Kimkim Trip Reviews

I was a solo traveler and wanted adventure, nature and ease of travel. Carly listened to my goals and created a tailored trip. She suggested ideas and we had a collaborative schedule honed by many mails and calls. It was a fantastic trip. I would recommend this service and Carly’s expertise.

Activity Review

Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton Movie Set

New Zealand

Wasn’t expecting to love this but it was a treat! Guides were so enthusiastic and scenery truly stunning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides excelled at hospitality.

Transport

Our driver shared his favorite spots and generously let us pepper him with questions that he answered kindly and diplomatically 🙂

Our KIMKIM travel team was the finest choice I could have made for our 3-generation family's custom vacation to the Cinque Terre this August 2023. From the planning stage to our final day, the expertise of our Italy travel specialists Valeria and Deborah, personal concierge Roberta, private hiking guide Laura, boat skipper Tony, and Milan transfer drivers (with particular shout-out to Andrii who provided my evening transport due to my air travel arrival delay) were all fabulously fun, attentive and accommodating. Until we meet again, "Grazie mille! Carol

Hotel Review

Hotel Porto Roca

Monterosso

Hotel Porto Roca offered all the assets for our multi-generation family, from accommodations, full services, and awesome setting.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

boat trip from Monterosso with lunch

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike the Villages of Cinque Terre

Italy

We had a wonderful experience with Anahi, or “Ana,” our tour guide in Buenos Aires. She gave us an insider experience to north and south Buenos Aires, making sure we hit all of the main destinations as well. Recoleta Cemetery was also an amazing experience, not to be missed.

Miriam, our guide to the Pampas, was very friendly and informative. She made sure we had a chance to see a local metalsmithing workshop, which my husband and kids adored (my husband is a metalsmith and my kids love watching anyone make anything). The calm and nature experience of the estancia was incredibly special, with the horse riding and horse demonstration sure to be loved by all. Not to mention the delicious asada lunch!

Our tour guide in Iguazu, Laura, was incredible. She knew everything about everything, from the falls to the bird park. She made extra sure to schedule and plan according to our family’s needs and abilities. The falls are breathtaking, and it is totally worthwhile to experience from both sides.

I would not hesitate to recommend this trip!

Sri Lanka exceeded our expectations! What a beautiful country with warm, welcoming people. Ajeed was a FABULOUS guide! He is incredibly knowledgeable about Sri Lanka and he tailored the trip to make each day memorable. The UNESCO sites are rich with history. Bandu our driver expertly navigated the busy roads keeping us safe.

Gummi,

He went the extra mile to be the best guide that you will ever meet. He and his team crafted a very specific plan for my family and me. We had very specific requests that we needed to work with from restricted dietary requirements to traveling with two young kids and grandparents; and Gummi arranged everything beyond perfection. He was always available to deal with any last minute stuff, was ultra knowledgeable and so helpful. We were always amazed by him, and he even came to meet with us and say hi :)

Due to our dietary requirements, Gummi suggested to find houses for us that were fully equipped for us to cook. The houses Gumi found for us were fantastic, each of them gave us a different experience and we could even see from the room window northern lights on August 20th WOW. He even sent us a text that night 30 mins before they would be visible, wow what a precision!

Thank you so much for a trip of a lifetime Gummi, we hope to be back and explore the north.

Melina & Martin

Hotel Reviews

Cozy 3 bedroom house near the Blue lagoon

Njarðvík

This house was so much better than we expect it for the last night. It was spacious, clean, comfortable and very close to both the airport and the blue lagoon.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Giljaland

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Wow, the best location in the whole trip. Everything was perfect, the house was small but modern, cosy and it had everything needed for two nights. We walked around the area as suggested by the owner and it was so energizing to see those beautiful surroundings. We would definitely be back to this house.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Completely astonishing view

Staff

The owner helped us deal with a difficult neighbor right way and in a very friendly manner

Cleanliness & Comfort

Watersheds Cabin

Hella

This was the most unique and typical Icelander house we stayed in the whole trip. The location was surreal, in the middle of nowhere with very typical surroundings. The only disadvantage was that it wasn't made for a 3 years old, who fell from the stairs and got a bruise. Going up and down wasn't comfortable for some of us, however it's a quirky house worth the stay for an older family. Hopefully next time when kids are older!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The jacuzzi needed a bit of cleaning

Húsafell Holiday Homes

Borgarbyggð

This was one of the best houses we have ever stayed in. It was a very modern house, extra spacious inside and outside, with character. It had a jacuzzi and even a steam room in a separate space. The living room and kitchen were so well designed, like from a magazine. The house is in a large condo area so we had access to various amenities and two restaurants. The main one on the second floor offered islander food and it was fabulous. Staff was also very friendly, everything went very smoothly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Downtown Reykjavík Apartments

Reykjavík

The apartment was good enough for just one night. It had the best location, right there in the city center. However it had a very small space for eating and wasn't family friendly. The balcony was a bit dangerous for kids and we had to move the beds a bit so it would be safe for kids. In despite of this, there were no issues and the check in/out was very easy.

Authenticity & Character

A bit simple but to be fair all we needed for one night

Location

Staff

We came at night so I didn't see any staff, no nothing to add

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Secret Lagoon

Iceland

We loved the Secret Lagoon! It felt very off the beaten path, less crowded than some of the other lagoons. We arrived around 5pm, after a day of activities, and it was just what we needed - so relaxing. The check-in process was smooth, they provided us with everything we needed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunar Landscapes & Healing Waters – Blue Lagoon Immersion

Iceland

The Blue Lagoon was amazing, and though it's definitely a larger tourist attraction, we had a great time. It's a very popular spot, but still worth the visit. We went to more lagoons than Gummy recommended because we enjoyed them so much. They were all very kid-friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour

Iceland

This was another fantastic experience. The boat tour was very well planned. Our guide was welcoming and friendly. Being able to see a piece of ice from the glacier up close was an amazing experience. The boat tour was more in-depth than I expected. We got to see many icebergs and even a helicopter landing. The kids learned a lot and I can say it was one of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Into the Glacier

Iceland

This experience was mind-blowing and the best of all it was kid-friendly so my kids got to be in a glacier at an early age. It was mesmerizing to experience the glacier inside and outside, to learn about the climate change impact and just to see how much effort it goes into building the tunnels. The transportation was such an adventure for all of us as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The main guide at the glacier was extraordinary

Transport

Ravi made every effort to understand what we were looking for and did an amazing job planning out the itinerary in detail. I had a mix of phone/email interactions to finalize our plans.

We had a mix of city, culture and nature in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur. Our guide Ajay was with us through the whole trip. He was very knowledgeable and keen to ensure that we got the full experience. The drivers too were experienced and professional.

The Taj Mahal in all it’s views is breathtaking! We saw a variety of animals and birds at the Sariska Tiger Reserve. The forts and mahals in Jaipur, the pink city were a great experience. Udaipur, the Venice of the East is a treat for the eyes. They were quite different memorable experiences.

Ajay made excellent restaurant recommendations so we could get our fill of the food variety we wanted to experience.

This is my fifth trip with KimKim and it reaffirms why I use them. They take away the stress of planning, safety, and dealing with situations on the ground. It allows us to really enjoy the local place, people and experiences.

I highly recommend Ravi and Active India to plan your experience.

Our guide, Maria, helped plan every step of the trip. She was responsive and knowledgeable about the different cities we were visiting. She also incorporated activities that we suggested.

KimKim is a fantastic service that takes the guesswork out of booking travel. You get personalized accommodations and the ability to communicate with them during your trip in case you need to make any changes.

Highly recommend this service!

Activity Review

Classic Private Cruise on Lake Como

Italy

Amazing way to see the towns and villas of Lake Como! Well worth it and one of our favorite activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Picked us up from the hotel dock. So convenient.

I would absolutely use them again it was an amazing experience.

Activity Reviews

Visit of The Amalfi coast Villages Full Day

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lemon Grove- Mozzarella Farm in Sorrento area

Italy

The family was nice, wonderful people I would only suggest something in the city too

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I wanted private transportation because my dad was elderly but our driver was great

Private boat tour to Capri

Italy

We enjoyed our guide, it was a beautiful experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Sri Lanka was wonderful. Dhanushka was a joy to work with in planning the perfect trip, and he even came to meet us in Colombo. Our guide Ajit and driver Bandu were also fantastic. We went to Colombo, Dambulla, Polonnurawa, Mineriya, Kandy, and the hill country. I think my favorite parts were the elephant safari in Mineriya and the Cave Temples in Dambulla. All of the accommodations were great. It was also very affordable! I highly recommend Dhanushka and Koon Holidays!

Honestly, I can write an essay on my incredible experience with Rita Pagano, our trip specialist to Spain. The tours and experiences she designed for us, including the guides she appointed, private transfers, train rides, restaurant suggestions - it was a 10 star Spain vacation!

Rita is very skilled at understanding her client’s preferences. Within a couple of chat exchanges on their portal, she very grasped what I am looking for, and the kind of balanced experience I was interested. Within a few hours, she put together a draft plan, which was 70% ready, and then we iterated to fine tune. I should add, I am very picky when it comes to hotel quality (very used to Marriott Bonvoy), but she identified some boutique and local options that truly enhanced our experience, and was able to add along free breakfasts, extended stays etc., which made it so helpful.
To top it all were the guides she selected – Carla for the Tapas crawl in Barcelona, Anna for Gaudi tour in Barcelona, Julia’s kayaking/snorkeling trip in Costa Brava, Andres for architecture tour in Seville, even Adrian’s tuktuk tour in Valencia were all very enjoyable. Most of the guides were history or architecture majors and brought their passion into the tours. All I shared with Rita was that we want a balanced experience of Spain touching adventure, architecture, culture, food and people – the rest she designed it all, and it was well beyond our imagination! The activities were custom to our liking and rigor.

Above all, I would say Rita is patient, responsive and provided outstanding on-ground support, in a way that I did not expect. Everything was seamless, and if a few things did not work out, Rita jumped in and sorted things out (some times even working outside her office hours). Despite us not speaking on the phone even once, let alone meeting, Rita made us feel assured and was responsive beyond my imagination. I found Kimkim through TripAdvisor, and was initially skeptical about its legitimacy. But I cannot wait to book my trip with them again.

Rita, your team is very lucky to have you, and we were delighted to work with you. With a giant thank you from my family.

Hotel Reviews

Vincci Lys Hotel

Valencia

A quaint, European hotel in the hub of Valencia with great access to food and landmarks. Excellent value for money and great staff. They were very accommodating with our unique requests. The rooms are very clean and have modern amenities. The breakfast buffet was very good - in fact, much better than some of the 5 stars. We did have a bit of an issue with their ventilation system at times - there was a trapped odor during times of the day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean, and the rooms are all updated with modern amenities. Just that at times, there was a trapped odor which made it uncomfortable.

Suites Avenue

Barcelona

If you want to live in an apartment with your kitchen, laundry and have a couple of rooms (good for family or small groups), then this ideal. Located minutes from all the key places in Barcelona, with an outstanding staff, these are sleek apartments with modern finishes. The rooms are very small though, and I would have preferred to have a door separating the master bathroom and bedroom, but overall, really nice.

Authenticity & Character

Lots of Buddhist art, but I wont say they have spent their budget on common areas (which is fine). They have made the suite apartments really good.

Location

Passeig de gracia is a wonderful street, lined with Gaudi landmarks, excellent restaurants and upscale shopping.

Staff

Best part of living in this building. I have never experienced such helpful staff, who truly go above and beyond.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Reymar

Tossa de Mar

Outstanding location - cannot beat this one. But the hotel itself needs to renovate. Staff rarely speak English, and are not very friendly. Breakfast was limited and the coffee machine did not work on both days (one option for the entire hotel). But the location, pool, access to beach and shops is unbeatable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Valencia by Tuk Tuk

Valencia

I didn't know what to expect. So left it to Rita to suggest. An easy, laid back trip that takes your though the cities landmarks from ancient to modern. Again, Adrian, our guide was very engaging and proud of his city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The tuktuk is so easy!

An Evening of Flamenco

Spain

The Flameco tablao was one of the most traditional and authentic places in the region. In fact, our guide told us that the artists are well paid there. so they can focus on their art. For me, this was particularly important as I am a professional dancer of a form (Kathak) that shares roots with Flamenco. I loved the experience. It was an hour-long performance (just right).

Monumental Seville on Foot & Visit Real Alcázar

Seville

Enchanting place, with a unique mix of Gothic, Moorish and Andalusian architecture. I have never seen such intermingling of cultures anywhere! A must do experience - especially with someone as knowledgeable as Andres, our guide. We had so many interesting discussions on history, global evolution, religious influences - all of it added so much to the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easy walk around our hotel (Alfonso)

Half-Day Kayak Excursion along Costa Brava

Spain

One of the best experiences ever. Julia, our instructor, gave us clear guidance for kayaking and snorkeling and adapted the experience to our fitness levels, My daughter, who is a competitive gymnast, did cliff diving, while I who can barely swim stuck to kayaking and snorkeling , which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Quality of Experience

Besides the sea adventures, Julia took us on a mini cave exploration, which was so enjoyable!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Outstanding! So patient and fun. She even waited for us as we reached late.

Transport

Given the location was more than 30 minutes away, we had to take a taxi (unless you rent a car, which is the best option). The taxi dropped us at the wrong location in the middle of nowhere. But some locals helped us find another taxi, while Rita jumped in and called the company and convinced them to wait for us. Amazing Rita again! But in the future, I'd say use a pre-arranged transportation, or best would be to rent a car.

Barcelona & Gaudí: Walking Among Gaudi's Iconic Works

Barcelona

Gaudi's architecture is spectacular. But Anna, our guide, made it even more special. A student of art, history and production, she is very knowledgeable and passionate about the field. We had so many related conversations that made the whole experience superb. We saw Familia Sagrada and Casa Batillo over a 4 hour period with a short break of 10 minutes. Very easy and manageable, and did not feel rushed. Possible to do it in 3 hours if you are in a bind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We took a private tour with Anna (organized by Kimkim Travels) and that made it more special. You appreciate the relevance of the masterpieces and make the connections more.

Transport

We took the subway to go from one spot to the other. Again, easy and gave us an experience of local life.

Taste Barcelona: Authentic Tapas & Neighborhood Walk

Barcelona

Carla was so passionate about her culture and has incredible knowledge about local foods. It was very enjoyable. The selection of the restaurants and foods were fabulous. Carla also paid attention to the unique dietary needs, and took us to places with more vegetarian and fish options, as opposed to meats. We also lucked out with the other family who was in our group.

Quality of Experience

Food

Outstanding selection; each very different.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carla is the best! She is also so well travelled, and knows about world cuisine in an authentic way.

Transport

Easy walk between the restaurants. We took a taxi to the meeting point, which was only seven or eight euros.

Sharif, the travel agent, was absolutely awesome! Throughout our adventure, we had numerous changes to our itinerary and different activity requests, but Sharif remained positive and communicated exceptionally well. His patience was remarkable, making our experience much more enjoyable. We sincerely appreciate his flexibility and dedication to ensuring we had a fantastic time. I can't express enough how amazing Asaf, our travel assistant, was during our trip. From the moment we arrived, he went above and beyond to assist us with our visa application, ensuring that the process was smooth and efficient. He made sure we didn't have to wait long and guided us through the return journey, always ensuring we were on the right track and making use of the quickest lines. As if his outstanding service wasn't enough, Asaf displayed a level of care and consideration that truly impressed us. When I realized I had left my glasses in the car on the day of our departure, Asaf didn't hesitate to return to the airport just to deliver them to me while we were checking in. This level of dedication and thoughtfulness is a rare find. I must also mention Lena, an exceptional guide who accompanied us. Her helpful nature and genuine eagerness to assist us added immense value to our trip. She was informative during our tour of Sakarra, Memphis, and The Giza Pyramids. Lena was amazing with efforts to avoid the most crowded times as well. We were truly appreciative of her communication. Asaf, Lena, and Sharif formed a dream team, making our journey seamless and memorable. I highly recommend anyone in need of reliable, efficient, and caring guides. They truly go the extra mile to ensure their clients' comfort and satisfaction. Thank you, Asaf, Lena, and Sharif for making our trip an unforgettable experience!

Loved our 10-day trip to South Africa that Petru helped us plan. Highly recommend Franschhoek and the Bush Lodge at Amakhala as the highlights of our trip. Also, loved our guide Zane through Paradise Tours, very knowledgeable and friendly. Zane made us feel safe and added to our overall experience on our honeymoon. We had the trip of a lifetime and would recommend our travel plan to anyone!

Terry was great to work with. She made planning our trip to Iceland very easy. We told her things we wanted to do, she made suggestions and put it all together. The final trip plan was easy to follow and all the information was easily available from my phone. Loved the Blue Lagoon as a first stop when we landed, just the kind of relaxation needed after a long flight. We did two horseback riding tours, both great. I think our favorites were seeing the Puffins at Dyrholaey, the black sand beaches, and the glacier lagoon at Jokulsarlon. All the food in Iceland was great - favorites included pizza with pepperoni, cream cheese and bananas at Olverk Pizza & Brewery in Hveragerdi, bruschetta and tomato soup at Fridheimer Farm and Arctic Char at Salka Restaurant in Husavik. Husavik was not on our original trip plan but it was one of our favorite stops.

Hotel Reviews

Aurora Hotel at Reykjavik-Keflavik Airport Terminal KEF

Keflavík

Newer hotel. Great location because we could drop off car and walk to hotel and airport. Breakfast bar started at 4:30 am which was great for our early flight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Laugarbakki

Laugarbakki

The restaurant and staff at this hotel were fantastic. Rooms were clean and comfortable. This hotel used to be a school and student dormitory and it is not new like the website says. It's a new use of an old building. The inside is very nice but the outside definitely needs work. We drove up and seriously considered not staying here because of the exterior appearance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The hotel manager was fantastic and probably the first person we met who was actually Icelandic!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Interior was great. Exterior needs work.

Sel - Hótel Mývatn

Myvatn

Nice hotel with very friendly staff. This was the only evening of our trip that it rained, and they had a pool table that we used. There is a store next door but not much else to do in the area. The bugs are bad outside and you need a head net if you are walking around. The breakfast bar was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk clerk, bartender and breakfast waitress were all very helpful and we enjoyed speaking with them.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean bit it's a bit dated.

Gistihúsið - Lake Hotel Egilsstadir

Egilsstöðum

Nice hotel. Very nice, clean and big rooms. Nice places to sit both inside and outside to relax.

Authenticity & Character

Location

This is a bigger town, so close to restaurants and stores.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hrafnavellir Guest House

Hornafjörður (Hofn)

Unique individual guesthouses. Very clean, excellent breakfast. Breakfast hostess was very friendly and informative. Favorite part was the sheep right outside our window! No blow dryer or television in room. Asked for some ice and host gave us one small glassful, said he didn't have enough to provide ice to guests.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Remote location, need to eat before you get there, but on our way to next stop.

Staff

Breakfast hostess was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Laki

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

The desk clerk acted like we were bothering him. There is a very small gift shop with very few items. The outdoor patio was closed and under construction. We went to have a drink in the bar and there were dirty dishes on most of the tables that I cleared myself so we could sit down. The bartender was friendly. The breakfast area was very crowded and people were talking and reaching over and around uncovered food dishes and it made us feel uncomfortable to eat there. There was a tv, but we could not get youtube or netflix or any stations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Greenhouse Hotel

Hveragerdi

Loved this hotel. Very clean, great hotel shopping with lots of Icelandic products, clothing and souvenirs. Delicious breakfast, nice bar area that had numerous food choices, similar to a food court. We ate at the street taco place and it was delicious. Cozy places to sit and enjoy a drink in the evening talking and relaxing. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast bar, shopping, food court, bar.

Location

Walking distance to the brewery, pharmacy and grocery store. 5 minutes from horseback riding tour.

Staff

They were very helpful with suggestions as to what to do and see and helped with directions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Reykjavík Classic Whale Watching

Reykjavík

It was a nice boat ride but we didn't see any whales. There were some big waves and they provided anyone who wanted free motion sickness tablets.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Horse Riding Tour

Iceland

Amazing ride. Just the guide, me and my husband. Very safety conscious, guide Tula was very friendly. Perfect mix of walk and tolt. Horse were great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Horses and Hot Springs

Iceland

Great first riding tour of the trip. Three guides in our 15 person group. Very safety conscious. Horses were great and all appeared well cared for. Raincoats, gloves, whatever you needed was available to borrow. Ride has a good mix of walking and tolt.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lava Tunnel Tour

Iceland

It was a short tour, kids seemed to really like it. There is alot of rocky paths to go thru.

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

Great first stop after the flight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff gathered everyone who wanted to so a separate part of the pool and shared stories about Iceland which was great.

Our guides were both very knowledgeable, friendly, and flexible. They definitely added to the experience! The personal anecdotes and experiences of the guides enhanced our visit and helped gain a deeper understanding of the culture and history of Turkey. Would absolutely book again!

First Francesca is absolutely incredible! Her expertise, recommendations, and itinerary made our trip to Iceland an incredible adventure! Thank you so so much! We enjoyed our whole trip. I only wish I had known about this company sooner. If you are looking to book an Iceland adventure look no further! Thank you so much for coordinating our trip and making it a trip of a lifetime.

Sarah and the team at High Point Holidays planned a wonderful outdoor/hiking trip to Lyon and the Savoy region. We hiked some of the alps, road bikes and saw a lot, encountering places that we wouldn't have possible discovered without them. I would highly recommend their services in planning future trips to the region. Sarah was very responsive and helpful in responding to requests to make changes to our itinerary, and checked in consistently before and during the trip as well. We felt very supported.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Le Refuge des Aiglons

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

Lovely hotel in Chamonix, excellent food and lovely spa/pool area. The room was comfortable, decently sized with a nice balcony and nicely furnished.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de Bonlieu

Annecy

It was very centrally located and the breakfast was solid, but the room was small, cramped and the hotel didn't have the nicest furnishings, they felt a bit cheap.

Authenticity & Character

It had a very modern feel, and the furnishings felt somewhat cheap

Location

It was very close to the old part of Annecy and the lake

Staff

The staff was very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean but the bed/chairs weren't very comfortable in the room

Activity Reviews

The Aiguille du Midi, the unmissable high-mountain experience! (Round trip tickets)

Chamonix

The Aiguille du Midi was great, but the Mer de Glace ice cave should definitely be skipped. The glacier has receded so much that you walk for close to an hour down stairs to get to an ice cave they've carved out the remaining ice, which is partly covered with a tarp to keep it from melting further. The whole way down there are markers of the former heights of the glacier going back 30 years. It is important to have the awareness about climate change but we found the whole experience pretty depressing. The path/ice cave was also so clogged with tourists taking selfies that it made for a very slow frustrating walk down and up to the ice cave. I would recommend doing the historic train up but skipping the ice cave.

Private Walking Tour of Annecy's Historical Center

Annecy

Our guide was wonderful and since we went on a Tuesday, the Palais and castle were closed to the public so we got a private tour of both, which was great because the rest of Annecy was absolutely mobbed with tourists.

Lyon E-Bike Tour and Local Snack Sampling

Lyon

The bicycle tour was nice. Our guide was knowledgeable and a good group leader. The food tasting, however was a bit of a joke, they gave us a plate of cheese and a plate of sliced salami. I think the title 'food tasting' was a bit misleading, as there wasn't very much, and no vegetarian options aside from the cheese.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lyon City Card

Lyon

The card was nice to have, but we only wound up going to one museum and using the metro once.

This was an extremely enjoyable and well-organized trip. Our local guide, Federico Ramirez, was knowledgable, friendly, hospitable, professional. The two hotels we stayed at were extraordinary; beautiful, comfortable, with wonderful staff and great breakfasts. Also the itinerary was well-thought out and sensibly organized, giving us enough time to enjoy every stop and every highlight, of which the Salt Flats and the mountains of Hornacal were among our favorites.
Our one criticism is that the pick-up in which we traveled was too small for 4 guests: the three people in the back were cramped and uncomfortable.
Our Kim specialist, Agustina, was fantastic: responsive, thoughtful, friendly. Thank you!

We didn’t have many days to see as much as we could in Iceland but Eva was a invaluable resource to maximize those days. She knew where we should go and what we should see based on geography and time. Her bookings were with the BEST guides, Tomas in Reykjavik and Yuli in Akureyi making the trip go from great to spectacular. We could not do everything, but we tried! Iceland is so beautiful would definitely have to come back to see more

Activity Reviews

Mývatn Nature Baths

Iceland

We spent the entire day with a guide named Uli who was incredibly knowledgeable. He was like a celebrity in the area, and everyone knew him. The nature baths were fantastic and felt less like a giant tourist experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Kayaking Experience

Iceland

The kayaking experience was five stars. It was beautiful, with just us and a couple of other people in the fjords. The guide was relaxed and made the experience enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reykjavik Premium Whale watching

Reykjavík

We saw NO whales but it has to be graded on the excursion and what it would’ve been like if we did. The RIB boat is fast and mobile and almost like an amusement park ride if you sit in front. If you want a smooth ride DO NOT choose this tour. You are bundled with warm jumpsuits to make you comfortable and if whales were out there it would put you incredibly close with just a handful of other passengers.

Solheimajokull Glacier Hike

Iceland

The best excursion of the trip. Walking on a glacier through the black sand and up onto the ice and drinking glacial water off of it was dream like.

Quality of Experience

One of a kind experience in surreal landscape

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were patient and helpful and answered every question with smiles.

Geysir

Iceland

This is a good stop because it is close to many other must see items on the route we took. However, if time were at an absolute premium, you could skip. We had a great guide to give us context and background to make it more meaningful (and who captured our photo just as the geysir spouted). That’s what it is, a geyser that bubbles and shoots over every 7 minutes or so. It is an important part of Iceland geology so if time is available, it’s worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Once again, Tomas was integral in making this a worthy stop

Transport

Silfra Snorkeling

Iceland

On its own this would have been an amazing experience, but when measured against everything else in Iceland something has to come in second. It is still an extremely cool activity you’re doing that is well run but for the time spent getting ready and waiting to get into the water it does drag.

Quality of Experience

Snorkeling in a crack in the tectonic plates in freezing water speaks for itself.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff that get you ready and take you snorkeling are the nicest guys and are so patient. There’s a lot of gear to put on (and take off). They are very safety conscious. We felt very comfortable.

Transport

Same as prior answer.

Thingvellir National Park

Iceland

There are so many magical landscapes in Iceland but this park stands apart because of the waterfalls. They are imposing and worth visiting.

Quality of Experience

We had time at each place to really soak in the scenery and see little things that alone you could/would miss. There’s many people there, but with a guide the experience is made much better

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tomas was humorous, knowledgeable and very helpful. I could ramble on but if he’s available, he should be booked.

Transport

Large vehicle, lots of space, excellent condition

We absolutely loved our trip to Nepal. It was incredibly well organised by Ngima when we got there, very professional, we (mother and two daughters) felt super safe and really enjoyed meeting our wonderful tour guide Ang Gelu - who nothing was a problem for and looked after us every day in so many ways - thank you we appreciated you so much and we will be back to do some harder treks one day -Kunger our easy going porter, Amit our lovely driver, always on time with a spotless car, and city guides Lil in Pokhara and Surinder in Kathmandu. You were amazing, informative and we enjoyed our time with you.

It is people who make experiences special and positive and rewarding as much as the places. Despite being monsoon season we had an absolutely fabulous time and got heaps of really good weather too, though maybe not perfect views of the mountains. But it was lovely and green and not too busy so we really enjoyed coming in August. Just take an umbrella for the odd shower.

The slightly formulaic approach to the itinerary through Kim Kim did me have me a little worried because I was trying to do something outside the formula but it all worked out and Ngima (Nepal Myths and Mountain Trails via KimKim) was amazing when we got there. Definitely use this tour company if thinking about going to Nepal.

Guides and drivers were brilliant and went out of their way to add value to the experience

The guides really brought brought the culture of Vietnam to the forefront