Kimkim Trip Reviews

I never write reviews, but this trip was so wonderful I had to put my experience into words!

I have always planned and operated my travels. Morocco was my enigma; for some reason, I didn’t want to jump right into the planning as I usually do. So, I decided to look for a private tour. I Googled, found the kimkim website, and was connected with Sharon at Morocco Immersion. After doing all the research and decisions as to which areas and places to visit, I gave my plans to Sharon from Morocco Immersion Tours and let them immerse us more intensely in the Moroccan culture. It seemed from other reviews that they have perfected that art!

My conversations with Sharon made me realize how good she is at what she does! First of all, she listened. Sharon had the wonderful quality of being able to read between the lines of my messages and find the heart of my intention and desires for this trip. Sharon promptly replied, made requested changes, and suggested changes subtly, explaining the reason when she felt my requests may not give me the experience I expected. Naturally, she must have realized I am a control freak when it comes to my travel planning. Even so, all I had for Sharon was admiration. The combination of her expertise and promptness made me recommend her to my friends who are avid travelers – and, I had not even had the full experience with her and her team yet!

Sharon setup the magic and her team made it a reality! And what a wonderfully magical experience it was!

First, Sharon expertly planned the trip, and then our tour manager Yassine implemented that plan. We were fortunate to be coordinated with Yassine. What an exceptional tour manager! His best qualities included his pride in providing top tier service, his dedication in making sure his guests are totally tended to, and his listening skills. For example, we would express our interest and desire to see or do something, and then get distracted with enjoying something else on the journey. But Yassine was silently taking mental notes. Later, when he made these things happen for us, we would get surprised! With his calm, patient, level-headed, jovial nature, he took care of everything and showed us the best ways to immerse in the Moroccan experience. He is a professional to his core!

All the tour guides we had at different places were very knowledgeable and personable. In Fes, I very much enjoyed the tour with Sayid. The tour with him was informative, intellectually stimulating, and entertaining! He narrates topics and events in a unique way which was quite interesting and thought provoking!

We had the opportunity to meet different team members. Honestly, it was such a pleasure! We met Amnay at Sahara camp. He is the leader of the pack. He was very pleasant and so hospitable! The experience they had arranged at Sahara Desert camp was so much fun and homey. Like backyard barbecue, all the guests and hosts from Morocco Immersion came together and had fun!

Hicham became our tour guide in Marrakech as our originally scheduled guide couldn’t be there. We were glad to meet and have Hicham as our guide. We enjoyed Hicham’s company and learned a lot from him during the tour. He was easy to talk to and we had fun conversations.

For me, one of the highlights of the trip was visiting and shopping at the many co-ops where women-made products were sold, or the co-ops were run by women. It was very meaningful for me to see women in that capacity. I am glad the Moroccan government has made it a policy to enhance and enrich women’s contribution to families and to the society.

I give my heartfelt gratitude to the Morocco Immersion team and all the people of Morocco we met along the way – in Riads and elsewhere – for providing us with this wonderful experience and joy! What a beautiful country, wonderful people, and great culture! We got to experience the country as we did because of Sharon and her team! The experience was so heartwarming and soul quenching! All I can say is that I am filled with joy! I could never have planned this on my own. This was truly the trip of a lifetime.

We enjoyed and appreciated the KimKim business model as a whole. It was nice to have local specialist help you plan the itinerary and I liked that you could book some things on your own such as hotels etc. Pricing for their service seemed a bit high but we did enjoy saving some personal planning and booking time. We covered Rome, Puglia, back up to Florence and Cinque Terre for 17 days so lots of miles. The trip went well as planned. Melanie was very responsive and a true pleasure to work with and a great attitude.

As a seasoned traveller, I look for the most authentic experiences I can have when visiting another country.

KimKim and Kripa provided just that:
Great Nepali guide and driver (Pratiksha and Suar) who took great care of me and helped me to understand Nepal on so many new levels, and who showed me many off the beaten path places to see and visit;
Staying in authentic Nepali hotels, and shopping in Nepali-owned shops;
Great meals filled with discoveries;
Great walking tours of all the local towns, villages, and temples.

It was an amazing trip, and we are already planning our next visit.

This was our first time contacting a third party to plan a long celebration trip. Traveling to Chile, was a dream come true, and Kim Kim, couldn't have planned better. First, they were extremely responsive and dedicated from the start, listening to all my requests and answering my questions in terms of schedule, sites and season to visit, all in a timely manner. Second , we were ready for our trip with enough time ahead, no concerns about bookings, internal flights, or schedule. Third, once we got there, everything worked like a precision clock. The instructions were accurate, the transfers punctual, the hotels great, the guides and tours AMAZING!!!. This is definitely the best way to plan a once in a lifetime trip, or even a short one. Worth every penny. We had a taste of everything we wanted, it was an extremely busy trip with multiple internal flights and activities, yet we never felt overwhelmed or stressed. I also have to say that Paul went above and beyond when we forgot essential meds in our first hotel.
Thank you Paul and Kim Kim for a wonderful trip. You did a great job.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Hare Nua

Hanga Roa

We felt welcomed and taken care of! The staff was wonderful. This hotel has all what you need in rapa Nui.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cumbres San Pedro

San Pedro de Atacama

Beautiful hotel! All the amenities, wonderful spa, the gardens are so beautiful and the staff amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful place to stay in san pedro de Atacama. It is a bit far from the city but they have a shuttle that runs all the time as you need.

Activity Review

Hiking Excursion to Base of Torres del Paine

Puerto Natales

This was a long hike, challenging at times. The guides were so kind and patient. Helpful at all times. It made the experience feel safe and comforting. They were very responsible, attentive, kind. We had a wonderful time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The most kind guides!

Transport

We had an amazing time visiting Australia. Sabina was awesome to work with. She planned out an excellent itinerary and maximized our excursions to allow us to see as much of Australia in our limited time to visit. We were able to visit all the highlights - Sydney, Ayers Rock, and Cairns (Great Barrier Reef). Sabina made the travel within country and all our accommodations, transportation, and flights arrangements, and everything went perfect. When there was a change from JetStar to the flight times prior to our trip, she quickly reorganized the excursions to ensure we were still able to do everything we wanted to see. I highly recommend working with KimKim and if you are visiting Australia definitely ask for Sabina to help you set up your itinerary.

...so, what started on a down note, cue sandstorm that diverted our flight to Marrakech and the long bus drive to Casablanca + transport that was not quite the right fit, rapidly became a vacation of a lifetime!

Our Riads: Hicham; Semlalia; Serai: Paradis du Sahara; Ksar Ighnda; Art Place & La Medina Essaouira…. Fabulous, with extremely kind and welcoming staff!

Our guides: Noureddine (Rabat) ; Abdul Salaam (Chefchaouen);Ibrahim (Volubilis); Kemal (Fes); Kemal (Kissadne) and Ismael (Marrakech) were second to none. Their historical knowledge was mind blowing, definitely experts in their fields!

Activities: What a plan! The palaces, medinas; the kasbahs; the camel rides; hot air ballooning; hands on cooking class; hammam – all first class!

Lastly, our drivers – Mohammed and Khalid Casablanca and Rabat, really great young men and I wish them all the best…….and then there is Abdul, who collected us in Rabat and was our driver for the remainder of this awesome adventure. Not only a great and extremely careful driver, but quite knowledgeable in his own right. It was Abdul that introduced us to the Pigeons Du Sable and their beautiful music in the Sahara; the ancient underground canals or khettara in the anti-Atlas mountains and Ait Benhaddou, the UNESCO World Heritage site. Add to this the numerous photo ops:- the Valley of Palms; the winding road our of the high Atlas mountains…and I could go on and on! Abdul’s the man!!

As an avid traveller, this trip ranks up there amongst the best that I have experienced and would not hesitate for a minute to recommend kimkim/Wanderlust to anyone contemplating a trip to Morocco…. Just do it!

Donna November 2023

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa MGallery

Essaouira

Lovely hotel just across from the beach and within walking distance to the medina and all the wonderful shops. Wonderful and attentive staff. After almost two weeks on the road, Hotel Le Medina Essaouira was just what was needed to wind down!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Ryad Art Place Marrakech

Marrakech

The calm....literally steps away from the noisy, busy, Jemma El Fnaa. Beautiful property on the edge of the medina. Convenient for drop offs as well as exploring! The staff were wonderful and the breakfast was simply delightful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Serai

Merzouga

Another beautiful Riad, well appointed, beautiful grounds...destination wedding for those so inclined!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The wait staff need a bit more training but were pleasant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Asfalou

This property is freakin' amazing.....one could not ask for more...from the staff; the bountiful buffets, the little night club....a great place to spend some time winding down and getting back in tune with oneself!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradis Du Sahara

Merzouga

A wonderful experience at the edge of the desert. Great staff; great dinner and the drumming around the fire was enjoyed by all!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Riad Semlalia

Fès

from the bougainvillea draped front gates, the beautiful interior, fabulous roof top and the amazing staff...a must stay when visiting the fascinating city of Fes!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Hicham

Chefchaouen

Quirky with all the steps; great staff and in the best location!!

Authenticity & Character

Quirky layout with lots of steps - not for those who have isses climbing stairs.

Location

Just off the main square and easy to find!

Staff

Great accomodating staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfy!!

Activity Reviews

Food Tour

Marrakesh

Yum....from the fruit juices, dried fruits and nut; olives; hot sandwich and delicious pastries......what a great evening and introduction to Marrakech and it's street food!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Even though we stared our tour in a downpour, we enjoyed our time with our extremely knowledgeable guide Noureddine. My favorite was our visit to the Kasbah Oudeyas (the blue doors!!) and it's beautiful gardens.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Majorelle Gardens

Marrakesh

Simply a beautiful and quiet place in the midst of chaotic Marrakech!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

No matter one's religious belief and/or practices, as visit to Casablanca is not complete without a visit to the Hassan II Mosque. An imposing structure with the most exquisite craftsmanship (further appreciated on our visit to Fes). Our guide was able to convey the workings of the Mosque and it's worshippers in a very clear and concise manner. Truly an amazing visit!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class

Morocco

What I thought would be us watching someone else cook was actually a hands-on real cooking experience. Everyone had their own cook station and it was fun and fabulous!!! I want to go back and do a Moroccan cookie baking class!!

Quality of Experience

Food

My tajine was the best...!!! ijs!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The experience organising the trip with Maria Grazia was excellent from start to finish. Beginning with the planning of the itinerary itself and going though several iterations before landing on the final version. We then had to change our dates quite late, which was taken care of very smoothly.

Each of the three hotels were excellent, really well located and met our expectations completely. The organised trips were all very good. For Palermo, we would like to mention Salvatore (Street Food Tour) and Marilu (Private Walking Tour). They were both highly knowledgable and very engaging.

In Catania the Street Food Cooking class with Paola at Tacchi e Sapori Factory was excellent. We did have some problems finding the exact location, and the "tinyurl" link was the most accurate, although we had to manually retype that into our browser to make it work.

In Taormina, the Walking Tour with Gracie was again excellent - great knowledge of the complex history of the area, and also really flexible with the tour itself.

We did make a change to the car hire by one day, which Barbara dealt with really well, the App was a great communication tool.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Taodomus

Taormina

Very central in the town, and just a 5 minute walk from a modern and secure car park. Great rooftop terrace for breakfast and sundowner drinks. The breakfast was wonderful with a big range on offer.

Authenticity & Character

Traditional hotel from the outside, but contemporary once inside.

Location

Very central. Great views of Mt Etna and the town itself.

Staff

Very helpful and attentive throughout our stay

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palace Catania | UNA Esperienze

Catania

Very central. Great breakfast and amazing rooftop terrace with views of Mt Etna and the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful staff, particularly for organising additional tours

Cleanliness & Comfort

B&B In Centro Palermo

Palermo

Very centrally located, modern and clean. Very friendly and helpful staff, particularly with our late check in. If using a hire car, it would be worth contacting the hotel ahead of time to get the exact address for parking and hotel access, given it's location on a pedestrian only street.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and clean, good sized rooms. Inside a very secure office block

Location

Very central

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Taormina Highlights Walking Tour

Italy

Please see earlier comments in Summary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catania Street Food Cooking Class

Catania

Please see earlier comments in Summary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had some problems finding the location - please see earlier comments

Palermo Street Food Tour

Palermo

Please see earlier comments in summary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palermo Private Walking Tour

Palermo

Please see previous comments in summary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We enjoyed our trip around the Golden Triangle so much! Thank you to our guides Jain, Nish, and Vijay, who packed a ton of experiences in, and kept us laughing. Highlights were serving meals at Gurudwara Sri Bangla Sahib in Delhi, sunrise at the Taj Mahal in Agra, and touring the Amber Fort in Jaipur. Can’t wait to come back to explore more of India.

Hotel Reviews

The Imperial New Delhi

Delhi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ITC Mughal

Agra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

LilyPool Hotel

The hotel is clean and the staff are very attentive, but there is a strong sewage smell from the area around the hotel that made it unpleasant to be in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Visit to Bangla Sahib Gurdudwara and Dilli Haat

Delhi

We had the opportunity to visit the temple and also see and participate in the massive volunteer-run operation serving thousands of meals each day. Amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a lovely time in Barcelona, I think given the requests, our trip plan was well curated and we had very good experiences. In terms of the accommodations, we had a slight issue each time we stayed at the Gran Havana with the rooms not being equitable for a family of five, but they were kind enough to move the furniture out of the way and bring a rollaway bed in each time for the fifth person to sleep on. Not having heated pools at either accommodation was also a bit of a disappointment when traveling with little kids. The driver and tour guides were all very great. I think we were a bit disappointed with the cancelation of the kayak trip because the weather turned out to be very nice on the morning that we were scheduled to go on that excursion. The mosaics class was really nice and we enjoyed the other tours as well.
Thank you Kim Kim and Helena for your help!

We took a chance with kimkim and couldn’t have made a better decision. If you are looking to show up to your destination worry free, with a personal concierge service that takes the stress out of traveling, I would recommend this service. Tailored to everything we were looking for, we experienced Portugal in a way that not only has us wanting more, but could certainly make kimkim a travel partner for life. We appreciated each of our guides, and in particular our driver Eduardo. He not only ensured we got to our destinations, but was a pleasure to be around. Our guide in Lisbon, Margarida, was a delightful and dedicated ambassador for her country, as well as incredibly knowledgeable. In Porto, Andre took us on a historic journey through the city, and was also a passionate and articulate young man who enjoys sharing Portugal with others. Ultimately, it was an incredible experience, and would certainly consider using kimkim for the next excursion.

Activity Reviews

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

If you are looking to immerse yourself in a unique cultural experience, you must see a Fado performance. We could not help but stay to the end watching three different, but extremely talented singers accompanied by two incredible musicians. You don’t have to speak the language to interpret the passion and historical importance that this art brings to Portuguese culture. A must see!

Quality of Experience

The talent, the environment and the friendly staff.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

To Eat Suggestion: Cervejaria Trindade

Lisbon

Bustle inside a large, lively and former monastery that has been transformed into a beautiful restaurant. Excellent if you love seafood, perfect for large groups, and service was great!

Quality of Experience

Lisbon Walking Tour + Delicious Portuguese Flavours

Lisbon

Enjoyed learning a lot about the history of Lisbon from an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide. Margarida was professional, engaging and a lovely person who is an ambassador for her country. We also enjoyed the wine tasting that was complimented by some of the beautiful olive oils that are produced in Portugal. Ended up purchasing more oil than wine- would highly recommend this tour!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was a most perfect trip to Bali. We visited Ubud, Munduk, Nusa Lembongan and Jumberan and KimKim was a huge help. Thanks to Marc who was patient with our every request and gave us enough information to make good choices. You will see much more detail in the reviews of Kim and Wendi who were our master Bali planners. Their reviews speak more specifically to the success of the trip they planned with Marc's guidance.
We would recommend using KimKim to any traveler.

Tina was so patient and thorough while planning our trip. From the moment we arrived our vacation was flawless. Our local guide Vichit was knowledgeable, kind, energetic and made sure we experienced all the wonderful things Bangkok and Thailand have to offer. Our private transfers were always on time and went above and beyond to provide water and even a cool refreshing towel after at hot day of touring.
The excursions Tina planned were better than we could have hoped. From hiking in Erawan National Park to an amazing day at the Elephant Sanctuary, it was exceptional. We are extremely grateful for the lovely anniversary surprise during our romantic dinner at sunset on the river Kwai❤️. We will remember fondly the wonderful friends we met, the experiences we had and the memories made that will last a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

InterContinental Koh Samui

Ko Samui

Heaven on earth!

Authenticity & Character

Location

From the sunrise to sunset it is beautiful!

Staff

Kind, knowledgeable, attentive and simply joyful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

U Inchantree Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi

The entire team at this hotel are amazing. You feel as if you have been welcomed home after a long absence. The food is amazing and the location is beautiful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silom Serene Hotel

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Samui

Thailand

Amazing care is given to these amazing gentle giants. You can feel the devotion the team has to caring for the Elephants and protecting them.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A day trip to Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi via Mae Klong market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Thailand

Wonderful local market so lively.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Food Tasting in Chinatown!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Bangkok by local transfers and walking tour

Bangkok

Vichit was so knowledgeable. The days simply went to fast. Fun, energetic and kind are the best words to describe Vichit . We were blessed to spend two days with him learning about beautiful Thailand.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our tour guide John and the coach driver were awesome. we had a wonderful experience .

Hotel Review

Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District

Calgary

The ambiance was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Huge and spacious rooms.

Location

It’s close to downtown , walking distance to the places we want to explore.

Staff

Accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It has all the comforts of home away from home.

Activity Reviews

Tour guide

Calgary Int. Aiport ( YYC)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore around Banff

British Columbia

Banff is so beautiful. The lake ar pristine. we visited when there was not a lot of tourists.It’s like having the place to ourselves. we had a great trip .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience.

From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally.

Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional.

On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture.

He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary.
It was like individual travel while having a local expert.

We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Hotel Reviews

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Authenticity & Character

It feels like you are set back in time being in an old Fort/Kasbah, but with all the modern amenities

Location

The Kashbah is located in a small village in front of a massive mountain front. The views are beautiful, especially during sunset and sunrise!

Staff

Everyone was very nice and attentive to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Authenticity & Character

The decorations, plants and mosaics in the hotel were incredible. Every room is different. It feels like being in a palace.

Location

It's a 10 min walk away from the entrance to the Medina, so easily accessible if you want to explore the Medina on your own.

Staff

Everyone was very nice and attentive to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Authenticity & Character

Stylish and beautifully decorated.

Location

The hotel is in the Medina, great overlook from the terrace over the hills and the city

Staff

Everyone was very nice and attentive to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Authenticity & Character

Small, only 6 tents, beautifully decorated

Location

Secluded, quiet and away from the other camps in the desert

Staff

Everyone was very nice and attentive to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was amazing, super cozy and comfy.

Riad Le Pèlerin

Marrakech

Very nicely decorated, beautiful, calm and quiet Riad in the Medina. Fairly newly renovated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Attentive and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Family pottery and mosaic workshop

Morocco

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Quality of Experience

It was fun to be able to learn some of the techniques that the artists are so skillfully doing in their beautiful mosaic and pottery work.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide showed us around the whole place and explained the different steps to creating one of their mosaic or clay pieces.

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Quality of Experience

We had a lovely time with a Moroccan family and shared many personal stories.

Food

The home cooked meal was delicious.

Guided Exploration of the "Blue City" Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer From Merzouga to Fez

Morocco

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Quality of Experience

Food

Delicious Tagine dishes are to be found everywhere.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver built in lots of stops for us to take photos, have lunch, use the restroom, or a coffee stop.

Hammam & Spa Experience Marrakech

Morocco

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Quality of Experience

A great new experience, very relaxing and refreshing for the body.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Transfer from Ait Benhaddou to Merzouga desert via Dades and Todra gorges

Morocco

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Quality of Experience

I loved our sunset camel ride through the desert, probably the highlight of our trip! It was beautiful, serene, and very relaxing

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide made sure that we were comfortable on the camels.

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

My husband and I were on a 10 day round trip through Morocco. It was an incredible experience. From the very start, when we were planning our trip, communicating with Original Travels and deciding on the hotels and activities, everything was handled very professionally. Once we were in the country, everything was very smooth and professional. All our activities, city guides, and visits were ready when we arrived. Each hotel was a local highlight and very well chosen by them. The service and comfort the hotels provided were exceptional. On top of that, our driver, Soufiane, was a gem. His gentle and calm demeanor, and his many connections in various places (hotels, restaurants, parking lots, local sellers, etc), as well as local knowledge while driving through the country, was invaluable. We would have never had that insight into the country and people, and the whole trip was very easy because of his support and knowledge of the culture. He was also very flexible and stopped anytime we wanted to or saw something that was not in our official itinerary. It was like individual travel while having a local expert. We highly recommend KimKim and Original Travels for your personalized, individual trip to Morocco!

Quality of Experience

Food

The quality of the food is amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hannah was an amazing guide with a wealth of information about Marrakesh and its history

Transport

Unforgettable, amazing, educational and a whole lot of fun. We were a group of 3 couples celebrating 2 of ours 60th birthdays. Tariq was a last minute change to be our driver and we definitely lucked out. Tariq was so accommodating to any changes we requested and always funny and caring. A few language issues but with google translate all usually worked out. He will have to learn to use his microphone more especially dealing with a bus load of half deaf clients :).
We wanted to see it all and Said from Original Travel did an amazing job planning the perfect trip for us . First they changed our 7 passenger van to a 14 seater minibus and with us having a 6'4" (190cm) man in our group was a god send.
Casablanca is a typical large, busy metropolis and this is when we found out that traffic can be crazy and we had the best and safest driver in Tariq. The Hassan II Mosque is worth the tour but wish we had a smaller group tour. Soffitel Casablanca Tour Blanche was a good hotel with amazing food. This was the first of many Tagines and Harira soup and were incredible. Service was great that first night. not so much our last night before flying home but they did have a large group in the restaurant. Best breakfast buffet of the whole trip.
Rabat was so beautiful, clean and both its and Asilah's medina were easy to navigate with beautiful art work in Asilah. Sadly our hotel we originally booked got cancelled last minute and the substitute hotel was very disappointing.
Tangier was an unexpected wonderful mix of old and new. Our Riad Mokhtar Tanger was perfect and our guide Khalid did a great job on our tour. Loved the local market with everything so clean and organized yet still traditional. Lunch just down the street at Hermodi was one of our top favourites and Abdul our waiter made everything perfect and fun.
Chefchaouen is amazing and a great workout doing all the hills. What our guide (Abdul Couscous) lacked in english he made up for in entertaining. The Lina Ryad and Spa was really cute but it would have been nice to know no alcohol was available. (with all respect to the Muslim beliefs)
The Ruins of Volubilis were very informative of the roman occupation and our guide Karim Maximus knew his stuff but maybe talked a little fast to explain it. Never got to Mendes because of a lot of construction but happened on a wonderful restaurant just outside of the ruins called Roman City Restaurant and Cafe with a wonderful waitress with amazing english that explained more than just the menu to us. Did a very interesting back alley trek in Idriss that took us to an amazing panoramic view of the area.
Fes was another great Riad Palais Amani but very expensive at the restaurant and bar. Sharif was our guide and we wish we could have had him for the entire trip. He was so knowledgeable about everything and his english was remarkable. Also very patient when we were doing all our shopping in the very crazy medina. Glad he was with us through out the old medina. The meal in the medina with a local family was perfect. How kind of them to open their doors to strangers and make us feel so welcome. They had extra family staying with them because of the earthquake but still all made us feel welcome.
The trip to Merzouga is definitely a long trek but worth it in the end. The camel ride at sunset was surreal. The treatment by the staff at Tiziri Luxury camp especially Moustaf and Youseff made the holiday. The knowledge and pride in their Amazigh (Imazighen/Berber) heritage was soul touching. Never got the name of the chef but again some of the best food we ate. Only wine was served at the camp.
We weren't really prepared for the long trek to Ait Benhaddou but the Riad Ksar Ighnda was spectacular for the short time we were there. Our guide for the actual site was not very informative. Tariq actually did the tour with us and answered most questions.
The drive to Marrakesh via Tizi n 'Tichka Pass and High Atlas mountains was amazing . The topography through this area is ever changing and breath taking.
Our riad in Marrakesh was by all accounts the best accommadation of the entire trip. La Maison Arabe Hotel is by far the best service, breakfast and dinners. Every room, hallway and courtyard was spectacular. Hanan did both our gastronomic tour and medina tour and was wonderful. It was great to get a women's point of view of life in Marrakesh and her knowledge of the area, food, english and every day life was impressive. You have to try the deep fried donuts, Tanjia and snails. We couldn't do our hike to Amizmiz Valley because of the earthquake but we did go to the valley next to it. We really got to see the damage that was done to so many homes and felt for those poor souls. Our hiking guide Mohamad was great and being from the valley we really got to know the reality of the earthquake for all the local people.
The trip to Essaouira was again full of ever changing landscapes. It was great to be on the coast and see the different style of life. We were kind of medina and souk over loaded but Mohamed did a good job in showing off his city. Hotel was a little commercial but in a great area.
Overall this was an amazing adventure. The people we encountered made this trip along with the donkeys, camels and food. Thank you Said and Tariq and all the staff of Original Travel for doing such a great job and to KimKim for setting this all in motion.
Footnote: Food is amazing but be aware that it is different than what we are use to and the bathrooms are not what we have in North America. Bring tissue, small change and Immodium. Also note that most restaurants work in cash only and we found it difficult to get cash out of most ATM's. Bank of Africa worked in Casablanca but the European ones worked better elsewhere.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa MGallery

Essaouira

Nice but having just stayed in the perfect Riad was a little commercial

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

So Beautiful. Excellent service. Weird scent in our room but everything else was so perfect that we didn't even mention it to the management

Authenticity & Character

Over the top beautiful

Location

Could walk to lots of areas and felt safe

Staff

Breakfast staff were excellent. Our waiter Thursday Nov 2 was busy so service wasn't the best but the next night we had a different gentleman and he was very good and very funny

Cleanliness & Comfort

Odd smell in room but otherwise perfect

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Beautiful hotel but sadly only there for about 12 hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very poor service in the restaurant

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Accommodations were average but the staff were amazing as was the food. Breakfast was never at a specific time which is fine but coffee first thing in the morning is a must:)

Authenticity & Character

Location

You are in Erg Chebbi in the Sahara . What else do you have to say?

Staff

Moustafa and Yousef were the best. Never got the chefs name but food was incredible. If beer would have been available it would be even better

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tent needed a very good cleaning especially around the bathroom. Many unidentifiable things on the wall

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Amani

Fès

beautiful riad but a little noisy and very strong deodorizer used. very expensive restaurant and bar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Mokhtar Tanger

Tangier

beautiful rooms and excellent location

Authenticity & Character

beautiful and serene

Location

so close to everything but still able to get a vehicle close

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Al Khaima

Asilah

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche

Casablanca

Great location, nice rooms, great restaurant. Service was perfect the first night we were there but lack lustre on our way home

Authenticity & Character

Location

centrally located

Staff

Our waitress the night of October 23 was perfect. She was very attentive and helped us translate the menu. On our last night November 5 the young men did not have very much English so everything became more difficult. There was also a big group coming in with their own private buffet so the menu was limited. We had one of the best Tagines on our first night and were looking forward to having them again but they were not on the menu our last night:(

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

Was so fun to go behind the doors of the medinas and see how the locals live. Very welcoming family and was able to talk to family that was temporarily staying in Fez because of the earthquake and their experiences. They had a family friend come and do Henna tattoos for us ladies

Quality of Experience

Food

That they shared with us when they had so many extra people to feed was very much appreciated

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Family was so open and inviting

Transport

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes: Morocco's Spiritual Heart

Fes

So many new and not always good smells and experiences but a must do

Quality of Experience

Saw many talented craftsmen

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Shariff was so knowledgeable and easy to understand as well as very patient when we were buying crafts

Transport

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Interesting to see the influence the romans had in the area. Didn't get to Meknes and wish we would have but had a very interesting back street adventure up to a panoramic view of Idriss

Quality of Experience

Food

Found an excellent restaurant just outside of the ruins Roman City Cafe-Restaurant. Excellent food and service by a wonderful young girl whose English was perfect and was great explaining lots to us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Karim knew his stuff but spoke so fast we couldn't understand all he said

Transport

Guided Exploration of the "Blue City" Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Beautiful city. Well worth the trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Abdul Couscous was a very funny guy but his English was limited so hard to understand what he was all saying

Transport

Guided Tour of Tangier

Morocco

Khalid was a great guide. Easy to understand and very informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Exploration of Assilah

Asilah

Beautiful Medina with amazing art work and a great sunset view. Was nice but really didn't know what we were suppose to look for

Quality of Experience

We got into town late so didn't have much time to wander. Hotel got cancelled on short notice and the replacement hotel was not of the same quality as others. Im sure jet lagged helped lower the whole experience

Food

Very limited breakfast and dark gloomy dining area

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff at hotel were very little help but may have been a language barrier

Transport

Tariq was great driving us to the Medina and helping us be there in time for sunset

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

never heard the guides name but was very informative and proud

Transport

Tariq was a great driver in the crazy traffic

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-Guide

Morocco

It was raining so didn't really have a chance to go out and explore much

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Just getting to know Tariq but had full confidence in his driving

Transport

The bigger van was perfect. Thank you so much

We had a last minute trip to Spain and we didn’t have enough time to research and plan everything so I reached out to Kim Kim. Adam was very helpful in helping plan our trip and activities based on conversations we had and what our interest were. The team including Jessica and Yuri helped book and answer questions I had through the trip Going with KimKim was very helpful so I didn’t have the stress of planning and booking but still getting the chance to do all the things we wanted. Definitely recommend them to anyone planning a trip.

I originally planned my Argentina trip for last year, when a Google search recommended Buenos Aires for a November vacation. Another Google search directed me to kimkim as I frankly didn’t know much where to go in Argentina. The trip was planned and then…life got in the way. My kimkim advisor at the time worked with kimkim, pushing out my final payment a week or so, until I had to finally make the decision to postpone the trip. I was pleased with how easily this was done.

Fast forward several months later – I reached back out and was connected with Matias. I made some tweaks to the original itinerary, finally settling on Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls and the Salta area. I’m so happy I went with Matias’ suggestions – he fit so much into a very short time frame. I was travelling alone and requested a mix of private and group tours to help bring down the cost when available. Matias was usually quick to respond to my comments – even when I said it was no rush! In fact, Matias even let me know he would be traveling himself a few weeks before my own trip in case I had to reach him. I have no complaints about anything – I was met at each airport, my guides and drivers were all fantastic (special shout out to my Salta guide, who had to put up with me for several days :-)) They even took care of some of my dinner and tango show reservations. It was truly a worry free vacation! I’m not sure if the app is something all kimkim vendors use or it was just Matias’ group, but it was very helpful and I referred to it often. The app was also where all flight information was posted.

I will plan on using kimkim again for future trips around the world and highly recommend working with Matias when traveling around Argentina – you won’t be disappointed!

What a wonderful lifetime axperience with our group Canadian rockies. John our guide was friendly, exprienced and knowledgeable. The places we went are exactly the one in my bucket list. The trip was well planned with few changes but amazing alternates. Thanks to you Carl.

I just wrapped up a 10 day Colombia trip on my own (since my wife couldn't break away and also I wanted to practice my Spanish). It was a last minute trip where I selected the places, flights, and accommodations on my own. But then I ran out of time for detailed itinerary. More importantly, I was looking to get very knowledgable local guides, especially speaking with me in Spanish throughout. KimKim came up as one of the very few options that I could opt for (I travel a lot and usually do all of the planning on my own). At first glance, it looked like KimKim might provide what I was looking for, but I wasn't sure.
Margarita, the tour coordinator, reached out to me after seeing my request - it was made at the eleventh hour. The conversation with her and the approach encouraged me give it a try (was still hard to give up control..lol). I asked for one day in Popayan (I was doing Cali already by then), 2 days in Medellin, 2 days in Cartagena, and 2 days in Bogota. Margarita came back with an itinerary very promptly to optimize the time and included all the transfers.
The value I started to see was when I met with the local guides who spent times with me at each place.
David Duque, a grad college student, was my guide at Popayán. He is studying tourism, so this is right up his alley. Beyond his knowledge and professionalism, I liked how David blended in the context and details behind each thing without making it overwhelming. He was a great ambassador for that historic city.
Next up at Medellin, my guide was Daniel (Dani) Aterhortua. If you go to Medellin, just grab him! We toured the whole city in a long but extremely rewarding day. From the viewpoints looking over the city to city center and the parks to great cafes, it was amazing, But what blew me away was the visit to Comuna 13 (including the lunch there that is run by a number of Afro-Colombian ladies with an amazing view). This neighborhood transformed itself from a dangerous no-go zone about 13-14 years ago to a present day arts, music, entrepreneurship, and sustainable local business api-center. The magnetism of this place was off the chart. If you go to Colombia and can do only one thing, go to Comuna 13. It will change you.
Dani's intricate detailed knowledge, general awareness, and his passion and pride for Medellin were incredible throughout. The next day we went to visit the coffee farm (no pesticide, organic, natural, 'agroecologico') outside of Medellin. Alejandro, who is suffering from Parkinson's, spent all the time showing me around. He explained different processes, quizzed me about all coffee related stuff, and passionately demonstrated how the coffee plants go from a few days to months to produce the coffee. His passion and insatiable desire to do good in this world, despite of flailing health conditions, inspired me a lot. I also felt that after this trip Dani and I became friends.
At Cartagena, when I met Aura as my guide, little did I know that she gave up a successful career of being an economist to be travel advisor and guide. And Aura is someone who knows almost everyone at Cartagena - she greets them on the street, has some small talks, and seems to move effortlessly through all things. We did a fantastic walking tour of the city at night after the rain and I think that made it even more interesting. We grabbed some local bites and drinks at different spots while meandering through both popular and up and coming areas, such as in Getsemani.
The next day at La Boquella was probably the most surprising part of the itinerary - in a very good way. We spent the day canoeing through mangroves and extremely serene climate that was awesome to see great wildlives. We used fishing nets to catch fish, including trying (and failing) multiple times. We used 'trampas' or traps with fish bets to catch crabs (huge success). We got wet a little with the rain (which is pretty common in this part almost major part of the year). And we had an awesome seafood-fish lunch on the beach looking at the waves. I even got to catch local boys playing soccer on the beach with the fishermen pulling in big catches at the end of their day. Anyone can take you on a day's agenda with the checklist of items to do and see - but if you want to get shaken up a bit to nudge you out of your comfort zone just a little so that you can appreciate the nature and authenticity at its best, this is a must-do! With Aura's help I got to enjoy some amazing food and even emerald-shopping (Colombia is world's largest producer of emeralds) for my wife (I need to return home, so needed some good bribes). She has been extremely caring, loving, affectionate, and truly professional extraordinaire of her crafts.
Reaching at Bogota the following day, I had a little bit of free time. Apart from a really good dinner, that evening was a little downer given the rain and I wasn't sure where to go (it felt less secured, at least to me, compared with Cartagena and Medellin). But it was only my first night there. Next day, my guide there, Andrea spent the whole day with me touring all the key sights. We started with the local market which is truly colorful and full of life. We jumped on to a funicular to go up Cerro Montserrate to get a gorgeous view of the city. The lunch at cafe Origen is a destination by itself. We stopped by countless cafes (you can't miss Azahar cafe and Casa Galeria) and checked out La Septima and Candeleria area with all of the major spots nearby. We did a quick trip to museum of the gold (world's largest of this kind). Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo was one of my favorites for people watching and soaking in local arts and graffiti.
The next day we departed for Zipaquira to see the Catedral del Sal. Inside the old mines, 660 ft under ground, tunnels were built to create this one of a kind and a jewel of Colombian architecture in the form of cathedral that I can promise you won't find anywhere else. It is not to be missed. Afterwards, we went to lunch at Andres de Res - both a destination and Colombia's most famous restaurant. An incredible setup that's unique, weird, entertaining, and deliciousness - all blended in together. This was a perfect end to my trip to Colombia before I was heading to the airport to go to Paraguay.
I would be remiss if I don't mention the drivers of all of the transports who were nothing short of amazing. In many case, they doubled up as additional guide.
Finally, a Big THANK YOU to Margarita for coming up with the itinerary so promptly, for helping me with some of the dinner reservations, for making a few quick changes, for the messages with WhatsApp both checking in at the end of the day and communicating a quick view of the agenda, and for the thoughtfulness overall.
For a country like Colombia, that has culture, nature, art, food, and activities galore to offer - local guides and their knowledge can make all the difference. Come to Colombia to get a doze of the excitement that's exactly the opposite of being predictable.

Vietnam was our third trip with Kimkim and all three of them were a success. At planning stage it is very useful that there are already many sample trip plans available, so final plan can be reached fairly quickly. In our case already first proposal from Mr. Minh was very good, so later we did very little tuning till our final trip plan.
From organisational point of view trip execution was flowless! All events were prompt, guides knowledgeable and drivers professional. During whole trip we had regular WhatsApp communication with local team, so we always had a feeling that we are in good hands.