Kimkim Trip Reviews

I’m so glad I was connected with Nikos at Greekly. I had some very specific requests for my trip and he was able to cater to them all. He even went above and beyond to change the schedule during the trip to accommodate my desire to see certain sites last minute. On top of that, his knowledge of and passion for Greece is truly infectious and took the trip to the next level for me.

Activity Reviews

Shake, Stir & Chill with a Mastiha Masterclass

Greece

Rarely have I found a person with such a passion for what they do. Leonidas loves the flavors and ingredients of Greece and by the end of this masterclass, so did I. What took the experience to the next level was the amazing view of the mountains and sea you have while tasting some of Greece’s most unique flavors.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Seaside Lunch in Fokida region

Greece

This restaurant has some of the freshest and most unique seafood I’ve ever had. The owner clearly loves sharing each morning’s catch with his guests. On top of that, the view of the small island with the church of St Nicolas is charming. The owner even took me to the island in his fishing boat which was way beyond what I’d expected and was a highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bianca was very helpful in planning our trip. She was always quick to respond and answer our questions. There were different local tour companies used in the various locations we visited. Some were good, some excellent and others I would not recommend. Camp George a private reserve in Kruger National Park was excellent. Our guide Alex was wonderful as was all the staff at the camp. Sable Tours that did our panoramic tour of Blyde River Canyon I would not recommend using. Our guide seemed to be in a hurry to get us to our hotel instead of showing us the sights. And the next morning our flight was at 11:35 am and they insisted on picking us up at 6:00 am for the airport. We sat at the airport for more than 4 hours. The desk to check luggage and get our boarding passes did not even open until 2 hours after we arrived. We only had 6 people on our flight so we were dropped off early because it was convenient to them not us. Wild Horizons tour company. in Victoria Falls was mixed. Some days they were on time for the tours and other times they were not. Once we waited for 30 minutes and gave up and the people at the hotel took us to the location for our sunset cruise. Paradise Touring in Cape Town was very good. Our guide Farook was great and we would recommend him. Overall it was an enjoyable trip.

Hotel Reviews

Premier OR Tambo Hotel

Nice hotel. Breakfast staff was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient you airport.

Staff

Front desk not very welcoming but breakfast staff very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Simbavati - Camp George

The guide and all the staff were wonderful. Always extremely friendly and helpful. Couldn't ask for better service.

Authenticity & Character

Lots of animals to see while at camp and also on the safari.

Location

Convenient for safari.

Staff

All the staff were very welcoming and extremely friendly and helpful. We couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was very clean and comfortable.

Graskop Hotel

Graskop

Only stayed over night but room was alright, nothing great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient for our tour of Blyde River Canyon.

Staff

Helpful. Packed us a very elaborate breakfast to take with us since we had to leave before breakfast started.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A'Zambezi River Lodge

Victoria Falls

Very clean and staff very helpful but room small.

Authenticity & Character

Nice places to sit outside and enjoy the view of the river.

Location

Right beside the Zambezi River.

Staff

All staff were very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms small.

The Victoria & Alfred Hotel

Cape Town

Room was spacious, staff were helpful and breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Nice facilities.

Location

On the V and A waterfront.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was good size and everything was very clean.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Private Johannesburg, Apartheid Museum & Soweto Tuk Tuk Tour

South Africa

The Apartheid Museum was closed the day we were there but we went to Constitutional Hill which was interesting. We also enjoyed the traditional lunch and Soweto Tuk Tuk tour.

Quality of Experience

Meeting local people.

Food

Traditional food experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide on time, knowledgeable and friendly.

Transport

Comfortable car.

Afternoon Game Drive

South Africa

Our guide Alex was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about all the animals and plants. We saw all the Big Five plus many, many more. Excellent experience. Would highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Everything was wonderful from the safari to the food and lodging.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Alex was very knowledgeable and friendly and all the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.

Transport

Riding in the Jeep for safari was fun.

Klaserie Game Drive

Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

The safari was great. And our guide was wonderful. All the staff were great.

Quality of Experience

Staff, food and facilities were all great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Alex was wonderful. We saw lots of animals and he was extremely knowledgeable. All the staff were every friendly and helpful.

Transport

Enjoyed the Jeep for the safari. Alex our guide made sure we had blankets for the chilly mornings.

Final Morning Game Drive

South Africa

This morning game drive was as wonderful as all of them were.

Quality of Experience

Saw lots of animals.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Alex was very knowledgeable and friendly. All the staff were great.

Transport

Enjoyed the Jeep ride. Could get close to the animals. Alex our guide made sure we were comfortable with blankets for the chilly mornings and provided drinks and snacks for the safari trips.

Full Day Panorama Tour

South Africa

The Blyde River Canyon was a beautiful area but our guide did not seem interested in showing us.

Quality of Experience

Better guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Need someone interested in showing the area.

Transport

Car was comfortable.

Boma Dinner

Victoria Falls

Nice and enjoyable evening. Wild Horizons tour company was 15 minutes late picking us up to take us to the dinner but once we got there the Boma Dinner was a nice experience.

Quality of Experience

Very traditional. Enjoyed the experience.

Food

Lots of traditional foods to try.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

People at the dinner were very friendly.

Transport

15 minutes late picking us up.

Tour of the falls

Victoria Falls

We were there at a low water time but the falls were still nice.

Quality of Experience

Nice falls.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was good.

Transport

Transport on time.

Sunset cruise

Victoria Falls

Alright if you have extra time. It was cloudy so no sunset the day we went.

Quality of Experience

Better seating.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was fine.

Transport

Our transport company never showed up so hotel people took us there.

Full day Chobe Tour

Victoria Falls

Enjoyed the morning tour on the boat. Afternoon safari there were lots of jeeps around so didn't stay near the animals for long.

Quality of Experience

More private safari.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides were good.

Transport

Because lots of people being transported together we had to wait an extra two hours on the bus at the passport control because a couple of people had problems with their papers.

Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour (excluding lunch)

South Africa

It was probably a beautiful area but our day was cloudy and rainy so we couldn't really see the views. We did enjoy seeing the penguins.

Quality of Experience

Weather did not cooperate.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was great but he couldn't control the weather.

Transport

Car was comfortable.

Full Day Hermanus tour including Whale Cruise

South Africa

We had nice weather and it is a beautiful area. Enjoyed seeing the whales.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful location.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was great.

Transport

Car was comfortable.

Full Day City, Table Mountain & Robben Island Tour

South Africa

Robben Island was interesting but were unable to go on Table Mountain because cloudy, rainy and windy. Also weather kept us from getting out and walking around the city.

Quality of Experience

Needed better weather.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was great.

Transport

Car was comfortable.

My husband and I always plan our own trips and have fun doing so. This was our 30th wedding anniversary and while I wanted some of the fun of planning the trip, I was overwhelmed with the options of traveling in Greece, and I wanted to be taken care of a bit! Mariliza was wonderful helping us plan this trip from start to finish and incredibly accommodating whenever we needed to make changes to our itinerary. She definitely had a sense of what we were looking for and found us amazing places to stay and planned amazing tours! All of our accommodations were wonderful, and despite some hiccups because of the floods and high winds and the ferry strike, everything was amazing. We also want to thank Afroditi who helped us out when we were not sure about the road closures due to the floods, as well as making alternate plans during the ferry strike. Both Mariliza and Afroditi were warm and patient and were not flustered when we were flustered about needing to make last minute changes. Thank you to both of you!

Hotel Reviews

Cocomat Jumelle

Athens

The hotel is very charming and the staff were absolutely wonderful! Incredible breakfast, healthy options and delicious homemade pastries. The only thing lacking was storage space for our clothes. There was a rod with some hangers and one small drawer, but for two adults traveling for two weeks in Greece, we would have liked more storage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could walk everywhere, but it was also quiet at night.

Staff

Everyone was warm and kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

As noted above, we would have liked more space for our clothes.

Naxos Island Escape

Naxos

A quiet and beautiful escape, away from the hustle and bustle of Naxos town, and steps away from Plaka beach, which was also quiet and peaceful. So easy to get to town with the local bus or a cab if you prefer. Absolutely incredible breakfast each day! Naxos Island escape is clearly a labor of love for Marios, who was always available and who helped us with many logistics during our stay. Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Incredibly beautiful property, comfortable room.

Location

Away from the buzz of the old town, which we prefer, yet easy to get to.

Staff

Marios was a gem, so warm and lovely and full of knowledge about this beautiful island.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Tanneries Hotel & Spa

Chania

Staff were extremely accommodating, warm and kind. All rooms face the ocean and have a view to Chania old town, which is only a 20 minute walk from the hotel. The rooms are modern and well-equipped, incredibly comfortable bed and linens. Breakfast was excellent with different choices every day, and different varieties of fresh fruit juices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The view of the sea and Chania old town was incredible.

Staff

Everyone was helpful and warm and lovely.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Incredibly clean, small and quiet hotel.

Chroma Fashion Rooms & Apartments

Athens

VERY basic hotel in a fun neighborhood outside of Athens.

Authenticity & Character

Updated air-conditioning would be nice. Our unit cycled on and off throughout the night, which kept waking us up, and also the temperature was inconsistent.

Location

We stayed here on our last night in Greece in order to avoid Monday morning traffic to the airport. It fit the bill. Cute area with lots going on and lots of good restaurants.

Staff

Lovely front desk when we arrived.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All very basic, but definitely clean. The couch in our room (maybe a sleep sofa) definitely could be replaced. We were there for so little time that it didn't matter, but if we were there for longer, it might have.

Activity Reviews

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Athens

Wonderful tour guides, Alex (Temple of Zeus) and Maria (Acropolis)!

Quality of Experience

The beauty of the city, the history, the food... so much!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so kind and helpful.

Transport

So glad to not have to think about this aspect of traveling. And, we did love having the opportunity to drive ourselves at times.

Free afternoon in Athens

Athens

Loved wandering and eating amazing food wherever we went.

Quality of Experience

Being able to walk and wander.

Discover Divine Delphi, Overnight in Meteora

Greece

This review is solely based on our trip to Delphi, since sadly we were not able to visit Meteora because of the floods. We will definitely have to return - we were so looking forward to Meteora, but peoples' safety is most important! Delphi was incredible and highly recommend. We drove up there ourselves, which we loved. Seeing the incredible mountains makes you understand how the ancient Greeks believed in the Gods. It felt like they were still there. We had a wonderful tour guide, who also recommended a restaurant to eat lunch in Delphi, which was delicious! (Pictures of the mountains don't do justice.)

Quality of Experience

Should not miss.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our very knowledgeable tour guide, George, was amazing!

Free day in Naxos

Naxos

We had two free days in Naxos because sadly our all day sailing cruise was cancelled because of high winds. We rented a car and drove up into the mountains, which was absolutely incredible.

Quality of Experience

It was all amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marios, the proprietor of our hotel (Naxos Island Escape) gave us amazing recommendations of where to go outside of Naxos town.

Transport

Totally fun to drive a manual transmission up into the mountains!

Welcome to Crete

Greece

Beautiful island. Wonderful people. Incredible food.

Quality of Experience

The people, the food, the history.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lovely cooking lesson in the mountains with our incredible guide Yannis.

Transport

Yannis was so lovely and filled with knowledge and love about the history of Crete.

Cooking Lesson in Chania, The Real Cretan Cooking Experience

Chania

So much fun. A small group tour into the white mountains of Crete. Incredibly beautiful. Wonderful tour guide (and driver) Yannis, who knows so much about Cretan history and clearly loves his home. Incredible cooking lesson using the freshest of ingredients taught by a lovely woman (whose name I sadly can't remember but she was amazing), and hosted also by her son.

Quality of Experience

Lovely hosts. Beautiful setting in the mountains. Unforgettable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yannis had so much to share about the history of Crete and the land and the food.

Transport

Yannis was an excellent driver!

Well planned trip. It was our first trip to Portugal and I had no idea how to plan our itinerary. Our customized trip included a fabulous hike, wine lunch, kayak tour and private transfers.

Hotel Reviews

Dear Lisbon - Gallery House

Lisbon

Best breakfast and friendly staff. Good location for finding interesting restaurants, but located on a rather mixed ( some run down/empty buildings). Also room is worn down.. carpet was very stained, headboard fabric had several tears and the glass side tables had large chips in them.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Margô Apartments

Lagos

First, keep in mind this is an apartment with daily room service. The front desk is only staffed from 9-6 and there are no elevators. Our room was on the third floor.. four flights of stairs. We didn’t mind the stairs except when lugging our suitcases up to the top floor. The aparthotel was very clean, located right on the central square and very spacious. We stayed in a one bedroom with small balcony views. The pictures on Casa Margot’s website are very accurate. Only downside is parking. You can park in a free lot. It is about 1/3 mile away, which is not bad. However, finding the lot is challenging. We got lost and had to drive though the insanely narrow, hilly one way streets, had to back up one time down a street and realized Apple Maps is useless within old towns. There are not street signs, just plaques on walls you can’t read. Anyway, very specific directions with pictures would have been helpful to find the lot. You can drive to the lot and circumnavigate the city, thus avoiding all the internal one way streets. Also, the lot is not paved , consisting of two connected areas on a slope. We found the lot one time, but my husband insisted that couldn’t be right. So off we went again looking for it. A picture of the lot would have helped too.

Authenticity & Character

Clean, updated

Location

Central

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Keep in mind, my husband and I were running on fumes when we started this tour. Due to flight delays, we arrived a day late in Lisbon. We knew we’d miss an entire night of sleep traveling to Lisbon, but we also missed the night before starting to travel due to the cancellations, rebooking and a 6 am flight to start the journey. The guide brought several maps to show how Lisbon transformed over time. Interesting, but we spent about the first 15 minutes looking at maps. I’d also say I would never pair this guide with anyone making the pilgrimage to Fatima. She often commented negatively about the Catholic Church. Everyone has the right to his/her opinion, but please keep it to yourself ( or make comments about how expensive universities are in the USA). We worked very hard to save for this trip and yes pay for our children’s college education and their future careers engineering and marketing/Spanish . I had to hold my tongue at times .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

Fabulous!!! FYI Nuno arrived at our hotel at 8 am, while Greg and I were enjoying a quick breakfast. At 8:30 someone knocked on my door to let me know Nuno was waiting .. I reread my notes which said 9 am pick up. Anyway, we hurried, Nuno hurried and we made on 9:45 ticket time for the tour of Peña palace. Next, we hiked through the neighboring woods about 3 miles, went to Cruz Alta then drove to Cabo da orca for an outstanding picnic lunch. Incredible. He then took us back the scenic route though cascais

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Personable, friendly, fit for the hike

Transport

Wine Tasting & Lunch at a Portuguese Quinta

Portugal

Great lunch, scenic location, interesting concept. It’s more of a lunch and wine tasting.. with a very brief tour of the vines. Biggest negative, wasps were so bad at the end of the meal we couldn’t finish. We asked of there was something they could do, but they said no.

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything that Lorenzo coordinated for us was wonderful! The Hotel Doria Palace was in a great location. We had an easy walk to the Coliseum and to the Metro. Our tour guide MarioPaulo was very impressive. She had in depth historic knowledge of Rome. She was also very patient. I messed up my days and we ended up being very late for our Coliseum tour. She was able to get us a later entry. When we entered the Forum we came across a women who was in distress. MarioPaulo was very quick on her feet and was able to get emergency assistance. Last, she gave us great restaurant recommendations. All of our travel coordination, trains and drivers made the trip to easy. When we arrived in Pompeii we had a delicious lunch and again had a private tour by a very knowledgeable Alessandro. When we arrived in Amalfi it was a breeze. The Hotel Residenza Luce greeted us at the main square and provided assistance to get our bags up the hill and stairs to our rooms. Everyone at Residenza Luce was warm and inviting. I would highly recommend KimKim travel for your next adventure!!!

Hotel Reviews

Doria Palace Boutique Hotel

Rome

Great location, wonderful staff. Rooms were so comfortable and clean. Breakfast was superb. I would absolutely stay at this hotel again!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to many historic sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Residenza Luce

Amalfi

Rooms are large, clean. Bathroom was extravagant with a huge soaking tub. The views from our room were breathtaking. The staff was so nice and accommodating, they made me feel like I was family. The hotel is located it a great location which made it easy for us to walk and see the sites. I would absolutely stay at Residenza Luce again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

St. Peter's, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter Basilica - private guide

Rome

What an incredible experience! It’s like visiting the worlds oldest museum. Getting to see masterpieces is something I will never forget.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

WOW! We learned so much about the historical site. 4 hours is not enough.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

The only way to go!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

We were there midday in Sept and it was very hot. Our tour guide made sure we had plenty of stops to rest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dhanushka did an amazing job in understanding the sort of trip we were looking for a friend reunion, he was checking in regularly to make sure we were well taken care of and promptly took care of a couple of last-minute accommodation changes. The itinerary was well thought out, the very active parts of the trip at the beginning and then mellowing down towards the end.
Dhanuka, our tour guide was a bright and cheerful face that would greet us every morning as we took off on our excursion (s) for the day. He would check in to see if we wanted to stop by at an attraction that may not have been on the itinerary. He gave great recommendations for food. Dhanuka made the trip very memorable for us, he kept us safe and always gave us a heads up on any do's and don'ts.

I cant recommend Dhanuska and Dhanuka enough for such a well thought out and planned trip!

Both Julia and Fenne were super helpful during planning and in particular while we were traveling. Several unexpected changes occurred to our itinerary and both Julia and Fenne were immediately available to provide advice and expertise - including on the weekend.

Hotel Reviews

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Excellent hotel! Rooms were a little dark and would like to see wash cloths in each bathroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nordis Apartments

Svolvær

A very nice hotel, but not well managed. Difficulty contacting our host to resolve simple issues like access to garage, etc. Once we were able to contact them they were helpful. Also, would have liked to see wash cloths, bath mat, cooking utensils, and more lighting in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Havila Voyages

Fosnavåg

Wonderful experience. No issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel the Edge

Tromsø

Excellent hotel and room!! Great view. Would have appreciated access to coffee in lobby all day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very attentive!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cultural Walk with a Local in Bergen

Bergen

Guide was no-show.

Nærøyfjord Cruise, Flåm & Stegastein Day Trip

Bergen

Excellent trip. No issues.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trollfjord and The White-Tailed Sea Eagles

Svolvær

Excellent trip!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Cruise

Tromsø

Excellent trip!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very informative!

Transport

Tina helped us to plan the perfect Croatia trip. She kept in contact not only during the planning process but the entire time we were there. She booked all our excursions, booked all our hotels and even our drivers. Everything was wonderful. Hotels were in the best location, drivers were professional, knowledgeable and a lot of fun and excursions were always with great guides. We really couldn’t have asked for anything more. Thank you so much Tina for everything you did :)

Activity Reviews

Wine Tasting Tour in Lumbarda

Korčula

Great guide and wonderful wine tasting experience. The best we’ve ever done…..ended with a boat ride home including champagne.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer to Korčula through Ston

Croatia

Our driver was wonderful! Knowledgeable, friendly and fun to travel with

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oyster tasting in Ston

Ston

So much fun!!! We learned a lot about harvesting oysters and then had a feast of both them and mussels.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full- day sailing Kornati - Telašćica

Zadar

Our skipper was awesome and we had a great time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Split food tour

Split

Although our guide was really friendly and fun to be with we found the restaurants cold and unwelcoming. Other than putting the food on the table there was zero connection

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julia did an amazing job helping me plan my Norway trip from Oslo to Narvis and then to Stockholm. The transportation (train, bus, and air) and lodging arrangements were all taken care of by Julia. She made the trip easy and instruction/directions were easy to follow. She also recommended tours which helped a lot. I would use Julia/KimKim again for my next trip!!

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Nidelven

Trondheim

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon hotel Narvik

Narvik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oslofjord Evening Cruise with Prawn Buffet

Oslo

There was no Tour Guide on places we were seeing. And the Shrimp Buffet was crawfish (not shrimp) with only white Bread and Lettuce served. There should be a side-dish or REAL SHRIMP. I was expecting more food items.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sightseeing Tour of the Lofoten Islands

Svolvær

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alvaro helped me and my husband plan our honeymoon trip to Ecuador and it was amazing! Our guides were very kind and knowledgeable. We learned not only about the area and history, but also about current events and daily life. We got to see beautiful mountains, the Amazon, artistic murals, and historical landmarks. The food was delicious and healthy. In the Galapagos we learned about wildlife and had many up close experiences with the animals. We felt very welcomed everywhere we went, and we can’t wait to come back for another adventure in Ecuador!

Hotel Reviews

Kitu Hotel

Quito

The staff is very kind! The patio/balcony is really cute and the room was cute and cozy.

Authenticity & Character

Cute decorations

Location

Felt safe and is close to many food options

Staff

Everyone was nice!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posada del Mar

Santa Cruz

Cute and spacious room. Nice view out the balcony and pretty flowers. The man at the front desk was always very nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Loja Galapagos

Puerto Villamil

Cute and spacious room! The pool wad nice and the hammocks were comfy. The boy at the front desk was fun to talk to and very kind.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Expedition to Mindo Cloud Forest

Quito

Mindo was really fun! Francisco was very knowledgeable about the area and was a great guide for this trip. We went ziplining, saw hunmingbirds and butterflies, toured a chocolate place and got lunch.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adventure in the Amazon

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

Cuyabeno was beautiful and we saw so many plants and animals! The guides were nice snd knowledgeable and the food throughout the stay was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Puerto Ayora

Our guide was very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the tortoises and lizards she wad telling us about! She was really fun to talk to and took pictures for us. There were so many tortoises when we went and we learned a lot.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was fun to talk to and very passionate! I loved that she was ready to reinforce the rules of the Galapagos to anyone and protect the area. She clearly loves where she lives and works and she was a really great guide.

Transport

We had an amazing trip through Morrocco. Hakim our local specialist was always quick to respond to my many questions and was very knowledgeable. He provided great support and peace of mind to ensure that we had a very memorable holiday despite arriving in Morrocco a day after the earthquake.
Our trip highlight was our night in the Sahara desert which was very authentic with the camel ride and tents.

Mohammed our driver was very friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. The local guides we had in Fez and particularly in Marakesh were also very knowledgeable and friendly.

We enjoyed experiencing a culture , and way of life very different from our own

Hotel Reviews

Riad El Yacout

Fès

Riad Madu Desert Camps

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Chergui

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour in Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride and Overnight in the Desert via Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour & Local Gastronomy

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour in Marrakech

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

As a first time KimKim client, I didn’t know what to expect, however, I would highly recommend their service! Not only was the planning aspect easy and thorough; what really impressed me was the support we received while we were traveling, and how quickly we could access help when weather disrupted our plans. Additionally, the transportation vendors and guides they used were exceptionally prompt, kind and fun! Our Santorini drivers and especially our Amalfi coast driver, Rino, were some of the nicest people
we encountered! We especially appreciated our Botantical Garden tour and cooking lesson in Crete and the recommendation to go to Ergon in Athens…top notch experiences. Lina, our Knossos guide, stood out for her depth of knowledge and her ability to educate us so efficiently.
The Travel12 crew were at our fingertips via What’s App and also called me to make sure we had gotten and received messages. This was much appreciated.

Irene did a fabulous job introducing us to parts of the world we knew nothing about (Crete!) while incorporating some of the bucket list places we wanted to visit. We will use her again for any return visit to Greece!

Activity Review

Chania SUP Tour

Chania

Not to be missed!! This was a very special way to visit and experience the gorgeous waters and natural beauty of Crete. The guides were fun, caring and made everyone feel comfortable.

We had the best time in France. We worked with Vaseem. He was so helpful planning our trip. He had everything planned from picking us up at the airport, taking us to our hotel, to lining up cooking classes and booking our train tickets to wine country. We will definitely use KimKim again for future travels.

The trip has far exceeded any possible expectations from the sights the hotels and the people. Sofia and Carl were wonderful hosts who shared their home and special traditional dishes (one of the best of the entire trip!) that I’ll try to replicate. Luis took us for the day to a private wine tour where Catarina at the winery was delightfully refreshing with vast information on sustainability and the new vs old processes at the vineyards. The tour was fun and the pairings were very nice. We then went to the farm of a husband and wife school teachers at the small 200 tree olive farm told stories of the farm from his grandfather and their love and genuine appreciation of their roots and history was just so wonderful. They have 13 trees that are 2000 years old! We learned how to taste olive oil and purchased a few small bottles that we'll share with our story. And it all just got better! Hard to believe BUT Paulo was simply amazing sharing his knowledge of the castles, the history of the country, and his own personal life taking care to be sure we were okay along the steep hilly hike. He packed a homemade lunch that was so delicious and special. It was a day we all thoroughly enjoyed and was forever memorable. In Porto we started with an e-bike tour through town that was so much fun, racing downhill and enjoying the beautiful neighborhoods. Next, Nuno was very kind, gentle, and conscientious of everyone's well-being as he guided us through the National Forest where we hiked two areas and swam in two different water holes that were secluded, tranquil, and pristine. We took the train from Porto to Lisbon which was simple and comfortable - a nice way to go! Simply spectacular- everything !!! THANK YOU 🙏🏽

Hotel Reviews

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

The rooms are spectacular - very spacious and light. The hospitality was wonderful and the location was perfect!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very fresh, airy, light-filled, and comfortable

NH Sintra Centro Hotel

Sintra

Nice people in the heart of Sintra. Wonderful views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

in the heart of town - accessible to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

They were very thoughtful to have ready an extra bed in the perfect space for our son

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

They made us feel like family visiting! I was very comfortable, clean, and in a good location. The dining room has the best pizza ever!!

Authenticity & Character

the views were wonderful

Location

great location! we were quite comfortable going for a hot dog 3 blocks away at 1:30 am!

Staff

they made us feel like family

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable with great views

Hotel Dom Henrique Downtown

Porto

The hotel was nice comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

This was a nice start to our visit - a quick tour of the local highlights

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hugo seemed very knowledgeable

Transport

Dinner With Locals at a Local Home

Lisbon

Sofia and Carlos were absolutely lovely - very hospitable and they shared their wonderful stories of their life in Portugal. It all sounded amazing. Sofia made a home-cooked meal that was the best meal of our entire trip! We won't forget this visit ever!

Quality of Experience

This experience afforded us an authentic view of the culture and food of Portugal.

Food

The food was amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos and Sofia were engaging and informative.

Transport

We too Uber to this destination.

Excursion to Alentejo - Jeep Safari Through a Cork Fork & Visit to an Olive Oil Estate

Lisbon

This was an amazing eco-friendly experience starting with the Jeep ride through the vineyards and then to their nature preserve. It was wonderful to hear how they were training the vineyards to grow deeper roots to access water so that no external watering would be needed. Then on the wonderful Olive Oil farm, where they produce the "Amor e' Cego" olive oil the traditional way eschewing modern mass farming techniques. João's message was inspirational and the tasting was intense. Finally, we went on a Cork tour where we all learned something about Cork and the multitude of products it can be made into. Did you know that the Cork tree is harvestable in 9 to 12 years? It is also sustainable without harming the tree.

Quality of Experience

It was a top-notch exprience unlike any other.

Food

They provided a wonderful cheese and Iberian ham plate and delicious wine from their vineyard.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis was personable and incredibly knowledgeable on all of the facets of the multiple excursions. Wonderful guide and driver!

Transport

Luis was great and the vehicle spacious.

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

Sintra was a magical experience made even more so by our fabulous guide, Paulo. He took us on the hidden route up to the castle while many others waited in cars. It was fantastic walking amongst there's ancient walls and then the castle was incredible. After the strenuous ascent, Palo made us a satisfying lunch of Iberian meats, cheeses, and wine. After we descended fully we had a small taste of the local liquor, ginjinha, and of course an espresso. It was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Paulo was an eclectic soul with a fascinating background and his depth of wisdom about Sintra was as breathtaking as the views and hike.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paulo is truly amazing and his picnic was authentic and delicious. A very caring person.

Transport

Paulo had a nice car and spoke eloquently about the amazing things along the way.

Get to know Porto by E-bike

Porto

This was our first time on an e-bike and it was great. Our guide knew his stuff and we rode the entire way along the river. We stopped along the way for photos and some history lessons. Then we went through the park seeing the famous Rooster/ chickens roaming about in the verdant flora.

Quality of Experience

Very fun ride!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was really patient, fun, and knowledgeable.

Transport

Loved the e-bikes! What a great way to see the city.

Hiking & Cultural Excursion in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Porto

Peneda-Gerês National Park is an amazing nature preserve with a tranquil water pool, secluded and welcoming for a quick soak. We learned about the wolf trap and reviewed the ruins of the trap. Then it was time for a hand-prepared lunch with an assortment of Portuguese foods, soup, and desserts. Finally, on the way back we hiked down to a few more pools and all took a good long peaceful soak. We also saw a working water-powered Olive press that was still revitalized each season by the locals for use. A great memory that we will never forget.

Quality of Experience

The trip into Partugal's natural forest was serene. The soaks in the natural pools are incredible.

Food

The meal they made for us after the hike was authentic and tasty.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was Nuno's last day but he was attentive, held a wealth of knowledge, and very caring for each person.

Transport

A bit tight in the very back.

Our Travel Specialist- Chiara did a great job understanding our plan needs and then creating a plan than covered many needs before and after our cruise from Ravenna to our Milan departure.

Driver-specifically Stefano was excellent in meeting and welcoming us to Bologna and then being our driver for Parmesan Reggiano dairy and full day touring to Milan … he was on time and very professional with his driving.

Hotels — all were excellent and met our needs very well for being close to city centers, 3-4 stars and clean. We especially enjoyed the Bologna Hotel Metropolitan for the balcony/terrace on our room and then the rooftop lounge was wonderful evening spot. Milan Hotel De Spadari was outstanding for service and proximity to all of the key areas of Milan.

Guides— in Ravenna our guide Sylvia was very knowledgeable and comfortable to be with and was helpful about good restaurants in area.
Bologna- our walking food tour guide Mattea was great to walk us through the city area and provide explanations about food and traditions. We appreciated his concern about Gluten Free for Mary and providing options.
Parmesan Reggiano-Franseca was excellent in explaining and answering our questions about cheese making.
Modena Balsamic Vinegar-Magadelena did a wonderful job explaining and her best work was tasting/sampling Balsamic Vinegars.
Milan - Lara was our best guide because of her true passion for the history and helping us understand what and why are seeing the items. She was a genuine person that asked us questions and was enthusiastic along with being engaging.

We enjoyed our work with Storytelling and appreciated the daily check in’s. At first I was apprehensive not to have phone #’s for drivers and guides….but I let go of that concern after I saw how “on time” and drivers/guides show up where and when they were supposed to be!! Big point for us! We hope to use Kim Kim in the future for planning! Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Bezzi

Ravenna

Authenticity & Character

Clean

Location

Close to City Center

Staff

Helpful with restaurants and reservations

Cleanliness & Comfort

Metropolitan Hotel Bologna

Bologna

Excellent location, excellent balcony and great breakfast. Best of all was the Rooftop lounge and service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful upon checkin

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean bathroom area

Hotel Spadari Al Duomo

Milan

Loved the decor and location. Great hotel close to the city center

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Helpful front desk

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bologna Walking Tour - Food & Wine

Bologna

The food and wine tour in Bologna was fantastic. It was great to have those personal experiences and see everything firsthand. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Parmigiano Reggiano cheese tasting tour (private)

Italy

The cheese tasting tour was very cool. It was great to be part of it and see all the processes. I really enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were going to Morocco for a surfing trip and ended up adding an extra week for sightseeing. We met Sharon from Morocco Immersions on Kimkim. Sharon planned the entire trip considering our interests and available time. Excellent decision!
We saw so much of Morocco and the people there who are hardworking, welcoming, and warm hearted. We started & ended our trip in Marrakesh. Spent the first day visiting the souks by ourselves and then with a guide the 2nd day. It was a nice overview of this busy city with visits to local attractions. Enjoyed our time in the Medina.
We traveled to Boumaine Dades where we visited Alt Ben Haddou and later saw the majestic monkey fingers, large rock formation. It’s a beautiful, natural area with stunning views. Also spent a lovely day in the Valley of Roses. Had a family cooked meal of couscous, vegetables, and chicken all prepared with the food we purchased at the local market. We toured the family farm and interacted with some family who owned the villa there. Amnay was the perfect host. It was such an enjoyable day!
Next, we drove to Merzouga where we rode camels into the Sahara and camped in glamours tents with nice showers. I’ll never forget the camel ride which was such a cool experience. Next off to Agdz. We visited Khamlia and toured Kasbah Tamnougalt. All so educational and provided a glimpse of how many locals live in buildings that from the outside look in disrepair but once inside, you experience the homey quality of the lives they’ve made there.
Our journey continued to Taroudant, little Marrakesh”. We had a long walking tour of the area with a guide who knew so much and had the respect of so many locals as witnessed in their greetings. I really liked Taroudant! It seemed more manageable than Marrakesh. I never got the hang of haggling. We experienced our first major earthquake (6.8) there which was frightening but we managed well, and Sharon’s driver/manager Omar took good care of us. Most of the locals slept outside due to fear but my husband & I returned to the hotel to sleep. We did not feel the aftershock the next morning.
Got dropped off for our surfing camp for one week and then Omar picked us up and drove us to Marrakesh for the last two nights in Morocco. We walked around quite a bit, and I slept quite a bit. It had been a very busy 2 weeks for us 60+ year olds. Marrakesh was hit hard by the earthquake and damage was noticeable, especially around the Medina. Many locals were still camped out on the sidewalks and grass due to fear of staying inside or due to loss of homes. It was a sobering reality of the impact of a natural disaster. The people continued to work and help each other. We witnessed trucks being loaded with blankets for the Moroccans who were in the mountain regions that were hit very hard by the earthquake.
Want to add we visited Souktana in Province de Taroudant where they produce and sell “high quality” saffron. We enjoyed the tour and purchased (all prices marked/no haggling) saffron as gifts for our family and friends at home.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel & Ryads Barrière Le Naoura

Marrakech

A very westernized lodging experience. It has all the comforts of home but in a more lavish way. The breakfast bar is amazing! The staff was warm and welcoming. The hotel is close to the souks/Medina. We took a lovely evening stroll from the hotel to the Medina where many Moroccan families were busy shopping and eating. I'd recommend taking such a stroll to experience the Marrakesh night life which is so different than Marrakesh by day. We felt perfectly safe strolling in the evening/night (~11PM).

Authenticity & Character

Though this hotel, of all the ones we stayed, was the most like those in the USA, it definitely has a Moroccan touch.

Location

Great location - easy walk to the Medina and attractions.

Staff

All were helpful and polite!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was clean and well equipped. The welcoming bottled water and the snacks were a lovely touch!

Riad Madu Premium Camp

Merzouga

Nice glam camping experience! The tent had all we needed including a nice shower. It was very hot in the desert. All the warm clothes we packed were not needed. The service and food were good. There was some musical entertainment that added a bit of fun. The generator stopped working before bedtime but the hosts got it up and running so we had A/C for the night. The morning hike into the desert to watch the sun come up was beautiful! Wow, the stars were amazing too. The camel ride into camp & out of camp was a worthwhile experience. Our camel guide did a lot of walking and took pictures of us along the way. Some other guests rode ATV's out instead of the camels but I'm glad I rode the camel out. My husband & I had separate camel rides in & out from the other larger group of guests so it felt very special as we walked through the desert for ~1.5 hours each way.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like we were in the Moroccan desert! It was truly a unique experience!

