Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our trip to Nepal was memorable for many reasons. Sangita's planning and execution of the trip was very well organized. In the middle my husband caught a cold and cough and so he was not able to walk around as much. Sangita and the other guides were very supportive and understanding. They brought the car as close as possible to the tourist sites so he would not have to walk as much. She set up a chat group so we could communicate and she was very quick to respond to our questions and concerns.

All our guides, Bipin at Kathmandu, we had many different guides at Chitwan, Indra at Pokhra, Suhail at Lumbini were very good. In addition the car drivers were also very considerate of mine and my husband's comfort and helped everywhere they could. Personally I enjoyed the historical aspect of Lumbini and Kathmandu. Sangita herself provided a two hour walking tour of old Kathmandu. The ancient homes, temples and streets seemed right of history.

Hotel Reviews

Buddha Maya Garden

Lumbini

The hotel is easily accessible by car from the airport. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The room was spacious but furniture needs updating. The bathroom was small and the shower stall needs updating. The breakfast was ok but the choices were limited. They did make us fresh omelettes and toast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to airport and sightseeing places.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

the rooms needed much updating

Barpeepal Resort

The hotel is on a hill. Not a problem if you have a vehicle but is a problem if you are thinking of walking to town. The lake is at the bottom of the hill. It was clean and comfortable. The breakfast was good. We also had dinner at the hotel and it was good. The staff was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hotel at the top of a hill - not easily accessible by foot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Landmark Forest Park

Sauraha

This is a good resort hotel specially for those who want to experience the nature i the Chitwan National Forest.

Authenticity & Character

The room were rustic and garden were pretty.

Location

Easy to get to from the airport

Staff

Very helpful and courteous. A quick call to the front desk and they took care of everything.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was a little small. Some of the hardware needs updating. The bathroom was also small.

Barahi Kathmandu

The rooms are clean and comfortable. The breakfast had a lot of choices and a live station too. The staff was helpful and courteous.

Authenticity & Character

Has modern amenities but with a local flair.

Location

Close to the Airport

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfortable and bathroom was clean

Activity Reviews

KTM Market walk(about 2 hrs)

Kathmandu Int. Airport (KTM)

The market walk seemed like I was transported to an ancient time when life was simpler and wants were fewer. The houses are more than a hundred years old and have withstood the passage of time. Some are being renovated but others still had the ornate carved windows and doors. Each square has its own temple which the community looks after. This was an amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Historical Site of Ramgram

Kathmandu

Not a popular tourist site but I did like the historical aspect and the quiet, serene atmosphere of the place. Many devout Buddhist were paying their respects in one of the most ancient stupas of Buddha.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore around Lumbini

Lumbini

It was amazing to visit the actual site where Buddha was born. A temple has been built on the site and we had a very good view. We also had the opportunity to walk around the grounds and get a feeling of what it may have been like in 5th Century BCE.

Quality of Experience

Food

Local cuisine was available and we enjoyed it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Sarangkot

Pokhara

This a must-do if you are visiting Pokhara. The sunrise over the mountains is a magnificent view.

Quality of Experience

We got lucky with a clear day and the best view of a beautiful sunrise.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very helpful to my husband who was having trouble climbing so many stairs.

Transport

The car dropped us off at the closest spot and picked us up from there too.

Visit Davi's fall , Gupteswor Cave and Bindabasini Temple

Pokhara

The three places were very close to each other. The Temple was on top of a hill and provided beautiful views of the surroundings. To see the rites carried out at the ancient temple was awe inspiring. The Davi's fall was ok but to hike down to the Gupteswar cave and see the waters of the Davis fall flow in the underground caverns was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Jungle Activities in Chitwan

Chitwan National Park

In the morning we went for the river boat ride. We saw many birds, crocodiles and gharials. In the afternoon we went for the jungle safari. We saw many deer and rhinos. It was a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

The breakfast was good with live stations of warm egg omelette and toast. Traditional Nepalese food at lunch and dinner was good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Briefing. Evening Tharu Cultural Program

Chitwan National Park

The Tharu cultural dance was outdoors in the evening which was a perfect setting.

Quality of Experience

The natural landscapes and wild life of the are was amazing.

Food

local Nepalese cuisine was very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Pashupatinath Temple

Chitwan National Park

This is a must see. An ancient temple that withstood time and earthquakes too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Swoyambhunath(Monkey Temple)

Kathmandu

The history and architecture of the temple is amazing to behold. Located on a hilltop, you can climb the steep stairs or ask your cab driver to take you to the back entrance where you have to climb fewer stairs. The place is a conglomeration of Hindu as well as Buddhist rituals. A beautiful view of the city and of course monkeys that gambol around are the special hallmarks of the place.

Quality of Experience

The unique architecture, ambiance and historical aspect of the place.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowing that we are senior citizens, our guide and driver took us through the less steep and fewer stairs entrance.

Transport

The cab was clean and our driver's knowledge of the roads made the journey easy and comfortable.

Patan Tour- Explore Newari culture, history, architecture and many untold stories

Kathmandu

Our guide for this trip was knowledgable and helped us understand the underlying history and culture of each of the sights we saw. The walk though the palace and the museum was very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Briefing

Kathmandu

Sangita was in contact with us and from the beginning and welcomed us at the Airport in Kathmandu. She came with us to the hotel and helped us check in. All information was provided at that time. She also set up a WhatsApp chat group so we could communicate in real time. This is very important since flights can be delayed and traffic can be bad.

Quality of Experience

Sangita was very clear with her directions and had all the flights and print out ready for the rest of the trip. She also had a spreadsheet where all the information for each part of the trip was included.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The friendliness and eager to provide us with any help and information

Transport

All cabs were clean and the drivers were helpful and on time.

Adrian and the team at KimKim were fantastic to work with. Friendly, professional and extremely knowledgeable especially about our destination. We had a basic idea of what we wanted to explore during our time in Ireland, but Adrian helped bring it all to life… not to mention, he asked us about our interests in general and was able to add excursions that we would have never known about that made our trip even more memorable. Any questions that came up over the course of our trip were immediately answered and the customer service was second to none. Since we visited later in the season some of our initial plans had to be adjusted, but it didn’t take away from a once in a lifetime visit! Thank you Adrian!

Hotel Reviews

Menlo Hotel

Galway

The Menlo Hotel is conveniently located right on the edge of downtown Galway. The staff were friendly and added a special touch for birthday celebrations. The hotel was undergoing additional construction, but it did not impact our trip in the least. The downtown area was a quick taxi ride in the rain and the Shannon airport was an easy drive as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin

Dublin

We had a nice stay at The Gresham. Its location made it easy to walk to museums, restaurants and shopping. Everyone we interacted with was kind and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Lake Hotel

Killarney

An experience all to itself! A fantastic home base for all of our excursions in Killarney. The staff were incredibly kind and added a special touch to make our birthday celebration truly memorable. The newly renovated wing was beautiful and the views were outstanding. From our balcony we could see deer, ducks, and the most breathtaking view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ballea Castle

Cork

Louise and her family provided a fantastic stay at Ballea Castle. Everyone, including the animals, were warm and kind. Our room was wonderful and dinner at Mabel Lane was top notch. We enjoyed walking the grounds with Daisy, Prince and their two lovely cats. A worthwhile stay during our journey through Ireland.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Waterford Castle

Waterford

The Waterford Castle was an experience second to none. The grounds and estate were beautiful. All of the staff were welcoming, especially Alisandro who crafted fantastic cocktails for us. The food was delicious and the bread pudding was the star of the show!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Falconry Adventures

Killarney

Don’t miss an opportunity to meet Mark and his birds! Mark’s passion and knowledge make this a great stop in your travels. We learned a lot about the birds of prey, including how they are trained, how they hunt, and got to hold / feed them too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Waterford Crystal Factory Tour

Waterford

The Waterford tour was enlightening and we had a great guide (Caroline) who was super friendly. We saw every step in the process and even some of the famous pieces on display. Hit the gift shop at the end and get something special!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Viking Triangle - King Of The Vikings

Waterford

Very informative and fun way to learn about the Viking history in Ireland. Knowledgeable guide and cool VR experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pearse Lyons Distillery: Dublin's Unique Church-Converted Spirit Haven

Dublin

Hidden gem located right next to Guinness. The church was beautifully restored and our tour guide was both friendly and knowledgeable about the Distillery’s history and the whiskey making process. If you’re looking for a smaller / local distillery feel, not to mention some pretty good whiskey, this is your place!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a wonderful trip to Argentina and Chile. KimKim’s travel assistance made things easy. The waterfalls at Iguazú are mind blowing! Bariloche, El Chaltén and El Calafate were beautiful places in Patagonia.

Very pleased with the itinerary and complete reliability of all the bookings and arrangements. Tayrona bird guide, Wilson, was amazing and it was wonderful to learn about the partnership between the sites (both indigenous and ecological) we visited and the protection do they natural and cultural resources. It was fabulous

Greg planned an amazing 11-day trip for us in Japan. We got to see a lot of Japan, do a whole range of activities, eat a bunch of local foods (often via food tours), and travel around the country like locals on Japan's awesome public transportation. Some of Greg's instructions on how to get places, and what our timing was, were a bit confusing, but he offered to get on a call with us, which we did, and were able to clear up the confusion. So make sure you're clear on all of the details and know where to find what you need either on the KimKim app or from other source given to you by the travel agent.
One of the real highlights was that the company Greg used for our tours (Magical Trips) keeps the groups very small and uses local guides. We got to ask all sorts of questions of the guides and really connected with them, as well as the other person or people who were in our group. Through those conversations we learned the most about Japan's culture and daily life and this really made our trip.

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Small Group Tour

Japan

The store was excellent because it took us off the beaten path so that we got to see some temples and gardens that we never would’ve seen. It also got us away from the crowds in the bamboo forest. We learned a lot and and really enjoyed talking to our guide Ayuri.

Sushi Making Cooking Class near the Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

We thoroughly enjoyed this class! We had taken a sushi making class at home, but this one blew it away. Not only did we learn how to make sushi like a pro but the sushi we made was some of the best we’ve ever had. Our instructor was great and fun and knowledgeable and spoke English perfectly. Definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

The instruction, the instructor, the food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had never used a travel company before, so didn’t know what to expect, but were so happy we did!

Milton served as our personal guide for almost three days in Quito, and he was a huge reason our experience was so positive. He was always punctual with a clean car, and offered great conversation, allowing us to learn about life in and history of Quito. We’d love to work with him again!

Our time on Santa Cruz was also wonderful, with knowledgeable and friendly guides at each activity. We particularly loved the excursion to North Seymour island and all of the wildlife we had a chance to see up close and personal. The catamaran for the trip was very nice and it made the trip even more special, with a chef on board who cooked a delicious lunch. Our guides for El Chato tortoise reserve and the Darwin museum were friendly and very knowledgeable, answering all of our questions. Every meal accommodated our vegan diet and the food exceeded expectations. The Acacia Hotel was also beautiful with 10/10 service. We spent no time waiting or figuring out transit or logistics, allowing us to fully relax and make the most of our time in Galapagos.

Isabela was also a wonderful time, very different from Santa Cruz as it is more remote and quiet. Our first day itinerary included a 2 pm trip to Los Tintoreras with snorkeling, kayaking and hiking. However, we weren’t picked up until 3 pm and only had a chance to kayak that day as it was getting late. We weren’t given a chance to walk on the Tintoreras or see the reef sharks, which was a bit disappointing. Luckily we rescheduled snorkeling for the next morning, but without a guide, didn't get to snorkel at Los Tintoreras.

A big highlight was the Sierra Negra volcano hike. The guide was very knowledgeable and the trip was well timed with a small group, and absolutely gorgeous.

Overall, we had a great experience and would recommend this adventurous yet relaxing trip!

Hotel Reviews

Albemarle

Puerto Villamil

Great location right on the beach and walkable to restaurants and shopping. It was a noisy being next to a soccer field and with the pool in the middle of the hotel, and felt a bit run down as it was an older space. Overall, good service with recommendations on local restaurants and activities.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Noisy with soccer field next door and could hear other guests. Some stains on curtains and felt a little run down.

Acacia Galápagos Boutique Hotel

Puerto Ayora

Amazing location, attentive and accommodating service, clean and pretty. Great breakfast tailored to dietary needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Nice and modern with great service and breakfast. Overall, would recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Would have been nice to be more directly close to restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hiking Sierra Negra Volcano

Galapagos Islands

Cuicocha Lagoon

Ecuador

Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Ecuador

Great guide, beautiful tortoise reserve with upscale lunch!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras

Galapagos Islands

The kayaking was great, but we were not given an opportunity to walk on the island or snorkel as Los Tintoreras.

Quality of Experience

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

Quito City Tour - Middle of the World

Quito

Loved the kayaking in Puket. Would suggest to stay at a hotel closer to where you get the boat. Driving way down to the party town of Puket doesn't appeal to older tourists. All of our guides were outstanding. Was amazed at how everyone showed up on time and always welcomed us at the airport with our name on a sign. Providing bottled water and cool towels on our van rides were greatly appreciated. May want to communicate that bottled water is provided and only 1 type of outlet C is in all the hotels and a converter will be needed.All the temples and Halong Bay were amazing. There were a few details lacking for the guides that we had in our trip itinerary. Overall this was a fantastic trip for us and we would use KimKim again!

We have traveled around the world, and up until now did all the planning ourselves. This was the first time we used a travel agent and Kimkim was AMAZING. Every detail was prearranged. We had a very active trip with four stops, six excursions and transportation with planes, buses, boats and a rental car. Everything worked exactly as planned. Our tour guides were all prompt, friendly, knowledgeable and spoke English. We had a great time doing things I would not have thought of arranging. The total price was very reasonable for everything we experienced. It was my favorite trip ever, and that says a lot. We will definitely use Kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

A lovely boutique hotel with the most friendly staff ever. The ground consist of beautiful mature trees with the rooms integrated into the landscape. The ocean is steps away and visible from the restaurant and upstairs bar. There is one smallish pool and a hot tub. The rooms are beautiful with a separate sitting room with a comfortable sectional sofa. The restaurant was very nice. The food was delicious but a little pricey. We found the upstairs bar menu a little less expensive but still delicious food. The staff were all very accommodating and made our stay extra nice. A massage by Angie was a perfect way to end our stay. She is a spectacular massage therapist and highly recommended

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Wow! Absolutely gorgeous grounds and a series of hot springs to die for. You have several choices of hot springs with varying temperatures, a swim up bar, swimming pools and water slide. We spent so much time on the property and it was so relaxing. The rooms are HUGE and clean with lovely covered porches on the front and back. The food in the restaurant was very good. The breakfast buffet was included and a terrific variety of food, both traditional and local dishes. Even the gift shop had a nice selection of souvenirs with reasonable prices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mawamba Lodge

Tortuguero

A rustic all inclusive hotel in the Rain Forest. You are immersed in the tropical jungle environment. There is no A/C, no TV and very limited WiFi, but honestly it was nice being unplugged. The in house tour guide was very knowledgeable and taught us about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. The food was fair. The wait staff were ok. They did their job, but were not particularly friendly, expect for a couple of staff that stood out. A couple of days here is enough.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Presidente

San José

A modern urban hotel in the city of San Jose. Very clean, fabulous, friendly staff. Delicious breakfast Buffett included with our room. The rooftop restaurant was a very nice atmosphere with spectacular food so we ate there twice. I highly recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

A beautiful boat and lovely adventure. The captain and first mate were very attentive and made this a favorite tour of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve

Arenal/La Fortuna

A terrific experience learning about the history of this tribe, eating an authentic lunch, archery, a mock wedding and description of the plants they use for medicinal purposes.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tortuguero Village Visit

Tortuguero

A walk through a local village. The day we went it was pouring rain which did not stop us. They are proud people. Bring cash because you will not find an ATM in this village

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private San José City Tour

San José

Our tour guide Manu was a delight. He taught us a lot about the history of Costa Rica during this walking tour. He spoke English well and had a great personality.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had a 14 day tour with Jeab as our tour planner
Jeab was very friendly and helpful, I could contact her anytime for assistance, she included all of the activities I was interested in, it did not dissapoint
My trip was fantastic I travelled all over Thailand and everything went like clockwork.
I liked The tour with a local guide in Kanchanaburi where we went to Erawan waterfall and Hellfire pass was my favourite places
The Thai people are very friendly, considerateand beautiful.
Jeab our

There were many issues of miscommunication throughout the course of the trip.

Firstly, after waiting over half an hour for driver at El Chalten I called the service and person stated they were trying locate driver. After an hour we were on our way.

Since it was hour one way to town and a 120 USD fare. It was impracticle, if not impossible, to take meals anywhere else. Furthermore, there was only a set offering at meal. I felt that by adding the mandatory meal serivce the provider was attempting to present a different cost than we were actually going incur.

The tour of Palermo and Soho were not as advertised. One of the main reasons of this tour for taking this tour was to visit the Recoleta cemetery. We only were notified upon arrival very disappointing.

The beef and wine tasting Fogon Asodo carried an extra charge for wine.

Lastly, I do not remember the name a place the that hosted the Tango show. But food was AWFUL.

My wife I travel several months a year. This is first and last time using Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Refugio de Glaciares

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Alto Andino Hotel

Ushuaia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blanca Patagonia Boutique Inn and Cabins

El Calafate, Santa Cruz

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Asado tasting with wine pairing

Buenos Aires

the wine pairing was an extra charge

Food

Bike tour: Palermo & Recoleta

Buenos Aires

Tour was not as stated in writing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tango & cena show at El Viejo Almacen

Buenos Aires

The show was good but the dinner was awful.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Estancia Harberton & walk with penguins

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Tierra del Fuego National Park

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Experience Perito Moreno glacier

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glaciar Sur Aventura, an immersion in the Glacier National Park

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Estancia Cristina Upsala

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from our anniversary trip to Japan, and I can say with complete confidence that booking through KimKim was one of the best travel decisions we’ve ever made. In fact, this is our third trip using KimKim. From the very first planning email to the final farewell in Osaka, the entire experience was seamless, personal, and unforgettable.
Ben, our travel specialist, was phenomenal. He helped us build the perfect itinerary—listening to everything we wanted, adding thoughtful suggestions, and tweaking the schedule along the way to fit our style. Thanks to him, our trip struck the perfect balance of culture, food, adventure, relaxation, and those “wow” moments we’ll be talking about for years.
And then there were our guides: Peter and Ursula.
These two were an absolute gift to our journey.
Peter, our Tokyo & Hakone guide, made navigating Japan’s transportation system feel effortless. He taught us subway skills worthy of a Mario Bros. level-up, showed us how to experience Shibuya Crossing like locals, and gave us incredible historical context at temples and shrines. He even congratulated me on my sumo match at the lunch show (yes… I stepped into the ring and no, my training was not focused enough 😂).
Ursula, our guide through Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, was equally fantastic. From sake tastings in Fushimi to zen moments at the Golden Pavilion, she blended humor, storytelling, and deep cultural knowledge in a way that made every day feel like traveling with a friend. She helped us navigate the language barrier, made sure we didn’t get lost on trains, and offered endless tips to help us blend in better than we probably deserved. Both guides were great to pack in as much adventure each day while still leaving us with free time to roam and explore on our own.
Every single day was packed with memorable highlights, many of which KimKim helped coordinate:
✨ Sushi-making with a 4th-generation master (we are now “certified” Nigiri makers and have enough footage for a full-length documentary).
✨ A tea ceremony and learning to whisk our own matcha at a university.
✨ Visiting a capybara at a café—one of Emily’s bucket list items.
✨ Riding the bullet train to Kyoto with snacks in hand and Mt. Fuji peeking through the clouds.
✨ Walking through Arashiyama’s bamboo forest and a rickshaw ride through its historic streets.
✨ A full cultural immersion day in Fushimi Inari, weaving through the famous vermilion torii gates.
✨ A relaxing soak and stay in Hakone with incredible views of Mt. Fuji.
✨ Exploring Osaka Castle and ending our trip at the Umeda Sky Building with panoramic nighttime views.
And beyond the excursions, the guides helped us handle everything—from ordering meals to using the Suica card. They answered every question, solved every hiccup, and made us feel completely supported the entire way.
KimKim didn’t just plan a trip—they helped create a collection of memories that feel like a chapter from our own personal, globe-trotting storybook.
If you’re considering a trip to Japan—especially if it’s a special occasion—book with KimKim. Ask for Ben, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get Peter and Ursula too. They helped make our anniversary adventure everything we dreamed of…and then some.
Arigatou gozaimasu, KimKim team.
We’re already thinking about following the green light to our next chapter.
—Ray & Emily

Katie at Kimkim was such a great fit for us. There were 10 adults (siblings and spouses) traveling to Norway for the first time. We only had 2 weeks so we wanted to make sure our choices fit our personalities and styles (which is no easy task with 10 participants). We gave Katie a rough idea of the things we liked and the things we wanted to avoid and she gave us choices to consider and was VERY patient as we changed our minds several times. We used trains, planes, automobiles and boats to get all around Norway and everything was seamless. Katie's attention to detail was perfect. Kimkim was available to us while we were in Norway (there were a couple of occasions where they didn't seem to have our prepaid reservation at a hotel and once, our shuttle was very late). Kimkim called these businesses for us to help make sure all was ok. Katie really listened to what we were looking for and chose hotels that we really liked. I also liked that we could leave some days unplanned but Katie still gave us ideas of things to do once we arrived. I would use Kimkim again and again!

Jehab arranged wonderful hotels. She was with us all the way, communicating rapidly to any questions we had. She spoke with us to review details before our departure. First class service

Hicham, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and very patient with our gaggle of women. He was flexible and took everyone’s desires into his consideration. The best part of our trip was joining an Amazigh family in the Valley of Roses for couscous, music, and henna tattoos. I always loved seeing the sand dunes of the Sahara dessert.

Tiago was super helpful in the planning and then he was our driver. Although some things were a little on the expensive side, the quality was worth the expense. The weather was quite bad, and Tiago improvised well for us. In addition, I ended up with a mobility issue, so Tiago was helpful with that. The best thing Tiago did for us was to suggest visiting the national stud farm. One of my best experiences! He also showed us interesting local sites. The most memorable, was to a country lane in the pouring rain to see a stonehenge-like burial monument. We had no idea what he was going to show us, so it was very mysterious and exciting! Tiago made up for our poor experience with Alvaro and our Peru trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel República

Tomar

Great location, small room, hot water/shower did not work well

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful room, but small

Location

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shower

Quinta do Tedo

Douro Valley

Lovely room, wonderful food, but very expensive

Authenticity & Character

Room and view

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not really

Premium Porto Downtown

Porto

Great staff, room was small.

Authenticity & Character

Average

Location

Our next hotel had a better location. Also we got driven to the wrong Premium Hotel from train station. It is confusing when hotels have same name and different locations.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small room

Activity Reviews

Rabelo Boat Tour

Portugal

See last review

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to the Douro Valley - with optional visit to winery and/or Rabelo boat River Cruise

Portugal

Riverboat was pleasant despite pouring rain. Crew pretty much ignored us except to serve us a small cup of Port

Quality of Experience

Weather and crew attention

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Wine Tasting Tour

Porto

Excellent tour and tastings

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Porto (Half-Day Guided Walking Tour)

Porto

Great guide. Well prepared and interesting

Quality of Experience

The guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Well prepared and passionate

Transport

But there was no transport

Our guide, Kesab, was very good. He was very knowledgable about the area and the history of all the sites we visited. He was very helpful with our luggage and interactions with the local people.

Hotel Reviews

The Nanee

Bhaktapur

Amazing hotel…everything was great… Padlocks for the rooms can be changed to keyless entry… WC was after the shower area… inconvenient… Food was great… staff was awesome!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Namobuddha Resort

Dhulikhel

Great location… Views are awesome…. Hotel is dated…. Rooms are very low… i’m tall and had to bend to enter and could not even stand erect in the room… My room didn’t have a shower… Food was par excellent…

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Matan Chhen

Panauti

Hotel was shut…

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Thamel House

Kathmandu

Nice boutique hotel…they need to change the room locks from keys to cards… Bathroom needs shelves for the shower… TV was not working…. Some of my scotch was taken by the cleaners… Dinner was awesome…. Breakfast was ordinary… Location is brilliant…

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Bazaar Walk and Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I visited Japan with my best friend I've known since middle school. Ben has been very responsive with planning out the trip. Maru-san was our guide in Kyoto and he was awesome. He knew so much history everywhere we went. Betty-san was our guide in Hakone and Tokyo and she was a lot of fun as well! She knew all the great places to take a good photo.

Very responsible specialist, Ngima who personally went to the airport to pick us and sent us off on our departure day. He brought the guide to meet us the day before our trekking journey and kept in touch throughout our 4 days outskirt trip. We were lucky to have met 2 brothers - Pasang and Ngima - our guide and porter. They were accommodative and tried their best to meet our requests along the way. We had lots of laughter and fun even though we had some rough paths along the way. Highly recommend Ngima and his team for your Nepal trip!

Hotel Review

Hotel Country Villa

Nagarkot

The restaurant serves good food, and the view is fantastic. They also provide Spa service.

Authenticity & Character

The view

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Ultimate Mt. Everest mountain flight on a plane and Free Day to Buy Souvenir

Kathmandu

We were all on the window seats and were lucky the weather was perfect for the viewing. However, the time given on both sides were different. The lucky ones got to view longer as the plane was moving at a very slow pace but when it turned around it went quite fast, and some may not enough have time to capture Mt Everest.

Quality of Experience

to go slow after turning so that both sides of passengers can have equal opportunities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Air crew make effort to inform which mountains we were seeing

Transport

Fight was delayed for quite awhile

Trek from Namo Buddha to Balthali

Namobuddha

There was a landslide which led to the regular path being closed. We had to use an untrodden path (Which is steep) to reach to the other side. Though it was challenging; both the guide and porter helped us to reach safely. This was the best part for our new experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The hotel arranged transport to pick us up at the remote area

My experience in Nepal was magical. Our trip that was curated by Amanda. I would describe our tour as a cultural tour that included trekking - a perfect balance of what I wanted.
Kathmandu was a bustling cosmopolitan with fantastic sites. I enjoyed the Hindu Shiva temples, Buddhist temples. palace, Darbar Square. The restaurants and coffee shops were excellent. We stayed in the Thamil House Hotel.
I loved all the places we visited - Patan, Panauti, Namma Buddha and Bhagtapur. The visit to the monastery in Namma Buddha was very captivating.
Our guide Keshab was wonderful - knowledgeable, helpful and very thoughtful. The driver was so experienced at navigating the narrow roads, traffic, etc.
I would highly recommend Kim Kim to organize your trip to Nepal.

Hotel Reviews

The Nanee

Bhaktapur

This hotel was the last on our trip in Bhaktapur and amazing. When we arrived at the hotel, our welcome was amazing - we were greeted by the manager who told us about the architecture, rooms, courtyard concept etc. We were served cake and a delicious hot lemon drink. The hotel was new and modern but had the old world Nepalese charm.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms were built keeping the Nepalese culture experience at the forefront

Location

In the heart of Bhaktapur

Staff

Very helpful. When I requested for anything, I would phone and staff were there in less than 5 minutes.

Cleanliness & Comfort

My room was sparkling

Namobuddha Resort

Dhulikhel

This was a beautiful resort in Namma Buddha. The rooms were in individual cabins. The views were breathtaking. My room was lovely. Some things for guests to think about were all rooms were different sizes. Some rooms were quite small. My younger brother who is tall kept hitting his head in the doorways. Some rooms only had a toilet and sink in the cabin and the shower area was outside the cabin. The wifi was not strong in the room.

Authenticity & Character

The Hotel had Nepali style cabins and eating areas.

Location

The hotel was up at the top of a hill with breathtaking views of the Himalayas. It was very calm and serene there.

Staff

The staff had a smile on their face and were always there to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Thamel House

Kathmandu

The hotel was very comfortable. The rooms were neat and clean and had all the amenities like phone and TV. The breakfast math at was included was delicious. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The hotel was in the Thamil area that had interesting shops and eateries.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel felt like you were in Nepal. The restaurant where we had dinner had an authentic Nepalese cultural show.

Location

Staff

They were responsive to my needs

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms had fresh sheets, towels, amenities, TV, etc

Activity Reviews

Explore Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur

This was our last cultural tour. The Darbar square was fantastic - beautiful temples, palaces, and architecture

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Ashapuri to Panauti

Nepal

This was my first major trek in many years. It was an easy to moderate hike. I loved the breathtaking scenery, homes we passed, the crops in the firms etc

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Kathmandu: Patan, Boudhanath, and Pashupatinath

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Bazaar Walk and Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My trip to Equador and the Galapagos Islands was the trip of a lifetime. Majo and the KimKim team planned a fantastic itinerary! Unfortunately various travel challenges were incurred, but none of them were related to the KimKim experience. Majo was dealt with many interruptions in our trip, and she expertly navigated 12 people and our missed flights, lost luggage, etc. When I tell people about this trip, my experience was so good that the travel inconvienences didn’t overshadow how wonderful this trip was! Thank you Majo and the KimKim team