Kimkim Trip Reviews

I want to specifically thank Ingrid for planning our family vacation. I chose to book lodging ourselves and left activities and local transportation in Norway to Ingrid. She gave us an itinerary which covers all places and activities on our wish list. She planned for our local transportation and transfers so we could focus on the pristine sceneries and fun activities without worrying about many logistics on self tours while not being in restricted times while traveling in a group tour. Ingrid was also reachable in case we had any glitches during our journey. Really best of both worlds.

For places/activities which Ingrid planned for us, the most memorable are:
1) Geiranger Kayaking tour (with the Geiranger Kayak Center at Homlong. The tour guide was knowledgeable in many aspects in how the fjords were formed, local legends/myths, geopolitical facts, economics, etc. And most of all, top places to visit in Geiranger in our two days of stay.

2) The Fjordcruise from Flam to Gudvangen (on the Naeroyfjord) was also spectacular. Before the ship entered the Naeroyfjord, the captain offered us a private tour to the engine room which featured the totally electrical engine. We were truly impressed by Norwegians effort in preserving the environment.

3) Dragsvik Fjord Hotel: although I found this hotel myself. However, Ingrid approved of it. We wanted to bike around the neighbor. Ingrid managed to find out for us that the hotel actually has a few bicycles for hotel guests to borrow (helmets included). That was SO nice because, with Ingrid's arrangement, we did not have to worry about transportation from Dragsvik to the Balestrand town!

I list the following most memorable places we visited (some are suggested by Ingrid and others by our Kayak tour guide):
1) Dragsvik hotel - My family loved our stay there. It was situated in a ideally situated vantage point of the fjord and the mountains. Also, we really appreciate the hotel manager Magnar (?). Although he does not speak much, but we felt that he really tried his best to accommodate our family's needs. We were rather troublesome during our stay: borrow bicycles, laundry machine, etc.
2) Geiranger: a) Westeras Gard - farm and restaurant
b) hike to behind the Storsæterfossen waterfall
c) Ørnesvingen
d) Geirangerfjordsenter - great cabin lodging for family or small group
e) of course, our kayak tour
3) Bergen Budget Hotel: I booked this hotel myself and I want to express it so that your future customer could avoid it. It is poorly equipped, old, and rather unfriendly. Finally, it has no luggage storage, even for a few hours because the reception is UN-manned.

J.

Ingrid is the best! She customized a perfect itinerary for travels to Norway. There were several transfers and she scheduled everything seamlessly. Especially enjoyed the lodges she booked for us as they were quaint with kind hosts and good breakfasts (vathnalhasen and midntes to name a few). The Flåm railway was also a highlight of our trip. Everything from renting a car through Kjetil to detailed itineraries and directions was exceptional. During the trip we had questions and Ingrid addresses everything in a timely and friendly manner. Highly recommend Ingrid for all your Norway travel needs.

My guide was Rishi and he did a really nice job of supporting me throughout the trek as I am not terribly athletic. It was a really lovely experience. The driver was very helpful and patient as well.

Anne was always available, friendly and did an outstanding job for us!

We really enjoyed the rock climbing in Napflio with Kostas and Nadine perhaps most of all. Sofia was great on the Santorini Oia, monastery and wine tasting tour. Really helped to make us feel at home. And Katherine was super knowledgable of ancient Greek history and mythology. Brought the museum and Acropolis to life for us.

Napflio and Naxos stand out as the more interactive and fun destinations with a wide variety of things to see and be more spontaneously involved in. Athens, with its diverse historical sites and nightlife, was very engaging and we felt like we could have spent longer. Santorini was a little touristy, but we're glad we went. The caldera tour offset the commercial feel, and some of the smaller towns looked like good places to spend time away from the crowds.

We traveled with another couple and had a wonderful vacation in Greece, thanks to the itinerary we created with Tasos and the support we got from the Travel12 team during our trip. Tasos was a pleasure to work with and very responsive in answering our questions as we developed the itinerary. Pre-arranged car transfers, ferry and flight tickets, and guided tours enabled us to relax and enjoy the rich history, beautiful landscapes and delicious food Greece has to offer. When ferry schedules changed twice, Travel12 informed us and took care of the details. We were delighted to meet Tasos the evening we arrived in Athens and the morning before we returned to the US. We highly recommend kimkim, Tasos, and Travel12!

Here are a few highlights from our 16-day trip:

Athens - Our enthusiastic guide Maria led us on an excellent food tour. We walked through the Plaka, Monastriaki, and Psyri neighborhoods while sampling pastries, Greek coffee, souvlaki and other treats. We also recommend the Mythology Tour through the Acropolis and ancient Athens. Although the drive to Delphi was long, we enjoyed the scenery and the visit to the ancient site.

Crete - Our five days in and around Chania, Vamos/Douliana, and Heraklion/Archanes were a good introduction to the island. The guides and drivers were friendly and helpful, especially Christos who met us at the airport and drove and guided us to Elafonissi Beach, Vamos and Heraklion. Our guide Clio at the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion and at Knossos was very knowledgeable…we were fascinated by the sophistication of the Minoan civilization. We left Crete having learned there is still a lot more to see!

Santorini - While many people are drawn to Santorini because of the pictures of brilliant white buildings and blue-domed churches, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring ancient Thera and Akrotiri, which are a respite from the cruise ship crowds in Fira and Oia. Our guide Anna was engaging and knowledgeable about ancient Greek history and current aspects of life on the island. We also enjoyed a sunny, windy hike along the caldera rim from Fira to Oia led by our wonderful guide Denise. An added bonus to our visit were the many wildflowers in bloom all over the island due to the unusually wet and cool spring. And the view of the caldera from our room was spectacular!

Naxos - We welcomed the warmer weather when we arrived so we could enjoy the beach and swimming in the Aegean Sea, which were only steps away from our hotel. We had fun exploring Naxos town, and visiting the villages of Halki and Apeiranthos. Although our guided hike through the hills was a bit more rugged than we expected, the mountain views and wildflowers were fabulous, and we enjoyed visiting a unique, remote monastery and strolling through picturesque Apeiranthos.

We hope to explore more of Greece in the future!
Barbara and Skip

Harris did a great job coordinating all the crazy-busy days we asked for while in Greece! And an added bonus? We got to meet one of our coordinators, Angeliki, in person on one of our day tours, and it made our day that much more fun. What a great group of folks! I would call them up in a heartbeat to coordinate our next trip to Greece. Thanks, guys, for making our stay so memorable!

Our dream of travelling to Morocco was made possible with the expert assistance of Yassine from Morocco Off the Beaten Track. From the very first email we sent to him, we felt confident that he would put together an itinerary that was exactly what we were wanting- a trip that included culture, arts, food & music.
Our 13 day tour included, Essaouira, Marrakesh, Fes, Chefchaouen & concluded in Tangier.
Our driver Ismail was excellent. We cannot speak highly enough of him. He was a prompt, highly skilled & calm driver. He met us with a smile every morning & was a wonderful resource for us to learn more about Moroccan culture and music, both tradional and current. He was good company for the many hours we spent on the road. His knowledge of local traditional events, enabled us to attend events that are now fond memories of a wonderful, rich & beautiful country.
Throughout our trip we stayed in amazing Riads and had guides that were very well educated thanks to the detailed planning of Yassine & Hassan.
Throughout our trip, Yassine & Hassan were contactable if we needed. We were also given the use of a mobile phone to contact our driver at any time.
A huge thankyou to all who helped plan and make possible  our trip of a life time.
Jay & Andy

Christos was meticulous, responsive and patient in the planning process.
All logistics were taken care of with and all went smoothly.
It was great to have contact with him whilst in Greece and to know that he was available to assist with any queries. I would highly recommend him to plan a trip to Greece.
Thank you Christos!

Memories for a lifetime! We had a wonderful time with Hassan our Marrakech guide, Lamah, Abraham, Mohammed our Imlil hiking guides and especially our driver Hassan who spent 2 weeks with us. Hassan found answers to all our questions and provided great insight to Berber life. We spent 1 day at the beginning and end in Marrakech, 2 days hiking the Atlas Mountains, Ouarzazate, Rose and Dades Valley. We were disappointed we missed the Rose festival but the timing just didn’t work out. The Tondra Gorge, although very crowded on a Sunday, was an education. We enjoyed watching all the locals dancing, singing and having fun. The camel trecking to the tented camp in the Sahara dunes was definitely a highlight. The Berber staff took such wonderful care of us and made sure we had a smile at all times. On one of our travel days we drove through Taroudant where we stopped for a break and found the best deals on rugs @ Tapas Berbere We spent 3 days in Essaouira inside the media which was an incredible experience. Great restaurants, shopping, local activity just outside our door. We enjoyed a great cooking class @ l’Atelier which included a walk and education at a spice suk.

Having most dinners pre arranged worked well because we were tired and would not have wanted to search for restaurants. We enjoyed all the accommodations, especially the Riads. The only accommodation we would not recommend using again was Les Jardins de Ouarzazate which was not clean and loaded with flys.

A couple of recommendations for improving the experience: at the airport hold a sign with the guests name in order to find the driver. I was told to look for a sign that read OT Voyages, but actually the sign had the name of the Riad which I was not looking for, so took a while. Throughout the trip it was very difficult to change large bills from the ATM, even at hotel reception. If the driver could carry a roll of coins to offer exchange to the guests, it would be very helpful. We wanted to tip staff at hotels... for their great service but couldn’t always get change. A daily information plan would be helpful, ie what time/where a guide would meet us in Marrakech, length of the drive each day, the hiking plan in Imlil (we thought we’d drop our luggage at the hotel first then hike so we weren’t prepared when we pulled over to the trail on the way), and more detail on the desert camp (we didn’t realize we could ride the camels anytime and just needed to give them notice the evening before for sunrise).

Overall, we had a fabulous trip, loved all our guides, enjoyed good restaurants, good accommodations and the Kim Kim staff was very responsive to questions while planning the trip and while on the tour. We highly recommend Kimkim!

I have traveled a lot internationally but this was the first trip that Christos from Kim Kim planed for me and three friends. It was the most amazing experience. The trip was planned very well and was pretty much worry free. Christos was available day and night to answer questions and help when needed. Best experience and customer service. Would recommend Christos and his company to friends and family!

I always use local guides and drivers when I travel. This is the first time I used kimkim online without using a travel agent from where I live. I was skeptical and a bit nervous at first. It turned out to be one of the best decisions. The best things about kimkim is that its' travel agents are living in the places that you want to travel so they have the most up-to-date info of where and when to go. My local agent, Chris is very knowledgeable of Greece. He listened to my unique requirements and custom built an itinerary for four people in my group. We all loved the schedule and places that we visited. We visited the must see archaeological sites and enjoyed the peaceful Naxos island. Chris was able to find me rooms where I had a direct view of the sunset in Santorini and Aegean sea from my room in Naxos. Local guides for the "Taste of Athens" walking tour and Acropolis were very friendly and accommodating. Eva, the local guide for the "Taste of Athens" tour changed the itinerary throughout the day to accommodate our needs. She is the best. Chris was always in contact with us to make sure everything was ok. Although there were problems in transportation, Chris resolved the problem to my satisfaction. One suggestion for Chris is to provide acknowledgement and update to changes or requests within 24 hours. This is very important especially to clients who have never used Chris before. Overall, I am still very satisfy with the services provided by kimkim staff and Chris.

The only thing we didn't like about our trip was that it was over.
Stunnigly beautiful mountains and villages, fresh water, cozy cabins and delicious food.
Our guide Samer was not only a true professional but also a wonderful person we really enjoyed spending time with. Highly recommended and we look forward to coming back.

The planning and execution of this trip was outstanding, as Sean (U.S. tour agent) and Ulyana (Russian tour agent) customized and coordinated a tour to meet my interests and exceed my expectations for the trip of a lifetime to Russia!

My itinerary included Moscow, Vladimir, Suzdal, and St. Petersburg. I was met/dropped off by an English-speaking assistant or tour guide and a driver at every airport and train station. I never had to worry about finding my hotel or catching the correct train on time. Not only was all my in-country major transportation covered, but rides to and from stations, as well as door-to-door pick up and drop off for every tour was provided 100% of the time.

Because of the personalized nature of the tour, I never had to "wait" for others to board a bus, eat in a restaurant that didn't suit my tastes, or visit a museum that was of little interest to me. Drivers and guides were always punctual, and I was always asked for input on pick-up times, what types of food I liked, and preferences in destinations. I always had a number I could call or text if I needed assistance.

The tour guides were all personable, knowledgeable, and qualified--Olga (Vladimir/Suzdal regional), the other Olga (Vladimir/Suzdal historical), Svetlana (Moscow), and Tatiana (St. Petersburg). Not only did they explain the sights, arrange the days to avoid traffic, and offer extra stops they knew I would find interesting, each guide was willing to have lunch with me every day, engage me in conversation, and answer my many questions. Though I was a solo traveler in Russia, it was as though I had a friend in each city. Even my regular transportation assistant in Moscow, Eugene, was very engaging and willing to discuss cultural topics as he drove me to or from my hotel or waited with me for a train.

Unlike group tours that would have merely "hit the high points" in each city, this tour was arranged specifically for my interests and tastes. From the planning stage, Sean and Ulyana made suggestions and changes to my itinerary to meet my requests and requirements. On the trip, the guides were willing to slow down and go into even more detail when I asked questions, stopping to address my inquiries. They were also willing to move on when they realized I was ready to go to the next site. Since I was a group of one, each day was tailored to the pace I chose to keep.

The cost of this personalized tour was a bit more than a standard group tour, but considering the number of sites I visited, the insights and perspectives I gained from guides, the customized schedule, the personalized touches, the privacy of my own hotel room, and the absolute peace of mind I had through the entire tour, it was a bargain!

I highly recommend this tour to a solo traveler, or to a small or large group of like-minded individuals who want to see and do more than the "standard tour of Russia", tailored to their tastes and interests.

Our Manaslu trek and the detailed planning and attention we received was wonderful! We work with an outstanding team, organized by Ngima, his sons Tashi and Lakpa, guided by Ang Gelu and pampered by the herculean effort of our porter Kunga.

From the planning perspective Ngima and his Sons were outstanding, making sure we were picked up from the airpot, shown where to rent & purchase trekking equipment and in my case taken to the airport twice when there was trouble with my flight. Communications leading up to the trip were clear, prompt and informative.

For the trek itself Ang Gelu was attentive and patient with us and clearly showed his professionalism and experience. We always felt safe and well cared for. Gelu was also flexible when we decided we wanted to stay longer at higher altitude. Kunga constantly greeted us with a smile and carried our bags to our door. When we weren’t trekking, both of them made sure we were well fed, comfortable and always had hot tea when we wanted it.

The trek itself was fantastic. We were worried at the start since there was a day and a half section on a road under development (on which, the government forbids tourists transportation). That being said, once you’re past it, it’s pure bliss and awe. I’m hard pressed to pick a favorite section as the whole thing varies with each elevation specific layer of ecosystem. All I can say is I would absolutely recommend it. I already have many times!

Wow! I have so much to write. My trip was amazing and so was KimKim. I actually met a couple while on a tour that had also used KimKim. Small world! About half of my tours ended up being just me instead of a group, which ended up being completely fine, but was unexpected at first.

Athens Mythology tour through Alternative Athens: Very interesting! Loved my tour guide (I can't remember her name exactly, Demetria maybe?). She was interesting, kept us engaged and very knowledgeable. She clearly loves what she does. I would definitely recommend this tour.

The ferry I took to Tinos was nice. It was on time and the staff helped me carry my way too heavy luggage up the stairs and were very accommodating if I had questions. The announcements were mostly clear. Unfortunately, I do not remember this ferry's name but it was NOT the blue star, it was the smaller one.

Favie Suzanne Hotel: I had to look for the hotel name on the vans in the parking lot but was able to find my ride pretty quickly. The van that picks you up is pretty run down but the brothers who drive you and run the front desk are amazing! So helpful and kind in planning out days and any other questions I had. The room was very comfortable and breakfast was sufficient.

The island of Tinos: Small very quiet island. The shops and restaurants along the port are nice to see and delicious to eat at but other than that, there is not much else to do within walking distance. I was a bit bored on my free day and ended up taking the bus to various villages. Because I went in what is technically off season, the bus did not run very often and therefore I was at the liberty of their schedule. I took cabs in between villages and then in order to see another village after the last bus, I had to find my own cab. Thank goodness for the kindness of Greece because I found probably the only cafe tucked away in the middle of houses to help me call a cab. People could not have been nicer. Depending on the village, there was not much to do besides walk the streets and look at the views and houses. My second full day (technically third and also the day I left) there was much better. I had my Tinian culinary workshop with Aldo and his wife Katia. Some of the nicest most welcoming people I have ever met in my life. I wish I had met them the day before because not only did we make a delicious meal together, they offered to take me around just a bit to see some things I haven't seen before. The weather was pretty chilly so I did not go to the beach and there was interspersed rainfall but it did not last long.

Ferry to Naxos was very late, which I guess is to be expected. Luckily the restaurants were near by and I was able to have a delicious ice cream and use wifi to entertain myself while waiting. Again, this smaller ferry helped me with luggage.

Arrival in Naxos: All my drivers except in Tinos had a sign with my name on it and were all ready and waiting for me. Since I arrived so late in Naxos, I went straight to the hotel, Nastasia Village Hotel, which was very very cute. It was traditional and almost cottage like. It was however, very noisy in the mornings and very cold at night. Great central location though! There was so much to do in Naxos and the vibe was completely different from Tinos. I found it very difficult however, to get to the places I wanted to see as the signs were not the clearest on/around the attractions. Asking for help is definitely your best bet as people are so kind! I was disappointed about the miscommunication for my biking tour with Naxos Bikes. My tour was scheduled for the morning but he was unable to take me until late afternoon. I did not go on the cycling tour because I spent the entire day walking around and was exhausted with old injuries acting up that would have made the tour less than enjoyable.

Ferry to Santorini: I don't remember much about this one. I think it was late and I believe it was a bigger ferry, which had an escalator to take the baggage up but NOT down. I did not know this and was definitely not expecting it. The fellow tourists were not the nicest as I tried to maneuver my bags down a lot of steep steps without falling to my demise. I am certain there is an elevator somewhere that I should have used.

Santorini: My driver, Costas with Agyros Tours, was awesome. So friendly and helpful with bags. There was a group of us he picked up and took to our respective hotels.

Makris Hotel was probably my favorite because of Vasiliki, the evening receptionist and also the view. I could literally hear and see the ocean from my room as well as the black beach and a mountain. Vasiliki went above and beyond for me multiple times during my stay. She was seriously the best!!! I ended up booking a tour with Kamari Tours because I did not have a way to see the Volcano or hot springs otherwise. I would not recommend this company. They were very unorganized once we got to the port and they were very late getting back, which resulted in me being late for my afternoon tour I scheduled with KimKim. The Kamri Tour with Jason Boats was a 4 hour tour to the hot springs and up the volcano. The trip description and items to bring need to be adjusted as well as more time for delays. Additionally, my tour guide was nice but not very engaging and I didn't feel like I learned as much as I should/could have. Christos from KimKim came to my rescue here as I was a bit frantic because I got back too late to make it to my hotel to be picked up for my Argyros Tour. We found a new place for me to join the tour and all was well.

Santorini Highlights and Wine Tour: I went with 4 other people in my group and the guide, Paris (I am not sure of the correct spelling). This tour was not exactly what I expected but overall I think I would recommend it. A couple did not make it so we got a late start. We adjusted the route a bit, and all the stops were enjoyable but very quick. No time to really take it all in or shopping if that was your plan. Definitely eat before as there isn't really time to stop for food. We were literally chasing the sunset so every stop was more and more rushed. The winery we went to, we were there for literally 20-25 minutes. There were 3 wines, cheese, pretzel type sticks, meat, and a paste, with a quick explanation. Inside the building was really cool but there was no explanation or tour for that whole area, which was really disappointing. The view was pretty but not spectacular and again, it was all very rushed. I didn't particularly enjoy any of the wines either. Only one white wine was just ok. Their dessert wine was terrible. The location we ended up at for the sunset was great though. Beautiful and not the normally crowded area. If only it hadn't been overcast.

My last day in Santorini I spent the morning sight seeing and then got picked up with my luggage to be taken to Fira. 5 hours in Fira was way to long for me and it was cold and I was exhausted and just wanted to rest. If I could do it again, I would have taken an earlier ferry to Athens.

Ferry to Athens: This one was giant and one time. It was overnight and the cabin was a necessity as I was completely exhausted. We got in about 30 minutes early and my hotel was not ready, which was torture because I was very hungry and very tired. I did go sight see for a few hours and then came back to the hotel. My room was not ready until about 2pm. This hotel, Pi Athens was also nice and in a central location. The pillows were incredibly lumpy but everything else was great. They even made sure I had breakfast because I was checking out so early. So appreciated!! My driver in Athens, Lampros, was always on time, very nice and helpful and took the time to take the scenic routes for me when time allowed.

Food tour with Alternative Athens: Great and delicious!!! I made the mistake of eating breakfast before hand, which was not necessary because even though it was just a taste at each stop, it was all delicious and filling! Maria was an awesome guide!

Sorry this is so long but I wanted it to be thorough. I hope this helps someone! Greece is SPECTACULAR!

Jordans 5 days and 4 nights.
Thanks for the organization. We liked Jordan very much. Hotels very good, the driver Haitham perfectly english speaking and actively explaining jordan traditions and routes.
To your future guests We suggest: even in very short tours, take at least 2 hours In Dead sea hotel before leaving for south tour (Petra and WadiRum) for unforgettable time floating in the dead sea. In Petra, try to visit Petra entering from back with a guide: a one way walk was much appreciated by our group.
This is a great trip and we thank all of your group for the great support. Paolo

We had the most AMAZING time in Iceland and it's all thanks to Preeti and Halldor! Booking was a so simple and we got to see everything and more. Kimkim set us up with the best tour companies! From the time we landed and had our taxi waiting it was fantastic. We landed very early so she found us a cute cafe to have breakfast and taught us proper Icelandic pronunciation lol! Our kayak guide Tim at Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon was so knowledgable and since it was just the two of us we had our own unexpected private tour. At Myrdalsjokull our guide Elsa from Arcanum was on point! On our second to last day we missed our snorkeling tour at Silfra Fissure (our own faults) but Preeti and Halldor came through and got us booked on the next one!! We saw and experienced so much on this road trip. Wow and a million thanks for making this post graduation girls trip the most amazing!!

Katja was wonderful to work with and planned a fantastic holiday .

she was attentive to all our needs and really went out of her way to make sure we had a great time

We always felt that she was available to us at any time if we had any queries or questions

Would 100% recommend her to others

Slovenia was awesome. I loved the trekking - quite challenging sometimes, especially in the Alps/ mountains/ hills , but always interesting. The River Soca is beautiful and Piran is a gorgeous town on the Adriatic. But lots of other lovely places. Domen was superb. Always responsive and kept in touch to make sure I was ok. The accommodation and treks he organized were perfect. Thanks Domen, SLO trips and kim kim 😀 10/10. Nga mihi Karen, New Zealand.