Location

Our camp was small, maybe 10 tents for guests which was smaller than other camps we could see from afar.

Staff

The entire staff was helpful, friendly, and accommodating. It was a terrific experience!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tents were clean. I slept extremely well in the tent bed. No complaints!

Dar Hnini

Oulad Yahia Lagraire

Another beautiful hotel! We felt like the only guests there. We had a private dinner and breakfast on the scenic terrace where the pool was located. It was quite posh! The staff was excellent! They truly catered to our needs, and beyond. I slept very well. I will mention that the bathroom, though beautifully tiled and historical in design, was a bit awkward for showering. The tub narrowed on the bottom making it difficult to stand with both feed next to each other. You had to stand as if on a surfboard. I ended up washing my hair and body on my knees. Really not much to complain about. The hotel is lovely!

Authenticity & Character

Another wonderful Moroccan hospitality experience!

Location

Beautiful! The stay was short. We would have stayed another night if possible.

Staff

Excellent! The entire staff was superb!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean!!! They even had a hairdryer!

Palais Oumensour

Taroudant

Very nice older hotel with a lovely courtyard. It had a quaint, small town feel. The beds were comfortable and the bathroom with shower was located farther away from the sleeping area which was a nice touch. The front desk woman was so helpful, answering our many questions. She spoke very good English. We experienced the 6.8 earthquake at this property, after 11PM. It was scary to feel the room shake, at first felt like a large truck driving down the road, but intensified and we knew it was an earthquake, as other guests starting running past our door to get outside. We followed. The hotel night manager stayed with us in the courtyard. Our driver Omar checked in on us by phone. We stayed outside for 2 hours or so and then went back inside to bed. The pictures on the walls were all skewed and new cracks appeared on many of the walls with plaster/dust on the tile. We heard most of the locals slept outside that night for safety concerns, including our front desk lady. She lived there all her life as did her family and this was their first earthquake. It was truly a devastating event for Morocco and her people.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel felt like a foreign property in a very good way. An experience I thoroughly enjoyed!

Location

Great location for the "Little Marrakesh" town - walking distance to medina was easy.

Staff

Excellent, especially the front desk woman!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean! Food was tasty! Service was excellent!

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

We enjoyed this last property too. It was located well into the Medina in Marrakesh. We stayed two nights. The room was small but the high ceilings seemed to add space. The bathroom was particularly small. The shower was one of the more modern ones we had with an actual shower door to open and close. The beds were comfortable. The breakfast offered a variety of options and the service was timely and polite. The rooftop where we ate was extremely nice! I had thought we'd be spending our last two nights in Marrakesh in a hotel that was more like Hotel Ryads Barriere Le Naoura, westernized. The previous week we had been in a surfing camp in a villa that was lacking much and a bit light on safety, no armrail on marble stairs, scary with wet feet so was ready for western comforts. But, the stay at Riad Nesma was pleasant and, once we adapted, it proved comfortable and added a cultural touch to our last nights in Marrakesh. I'm grateful for having stayed there.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like a Moroccan hotel with simple pleasures there for the taking.

Location

Great location for quick access to souks/Medina

Staff

Excellent - they were quick to let us in at night after dinner. The doors are locked after you enter and exit so need someone to let you in. The young man quickly rose to help us leave for the airport at 6AM.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and slept great!

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

We enjoyed the tour of Marrakesh. Our guide was knowledgeable and pleasant. He did not help us with haggling which I later learned he was supposed to have done so that was a bit disappointing. I never got the hang of haggling. It always felt overwhelming. We ended up not buying much in the Medina. I think with time, haggling would come. You really need to visit shops and get prices before you decide to purchase so you can determine a fair price. We never got to that stage.

Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

This was a fun stop. We walked through a dry waterway to get to the ksar which provided a nice view on approach. It was historical and pleasant, with a much needed breeze because the temps were hot. Lots of uphill walking so wear comfortable shoes and sun protection. Several movies have been filmed here. A list of these movies is posted for viewing. There is a nice artist room where paintings and carving are made for purchase.

Day with the Locals in the Valley of Roses

Morocco

Loved our day with a local family - shopping, cooking, and eating Moroccan couscous. We had a fun and educational tour of the farm and relaxed after lunch with some enjoyable conversations. Amnay was the perfect host. Omar, our driver/manager took us on many adventures as we traveled through Morocco.

Quality of Experience

Lots of fun and a real cultural experience - a must do!

Food

Excellent - the best couscous we had in Morocco!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amnay was fun to hang out with. Omar was fun as well and also shuttled us all over the place safely and with good conversation. It helped that Omar liked Karl's jokes!

Transport

Excellent - Many Thanks to Omar!!!

Dades Valley to Merzouga Camel Trek via Todgha Gorge & Tinghir

Morocco

If you can travel to the Sahara while in Morocco, take the time to ride in the desert. It's a magical and impressive place with awesome stars and beautiful sunrises!

Quality of Experience

Fun experience - An opportunity I'm grateful to have taken!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All good - felt safe and really enjoyed the ride.

Transport

Camel ride was fun. The van ride out to the desert was a bit rugged. Our driver Omar opted to have a smaller vehicle pick us up on the return and he met us on the paved rode with the van. A really good decision!

Guided Tour of Taroudant

Taroudant

I really liked Little Marrakesh in Taroudant. This was a fun tour with lots of educational information. We learned about many of the reforms that King Mohammed VI made in Morocco including expanding education and raising the marriage age for young girls. We experienced our first major earthquake in Taroudant. The city suffered damage from the quake. I would have stayed more than one night if we had the time to do so.

Merzouga to Agdz

Morocco

We enjoyed the guided tour of Kasbach Tamnougalt.

My wife and I just finished a 12 day trip to Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Visby (on the island of Gotland). This was a bucket list trip and a birthday celebration. It was an amazing experience - the best vacation we have ever had!

Silvia at KimKim did a phenomenal job - all the way from the initial chats, finding out what we wanted and then making great suggestions. Our itinerary was complex - multiple cities, lots of activities and transfers to be booked.

There were so many highlights - from the scenic sightseeing cruises of the Oslo Fjords, canals of Copenhagen and the Stockholm archipelago. In Copenhagen we also did a very fun Segway tour and a walking guided gourmet tour to sample local delicacies and beers. Silvia suggested we include a trip to Visby on the island of Gotland, and we are so glad we did! Visby is a UNESCO World heritage site with an amazing history going back to the 12th century.

We are foodies and another highlight was an 18 course dinner at a Michelin star restaurant suggested and booked for us by Silvia!

We could never have come up with such an amazing itinerary, nor executed it so well. Silvia’s local knowledge and attention to detail made this vacation extra special.
She was always reachable, responded very quickly and helped us deal with a couple of minor logistical hiccups (which were not her fault). She was our guardian angel who always had our back. We cannot say enough good things about Silvia and this experience with Kimkim. If we could, we would give her 6 stars out of 5!

By the way, this is our second vacation with Kimkim. 6 years ago we used Kimkim and another guide for a week’s vacation in Costa Rica and that was a fabulous experience also.

We would highly recommend Kimkim for your vacation plans, and are so thankful that Silvia was our guide!

Our Mongolian Odyssey - Crystal at Premium Travel Mongolia crafted a bespoke itinerary for our Mongolian adventure, tailored to our unique requests and allowing us to see so much in a short time. Our guides, Zaya and Habak, were knowledgeable and passionate about their country's culture and rich history. The picturesque landscapes, idyllic rolling hills, and sparkling streams created the perfect getaway. Thank you, team, for putting together such an awe-inspiring trip!

Our guide Andrea was helpful throughout the panning process. He was responsive to last minute and on-the-ground changes to our itinerary. His knowledge of local attractions and restaurants was extremely helpful.

This is a long overdue review of a trip we made to Ecuador together with my friend Ewa in April this year. It was one of the best trips I have ever experienced in my life. Our trip was very professionally planned and organised by Mathias, who remained patient and cool even with our very late feedback [SIC!] or constantly changing ideas. Something we are certainly very grateful for.
Our itinerary included Galapagos, Cuenca, Ingapirca, Baños, Cotopaxi, Yasuni National Park and of course Quito and all of this in just … 13 days.
Galapagos is considered one of the world’s wonders for a reason with its beautiful landscapes, exotic creatures big and small, unspoiled nature, all of it makes the visit a once in a lifetime experience. We were staying in the Ikala hotel in Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz. It is a nice, family run hotel, clean with very friendly staff and an excellent restaurant. The hotel offered an early breakfast to go which was a very good idea when heading for day long boat trips to uninhabited islands (Bartolome and Seymour Norte in our case). Exploring Santa Cruz was also an adventure in itself and we were happy to have an extra free day on the island to explore Puerto Ayora and visit the stunning Tortuga Bay. I would also highly recommend a short, half a day visit, to a coffee farm which turned out to be a chocolate farm and aguardiente production site at the same time. Coffee, chocolate, and alcohol in one place, what more could one possibly dream of?
From Galapagos we headed back to the mainland. Cuenca is a unique example of the Spanish colonial architecture with a very vibrant community. We had an opportunity to visit the Panama hat factory, as well as several workshops in the villages nearby, continuing centuries long tradition of local crafts, such as jewellery making, textiles or ceramics. In moments like this you wish you would bring an extra bag or two to be able to bring back home more of those wonders. This was also an excellent opportunity to have a lot of interesting conversations. In Cuenca we stayed in the Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía which has a unique historic charm and a very good restaurant. From Cuenca we went to the archaeological site of Ingapirca, a place to visit if you like history and would like to learn something more about the soul of Ecuador. We visited Ingapirca in rain and fog, but it only added to the experience of mystery and contemplation.
Our next stop was Baños, where we got lucky with the weather, and we could admire the stunning views of the mountains and take advantage of all possible tourist attractions. A visit to the waterfalls is a must. We continued our trip through the volcano road to the bottom of Cotopaxi, again an unforgettable experience topped with a very nice meal at the nearby restaurant. My only regret was that we could not stay longer to do some longer hikes in the area.
The final stop of our trip was visiting the Yasuni National Park and Napo Cultural Center. I would never have thought that I would feel at home in the jungle. Yes, it is hot and humid and there are plenty of insects but the welcome by the local community, its unique hospitality and the unspoiled beauty of the place made an incredible impression on us. The accommodation was simple but clean and comfortable. We made several trips to the jungle (especially a night walk which was an experience in itself) with experienced local guides who were very keen on sharing their knowledge. The eco-lodge provides for the local community allowing it to remain close to the lifestyle of their ancestors and natural environment. It also provides for the local school where children can learn three languages (Kichwa, Spanish and English) which we found very impressive.
As we entered and departed Ecuador through Quito, the guided city tour was an excellent way to end our visit. While in Quito we also had an opportunity to visit the Oswaldo Guayasamín museum, which we would recommend visiting to anyone interested in arts and culture.
On our way back to the airport, a taxi driver asked us what we liked the best in Ecuador, I went speechless, but Ewa brilliantly replied: “gente” – people. We were so very lucky to meet extremely kind and welcoming people all along our journey, proud of their heritage but curious about others. This is why our special words of appreciation go to our two very special guides: Astrid and Milton. Astrid was our guide on Galapagos, and we could not have been luckier! Astrid is very knowledgeable, full of energy and has a sparkling personality; visiting the turtle refuge and the coffee farm with her was a real pleasure. We also haven’t enough words of praise for Milton our guide in Cuenca and further up through the avenue of the Volcanos. Milton is an excellent guide, a great companion, with a sense of humour who is never tired of the strangest question. Even in the most challenging of circumstances, as some parts of our journey were quite difficult because of the weather conditions and heavy rainfall when we had to take a detour around the Pan-American highway through the steep and muddy mountain roads, he kept his cool and we always felt very safe.