Mimpi Nusantara Asia

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.

Myriam was always prompt and pleasant. Stephen/Hans (guide) and Ichung (driver) were also always prompt and pleasant. Unfortunately there seemed to be a real disconnect between the itinerary and guiding arranged with Myrium compared with what actually happened on the trip. Certain activities never happened (e.g. cooking class, becak ride, silk weaving demonstration/discussion, others) even after bringing them to Myriam's attention (e.g Fort museum tour). It's understandable that the itinerary would fluctuate for when things would organically happen (e.g funeral) but communication was really poor from the guide, even after I asked for more details each day so I would know what to prepare, what to wear, etc.

I would have rather had no meals included and paid for myself as the guide left me at the hotel each night and I would have preferred not to eat there for the 4 nights. I understand lunch stops need to be timed and placed strategically but that flexibility would have been nice. As it was, I didn't have three dinners because of some issues and timing.

I have never arranged a private tour previously and expected basics of 1)driving/navigating logistics, 2) hotel arrangements, and 3) proficient English and interactive dialogue about the sites visited. Only the first happened (no driving or navigation issues). There were consistent confusions at one of the hotels, which thankfully were eventually sorted. The biggest disappointment was my guide, who was a very nice man, but spoke limited English and rarely interacted with me. At one point we were lost in a forested area and he had us walk in circles three different times, trying to find a trail. Randomly walking through rice fields is one thing, and through villages, so we can interact with local people, but this seems to be walking just use time? And there was limited to no talking or explanation from the guide so it wasn't really informative or held interest to walk up a busy road with motorbikes flying by.

When we went to the first restaurant, I was handed an Indonesian menu and thought the guide would help me understand what the options were. He did not so I had to use Google translate for the rest of the trip and figure it out myself. I pretty much Googled each point we stopped at so I would know what I was looking at or what to look for at the site when it became quickly clear Steven/Hans would not be giving detail.. Long car rides were spent in silence or with driver & guide chatting. It's not that I expected to be entertained as a solo raveler, but I expected some interaction beyond 'Stop now. Lunch'.

I gave this experience 3 stars because, in the end, I did see the main highlights I wanted to see; however, I'm saddened this trip I entrusted to kimkim was so poorly fulfilled.

I have used Kimkim twice now. The first time was for a two-week trip to the Philippines about six months ago, and everything was so wonderful that when I decided to take my two daughters to Bali before one headed off to law school and the other started college, I didn’t hesitate to book through Kimkim again.

For this trip, I wanted something a little different. We were looking for eco-conscious luxury, beautiful nature, authentic cultural experiences, and places that felt a little off the beaten path. One thing I especially appreciated during my first Kimkim experience was being paired with a local travel specialist who really understood the destination and culture. I asked whether I could receive a quote from a different specialist this time, but was told I couldn’t. I decided to move forward anyway even though I would have liked to have shopped agencies. (Since Kim Kim is basically a matchmaker site between local agencies and the consumer of travel).

The itinerary was pretty basic and the activities were primarily “self guided”. The trip was definitely highly marked up.

The planning process was fine, and after a few itinerary adjustments we were on our way from the San Francisco Bay Area to Bali.

The biggest disappointment was the level of communication from our travel specialist. We were only checked in on once after arriving, and during that message she didn’t even remember my name. It lacked the warmth, attentiveness, and thoughtful personal touches that I experienced on my previous Kimkim trip and that friends have also described. It certainly didn’t ruin our vacation, but it was noticeably different from the level of service I had come to expect.

Now for the part that made this trip absolutely unforgettable:
Our driver, Made (pronounced “Mah-Dee”), was extraordinary. I was initially told that he was “just a driver” and that a guide would cost extra. In reality, Made became one of the biggest highlights of our entire vacation.

He consistently went far above and beyond what anyone could reasonably expect. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Balinese culture, history, religion, traditions, food, and daily life. He answered every question we had with patience and enthusiasm, made wonderful recommendations that improved our itinerary, and was always thinking several steps ahead to make our days smoother and more enjoyable.

As three women traveling together, we always felt completely safe in his care. He was professional, respectful, kind, punctual, and genuinely invested in making sure we had the best possible experience. By the end of two weeks, he felt more like a trusted friend than simply our driver. If Kimkim has employees who represent the very best of what travel should be, Made is one of them. He deserves tremendous recognition.

The accommodations were also outstanding. Every hotel was an eco-luxury retreat, beautifully designed, surrounded by nature, and unique in its own way. The prices were very reasonable for travelers looking for this sort of resort . The markup from kimkim was huge and next time I will book these hotels myself and saved a lot of money. I never saw an itemized cost breakdown but did the math and I could have spent 1/2 the price booking myself. Each location had its own personality, yet all maintained the same high standard of comfort and hospitality that was standard for the areas where we stayed.

