Kimkim Trip Reviews

Thank you to Catherina and the team for planning my trip to Guatemala and making it an unforgettable experience. My tour guides Bobby and Luis were professional and knowledgeable about the culture, history, foods and terrain, that I was taking it in through all my senses. The most challenging activity was hiking up Acatenango, but it was so worth it because of the spectacular views. There was a point when I had some issues towards the end of my trip, but Catherina and her team resolved the issue as soon as possible, I was so grateful for their help.
Guatemala is a beautiful and underrated country, the people were friendly and so welcoming that I would definitely return. I highly recommend you book through Colombus Guatemala Travel because they helped create such a unique experience.

Activity Reviews

DAY 2, Acatenango Descend

Guatemala

The views of Acatenango were incredible, with the lava flowing and sunsets at night to sunrises in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat

Guatemala

I learned a lot about the culture, how the people make their clothes, the different types of crops that they grow, the foods that they eat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Going on the boats (lanchas) was a fun way to get around

We usually organize our trips independently and never use travel agents, but for Rajasthan, we felt we might need some assistance—especially with finding a driver. While researching online, we discovered Kimkim, which connected us with the incredible Ravi from Active India.

From the very start, Ravi was exceptionally helpful, reviewing our planned itinerary and suggesting an additional stop to make the journey smoother. Most of the local guides provided were highly knowledgeable and eager to answer all our questions, enhancing our experience at every destination.

Our driver, Puran, was wonderful—kind, professional, and most importantly, calm. His composure was essential for navigating the chaotic roads of India, ensuring we always felt safe and at ease.

Ravi and his team provided outstanding service throughout our stay in India, and we wholeheartedly recommend Active India to anyone planning a trip to Rajasthan. Their expertise made all the difference in creating a seamless and memorable journey.

Our trip to Bhutan was fabulous! So glad we finally made it happen, thanks to help from Kim Kim.

The country itself is magical, with history and culture spread throughout. Highlights included the trek to Bumdra and the Sky Burial at 13,300 feet followed by a hike down to Tigres Nest, the town of Punakha and it's incredible dzong, and the national dish of chili cheese!

There was a lot of driving back and forth to accommodate a festival which I'm not sure was worth it. The festival was nice, but as a foreigner and non-Buddhist, it was difficult to follow along. It was also overrun with pushy tourists trying to grab photos so it wasn't peaceful at all. In hindsight, I wish we would have arranged the trip more efficiently, not bothering to go to the festival which came with about an extra 6 hours of driving the same roads. But so be it, we still had a fabulous trip!

Hotels were mixed - some were fantastic while others were just average. Same with the food. All meals were included which was great. Overall Bhutanese food is delicious and we wanted to try more but we were often taken to the tourists spots on the routes which catered for a more western, simple palette. When we did go to a few real local restaurants, the food was fabulous!

The weather in November was perfect - I highly recommend this time. It was warm during the days and cool at night (except of course at 13,300 feet where it was cold all day and even colder at night!) I understand there are fewer tourists at this time, too.

What really made our trip special was our guide and our driver. Tashi and Tsering were absolutely darling. We learned so much from that, not just about the sights but also about life in Bhutan, Bhuddism, and just another way of living. They opened our eyes to so many things and we are so grateful. We were sad to say goodbye.

Overall, I'm so glad we went. It was worth every dollar and every hour of flying to get there!

We had an amazing trip to Hanoi with a great itinerary which was designed by Lucy and she made any changes we requested. The hotels were great.
We had a lovely guide Mr Huan and a very nice driver who was with us for the whole trip.
Both looked after us very well and went above and beyond to make our trip memorable.

Hotel Reviews

Amanda Luxury Cruise

Communication on the boat could have been better and food was average for a luxury ship

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tam Coc Retreat

Beautiful hotel in a very tranquil setting

Authenticity & Character

Just perfect

Location

Close to local sights

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

May De Ville Luxury Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

Great hotel well located

Authenticity & Character

Great breakfast, lovely staff and great rooftop views over city

Location

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

On boarding - Dark and Bright Caves - Tra Bau - Lan Ha Bay ( Amanda Luxury Cruise 2D1N)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoa Lu And Tam Coc Exploration

Vietnam

Great day out including lovely lunch cycle ride and boat trip

Quality of Experience

The scenery

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Just always so helpful

Transport

Day Trip to Ba Vi Countryside & Cooking Class

Hanoi

Very unique day giving an insight to local life in the country (Timings need improvement we were waiting around for quite a long time for other participants to arrive)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the History and Beauty of Hanoi city tour , Train Street and Water Puppet show

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was incredible! Our agent, Michelle, put together an excellent itinerary and each reservation went off without any issue. I enjoyed each activity, with only a couple being less than incredible when compared to the others. The glow worm cave/black water rafting at Black Labyrinth was perfect; the guides were very engaging and facilitated a great experience. Hobbiton was exactly what I wanted it to be. Rotorua Canopy Tours did an excellent job and that experience was perfect, as was the Te Pa Tu - Mauri cultural experience. The Weta Workshop Experience in Wellington and the Edoras tour with Hassle Free Tours outside of Christchurch were fantastic and are not be missed as a Lord of the Rings fan. The Milford Sound Scenic Flights in Queenstown were breathtaking and provided a chance to see the beauty of the area from amazing perspectives. All in all, the trip was a 10/10 for my wife and I, and we are already counting down the days to be able to return to New Zealand.

