Kimkim Trip Reviews

Organizing a 16-day private tour with a dedicated driver through Morocco is no small feat, and we truly appreciate the efforts of Original Travels and the kimkim travel agency for making our journey memorable. The trip was well planned by Imane who provided excellent suggestions was in constant contact with out driver and was able to modify when changes needed to be made. We were able to see a large part of the country and had quality time in the sites we were interested in seeing.
Our driver, Soufian went above and beyond to make the trip convenient and to ensure our needs were met. He is a skilled driver and managed to calmly negotiate the chaos of busy cities, keeping a lookout for pedestrians, autos, busses, motorcycles and occasionally donkeys and carts. Furthermore, he spoke English well, shared information about the country and the Moroccan way of life. He has a great sense of humor but was never overbearing. He made sure we were comfortable, providing water and asking if we needed breaks throughout the trip. He made us feel confident about negotiating our travels and provided safety tips as well as an App to reach him. He was always prompt and provided the time we needed to tour areas of interest. As an older couple we never felt rushed. Further, Soufian ensured staff from the Rihad’s were available to guide us and assist with luggage through the narrow, cobbled Medinas. We were happy with our tour guides and enjoyed every single day of our trip.
While the detailed itinerary listed stops at Andalusian Gardens and the Musee des Oudias, we didn’t receive specific directions or information about these locations, and they were ultimately not included in our visits. Nevertheless, the trip was packed with unforgettable moments that far exceeded our expectations.
On October 26, 2025, in Marrakesh, Le Jardin Secret Garden was substituted for the Majorelle Gardens due to ticket availability issues. Although the trip was booked and paid for on September 2, 2025, it would have been helpful to be informed of any changes—such as this substitution—upon our arrival in Morocco, rather than at the time of the event. Similarly, the Moroccan storytelling scheduled at Café Clock was planned for a time when the activity was not available, which was a minor disappointment.
During the journey from Essaouira to Casablanca on October 29, stops at Safi, The Potter’s Capital, and El Jadida, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were listed on the itinerary but were omitted without explanation. We believe that discussing any itinerary changes upon arrival would enhance the travel experience and avoid confusion later in the trip.
Despite these small hiccups, our overall experience was fantastic. The team went above and beyond to keep the car clean and provide bottled water daily, and their responsiveness to unexpected changes, such as rebooking our initial nights at Pestana Casablanca due to a soccer tournament, was impressive. We understand the complexities involved in organizing such an extensive tour and appreciate the attention to detail throughout our adventure.
Our sincere thanks to kimkim Travel Agency, Original Travels and especially to Soufian for providing a wonderful trip that we enjoyed immensely.

Elena was very attentive and very quick to respond. The planning was impeccable and we had a great experience. She was with us all the way through planning and all the way through our trip, which was truly appreciated. The guides and the experiences were exactly what we were looking for.

Trek portion of trip was fine.
Travel portion of trip was from hell. Every connection to and from the start of trek was terrible. The flight to and from KTM and Nepalgunj was delayed both ways by about 4-5 hrs. The air travel in Nepal is certainly third world class.
The booked flight from Nepalgunj to Dunai was cancelled both ways, resulting in a horrible jeep ride for 12 HRS each way.
I understand in talking with my guide that this flight is probably cancelled 75% of the time. This flight should not be in the itinerary of the trip, or at least some mention that it is likely to be cancelled and a 12 HR jeep ride is the only option. If I knew that I would probably be taking a 12 jeep ride on any leg of the trip, I would not have booked the trip.
Chhewang is aware of my position. This will be my last time to visit Nepal.

I recently organized a group trip to Japan for 15 travelers through KimKim and worked directly with Angel as our specialist. This was my sixth time working with KimKim and once again the level of customer service, communication, and genuine care stood out in a major way.

Even though I did not travel with this group myself, Angel and her team were responsive, patient, and committed to supporting a very full itinerary across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Managing a group of this size with many moving parts is not easy, and overall the coordination, accommodations, and activities were excellent.

Our hotels in all three cities were beautiful, centrally located, and convenient for exploring on foot or by train. The activities chosen for the group were engaging and memorable. TeamLab Planets was a highlight for many and became one of the most talked about experiences of the entire itinerary. Travelers also enjoyed the castles, shrines, markets, and cultural touches throughout the journey.