Even with my disappointment regarding communication from our travel specialist, this was still probably the best trip of my life. Bali is magical, and Kimkim put together an itinerary that allowed us to experience its beauty in a meaningful way. If I could make one suggestion, it would be to ensure every traveler receives the same level of personal attention during the planning process that Kimkim has built its reputation on.

And if you’re lucky enough to have Made as your driver, know that you’re in exceptional hands. He was worth his weight in gold and was one of the biggest reasons this became a trip my daughters and I will remember for the rest of our lives.

Hotel Reviews

Wapa Di Ume Sidemen

We spent our last three nights in Bali here. It was the perfect place to end the best vacation EVER. The staff were so attentive and thoughtful and kind. We attended their “BBQ by the river” which is a must! The restaurant was great. Breakfast was lovely every morning. The room was perfect for me and my two adult daughters. We had such a great time here. The staff really made it special . The views were priceless .

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Pondok Santi Estate

Nusa Tenggara Bar.

My adult daughters absolutely loved this resort. The location and staff were phenomenal. We spent 4 nights here and we felt so close to everything but loved being on this quiet southern tip of the island . He could hear the ocean and wake up to a beautiful sunrise every morning from our generously appointed villa. The outdoor showers such a great touch . The perfect amount of nature and luxury. The staff were incredible. I will definitely visit again someday!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across the street from a beautiful stretch of beach and set back away from the party atmosphere of the island .

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Cleanliness & Comfort

Ubud Valley Boutique Resort

We loved this place! The staff was top notch . The room was so beautiful. The craftsmanship of the villas were absolutely breathtaking .

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elevate by Hanging Gardens Munduk

Munduk

We had a wonderful stay at Elevate by Hanging Gardens Munduk. The property is beautiful, and the views of the mountains and surrounding greenery were absolutely breathtaking. It was such a peaceful place to relax and unwind. The staff were kind, welcoming, and attentive, and our villa was comfortable, thoughtfully designed, and felt like a special place to stay. As a vegan, I was pleasantly surprised to find several great vegan options on the menu, which made dining easy and enjoyable. The cooler weather was a nice change, and we really enjoyed spending a few days in this part of Bali. It felt like a wonderful place to slow down and take in the scenery. We would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a beautiful, relaxing stay surrounded by nature, and we’d love to return someday

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Activity Reviews

Private Sound Bath & Healing Experience

Ubud, Bali

This was just okay. I wouldn’t do it again.

Quality of Experience

Visit Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Indonesia

Our tour guide was so sweet! This place is beautiful . Take your time and just soak in wonder of this place. Bring money for snacks and buy goods from the people from the village they are so kind and thoughtful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide was wonderful. Our driver showed up just as we were finished - no waiting in the hot afternoon sun!

Transport

Sacred Wellness Journey in the Sidemen Valley

Sidemen, Bali

Anandini was wonderful! Surya was so kind wise and patient. Everything about the day for myself and my daughters was such a special gift. We will always remember this place as well as Surya.

Quality of Experience

Such a magical resort restaurant garden and wellness center. I’d love to stay in one of their villas the next time I’m in sideman ! There are the most precious pups on site and it’s all Vegan which meant I could eat everything on their amazing menu!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Drive Made did all of our driving and he was knowledgeable of every place we went. Transportation was always exceptional! anandinil Was so close to our resort but he still picked us up drove us and made sure we were good to go at the reception desk. There was torrential rainfall the morning we arrived so the help was so appreciated!

Catamaran boat trip around the Gili islands

Indonesia

The boat “utopia” is a beauty!! We loved this so much. The staff played great music and were a lot of fun! The snorkeling was great with a perfect amount of stops and lots of time to play in the water, paddle board or float around the boat before and after lunch. We had a great group on board with us and everyone had such a great time!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff were phenomenal and provided friendly and exemplary service!

Transport

Sekumpul Waterfalls Adventure

Indonesia

If you can make the hike back UP the mountain side, taking the trip down to the rivers and the falls is a MUST. This was such a surprising adventure! Probably our favorite activity on our trip to Bali. The local guides are amazing and the views are awesome inspiring. The sort of beauty that is so difficult to even capture with a cameras I was glad my daughters and guide took pictures because I was speechless and totally lost myself in the magic of this place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Myriam, Budi, Putu, and all of the other guides and drivers were amazing. The trip was perfectly planned, and everything was smooth as could be. I would give this team my highest recommendation!

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.

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The Sun of Granary Resort and Villas

Ubud,Bali

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

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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

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Location

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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

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Exploring the Local Plantations

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Sunrise from the Mount Bromo Caldera

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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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

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Prambanan: Indonesia’s Largest Shivaite Temple Complex

Yogyakarta

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

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Bukit Lawang trek to bat cave and Landak River

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Becak tour

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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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

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