolodge
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Liveaboard in Komodo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Puri Sari Beach Hotel
Labuan Bajo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spring HIll Bungalow Ruteng
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Golo Hill Top
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Rangko Cave
Labuan Bajo

Unique experience of swimming in a cave with bats. Highly recommended

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cunca Wulang and Spiderwebs Rice fields
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ruteng Town
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Liveaboard Cruise: Discover Flores & Komodo
Liveaboard Cruise: Discover Flores & Komodo
Komodo Island
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Liveaboard Cruise - Departure Day
Liveaboard Cruise - Departure Day
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Jul 02, 2024

Hi Aneal,

Thank you for your review!

I'm thrilled that Sergio and Eto could share their insights and make your trip special. We're passionate about showcasing the best of Flores while keeping our travelers off the usual routes.

It was a pleasure creating the itinerary for you, and we're delighted to have been part of your memorable adventure. If you ever plan to visit again, we would love to help you explore more hidden gems.

Best regards,
Marc

The best trip to Indonesia EVER
Indonesia | May 18 - Jun 2, 2024

Nicholas
Nicholas D.
Holt, MI | Reviewed on Jun 15, 2024
All of the guides, the drivers, and the hotels were absolutely amazing. We enjoyed every single activity and meal that was pre-planned for us; and above all we loved the places around Indonesia that Marc had us staying in. Marc is the absolute best and we would do this trip all over again. Read more

All of the guides, the drivers, and the hotels were absolutely amazing. We enjoyed every single activity and meal that was pre-planned for us; and above all we loved the places around Indonesia that Marc had us staying in. Marc is the absolute best and we would do this trip all over again.

Hotel Reviews
Ecolodge Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Qunci Villas Hotel

hands down nicest place i've ever stayed in, best staff and food in all of indonesia.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Boat trip and snorkeling around Gili Layar & Gili Renggit
Boat trip and snorkeling around Gili Layar & Gili Renggit
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Long trek in the jungle - Meet the Orangutans
Long trek in the jungle - Meet the Orangutans
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sumatran jungle by 4x4, from Bukit Lawang to Tangkahan
Sumatran jungle by 4x4, from Bukit Lawang to Tangkahan
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Munduk & Tamblingan Lake Exploration
Munduk & Tamblingan Lake Exploration
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tangkahan Elephants
Tangkahan Elephants
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cycling from Kintamani to Ubud
Cycling from Kintamani to Ubud
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Jun 17, 2024

Hi Nick,

Thank you for your review! Getting to know you and planning the trip together was an absolute pleasure.

Looking forward to welcoming you back to Indonesia!

Best regards,
Marc

Our trip was amazing! Marc did a great job a...
Indonesia | May 18 - Jun 2, 2024

Joe
Joe D.
Holt, MI | Reviewed on Jun 10, 2024

Our trip was amazing! Marc did a great job at everything he did. The guides, drivers and hotels were amazing and perfect!

Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Jun 11, 2024

Hi Joe,

Thank you for your review!

It was a pleasure working with you and Nick to prepare the trip. I truly enjoyed planning it with both of you!

Best regards,
Marc

Amazing trip, well organized, lots of great touches, and thoroughly enjoyable
Indonesia | Apr 14 - Apr 19, 2024

Jason
Jason C.
San Carlos, CA | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2024
We had a really wonderful experience on this trip. It started with planning the trip with Marc, who helped us figure out what to do throughout our 5 day trip. Marc was really flexible in ensuring that our specific interests (historical sites, local food, swimming with a manta ray, snorkeling) were part of the plan. And it all happened (although the manta ray part cannot be guaranteed every time :)). Then, on the trip the itself, we had a fantastic driver, Jering. There were lots of nice... Read more

We had a really wonderful experience on this trip. It started with planning the trip with Marc, who helped us figure out what to do throughout our 5 day trip. Marc was really flexible in ensuring that our specific interests (historical sites, local food, swimming with a manta ray, snorkeling) were part of the plan. And it all happened (although the manta ray part cannot be guaranteed every time :)). Then, on the trip the itself, we had a fantastic driver, Jering. There were lots of nice touches from him, from the welcome flower garlands, ready availability cold water (critical in Bali), through to the discussions about culture and history, and advice on what to look for (with fascinating touches of stories to enrich the experience). And oh, he found us the perfect (and good value) durian experience that was to die for (if you can deal with the smell). I'd definitely recommend working with Marc and Jering for your next trip to Bali.

Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Jun 13, 2024

Hi Jason,

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us! Jering and I are thrilled to hear that you had a great time.

Best wishes from both of us! We're already looking forward to your next visit!

Safe travels and see you soon!
Marc

Great Bali trip
Indonesia | Nov 2 - Nov 15, 2023

Emily
Emily S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Nov 22, 2023
Marc was great to work with! We went back and forth a few times on the details of the trip and a few of the hotels before locking it in. He was very accommodating and provided valuable insights. He kept in touch from planning until we departed and checked in while we were in country. Read more

Marc was great to work with! We went back and forth a few times on the details of the trip and a few of the hotels before locking it in. He was very accommodating and provided valuable insights. He kept in touch from planning until we departed and checked in while we were in country.

Hotel Reviews
Tejaprana Resort & Spa
Ubud

Everyone here was very friendly and accommodating. The view from our room and the restaurant were gorgeous. Spa services were relaxing and top notch. The room was clean and comfortable. Breakfast at the hotel was very good. Only downfall was location as there wasn’t much walkable but nothing was to far by car.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautiful views but not walkable
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Munduk Moding Plantation - CHSE Certified
Gobleg

Love this hotel. Truly a 5 star experience with amazing service, great food and fun activities on site. The location provides a cooler temperature but the property promises amazing views. The staff goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service. Even though it’s cooler and damp the bugs were well managed and bug spray is provided.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Menjangan Dynasty Resort - CHSE Certified
Pejarakan

If you enjoy camping then you will love these yurts. Cute and comfortable. It is a single room with only a screen dividing the bed from the toilet and while it was air it doesn’t do much during the day due to the screens and not being enclosed. However the access and view and the beach is beautiful and the staff is friendly. Service at the restaurant is great. This is a location you come to relax on the beach or at the pool.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mutiara Bali Boutique Resort Villas & Spa

Nice hotel within walking distance to shops and restaurants. Mosquitos were by far the worst at this hotel. Staff was friendly but not very informative or helpful. Room was ok, felt It could be cleaner and the bathroom doesn’t have AC only the sleeping area. At night there were monkey ir some type of animal jumping on our roof and rummaging through the out door kitchen.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Snorkeling around Menjangan Island
Snorkeling around Menjangan Island
Indonesia

Amazing coral reef. We had 2 guides, 1 for snorkel and 1 for diving. Both were great and pointed out many different fish. The boat could use a little TLC and the lunch was was questionable from a temp control stand point. But the overall experience was great.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit a local market & enjoy a cooking class
Visit a local market & enjoy a cooking class
Ubud, Bali

Amazing experience with welcoming host. This was a great class, very engaging and everyone got to participate and learn.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sunrise Trek to Mount Batur Summit
Sunrise Trek to Mount Batur Summit
Indonesia

This is a hard hike. We didn’t realize you are able to take a motor bike from the parking area half way and then hike the rest of the way. We hiked from the parking lot, but wish we would have known we could take a bike half way.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa
Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa
Indonesia

What a beautiful property and wonderful experience with the healer. We got to tour the property, make offerings, have a welcome drink and lunch. The Healing ceremony was incredible.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kecak Dance Performance
Kecak Dance Performance
Indonesia

A fun and unique experience. It was cool to see the dancers and hear the story in Balinese. This does take place outside so can be rather warm and you sit on stone benches.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Balinese massage
Balinese massage
Indonesia

Spa services at hotels except in Seminyak were great.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Nov 24, 2023

Hi Emily,

Thank you for your review!

Working with you on the trip details was a pleasure, and I'm pleased to have contributed to this beautiful experience. Your feedback means a lot, and I'm always here for any future travel plans to Indonesia!

Best wishes and Safe travels!
Marc

Excellent Service
Indonesia | Nov 10 - Nov 17, 2023

R
Rebecca N.
Coshocton, OH | Reviewed on Nov 18, 2023
Marc was excellent to work with. He followed my specific requests. I had a last minute change because Ubud was very touristy. Instead, I wanted to spend more time at the beach and it worked well. Nusa Dua is definitely the clean beach area and nice hotels. I am vegan so it was easy to get the best fried rice and stir fry including the best tofu/tempe. Jerry, the local driver was amazing. Jerry was very knowledgeable, humble, flexible, friendly, and very kind. If I were to do it all over... Read more

Marc was excellent to work with. He followed my specific requests. I had a last minute change because Ubud was very touristy. Instead, I wanted to spend more time at the beach and it worked well. Nusa Dua is definitely the clean beach area and nice hotels. I am vegan so it was easy to get the best fried rice and stir fry including the best tofu/tempe. Jerry, the local driver was amazing. Jerry was very knowledgeable, humble, flexible, friendly, and very kind. If I were to do it all over again, I would have stayed in Nusa Dua. The mountain bike ride was awesome, excellent local guide and safe ride with a tasty lunch. The cooking class was the best with the locals and delicious (he also shared the recipe with me). The ridge walk hike was a workout as it was at least 31 degrees Celsius; highly recommend it in Ubud. Also, hostels are really nice so this is cheaper and a nicer way to meet people. It was tough to meet people as I was the only person on the tour and not many solo travelers. It would be great for the hotels to have a social hour at the pool to meet people from all over. Highly recommend Marc and Jerry. Overall, a great and fun trip.

Hotel Reviews
Green field Ubud
Ubud

Central hotel in the town center. No social hour at the pool. Friendly and very kind staff. Great food at their restaurant. Close to bars, shops, and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Jimbaran Bay Beach Resort & Spa - CHSE Certified
Kedonganan

The staff was so sweet and accommodating. Delicious food at the restaurant and fifth floor (lounge). The beach had a lot of garbage and stray dogs but the sunrise/sunset were beautiful. This hotel also needs to have a social hour so people can meet from all over!!! Prices were cheap.

Authenticity & Character
Location
not centrally located.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa
Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa
Indonesia

Learning about the culture, history, and religion was fascinating. The local guide was awesome and the cooking class made my day.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mountain bike from Batur to Ubud
Mountain bike from Batur to Ubud
Indonesia

The infinity guide was lots of fun. A bummer it was only 2 people and still it was awesome. Made good stops for nice photos! Lunch was delicious too.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Nov 21, 2023

Dear Rebecca,

Coordinating the trip with you was delightful, and I especially enjoyed our conversations throughout your stay.
Jerry sends his warm regards.

Best wishes,
Marc

We had such an incredible trip! Marc answered...
Indonesia | Oct 25 - Nov 3, 2023

Brittany Leslie Lynn
Brittany Leslie Lynn S.
Canada | Reviewed on Nov 17, 2023
We had such an incredible trip! Marc answered every question we had and was so helpful throughout the planning process. I had a lot of things to work through while planning and Marc was very patient and checked in throughout to see if we needed any help. He also helped us book our last flight getting into Indonesia, which took some stress off of us.
We cannot say enough great things about our driver, Dinar. He was so kind and taught us a lot about Ubud and Seminyak as he brought us places,...
Read more

We had such an incredible trip! Marc answered every question we had and was so helpful throughout the planning process. I had a lot of things to work through while planning and Marc was very patient and checked in throughout to see if we needed any help. He also helped us book our last flight getting into Indonesia, which took some stress off of us.
We cannot say enough great things about our driver, Dinar. He was so kind and taught us a lot about Ubud and Seminyak as he brought us places, and also made additional recommendations, such as visiting a wood-carving business, that we hadn't originally planned. He provided cold water for us each morning for our drives, which was greatly appreciated. He was super easy to contact and made our trip to Indonesia so smooth. We would not have survived the driving without him!
The accommodations were so beautiful as well. The staff were so friendly at each of the places we stayed and they went above and beyond and decorated our rooms with signs and flowers for our honeymoon.
We are so thankful to have booked through Kimkim and will be booking again with them in the future!

Hotel Review
Gili Eco Villas
Gili Trawangan

This was such a perfect getaway from home! We loved our bungalow and we were so relaxed at this location. There were plenty of restaurants nearby and we were able to rent bikes to go wherever we wanted on the island. The staff were also super helpful and gave us recommendations of what to do during our stay. It is located a bit far away for those who are more interested in partying in Gili, however you simply cannot beat the relaxing vibe this place gives and is right on the beach, giving a beautiful view 24 hours a day.

Authenticity & Character
Location
They are located next to a beautiful beach and next to plenty of food and drink spots. We did feel that we were a bit far away from things at times, but we were able to rent bikes to get wherever we wanted.
Staff
The staff were so kind and were always checking in to see how we were doing and if there was anything they could help us out with.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Nov 21, 2023

Hi Brittany,

Thank you for your review!

Working with you and Jonathan to plan this amazing trip was truly a pleasure. I'm delighted I could assist you with any questions you had along the way, and I hope to welcome you back to Indonesia soon for another memorable experience.

Sending warm regards from Dinar as well.

Best wishes,
Marc

Our 4 day, 3 night stay on a super deluxe Klotok was amazing.
Indonesia | Nov 10 - Nov 14, 2023

Barbara
Barbara S.
Canada | Reviewed on Nov 16, 2023
Marc did a great job in planning this trip and dealing with the flight changes that were necessary. Everything went very smoothly. Our guide on the Super Deluxe Klotok, Jeffrey was very knowledgable especially about the birds and monkeys we saw. The boat crew were excellent and went out of their way to point out birds and animals along the way and Cookie made very tasty meals. Read more

Marc did a great job in planning this trip and dealing with the flight changes that were necessary. Everything went very smoothly. Our guide on the Super Deluxe Klotok, Jeffrey was very knowledgable especially about the birds and monkeys we saw. The boat crew were excellent and went out of their way to point out birds and animals along the way and Cookie made very tasty meals.

Hotel Reviews
Liveaboard on a Klotok
Borneo

The Klotok was only a few years old and the lounge and bedroom was airconditioned and very comfortable. The bathroom was nice with flush toilet and shower. The top deck was great for viewing wildlife. The crew were amazing and Cookie served great food.

Authenticity & Character
Although this Klotok was only a few years old, it was traditional in design and perfect for the river.
Location
It was great to have breakfast on the top deck moored somewhere along the river enjoying the birds and monkeys.
Staff
Very helpful, excellent in spotting wildlife, food was excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed was very comortable and the bathroom very clean.
FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta
Tangerang, Banten

FM7 does a great job in meeting flights, transporting people back and forth to the airport. Our room was very nice.

Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Nov 22, 2023

Hi Barbara,

We truly appreciate your feedback! Crafting a fantastic experience with you was a delight.

I look forward to welcoming you back to Indonesia soon!

Best regards,
Marc

Bali, Lombok and Java
Indonesia | Oct 15 - Nov 10, 2023

Dixie
Dixie W.
Nampa, ID | Reviewed on Nov 12, 2023
Just returned home from our longest international and fourth trip using KimKim. It was truly a pleasurable experience! Marco put together a fantastic trip and was extremely helpful when we needed to make a couple of changes ( one change in a room, and another to our itinerary). All of the guides we had were amazing, and our two main drivers, Putu and Sifel) went above and beyond. Our experiences of hiking Mt. Ijen, river rafting, biking, snorkeling, trekking etc. were all very delightful and... Read more

Just returned home from our longest international and fourth trip using KimKim. It was truly a pleasurable experience! Marco put together a fantastic trip and was extremely helpful when we needed to make a couple of changes ( one change in a room, and another to our itinerary). All of the guides we had were amazing, and our two main drivers, Putu and Sifel) went above and beyond. Our experiences of hiking Mt. Ijen, river rafting, biking, snorkeling, trekking etc. were all very delightful and are highly recommended. Thank you KimKim for employing quality people and delivering a quality experience for us. We will continue to use KimKim for our travels.

Hotel Reviews
Lumbini Luxury villas
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tejaprana Resort & Spa
Ubud
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Munduk Heaven Luxury Villas
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
Cleanliness & Comfort
Candi Beach Resort and Spa - CHSE Certified
Bali
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Went above and beyond to celebrate a birthday with us.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Nov 19, 2023

Hi Dixie & Doug,

Thank you for taking the time to share about the fantastic adventure!

I'm glad that the adjustments we made, whether to one room or the change in the last couple of days, met your expectations and added to the overall enjoyment of your trip.

Knowing the experiences were delightful and highly recommended means a lot to me.

Best wishes and safe travels,
Marc