Hotel Reviews

Kamana Lakehouse

Queenstown

The room was excellent, as were the views from the restaurant overlooking the water and mountains. The breakfast provided was the best we had on our entire trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great views with enough parking available; slightly too far away for an easy walk to Queenstown itself

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Tekapo Holiday Homes

Lake Tekapo

The room was cozy and had one of the larger bathrooms compared to other hotels on our trip. The location was fantastic, with a great restaurant right downstairs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Able to walk to nearby stores and restaurants, as well as the lake itself.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Christchurch City Hotel

Christchurch

The room accommodations were solid overall; parking was offsite and a short walk, but had a fee each time you left and came back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Short walks to nearby attractions; parking can be difficult

Staff

The food was good and the restaurant was nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

The accommodations were great overall. The room was larger than the rest of the ones we had on our trip. Parking was somewhat difficult and driving to/from was a little stressful due to traffic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Parking was a little difficult and limited capacity; we left the car parked the whole time so as not to have to deal with it again

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

The accommodations were great; the bed was a little uncomfortable.

Authenticity & Character

The decor was very unique and eclectic

Location

Close to plenty of restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kelly Rd

Cambridge

The front desk person was very friendly and the accommodations were great. The area was quiet and was only a short drive/walk to the center of town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima Auckland City

Auckland

Very well located in the city, allowing for short walks to nearby activities and areas. The accommodations were solid, as was the food. The rooftop bar area was also really cool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Short walk to nearby activities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skyline Gondola transport & optional Luge

Queenstown (NZ)

This was a great way to see Queenstown from up high; the views were great.

Quality of Experience

Safari of the scenes Glenorchy (LOTR)

New Zealand

Compared to the other Lord of the Rings related experiences we did on our trip, this was the least exciting. Some of that was due to the weather, as it changed what our tour got to see, while the rest was the overall experience. The guides provided some information about the scenes and surrounding area, but not nearly as much as other tours on our trip.

Quality of Experience

More engagement for the participants (the main guide had a picture book, but our group was in a different vehicle that did not have that)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The seating in the vehicle was not comfortable; there were 3 seats kinda crammed together in the back, one of which had the wheel well where my leg would rest. The guides had us rotate seats after each stop, but that doesn't solve the actual problem.

Soak in the Onsen Natural Outdoor Hot Tubs

Queenstown (NZ)

The experience itself was relaxing; your party is provided with a private hot tub with an awesome backdrop of a field and hills/mountain. They provide a drink and small snack.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

New Zealand

This is another activity I would consider a "must-do." The views from both the plane and the ship were incredible, providing a perspective of the area that just can't be experienced another way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Tasman Glacier Lake

New Zealand

The surrounding area and the lake/glaciers themselves are stunning. I highly recommend this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tekapo Springs - StarGazing

Lake Tekapo

The experience itself is awesome; the guides provide you with information about the stars and planets, and have telescopes to view some of the celestial bodies, followed by time in the hot pool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour

Christchurch

I would consider this a "must-do" for any fan of The Lord of the Rings movies. The drive is a bit long (about 2 hours from Christchurch), but the scenery and the tour guide made it feel like nothing. The actual experience of seeing and getting to walk up Mt Sunday and be in the spots from The Two Towers was surreal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide was fantastic; tons of interesting stories related to Lord of the Rings as well as the local area

Transport

Weta Workshop Wellington

Wellington

Fantastic! As a huge Lord of the Rings fan, this is a must. The store (Weta Cave) has awesome displays and a great selection of items to purchase. The staff were super helpful and the tour was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Exactly what I wanted from the experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide was very energetic and did an amazing job, while providing tons of cool facts about the movies Weta has worked on

Transport

Redwoods treewalk by night

Rotorua

The trees themselves were awesome to see up close and the set ups for the walkways and decorations were really cool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wai-O-Tapu

New Zealand

I loved getting to walk through and learn more about the geothermal areas; it was absolutely beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipline Canopy Tour

Rotorua

The staff was wonderful and the entire experience was amazing. Getting to see such a beautiful part of nature combined with the ziplines was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

I thoroughly enjoyed this Maori cultural experience; the individuals leading each part of it did a great job of providing history and information about the culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bus driver was quite funny and engaging

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Hobbiton was exactly what I hoped it would be; the views were beautiful, the tour was excellent, and it was surreal to get to explore and experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Black Water Rafting - Black Labyrinth

Waitomo

I would consider this experience necessary for anyone that hasn't done it. It was incredible. The guides were excellent and personable, and enriched the experience further.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Weta Unleashed Auckland

Auckland

This experience seemed great for those interested in aspects of movie making. However, the movies they use for the tour are 3 different "unreleased (made for this)" movies, which was a little disappointing. The tour itself was well done.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Able to walk from our hotel

Travel Review: A Magical Journey Through Argentina

This long overdue heartfelt review is long overdue, as we want to extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible hosts. From start to finish, the customer service, scheduling, and meticulous attention to detail provided by our travel coordinator (Ana), guide (Flor), and driver (Mhervin) were nothing short of outstanding.

Upon our arrival in Buenos Aires, we were warmly welcomed by our guide, Flo, and Mhervin, who would look after us throughout our entire adventure. Their expertise and friendliness instantly made us feel at home in this vibrant city.

One of the highlights of our trip was the Tango lessons and dinner show. The experience was simply fabulous! We were immersed in the passion and artistry of Tango, enjoying every moment of its rich pageantry. It was a true celebration of Argentine culture that we’ll cherish forever.

Another unforgettable experience was our personal cooking class with Chef Paula at El Federal. What a delight it was to journey through the four regions of Argentina via its culinary offerings! Chef Paula was an exceptional instructor, guiding us through the preparation of traditional dishes. The joy of savoring our own creations was the cherry on top of a wonderful evening enjoying the food and our wonderful host.

A special thank you to Ana, our fantastic tour coordinator, for suggesting and scheduling these incredible experiences. She truly knows how to curate the perfect itinerary!

Flo, our guide, further enriched our trip with insightful walks and recommendations for dining at some of the best local spots. Our visit to La Bamba de Areco was particularly enchanting, with its tranquil ranch setting, stunning landscapes, and the opportunity to connect with horses and locals and horse whisperer.

Ana also arranged a magnificent excursion to El Calafate, where we marveled at the breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier on the Blue Safari. The overnight stay at Los Ponchos Hotel Boutique was fabulous, with comfortable accommodations and delicious food that made our stay even more special.

We cannot thank Ana enough for the flawless air and ground connections she arranged for us, ensuring a seamless journey from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and back.

For anyone considering a fantastic holiday in Argentina, we wholeheartedly recommend utilizing KimKim and asking for Ana, Flo, and Mhervin. They are a dream team, and we can’t wait to return and experience more of Argentina— with our wonderful guides by our side!

Travel Review: A Magical Journey Through Argentina

This heartfelt review is long overdue, as we want to extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible hosts. From start to finish, the customer service, scheduling, and meticulous attention to detail provided by our travel coordinator (Ana), guide (Flor), and driver (Mhervin) were nothing short of outstanding.

Upon our arrival in Buenos Aires, we were warmly welcomed by our guide, Flo, and Mhervin, who would look after us throughout our entire adventure. Their expertise and friendliness instantly made us feel at home in this vibrant city.

One of the highlights of our trip was the Tango lessons and dinner show. The experience was simply fabulous! We were immersed in the passion and artistry of Tango, enjoying every moment of its rich pageantry. It was a true celebration of Argentine culture that we’ll cherish forever.

Another unforgettable experience was our personal cooking class with Chef Paula at El Federal. What a delight it was to journey through the four regions of Argentina via its culinary offerings! Chef Paula was an exceptional instructor, guiding us through the preparation of traditional dishes. The joy of savoring our own creations was the cherry on top of a wonderful evening enjoying the food and our wonderful host.

A special thank you to Ana, our fantastic tour coordinator, for suggesting and scheduling these incredible experiences. She truly knows how to curate the perfect itinerary!

Flor, our guide, further enriched our trip with insightful walks and recommendations for dining at some of the best local spots. Our visit to La Bamba de Areco was particularly enchanting, with its tranquil ranch setting, stunning landscapes, and the opportunity to connect with horses and locals and horse whisperer.

Ana also arranged a magnificent excursion to El Calafate, where we marveled at the breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier on the Blue Safari. The overnight stay at Los Ponchos Hotel Boutique was fabulous, with comfortable accommodations and delicious food that made our stay even more special.

We cannot thank Ana enough for the flawless air and ground connections she arranged for us, ensuring a seamless journey from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and back.

For anyone considering a fantastic holiday in Argentina, we wholeheartedly recommend utilizing KimKim and asking for Ana, Flor, and Mhervin. They are a dream team, and we can’t wait to return and experience more of Argentina— with our wonderful guides by our side!

Thank you once again for an unforgettable journey! We will cherish our time and return!

My hat is off to both Nadia and Stephanie! This almost 4 week trip to Africa was spectacular. Everything went off without a hitch except for one incident in Tanzania which Stephanie handled professionally and without incident. The incident in question was not KIMKIM's fault or the guides but that of the guide's office in Arusha. My son and I were very well taken care of and every request along the way was handled timely and efficiently. The guides were extremely accomodating for all my son's requested related to getting the photography he wanted. We have traveled extensively as my son is a professional photographer so we are well experienced. This is the second time I have used KIMKIM and I will do it again probably for Norway and Patagonia in the near future. Again Thank you to Nadia and Stephanie for a great African tour.
Judie and Chris Behrend

Our 10 day trip to Patagonia was amazing. Thanks Erin who was very responsive and patient to consider my requests and planned the trip to fit our needs and made all the arrangements Nara who met us when we got there and be very helpful during our trip. All the drivers and guides were very friendly and helpful. Especially our guide Carlos at Torres del Paine who was very knowledgeable, patient, professional, friendly. He showed us how beautiful and special the park is and we really enjoyed our time with him. Our guide Mica at Fitz Roy hike was very professional and friendly who made our hike a wonderful experience even though it was a very challenging hike. We loved the Patagonia Parks but the people who helped us during the trip left a huge impression on us. What a beautiful place with wonderful people. Thanks Kimkim to make my trip amazing. Michelle

Based on the time we had and priorities we shared, Adam developed a complete itinerary for our first trip to Iceland with wonderful lodging well-suited to our group. Adam's communication was frequent and supportive before and during our trip. For a reasonable fee, our group of 4, which had minimal time to plan and communicate with each other, had an on-demand advisor and assistant who took care of booking lodging, transportation, and several structured activities that reflected our desires for the trip, budget, and timeline needs. It was easy, supportive, and affordable and we had a great trip!

Activity Reviews

Skaftafell Glacier Hike

Iceland

Despite the rain and cloudy sky, our friendly and enthusiastic guide, Lilly, made sure we were all safe and having a good time out on the Skaftafell Glacier Hike. While there was not as much pre-hike safety and what-to-expect info before hitting the trail, as we've come to expect doing similar activities in the US, our guides and staff who outfitted us before leaving the meeting location were definitely open to questions and made sure we knew what we were doing on the glacier.

Quality of Experience

Just being on a glacier in Iceland was amazing. Wish the weather had been nicer and would have preferred to book a time that would have had us back before dark at this time of year. Great informative and fun guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

An informational chat with the group before leaving the meeting center would have been appreciated. Lilly was awesome--so friendly, made sure we were safe, and put us all at ease.

Transport

10 min bus trip was no problem. Some may want to know there is 15-20 min of hiking on either end of the glacier hike beforehand, especially the return hike in the dark if you're booking a hike after 3 in November.

Rye Bread tour (Geothermal bakery)

Iceland

The "bakery tour" was a fun activity and I would highly recommend a visit to the spa and brief presentation about traditional geothermal baking, but I would keep expectations realistic for the depth of the tour. We did not tour a bakery, but witnessed a guide pulling a pot out of the ground and then serving us the bread. On the one hand it was nice that it was just a brief spiel and demo by a friendly presenter, (especially in the windy rain outside), with a tasting as the main event, but if you're looking for something more in-depth about history, baking, or science, this isn't it. Not sure how much the tour is since it was booked for us, but I think I might be happy with a meal at the café and a visit to the spa. It was a great change of pace from driving and waterfalls, though, and the bread was delicious! At this time of year, there were 2 times available, 11:45 and 2:30, so take that into account with what else you want to do that day. We enjoyed the tomato greenhouse cafe and educational space about 40 min. from the bakery after the tour.

Quality of Experience

More depth to the tour, maybe a peek at the actual bakery, something more immersive--experience with the baking?, more history about baking in this way and the place of bread and rye and geothermal water in Icelandic cuisine. That said, it was enjoyable for what it was. The brevity might be especially appropriate for families with kids or itineraries with several other things on it for the day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and clear

Transport

Just a short walk to the site where the bread is buried.

We had an amazing trip to Cairo, Luxor and Alexandria. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and Mariam the Cairo guide was very caring and generous. We just loved her. I recommend this tour and specially working with Habiba and the people who made this trip a fantastic journey.

Hotel Reviews

Iberotel Luxor Jaz Hotel

Luxor

The rooms were not very clean. The hall ways smell is not pleasant as well. The hotel in general is extremely old but the location and view is great. They really need to change their carpets and remodel everything. The people from the hotel are very nice and polite.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They are very nice and helpful but could improve.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were not properly clean plus this is a very old hotel. The location is great and the view.

Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo

Cairo

Loved everything about this hotel. Very clean and spacious roooms. The breakfast amazing and the people from the hotel as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Because it is near the most important pyramides and the great Egyptian Museum.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Check out to Luxor West Bank

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Food

This was the best food but nothing out of this world.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Felucca Ride on the Nile in Luxor

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to The East Bank of the Nile

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids

Cairo

I do not recommend this experience. It is very outdated the sound and there is nothing appealing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to National Museum, Islamic Cairo and Khan El-Khalili

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo by Car

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Food

The quality of the food is not good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pyramids and Cairo Sightseeing

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Food

The quality of the food could be better.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First time going with kimkim to plan our holiday itinerary.
Eric was assigned to us and the discussion/ideas flowed freely. We provided a list of activities we'd like to do together with my 8yr old girl and he planned a seamless itinerary that allowed us to participate in the activities based on a self drive route planned by Eric.
Our flight into Rejkavik was delayed. Eric and his team provided quick assistance with regards to our car rental. Unfortunately, due to the delay we had less time to explore the city.
Each day's itinerary was planned meticulously with 'must-see' sights and other sights if we had the time.
The hotel stays booked for us were very comfortable.
Working with Eric to plan the trip was an absolute pleasure.
It was a great trip, definitely one we will miss for a long time.

Activity Reviews

Solheimajokull Glacier Hike

Iceland

In my honest opinion, a must do in Iceland. Our guide, Malek, was very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Horse riding tour

Iceland

We enjoyed this every much, especially our 8 year old!

We were very impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by all members of the KimKim team. The trip was truly an amazing experience from our first contact with Kate through Mr. Jeon’s drop off at the Seoul airport. I will not hesitate to recommend KimKim, and we will not hesitate to use your services in the future ( no need to send weekly emails). Sorry to be a broad brush stroke but everybody was good, proactive, attentive, polite, and would be rated highly. The hotels were all above average - the Mercure in Takayama was our favorite - the Excel in Shibuya probably our least favorite but still very acceptable. The itineraries which Kate developed were wonderfully executed by the team members. I have one suggestion - we had a driver in Takayama - probably not necessary / we took buses in Kyoto, which was interesting , but very time consuming. A driver in Kyoto may have been a better use of resources. Thanks for asking for my feedback. Keep up the good work!!!!!! Best regards, Adrian

Amazing trip. Alejandra was wonderful. Reminded us of things as we went along so we would be in the right place. Worked with us on the itinerary which was great

Hotel Review

Lansdowne Hotel

Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Not great. Very Quirky. But the show in the basement was fantastic and the restaurant food good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms too hot or cold. Our room was not good, had an additional space that was useless and the main area too small particularly the bathroom

Activity Review

Introducing Joyce’s Dublin Walking Tour

Dublin

Fantastic. Our guide was great, knew James Joyce well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic time in Ecuador with so many different experiences and did not expect that a small country had so much to see and do. In our travels in central and south America, Ecuador is definately one of the best places we have visited. Each area we visited were special in their own way, making it hard to pick a favourite.
Our trip would not have been as enjoyable without the planning that Jacquie and Alvaro did.
Further the guides we had, Sofia in Galapagos, Guido in Amazon, and Dan in
Quito were some of the best we've come across. Their knowledge of their areas, the support they gave, their enthusiasm and professionalism made our trip very fulfilling.
We would like to specifically mention Dan who spent so many days with us and made it very enjoyable by being flexible on our tours, very knowledgeable on many aspects of Ecuador, and showed his fondness of his country with his upbeat personality. He is an asset to your company and we definately would recommend him to anyone who would travel to the area.
We hope to someday come back to Ecuador and hope to have Dan, Sofia and Guido show us around again and for Jacqie and Alvaro plan our new adventures.
Our best wishes to you all.

My husband and I used Kimkim for the first time to help us plan a trip to Japan. Eleanor was responsive to all our requests and communications during the planning phases of our trip. Her thoroughness and attention to details made us feel Kimkim would be able to help us if problems arose. The locations of hotels she recommended were ideal in accessing the public transportation and sites we wanted to visit. The logistics of transporting us from airports and train stations to hotels were excellent. The drivers made contact with us the day before, sent photos of the cars and license plates and were always waiting for us when we arrived. We had arranged several private guides in Kyoto and Tokyo. The guides also texted us the day before our tour and confirmed details. The guides and drivers collaborated smoothly and allowed us to be flexible if we wanted to modify our tour. In Tokyo, For the 'night life' tour in Tokyo, our guide Ryoji maneuvered us through crowds and narrow alleys to experience up close the vitality of the entertainment district. We had requested a special tour of Ginza district architecture and during the planning stage, the agency contacted us directly to learn more about what we were interested in. We were delighted by Haruka's tour - it was exactly what we had hoped for. She brought illustrations of earthquake-resilience construction that enhanced our understanding of what we were seeing. In Kyoto, it was awkward because the guide had been told our tour would last all day, but we had clarified that we did not want a tour longer than 3 -4 hours. We learned that it was best to sit down together before starting a tour and talk about what was planned, then explain to the guide what our preferences were and our target time to end.

My husband and I had a fantastic 16 days in Chile thanks to KimKim’s thoughtful planning and operations teams. We loved the itinerary that was put together, the activities and knowledgeable guides that were arranged, and have already recommended KimKim (and their Chile travel partner ResponsibleTravelSA) to friends and family.

Itinerary : 16 days in Chile (4 nights in Atacaman, 1 night in Punta Arenas, 1 night in Puerto Natales, 4 nights in Patagonia, 3 nights in Easter island, 3 nights in Santiago) at the end of October 2024

The KimKim platform - very impressive ! Good/clean design, easy to navigate and the initial questionnaire where we could list our interests was very helpful for Tamer & team to lay out a draft itinerary which we then worked with Riwal to refine and finalize. The final itinerary in PDF is wonderfully thorough and detailed, it had every info we needed about our trip, we loved this ! The team even sent a Packing list before the trip. Would be great to have a KimKim app!

KimKim & ResponsibleTravelSA teams :
The team of Tamer B, Riwal, Angel, Gabriela are knowledgeable, experienced, thoughtful, patient and very responsive. Jose Luis, the travel agent for the Patagonia portion of the trip was very knowledgeable and accommodating and did a fabulous job.

My husband Vikram and I decided to head to Chile on Oct 22nd and reached out to the KimKim team on Oct 1st! Despite the short time to plan, the team went above and beyond to not only flawlessly plan a memorable trip but stayed in touch with us via WhatsApp throughout the trip answering our many questions with immense patience.