We did encounter a few hiccups during the trip, which I believe are helpful to name for growth on both sides. Some of the full day excursions were too long and packed too tightly, which made the days feel rushed for travelers who wanted more time to absorb the history and culture. Time management and pacing are especially important for first time visitors to Japan, and future itineraries would benefit from shorter days, more breaks, and a bit more built-in flexibility.
We also had inconsistent experiences with local guides. One of our female guides was phenomenal, thoughtful, and highly communicative. Another guide struggled with communication and cultural expectations, which created some strain during one of the full day tours. That said, Angel was receptive when this was brought to her attention and took action to support the group.

There was also an issue with the tea ceremony and samurai museum tickets not being booked in advance even though they had been paid for. This was understandably frustrating for travelers who were looking forward to these activities. I appreciate Angel and Sandy stepping in quickly to help resolve this, and I am currently processing reimbursements on my end with their support. Mistakes happen, and I appreciate the team’s transparency and willingness to correct it.

Despite the challenges, what impressed me most was the care, grace, and helpful attitude Angel consistently demonstrated. She was in daily communication with our trip leaders, monitored the group’s needs closely, and made every effort to keep things running smoothly. Her dedication did not go unnoticed by the travelers or by me.

Overall, this was a meaningful trip for my community. My travelers experienced Japan through culture, food, history, and shared connection. The minor issues do not overshadow the fact that KimKim curated a beautiful journey for us, and our group made incredible memories together.

I would absolutely work with KimKim again and with Angel again. With a few adjustments to pacing and guide selection, I know future Japan itineraries will be even stronger. Thank you, Angel and Sandy, for your time, flexibility, and support through the entire process.

Working with KimKim was easy to figure out and book. The trip was a whirlwind of activities that kept us engaged in various historic sites, cultural specialities and unique aspects of Morocco. Overall the hotel in Boulemane Dades and Desert were the best hotels, and the others were satisficatory for my stay. I would have appreciated more personalization on the tour based on our requests and interests. On some occasions I felt that we were taken to places that we thought we would like versus what we found of interest or value. I believe this may be related to "finding places to stop" to break up the long drive for a "lofty itinerary". At times, I felt pressured to buy items from vendors at various locations even though our driver said we did not have to- Moroccans are very good salespersons. I would have loved to spend more time hiking in the Dades region. Our guide in Fez, was fantastic. Our driver was prompt and kept us safe. Efficiency in our trip was very important to me as we were trying to pack a lot in one week. Our driver even helped me arrange a last minute hamman experience which I highly recommend!

Overall the trip was great, and these specificities and personalization each day would have allowed for me to savor what we like on a trip. -Corina

Hotel Reviews

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

Felt like a cheap hotel, rooms are small, dining area was sterile with flourescent lights, and location seems a bit not super walkable to food options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Braya

FesfE

Least favorite hotel. Cluttered in rooms, bathrooms are not functioning well, and bed situation was challenging (two beds, and one we had to climb up on a ladder. Upkeep of aesthetics is lacking in this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

clash of modern energy with old did not seem to sync well.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Orient Desert Camp

Merzouga

Great place, nice and fun staff, great accommodations. Very peaceful. Definitely go out to see the stars away from the camp at night if it's a clear day. Dinner was great. Breakfast was average.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms are spacious and thoughtful

Location

This camp is next to several other camps, other camps have closer proximitity to higher dunes.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Beautiful and great service. Would have been good to know what to expect for meals prior to arriving, pricing and that the food was excellent, as we stopped somewhere before because we were hungry. Would have preferred to wait for this food. Staff and rooms were beautiful. Location is a bit far especially since we did not spend much time there in the morning or evening. Would have been nice to stay or arrive earlier.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Diamond of Marrakech

Marrakech

Clean yet not very sophisticated. Services were okay but not great (pedicure). Nothing special. Pillows and beds were not great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Transfer from Fes to Casablanca via Rabat: Journey to Morocco's Modern Heart

Morocco

Driver was great, we hit tons of traffic in Casablanca and our driver was very patient. Maybe time the drive to arrive in less trafficky times.

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Great guide, Sherif.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Patient, helpful, and provided enough information but not overloaded with facts that made him boring.

Transport

Merzouga to Fes via Rissani, Midelt, & the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Great guide. Needed this guide as this medina is harder to navigate then Marrakesh. 1/2 day is perfect if this activity. Again know what you want to buy in this medina.

