Kimkim Trip Reviews

Mohamid our guide was early which we appreciated and was a very nice person. On getting in the very back of the vehicle I put my hand on the back seat nearest the window and it collapsed and on the way it collapsed more.
Our guide stopped on the way to go in the Mosque and pray.
When we arrived at the place to let the tyres down for the sand dunes we were pestered to buy something from the shop. The people there then propped up the seat with breeze block bricks. One of our male party needed the toilet which was a disgrace and advised us not to use it as it was flooded and blocked. We arrived at our destination and then we were told we would have to pay for the meal someone came and saw us and asked for the paperwork then gave us a ticket to say we had paid for it. If there had not been six of us I would have found this very daunting but we had a good laugh although I felt guilty about everything that went wrong as I had booked it.

Regards

Carole Perry

My guide, Solomon, was always on time and knowledgeable about a site. I was walking on a sore foot and he was sure to help me navigate all steps. However, I had some difficulty understanding his English but I have hearing aids and had trouble understanding many of the Sri Lankans, so I don't know if it was his English or my lack of hearing well. My major complaint was that we had arranged for me to meet a friend of mine in Colombo on the last day of the private tour and we never made it to Colombo on time to meet him. I really felt that Solomon did this on purpose as I got the impression that he thought my friend was my Gate 1 guide before my private tour and that my friend was encroaching on his territory. Actually, it was someone I had met on a tour in Europe and who had convinced me to visit Sri Lanka. To meet him again was to be a highlight of my time in Sri Lanka and I was very disappointed. Solomon did not know that a boat from Delft Island was canceled, so we had to wait two hours for another boat to leave. He said that there was no place to eat lunch on the island so I was starving but he did find a place that I could buy some cookies. The Big Game Camp was recommended as a place to stay. It was the worse overnight accommodations that I have had anywhere--a tent that was too dark even during the day and the worse place to rearrange items for my flights home the next day. I was not told in advance that the scheduled trip to see the dolphins would require leaving the camp at 5 a.m. in the dark from the dark tent and the trip would have been on a fishing boat, which my friend had warned me was unsafe. I decided to not go on it, which resulted in having my last day on the tour just driving around. The boats going to and from Delft Island was enough of an experience already as they were far from being tourist boats. All in all, my private tour of Northern Sri Lanka was quite an experience, an adventure, though I wish that it had worked out a bit better.

Our experience using KimKim to book our trip to Colombia was amazing. It saved us time and made our trip run smoothly and painless.

Sharon was our guide in Bogota and she was very knowledgeable and gave us great recommendations for things to do or places to eat after our tours were over. We really enjoyed the trip up to Monserrate and eating the delicious food in Paloquemao market.

Juan Carlos was our guide for 2 days in Medellin and we had a great time. He went above and beyond and added in a few stops between our tours to show us more of the city.

In Cartagena we had a great guide who answered all our questions and even took us to a grocery store when we needed to grab a few items.

We are already set up with kimkim to book our next vacation to South Africa, we hope that we get the same great service we received from all the ladies in Colombia from kimkim.

I planned my very first trip to Africa (specifically Uganda) using kimkim and I could not be happier with the outcome. I was picked up at the Entebbe airport upon my arrival and dropped again at the airport after 3 weeks to fly back, and in between I had quite a few memorable adventures which I will remember for the rest of my life.
Uganda is a wonderful country full of natural parks, lakes, and wild animals, but I should say the most amazing part of my trip was interacting with Ugandan people on different parts of the country. Ugandans are extremely warm and friendly and no matter on which part of the country you see them, they always greet you with warmth and smile and I should emphasize once again that having the opportunity to travel around the country and meeting these wonderful people has been the highlight of my trip.
I had a wonderful and knowledgable guide (Paul Buzinde) who drove me around the country for 21 days. He knew all the roads in the country, the name of all the birds we encountered in the natural parks, and most importantly made utmost effort to make the trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible. I want to use this opportunity to thank Paul for making this trip a memorable experience for me.
If you're interested in visiting Uganda, 3 weeks of road trip should take you to most of the places that tourists generally visit, but if you want to plan a shorter trip then there are some places that in my idea you should definitely visit. In no particular order they are:
1) Kidepo Valley National Park - Many visitors don't go to this place since it's in a pretty remote area but I think a trip to Uganda should definitely include visiting this wonderful natural park. I visited some 6 national parks in Uganda and by far Kidepo was the most beautiful of them because it has a very open savannah where you can see miles and miles of grasslands with overwhelming beauty. Most of my wildlife sightings also happened to be in Kidepo. In addition, since not many people travel to this park, you might easily happen to have the whole park to yourself, which was the case with me while doing my safari. Keep in mind that traveling to Kidepo will also take you through the remote northeast region of Uganda which is home to Karamojong tribe. Consider this as an added bonus in traveling to Kidepo.
2) Murchison Falls National Park - You will not see hippos and crocodiles in Kidepo but there are plenty of them in Murchison, the views of Nile river is just breathtaking, and hiking to the top of the Murchison Falls and seeing the drop from the top is just an amazing experience.
3) Gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park - Much have already been said about this elsewhere, but I have to emphasize again that tracking gorillas and spending an hour with them is truly, truly a remarkable experience. If you plan to do only one thing in Uganda, this is it.
4) Lake Bunyonyi - Serene, beautiful lake with plenty of isolated islands scattered on top of it. You will have the opportunity to hike on the hillsides surrounding the lake and interact with local people living on the hillsides.
I would have liked to spend more time visiting the villages on the road but unfortunately this is something which I didn't think about before planning my trip. I suggest for anybody who plans to visit Uganda to consider a couple village walks in different regions of the country, specially in the Karamojong region. It will be a wonderful experience.

Thanks to Kimkim our W trek was amazing. Diana was fantastic in all sense. She responded promptly and made changes to our itinerary as required.

Only one suggestion, which is for fantastic sur, on day we could have stayed in Frances, day 3 Paine Grande which would have made things a bit better in terms of covering more.

We will definitely come back to Kimkim for our next Chilean and Argentina adventure

Thanks,
Pre and Elisabeth

I can definitely recommend the trip that was organised for me by Clara (and others).

- All communication was prompt and easy.
- Every single transfer/pick up was bang on time. This I thought very impressive given I had so many of them! Not once was I left waiting at all. That is obviously comforting when you are travelling alone.
- The itinerary was very well spaced out, not too much, not too little. It was nice to have a little bit of down time, especially in the Sol y Luna Hotel which was absolutely magnificent.
- All of the hotels that were booked for me were excellent.
- All of the tour guides were great company in their own unique way. All really friendly and knowledgeable.

Tips for improvement.

I can only think of two tips whereby the trip could be made even better. Hopefully these tips will benefit future travellers.

- I was booked on a horse riding activity ( I am a novice). The guides were fantastic, the horses were fantastic and the scenery was just incredible. My tip here however is that a novice such as me would be better served riding for say 2 hours/half a day. The ride I was on was an all day affair and the terrain very challenging. The guides conceded that the difficulty level was high. Having checked my iPhone, I believe I clocked up something like 28km's! It was an awesome experience without question, it just needed to better reflect my ability level.
- This tip relates to the amount of time spent in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes). I saw Machu Picchu itself in the morning (absolutely fantastic) leaving me the afternoon to explore the town in the afternoon and evening. I wasn't booked to leave the town until around 4.00pm the next day. If that departure can be moved forward in the day, you would get to enjoy more of Cusco (I arrived at approximately 8.00pm that night).

Many thanks once again to Clara and the entire team. I would absolutely recommend this company.

If you decide to go to Bhutan, Windhorse is a good choice for anyone. They customize, advise and will comply to your needs, budget and visits you want to make along your way. The pick ups were very important; we don't know who to trust, so we don't have this worry. Bas was dependable and pleasant at all times and that gave us the opportunity to have the trip we desired. The Bhutan staff was super-professional, prompt, informed and tried to accomodate our desires. Yentin was crystal clear and all of these things and we were grateful!

Additionally we visited Agra, New Delhi, Kathmandu and Chitwan. All of the ground staff was prompt and courteous. in Agra was accommodating. Laxman in Kathmandu was very helpful and pleasant. He stored some bags while we took a flight so we could travel lighter and he generally understood our needs.

The Resort in Chitwan was very lovely and memorable! Our naturalists/guides Saki and Krishnan were amazing. They made certain we had a memorable time!

Incidentally, I cannot fault Kimkim for anything but I don't think Kimkim was helpful. In fact, they didn't answer the phone when I needed something. I don't know if Kimkim cares at all! It's hard to understand what they do(?)

Your team did a great job with the overall organization of the trip. We were met at EZE by Ceci, who provided a bottle of wine. All connections were spot on. We took two trips out to Perito Moreno glacier. If I had realized how long it takes to get out there, I might have made a change in our daily itinerary...still, not a big deal. I thought the cave on the way to Torres Del Paine Park was interesting, but not sure it was worth the time. Everything else was spectacular. We were well prepared for the weather, and the changes. I had no idea of the wind conditions. Not a complaint, but wow, Puerto Natales was windy!! The hotel in El Calafate was well located, but they had some issues with the heat (too much). I think El Chaltén is a special place. The hiking was unbelievable, even though I came up about 600 Meters short of the lake on the Fitzroy trail. My sons made it. Was surprised how cheap food was in Argentina, but also how expensive it was in Chile (relatively speaking). Another thing I found interesting. The size of the area and how long it takes to get around. El Calafate to Puerto Natales...especially going down was a long haul. Again, not complaint, just an observation. Thank you for all you did!!

Thank you, Erin for organizing a terrific trek to Muldau and Poon Hill for us in the short time we had available in Nepal. The scenic views of the Annapurna range are magical and the wonderful memories of the trek will last a lifetime. I especially appreciate the quick adjustment to our itinerary, due to unexpected snow at lower elevations while we were on the trail, which prevented us from reaching Muldau, but had no negative impact on our experience. You and the staff at KimKim were great to work with.

I also want acknowledge our guide Mingmar and porters, Dorze and Dawa. They were the best company on the trail. It was so much fun! A round of Sprite for all! (Inside joke between Mingmar, Dorze, Dawa and our group)

Sangrita planned all the logistics including flights, hotels ,transfer, and guides. Sangrita answered all our questions quickly and everything worked perfectly! She was in constant contact with us throughout our trip. We highly recommend her company!

Jorge organised the trip for us, and Demi was our guide for the Mexico City. First day we decided to go to the Teotihuacan and Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe and on the second day wandering in the city. We liked pyramids in Teotihuacan the most. Demi explained everything and also he knows english so that was a bonus. Even we got stucked in the traffic jam Our driver Eric and guide Demi were very calm and easy going. Would recommend them also to the others!

Best regards,
Dina

We were quite apprehensive embarking on this trip due to the fear of the unknown. However, right from the onset our fears were allayed by the excellent planning by Tara and her team and the constant follow up throughout the trip. We felt assured that if we ran Into any problems, they would be taken care of by Tara.
Overall the iterarany planned between Tara and us was excellent!!! The only suggestion we would have is for the day trip to the Drakensberg should be done in two days if time allows. Otherwise you end up driving over 12 hours in a day!!!
The Earth Stompers tour was absolutely fantastic!!! Our guide Christine deserves many kudos as she dealt with everything with expertise and a constant smile!!!
Tours organizers in St. Lucia we’re also awesome. We were very happy with the game we saw and we would certainly recommend Cape Vidal. Our guide Arno was beyond amazing. His knowledge, passion for his job and again a constant smile made the tour incredibly fun.

Overall a fantastic trip!!! South Africa is beautiful and so are the people.

Overall working with kimkim was a great experience. Norway in winter was beautiful. The best was wisely saved for last. Or experience at Trasti & Trine was magical. Hannah, or dogsled guide was terrific and Johnny's food was an event every meal. We will definitely be back and will use kimkim again.

booking process was easy, feel fees are a bit high could consider flat fees rather than a percentage of total costs.

Experience Morocco provided a great itinerary and their service was impeccable. Our driver, Amin, was courteous, knowledgeable and spoke very well english.

the local guides were amazing providing a broad range of information as well as local culture and spots.

I recently visited Nepal for the first time. I used Kimkim because I wasn't familiar with the country and I didn't have much time to plan the trip personally. Using Kimkim was the best decision I could have made.

Kripa from Himalayan Trails was helpful beyond belief and provided an itinerary that was exactly what I was looking for. She arranged the accommodations, guides, and all other logistics. Although it seemed somewhat expensive up front I realized I got an extraordinary deal! I look forward to using Kimkim and Himalayan Trails again soon.

Highly highly recommend it.

Carmen organized a perfect first trip to Jordan for us, and our driver, Azzam, could not have been a better ambassador for Jordan. We saw and explored wonderous sites and take home with us wonderful memories. The value for money spent was excellent. The hotels were good value with the exception of the Grand Hotel in Madba, which was sub standard. We highly recommend Carmen and KimKIm!

I found the web platform and payment method a bit challenging as I was travelling with a group. Marie-Lou was generally prompt in responding to me. It would have been better if we could have talked directly to Mauricio, our guide for the wine tours as he had a plan that would have involved less driving. We went the way I requested but that was because I really didn’t understand the driving times/traffic etc. However, we did enjoy driving up the coast from San Antonio to Valparaíso as we were able to see where Chileans spend their summer holidays.
Mauricio was very good - he was always striving to give us a good experience. The wineries he chose were so diverse that we were always surprised that we were learning something new. Mateo and Leo were our guides for touring Santiago, were very good at answering questions and giving us options (such as walking or driving through the city center). Going up the gondola for the city view was a highlight.
The hotels - Hotel 17 in Valparaíso - great location, beautiful rooms with amazing views, Good breakfast, but a little run down and it could have been a little cleaner. Inca Hotel in Los Andes, Great pool area, good location, good breakfast, modern looking but moldy showers! Hotel Torremayor Lyon - nice neighbourhood, very good breakfast but this once very beautiful hotel needs renovations - it wouldn’t even look that bad if the floors were cleaner and stains removed from upholstery and carpets. The pool was very grubby.
Our guides and drivers definitely made this trip enjoyable and informative and I would recommend them to anyone. I would also use Kimkim in the future as it is a good way to find customized, unique travel experiences.

Our 4 day trek in Nepal was fantastic. Gelu was a great guide, took it at a nice pace and looked after us all.
I loved the different terrains we walked through. Meeting the locals and being thoroughly looked after.
The trek was a good challenge, long days but do able and very rewarding.
We were lucky with the weather, a little snow storm the afternoon we reached base camp but it added to the mood. Getting up early in the freezing cold to summit was a struggle, but to get outside to see clear starry skies was amazing.
We stuck in, and made it to the summit just in time to see the sun rise. It was breath taking (the walk up and the views). The mountain range standing tall, fantastic view of mt Everest and surrounding mountains. Out of this world! Definitely felt I had accomplished something. Smiles all round!!
A massive thank you to Gelu, Tongba and the two porters! A trip we will never forget.

Goody and Ziggy showed our group parts of Iceland that few tourists get to experience. We climbed to the bottom of a large crevasse on Mýrdalshreppur Glacier and had the whole location to ourselves. Ziggy gave us a personal tour of Midgard Base Camp and Goody introduced us to the owner of Hotel Ranga whose entertaining stories were “mostly true”. These personal touches made for an amazing trip.

Working with Sophie from L'Objectif France was great. She took the time to phone me to ask important questions. She was quick to reply to my questions and requests. Thanks to Sophie, we were able to fit in a lot of neat things in such a short tip. The Road Book Sophie put together with the itinerary and directions - including maps - was fantastic. I have never seen a comparable book from another agent.

The car transfers arranged in Brussels with Blacklane were superb. Clean, comfortable vehicles and professional drivers. Drivers were on time/early.

Waffle tour (can't remember company or name of guide) was really neat and provided a memorable experience. The waffles we made themselves were so-so, but the history and knowledge of Belgian waffles in general was really neat.

Day trip to Ghent and Bruges with Brussels City Tours was good. Weather was pretty miserable, but the guide was great and knowledgeable. Spoke/walked at a good pace. Made for a long day, but I felt like I got a good sense of both places without being rushed or with too much time doddling.

City tour of Brussels was ok, also with Brussels City Tours. This was originally scheduled for our first day, which is ideal for me as a traveller in order to get a sense of the city at the beginning of the stay. This tour was rescheduled due to low booking. Sophie was great about getting in touch to communicate the change and allowed us time to decide if we wanted to keep our booking. They ended up having a last minute cancellation, so it was just the two of us on the tour with a big coach bus. Was nice to see more of Brussels other than the city centre, but there was too much time on the coach and I would not have enjoyed the tour if the bus was full. Definitely prefer tours with more walking.

The chocolate tour of Brussels with Groovy Brussels was amazing! Highly recommend.

Private tour of Liège was good. Interesting city history. Guide focused a lot on architecture and churches a little too much. Felt like we could have seen more if we didn't spend so much time on individual buildings talking about windows and lines.

Kimkim overall was a useful tool. As a Canadian, I would have liked to pay in the local currency rather than USD so I didn't essentially pay the exchange rate twice. There seemed to be a technical glitch when a second traveller was added, which made payment more complicated than it would have been otherwise. If it worked properly, would have worked great to split the costs between two travellers. It also would have been nice to have a breakdown of costs for each itinerary item as well as more info upfront about how the agent's costs work. I noticed each time I asked for a change, her fees went up. This made me hesitant to ask for changes. However, the amount of time I saved by not looking up tours and hotels myself was well worthwhile.