Kimkim Trip Reviews

This was a great trip from start to finish. Aldo, the guide, was a pure delight to spend 4 nights and 5 days with. He covered every detail and more; bring hot water bottles to each of us as we were sleeping at 14,000 feet in the Andes to stay warm, bringing coffee or tea to each of us before we got out of bed. The highlights for us were to reach the summit of the Salkantay trail at 15,200 feet, the coffee plantation where we picked the coffee beans, roasted, ground and made coffee and camping by the mineral hot springs, soaking our tired bodies. The food was gourmet dining, the two cooks were splendid. Manchu Picchu was a day to remember with Aldo providing a tour. I would recommend this trip to anyone, I still have that vacation glow!!!!!

Great trip and experience. Loved it. Highly recommend. Azores offers a lot of cultural dynamics and activities, very accessible from Boston and at a very reasonable price. Great value. Also, close enough to consider long weekend excursions: Thursday night to Monday.

We had an incredible trip to Nicky Lodge on the Aguarico River. Our primary guide, Evi, was incredibly knowledgable (able to name nearly every species we asked about by its scientific name and also in Spanish, English and one or two of the local dialects), patient and fun. The secondary guide was not quite as knowledgable, but had a great knack for spotting hard-to-see animals. The guides (and the canoe drivers, too) paid close attention to the interests of our group, and would happily stop (or turn around) the boat to point out interesting creatures.

The lodgings were very comfortable, with running water (and it got nice and hot, important for the days we got soaked by the rain), but with no bells-and-whistles which made it feel like a proper jungle experience. The food was also simple but delicious, and the staff was very attentive to food allergies (my mom is gluten free).

Of course, in the jungle it's the plants and animals which really draw your attention - but the professionalism, comfort and service at Nicky Lodge made the whole trip seamless and wonderful.

Thanks!

I cannot say enough about how professional, efficient, personable, and thorough the team at Responsible Treks was.
I consider myself a low-maintenance traveler, so I was not used to having such a highly attentive team. But I’m grateful for it. They took care of every detail, leaving my focus only on soaking in the scenery, history, culture, and terrain of one of the most beautiful countries on earth.
Kunchok guided me through selecting a trek and preparing for it. He was responsive to every question and upfront with all the details we would need to know. He met us as we arrived at our hotel and ensured that we were briefed in person on the timeline and the details of the trek.
I had selected the short Dhampus Trek with my brother. Our guide in the mountains was Dawa. He was phenomenal—entirely professional and highly knowledgeable. And we felt as though he were a close friend by the end of the trek. He helped us navigate cultural nuances as well as fully explained all stretches of the trek to us. He left both of us wanting to return and trek again with him one day.
Rajive was our guide for a day in Kathmandu, and we were left feeling like we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. He asked us about our timeline and our interests, and then he made tailored suggestions to us that allowed us to see both the major Kathmandu sites as well as some off-the-beaten-path sites that allowed us to feel as though we’d been given a private view into the true vibe of that culturally rich city.
At an incredibly reasonable price, Responsible Treks seamlessly took us from A to Z along our trip, and left us feeling beyond satisfied. I highly recommend this team.

We had a great time on each of the tours you organized. Thank you!!

We had an amazing 9-day Slovenia vacation with kimkim and the local specialist, Miha and his company. Ours was a completely customized trip for a group of 11 adults. We had two amazing guides, Domen and Anja. We were very impressed with the quality of the tour, the hotels, the farmhouses we visited, the wine tasting experiences, the local meals that we would never have found on our own, etc.... Miha before the start of the trip and our wonderful guides Domen and Anja during the trip had tremendous attention to detail, and we could feel that they were doing their utmost to make sure all our wishes were fulfilled. We could not go on some of the hikes originally planned due to too much snow and Domen suggested awesome alternatives that had beautiful vistas. We were also impressed by how well Domen and Anja worked together as a team.

Slovenia is an extremely beautiful country with a wide variety of landscapes and we loved them all - the mountains, the lakes, the valleys, the meadows, the waterfalls, the underground caves and amazing cave kayaking experience, wine country, the Adriatic coast, the super charming towns, the lovely farmhouses, ...We will be recommending Slovenia and your awesome team to all our travel crazy friends!

Thanks again Miha, Domen and Anja for everything. You guys are the best!

And kimkim will certainly be on the top of my list to contact for all our future adventures in every country where they provide their services and have local operators.

Okay, assuming you want a blunt assessment. The planning was great as was the booking and with a few exceptions which you will see when I rate the hotels.

Not to sound like a broken record but the problem was with the execution and I am not referring to the choice of vehicle exclusively but rather as I voiced to Henri on my last day it was how the send off from Tirana was handled. My agreement with your company included an English speaking GPS similar to the one I used when I drove in Iceland. Instead I was sent off with a Vodaphone mobile Wifi and my own phone. My google maps turned out to be unreliable off and on during the entire trip. My issue is/was, if the GPS had been supplied on Day 1 we would have discovered the issues with the car and with the Tom Tom immediately (except for the air conditioning of course) and I assume gone to Kia for repair of the vehicle issues and also presumable repaired or purchased a new Wifi. Ed certainly tried but the issue should never have arisen in the first place.

We enjoyed the whole experience.
The itinerary was meticulously planned, the guides were very professional , yet friendly and helpful, the vehicles comfortable and the small groups made interaction and time management easy.
One of my most memorable experiences was the Gallimard perfumery - I enjoyed making my own perfume!
My husband greatly enjoyed the trip to Monaco and Monte Carlo.
On the whole, a fabulous trip!

My entire trip to Peru was incredible thanks to the help of Kristy and the rest of the Miski Travels team.

Kristy is an incredibly organized and smart professional. Her deep relationships with the local vendors in the area is an immediate value-add for her clients. In addition, her english/spanish translation is invaluable for english-speaking travelers. She was able to organize everything from travel, entertainment and restaurants to trips outside of Lima such as the famous Manchu Picchu tour and Paracas.

I highly recommend those traveling to Peru to leverage the expertise of Kristy and the Miski Travel team. Their high-touch service is worth every penny.

Linda planned the perfect trip for us. The hotels were all carefully chosen to be within an easy walk of trains and ferries and fully met our expectations. Linda’s local knowledge ensured that we had just the right amount of time in each place. Her recommendations were spot on. Local guide Wilde in Bergen gave us an interesting and personalised tour which was infinitely better than the usual city walking tour experience. Lofoten Islands were an absolute treat. Lone at Westerålen is the most delightful,warm and welcoming hostess. This experience has inspired us to come back and see more of Norway and we will definitely use Kimkim again.

Overall, our trip to Jordan and Israel was great.

Our journey to Jordan was well-taken care by Akram. He led us to many spectacular spots, which were unforgettable. He also shared Jordanian history and culture. The service Akram provided was exceptional.

We were particularly grateful to be arranged to accommodate in the luxury camp in the Wadi Rum Desert. Our camp was so luxurious and beautiful, which was beyond our expectations. The food was good. And our favourite part was hooka-ing under the starry night in the middle of the desert. This was an experience that we would never forget.

However, there is still room for improvements for hotels we lived in Jordan. While it was true that the rooms are spacious, they were not as clean as we expected. There was little hair on the pillow cover in one of the hotels that we lived which implied that the hotel did not wash their pillow cover for every guest they served. Moreover, Worst of all, our experience in the Dead Sea Spa Hotel was horrible. While they had a good buffet, we were disappointed with the attitude of their staff members. Our room lock was not walking initially and the hotel made a promise that it only took five minutes for them to fix it. However, it eventually took us two to three hours to wait for the response from the hotel, in spite of our repeated and kind request to the hotel to fix the lock. We only had one night in the Dead Sea area and much time was wasted in fixing the lock of our room. What a pity!

Moreover, we were advised to purchase a 2-day Jordan pass. It turned out that we only spent one day in Petra. Perhaps better communication should be made between different parties so as to save us some money.

For our journey in Israel, we are amazed by the choice of hotel, which were so fancy. Also, the group tours are generally good. The tour guides were humorous. Yet, there was one exception, our tour to Bethlehem was poorly arranged. The tour guide looked grumpy all the time. Worse, our tour was conducted in both English and Spanish. Since it was apparent that the tour guide was more proficient in Spanish, I and my friends felt neglected by the tour guide. The queuing arrangement in the church of Bethlehem sucked! People just pushed others, without order and discipline.

Moreover, it will be great if there were fewer 'shopping stops' in those group tours in Israel. Frankly speaking, we were not really interested in shopping and we found those compulsory stays in their assigned shops was quite annoying.

Thank you Lena for all the arrangments, we really appreciate that. Generally speaking, we had a good experience. Yet, there were still minor parts that Lena should take care of to further improve the quality of similar tours later on.

We were very happy with the itinerary for our 14 day "package" self-drive trip to Iceland. Included in our package price was: car hire, accommodation at 2/3 star level (including breakfasts), car ferry to the western fjords, entry to Blue Lagoon and Myvatn Nature Baths, and a boat ride at the Glacier Lagoon. Also included was the peace of mind that we could call on Halldor or Preeti in case anything went wrong. We took up the dining suggestion at Tjoruhusid and were not disappointed! It was great to have everything pre-booked and to simply hand over a voucher to get the required service.

The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 for the overall booking experience was because some weeks after we had agreed on the itinerary and paid our deposit for the package as quoted, we were told they had made a mistake with the accommodation prices and wanted to charge us more! We refused, based on the fact that the inclusions in the package were very clear right from the start (note: we only ever got one price per person, not an itemised price list for each inclusion in the package so had no idea what each component was worth anyway), had been checked and confirmed by both parties (as evidenced by the email chain) AND we had already paid a third of the total package amount as a deposit, which to us meant we had a contract that was not open to change. The matter was let drop, but I feel it should never have been brought up in the first place - we are not the Iceland experts and so how were we to know the package was "too cheap"?

We were then a bit concerned that the changes made to our accommodation might mean we got something sub-standard, but happily this was not the case and our holiday went very smoothly.

If you want a hassle-free self-drive holiday in Iceland, then planning and booking through kimkim is certainly the way to go!

My experience exceeded my expectations due to my guide Linda's exceptional knowledge of the areas I requested travel to (the Aran Islands, and the Burren), her keenness of listening to determine how she could fulfil my hopes for my 2 day trips, and her going the extra mile to link up with a local expert and resident who grew up in the Burren and gave us a personalized walk and commentary on an untrafficked section of the National Park. Besides being out of doors on the ferry to Aran and past the Cliffs of Moher by sea, and the next day to the endlessly intriguing stunning tracks into the Burren--thereby having my body register the sensory experience--I appreciated Linda's vibrant curiosity and affection for the land . Happily for me, Linda is an intelligent, insightful and thoughtful observer of the natural features of the land, as well as the history and mythology and bounty of the area. I engaged her on all manner of
uriosities about Irish history, culture, flora and fauna, environmental activism,, herbalism, etc., and there wasn't a single topic she isn't a pleasant and edifying conversational partner in. Thank you, Linda, for guiding me to such affecting & memorable places and bringing me enchanting experiences.

I am really glad I went with KimKim to book our trip in Colombia. Gael, our trip specialist, took care of all the little trip-planning details that would have taken me days of research and indecision to figure out. We ended up going to the Coffee Region, and our itinerary included staying at a coffee finca with great amenities, hiking in the Cocora valley, visiting charming towns along the way, eating farm-to-table, and of course drinking amazing coffee with our local guides Sebastian and Santiago. We also floated lazily down a river in a bamboo raft for an afternoon. The landscape just seems untouched out there, it was really a treat! I was feeling a bit ill from the altitude on one of the days, and the local guides took really good care of me.

Chris did a great job helping plan our unforgettable trip.

I have a few suggestions; please advice traveler to Lake Myran (sp) of the absolutely aweful sworn of black flys in the area. We couldn’t walk around the lake because we were not prepared for the flys. We were pretty disappointed as the area and walked looked beautiful. Face nets are essential.
Also, toward the fiords in the northeast coast, were advices to take road 92 to 96. These roads are now just highway one.
Lastly, our last accommodation took cash only! We were ill prepared for this as well. Luckily, the women was kind and took what we had. Which was only less than half what we owed.
Otherwise, these were our only problems, and they were minimal!

Thank you for a wonderful trip.

OH MY GOD, Deborah is Awesome, so nice ,patient and always answer when i call on her , sometimes 12 am . She is GREAT and the best i have ever known my whole Life . Indeed she is a Specialist. I recommend anyone going to South Africa and booking with KimKim should Chose Deborah . God this lady is Amazing , her timing , planning and service is amazing , she will make you feel like a Royal away from Home . I have decided to come go to cape town every year because of her. She is the best i have ever seen in the whole wide world . Deborah thumps up. Be proud of yourself , Thank you for the wonderful service , God bless you ..

We could not fault the whole trip. All the guides were exceptional. The places we visited were fabulous. The farm house lunches absolutely great. We would recommend this trip to anyone who asked for advice.

I truly cannot say enough good things about this trip and the people involved in the experience. Before the trip, we coordinated with Steve and Katy and our questions were answered and last minute additions handled promptly and easily. I definitely recommend reading all of the information sent carefully and sticking to the packing recommendations. If you are a high information person, definitely call to get the scoop on when meals are, when you are stopping, etc, if you like that kind of detail.

The trek itself was incredible. We had the amazing Aldo as our guide and he is such an incredible guide and person. He answered our endless questions, had solutions for any issues that came up (altitude sickness, cold temps, fatigue, etc) and kept an endlessly positive attitude throughout. Our chefs, Johan and Eduardo could not have been nicer or more helpful, and the food was beyond expectations. I kept saying that they need to write a cookbook to sell! And they worked with my food allergies too, so I knew I was in good hands. We even had two horsemen who managed the pack horses, the luggage, and the emergency horse for the times when altitude, fatigue, and body injuries were a little too much. Having them there was great peace of mind. Everyone worked so hard and with smiles on their faces and jokes for all.

The trek is certainly challenging physically, especially with the altitude, so I recommend altitude sickness pills ahead of time, a few days in Cusco to acclimate, LOTS of water, and training! It also got to negative temps on the first night beneath the Salkantay mountain (holy gorgeous stars - we saw the Southern Cross!!!) and recommend warm clothing and even hand and toe warmers since they are easy to pack. Our wonderful team had hot water bottles for us for that night which made such a difference! Having a small day pack for rain gear, gloves, snacks (which were often provided) is very helpful as you are not with your bags generally during the day. I had a fanny pack and ended up putting most of my stuff in my mom's day pack. Renting the sleeping bags and mats was also nice since we didn't have to lug those around the airport. It is hard to imagine carrying all of my belongings on my back, so renting a mule was well worth it!

We kept joking that we would almost forget that the end of the trek was Machu Picchu, because honestly if we hadn't done that piece, it still would have been a memorable trip. It was certainly the icing on the cake!

The journey of the trek itself - from the Humantay Lake hike in the beginning to get our "sea legs", to summiting at 15,500 ft, to descending through plantations and jungles and small villages, to eating wild fruit (strawberries, passion fruit, limes) along the way, to the Cocalmayo hot springs, to the coffee plantation, to Machu Picchu (and Wayna Picchu if you are up for an extra 45 min steep ascent that is beautiful!), everything exceeded expectations, especially for the price. Aldo and his team at Aspiring Adventures truly made it easy to enjoy every moment and treated us to a luxurious camping experience. My mother and I carry with us memories of a lifetime and we will never forget it. Thank you to all, especially Aldo, from the bottom of our grateful hearts!

This my second trip as a solo female traveler using kimkim (last year was Nepal) and I have been astounded both times. I will definitely keep using their services for my big trips. I spent 99% of my time in the Sacred Valley - and the trip offered an amazing look into the culture, history and nature of the area.

First, James and I ironed out the basics... what is my general itinerary and where do I want to stay. He was great at making modifications and giving me a series of possible options throughout the country. Although I originally chose Peru to do a spiritual retreat, James was able to make sure everything around that experience made me comfortable - as well as confirmed with locals that the retreat I had chosen was reputable.

The number one resource they had for me was Rolfi, my guide that did everything from meeting me at the airport with Mario (another amazing human who drove us all around the valley). He made my travels unforgettable. It wasn't just his understanding of the Valley, but his passion for the history. My questions were his fuel and he made me feel always welcome. He even taught me a bit of Spanish which I worked on throughout the trip. I am forever grateful to Rolfi.

We built in the 3 day Lores Trek which blew me away - the views, Rolfi's love of local plants and flowers, the beautiful happy staff of cooks and muleteers... while not easy I was emotional many times overcome by the beauty. At summit, nearly 16,000 feet... I was exhausted, elated and overwhelmed by the experience. Although a shorter trek, I still recommend training for this - especially with lung capacity, balance and leg strength. I absolutely recommend doing it - not touristy at all, so it becomes a very intimate time with you, your thoughts and nature (I believe we crossed the path of another group only twice the entire trek).

Another thing to mention, as a solo female traveler, I was blown away at Quechua Treks desire to check in on me and make sure I was happy. At one point, I found myself feeling alone in a location they put me in. I was embarrassed to admit my discomfort (wanting to be strong and independent), but James, Rolfi and Mayra jumped on helping me change my itinerary and actually put me back in a place I LOVED called Nunus. If you can fit Nunus into your budget... you MUST go there - it's family-owned boutique casitas tucked in the base of the valley in Lamay. It's easy to go to the other local towns like Pisac (only one sole). I spent many hours relaxing there in the sun, reading in a hammock and taking in the fresh Andes air.

What else? There were so many things like going to Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, rock climbing, day hikes, town visits, celebrations... its a beautiful colorful culture with a love for music, dancing and color. I'm glad I stayed the entire time in that region. And it gives me incentive to come back to explore Lima, the Jungle and more of Cusco. Tell James or your guide what types of things interest you because the options are limitless in Peru.

Also, packing... I know you'll read it elsewhere. I packed light and purchased clothes (and two souvenir duffle bags) at the local markets, mainly in Pisac. Just know that you'll need everything from shorts to thermals. So, you should definitely bring camping items and clothing - because they aren't available in the Valley (outside the city of Cusco), and use the local markets to buy their colorful pants, tops and ponchos. If you like shopping, ask Rolfi about Chinchero - he showed me quite the find there where the ladies taught me about how they make their textiles and then I went crazy snatching up things for my friends and family back home.

You can find photos of my experience on IG @kknape

Sean & his wife Ulyana Eastern Europe Explorer were absolutely brilliant! I gave Sean what I thought was an impossible dream at last moment & he turned it into a great adventure! We had all information upfront & detailed - all we had to do was physically execute & then RELAX & enjoy! All contacts were knowledgeable & professional-HIGHLY RECOMMEND!