Sand-Boarding in Erg Chebbi (Free of Charge)

Merzouga

We did it, need to be on a steep enough grade for this to work. Start on butt first if you are scared and lean back, and be barefoot. Hard to turn like a snowboard, straight down. You can do 3-4 runs if you are willing to walk up the hill. Nice little workout. This will be a 20-30 minute activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Loved seeing the nomad populations, however our guide lacked knowledge and did not make much effort to educate us. The lunch was good at Cafe Zaid,- the egglpant dish in the clay was amazing,- berber pizza was not my favorite kind of pizza, yet interesting. Enjoyed the music and tea. Seemed like these places are set up for workers to come there and show us how these populations lived, but they do not reside their now. So some explanation of this would be helpful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

better english, better education

Transport

Drive from Boumalne Dades to Merzouga via Tinghir & Rissani, Sunset Camel Ride

Morocco

Desert was beautiful. Sunset was breathtaking, so make sure to arrive for the sunset. Our camel ride was private and the guide, Mohammed was super nice and creative with our pictures.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Marrakech to Boumalne Dades: Through Atlas Mountains, Aït Benhaddou & Rose Valley

Morocco

Lots of driving be prepared. Carpet Cooperative is nice, however was difficult to avoid a large purchase. Again research if this is something you want or not. Farm walk to the cooperative was quite lovely. Would really appreciate seeing the women who make these carpets versus the men who are the sales team. Could have skipped two stops: the Hollywood of the Atlas Mountains, and the store where they dress you up in scarves to look like a local. This would have given us more time in Boulemane Dades.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

This was great. Tried a variety of foods at restaurants and with street vendors. Process was easy and service was great. Just enough food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Very nice tour about history, culture and the medina. Mohammed was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super knoweldgeable

Transport

Visit Majorelle Gardens

Morocco

Very pretty but not sure I would have put this on our the agenda. Great for pictures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No guide here there was not much said about this place and finding the right line versus the YSL museum was confusing.

Transport

Faysel was on time and in a space that was easy for us to find him.

Cape Town was great and our guide Marc was knowledgeable about the history of south africa and kind and went the extra mile, always. We enjoyed the hike Tablemountain. We did not need a guide, it was quite well marked. It was intereting t have her there to educat us on the various plant and what to touch and not to touch ! There ar3e several hikes if you want to spend more time being active. The penguins were cute but it was quite a drive to see something small and very touristic. The drive was beautiful. We stopped at a local coffee shop, we also stopped at Cape of Hope for a picture and stopped at a winery on the way back. Full day!

A highlight of the trip was the visit on Robben Island. Advice for people planning, I would recommend the private visit. We had a very large group and it was difficult to ask question. I would return and spend more time in a private group. I think it would have been worth the money. The guides are ex-prisonner, making the experience even more moving and real.

We then headed to Namibia which was wonderful. The team at Salt Travel in Namibia (Andrea met us at the begining of the trip at our hotel, gave us a map with the highlighted routes to take, the time to travel, the type of road, the must do stops, etc.) was phenomenal. The came to our hotel to give us our rental vehicle and they picked it up at our last hotel (final destination).

Sandboarding in the dunes was fantastic, small group locals guys, we had a blast. The 4-wheeler in the dunes was super fun if you want to see the vast desert. However Desert Explorer is a big company with many employees and the guides are not very engaging, not invested int he experience for the customer as much. District hotel in Swakopmund was perfect, safe, small boutique hotel, good food, excellent staff.

The glamping in the desert when visiting Big Daddy was a great experience. It was quite warm! The poool was refreshing. We loved learning about Namibia.

Spheperd's lodge Safari was amazing. The facility are 5 stars and the staff very attentive. This is not roughing it ! The beds were comfortable, we enjoyed the outdor shower and the soaking tub. The guide was not as interactive as we would have wish. However, he was knowledgeable. The game ride were gr4eat and the animal got very close to us. Lots of rhinos, we saw elephants, giraffes, and various type of antiloop. We did not have the luck to see a lion, but we were there only for one evening and 1 days (3 game rides) and it was abnormally cold. I loved that experience. If we were to go back, I would want to organize a hike with a guide for 3-4h. I wish we could be more physically engaged. We truly enjoyed the safari in Pilansberg, great alternative if you want to go in a Malaria free zone. I couldn't take the regular anti-malaria drugs because of pregnancy, so Stephanie found us that alternative which was great and allowed us to also experience Johannesburg. Now, the Apartheid museum take a good 6 hours. We only had 1.5h. We had a museuum guide to help us get through it and hitting hte key points. It was moving. I wish we had spent more time there. Visiting Mandela house was interesting, this was quite quick, you don't need much time. I wonder if it would have been safe to just walk around Sowento for a bit.

Hachim was absolutely fabulous as our local specialist. He consistently offered experiences and information that touched my heart deeply and also immersed me into the culture of Morocco. I am a longtime educator and only wish I could have recorded him as he skillfully explained what I was seeing, it's significance and connection to history/culture, and shared how Morracan families live in varied settings. He explained the economics, geography, the Muslim religion, and historical influences which was fascinating and made me want to learn more. I fell in love with the country and people. Hachim is an excellent teacher and invites his listener into learning.

I also want to remark on him personally. He offers a warm heart and hand making everyone around him feel welcome. When confronted with inconveniences or tour member needs/adjustments, he responded professionally and immediately making visitors feel heard and respected.

Thank you Hachim and KimKim for such a wondrous adventure.

Kimberly Brunetto

All guides were personable, knowledgeable and fun to be with.

Ben was very helpful planning the trip. When asked, he made a number of helpful suggestions which were all well thought out and were a good fit for us. When we forgot some clothing at our hotel in Hakone, Ben worked with the hotel and the clothes were delivered to us a couple of days later. The guides(Peter and Ursula) were both great. We loved our trip and would not hesitate to use KimKim again. Highest recommendation!!

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Miyajima Island: Floating Torii Gate & Hiking

Hiroshima

The island was beautiful, we enjoyed the hike and cable cars we took to get to the top.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Hiroshima by public transport

Japan

One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the Peace museum . Very moving experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto to Osaka via Nara by private transfer

Japan

Nara was beautiful. Seeing the Great Buddha and feeding the deer were highlights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Arashiyama: Rickshaw Ride ， Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park and Tea Ceremony in Kimono

Kyoto

Taking a rickshaw through the bamboo forest was a real treat. The monkey park was a pleasant though challenging hike, and great views of Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Golden Pavilion，Fushimi Inari Shrine, Traditional Arts Performance, Pontocho Alley

Kyoto

The Fushimi Inari shrine and Golden Pavillion were beautiful and very interesting, not too crowded.,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fuji Five Lakes Tour, Transfer to Hakone

Japan

Beautiful scenery, spectacular views of MT. Fuji. The museum was also very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

local knowledge

Transport

Explore Tokyo's Rich Heritage: Tsukiji Outer Market,Imperial palace,Sushi Making Class, Ghibli Museum by public transport

Tokyo

The sushi making class we great fun, The tour of the fish market and Ghibli musuem were also execellent!

Quality of Experience

Food

Great sushi!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the trip , we felt safe and secured during travel within Costa Rica and people we met are warmth.

We had a tremendous time in Italy, piggybacking a personal trip on top of a college group trip. Luca worked with us to customize an itinerary and activities in sync with our goals and everything went smoothly. This is our 3rd consecutive overseas vacation we have booked through KimKim and each experience has been quite satisfactory.

Hotel Reviews

Just Hotel

Milano

The hotel was fine - nothing exceptional or bad. It was located right by the train station which we wanted due to our travel so a little bit away from the key areas but that was our choice to be close to the train. The hotel was modern, clean, no issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Saturnia & International

Venice

We loved this hotel and the staff. Perfectly located just a couple of blocks from San Marco square and the Basilica and along the primary shopping district. The hotel had a canal entrance which was great for water taxis and the staff was incredibly friendly - the front desk and concierge team were amazing, helpful and extremely friendly. The room was excellent, very large and spacious and the breakfast buffet was great. We had drinks and dinner at the hotel one night and it was a great decision.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The entire concierge team was exceptional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Art Hotel Commercianti

Bologna

Beautiful hotel located right in the center of the central district of Bologna. We were located adjacent to the Basilica and town square and everything including shopping and dining was within a few square blocks. Couldn't have asked for a better location. While the room was a bit small, it wasn't unexpected given the older, historical nature of the hotel. The breakfast buffet was incredible, both in quantity and quality of food and the diversity of offerings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Navigli district walking tour

Milan

We had a nice tour of a cathedral and the canals and some back streets of the area. It was fine, just not that much to show or discuss. We finished with a glass of wine together with the tour guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Verona Arena skip-the-line guided tour

Italy

The guide was very knowledgeable and had a nice, self-deprecating sense of humor. We enjoyed our time in Verona for the day and the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

PRIVATE - MURANO AND BURANO EXCURSION

Venice

We had a great experience in the Murano glass factory. In fact, we spent so much time there (and money LOL), we missed our time for Burano. But the glass factory made arrangements for us to still go to Burano and get a tour so it worked out well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Gondola Ride

Venice

Extremely disappointed. 20 minutes, one quick loop through a canal and back to drop off. We were refunded our money but still unhappy as we were looking forward to a nice gondola ride through Venice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eating in the city centre: Private food tour

Bologna

We were a little disappointed with the tour. We enjoyed the initial walk through of the city hall and square and some of the historical information but the tour of the food and restaurants didn't really get into a lot of detail on the various foods, history, why the popularity in Bologna, etc. The oil/balsamic stop was very nice but the visits to the mortadella restaurant and pasta restaurant were just volume fast food type of restaurants. We were hoping for something more quaint and local. And we finished before the gelato store was open so were given a voucher and came back on our own. The guide was friendly but just not a lot of depth into the food and wine history and specialty of Bologna.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip layout was amazing. The highlight was the anakhala game reserve at the end. Our guide Jono was great. Thank you Lize.

Our trip to Morocco was incredible from start to finish! KimKim made it very easy to plan the perfect trip, and everything was seamlessly coordinated throughout our trip. Our driver, Ilyace, was absolutely wonderful. He was punctual and very easy to get along with. Most importantly, he drove safely through mountain passes and winding roads. He ensured that we stopped to stretch our legs at interesting sites during our long travel days, and he brought us to fantastic and authentic Moroccan cuisine along the way. Our riads were beautiful (especially in Marrakesh and the camping experience in the desert), the food was incredible everywhere we went, and the tours were a great way to learn about the history of the cities.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Diamond of Marrakech

Marrakech

The riad was very comfortable and located in the heart of the medina near the main square.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Braya

FesfE

The riad was very comfortable and was located in the heart of the medina.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Everything about this experience was incredible. Our visit started with a 2-hour camel ride to the camp site, then we were welcomed with tea and pastries on arrival. Our "tent" was perfect with all of the amenities we would need -- electrical outlets, full bathroom, heater (if needed), fans (if needed), comfortable bed, wifi. We were made to feel at home by the staff at the camp. We had delicious meals for breakfast and dinner (and they accommodated vegetarian preferences with delicious meal as well), followed by stargazing and a drum circle around a campfire. On our second day at the camp, the staff organized a tour for us around the desert and an ATV ride in the afternoon. Overall, this was incredibly special part of our trip, and we would highly recommend this experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

This riad was absolutely perfect for our overnight stay en route to the Sahara desert. The check-in/out process was easy, and the room was spacious and comfortable. The best part of this riad was the dinner that served on our arrival -- we are foodies, and we are not exaggerating when we say this was the best meal of our trip and, quite possibly, one of the best meals of our lives. HIGHLY recommend!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kniza

Marrakech

Incredible riad! This was one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in. The riad was beautiful, the room was spacious and comfortable, and everyone was very accommodating. The location was perfect, as it was near the entrance to the medina and not too far from the main square. The complimentary breakfast was delicious too! Would absolutely recommend staying here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Our guide, Charif, was very knowledgeable about Fes and showed us many wonderful highlights of the city! He was also very gracious with his time, allowing us to wander around the different artisan shops and to take our time exploring the souks.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Ride in the Dunes of Merzouga

Merzouga

This was SO much fun!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

It was cool to see the various geographical formations in the Sahara desert and learn more about the Berber people who live there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boumalne Dades to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride via Tinerhir & Rissani

Morocco

Absolutely incredible experience to ride a camel to our camp!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Our evening food tour guide, Mohammed, was excellent and provided an amazing food experience for us!! He showed us a variety of foods that we otherwise wouldn't have tried, and he encouraged us to try new things. He also added a lot of history about the city during the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Majorelle Gardens

Morocco

Pretty gardens!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Our morning guide for the city tour, Abdul, was wonderful!! He was very knowledgeable about the city and the history of the country, and he was very easy to talk to and ask questions.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alex provided an amazing trip to Belize! He was very responsive questions and helped us understand the entire trip planning process as well as checked in along the way to make sure things were going smoothly. Everything was so well coordinated that we could just relax and enjoy the experience and our trip. When we ran into weather issues during one day, he quickly provided and coordinated alternate activities for the day that we really enjoyed. I would highly recommend Alex and kimkim for future travel!

Hotel Reviews

Ramon's Village Resort

San Pedro

Loved our stay at Ramon's! The rooms are fabulous and it was so relaxing to sit on the balcony, at the pool or by the beach. The restaurant and smoothie bar were both excellent and food and staff were incredible. We also really enjoyed the snorkeling excursions from the dive shop, the guides were amazing! Easy walk into the rest of town as well. Highly recommend for a stay in San Pedro.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Falling Leaves Lodge

San Ignacio

Excellent place to stay in San Ignacio. Rooms are clean, quiet and spacious. The pool is lovely and the whole place feels like you're in the jungle! The restaurant was excellent and the staff was very helpful to help coordinate excursions. Easy walk into the main part of town as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley -from Ramons

Belize

Incredible activity! Great knowledgeable guides! Highly recommend! We saw so many neat sea animals!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm

Belize

Neat to see the butterflies close up!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Mountain Pine Ridge - full day

Belize

Really enjoyed this excursion! Swimming in the rio on pools was so much fun and the caves were a great little hike. Guide was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Xunantunich Maya Ruins Tour

Belize

Great tour, guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ravi put together an amazing trip. The accommodations were all fantastic. Guides and drivers were terrific.

I had only two issues with Ravi. The first and most significant I shared blame for. He never informed me in the chat thst a visa was required for the trip. Obviously I should have checked. I only found out when I went to check in for my flight. Apparently the info had been in the document package he had provided. It was in stark contrast to the chat I had for my trip to Sri Lanka at the same time. I'm that chat your travel specialist, Dhanushka, informed me immed that a visa was required for a trip to Sri Lanka.

My second concern, which was minor, was the failure to let me know that we needed cold weather clothing for the Safaris. It would have been nice to have some heavier clothes and a ski hat for our morning journeys into the jungle.

I do want to emphasize how wonderful the trip was and that I would be happy to use Active India again in the future.

One final comment related to the Kimkim interface is related to multiple chats. It would have been far more convenient to have one chat instead of uploading documents multiple times in addition to all of the plane reservations.

Happy to discuss further

Mark

Hotel Reviews

Pench Tree Lodge

Absolutely fantastic! The Pugdundde Safaris were awesome. They treated it like their own vacation. Our safari guides worked hard to insure us the best viewing experience. The hotel was fantastic as was the food. Staff was friendly and helpful. I'm Pench we stayed in a treehouse. It was amazing Would love to stay in other Pugdundde resorts in the future. Special shout out to Omkar who guided us on Safari.

Authenticity & Character

The resort fit in perfectly

Location

Just outside the National Park on a gorgeous piece of property

Staff

Everyone was great. Food was excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were super comfortable

Kanha Earth Lodge

Absolutely fantastic! The Pugdundde Safaris were awesome. They treated it like their own vacation. Our safari guides worked hard to insure us the best viewing experience. The hotel was fantastic as was the food. Staff was friendly and helpful. Would love to stay in other Pugdundde resorts in the future

Authenticity & Character

Charming

Location

Just outside the National Park. Loved the Lemurs crawling on our cottage as well as hearing the animal calls at night

Staff

Everyone was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Lalit Hotel, New Delhi

Delhi

A solid hotel. Nothing special.

Authenticity & Character

Just a big hotel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A walk through villages in Kanha

Kanha

Very interesting to see how the people live

Unearthing Delhi’s hidden gems

Delhi

Interesting tour of the older buildings in the city

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Didn't do this because of the terrorist attack

Explore Pench National Park – Morning and Afternoon safari

Pench

Omcar was a fantastic guide and found us an amazing variety of animals

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pench Free day

Pench

The Pench Safari was awesome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning and afternoon safaris at the Kanha National Park

Kanha

Absolutely fantastic

Quality of Experience

Seeing the Bengal Tiger was an incredible experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had a wonderful trip to the Galapagos Islands, thanks to our travel agent Maria Jose and all the KimKim team. I was part of a group of 12 friends traveling together from the US. None of us had ever been to Ecuador before. Maria planned a great tour for us, including all day trips, transfers, some meals and travel within Ecuador. The trip got off to a very rough start, since our initial flights were canceled due to bad weather and all of us had to rebook. Most of the group were delayed by a couple of days, and Maria helped each of us according to individual circumstances. As it turned out, I alone landed in Galapagos on the planned arrival day, and I was by myself for 48 hours until the group was reunited. Maria arranged for guides, transfers, and a great boat tour during those first two days on my own. I felt completely supported, even without my traveling companions in a new place. Once we were all together, the remaining week of tourism went very smoothly; we loved the excursions led by friendly and knowledgeable guides. Maria remained responsive and supportive throughout the entire tour and beyond. I was impressed with her patience and her genuine desire that we should have an excellent experience.

Places we visited, pacing of tours, clarity (language, speaking tone and delivery) of guides and hotels we stayed in were all wonderful.

Hotel Reviews

Villa Laguna hotel

Santa Cruz

Authenticity & Character

Nice gathering areas in courtyard, lobby and 2nd floor areas.

Location

Great area - nearby downtown active area, with lots of shopping and restaurants. Awesome locally owned bar across street - owner/bartender makes amazing drinks, with all ingredients locally sourced and natural.

Staff

Breakfast was awesome! Hot prepared meals served to us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham Guayaquil, Puerto Santa Ana

Guayaquil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Oro Verde Cuenca

Cuenca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Alameda Quito

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

Quite the view from the walk! Stairs all the way to top and they were well maintained. By shore, say penguins and blue-footed boobies. Had several hawks sitting on railing, as well as then flying above us. Snorkeled, saw wonderful fishes. Bonus - had a sea lion swim among us - having fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Food and snacks aboard were great. Especially loved the freshly made hot chocolate and freshly popped corn.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Was a fun, well equipped boat ride. Was a bit wavy on way back, but part of nature.

Kayaking on Tortuga Bay

Puerto Ayora

Enjoyed both the hike and the kayaking. Fun to see the marine iguanas and walk. Saw many sea turtles as well as a white tipped shark while kayaking. Swiming was refreshing also.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Visit Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station In Style

Puerto Ayora

Loved seeing tortoises everywhere, as well as ability to walk amongst them. Enjoyed walking in the huge cave.

Quality of Experience

Food

On site restaurant had good choices and food was excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and friendly guides.

Transport

From the Highlands to the Coast: Cajas National Park to Guayaquil

Ecuador

Beautiful views! Loved the stories shared by guides.

Quality of Experience

Food

Restaurant service, food and views amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mindo Cloud Forest

Ecuador

Loved feeding the hummingbirds by hand!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stopped at a gas station/rest stop. Guide knew no toilet paper, so held a large roll for travelers to access what they needed. Small, but very nice touch!

I've used KimKim twice now and they are excellent. Bella created a fantastic itinerary with the perfect blend of relaxation, local experiences and sightseeing. She was truly great to work with and very supportive. All of our guides were prompt, friendly and knowledgeable. My husband and I had an amazing time from start to finish. I will be using KimKim again for my next vacation. Five stars all around.

My family and I booked part of our trip to Spain and Portugal through KimKim, and we had a great experience. This was not surprising as we have taken several trips with KimKim's help, and they were also wonderful. Our local specialist, Dalia, was fantastic! She was extremely helpful during the planning stages of the trip, and she did an excellent job of communicating information to us during the trip as well.

We stayed in Seville, Mérida, and Lisbon. All of our accommodations were very nice, clean, and comfortable. Our hotel in Mérida had even served as a convent and hospital at one point, which we thought was very cool.

We had several tours and guides booked through KimKim, that we really enjoyed:
Dalia recommended a Flamenco and Tapas tour in Seville, which was both fun and tasty! Teresa, was our guide for the evening. Born and raised in Seville, she was able to give us really interesting history and facts about both the city and Flamenco. The show was a lot of fun, and our tapas was very good thanks to Teresa's recommendations. 10/10 experience.

Alejandro was our driver to Ronda and the White Villages, and he did a fantastic job navigating the rather tricky and treacherous mountain roads. He also had a lot of great facts to share with us along our drive.

Alfredo was our tour guide in Ronda. He did a very good job giving us the history and cultural significance of bull fighting while still being very open and honest about the moral and ethical questions that it has raised in recent years. He didn't try to sway us to any sort of conclusion, but allowed us to draw our own. As a native resident of Ronda, he had so many great stories to share with us during the rest of the tour.

Eduardo was our driver to Italica, Mérida, Evora, and Lisbon. He was both courteous and kind.

We had a quick stop off in the Roman ruins of Italica. We would highly recommend visiting it if you are able to. Alfonso was our guide, and we loved his tour through the arena and city. He was able to create a great picture of what the city would have looked like in its heyday.

Mérida is a very interesting city to visit with a fantastic Roman theatre and Roman artifact museum. We loved our tour with Marco despite the rainy weather.

Evora was our first stop in Portugal, and it was a wonderful introduction to such a beautiful country. The bone chapel is fascinating and a must do if you are in the city. Our lunch was another highlight. We had a reservation through KimKim to a restaurant where there are no menus. You simply show up and they start bringing out the courses of the day. Sometimes they tell you what you are about to eat, and sometimes they wait to tell you what it is till after you've actually tried it. It was such a exciting way to try a different country's cuisine. Marie was our guide, and she was phenomenal. We loved her energy, and she was extremely knowledgeable. Couldn't recommend her enough.

On our first full day in Lisbon we did a city walk and food tour with George. There was definitely no shortage of food. By the end of the day we all felt like we needed to be rolled back to the hotel. George has such a fun personality and we loved exploring even more of the cuisine Portugal had to offer. Word of warning to those taking this tour: Come hungry!

On our final day in Portugal we went to Sintra. We had George (as our driver this time), and yes, he made lots of food jokes. Claudia was our tour guide. We visited four very different castles/palaces and we enjoyed them all. Claudia was a great tour guide. There were guests at one of the palaces we visited that stopped her to ask what tour group she was with because they had overheard her descriptions to us and were so impressed. Yet another amazing tour via KimKim.

We are so grateful to KimKim and its partners for making yet another trip unforgettable!

Hotel Reviews

BessaHotel Liberdade

Lisbon

By far the best continental breakfast we had during the trip. Great selection and very good food quality.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel was a tad modern for our taste, but obviously that is just a personal preference.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador de Mérida

Mérida Badajoz

As fans of history, we really enjoyed staying in a hotel that was once a convent and hospital. Very cool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The front desk staff was great. The staff at the hotel restaurant were not the best.

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Corregidor Boutique Hotel

Sevilla

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walking distance to several important landmarks.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sintra & Cascais private day trip

Lisbon

Claudia was our tour guide. We visited four very different castles/palaces and we enjoyed them all. Claudia was a great tour guide. There were guests at one of the palaces we visited that stopped her to ask what tour group she was with because they had overheard her descriptions to us and were so impressed. We did not go to Cascais so that we would be able to go to all of the palaces in Sintra. All four of them were so unique that I am glad we made that decision.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon city & food tour

Lisbon

On our first full day in Lisbon we did a city walk and food tour with George. There was definitely no shortage of food. By the end of the day we all felt like we needed to be rolled back to the hotel. George has such a fun personality and we loved exploring even more of the cuisine Portugal had to offer. Word of warning to those taking this tour: Come hungry!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Evora day trip on the way

Spain

Evora was our first stop in Portugal, and it was a wonderful introduction to such a beautiful country. The bone chapel is fascinating and a must do if you are in the city. Our lunch was another highlight. We had a reservation through KimKim to a restaurant where there are no menus. You simply show up and they start bringing out the courses of the day. Sometimes they tell you what you are about to eat, and sometimes they wait to tell you what it is till after you've actually tried it. It was such a exciting way to try a different country's cuisine. Marie was our guide, and she was phenomenal. We loved her energy, and she was extremely knowledgeable. Couldn't recommend her enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ronda & White Villages Day Trip

Seville

Alejandro was our driver to Ronda and the White Villages, and he did a fantastic job navigating the rather tricky and treacherous mountain roads. He also had a lot of great facts to share with us along our drive. Alfredo was our tour guide in Ronda. He did a very good job giving us the history and cultural significance of bull fighting while still being very open and honest about the moral and ethical questions that it has raised in recent years. He didn't try to sway us to any sort of conclusion, but allowed us to draw our own. As a native resident of Ronda, he had so many great stories to share with us during the rest of the tour. The White Villages themselves are very fascinating, and the views can't be beaten.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sevilla Tapas & Flamenco: A tale of Triana

Seville

Our local specialist recommended a Flamenco and Tapas tour in Seville, which was both fun and tasty! Teresa, was our guide for the evening. Born and raised in Seville, she was able to give us really interesting history and facts about both the city and Flamenco. The show was a lot of fun, and our tapas was very good thanks to Teresa's recommendations. 10/10 experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Having someone local to the area was extremely helpful in choosing our dishes. Teresa knew exactly what to recommend based on our groups preferences and food allergies.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a walking tour so transport was not really applicable, but I clicked it on accident so now I have to commit to it.

Ilse was incredibly responsive and planned an amazing trip for us. We enjoyed Japan and had a huge variety of experiences. Oku Japan was very helpful with some minor mishaps we needed help with. They really came through for us when we left our passports in a hotel safe. We had all the vouchers and information we needed and the trip had a beautiful flow and tempo. I highly recommend Kimkim and Oku Japan

Hotel Review

Taoya Kisoji

Tsumago

Very large resort hotel in the mountains. Very different experience from our ryokans but incredible . The most beautiful onsens you can imagine set in lovely Japanese gardens. Room was luxurious and buffets were extensive with all you can drink.

Authenticity & Character

Not personable; very large facility

Location

Mountain setting

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Kyoto - At leisure

Kyoto

So much to see in Kyoto. Nara was a bit too crowded and touristy. Would not do that again. Fun to walk around neighborhoods.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport