Kimkim Trip Reviews

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.

Almost all of the trip when exactly by the itinerary, except when one time a driver waited to pick us up at the train station where instead we were to be picked up at our hotel. Another time, one tour was rescheduled with no notification to Karin or us, but we were able to get in touch with the tour guide who cancelled and said our tour was rescheduled for the next day which still fit into our schedule. Most memorable places were the Douro Valley and wine and port tasting, and Tomar, the beautiful monastery. Also Sintra and walking up the old castle walls was memorable (it was very hot the day we went up, but we made it and the views were very rewarding.

Nicaragua far out weighed our expectations mainly due to Kim Kim. The tour and itinerary were excellent. Thanks Lucia.
Oscar was there to meet us at Managua airport and transfer us to Granada. The tours in and around Granada were great and the highlight for me was the zip lining at Mt Mombacho. That was amazing.

Rene gave us a great tour to Mt Masaya and his knowledge was diverse and enlightening.
Juan the driver was also a happy guy and he transferred us to San Juan del sur.

Sadly San Juan del Sur is suffering since the drop in tourism, so it was a quiet time there.
Rafa then transferred us to the border of Costa Rica (Penas Blancas) and helped us through the Nicaraguan immigration and customs, which we were most grateful for. It is also worth mentioning that the drivers were very safe which we appreciated.

Thanks again to Kim Kim

Jordan May 8- May 13, 2019
Lena Sluga, our travel specialist for Visit Jordan. She is the best! She made perfect itinerary for 6 nights & cover almost every place. We visited Amman, Jerash, Madaba, Mt, Nebo, little Petra, Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea. She is so prompt & particular to answer our questions. We changed our itinerary so many times, but she is always helpful and so cool to us.
And our trip make more memorable our Driver Waleed Al Sabbah and guide Nasser Abu-Rezeq. Waleed was so calm and helpful to us and taking care of all small things. And guide Nasser full of knowledge of Jordan and World. We really enjoyed.
Thanks Lena, Waleed and Nasser to make our trip to Jordan memorable 👍👍👍

While Carla was great planning the trip, our guide, Rolfi, left much to be desired. Rolfi was rude, uninformed, unpleasant, unhelpful and unprofessional.

He was late picking us up by almost 20 minutes. When he finally arrived, he muttered something like the flight was early (by 10 minutes), it's only 10 minutes you had to wait. No apologies. Nothing. At lunch, Rolfi insisted that we order the baked Guinea Pig (which was very expensive) and reminded us that our drinks were on our own but failed to mention that his drink was on us too. We also had to pay for a side order of corn, which he put it on his bill and asked me to add it to my payment (which I corrected). Rolfi is also inaccurate in his account of local history, i.e., that the Inca towns and Machu Picchu were built several thousand years before Christ. When asked how far is Peru from the equator, he replied 6000 miles. Rofi also took us into a village shop, gave a short talk on everyday life and then told us to either buy something or leave a tip. Rolfi also asked a young boy to sing for us and then told us to give him money, which I find totally inappropriate and offensive. Rolfi gets irritated if he had to repeat something and like to test us to see if we remembered his lectures.

We wanted to get into Machu Picchu as early as possible and Rolfi agreed that earlier time is better, so we made arrangement to meet at 5 a.m. to catch the 5:30 bus in order to enter the park when it opens at 6 a.m. Rolfi failed to inform us that our tickets for entering Machu Picchu is for 8 a.m. After failing to persuade the park officials to make an exception for us, he then blamed the problem on us because we wanted to be at the park early. We had to wait over 90 minutes before we were allowed to enter. Again, no apologies, nothing. We incurred $21.49 for coffee and tea while we waited.

Rolfi told us that we are limited to 3 hours in Machu Picchu and we felt rushed through the park. And to fill the 3 hours, we came to the end and sat around and waited to fill the time. We then had to wait an hour before a terrible buffet lunch was ready, and another 90 minutes before going to the train station for the 2:30 train. The entire day was very poorly planned even if the park admission time fiasco had not occurred.

Overall, we were really pleased with our trip to Jordan. The itinerary suggested by Carmen took into account our interests, while also connecting us with some experiences we wouldn't have thought of on our own.

We really enjoyed meeting Nile, who was our hiking guide in Petra, and enjoyed the iftar with his family. Petra was, of course, a highlight of the trip, but Wadi Rum was also amazing, and floating in the Dead Sea was an incredible experience!

Things that could have been improved: We had a number of different drivers, which was sometimes a bit confusing. The hotels were just okay.

This was a wonderful tour. Any glitches that came up were quickly resolved through the kimkim site. The guide for our tour in Naples was outstanding and our hotel in Maori was simply gorgeous. We did get stuck in a small elevator for about 10 minutes, perhaps the kind of thing that might happen in a three star hotel. The hotel in Naples was ok but not terrific. On the whole, a wonderful experience. I suggest that you add advice about taking the ferry from Amalfi to Positano, which is more expensive than the bus, but much less nerve- wracking. Overall, 8.5 out of 10.

Tummas was a wonderful, patient and knowledgeable guide. Excellent!

I am not sure who David is, our local specialist was Tummas. Tummas was very knowledgeable, flexible, and in great physical condition. We had wonderful hikes and on a very foggy day, which occurs often in the Faroes, we had a great road trip to remote picturesque villages driving through spectacular scenery. His personality provided pleasant company. I would highly recommend him.

KimKim, at a higher level of the experience, was difficult to communicate with and sent rather confusing emails at times. The problematic KimKim communications lost 4 people to the Faroe trip.

My experience in Nepal was simply superb! I met a number of great people along the way including my trekking guides and porters as well as other local guides and and touring specialists.

The trek around the Manaslu circuit was simply breathtaking with incredible views and a moderate amount of physical exertion it was the best trekking experience I could have asked for.

Additionally my sight seeing tours in Kathmandu were fantastic and i managed to see an incredible 5 out of 7 UNESCO world heritage sights within the Kathmandu valley.

In summary I would recommend a similar trip to anyone. Reshma my local specialist was a fantastic facilitator in organizing the whole experience for me and I would recommend her to anyone I know . All in all it was a great trip and I would definitely do it again!