Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our guide/driver for our short 3 day trip to Slovenia, Domen, was knowledgeable about all aspects of his lovely country. History, geography, economy, traditions, folklore, and food are just a few areas of his expertise. We were able to experience the traditional tourist sites that Slovenia is best known for (Ljubljana, Lake Bled, the Skocjan caves) and also many less traveled sites. Hiking in the Julian Alps, rafting the Soca River, the WWI bunker tour with our very own reenactor ( a retired teacher who is passionate about WWI history), and our private tour of a family owned winery, followed by a home cooked lunch were some of our highlights. The accommodations provided were fabulous, especially our stay at Kekec Homestead, Soca valley: http://www.kekceva-domacija.si/. A gem in the middle of nowhere with great wine, food, and scenery at the beginnings of the Soca River. a fabulous tour in every way.

Our recent trip to Scandinavia was wonderful! Ingrid, from Ethical Travel Portal, did a great job of helping us find the right balance between city and rural travel in our trip to Norway, Sweden and Finland. Before we found kimkim, all the options we were provided by travel agents were "canned tours" which were really just packages to save money on air/hotel travel with bus-type sight-seeing tours. In comparison, Ingrid helped us figure out a plan of cities and villages that let us explore a few countries in Scandinavia over 17 days without feeling rushed.

She was clear up front that her expertise was mostly in Norway, but she still helped us find well-located hotels in Helsinki and Stockholm. We were happy with both choices in those cities.

We typically don't like tours in cities, preferring to explore on our own. However, we had such a great morning tour in Bergen with Ingrid herself, that we arranged one with Stig in Oslo that we enjoyed very much. These tours were informal discussions while we walked around parts of the city we'd never find on our own.

I also really liked the process with kimkim, where we could chat on the site as we honed in our schedule and different choices for each place. Ingrid was very patient with all our changes as we made our plans and helped us while we were in Norway to make some last-minute adjustments.

We couldn't have been happier with kimkim and Ingrid at Ethical Travel Portal and would use both for future vacations, if they serve the country we'll be visiting.

I just got back from Bergen, Norway. Ingrid Thornes arranged my excursions. She was knowledgeable and kept in constant contact as we were planning the trip. She guided my hike and city tour. The kayaking tour was very easy to do. Don't miss it. Also recommend the Fjords boat rips.
I had a very pleasant stay in Bergen.
Kimkim is a reliable company. I felt safe and relaxed, especially since I was travelling solo.
I will definitely use them again.

We had a fantastic time during our time in Sri Lanka. Nuwan was an excellent tour guide. We did a five day tour and enjoyed the sights of Sigirya and Kandy and surrounding areas. The Dambulla Caves, Lion Rock, Minneriya National Park Safari and Temple of the Tooth were highlights. We also enjoyed the trek over the Hanthana range above Kandy, Kandyan dancers, visits to a Herb Farm and Tea Factory. Nuwan was very obliging and added other places of interest that weren't in our itinerary. Would definitely recommend kimkim.

This was our first trip to Iceland so we depended upon KimKim to advise us on appropriate tours and day trips. While the weather was not ideal, we still had a great time, and are very satisfied with our guide and the itinerary. Highly recommend, particularly if you’re not familiar with Iceland.

Our experience with kimkim was smooth and easy right from the start. We filled out some simple questions with regards to what we were looking for in our trip, our travel dates, budget, etc. and they hooked us up with a local specialist that worked with us to plan our trip down to the minute! All the accommodations were beautiful, convenient and exactly what we had asked for, and we were even able to stay in some traditional lodgings including a Buddhist temple which was super cool! The whole time, we felt like we were getting to see places and experience aspects of the culture we might not have if we were planning the trip ourselves. The most amazing part though was their crisis management- while we were there, Japan had a catastrophic amount of rain, with landslides and flooding of rivers and even loss of life, it was a real tragedy. We couldn't take some of the transportation that had been planned because of the flooding, so we called Inside Japan, our kimkim specialist, and they handled EVERYTHING- they switched all our accommodations, rerouting us to different places, telling us exactly how to get there and what to do so that we could bypass any areas that were inaccessible and still have a great trip! We didn't end up feeling like we missed out on anything, which was amazing. We can't wait to take our next trip! Thanks kimkim!

Once again, another amazing trip with Quechua Treks. Their attention to detail is just amazing. Haley and James did a fabulous job planning the trip. Zac offered a great alternative route to our like that was spot on. Daniel, our guide, is a gem, took us around the Sacred Valley showing us some of the amazing locations in the Sacred Valley. Our hotel in Lamay, Nunu, was one of the best I have ever stayed at. Hiking Lares was a real joy with Daniel leading the way. The food Quechua Treks served us was worthy of a 5 star restaurant. I'm not sure how they managed to bake a cake at 14,000 feet without an oven, but that cake was one of the best I've ever had. Hot water bottles for our sleeping bags on the cold night was a great touch! Daniel also took us up to the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu, with amazing views of Machu Picchu. Many, many thanks to Haley, James, Zac, Daniel, Salvadore, Leo our chef, and the porters for making this such an amazing trip. I love to hike, and brought a friend with me that is a newbie hiker. Because this was such a great experience she wants to hike more and will be returning next year to Peru with her husband! And I'm bringing another friend to hike next July!

It was great to have Preeti's help once we were in Iceland. We encountered a few problems as we went, due to weather and cancellations, and she had to do some reshuffling and re-booking. It was nice to continue on our vacation while she handled the headaches- I don't know what we would have done without her help. The driving plan had lots of suggestions for stops and optional detours that were wonderful. We were very glad to have her to turn to during our stay. I wish that we had been given more choice and explanation during the planning process- particularly around accommodations. The hotels were always clean and located near the next day's activities, but we would have liked a higher class of accommodation and hotels with more personality. We had booked two nights on our own before enlisting help, and the places we booked were much nicer than what we got through Kimkim. Preeti really never asked what we were looking for or what price range we were looking for- we gave her some ideas for activities we'd like and she gave us back a fully planned trip and price for the trip without an explanation about how the price was set. In the end, we had a wonderful vacation and were glad that we went through Kimkim/Preeti, I just wish we'd felt a little more in control of and aware of the vacation we were embarking on. One thing that we came to appreciate during our trip was how Preeti had tried to steer us away from the Golden Circle- we felt obligated to see some of the sights there, and ultimately insisted on including it in the itinerary. She obliged and squeezed it in. We enjoyed the rest of Iceland much more than the Golden Circle. It was a zoo. We were glad we spent the majority of our trip elsewhere, where there are just as many beautiful and unique spots but a third of the people.

David was an excellent guide, however; for the cost of this tour, there was ample time to stop for lunch at a local restaurant for a complimentary hot meal, in lieu of a sandwich from a convenient store with one bottle of water for the day. The van was a beautiful new vehicle, seating 4 comfortably (with room for two more in the rear seat). David is soft spoken so a wireless headset with speakers in the 2nd and 3rd row in his roomy VW van, is highly recommended. David listened to our suggestions - buy a step stool for short/petite guests, always have a trash bag on board and a roll of paper towels or napkins (we ate in his van because it was too cold/windy to eat at a outdoor picnic table). The tour itself was EXCELLENT....the island is so beautiful and seeing the local villages, getting a photo of a man on top of his roof mowing, breathtaking waterfalls, local dogs entertaining us with a game of fetch....priceless. Thanks David for sharing your knowledge and lovely island.

Nancy

We had a wonderful trip to Mongolia! I had contacted several different agencies before I discovered Enguerran with Horseback Mongolia and decided to work with him through kimkim. He was able to provide excellent advice and put together a custom itinerary for us that combined different elements during the exact dates we needed. We really wanted to combine an autonomous hike in the Khangai Mountains as well as seeing the Gobi desert. Enguerran designed the perfect trip to include 4 days/nights hiking/camping, several nights staying with yak or camel breeding families and several nights in ger camps. We were a bit apprehensive about staying with the families, but that turned out to be a great experience. The hiking and camping with yaks carrying our belongings was amazing. The Gobi desert was bigger than ever imagined. Our driver and guide were helpful and always made us feel safe and well taken care of. We only regretted not being able to communicate better with our driver and the yak men. Now that we have been home for a while, we have been able to reflect on our experiences. Mongolia truly is a country of wide open spaces, few roads and very friendly people. We felt honored to be able to see the places we did and get a peak into a nomad's life, before these lifestyles vanish. Enguerran was always responsive to my questions and all details had been taken care of to allow for a very smooth trip. He was able to combine our requests with our available dates for the perfect, custom trip. Highly recommend!

We had an amazing trip which was organised with such care and attention to detail, in exceeded our expectations! Our driver, all guides and support during the trip were excellent. Everyone was there to ensure we had a lovely time and the trip was running smoothly from logistical point of view. True 5*, VIP experience I can't recommend enough!

My experience in Ethiopia was great. Our guide, Tadele Molla, was very accommodating and tried his best to to meet our needs. Since we did not eat all the meals we asked for our laundry to be paid for instead which worked our great.

There were a few miscommunications which were frustrating. When corresponding with Marco I asked about tipping and how much money I should bring. He said everything was covered and all we needed was for things I wanted to buy. Tadele had us tip the daily guides, of which there were 3 different ones. That needs to be made clearer. Two of the hotels did not have working toilets or showers so we asked for a change of rooms/hotels.

We had hoped to get into the Jewish village in Addis Ababa but that did not work out either. Our entire purpose in going to Ethiopia was to see our roots so it would have been nice to be told ahead of time that that excursion might be difficult. We talked to so Israeli volunteers that said they had no difficulty and all that needed to be done was contact the local rabbi of the village.

I know language can be an issue in communication so I am willing to take on some of the responsibility and tried to be clear in my questions and concerns.

We are a family of 4 who travelled to Provence in July 2018. Our children are aged 4 and 6. All our accommodation was superb and the guided tours excellent. The tour of the calenques with skipper Laurence was one of the most unique and memorable experiences of our travels so far - we traveled quickly to some magnificent swimming locations and saw a really different side of Marseille.

The tour of an Olive mill was delicious and fascinating. The family were really welcoming and involved the children in cooking and touring.

The children also had an amazing time on Olivier’s carriage ride - what a great way to tour the countryside!

We would definitely engage Simon Hardy and KimKim again for our next holiday. Many thanks.

From start to finish, Ingrid provided exceptional service. She carefully listened to my list of criteria and dutifully created an itinerary that suited all my needs. We worked collaboratively to refine the trip as my interests shifted, and I ended up with the trip of a lifetime: 4 days of kayaking and camping in the Lofoten Islands of Norway. For anyone looking for travel guidance in Norway, I highly recommend Ingrid.

Lofoten Aktiv -- the company that led the kayaking trip -- was equally outstanding. My guide, Christian, was absolutely phenomenal. His passion and skill for outdoor tripping were immediately apparent as he showed us the local area. He thoughtfully took the group's goals into consideration when planning the trip to make it a resounding success. Jann, who owns the company, has been a pioneer in this industry and takes pride in providing high quality experiences for all his quests. He is a native of the Lofoten Islands and possesses a deep knowledge of the area. For those adventurers looking for a rustic experience in the most beautiful environment, I highly recommend booking with Christian, Jann, and Lofoten Aktiv.

The hotels we stayed in were fine - but directions to them were sorely lacking.

In general directions were poor.

Overall the trip was great. We loved Iceland. The printed book that was given to us had several errors. For instance, a waterfall recommended for us to see was listed on two days. It was a clear mistake but confusing for me at first. Also, one night there was a hotel listed in the written part of our itinerary but there was a different hotel listed on the back. Errors like this are unacceptable to me. I also could have used a phone call immediately prior to departure to walk me through everything. Our point of contact was responsive so can't fault her for that. Our trip turned out great but I don't think I would recommend your service. I'm a neutral supporter.

We had a large family group of 12 people that traveled to Norway on a custom trip to see both north and south Norway. Out trip included trains, buses, ferries and flying. Some of the travel logistics were complicated but it all worked out great. Ingrid at Ethical Travel Portal was very responsive and designed a great trip for us.

Had a terrific experience with Ayu and also with Leni our tour guide and driver. I have some feedback which is given with the intent to help you in the future with travellers visiting Bali and how to better serve them!!
(1) Travel Truama is a real thing in Bali - it takes a very long time - on average 60 - 120 minutes to get from one temple or sight to Ubud or to another temple or sight.
(2) On Day One - we saw two temples: Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi and were meant to go to Tegalalang and Fire Dance and dinner. We probably spent 4 hours in the car getting to and from these locations. We had to drop the Fire Dance and were never going to get to Tagalalang as it was late and we were road weary
(3) On the second day we drove 2 hours to get out of Ubud and to Kintamani volcano,
temple Ulun Danu Batur, Les Village (for snorkeling). Again - on that day we spent at least 5 hours in the car to get to and from these places which limited our time when we actually got to them.
(4) Day three: Batu Karu Temple and Jatiluwih and we also got to the Tegalalang. We easily spent another 5 hours in the car. We spent more time in the car these three days combined than at the locations we were driving too.
(5) We ended up not doing the Nyambu Village - as once we got to Bali Eco Stay - we realized that the next day would have taken us 5-6 hours in the car. Not what we wanted.

Super trip in spite of the miserable weather. The itinerary was excellent. Preeti handled the refunds for the cancelled excursions speedily. The only item that must be improved is the directions to the booked hotels - there were none. Our car navigation system handled the two hotels with street addesses (Hotel Orkin & Hotel Bjarg) but we spent a lot of time finding the others. E.g. it would have been useful to know that Efri-Vik Bugalows are co-located with Hotel Laki. All the accomodations were good - we especially enjoyed Hotel Bjarg. The background information that we received should also mention the numerous Visitor Information Centers. They were an excellent resource. We really enjoyed the Myvatn Nature Baths. Thanks for a great trip.

Aron Mugisha, our guide was incredible. He went out of his way to meet our needs and show us so much more than we had planned on. 5 stars!

My only complaint (which I feel turned more favorable to us) was that our lodging and area to see the gorillas was changed without notifying us. We had no idea until we checked into a new place that was not on the itinerary. All in all, we loved the change...but it would have been nice to be notified.

I will definitely use your services again. Thank you.