Kimkim Trip Reviews

Morocco has always been on top of our Must-Visit places list and hoped the experience measure up to our dream vacation expectations. Abde and his amazing team made this all possible and more. From planning the trip, Abde was with me throughout the process. He was responsive to all my queries on a timely manner. He made the planning stage exciting with his knowledge and caring customer service.
Soukaina, our driver-guide was perfection. She made us feel welcomed, shared so much about Morocco, her pride and joy about her country and its people. She is an incredibly good driver, our comfort was her priority. She introduced us to authentic Moroccan food, Moroccan music and to people we met along the way.

Our highlights were the dinner with a local family in Fes where we ate delicious food, swapped stories and even some dancing. The Sahara desert camel rides, visit with a nomad family and 2 nights at a Berber camp where we were welcomed like family, entertained with their music and danced under the wondrous star filled Sahara sky. The drive up to the Atlas mountains that made us hold our breath with awe experiencing the ever changing landscape. So many sights to behold! And the adventures in Marrakech, the dizzying adventures in the medina and being guided to learn more about Moroccan food during our food tour.

What an impressive immersion into Moroccan culture in 10 days made possible by Abdeh and his lovely team. We are very grateful for this once in a lifetime adventure!

We had the trip of a lifetime in Iceland with Rinolda’s amazing planning. Our hotels were conveniently located along our ring road tour. The various tour companies we got to do excursions with (Hesta Sport for horse back riding and North Sailing for Whale Watching ) were phenomenal, we felt very prepared and relaxed on both tours. When a blizzard hit the north/east region of the country, KimKim was able to alter our trip to keep us safe but still enjoy the best of our time in Iceland. We will absolutely be traveling with KimKim again, as well as recommending them to our family and friends for their travel needs.

Hotel Reviews

Fosshotel Baron

Reykjavík

The first room we were put in was very small, had a very low/slanted ceiling and a shower so tiny we wouldn’t have fit. After nicely asking to be moved, the next room was better; felt more like a hotel room rather than a guest room in an attic. The onsite parking was outrageously expensive (would have been about $55/per day. Thankfully we were able to park in a garage down the block for a more affordable rate. Still not our favorite stay of our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Berjaya Hotel Mývatn

Mývatn

Amazing customer service, great amenities, wonderful restaurant on site.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to many interesting sites and towns

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Husavik Whale Watching

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horse riding experience

Varmahlid

This was my favorite part of the trip! Iv always loved horses; and after learning more about Iceland and their special breed I knew we had to add it to our itinerary. Soooo glad we did. Getting to experience the Tolt was very special. Our guide was amazing, I felt very safe and she took lovely photos of us.

Quality of Experience

Lo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

Was hesitant to go to the blue lagoon after reading mixed reviews from other travelers. But I think doing it so early in the morning after our flight was why made it so wonderful. Or was far from crowded and very rejuvenating after a sleepless night on the plane.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The planning and the sites we saw were incredible. There were a few snafus during the trip. However, I was satisfied with KimKim's responce upon our return to take care of those snafus. I would reccomend this trip to anyone.
John B.

Minh was super helpful and everyone at Footprint Travel (which is the local company KimKim used). Our tour operator Thuy was very attentive and made sure that we were well taken care of including car pick up, hotel, breakfast and general questions. I love how I could completely customize the tour I wanted, and Minh made some recommendations about certain areas which was good to take note of. They were extremely flexible and considerate. The tour fit within our budget and was chosen appropriately but the food on the Halong bay cruise from Swan Cruises could be better. I would have wanted the Hanoi street food tour to be a bit more adventurous foods rather than pho and banh mi but it was still very tasty, we went to more local spots on our own free time. Hoi An was unfortunately monsoon season so it poured rain everyday but our local guide was still super positive and even offered his better quality poncho for me to use instead of my broken one. Sapa trek was a lot of walking but we enjoyed the mountain terraces and the local food lunch. Fanispan was also a lot of stairs but very very cool gondola!! Fanispan is a bit tourist gimicky but once you get to the temple part it’s great. We did the overnight Sapa train and surprisingly it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but very basic. I was actually able to get some sleep, and Minh/Thuy made sure we were able to shower before and after the train. Ninh binh was amazing, I wish I had a bit more time there but you can only squeeze in so much in 11 days! We enjoyed our free time days in Hanoi and Hoi An to just explore on our own, and so glad that this was an option as part of KimKim. We would 100% return to Vietnam and definitely use KimKim again!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Silkotel Hoi An

Hoi An

Umbrella rentals food, food was good, staff were nice, good amenities!

Authenticity & Character

Great!

Location

Off to the side a but but still close walking to central area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Swan Cruise

The experience and room was fantastic but the food was too westernized, and everything was expensive in US dollars.

Authenticity & Character

Great room with a balcony!

Location

The bay views are amazing

Staff

Staff was very attentive and informative

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was great and everything was pretty clean. We heard our neighbours had a foul smell in there rooms in the lower floors.

Sapa Charm Hotel

Good but tub was a bit weird. Location was not as close to downtown Sapa but great views.

Authenticity & Character

Very nice and had some charm.

Location

Wish it was a bit closer to downtown but it was convenient to trek from.

Staff

Language skills could be improved.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable.

Anatole Hotel Hanoi

Best breakfast of all the hotels on the trip. The staff are super attentive and amazing and actually remembered our names. The steam room and shower and pool facilities were great to use even after we checked out that morning. Would definitely stay here again. Location was also great!!

Authenticity & Character

The rooms are modern and clean.

Location

Very walkable and close to many things.

Staff

Staff actually remembered our names!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable!

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Departure - Goodbye Vietnam!

Vietnam

We had a free day and just arranged for transport to airport only, loved having free time to pick up any last minute souvenirs!

Quality of Experience

Hoi An Free Day

Hoi An

Big fan of free days and exploring at your own pace, also gives a chance for rest when itinerary is jam packed!

Quality of Experience

Hoi An Fishing Village - Ancient Town Walking with Street Food Tasting

Hoi An

Jam packed day but it was great even despite the heavy torrential rains! Our guide kept positive and we had a great time fishing, biking, boating, cooking, and seeing the silk worms! To top it all off we had plenty of great food on the food tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ha Long Bay Morning Activities

Ha Long Bay

We enjoyed the cave and morning Tai Chi. Also transportation back home was very streamlined.

Quality of Experience

Food

The pho noodles were undercooked, but at least coffee, juice, and tea were included for breakfast.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cruise to Bai Tu Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

The views were breathtaking and we liked our room, just the food was a bit too westernized and the drinks were in USD and very expensive compared to the rest of our trip. We enjoyed the cave, the squid fishing, and the cooking class, and the kayaking to a secluded beach.

Quality of Experience

Food

Food was catered to more western tastes instead of being more authentic. Drinks were also the most expensive of the trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fansipan Peak - Cat Cat Village - Limousine bus back to Hanoi

Vietnam

We enjoyed our walk to CatCat although it was a bit rainy and the stones leading down to CatCat were very slippery so I couldn’t enjoy the view and was looking down the whole time at the ground. Once we arrived at CatCat it was beautiful blue sky and stopped raining. The village was beautiful and very picturesque. No Hmong locals followed us this time so it was better. I was very tired from the hike the previous day so we had to pay extra to get a taxi to drive us back up the 3km hill (uphill the whole way!) I wish they had the private driver pick us up from CatCat there but oh well. We had free time for lunch in Sapa then got driven to Fansipan. Fanispan and the temples itself is beautiful but the surrounding area is very touristy. I enjoyed the views from the gondola.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was kind of sick so he got me sick from the long drive back to the train station.

Transport

Wanted a pick up from CatCat back uphill.

Lao Cai - Sapa - Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Sapa

Sapa

Lots of walking! But amazing views of the rice terraces. It was muddy so we got very dirty! Lunch was very tasty! The Hmong people following you down the entire 8km trek is annoying but they actually helped us from falling and slipping so I guess it was okay. Makes you feel pressured to buy things. Make sure you have good hiking shoes with grip!!

Quality of Experience

Walk was a bit difficult due to the mud and my husband did not have grip on his shoes so he slipped several times. It was an amazing trek though!

Food

Very tasty!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide is a local Hmong but she’s friends with all the locals which makes it awkward when they ask you to buy things. She was lovely though.

Transport

Hanoi - Ninh Binh: Tam Coc - Mua Cave

Hanoi

Views and experience was amazing but the food at the restaurant was not good.

Quality of Experience

Lunch food could be better

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great!

Transport

Driver fell asleep a few times and did not pick up phone calls but we were able to find him due to my luggage AirTag :p

Hanoi and walking street food tour

Hanoi

The food line up for this tour is good for people who prefer western food but we like the food a bit more local. We wanted a bit more adventurous food options.

Quality of Experience

A bit too basic for us.

Food

Chicken pho was not as flavorful at the booth they chose. Other foods were tasty, but except the Che I would have been able to access all these foods myself.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was great! He walked a bit too fast though.

Transport

Drivers are great

Dear Maria
I can honestly say that Italy is an amazing place to visit. The three guided tours, the first in Sorrento and the second and third in Rome, were so interesting and I can't say enough about the guides you assigned to us. Our 8-hr Amalfi Coast/Positano tour was so beautiful and our guide explained everything to us and helped us understand the history of this awesome countryside. Not to mention he entertained us with his singing and his colorful personality.

In Rome, our experience with Laura who explained the history of the ancient Colosseum in such a passionate way was amazing. She related facts to us that amazed us and we came away from the Colosseum with a better understanding of life back then. All this despite the fact that she was feeling poorly and we hope she has recovered.

And of course our tour with Tiziana (not sure of the spelling) of the Vatican and St. Peters was truly magical and inspirational. Her knowledge of the history and her manner of imparting all this amazing history was so appreciated.
All in all, this trip created memories that will be with us for a long time to come.

Our only issue was that I wished you would have suggested flying one way to Naples to see the Amalfi coast and Positano and then go to Rome and leave to come home from Rome. While it would have involved two one-way flights, it would have been less tiresome, especially the first leg of the trip when we arrived in Rome and were then brought to the train station (which was very crowded and confusing), and then the so-called "high speed" ride to Sorrento which was one hour late in leaving and was anything but high speed.

I am sure Lori and Lisa will agree that we created memories that will last a lifetime. Perhaps our next trip will include more of Italy. I want to thank you for your suggestions and for helping make our trip so beautiful.

The tour we requested from Chris was based around 'Following the steps of St Paul in Greece', plus wanting to see some additional scenic parts of Greece. Therefore, our two week trip took us to Thessaloniki, Philippi, Zagori, Meteora, Delphi, Athens, and Zakynthos. The guides we had for Thessaloniki/Philippi, Meteora, Delphi, Athens/Corinth were all extremely knowledgeable about the ancient ruins, Greek history, Greek mythology, and Apostle Paul, etc. However, we had requested not to visit a lot of museums and explained that neither of us were history buffs, so were overwhelmed by the number of museums we visited and quantity of Greek history and mythology that we were given.

Our private driver, Andreas, was fun to be around and very accommodating as we traveled from place to place on the mainland.

My favorite places were Zagori, Meteora, and blue caves of Zakynthos because of the beauty of the scenery. My favorite lodging was the Pirrion Boutique Hotel in Zagori because the hostess was so welcoming and helpful.

I was disappointed in the arrangements made in Zakynthos. To enjoy the island, we really needed access to a car, or provided information for booking transportation from the town of Zakynthos. Our one tour provided transportation to/from the boat launch to the Blue Caves, but that was only a half day of the two full days on the island.

I did enjoy meeting Chris while in Athens.

Hotel Review

Pirrion Boutique Hotel

Ano Pedina, Zagorochoria, Ioannina

We thoroughly enjoyed this 10-room hotel that was family friendly, and very welcoming! The hostess was willing to answer our questions about their village, other Zagori villages, and what we didn't want to miss in the surrounding area. The views from the hotel were breathtaking and there were multiple levels of seating outside to enjoy the scenery. Breakfast was included at the hotel as part of our tour, and dinner was available if you did not want to go into the small village. We enjoyed the food served for both breakfast and dinner. There was a bar available on-site for wine, beer, and cocktails within the bar area or dining room. NOTE: This hotel is not for those who are mobility challenged. Parking is limited, and down the hill from the hotel entrance. There are several steps to get to the entrance, and to get to the rooms inside the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is in the mountains with beautiful scenery, close to the Zagori villages, Vikos Gorge, and stone bridges.

Staff

The hostess took care of our check in/out process, answered questions about the area, helped keep the breakfast buffet filled, and waited on us at dinner. She was very friendly and did everything she could to make our stay pleasant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The lobby, restaurant, bar, and guest rooms were all clean, comfortable, and well stocked.

Activity Reviews

Athens Highlights

Athens

I had visited Athens before and been to the Acropolis and Parthenon, but our guide provided much more historical information than I received previously. I enjoyed wandering around the ruins and marveling at what is still standing, but the paths getting up to and on top of the rock were uneven and dangerous in places. The second amphitheater was being set up for a concert, and it is amazing that it can still be used for performances. We visited the New Acropolis Museum, a world renown museum, but it was still not of interest to me. Again our guide took us to the view specific parts of the museum vs letting us wander around some to see exhibits that might have peaked our interest. We were supposed to see the historic Agora, but it happened to be closed that day, so we went there after being in Corinth the next day. We then walked around the current market place with many restaurants and bars, souvenir stands, etc. The second half of the day we were driven on a panoramic city tour to see the sights of Athens, stopping for photo opportunities at Olympic Stadium, changing of the guard at the Presidential Palace, etc.

Ancient Corinth Guided Excursion

Athens

Our guide was very knowledgeable about Ancient Corinth, and I enjoyed seeing these specific ruins and hearing how they related to the Apostle Paul. The tour included another museum that was not of interest to me. I was under the impression that we would get to see the Apostolos Pavlos Church right outside the ruins and asked the guide about that prior to going into the museum. I was assured that that was the last part of the tour, but we drove right past it on the way out of Ancient Corinth. I was very disappointed!

Shipwreck and Blue Caves Skinari

Zakynthos

While I was not impressed with the shipwreck, I loved the boat ride and the caves. The varying rock formations along the way, clear blue water, and the boat going into the caves were the highlights for me. While I knew we would have the opportunity to swim, I did not realize there would be no bathroom on the boat to finish getting ready to swim, so I missed out on that part of the experience.

Delphi Guided Tour

Greece

We initially visited a museum and then the ruins of Delphi. I do not enjoy museums, especially when I am taken from exhibit to exhibit that the guide wants us to see, rather than being able to wander and view/read information on what might interest me. It was pouring down rain when we got to the ruins, so we asked to cut our tour short.

Meteora Half-Day Sightseeing Tour

Greece

The rock formations were truly breathtaking! When we arrived in the area, we drove around and took pictures because the weather forecast for the day of our tour was for rain. When we started our tour the next day, the fog was thick enough to not see the rock formations nor monasteries on the top or sides of the formations. As the day progressed, the fog cleared and we were able to enjoy the scenery we came to see. The history of the monasteries was very interesting, but we needed to climb a lot of steps to get up to them. Some friends had told us about visiting the monasteries, and they were able to see more parts of the buildings than our tour included, which was disappointing to us. They were still worth seeing though!

Philippi & Amphipoli Guided tour

Greece

I enjoyed seeing the ruins of the ancient city of Philippi and hearing about the Apostle Paul's time in that area. The guide was very informative.

Quality of Experience

The information provided by our guide and seeing where the Apostle Paul was imprisoned made the Bible stories more real.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The volume of information shared about the area was extensive.

Transport

The vehicle was comfortable, easy to get in/out. There were snacks and water available for us during the tour.

Full day tour in Thessaloniki

Greece

The guide was very knowledgeable about the city and its history. We saw parts of the modern city and ruins within our tour. There was more walking than I expected and was comfortable doing. My favorite parts were the markets, and the historic area and open spaces down by the sea.

Quick response time from local guides; very comprehensive guidebook with helpful pictures and explanations. We wanted to make some changes in the middle of our trip and Dean was able to accommodate our request. I’m glad we used Kimkim for our first trip to Ireland as the number of locations to visit and places to stay can be overwhelming. Though the tendency when visiting a place for the first time is to try to see everything, this is a big mistake in Ireland. Even driving an hour can feel like an eternity when the roads twist and turn in every direction, which they DO. Better to choose just one or two locations and explore from there. We loved Kilkenny and Dingle the best. Both were really walkable, friendly, and charming. We found that you get a much better sense of the real Ireland in the smaller cities, so don't waste your time with Dublin.

Our trip to Morocco’s was well planned by Ali and included 9 nights. The communication with Ali during the planning stage was excellent and trip was modified according to our needs. The chosen accommodations in each city were unique and amazing . The assigned driver Lahcen was friendly, courteous and provided excellent service during our entire trip.
While in Morocco our trip was coordinated by Said who promptly responded to our travel questions. I highly recommend Ali and his team.

In our fifty years of marriage, we have traveled to many places. However this trip to France planned through Kimkim and the AMAZING AMANDINE was the best one ever!!! She gathered our input and created a dream itinerary to enable us to explore that beautiful country to get an excellent overview for the next time we visit!. Each tour was interesting and different and every tour guide was knowledgeable in whatever area or activity we were exploring. Favorites were Chef Fred and our French cooking class in Paris including a visit to the market for our ingredients. Axelle took us on the best food tasting and walking tour in Lyon providing some of our favorite memories! And the Seine dinner cruise was a beautiful (and delicious!) way to spend our last night in France. Amandine arranged all transportation as well from airports to hotels to train stations etc. and each driver was friendly and courteous. She was immediately available when we couldn't find one driver right away and in no time we were in touch with him thanks to her. She listened to our input regarding the type of hotels we especially like and found the perfect ones that offered a variety of styles, great locations and excellent accommodations. Deepest thanks and gratitude to Amandine for the best 50th Anniversary trip we will forever cherish! She is truly a gem and it was a special treat to get to meet her and thank her in person!

Activity Reviews

Old Town Food Walk

Lyon

We loved meeting Axelle! She was so knowledgeable, friendly and fun. It was a treat trying the variety of offerings at each stop and learning so much history along the way. This was one of our most favorite memories of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Axelle was a wonderful tour guide! The stop at Shop de la Rue and samplings of the wine, meats, cheeses and bread in their underground stone area was a great experience! The shop owner's son and partner was funny and adorable!!!

Transport

Axelle met us in our hotel lobby and we walked through the streets of Lyon together.

French Cooking Class & Market Visit

Paris

Chef Fred was kind and friendly and it was great fun to chat while walking to the subway to ride to the market and then shopping for the ingredients once we decided on our chosen meal. Getting to cook in his Parisienne kitchen and learn delicious recipes was a fun experience and one of our favorite activities in Paris! Plus he promptly emailed them for us to try at home.

Quality of Experience

Learning to cook and then eat some delicious French food was a great experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chef Fred was exceptional and we would highly recommend this fun activity!

Transport

We walked and then rode the subway.

Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Paris

Great service and the food was delicious with a variety of items to choose. Otherwise was the perfect way to either or begin a trip to Paris. The sights along the Seine were beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vishal's incredible efforts made our trip to Bhutan a memorable experience. From the meticulous planning to the flawless organization, everything was executed with perfection. Once we arrived in Bhutan, every aspect of our journey exceeded our expectations.

The breathtaking landscapes, the rich cultural experiences, and the warm hospitality of the locals made our trip truly unforgettable.

We highly recommend Vishal and Himalayan Kingdom to anyone planning a trip to Bhutan. With Vishal's guidance, we were able to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Thanks to Tamer and the guides he recruited, I had an amazing trip that exceeded my expectations. Tamer really listened to what I wanted, and with very little back-and-forth put together an itinerary that was perfect for me. My guides, David and Sebastian, were very knowledgeable and taught me a lot about Ecuadorian culture, history, as well as flora and fauna. The Napo Wildlife Center is a gem, and was a fantastic experience as well.

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

The Ikala Quito Hotel was clean, comfortable, and met all my expectations. The service was good, and it had everything I needed, including a hot shower.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Napo Wildlife Center

Quito

Chilcabamba Lodge

Machachi

Activity Reviews

Visit Baños & Pailón del Diablo Waterfall

Baños

Baños was a blast. It was packed with Ecuadorian families celebrating a holiday, adding a festive atmosphere. We visited the waterfall and even crawled through a small opening to get a breathtaking view of the waterfall. Although we didn't visit the hot spring, I enjoyed the town's nightlife and overall festive energy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quilotoa Loop 1st day Quito - Sigchos - Chugchilán

Ecuador

The Quilotoa Loop hike was a memorable experience. It was unique and different. The two days of hiking were the right choice. It was fun and I enjoyed it a lot.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Napo River Canoeing Excursion

Yasuni National Park

This was a packed three-day itinerary at the Napo Wildlife Center. Despite the heat, we saw some amazing wildlife and had a great time. The guides were fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highland Adventure: Exploring Cotopaxi and Return to Quito

Ecuador

Going up to Cotopaxi and getting a clear view of the volcano was impressive. We went past the refuge and got closer to 5000 meters, which was exciting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Rucu Pichincha Volcano

Quito

This was a fun experience and one of the highlights of my trip. The hike was challenging but very rewarding with stunning views. I felt a sense of accomplishment after completing it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had independently booked a trekking trip in Slovenia, and were working on our Croatia itinerary when we were unexpectedly invited on a wilderness river trip on a permit cancellation. This meant no internet access, and no time to firm up plans so we could book our international flights. We contacted KimKim, and were connected to Antonia at Croatique. Despite an 8-hour time difference that had her working very early or late office hours, she pulled together a wonderful itinerary that reflected our requests and interests in a short period of time. Her additional recommendations were among our favorite activities of the trip, which went off without a hitch. She was responsive to a few requested in-country changes, and we felt that had anything gone sideways, it would be quickly addressed. We would recommend her services to anyone who does not want to execute their own travel logistics. Perhaps the highest compliment we can leave is that we hope to return, and we only rarely revisit a country!

We recently returned from our trip to Morocco, and while we cut our trip a bit short due to illness, I wanted to say that our trip organizer, Hakim was excellent. Right from the beginning, he provided great support in allaying any of our concerns and tailored the trip according to our wishes. The accommodation was all outstanding, particularly the Riad in Fez - where staff went out of their way to accommodate our extra needs. Our driver, Ali was excellent - again extremely kind and supportive. Kudos to all involved.

Our first trip to Sicilia - Taormina and Ortigia/Siracusa - was wonderful because of the planning from Arianna and the Storywalking team! Arianna listened to our feedback and planned a trip that balanced some guided tours and a lot of free time. She shared detailed suggestions on site seeing and places to visit in the free time, so we always had ideas on how to spend our time. We aren't really big on lots of tours, so she created an itinerary that incorporated a few planned activities including Mt. Etna/wine tasting, a boat excursion and a cooking class. The only one we didn't love was the cooking class, but in general we had a great time with the other tours and just wandering around the cities eating amazing food.

The access to the app and Barbara and Jessica once we were in Sicily was a game changer. They were extremely responsive, problem solved our minor issues very quickly (mostly about directions and meeting the guides). It was so helpful to know there was a person we could reach if needed. Luckily the upfront planning and information from Arianna was enough, but in the moments of immediate need Barbara and Jessica were right there to help.

I'd definitely recommend Storywalking and KimKim for trip planning! Grazie mille!

Kevin pulled together a perfect itinerary for our trip to Germany. He took time to get to know us and our travel preferences. We only had one week and he was able to put together a schedule that really appealed to us. The tours he arranged were with excellent guides who were passionate and knowledgeable. I want to give a special shout out to Ekkehard Werner who was our guide in Heidelburg. He spent more time with us than was scheduled, and gave some tips for the upcoming towns we were going to visit.

I am so glad I found this agency. I will not hesitate to reach out to them again when I am ready to plan my next European adventure!

We were accompanied on our southern Vietnam trip by our guide Johnny and our very calm driver who kept us on time and safe the entire trip.

When planning, I told Ashley we wanted an in depth insight in to the lives and culture of the mekong delta and we were also active. Our personalised trip included a couple of cycling tours, through the villages of the mekong, and some boat rides and some snorkelling and sea walking.

The people we met along the way were generous, warm and wonderful in every way. Our guide Johnny was extremely knowledgeable and experienced, and was very open and friendly to the locals who warmly invited and welcomed us into their homes, shared with us their stories and showed us how they lived.

We were blown away by the warm hospitality of the local people who were so poor, but so big hearted. We were moved to tears by some of the war stories, we were so in awe of their resourcefulness and ability to make use of every bit of what they had.
This tour was not just a tour, it was a journey into another world for us. Having Johnny there to tell us the stories, history and help us to communicate with the people, that brought this trip to a much more meaningful and personal level. We are so appreciative of the experts that helped us plan the perfect trip ...Ashley, who was always following up and communicating with us the whole way through and the experts who guided us all the way, Johnny and our dear driver whose name my very bad memory has allowed me to forget but appreciate.

I will highly recommend this experience and will definitely be back for you to help me plan our next adventure.

Wonderful trip, Vincenzo did a phenomenal job organizing and making sure that we were comfortable and got to explore what we wanted to.

The only issue we came across was trying to drive in Palermo. We didn't expect it to be as stressful as it was but we could have prepared better or looked into other options. Palermo is a beautiful city but we would not recommend trying to drive in it if you are not accustomed to driving in a city like that.

Wonderful trip overall, everywhere we went was beautiful.

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Zingaro Natural Reserve, Scopello and San Vito lo Capo

Palermo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting in Mount Etna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat tour of Isola Bella

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mount Etna Tour

Italy

Our tour guide was wonderful and the whole excursion was great

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall great experience with booking and payment via KimKim. Safe, fast and secure.
Sangita and the local agency team did a great job and were able to tailor a great trip that was suitable for our family of four.
Good communication, flexible to the last minute.
The trekking we thought was an absolute highlight - next time we would even like to go higher up the mountains and maybe an extra day, or start higher in the mountains to get closer to the amazing peaks. The tea houses were perfect, clean, simple but good food and a warm shower. Our guide Rabin was excellent! And Devi a star, he was our porter, but together with Rabin a super guiding team.
Bipin in Kathmandu was a very good and experienced guide as well - understood exactly how to read the group. We loved that he could pace where necessary and slowed down if needed. With the kids he knew exactly what teenagers like. Great local food and restaurants experienced, high quality and cool.
Sanit is a lovely man who loves to share his knowledge. Friendly. Maybe more suited for a group that wants to know to smallest details about each temple. But nothing was too much for him.
Pokhara we loved, maybe next time stay a little longer. Patan was amazing!also the stay there at traditional stay was lovely. Truly enjoyed that.
Marriott hotel is excellent, can highly recommend.
Sarangkot mountain resort is ok, but would skip that next time and spend more time in Pokhara.
The newly opened Barahi hotel is also very good and top location.
The drivers were all on time, super friendly and safe. The logistics with bags, transfers went smooth.

Overall we look back on an amazing holiday.
Thank you Sangita and team!

Hotel Reviews

Traditional Stay

Mangalbazar, Kathmandu

Cute small hotel. Clean and nice patio

Authenticity & Character

And good coffee

Location

Super spot!

Staff

Helpful and kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sarangkot Mountain Lodge

Pokhara

Great food, good rooms. But for the price if the weather and views are not there I wouldn’t recommend people to go there

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast buffet

Location

If the weather is off, not much to do. Pool is not worth mentioning. No gym.

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean!

Locally Run Lodge

Ok hotel. Food was good. Rooms not so clean. Shower took forever to become warm

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness. Give families rooms side by side

Location

Good view.

Staff

Nice kitchen and restaurant staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Smelled like mothballs. Bugs in windows. Dirty pillows

Local teahouse / Lodge

Great location and friendly staff

Authenticity & Character

Nice fireplace

Location

Amazing views

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

All ok

Local teahouse / Lodge

Warm shower!

Authenticity & Character

Nothing in particular. Good beds

Location

View, higher up in the village would be nicer

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shower was regularly cleaned

Hotel Barahi Pokhara

Pokhara

Good rooms. All clean. Hotel needs a gym.

Authenticity & Character

Not many Nepal elements

Location

Just right

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Big rooms, good amenities, nice to have top floor rooms with the kids

Activity Reviews

Visit Swoyambhunath(Monkey Temple)

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Match the guide to the group.

Bhaktapur Tour- Explore Newari culture, history, architecture and many untold stories

Kathmandu

Great guide! Bipin was super

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Briefing

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Nepal. Transfer to the hotel

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My wife and I booked and paid for this trip in 2019, with the aim to travel in the spring of 2020. Then, when COVID of course nixed that plan, we had to pivot and delay the trip for what turned out to be (due to the pandemic and other circumstances) THREE YEARS. Abdellah from Original Travels was a patient and thoroughly helpful voice in all the time between when we booked and when we actually traveled. He honored our booking, and despite all the time that had passed, not one aspect of the trip fell out of step with our original booking and that's an especially impressive feat given when we finally ended up going.

We made this trip in the late summer of 2023, landing just hours after the historically destructive earthquake rocked the country. Under those tragic circumstances, we were humbled by the kindness, generosity and warmth of the Moroccan people that we encountered throughout the trip - especially in the form of our local guide from Original Travels, Soufian, who, despite having family in the impacted Atlas mountain region, somehow chose to remain with us for the duration of our trip and displayed an almost miraculous good spirit and humor through all of it. He was personable, knowledgable and very genuine. He and his colleague Said were tremendously helpful as we navigated our way from Casablanca to Chefchaouen, Fez, Merzouga and the epic desert, with more stops along the way to Marrakech.

The trip itself was a whirlwind drive across the country where we stopped to awe at imperial sites, eat amazing food, and interact with remarkable people. I cannot recommend Morocco more, and hope people rest assured that it's safe to travel post-earthquake. Finally, I'd easily use Kim Kim for future trips because they clearly find good, fairly-priced local tour companies to make the journey better in every respect.

I am so glad to have used this service. Lise was very flexible and adjusted tour to our preferences. She also made very good recommendations and worked with our budget. Lise’s recommendation resulted in us seeing the three cities of Provence and we lived it.

The tour guides (Remy, Emile, Thomas, and Sebastian) enriched our tours and provided us with information that brought the various places alive.

The hotels were well located and all were safe and clean. Made getting around very easy.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Le Pigonnet

Aix-en-Provence

this was my favorite place. About 13 min from Cours Mirabeau but an easy walk or you can take the bus

Authenticity & Character

Love the gardens and the various rooms to sit inside and in the garden.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de Cambis

Avignon

Located close to everywhere one might want to go and see in Avignon. Rooms are clean, hotel nice and secure/safe. Very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to palace du pape. Easy walk to the pont and many cafes and restaurants.

Staff

It was hot while there and accommodated us with lighter blankets.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Beds were super comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Hilltop Villages of the Luberon (from Aix-en-Provence)

Aix-en-Provence

I liked this tour but would have preferred doing it in the morning. Got back around 7 pm and it was dark

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastian was excellent

Transport

Full bus. All seats taken so not as comfortable.

Aix-en-Provence Historical and Gourmet Walking Tour

France

This was the best!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tomas was awesome. So enthusiastic.

Transport

be prepared for lots of walking

Afternoon Wine Tour to Châteauneuf-du-Pape

France

It was a good tour and learned how to evaluate wine

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

In the footsteps of Van Gogh in Provence

France

Our guide was great! gave context of the time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport