Shanti Travel

Our driver Nyoman was fantastic, always on time and always had a smile on his face. Ana was very accommodating and the places and experiences she helped us book were all fantastic. Some more insight into what happens during Nyepi and the lead up to it would have been useful so to be able to plan more effectively around it

Activity Reviews

Experience Cau Chocolate Factory

Ubud, Bali

Fabulous experience with heaps of detail included and lots of things to see, try and do. The rice planting was an unexpected bonus!

Experience Balinese Cooking Class

Ubud, Bali

Lovely activity, which included learning about Indonesian culture and not just food. So many dishes were made which was excellent to be able to try and look out for on the rest of our trip

This part of our trip was simply a return from Denpasar to Jakarta and went without a hitch. Ana is great and I would happily reccommend her.

This was a return trip to Indonesia after a 10 year hiatus. We have been to Indondesia many, many times. I had not used or heard of KimKim before and so was a bit suspect and cautious, as it turns out, for no reason. I would recommend KimKim and Ana (at Shanti travel). Ana was extremely helpful in the planning of the trip. She was available for telephone consultations and created 4 different versions before we finalized the itinerary in order to accommodate each and all of our wishes. When I discovered errors in the plan she corrected them, and was available to us when we were on route. This does not mean that you as the traveller can abdicate responsibility for your travel details. There were changes in flights and times that I had to chase to ensure that we had the correct time. Ana was helpful throughout. We actually met with her in person when we were in Bali.
I was thrilled that each and all of our transfers worked. At each airport/train station/hotel (and there were lots of them) when a driver was supposed to pick us up they were there on time with a sign and /or my correct name and an appropriate vehicle. Drivers were careful and pleasant. Agung in Bali was particularly good.
With regard to the trip itself, the Kalimantan leg up the river to be with the Orangutans was wonderful. The Klotok was uber posh in an "out of Africa' glamorous way with a skilled knowledgeable naturalist guide, excellent cook, Captain and crew. We were happy to be a bit off the beaten path with our particular guide and while Camp leaky is not what it was 15 years ago i am glad to have made the trek again.
Other highlights: Paddling and hiking in the jungle with the naturalist in Munduk. Biking the rice paddies in Ubud. Making lunch the traditional way - starting by grinding the rice, and cooking over an open fire in the rice paddies. Temples on Java are well controlled now for good reason (too many people) but still fascinating as is Bromo. Lovina is beautiful and quiet and the drive over the mountains is spectacular.
Disappointments: 1.Not being able to get out to the Komodo islands as they closed the park because of weather. Ana was great in the rerouting. 2.In the rainy season in Indo the beaches are FULL of garbage as it flows down the rivers and into the ocean and onto the beaches. They have to be cleaned everyday or it is like walking through a landfill. When they are cleaned they are lovely. 3.We would give a hard pass on Jimbaran. Beach filthy, even in front of restaurants and beach clubs no one was cleaning the beach. The seafood dinner on the beach was pathetic. Did it 10 years ago and it was good - now it was really not edible and was stupidly expensive.
Overall: Indonesia has a LOT of people and a LOT of tourists and LOTs of traffic in populated areas. It is a fascinating country both culturally, historically and geographically. We love it. Go if you can and be confident getting Ana and KimKim to help you plan.

Some challenge getting answers back in a timely manner, initial mixup in air flights days

I enjoyed this trip . A trip with varieties. Our two drivers/main guides were both good. They were friendly and helpful. The highlights for this trip for me are the Mount Bromo sunrise trip and the blue flame hike the following morning. But for the blue flame hike, too bad I did not walk fast enough . By the time when I got to the spot, the blue flame burnt out already. If we started 30 minutes earlier or if we skipped that morning refreshment, I would be able to see the blue flame. Hopefully the tour organizer would consider this point so that other tourists who love to see the blue flame would not miss it.

The 3 cruise days trip to Komodo National Park was interesting too. I enjoyed the beautiful coral reefs, sunrise and sunset there. The cruise crews were good.

For the day trip to Nusa Penida, I wish they could provide us big towel so that we could have it to cover our body when we were going to our next snorkelling spot. It was a bit cold after we got out from the water after snorkelling. Or they told us before so that we could bring our big towel.

Overall the trip was great. I enjoyed it. Thanks.
Ling

From arranging the destinations to solving the minor issues through the trip, Ana has been helpful and responsive. We probably should have taken her advice and took advantage of the free/rest days in between ... While we're seniors in relatively good shape, the hikes to Bromo / Ijen are strenuous ones. It might be a good idea to give future participants a heads up, e.g. set expected arrival times for various stops up Ijen so they would know if they could make it on time to see the blue flames.

Saiful was great for the portion around Yogyakarta - helpful, informative and courteous.

Nyoman went all out - including the birding trip to West Bali NP and the attendance at a Ngaben. From taking us to the laundromats to retrieving the glasses from the monkey at Uluwatu, Nyoman is attentive and more than helpful. And he takes the time and effort to explain the Bali culture and attractions. My wife and I are more than pleased with his assistance!

Revan was simply great throughout the Komodo cruise. He is knowledgeable and goes out of his way to help us - whether it's trekking up the hills or guiding us during the snorkeling trips.

Trip to Nusa Penida was a complete waste of a day - poor infrastructure, average snorkeling, no sightings of Rays after a long rough ride and finally had to turn back from the beach because of traffic. And the communication from the drivers/guides were lacking ...

VW day was less than satisfying - after getting over the initial excitement of riding open top, we're sucking fumes the whole day. The guide speaks little English and provides no explanation of the attractions. Could have used our own driver/car to go to all those destinations.

The Balinese day provides varieties and was a lot of fun.

The long stay at a relatively isolated hotel in Ubud was a bit inconvenient. But the staff and the services provided at the hotel are more than adequate.

Hotel Review

Arkamara Dijiwa Ubud

Bali

The hotel was great, but the location was too secluded. We couldn't easily walk to restaurants or explore the local area. It was nice for peace and quiet, but not convenient for exploring.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Balinese day in Sidemen

Indonesia

This was a fantastic experience. We spent the day learning about the local culture, visiting rice fields, and more. It was a great way to immerse ourselves in Balinese life.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Trek to Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo, East Java

The trek was challenging, especially for our group in our 60s. Our guide was optimistic about our abilities, but we had to start at 3 a.m. and some of us couldn't make it in time to see the blue flame. I wish our guide would have managed our expectations better or suggested an earlier start for those of us who are slower.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Snorkeling in Menjangan

Pemuteran, Bali

Snorkeling was a great experience, but the equipment was subpar. Despite the equipment issues, the variety of things to see, the high visibility, the warm water makes snorkeling at Menjangan a superb experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Nusa Penida snorkeling- Manta Point + Mangrove tour

Indonesia

This was a disappointing experience. The ferry ride was chaotic with tons of people waiting and multiple ferries departing. The drivers did not speak English well and the location was overwhelmed with tourists. The roads were congested, narrow, and bumpy, making the trip uncomfortable. The snorkeling was supposed to include a manta ray sighting, but the rays were a no show that day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport