Kimkim Trip Reviews

This review comes a little late yet as it is so This review comes a little yet as it is so deserving we wanted to ensure to share our gratitude and appreciation of the Kim Kim team: Siad, Ilyace, and Hanan who helped to make our trip of a lifetime in Morocco an amazing experience in our lives we will forever cherish and remember.
We arrived at midnight in Morocco to be greeted with a warm welcome by Ilyace who shared a bit of the history and culture of Morocco as he drove us to our first Riad of the stay. Ilyace literally went above and beyond; diligent about accommodating our needs and ensuring we got the most out of our experience. We spent a good portion of the travel with him touring all of Morocco as he was our driver to our destinations, that he came to feel like part of the gang. He was very courteous, knowledgeable, informative and a pleasure to spend our time with. Thank you Ilyace for making us feel at home in your amazing and wonderous country. And getting unforgettablely getting us the airport on time while being stuck in a gridlock for a marathon in Casablanca.
Hanan heightened our taste buds to an exotic Moroccan food tasting experience. We spent the evening exploring local taste sensations and sharing recipes and fun times. Because of her we now want a tagine! And bring home the new food traditions we’ve learned. We’ve tried to find it here and boy do we miss the Moroccan tea.
And finally Siad who was our master planner of our enjoyable and eventful trip. Siad was very attentive and informative. He provided us with all the information whenever we needed. We didnt need to contact him while there and Ilyace always there to instantly take care of anything. Thank you for your great, custom planning to our needs. You truly made our experience in Morocco surreal.
We are now happy travellers promoting Kim Kim Tours and the beauty of Morocco. Definitely a company we would highly recommend with their courteous team and personal touches to make this experience magical and forever in our hearts.
With all our gratitude from your Canadian friends: Khrysta, Jacob, Kirk, and myself Leah.
Trip date: Oct 20-27, 2024

Let me preface this by saying we take pride in planning our own trips - we like the challenge and the adventure. But when my wife decided our next destination would be Argentina, we knew we would need some help. Enter Flor - the trip magician. Flor took all of our ideas and made them a reality - and gave us ideas we didn't even know we wanted. She was endlessly patient as we made multiple tweaks to the itinerary, getting the balance just right.

We had a delightful time in Buenos Aires, but the magic really got underway when we arrived in Patagonia - first stop, Calafate. Flor's plan to get us onto the Perito Moreno glacier was flawless - we even got to see the glacier calve a large iceberg up close!

Our private transfer to El Chalten was led by the most wonderful guide, Florencia. She brought the Argentinian culture alive, sharing Yerba mate and homemade treats with us. She is a wealth of knowledge and passion, and made us feel so welcome.

But by far the biggest highlight was visiting Estancia Bonanza - outside El Chalten. Flor suggested this stay for us, and it was pure heaven. Majestic views of Mt. Fitzroy, generous hospitality, delicious food, and comfortable accommodations nestled in a remote valley surrounded by the Andes.

Without a doubt, we will be using KimKim again. They made our trip smooth and simple - all we had to do was enjoy!

Hotel Review

Estancia Bonanza

El Chaltén

Our stay at Estancia Bonanza was pure heaven - nestled in a remote valley with majestic views of Mt. Fitzroy, we loved every minute of our stay. From tea and breakfast with Lili who welcomed us as if she were welcoming a friend into her own kitchen, to wine on the porch outside the dining room, to beautifully served dinners, we felt at home at every turn. We traveled with our adult children, and everyone was able to choose his or her level of challenge on the excursions, including a beautiful horseback ride along the river. We will find our way back to this extraordinary place!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Estancia "La Bonanza" - Enjoy the activities of the countryside 🐎🌲

El Chaltén

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day tour to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and Minitrekking

El Calafate

What a wonderful day in a remarkable place! Our guides for the trek were knowledgeable and friendly, and the drink and chocolate at the end were the icing on the cake.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to New Zealand north island went well and we were very pleased with the arrangements Liz made for us. All of the transportation and lodging reservations worked without any problem. Two local contractors backed out of their commitments: Barefoot Sailing in Paihia, and Taiao Adventures in Rotorua. For the first, Rie Fujita with Southern World found a replacement contractor, Carino Wildlife Cruises, which turned out to be really terrific, and we thoroughly enjoyed our excursion with them in the Bay of Islands. For the second, we arranged with Tom of Foris Eco-tours to spend an additional day visiting the Whirinaki Forest with guide Carl. All of the day trips with Foris Eco-tours were very rewarding and we would highly recommend them. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves day trip with Cheeky Kiwi Travel was enjoyable as well. I would recommend adding their visit to Te Puia for the Māori cultural tour and thermal features. We added this to our tour and found it well worth while.

We are so greatful to have had the help of Holden, Wilman and Nancy from Serendipity Adventures in planning our dream trip to Costa Rica. From the start of planning our trip, to the last day of our trip, the Serendipity team were amazing communicators and facilitators of our adventures. From keeping us organized to anticipating any potential problems (there were none), we are so greateful to have had their help.

Hotel Reviews

Grano de Oro Hotel

San José

Great location to kick off our trip in CR. Food and staff were amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort by Hyatt

Guanacaste

Beautiful location with incredible service and views of Papagayo!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Belmar

Monteverde

Great location with amazing food and views!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nayara Tented Camp

Fortuna

One of the must stunning and well-amenitied properties I have stayed at in my life.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pacuare Lodge by Böëna

Pacuare

One of the most fun and beautiful loding experiences of our lives. The activites and the rafting adventure were amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the least "authentic" activity we had the entire trip and I would not recommend spending over half a day on these canned excursions.

Quality of Experience

Food

food at the local Soda was decent, but felt forced having to spend more time with our guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

guide was not our favoriate. just a bad vibe/fit

Transport

Tamer, Riwal, Angel and the entire team were outstanding to work with from beginning to end. Our goal was to visit 2-3 regions of Chile within only 9 days. The team added and subtracted from our itinerary until the details were 100%. We were able to enjoy time in the city (Santiago), the desert (San Pedro de Atacama) and the coast (Valparaiso and Vina del Mar) which each offered their own unique aspects of this amazing country. The transportation was always reliable and comfortable for our group of 7. Our excursions provided the right balance of adventure and culture without ever having concern for our safety. Accommodations were purposefully selected to match our desired comfort level, proximity to attractions and price point. The team made sure to add all the extra special touches we needed on this trip including Vegetarian meals and making my daughter's birthday celebration memorable. This trip was not for her birthday but rather her birthday was celebrated while we were there. The day of her birthday was planned with activities that kept her in mind and the team even gave her a sweet gift. Pro-tip: ask to visit wineries that also have animals. It's a win-win for the adults and the children. The Kimkim team members were professional, kind, sincere, accommodating and made us feel like we were part of "the family". We would love to return to Chile and if we do, we will 100% ask for this team to help us again. We're also planning to use Kimkim as we plan trips to other areas as well.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Diego de Almagro Valparaíso

Valparaíso

Our rooms had a great view of the water and all the action in the port.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel does not have laundry machines. This was problematic for us since we had just arrived from the desert and the majority of our clothes were dirty. They do offer a pricey laundry service but unfortunately my clothes came back in worse shape than I sent them. A black sweatshirt was returned covered in little white balls indicating that it was clearly washed with a load of white towels. :(

Hotel Domos San Pedro

San Pedro de Atacama

No frills accommodations that are unique and clean (almost like Yurt Camping). Easy walk down the dirt road to town. Grocery store close by at the corner. Expect the pool to be cold, the shower temperature to be variable and the breakfast to be good enough. You aren't in Atacama for luxury accommodations-- you're their for the excursions and unique experiences.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa

Santiago

Lovely accommodations in a cute neighborhood setting. Amazing breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit to Aconcagua Farms

Chile

What an adorable little winery and farm. This excursion was enjoyed by adults and children alike. The sheep, chickens and dogs were highly entertaining. Gorgeous scenery and super friendly staff. It was so interesting to hear from the owners about how they converted this farm from commercial/traditional production to organic. They had just opened to the public when we were there in November but I have no doubt that they are going to succeed and grow.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sandboarding at Dunas de Concon

Chile

Make sure you are old enough/tall enough/strong enough to carry your own board up a large sand dune before you book. The view at the top is gorgeous overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Sandboarding was fun but we would've been just as content to watch the sunset from the top of the dunes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Viña del Mar & Valparaiso with Optional Casablanca Vineyard Stop- Full Day Private Tour

Santiago

Valparaiso is a neat city with so much culture to explore!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "

Chile

There were some in our group that did not enjoy the hiking in the heat. That said, it was definitely a unique and beautiful experience. It feels like you are visiting a planet from Star Wars!

Quality of Experience

The sunset as not as great as we anticipated. The minute the sun dropped behind the mountains, we were asked to pack up and leave. In our experience, the best part of sunsets can come several minutes after the sun drops as it lights up the sky. We didn't get to see that on this trip. If we return, we'll just plan to do the sunset on our own so we can stay and enjoy for as long as we'd like. We do understand that the tours need to promptly return to town to prepare for their Stargazing Tours which begin after sunset.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alejandro is the best!

Transport

Visit the Tatio Geysers - Morning tour

San Pedro de Atacama

The geyers were one of our favorite aspects of our entire visit to Chile. Breathtaking panoramic views of the Andes Mountains and volcanoes. This excursion also includes a stop at a lake that inhabits hundreds of flamingoes! It was so cool to see them in their natural habitat.

Quality of Experience

Food

We had a lovely picnic after completing the geyser tour. What a beautiful way to start our day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alejandro was a fantastic driver and really took care of us. He was very knowledgeable about the area and we learned a ton from him.

Transport

Puritama Hot Springs

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vegetarian Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour

Santiago

Angel was a great tour guide. We especially enjoyed our picnic overlooking the city. The trip to the market was also a highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow, Emerson did a great job and nailed our trip for us! We got to do everything we wanted to do and Emerson was essentially in my back pocket the whole time! He stayed in touch with us throughout the trip and gave us ideas on places to eat as well. He did a magnificent job and we will use him again in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Villa Happy Fox

Rovaniemi

This B&B type place was way off the beaten path, but the folks who own it are very nice. We had in our 2 night stay and it included a sauna and Finnish dinner. We didn't see much of the property because we were touring day and night, but on the last night for the sauna and dinner, well it was amazing! The sauna is high end with his and her bathrooms and the sauna is situated at the end so you can both walk in from your bathroom. Very nicely built and then we sat down for a great dinner consisting of salmon and roasted vegetables. It was really very, very good. The B&B part of the place was very nice with each room having it's own kitchenette, bathroom and bed area. They provided breakfast in your suite and you just had to whip it up!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Home Hotel Jugend

Helsinki

This hotel is in a good location and had an amazing breakfast and such wonderful character with the building. We stayed here for a couple of nights and could easily walk to any restaurant, site or whatever we wanted to do. The only bummer was the elevator was broken while we were there and my poor husband had to carry both LARGE suitcases up the winding staircase for two flights! What a champ!

Authenticity & Character

Great character here!

Location

Staff

We left all our cash and passport in the safe AFTER we checked out for over 11 hours and the nicely held onto all of it until we could return late that night.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Wow what a great way to travel when you need to move about a country....you don't lose any time seeing the sights. We hopped on the train in Helsinki at 11:00 pm and arrived in Rovaniemi at 11:00 am the next day with a good rest, shower and a decent breakfast. The sleeper bunks were comfortable, the rattle of the train helped you sleep and the bathroom was quite a unique item. I have never seen a door that opens into the toilet and provides you with a shower! Very talented person who invented that for tight spaces.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Glass resort

Rovaniemi

This place is amazing, I actually wish we could have stayed here longer than one night. They have a hot tub and provide you with robes and head scarfs so when you are in the hot tub your head is warm too! Really a great place and you can just walk right over to Santa's Village. The food was really good too. We had a great dinner!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Luxury Log Sauna and Finnish Dinner Experience

Rovaniemi

The sauna is really, really nice. You have a his and her bathrooms where you can change and then walk into the sauna at the end of the bathrooms. The quality of build here is amazing. We really enjoyed it and then showered up for an amazing meal prepared by the owners. They made us salmon and roasted potatoes. We actually brought our own wine from the US and they allowed us to enjoy it with our dinner. A really nice experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure

Finland

We had the best guide here. Rosana is from Italy and goes all over the world being a tour guide for different countries at different times of the year and she knew so much about Finland. We went hiking to the frozen waterfalls and saw folks literally scaling up the ice! We stopped and she provided lunch she had carried in her backpack for us which was really good too. We had fun seeing nature and experiencing nature's amusement park by sliding down your back on certain parts of the trail. Beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Tour

Rovaniemi

Oh my gosh! What a small world we live in. Our guide was from Australia and so were our friends and they actually went to the same school together, but were about 3 years apart so they didn't know each other. Alexi was our guide and he just kept chasing the Northern Lights until we found an amazing spot and got to actually watch them materialize before our very eyes! We were situated near a lake and he made a campfire and took pictures. The pictures attached are just from my iPhone which are great too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adults Only Husky Adventure

Rovaniemi

Again no snow here either for our trip (December 4). They were really nice in getting us all geared out in warm jumpsuits and we did a short trail with a sleigh on wheels instead so they were very accommodating. They served us gogli juice and cookies too. Seems to be a tradition in Finland.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit

Rovaniemi

Andrei was our guide here. Unfortunately there was no snow (December 3) and they made a small track for the reindeer to take us around at least for photo ops. They also provided us with hot juice and cookies in the small fireside house and talked a lot about the reindeer and traditions so that was nice. There are 180,000 reindeer and 200,000 people! The reindeer are free to leave but always come back because they have food. Another interesting fact is every reindeer is owned by someone and it's rude to ask how many reindeer they have or what they cost....it's like asking how much money do you make.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

We took the ferry (this is a cruise ship) over to Tallinn for the day and had a tour guide who enthusiastically took us all around the city. It was absolutely freezing this day! Anyway, we visited the Christmas market and then had a great dinner at Rataskaevu 16. Then headed back to the ferry to Helsinki. The ferry is easy, and they have duty free on board. It takes about 2 hours to get over there and then 2 hours back, but the seats are comfortable. They provide food to buy, but we didn't do that.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki City Walking Tour (2h)

Helsinki

We had a great walking tour of the city with lots of information. We enjoyed dinner at Seahorse that night, really, really good food!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We absolutely loved this short trip through Northern Norway and Lapland and Estonia. Mathias was a pleasure to deal with and got back to us with any of our queries immediately. All the day tours were fantastic and I would recommend (as always) kimkim to organise further trips.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

The hotel is in an excellent location with most things nearby. It is well kept and the rooms were comfortable.

Santa Claus Holiday Village

Rovaniemi

The hotel seemed central for most tours outside the village and is placed in a good location. The staff seem respectful but not overly helpful or knowledgeable. The rooms are adequate but lack heating, which was definitely felt in the Rovaniemi winter. We used the sauna with the door open to help heat the room. The restaurants provide plain fare with a five star price. Everything closes way too early making a rushed feeling to get around if excursions are organised during the day.

Authenticity & Character

Certainly delivers on its marketed character

Location

Excellent central location

Staff

A lot needed to exhibit more enthusiasm and knowledge of the area and facilities.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room definitely needed better heating as the floors and room temperature were too cold to walk around comfortably and relaxed inside without keeping socks and warm clothing on.

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

The hotel is close to everything and our room was excellent. The staff were amazing and prepared early breakfasts for us on 2 days which was exceptional, considering our early schedules. I would recommend this place to anyone staying in Helsinki.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel felt extremely comfortable and homely.

Location

It was close to everything even the Xmas Market.

Staff

Everybztaff member we dealt with was extremely helpful and polite with their advice on things to do and see and in making our stay feel very personal.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were very clean and tidy and well set out.

Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle

Rovaniemi

The hot tub room was sublime. We spied the northern lights and a colourful meteor shower after being notified by alarm through the hotel to the room. The staff at reception were extremely helpful and polite and I would recommend staying here to anyone if in the Santa Claus Village area.

Authenticity & Character

We’ll set out rooms for viewing the sky and the hot tub was amazing in the cold snow.

Location

Located quietly away from the main village area making it feel more intimate.

Staff

Staff were extremely polite helpful and professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are exceptionally well kept and set out.

Activity Reviews

Silent eSnowmobile Safari

Rovaniemi

This was great fun and went for a really good amount of time. Loved the countryside and the overall experience.

Quality of Experience

What a great bit of fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was really enjoyable to be around and made everything seem easy, smooth and relaxing.

Transport

Northern Lights Hunting in Santas Village

Rovaniemi

We only just saw lights far in the distance through the camera for a second, however the overall experience out in the quiet with the staff made for an exceptional night.

Quality of Experience

The staff made the night really enjoyable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They kept us entertained all through the night when we had a distinct lack of Aurora watching to help fill in the time. The staff really were great company.

Transport

Reindeer Safari & Farm Visit

Rovaniemi

It feels very touristy which it is, but we had great fun and the staff were all lovely.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

If you took the time to talk with the staff and ask them all about the reindeer, they were fantastic and really informative about how they look after them.

Transport

Day Trip To Tallinn

Helsinki

This is a great day trip and old Tallinn is a beautiful area to spend the day.

Dog Sledding

Tromsø

This was our favourite tour. It was great fun and really interactive. The staff were all fantastic and made it feel really authentic and not touristy. The dogs looked well cared for and it was great to be able to interact with them before and after the sledding without feeling pressured to move on.

Quality of Experience

Something very different and fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All the staff we met were really enthusiastic about the dogs.

Transport

On time, comfortable and our driver was pleasant.

Historical City Walk

Tromsø

Astrid was a brilliant guide with a pleasant and knowledgable character. Her stories were captivating and we loved the tour she provided.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Astrid was a wonderful guide for this tour.

We had an amazing trip, thanks to Angel who tailor made our plan and hand picked the most amazing tour guides and accommodations that fit our preference.

If you are still wondering if Kim Kim works or if Angle worths the little extra, the answer is most definitely!

It took out all the guessing work and we had very smooth experience.

Highly recommend Angle and team for your South America adventures!

Activity Review

Hike to Mirador Base Torres del Paine - Full Day Tour

Chile

We really enjoyed this trip. Not only we accomplished the task, the organization and the tour guides Jose and Nacho, are super kind and considerate!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Trip!

The only negative was I confirmed the itinerary before departing but when I arrived, the itinerary was much different than the plans I had approved. This was incredibly upsetting. The changes to the itinerary were necessary and ended up being for the best, but I would have like to have been consulted before the itinerary was changed so I wasn't surprised with a different plan I wasn't expecting immediately after travelling all the way to Uganda. But, as I mentioned, the changes were good. Bryt was a great guide, very knowledgeable and kept us feeling very safe. He is also a great driver. All lodges and activities were incredible and everyone we met was so friendly. We really loved Sana Gorilla Rafting and highly recommend it! The whole trip was a 10/10!

Hotel Reviews

Mpogo safari lodge

Lake Mburo national park

Beautiful views, very clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Mburo National Park and farm walk was cool.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Four Gorillas lodge

Gorgeous, comfortable, extremely professional and friendly staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They go a above and beyond!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The shower and Wifi could have been better.

Turaco Tree tops

Fort portal

Beautiful views, friendly owners, friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was a bit buggy but they had mosquito nets.

2 Friends Beach Hotel

Entebbe

Clean, comfortable, Air Conditioning. Short walk to beautiful views of Lake Victoria. Very friendly staff too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

White Water Rafting

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Beautiful river, enough of a challenge to be fun but not too much to where you fall out. So much fun! Sadat and his team were so friendly and cool guys to hangout with! They are also professionals and make you feel very safe and taken care of. The pictures they took were amazing too! Definitely a highlight of the trip and a can't miss for other travelers!

Quality of Experience

So much fun! So beauitful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super cool guys. Professional kayakers/raftering guides. Very friendly and spoke great english.

Transport

Their van was very comfortable.

We just came back from a fantastic two-week trip from Morocco, and it could not have happened without the company and help of our driver and guide Mouad! Besides being a seasoned and experienced driver, Mouad exudes positivity and is earnest, and always tried to make sure that everything was going well with us on the trip. Every hour or so in the car, he would turn around and check in that we were "all good"! We also appreciate his focus on us having as good a cultural experience of his country as possible, avoiding too many shopping experiences, and thank him again for his invitation to have lunch with his family when we were in the desert.

Booking the trip with Majid was also a painless process. We indicated our start and end dates, some of preferences on activities, and were quickly presented with an itinerary. Adjustments to the itinerary were easily done, and Majid was always responsive and replied quickly.

Some of the highlights on the trip we would recommend:
1. Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. Just the setting of the mosque against the crashing waves was worth a visit.
2. Spend two nights in Chefchaouen so that you have time to slowly wander around and experience the town at a leisurely pace. Ask for Muhamed if you are getting a guide. Muhamed was a great guide keen on sharing the history and culture of his town and country, and we appreciated that he did not need to include visits to "artisan workshops".
3. Volubilis. The site, especially the mosaics, is impressive. We got a good guide (sorry forgot his name, might be Hamid) who is from the nearby town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, who really knew his Greek and Roman legends and could connect them to the ruins.
4. Medina of Fez. A good guide is definitely required to explore the medina. Mouad was not joking when he said we will get lost if we try to navigate the medina on our own (google maps does not work), which we tried one night. Herbal tea with Abdullah was a highlight. The tannery is clearly a must-see. Shout-out to Badar at Riad Farouzi for being an accommodating host.
5. Camel ride and sunset in the dunes. Touristy as it might be, it was still a wonderful experience.
6. Glamping at Tiziri. Well set up operation. Watch the stars and sunrise at the small dune at the back of camp.
7. Dades gorge. We did not know much about this before the trip, but it turned out to be stunning. Dar Rihana where we stayed a night is a definite recommendation.
8. Ait Benhaddou. The UNESCO site on the way to Marrakech was another pleasant surprise.
9. Cooking class at La Maison Arabe in Marrakech. Highly recommended if you are looking for such an activity.
10. Essaouira. We stayed only one night, but would definitely recommend two nights. Mouad said that Essaouira is one of his favourite cities, and we understood why we when got there. Riad Mimouna was stunningly located.

Thank you Mouad and Majid again for a great trip!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Mimouna

Essaouira

Riad Madu

Merzouga

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Activity Reviews

Free Day in Essaouira

Essaouira

We only had one night, but would recommend two nights in this stunning seaside town.

Cooking Class La Maison Arabe Marrakech 10 AM session.

Marrakesh

One of the best cooking class experiences we've had.

Dades Gorge – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Telouet – Marrakech ( 5 Hour Drive)

Morocco

Ait Benhaddou is definitely worth a visit.

Erg Chebbi – Tinejdad – Todra Gorges – Tinerir – Dades Gorge( 4 Hours)

Morocco

Dades gorge was stunning and a very pleasant surprise. Dar Rihana was an amazing B&B.

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

Camel ride and sunset in the dunes were still amazing experiences even if touristy.

Merzouga – Erg Chebbi ( Transfer By Camel Or 4×4)

Morocco

Camel ride and sunset in the dunes were still amazing experiences even if touristy.

Guided Tour of Volubilis

Volubilis

Wonderful run and mosaics.

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Explore Chefchaouen with your local guide

Chefchaouen

Muhamed was a great guide!

I love the questionnaire at the beginning and about 2 days later having an agenda! Sebastian picked some great experiences and exceeded my expectations!

Hotel Reviews

Jangle Courtyard by Marriott Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport

Le Mesnil-Amelot

So convenient at the airport! More of a resort feel. Room was large!

Authenticity & Character

True Marriott

Location

Perfect for catching a flight the next day!

Staff

Friendly, helpful but English needs work😉

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless

Domaine de la Tortinière

Veigne

Such an amazing experience to stay in an actual castle! So charming!!!

Authenticity & Character

Kept lots of the original charm while adding modern amenities!

Location

Off the beaten path in Tours

Staff

Friendly and helpful, great English

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless!

Hotel Belle Normandy

Bayeux

We had 3 days here at this beautiful school turned hotel! They had a great breakfast and helpful staff. Our room was family sized!

Authenticity & Character

In an historic building

Location

I’m walking distance to the heart of Bayeau

Staff

Super helpful, great English!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless!

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

Beautiful part of town. Lovely hotel. Only note, our room was tiny! No place to store luggage but we were only there one night.

Authenticity & Character

In an historic building

Location

Close to Printemps!

Staff

Very friendly, great English

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless!

Activity Reviews

Vouvray & Montlouis Wine tour

Tours

We had a private tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable about all processes of wine making! She brought along some meat and cheeses for pairing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-day guided tour from Bayeux to the Mont-Saint-Michel

France

Was not a guided tour, just a shuttle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-day Tour of D-Day Sites

Bayeux

I would give this only 3 stars but it’s because of the weather! It was rainy, windy and bitterly cold. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and even added an extra stop!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Warm and dry!

I will definitely recommend Kimkim for a hassle-free itinerary and trip planning that takes the stress off your mind. The person assigned to me Mint, went out of her way to accommodate my needs and even helped to add on extra locations (at no extra cost) to the itinerary while I was ON the trip! This level of customer service is really appreciated!

The service provided by the local tour companies sourced by Kimkim were also really accommodating and helpful! The drivers (Mr Chin in Bangkok, didnt catch my Chiang Rai driver's name unfortunately) and guides - Lina in Bangkok and Day in Chiang Rai were also really good! The hotels booked for us (family of 5, 4 adults and 1 child) were clean, lovely properties with staff that really attended to you well.

I am already planning where to go next year and will definitely engage Kimkim to do my planning and booking for me!

Thank you!!

Tonalli with eat mexico was so fun and enthusiastic!!
The chinampas with Gabriel was unique and so informative. Bikes and munchies was a fantastic bike and food tour in the city.
Luis in teotihuacan and again in Amanalco was very informed and enthusiastic. Loved the alpine cabins.
And Aaron and Irving with Unlimited guiding us to Popocatepetl were topnotch. Went above and beyond with extra driving duties.
Aand to top it off with the luche libre on our last night. Unforgettable.

Activity Reviews

Lucha Libre Experience & Mezcal Tasting

Mexico City

so fun and different

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

guide was fun and engaging

Transport

was no transport

Hike in the Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl National Park

Mexico

Aaron was excellent guide and Irving, driver was very good driver on difficult road

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aaron and Irving drove us an extra 2 hours when our other driver didnt show up.

Transport

Biking in Teotihuacán "The City of the Gods" & Overnight in Cholula

Mexico

unique experience and not expected to see pyramids in mexico city

Quality of Experience

unique

Guides, Drivers and Staff

excellent guide in luis

Transport

Bike tour around the coolest neighborhoods

Mexico City

guides were incredible looking after a fairly large group through the street of mexico city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Be amazed by the pre-hispanic beauty of the chinampas in Xochimilco

Mexico City

unique and unexpected part of mexico city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

gabriel was very informed, gentle and easy to be with

Transport

Tacos, Chelas & Mezcal in Narvarte

Mexico City

Tonalli, our guide was so enthusiastic and street food was top notch. We went to places we never would have gone without our guide.

Quality of Experience

guide was great and choies of food vendors good

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All tours were great, almost everyone was very knowledgeable and made the trips very enjoyable. Got to learn a lot of history and culture while having a great time. Our tour guide in Rothenburg was fantastic (sorry, can’t remember her name) as well as our tour guide in Prague. Upgraded car service to and from the airport and the upgraded castle tour/bus really elevated the experience. Everything was so planned out in exact detail that there was nothing to worry about.

Activity Reviews

Nuremberg WWII Walking Tour

Nuremberg

Great tour guide, learned lots of history and saw things we were not expecting. Great experience!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Premium Tour

Munich

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov and Ceske Budejovice

Czech Republic

Lot of driving for limited time in 1 city, did not get to spend anytime out of the car for the first city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber Private Guided Walking Tour

Germany

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

José Luis Miguel was a great driver and tour guide who had a wonderful positive attitude and shared relevant information with us.

Our adventure in Colombia was wonderful. Andrea listened to our needs and requests, the partnered with us to deliver a great trip. We enjoyed the people, the sites, the food, and the sense of adventure. For our first time in Columbia we found the experience to be seamless. We were able to hit some of the major sites and get a sense of Colombia- from the transformation of Medellín to roasting coffee in Salento to the Caribbean coast. We hope to go back and explore more some day!

Activity Reviews

Punta Faro at Múcura Island

Colombia

Beautiful resort. If you are up for quiet and relaxing this is it. Our room was one of the coolest rooms I have stayed in.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking in the Cócora Valley up to "The Hummingbird House" & Explore Salento

Colombia

First the hike itself was beautiful and I enjoyed the activity and reaching the hummingbird house. I would highly recommend this as an activity. The reason it is a low rating was due to the guide. It became very clear early on that our guide was not just leading us but working a second job during his time with us. He told us how he is opening up his own company and kept stopping to film for this new venture. This caused us to take significantly longer and was frustrating at times. Overall we love this as an activity but encourage the use of a different guide in the future.

Quality of Experience

Food

The restaurant we ate at was not great. We felt the trout was undercooked

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As mentioned our guide was working a second job and focused on this work which left us with a sour impression.

Transport

El Paraiso Coffee Farm: Where Coffee and History Unite in a Sensory Journey

Colombia

Carlos was a good host. It was interesting to learn not only his (and his family) history but also take part in the coffee process. I walked away with a deeper understanding of how to engage with coffee in the future.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biking Adventure in Guatapé: Nature, Culture, and the Iconic Peñol Boulder

Colombia

First and foremost Juliana was an amazing host. She was one of the best guides we have had. Her knowledge ability to handle any situation and her general vibe was appreciated. We hiked, biked, rode a Tuk Tuk, and explored by boat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Outstanding trip. We did a nine day tour (Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis/Meknes, Fez, Merzouga/Sahara, Ouarzazate/Aït Benhaddou, and Marrakech). Our driver for the whole trip, Younes, was incredible. His many years of touring was great for experiencing the best places for Moroccan pastries, best restaurant recommendations, and local history/color. We stayed in Riads throughout (except Ait Benhaddou hotel), all were great, and relatively easy to access when in medinas.

Chefchaouen tour with Aalae was really very good, lots of history and engaging discussion; rooftop dining in center of city was great. Volubilis was definitely worth the trip with good guide. Fes was a highlight with great all-day guide Fatima Zahra, great food and trip to hammam. Merzouga/Sahara was great with camel ride and overnight tent stay; in retrospect, we might have swapped out a day in Marrakech to have stayed longer in desert. Ouarzazate highlight was Ait Benhaddou. In Marrakech we did food tour and full day tour which were very good; Hatim from Morocco Off the Beaten Track (MOBT) joined the tour and made it enjoyable (he also did a great job of planning out the overall tour). Cooking class in Marrakech was fun, but did take up a fair part of the day.

Overall, incredible trip, great experience, in large part due to great care from Younes.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Nyla And Spa Marrakech

Marrakech

Very good staff, breakfast, and location. Very close to Dar el Bacha, Secret Garden, and others. Great rooftop bar and amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Great amenities and great rooftop bar.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Asfalou

Great location, great views of Ait Benhaddou and valley. Nice accomodation. Only hotel we stayed at in Morocco, rest were riads.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxury Camp Chebbi

Merzouga

Great staff, good food, great experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Zamane & Spa Fes

Fes

Good staff, location, and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Meziana

Chefchaouene

Good location, staff and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Nice riad. Good staff and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Traditional Cooking Class

Morocco

Good experience with other travelers learning Moroccan cooking. Took 4-5 hours, do this only if you have time. Engaging chef and translator at Clock Kitchen.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Engaging chef and translator at Clock Kitchen.

Exploring the Medina and Historical Sites Of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Primary guide was OK.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Primary guide could have been more engaging.

Transport

Evening Food Tour in Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Primary guide was OK. Experiences were good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Primary guide could have been more engaging.

Transport

Overnight in the Sahara Desert with Sunset Camel Ride

Morocco

Great staff.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina of Fes

Fes

Great guide with Fatima Zahra.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam Visit: Traditional Body Scrub

Morocco

Great to do once during a trip.

Quality of Experience

Thailand was never really on my list to go to until I started watching Thai dramas. It was one of the best ways to learn about Thailand a places I would want to visit if I ever went. Tina was very proactive in making sure that places I want to visit and see was able to be on my itinerary.

As I started to research my Thailand trip, what I ran into for tours was they only went north or south. I wanted to go north, but end my trip in the south. Kimkim was able to accommodate that. I started in Bangkok able to see many famous sites while my tour guide explained much of the history of Bangkok and Ayutthaya. As Thailand has over 35,000 temples, I definitely saw my fair share of ones that are still used and ones that are ancient ruins. My first dinner in Thailand was so delicious that I still talk about how it became the perfect Thai dish to start my time in Bangkok.

My Thai dramas did not disappoint as I left Bangkok and headed to Kanchanaburi. Tina planned for us to take the train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi leading us to travel Thailand with planes, trains, and automobiles. It was good to try, but definitely would not want to do it again. Long train rides with no a/c and comfortable seats is something that I could skip next time. While doing research around Kanchanaburi, I was able to visit a mineral springs and spa letting me get my first Thai massage. Tina was able to build that into my itinerary. After Kanchanaburi, we headed up to Chiang Rai, then to Chiang Mai, and I finished my time in Phuket.

I am so glad Tina was able to add Chiang Rai to my trip so I could see the White Temple and Blue Temple. They were on my list, but I had no idea that my introduction to Chiang Rai was because of the two temples. My cousin and I were able to capture wonderful photos of both temples and take in the beauty of these unique temples. We next went to Singha Park. I guess I didn't know what to expect, but we loved riding around in the golf cart seeing the banana trees, flowers, tea fields, etc. We were also able to stop at the cafe and have a couple of tea. It was a wonderful surprise on our trip and a place I would recommend to go. We also had an amazing hot pot at the night market.

We next headed off to Chiang Mai. Many of my Thai dramas would visit/talk about Chiang Mai, the capital of the north. What an interesting and beautiful city to see and explore! I had to make sure I got a photo with one of the standing gates leading to the best night market we visited in Thailand. I liked it even more than the one in Bangkok. They had an amazingly large food stall area with traditional Thai dancers, music, etc. We also were able to try some duran while visiting a food market during the day. Some of the many highlights to our northern adventure was visiting the Karen hill tribe and stopping at Srinehru School of Coffee where they teach the elementary school children how to make coffee. As they grow the beans at the site, we were able to taste a fresh bean coffee. We ended our last day in Chiang Mai with a visit to an elephant sanctuary. I was contacted by Tina that the one they were going to send us to unfortunately was under construction, but she was able to arrange for another sanctuary. It was so fun to visit the elephants, we also had a baby elephant to see and touch! It was a wonderful experience and I'm glad Tina was able to find us a sanctuary to visit.

As I finished in Chiang Mai, it was time to move on to Phuket. I will say, Phuket was not one of my favorite parts of my trip, but I think some of that is based on beaches not always being a place I want to visit. Staying in Patong area wasn't an interesting part of my trip. But when I headed to Old Phuket for a day, I definitely felt Old Phuket was a place I would have loved to stay in. I loved the atmosphere of Old Phuket, plus being around the Sino-Portuguese buildings made for great photo opportunities. The cooking class I was able to attend gave me an opportunity to learn to make some very known Thai food. I can't wait to try to make it at home.

Overall, my trip was worth the cost and I will use Kimkim again to plan a trip to visit other parts of Asia including the eastern part of Thailand.

Hotel Reviews

Oceanfront Beach Resort

Phuket

As someone who isn't a beach person or party atmosphere, overall, the location of the hotel wasn't something I would go visit again. I was never able to catch the shuttle to Patong area leading me to have to pay a taxi every place. As Phuket is hard to navigate, going any place, even just what one would assume to be a quick drive, became long and tedious. The bed was comfortable. The room was nicely decorated. The amenities at the hotel were nice. Overall, it was just the location that has me rate the hotel what I rated.

Authenticity & Character

It was nice and the breakfast was good

Location

Being in the Patong area ended up not being a place that I was interested in.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel (SHA Extra Plus)

Chiang Mai

The hotel was nicely situated with lots of character. The staff was friendly and the room we stayed in was very comfortable with comfortable beds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nak Nakara Hotel

Chiang Rai

The character of this hotel reminded us we were staying in Thailand. Especially when we came back from dinner and found a lizard welcoming us back. Thankfully the staff was able to wrangle the lizard out so we could go to bed. The size of room was comfortable and accommodated 2 twin beds well.

Authenticity & Character

Meeting a lizard on our first night was definitely an interesting experience.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room being a good size and also the bathroom.

U Inchantree Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi

U Inchantree was a cute hotel right next to the River Kwai. I will say the room we stayed in was very tiny for 2 people to stay in. The beds were comfortable and breakfast every morning started the day on the right foot. Overall, we did like the hotel, but the tiny room was difficult to navigate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved being right on the River Kwai and having breakfast in the morning with views.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again, the room was very small for 2 twin beds and 2 people.

The Quarter Hua Lamphong by UHG

Bangkok

The only good thing about this hotel was location--right next to Chinatown--and breakfast. I was given a room at the end of the hall giving me a large room. However, the bed was incredibly uncomfortable leading me to not sleeping well and the scent of cannabis in the hallway displeased me and gave me a headache. Overall, I do not recommend this hotel until they change the mattresses for someone to be able to sleep comfortably.

Authenticity & Character

I will say again the mattresses making sleep uncomfortable.

Location

Being right next to Chinatown, I was able to walk and get delicious food.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not have the smell of cannabis lingering throughout the hallway.

Activity Reviews

Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour!

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

This ended up being one of the best experiences I had while in Thailand. It made my time in Phuket at least worth visiting so I could do the canoe. We had an interesting experience as when we were going to light the Loy Krathong, it was pouring down rain. The main guide said that the staff was willing to canoe us to the cave so that we could light the basket for those that wanted to go. As I knew this was a once in a lifetime chance, I decided to go ahead with having the staff member paddle us to the cave. Even though I was soaked, I loved having the opportunity to experience it. Throughout the day, the places we were canoed to were breathtaking and we were able to enjoy the sites. Finally, the food that the company provided definitely sent you back with a full stomach of good meals throughout the day. I cannot recommend this experience enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Nature Park Visit

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome and Temple Treasures of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Ancient Ayutthaya

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Bangkok by local transfers and walking tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Bangkok!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Rai in a day!

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temple and Hill tribes in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

My wife and I used Kimkim to arrange an 8 day tour of Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, and Torres Del Paines. From the initial planning of the itinerary to the first airport pickup to the last airport dropoff everything exceeded our expectations. My wife and I had never been to Chile, and Angel was extremely patient in going over the options to help us set up a terrific itinerary. The hotels were exactly what we were hoping for, and the activities - penguin watching, dolphin watching, glacier hiking, car rental - were incredibly memorable. Our local guide Jose was passionate and knowledgeable about Torres Del Paines, and the day he spent driving us through the park was a the highlight of the trip. Jose was also always available via Whatsapp to assist with any questions and recommendations.

Thanks to Angel, Jose, and the good folks at Kimkim for terrific and memorable vacation!

Overall, I had a great trip. My planning was definitely a little different. As I was going to visit my cousin, plus break up my trip with popping over to Thailand for 15 days, when I first put together an idea, Kimkim said that they wouldn't be able to do it. After I contacted customer service, they quickly explained to me that they were more than happy to accommodate what I was wanting for my Korea trip. I did have a problem arise while planning and when I contacted customer service again, they promptly called me and told me that they would get my agent to contact me so we could get my issue resolved.

Most of my trip was self-guided, but when I went to Gyeongju, I did have a guide. William was an excellent guide and I greatly enjoyed touring with him for the few days. He was able to take me to all of the sites I was wanting to visit in and around Gyeongju. Plus he had the best recommendations for lunch spots. If one is able to get William as a tour guide, one will definitely have a great experience with a very competent guide.

Part of my trip, I researched 2 places I wanted to go: Gyeongju and Jeonju. While researching the cities, I saw the recommendations to stay at 2 different hanoks. When I was putting together my trip, I requested to stay in those hanoks and Kimkim was able to make the reservations. I definitely recommend staying at Siwoowadang. The hanok was situated within walking distance to multiple areas and the hanok village. The restaurants around Siwoowadang were fabulous and my breakfast every morning was delicious. The couple that ran the hanok were amazing hosts and I had all the comforts I needed. When in Jeonju, I definitely recommend staying at Samlockhon as it is in the heart of the hanok village and the host is quick to give you the best restaurant and cafe recommendations. Jeonju was definitely one of my favorite places to visit.

My trip planner did plan my KTX tickets at a perfect time leaving me with a perfect amount of time visit each city. I am so glad that I was able to plan my trip with Kimkim and I will use them for my next vacation planning.