Kimkim Trip Reviews

Linda was outstanding, she was quick at answering all my questions and made sure I was in the loop when itineraries changed.

All the guides did a wonderful job explaining Ecuador and the different locations that are popular to visit or that make Ecuador unique.

The city tour was nice, I really enjoyed the mitad del mundo museum - very informative.
Otavalo, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, and Baños were all wonderful experiences!

I was very thankful that Linda was able to connect with my hotel and ensure that I had a to go breakfast on the days I left early. I love breakfast!!

My wife and I recently traveled to Nepal on our honeymoon to explore part of the mustang region. We were looking for adventure, culture and scenery. Our guide Thinley and the whole team from Responsible Treks gave us a wonderful adventure. Nepal is such a beautiful country rich in history, culture and spirit, and the mustang region was just as breathtaking as we had hoped it would be. Even with the monsoon weather providing us with a range of obstacles, the Responsible Treks team worked diligently to find solutions to each obstacle and succeeded in giving us an adventure that we will always remember.

Eiser was our guide and he was excellent in his knowledge of Cuba and his awareness of our needs. His driving on the trip to Trinidad was excellent and navigated the many pot holes with extreme expertise and diligence. He made the trip fantastic with his calmness and willingness to go the extra mile for whoever needed it. There was one participant who was quite difficult at times, and always late for whatever we were doing and complained about everything, but he showed great equanimity, was able to calm her down and many times I marveled at how he did it as I would not have been able to manage my annoyance if I'd been having to deal with her. The highlight for me was Trinidad and our hosts couldn't have been more warm and inclusive as if we were members of their own family. Osi and Miguel. We met her mother, daughter and grandchild, so 4 generations and even an adorable puppy! Our tour guide for the day was also excellent and it was great to have a chance to meet a wide-range of Cuban people. I consulted the recommendations on the itinerary many times and although I didn't get to try most of them, it was comforting to have. I did manage to get to a great Jazz club the last night and that was a highlight.

Everything was so awesome ..I'm so glad I met Kristy. She is did a great job:)

Our family’s trip to Peru was amazing, and a lot of the success is owed to our specialist Kristy. She was fully involved in our trip planning and spoke with my wife multiple times to answer all of our questions and help plan out a custom package. Upon arrival, she met us at the airport and ensured that every step of the way was taken care of. While in Peru, Kristy was always just a phone call away - she went above and beyond multiple times to ensure that our trip was smooth and a success. In several instances, she came to meet us to help and to ensure that our trip was the best. I can’t say enough good about the kimkim experience and our specialist Kristy - I am grateful for our experience.

We booked a 10 day trip to Jordan as a family (2 adult children). Starting in Amman we did the standard trip - Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba then ending at The Dead Sea.
Lena's communication and advice was excellent. We had a driver (Mohammed) throughout which made the trip very straight forward. I don't see how you could really cover this ground in a limited amount of time without a driver. The car was very comfortable and Mohammed was efficient and punctual. We got a couple of quotes and this was competitive. Jordan is quite pricey so it would be no cheaper to book once you arrived. Plus this way, everything's organised and you can make the most of your time.

We were mid summer so it was very hot but the plus was that it was very quiet and at times, we had the places to ourselves.

Jordan is a fantastic country with a lot to offer. We loved Amman and its eclectic range of markets and restaurants. The old town was much more interesting to us than the more westernised Rainbow Street. Petra was stunning - we didn't use a guide as the published material is very clear and you can then take things in at your own pace. We spent about 7/8 hours there - be prepared for a lot of walking but there are plenty of places inside to rest and get a drink. (Highly recommend The Old Village Hotel - out of the town up on the hill - but a short taxi ride to the sights).

Jerash, Iraq al Amir, Ajloun - all wonderful. The view across Galilee to Israel and Syria is amazing as is the view across the Dead Sea from Nebo. A lot of the place names are familiar from the Bible so it's really moving to actually see these landscapes which haven't really changed after thousands of years. All these sites were pre-planned and were more beautiful and atospheric than we'd imagined. The Karak castle was also really interesting.

Wadi Rum - much more interesting than I'd expected -we had the four hour jeep ride which I had been expecting to be too long but there was a lot to see (including a stunning sunset). We stayed at the Luxury Tented Camp which is a novel experience as the tents have a transparent side - allowing a clear view at night. Food at this place wasn't so good but you are in the middle of the desert! Tents are comfortable with their own small bathroom area. It was quiet when we stayed but there is a bar around a fire which allows you to take in the amazing mountain and desert scenery.

Next to Aquaba - good places to eat in town (recommend Syrian Palace). We went out to the beach for the day which was a welcome chance to rest after all the travelling. Water near the shore was not as clean as you'd hope but if you swim out from the jetty it's crystal clear. You can hire a mask/snorkel.

Finally - The Dead Sea. Now this was a great experience from the point of view of floating in the Dead Sea and covering yourself in the famous mud. The hotels are all resort style. We don't really go for this type of accommodation - (Marriot) it was packed with families and struggling to keep up with being fully occupied. If you don't like this ritzy type of place, it would be worth looking for something more low key and calmer. On the way to the airport we visited Bethany beyond the Jordan - someone was being baptised.

One thing to check- we had booked a cookery lesson and Mohammed duly got us to the place on time but communication clearly hadn't been clear, as they weren't expecting us. They cooked a delicious meal but no lesson. The other thing we didn't see which was on our itinerary was the Dana Nature Reserve - I guess we just ran out of time.

So - if you're undecided on Jordan - we'd definitely recommend! It's different - another culture - lots of historical sites and wonderfully friendly people. It really worked as a destination for all ages.

Miha organised the trip so well to suit our style. He made it easy. Everything was organised from the printed itinerary to the mobile phone on loan! Nothing went wrong and we really enjoyed the hike.

Two things I have to say: thank you and amazing!
The best thing of all, the people I interacted with: Tamara, Mohammad and Tito!
I usually do my own travel planning and booking, this time I booked a last minute trip to Jordan and I am more than happy I got to be connected via kimkim to the Why Jordan Tours team, from the first moment I got contacted by Tamara I knew that all I had to do was to leave it all to the experts and begin to enjoy my trip.
Tamara was incredibly helpful, despite the time difference between Mexico and Jordan we had a great communication, she listened and asked the right questions for me to tell her what I had in mind and she pulled a great itinerary for me. I had a few questions on regards to how I'd be crossing the land boarder from Israel to Jordan and she was able to give me all the details, I had nothing to worry about as she knew it all!
Once we agreed on a few changes to the itinerary I was all set, and with less than a week for me to arrive. Tamara did a fantastic job, you can tell right away that she is an expert in her field and she knows how to make travelers happy!
A couple days before arriving to Jordan I was contacted via phone by Tito, to put me in contact with my driver (and now dear friend Mohammad).
Once crossing the boarder and leaving the premisses I met with Mohammad, I can't say nothing more than I was the luckiest guy to have him be my driver/tour guide/travel buddy along my 5 day stay in Jordan. He is a very respectful, caring, knowledgeable person to have as your guide. He took care of everything along the ride for me to just literally enjoy and be able to see and do the most out of it, giving me the right tips of the things to do and see in the places I visited/stayed.
Jordan is an amazing country and I want to go back, soon if possible!
I began in Amman, a quick stop in the Citadel to get amazed by the view of the city and the ruins of the historical site.
Day 2 - I visited Jerash, quite an amazing and huge compound of the historical site, quick stop at Madaba to see the famous mosaic map, then stop at Mount Nebo to enjoy an amazing view and being wow by the church and mosaics. Overnight in Petra, amazing dinner and hotel.
Day 3 - Petra... I'm speechless! you have to visit at least once in your life. I had the chance to stop by the Why Jordan Tours office and met in person Tamara and Tito!
Day 4 - Wadi Rum, the desert is so magical, the sunset and the stars at night are spectacular. The camp I stayed in was unbelievable, amazing service, food, rooms, location.
Day 5 - jeep tour in the desert with amazing views and walks, a lunch prepared by my Bedouin driver in the middle of the desert, a delicious chicken bbq! Off to Dead Sea, it was incredibly hot!!!
Day 6 - end of my tour...
The best thing of my trip is I had the chance to meet amazing people, that is the most precious thing I'm taking from Jordan, the people is so warm and friendly. I truly know that I made friends which will last forever!
Muchas gracias Mohammad, Tamara, Tito and kim kim team!

Our trip was thoughtfully planned to provide us with the opportunity to drive to many unforgettable places and sights in Ireland.

Our trip to Norway was great - helped in great measure by Ingrid, our travel advisor.

She helped us a lot in planning our itinerary - listened to what we were interested in and followed through with thoughtful suggestions. Once we decided on a trip plan, Ingrid made accommodation suggestions and then made the reservations. It was so helpful to have an agent from Norway who knows the country and helped us make excellent choices.

As to the trip itself, it was wonderful. The accomodations were excellent - we stayed the right amount of time at each place and the trip went without a hitch.

We started out in Oslo - what a wonderful city. We then went to the mountains around Lom. We stayed in an old wonderfully maintained hotel full of history. It was a great launching point for our hikes in the Jotunheimen national park.

Next, we went to the charming city of Alesund - stayed in another charming hotel and enjoyed the sites of the of the city including an amazing walk up to a lookout over the city - 500 plus steps and well worth it - suggested by the TI near our hotel.

Geiranger was our next stop - a beautiful location. Ingrid suggested we stay away from the bustle of the tourist town at a great hotel in Nordal - Petrines - probably our favorite of the trip. Geiranger fjord is beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Following Geiranger, we travelled to Aurland in stayed in the Aurland Fjord Hotel - another excellent accomodation. The Aurland area was our favorite fjord region. Ingrid lined up a Nærøyfjord cruise from Flam to Gudvangen which showed off the beauty of the fjord. We also took the train from Flam to Myrdal - also enjoyable.

Then it was back to Oslo - sad to end a great trip - met lots of interesting people - some travelers, some native to Norway and others who emigrated to the beautiful land.

The whole trip was wonderful - thanks Ingrid and kimkim.

Overall, the experience is good. The guides are knowledgeable, courteous, friendly; both the guides and drivers are very professional. However, even though this was a private tour, it still felt like we were on a tour group, albeit a very small group of two, with a preset agenda and timetable. The tour was lacking flexibility as we were dashing from one destination to another, spending too much time in a destination that we had no interest in (e.g. the jade shop demonstration or the visit to Maximon) and too little time or not at all in something that we found interesting along the way. I felt we were constantly being told: "Now, sit here and learn about this pyramid. Now, visit this chocolate shop. Now, go in that boat to visit Maximon. etc. etc."

Perhaps it was partly my mistake for not explaining very clearly what I was looking for in a "private tour". Instead of a "private tour", perhaps what I had really wanted was simply a driver who can take me to the places that I want to visit and who can help me with the logistics of getting tickets, figuring out boat schedule, etc. And speaking of driver, our driver, Danillo, was very nice. But his driving is frightening; we always seemed to be in a rush to be somewhere at a certain time, just like in a group tour.

We felt so relieved when the tour was over and we had just a little bit of time to ourselves in Antigua.

The portion of my trip to western Ukraine was the best. The driver Yuri was extremely friendly and his company was able to plan our itinerary so we got to see everything we wanted.

We spent a wonderful two weeks driving around Slovenia, seeing the sights and taking lovely day hikes. Domen and Miha both worked with us designing a unique trip. We visited both the usual tourist sights and some that were specific to our interests. They gave us gps tracks to quiet, solitary day hikes with amazing views. We do not hesitate to recommend Slotrips for a fabulous vacation.

We had a wonderful first time in Croatia. Ante was extremely helpful and professional, providing us with an excellent service. We highly recommend using kimkim! Thank you Ante :)

We had a truly amazing time in Costa Rica. Sylvia organised everything so well. It's hard to know what the highlights were as there was so much which was just fantastic, but here are some that stick most in our memory:

• The first very rainy boat trip through the rainforest to Laguna Lodge, with Clarence taking good care of us throughout.
• The butterfly garden at the back of the Selva Tropical restaurant
• Witnessing a giant turtle laying her eggs (so many of them)
• Mauricio the driver stopping the car to show us a toucan on a tree beside the road
• The sunset view of Arenal, with rainbow, from the amazing Tabacon Springs where we also enjoyed a very good supper
• Swimming in the river at the bottom of the waterfall at Arenal
• The hilarious chocolate-making lesson
• Everything about Monteverde - the night walk and Sky Trek/zip-lining day particularly. It's a very special place. We had a nice meal at the popular Tree House in Santa Elena if you need a recommendation for anyone else (although some other tourists spoke highly of Morpho which has just opened up a new restaurant slightly out of the centre).
• Stopping to see the crocodiles under the bridge on the way to Manuel Antonio
• The Costa Verde hotel at Manuel Antonio which was fantastic in every way. What a view for breakfast! Their restaurants across the road were great too.
• Iguana Tours were brilliant at Manuel Antonio. They seem to really enjoy what they do. Andrey was our guide in Manuel Antonio National Park and JJ led the rafting expedition. We also went on a boat trip with Iguana.They own their own smallish catamaran and looked after us really well. Good food. Live banjo music. And we even saw whales.

Sylvia worked with us to create a perfect trip that met our specific requests and budget. She was very responsive and checked in with us before the trip and a couple of times during it. Our flight in was delayed by 14 hours and Sylvia rearranged pick-up and transfers from the airport with no fuss.

Our family of four engaged Heimdal Tours to show us Mykines Island. It was an amazing experience! Our guide Tummas was extremely knowledge about the history, flora and fauna, and the people of the Faroe Islands. It was a busy day with more than one ferry to Mykines, but, even with the additional crowds, we felt like the island was ours. We would highly recommend Heimdal Tours.

Veselka was great to work with. She listened to what I wanted and helped me plan an incredible trip. All of our hotels were in incredible locations and were in the budget that we wanted to be in. In Dubrovnik we stayed at Hotel Lapad. In Hvar we stayed in the pedestrian area in the old town at a hotel called Villa Nora. It was very charming and old. It was more like a bed and breakfast then a hotel. Every room is different, but they were all clean and very nice. In Split we were also in a pedestrian area but we were attached to the wall of the palace. It was amazing. The rooms were small but the location was perfect. Our last place was in Rovinj. We stayed at the Angelo D'Oro. The room here was incredible! I think it was our nicest room. Breakfast was included in all the hotels but the breakfast areas in Hvar and Rovinj were the most beautiful. We sat outside in gardens! All the breakfast were great but those were exceptional. It was a great hotel near the pedestrian walkway and amazing restaurants. Our hotel in Dubrovnik was a short cab ride from the Old town. We were picked up at the Dubrovnik airport and taken to the hotel. Our friends bags didn't come and Veselka was amazing helping us get the bags. It took 5 days but once they landed in Dubrovnik she got them to us in split. In Hvar we went sailing for a day that included a great lunch and swam in the most beautiful blue water. Our guide told us to call him H, was very nice but a little quiet. At times it was nice that we had some space and at other times it was a little awkward but an amazing day overall!! We also went on a hike through the small/abandoned villages in Hvar and had a local lunch. Bertie the chef was fabulous. This was one of the most incredible experiences. The food was outstanding. They made there own wine, grappa, sweet wine and olive oil. The only thing I didn't like were the anchovies but I tried them! I don't remember the guides name. He said to call him good looking. He was hilarious and had us laughing the whole time. I would recommend this to anyone. We had another guide in Rovinj. his name was Luka. He was really nice and informative. He drove us through all the hilltop towns. We went wine tasting at Kabola vineyards, olive oil tasting at Chiavalon and truffle tasting at Karlic Tartufi! What a fabulous day. At each of these places the hosts were incredible. They taught us so much. They provided food to go with the tasting as well which was very unexpected.

We had a wonderful experience in Nepal, and I can't say enough great things about Chhewang and Sonam from Responsible Treks. This was our first time to Nepal, and Chhewang was extremely helpful in designing the perfect itinerary for us. He assessed our capabilities and interests, and proposed several options. He was patient and responsive with our questions and flexible to meet our needs at every step.

We trekked the remote region of Nar and Phu, and then part of the Annapurna Circuit. We had a day in Kathmandu before and again after trekking. For us, this was the perfect balance of varied landscapes, authentic cultural experiences, and "off the beaten path" trekking. We were hesitant to visit during the monsoon, but would do so again in an instant. Many areas we trekked were in the "rain shadow" and so we had plenty of sun, in addition to enjoying the lush green landscape and "off season" quiet serenity this time of year.

Our guide, Sonam, is the best of the best. He took great care of us including getting us safely over two high mountain passes, taught us so much about the landscape and local culture, and made every day fun. He went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, making tweaks to our itinerary based on how we were feeling. The trek was a great value and Sonam consistently looked out for us to ensure we had the best treatment at teahouses. My wife celebrated a birthday during our trek, and he worked with the locals to surprise her with a cake!

This was our first time using kimkim. The experience was wonderful, the fees were transparent and, most importantly, they connected us with an excellent local partner for our trip.

We had a wonderful trip to North and West Iceland with our 2 year old daughter! Everything that Zeynep recommended was wonderful and completely doable with a toddler in tow. We especially loved seeing the geothermal areas in Myvatn, our awesome boat ride to see the puffins from Husavik, and the pebble beach on Snaefellsnes peninsula where a seal swam right up to us! Such a gorgeous country, and Zeynep's arrangements kept us out of the tourist crowds while still letting see so many amazing things.

Thank you Zeynep and kimkim, we had the most wonderful days in Iceland!!!
Everything was so well organized and worked as swizz clock that we had to worry about nothing, just make sure we will get to next place in time.
We had asked for budget accommodation, but were amazed how great and cozy all hostels, gueshouses and hotels were - Sunna’s guesthouse in Reykjavik had the best location! Guesthouse Lambastaðir was so cozy, just like somebodys home and the late night hot tub was brilliant. Same in hotel Katla. I’m not surprised all the places were fully booked.
Zeynep, we are so greatful fore the trip plan you had made for us. We visted almost everything you had marked on handwritten map - it was clever to use different colours, which made it really easy to understand. And small hints like the lobster restaurant Fjöribordid, wow!!! So worth of vsit.
And we loved ice hiking at Solheimajökull. It was the only day pouring rain, but we got everything we needed to stay dry. We really loved our guide who was so professional in hinking, but also fun and friendly as person. We will treasure that day for a lobg long time. And eveything he told about glaciers and melting really got us thinking about global warming and the results. Thank you Asgard Beyond!
We can also say only greatest thanks to Zodiac tours for boat tour on Ice Lagoon, what a experience! No one should miss it if in Iceland.
I left peace of heart to Iceland and hopefully will return some day to explore more. Just loved it!
Eneken and friends