Riwal was someone we interacted with the most during the planning stage and he’s awesome - we loved how knowledgeable, patient, meticulous and thoughtful he is. He was also very kind to suggest all the internal flights we needed to book carefully listing the flight numbers and times, this was really helpful. He then brought in Angel, Gabriela to the conversations. Angel is very well versed with the details on the ground and he was also our guide during our first day in Santiago where he took us on a market tour for a few hours. We absolutely loved our market tour with Angel - he is so easy to talk to, extremely knowledgeable and kind and we learnt so much in that short span of a few hours with him. He also very thoughtfully arranged for lunch at a lovely vegan restaurant after the tour, since I’m vegan.

Atacaman desert :
Truly stunning and a must visit, the team had arranged for small group tours to several places over the 4 days including an Astro tour to see the night sky, flamingoes etc. All the guides were very knowledgeable especially Christian. The AstroTour was fabulous and the guides knowledgeable and fun. We even had a photo shoot with a professional against the backdrop of the Milky Way.
The small group tours were charming and typically include an impressive outdoor breakfast (they even take skillets and make omelettes outdoors !) and an equally impressive end to the tour with a cocktail celebration (Pisco Sour, assortment of snacks). But many tours start early (6 am) as they have to pick up the other folks and then have the outdoor breakfast before we actually head to the destination. So if you are short on time or need more flexibility in the schedule and pickup time, a private tour would be better.

Punta Arenas :
Unfortunately when we landed in Punta Arenas there was heavy wind and so all expeditions to Magdalena island to see the Penguins were canceled. We then got in touch with the local travel agent Jose Luis who was wonderful and accommodating and we asked that our bus tickets to Puerto Natales be moved up so we could reach Patagonia sooner. Jose Luis was great to work with and coordinated all the details on the ground for the Patagonia portion of our trip.
We loved our little adventurous hike to Base Torres which we split over 2 days camping at Chileno midway and the team did an amazing job in arranging a knowledgeable private guide Matias for the Torres Del Paine trek. The premium Chileno campsite was great too, we weren’t sure how it would be given the cold weather but the tent (and mattress/sleeping bag) were very comfortable. We were prepared with warm thermal wear, gloves, beanie. We had also taken a foldable LED lantern which was useful. The KimKim team had communicated to the Chileno campsite folks that I’m a vegan so every meal for me was specially prepared vegan (including desert !) which was very thoughtful. We even saw a puma walk across the road in front of our car as we were driving back from Las Torres to our hotel which was a highlight of our trip !!

Easter Island :
We spent 3 nights in Easter Island which we loved despite a long 6 hour flight to get there.
We had an indigenous Rapa Nui guide Steven who was quite a character but we enjoyed learning about his culture and all the stories he shared, passed down the generations - it was an extremely knowledgeable and a memorable tour with him. His passion to share about his Rapa Nui people and culture, authenticity shone through and we loved it despite his eccentricities :) It was not a boring guidebook tour.

The local tour company at Easter Island Rapa Nui Travel was very good too and the main lady who picked us up from the airport and drove us to the Kari Kari show etc (fabulous show, worth going to!) was wonderful.

Hotels :
- Hotel Icon (Santiago)
Nice hotel, great location, safe to walk around. The corner rooms have great views of the Andes!
The staff were very nice and allowed us to use the spa shower and gave us towels etc when we checked in early (as the room was not yet ready)

- Noi Casa Atacama (Atacaman)
Very nice hotel, great staff, 5-7 min walk to the Main Street where there are tons of shops and restaurants

- Hotel Cabo de Hornos (Punta Arenas)
Standard /basic rooms
Lobby and restaurant are great, good food

- Hotel CostaAustralis (Puerto Natales)
Great views & location
Nice lobby and restaurant area

- Hotel Rio Serrano ( Patagonia)
Fantastic rooms with the most incredible views, could easily stay here for a month, highly recommend this hotel.
Lovely restaurant with good food
Kind, wonderful staff, nice spa

- Hotel Hare Nua (Easter Island)
Fabulous boutique hotel, very aesthetically done.
The owners and staff keep the place meticulous and we loved their warmth and hospitality throughout our stay. The best part of the stay was the very thoughtfully prepared breakfast each morning. It was delicious and made with utmost love, they went out of their way to make vegan food for me, including serving vegan oatmilk. One of the days they were out of vegan milk to make a desert but went out of their way to buy it and then make me a desert. The love and care at this boutique hotel is outstanding - it was a home away from home for us.

While all the hotels suggested by KimKim were good, we worked with the team to make a couple of hotel and room upgrades based on our preferences.

All in all, a memorable trip and we’d HIGHLY recommend using KimKim travel.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Hare Nua

Hanga Roa

Fabulous boutique hotel, very aesthetically done. Highly highly recommend! The owners and staff keep the place meticulous and we loved their warmth and hospitality throughout our stay. The best part of the stay was the very thoughtfully prepared breakfast each morning. It was delicious and made with utmost love, they went out of their way to make vegan food for me, including serving vegan oatmilk. One of the days they were out of vegan milk to make a desert but went out of their way to buy it and then make me a desert. The love and care at this boutique hotel is outstanding - it was a home away from home for us. And no critters of any kind in the room even though hotel is surrounded by lush vegetarian :)

Authenticity & Character

Very cozy and aesthetically done

Location

Great location, short walk to the ocean side, to restaurants etc

Staff

Wonderfully warm, kind, you feel like you are staying with family

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rio Serrano

Torres del Paine

The best hotel on the trip. Book without hesitation, it’s absolutely fantastic! Beautiful rooms with the most incredible views, could easily stay here for a month, highly recommend this hotel. Lovely restaurant with good food. Kind, wonderful staff, nice spa.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Incredible views, picture postcard perfect

Staff

Fantastic

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camping Chileno

Torres del Paine

Premium campsite was great. Lovely location by the river. A relatively short walk to the restaurant and main area. Wonderful staff, great food. The KinKim team had communicated to the Chileno campsite folks that I’m a vegan so every meal for me was specially prepared vegan (including desert !) which was very thoughtful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costaustralis

Puerto Natales

Great views & location Nice lobby and restaurant area

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cabo De Hornos

Punta Arenas

Standard /basic rooms Lobby and restaurant are great, good food

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel NOI Casa Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

Lovely hotel, great location - a few mins walk to town and restaurants etc. Wonderful staff, great food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ICON Hotel

Santiago

Wonderful hotel, great location, staff, food !

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Good Bye Easter Island - Transfer to the Airport for your flight to Santiago.

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rano Raraku Volcano & Anakena White Sand Beach - Private Tour

Easter Island

Was lovely

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Visit Ahu Akivi

Easter Island

Very unique, loved the tour. We had an indigenous Rapa Nui give the tour and it was different and wonderful as he shared stories passed down the generation, was not a boring guidebook tour. He had his eccentricities which we were taken aback by initially but realized he’s extremely passionate about the Rapa Nui indigenous people and their well-being and this authenticity and passion came through

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The car was not the best but it made for a somewhat unique experience :)

Kari Kari Cultural Show and Dinner

Easter Island

Excellent dance, we absolutely loved it! Highly recommend attending.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The main lady of Rapa Nui Travels was so kind to give us a ride to the dance and was staying back to give us a ride back but we told her we would walk back and she didn’t have to stay back just for us

Transfer to the Airport for your Flight to Easter Island

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to Mirador Base Torres del Paine - Full Day Private Tour - From Chileno Refuge

Chile

Tough hike especially since my husband and I are not frequent hikers and we are glad we stayed at Chileno and started from there. We skipped the sunrise hike and startrd only around 8 am after breakfast.

Quality of Experience

Food

Fabulous food at Chileno camp, very thoughtfully prepared vegan food for me and even had a boxed vegan meal for the hike

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our private guide Matias was great

Transport

Hike from Welcome CenterTorres del Paine to Refuge Chileno

Torres del Paine

Fabulous hike, great weather fortunately. Our private guide Matias was great and patient, my husband and I are very slow hikers

Quality of Experience

Beautiful scenery, so serene

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine National Park - Private Panoramic Tour

Chile

Fantastic place, absolutely stunning, nature at her best. Mind blowingly beautiful. Wonderful driver / guides.

Quality of Experience

Food

KinKim very kindly arranged for boxed vegan food for me (as I’m vegan) and even had vegan treats !

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful!!

Transport

Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "

Chile

Surreal, it’s like being on the Moon or Mars, very unique, highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Tatio Geysers - Morning tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Very unique and wonderful experience. Had a lovely breakfast on the hill overlooking the geysers

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplánicas & Atacama Salt Flats

San Pedro de Atacama

Absolutely fantastic, so unique and worth it ! Got to see many indigenous animals too like Guanacos etc.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Laguna Cejar, Ojos del Salar y Laguna Tebiquinche

Chile

Wonderful but my husband and I felt that because we didn’t want to swim, this tour could have been skipped if we were short on time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Astro Fotografia

Chile

Absolutely wonderful, very knowledgeable Astro team. Made the whole experience very engaging and fun. They even had 2 large telescopes and pointed it to different planets like Saturn. The professional photos taken and the fabulous music and food made it even more memorable. Highly recommend !

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chilean Market Tour in Santiago

Santiago

Fantastic experience with our guide Angel who make it a really fun, engaging tour ending with lunch at a vegan place that he thoughtfully selected as I’m vegan. Highly recommend doing this market tour wirh Angel !

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This is my second trip through KIMKIM and everything ran perfectly. Not one snag in the whole week we spent in Costa Rica. Big shout out to Serendipity Adventures for handling everything locally. Our guides Alex and Mauricio were friendly, knowledgeable and fantastic company. We even managed to do everything we planned in between the many rain drops.

From beginning to end, the team at KIMKIM was on top of every question and worked with me to make whatever changes we needed to. I highly recommend working with them. I know I will again wherever I wander around the world.

Activity Reviews

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

Wonderful day sail to a secluded beach. The Captain and his crew were fun and friendly. The other guests were lovely and it was a relaxing day at sea.

Quality of Experience

Only lost a star due to weather. The rains and churned up the seas and the snorkeling was not good. No one's fault, except mother nature.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese

Arenal/La Fortuna

Even though the weather was very threatening, we had a wonderful time. We had the whole boat to ourselves and our guide even serenaded us. He had a beautiful voice. And luckily, the rains didn't begin until we stepped off the boat.

Quality of Experience

Lost one star due to weather - not the service.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We visited India in March 2024 and it was amazing! Ravi and the Active India team were great, everything was so well organised. We visited Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore and Agra and had the most amazing time. Would definitely recommend Active India!

The care and attention we were given from the team at Columbus Guatemala travel and in particular from our link person Catherina throughout our trip was outstanding. Estovan and JJ our guides and drivers were always concerned, engaging and informative .
Guatemala is such a beautiful country and our visit was filled with exposure and discussion around culture, mythology, sightseeing alongside authentic inclusion in group activities and celebrations with Columbus Guatemala travel and the other companies booked by Catherina as part of our two week visit. In preparation for the trip, we received clear and detailed information about a whole range of useful tips on packing & preparation for our journey, which was invaluable.
Everyone we met at Columbus Guatemala travel proved to be helpful and inclusive and totally trustworthy.
Mostly the itinerary throughout Guatemala & briefly Belize was totally adhered to, occasionally pick up points were not totally clear but Catherina really was available for 24 hours a day as evidenced by her ability to always sort out a problem or clarify a confusion within a very short space of time.
We managed to see so much of Guatemala, the people, the temples and the beautiful countryside. I can recommend wholeheartedly KimKim and in particular Columbus Guatemala travel to others, I hope we will be able to make use of their services in the future.

Activity Reviews

Halloween Walk and Chicken Bus Ride

Antigua

The Halloween Walk and Chicken Bus Ride in Antigua was the best Halloween experience I've ever had. It was such fun, with wonderful hosts and a fabulous evening. The local culture and festivities made it truly special.

Pacaya Volcano Hike & Picnic, Private.

Guatemala

The Pacaya Volcano Hike was quite the adventure, although I didn't realize it would be so uphill. Thankfully, there were horses to assist those who needed it, like myself. Despite my concerns about horse riding, we were well-catered for, making the experience delightful despite the initial challenge.

Sumpango, Giant Kite Festival

Guatemala

Attending the Sumpango Giant Kite Festival was an incredible experience. The festival was beautiful but crowded, and the simple idea of having all group members in matching T-shirts turned out to be very clever for organization. This made a unique experience even more enjoyable and memorable.

We had a fantastic and memorable time celebrating our anniversary on a week-long trip to Morocco, all thanks to KimKim Travel! This was our second time booking with KimKim, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Maryem, our coordinator, was exceptional—always responsive and attentive to our needs, tailoring our itinerary perfectly to match our preferences.

Our Marrakech walking tour with Amnay was a delight; he was knowledgeable, engaging, and friendly, making the vibrant city come alive for us. The trip to the breathtaking Ourika Valley was another highlight, offering stunning views and an unforgettable stay at the serene Inara Desert Camp.

The true gem of our journey, however, was Essaouira. The peaceful, picturesque atmosphere of this coastal city provided the perfect ending to our trip, leaving us thoroughly enchanted. Our guide, Hicham, was also outstanding—friendly, professional, and an excellent companion throughout the experience.

We couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate our anniversary. Thank you, KimKim Travel and Morocco Immersion Tours, for helping us create such incredible memories!

Hotel Reviews

Villa Beldi

Essaouira

Our stay at Villa Beldi Essaouira was absolutely fantastic. Located just outside the medina, the peaceful setting adds to its charm, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle. The lush garden and inviting pool area are perfect for relaxing, and we often found ourselves tempted to spend the entire day by the pool. Our room was spacious, spotless, and tastefully decorated, with a comfortable bed, soft pillows, and excellent WiFi connectivity. Breakfast was a daily highlight, especially the delicious crepes and amlou, which we eagerly looked forward to each morning. The staff were friendly, attentive, and always ready to assist. Overall, Villa Beldi provided a serene and memorable stay, and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting Essaouira!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inara Desert Camp

Marrakech

From the moment we arrived at this stunning desert camp, we knew we were in for a treat. It was our first time staying in a desert camp, and we only wished we had booked more than one night! The tents were spacious, beautifully decorated, and equipped with all the amenities of a standard hotel room. The bed and pillows were incredibly comfortable, and air conditioning in the tents added to the comfort. The staff were friendly and attentive, making us feel truly welcome. While the WiFi connection in our tent was spotty, we had no trouble connecting in other parts of the camp. Dinner was a delightful three-course meal, and the evening concluded with mesmerizing stargazing—a highlight of the experience. Overall, it was an unforgettable stay, and we can’t wait to return for another magical night in the desert.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad al Rimal

Marrakech

A charming riad nestled in the heart of the medina, just minutes from Jemaa El Fnaa Market and key monuments. The staff were pleasant and respectful. While the room was clean, it felt smaller than expected, with a comfortable bed but hard pillows. Breakfast was typical Moroccan fare—decent. The rooftop, however, was a peaceful morning retreat, complete with a jacuzzi we unfortunately didn’t get to try.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Exploration of Essaouira

Essaouira

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Agafay to Essaouira

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Agafay

This was such a fun experience! Our camels were well cared for, and the guides were very gentle with them. We took loads of pictures and enjoyed a bumpy ride with stunning views of the desert as we approached our desert camp.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Ourika Valley

Ourika

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Our tour guide, Amnay, was very patient and knowledgeable. He educated us on the history, culture, and traditions of the Moroccan people. He spent more time than allotted with us, especially in the souks, and made sure that we got everything we needed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport