Kimkim Trip Reviews

It is some months after the trip when chaos life prevented me to from thanking samer for a wonderful trip.
Samer waited for me on arrival and drove me to the very nice city hotel.
I enjoyed my city walk and then it was off the mountains.
The trail were a chalange but doable. Tons of wild life , pleasant conversation and peace. The 2nd half of the trip was a different guide. The snake charmer who showed me snakes.

The stay was in nice locations, the food everywhere was amazing.
The team was ecomodating with my changing whims. I walked around 8 hours a day which is exactly what I asked for. It was a perfect tailor made trip and which it can go on. They were also effective in getting covid tests.
Communication with samer was easy via the kimkim app.
Can I give 6 stars for this trip?
Bosnia in June is divine.

Cheers. Gil from cleveland.
Note that I love travel and this is my 70th country. I consider bosnia as top 10.

We just returned yesterday (September 16, 2021) from a fantastic 18-day vacation in Greece (Athens and Naxos with day trips to Paros, Delos, and Mykonos). kimkim provided a great platform for planning this vacation and Tasos Mylonas and the Travel12 team in Greece provided 5-star expertise, advice, recommendations, itinerary planning, flexibility in details and so much more during the planning process. In the end we had a customized vacation package (except for the international travel and travel insurance) precisely tuned to our desires and integrating Tasos' recommendations for a perfect vacation in Greece.

We approached kimkim in April 2021 to start planning this vacation after Greece announced that they would be opening up to tourism in May. They put us in contact with Tasos and he worked with us through the kimkim platform over the next few months listening to our interests, proposing itineraries, fine-tuning things, and (when all was settled) handling all the booking arrangements for our time in Greece. We really... really appreciate his patience, expertise, responsiveness, thoroughness, and friendliness.

The trip itself went spectacularly, without a hitch. One activity had to be rescheduled due to weather but we had enough flexibility in the itinerary that this presented no problem. The Travel12 team provided great support during our travels -- answering our occasional questions, providing updates, and the like.

One aspect of this trip that made it really special for us was that it included several (okay, seven!) guided tours ranging from a few hours to almost a full day. The guides were local experts who provided stories, information, and context that we would never have gotten if we had explored on our own. And, perhaps best of all, for all the tours but one, it was just the two of us and the guide! (The other tour had a total of five plus the guide.) We loved this! (We also participated in a day-long catamaran cruise on Naxos with about 20 other passengers -- this was a fun day!)

In addition to the tours, we had many full days to do our own thing (by design). Tasos provided excellent recommendations (e.g., neighborhoods of Athens, beaches of Naxos, and villages of Naxos), which we took advantage of (as time permitted) but we also did a few things completely on our own (or recommended to us by some of the people we met).

All in all, we would highly recommend kimkim and Travel12 if you are looking for a vacation customized to your interests, where you can be "on your own" but can also have the support of a great team when it's needed.

Aspiring Adventures did an awesome job on our recent trek in the Andean high country. Over 8 days we did 23,000' of vertical ascent (and matching descent) including one ascent to 14,000' elevation and another to 15,000' elevation and covered about 63 miles. Our guide, Orlando Ugarte was phenomenal -- he made sure that we had a great experience on this very challenging trek. Our trek took us off of the beaten path; for the last few days, we experienced the power of this special land in complete solitude. The chef, Johan, provided the most delicious meals imaginable and introduced us to a lot of the high country cuisine. Late in the trek, he even purchased a chicken from a local farmer and butchered it so we would have fresh meat in the soup! We were so grateful for the early morning wakeup calls accompanied with piping hot tea. On a trek like this, there are a lot of variables that can make the difference between a great treak and a disaster -- Aspiring Adventures did not miss a beat!

We had an amazing time exploring Cusco, and our 10-day trek from Capiluyoc to Cochiquirao to Huancacalle before traveling to Machu Picchu was an adventure worth remembering. Our guide was absolutely wonderful and our camp chef, crew, and horsemen worked so hard and made our trek amazing. We were so grateful for all of the hard work that went into such an unforgettable experience. Aspiring Adventures is definitely the way to go for any South American adventure!

Our planning was very last minute, nevertheless everything worked out surprisingly well thanks to kimkim and Ibrahim's (Egypt Promotion Tours) help to make our dream trip come true. They were extraordinarily accommodating to our needs and made everything fit into our tight schedule that included tours and transfers/flights span across multiple cities in both Egypt (Cairo, Aswan, Edfu, Luxor, Alexandria) and Jordan (Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea). We had amazing tour guides (Mohamed, Adele, Nour, Omar); they were professional, knowledgeable, caring, and spoke English very well. Our drivers and pickup contacts (Mahmoud, Zain) were wonderful as well; they helped with the visa process and arranging COVID PCR tests, plus helping me with a lost baggage due to airline’s fault. We were two girls traveling, and we felt safe and cared for throughout the entire trip. We are grateful and appreciate Egypt Promotion Tours’ role in giving us a wonderful and memorable experience of a lifetime.

Natalia was awesome! I reached out to kimkim and provide details of the experience my group wanted to have in Colombia and Natalia delivered. We received a detailed itinerary of our daily activities with a background of the culture for each location and all our flights were booked. When I had any questions, Natalia was quick to respond to my text. This trip was for my birthday and on the day of my birthday Natalia and the kimkim team sent me a bottle of whisky and cake, that was very sweet and thoughtful. I will be using them for the rest of my travels based on my first experience.

Such an amazing thing to get to take in some of the most famous places and experiences in Paris! We spent 10 whirlwind but incredible days exploring all that Paris has to offer! Absolutely loved the Seine dinner cruise, Monets Garden, Versailles, the Louvre, Sacre Couer, Montmartre was an adorable village, and so much more! The food, pastries and wine and pretty much everything we ate and drank was amazing! Even at the tiny sidewalk cafes. We did a walking food tour that was a blast and really enjoyed all of the open air food markets.
The metro has an app and was very easy and affordable to use. The Catacombs was a mind blowing experience but not for those that are claustrophobic! We ended up at the large famous flea market on the north end of Paris on a Monday but half the vendors were closed, so not a highlight. Many things can be touted yourself instead of having a guide - like the covered passages of Paris or your own audio guide of the Louvre if you’re looking to cut costs, but the guides with the tours were all highly knowledgeable and professional and we learned a lot from them.
The hotel staff was friendly but the beds and pillows were extremely uncomfortable and the hotel, while in a great neighborhood was a ways away from the Eiffel Tower and some of the more visited places. (Mercure)
Altogether however, with transportation covered from airport and back and reservations made for us by Isabelle for tours and some dinners, it was a very stress free trip of a lifetime!

Loved our itinerary and Preeti was wonderful before and during our trip.

Andrea was great through the entire planning process to the completion of the trip. I will def use him again for my next trip to Italy. The guides and drivers were top notch, the recommended restaurants and activities allowed us to have a wonderful Vacation.

Thank you, Andrea!! You're the best!

What was supposed to be a one-week hiking trip in Transylvania in the spring of 2020 ended up to be a great multifaceted three week trip through the entire country. Raluca was extremely helpful with the booking of the original trip, and managing the following Covid troubles.

Once it became clear that it was possible to travel to Romania in the summer of 2021, I wanted to extend my trip to see more of the country. Once again, Raluca was very helpful and in record time my 8 day trip became a 21 day trip (1 week hiking, followed with a 2 week roadtrip). Basically it was a combination of the self-guided walking tour in the Carpathian mountains and some of the other tours, exactly tailored to my wishes. The accommodations, both guesthouses and hotels, were good. Everything was perfectly planned out, with detailed descriptions and maps for the hiking part of the trip, extensive list of all possible sightseeing options for the roadtrip and lots of other useful information. I seriously can't think of a way my trip could have been prepared better, highly recommended!

Just returned from the most spectacular trip to Iceland, using KimKim and its self-guided itinerary. We worked on the trip via email with KimKim's local travel specialist Preeti, based in Islafjordur. She knew the country well and helped our group of six women plan a 7-day off-the-beaten-path self-drive adventure to Iceland's gorgeous Arctic Coast. KimKim planned for us whale watching, horseback riding, geothermal spa visits, guided hikes to volcanoes, stays at great hotels and delicious meals (Naustio in Husavik is amazing!). It was an itinerary of gorgeous sites and activities that made us all fall in love with Iceland. Preeti worked within our budget and was incredibly responsive. Everything worked perfectly when we arrived. I highly recommend KimKim for Iceland, and will use them for future trips.

Hi, I’m Jon. I live in Chicago and recently traveled to Iceland with my partner Jane. It’s hard for me to express the grandeur you’ll see in the Icelandic landscape, but I can tell you that Emanuela and kimkim helped us make some incredible memories without having to negotiate many of the details that pull me out of the magical moments that make traveling memorable and fulfilling. I had previously used kimkim for adventure travel in the Altai Mountain Region of Western Mongolia, so I knew their value and attention to tailoring each trip for my personal taste. Emanuela didn’t disappoint. From our first emails about our Icelandic road trip to the last minute changes and concierge style help in-country, I wholeheartedly recommend her service if you’re planning a trip to Iceland. She picked hotels and guest house stays that offered us value and style, and she worked in every stop we had on our must see list (black sand beaches, hiking, waterfalls, glaciers, great restaurants, and hot springs, lots and lots of hot springs), and gave us marvelous suggestions that really made for remarkable memories. She helped us, but it still felt like our trip rather than a package deal, this did not feel generic at all. Regarding cost, her fee is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of time it would have taken us to research and book all the details she put together for us, then there was the advice on traveling in this unique country and time in all our lives. I give Emanuela 10 out of 10.

The service that KimKim and Emanuela (our trip planner) provided was great! We decided to do a road trip in Iceland and Emanuela worked out all the details. She rented the car, reserved hotels and restaurants, was available whenever we needed her. Our budget was also respected as well.

The trip itself was wonderful and I would recommend that other people do the same trip if they can.

I visited Colombia from 8/28-9/4 and used the trip planning service kimkim and Margoth was my agent.
I planned to go with my son but he was unable to go due to work so I went solo. I did no research before I left and just knew I wanted a very active trip and made sure Margoth knew that.
Margoth suggested I visit Bogota and Medellin and did a great job of offering me different options for daily activities. I knew I wanted to hike, bike and go white water rafting and Margoth found me great options for all three. I told her I wanted to drink a lot of good Colombian coffee and with the help of my guide Pablo she me found me a great coffee farm to visit.
The guides Oscar in Bogota and Pablo in Medellin are great guides and terrific people. They made sure I got to all my planned adventures and made my trip special. I did all my activities with them except whitewater rafting and they were ton of fun to hang out with.
Oscar took me on a bike tour of Bogota and explained the historical significance of many of the buildings and the general history of Bogota. We hiked in the National park with a park ranger and it was awesome. The city tour included the graffiti district, the marketplace, the Fernando Botero museum and the monserrati church on a hill overlooking Bogota . All great activities.
Oscar is a professional coffee taster and took me to a cafe to sample different coffees and tutored me in the proper way to analyze different coffee blends. This was so cool and I learned a lot. He also took me to traditional Colombian restaurants that were delicious.
Margoth arranged my flights from Bogota to Medellin and got me free upgrades to business class.
In Medellin my guide Pablo took me on a city tour which included riding in a gondola to get a great view of the city. We visited Communa13 which is a shanty town built on a hill and Pablo explained the significance of the areas troubled history that was fascinating. We toured much of downtown Medellin and Pablo explained the significance of different buildings and some of the politics and history of the city..
The following day I went whitewater rafting with grade 3-4 rapids and it was a blast! The guides were very professional and I felt safe.
Pablo took me to cafe de la cima and I had an amazing coffee experience. The owners are a wonderful family and I got the chance to pick the organic coffee beans and watch the coffee beans be shelled and roasted and then was offered a coffee tasting.
Everything they served me for lunch is grown on their farm and is delicious.
My last day with Pablo and Luis our hiking guide we hiked up cerro bravo 8600ft. I asked Margoth for super active adventures and she delivered. This was a very challenging hike through jungle and forests that was so amazing and beautiful. Luis is a great hiker and guide and pointed out different birds,trees and insects along the way. I swung from vines to cross muddy parts of the trail which was cool. The vistas from the top were amazing. Pablo as always made sure I had a delicious lunch and plenty of water.
Margoth arranged for me to stay in great hotels in Bogota and Medellin and got me daily dinner reservations in the best restaurants. Never ate so well in my life!
I had an amazing Colombian vacation due to the help of Margoth guides Oscar and Pablo and the drivers of the cars that took me to these activities and safety brought me back each day. I recommend using their services if you visit Colombia because they made my vacation amazing!

Linda planned our trip to Norway and although we had to wait a whole year to get there, due to the pandemic it was better than we could have imagined! The accomodations were really nice and it was quite easy to locate them. Breakfast was delicious and we could even get a lunch package for on the road. Sorting out transportation wasn't always easy because unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, the trains going from the aiport to the city center were cancelled and information was hard to come by. I think it would have helped to have some more information on all options available (e.g. take train to or Bus XY etc.) and include ALL transportation fees.
We then spent one day in Oslo and explored the city by walking and taking a scooter. As we wanted to have dinner, we realized that most restaurants or shops in Norway let you book your food via a (web) app, so be prepared to pay by credit card most of the time. Although they do have to accept cash, some of the restaurants stilll refused to and we had to take a lot of cash back home . However, that being said, we do like Norway being so modern and digital. We think it's a great step towards a modern society! So not a major problem for us. All the activities that we did were really fantastic!!! Although we enjoyed visiting Bergen and Oslo, we loved spending time in Aurland, swimming in the Fjords and talking to the locals. It was incredibly peaceful and the most memorable day. Then we took a trip with the ferry which was super enjoyable, because you are literally floating over the water - and it feels like a sustainable, not very loud or disturbing choice to traverse nature. We loved loved loved the kayak tour in the fjords. Unfortunately there was a miscommunication with the guide who did not know that we had to take the shuttle and so when we arrived back on land, the shuttle had already left and we had to scramble to find another option (taxi from the nearest town). So be aware that when you are in the middle of nowhere, you really have to catch the one connection you intend to take. Besides from that travel hiccup, we really enjoyed the kayak tour because it is a great way to experience the fjors, while getting to know other travellers. The guide also told us some anecdotes about the region, which was really interesting. Then we arrived in Bergen and spend a day with a guide who taught us about the city's history. We loved taking the tour with him and really got to know the city well. I think it's good to mention that there are really really nice saunas available in Oslo, Bergen and even a floating one in Flam!!! Unfortunately, you have to book in advance, so they were closed when we got there, but I think that could be a really nice option after a long ride in the bus or train. To summarize, this was an amazing experience. We loved the country and the people, got to know a lot about the culture and the history, saw a lot of sights and the beautiful nature. It is perfect for people who love to be outdoors but still fancy a little city trip. It is modern and technologized, clean and tranquille, breathtaking and mindblowingly beautiful and I would have loved to spend more time there. But I will return...one day :) many thanks to Linda! It wasn't an easy trip to plan during a pandemic but you did it and you did it well. Take care! Best, Jess

Our trip was great and Adriana was extremely responsive and helpful with all our requests! Amazing time in Costa Rica!

Harris was an excellent tour guide who organized a great week for my wife and I during our first trip to Greece. The trip was highlighted by a guided tour of some of Athens famous landmarks, a private food and wine tour throughout the streets of Naxos, and a full-day catamaran excursion around the islands.

We would strongly recommend booking with KimKim and suggest anyone interested reach out to Harris.

This trip was super well organized. Every hotel booking and activity booking was perfect. We covered a lot of ground each day but it wasn't too much and we were able to see some amazing sights. What a beautiful country. Will definitely return!

This trip by far exceeded all our expectations. We spent 16 amazing days in Peru with our 3 boys, great guides and meticulously prepared itinerary which opened our eyes and minds. Perhaps this may be a little bit overboard review but the details matter. For those who have a little bit of extra time, please read feel free to read further, otherwise five amazing stars to This trip review***** and my admiration to Katy and her team for making such a unique experience possible.

Starting with our guide Freddie in the Amazon we had special daily walks in the jungle, learned from him how to be respectful in the jungle to the animals and plants, thanks to his senses saw many animals, (capibaras, monkeys, rodents, butterflies, tarantula) ,had morning sunrise boat rides up to the River to see hundreds of parrots including Macau’s. Freddie took us to see Cayman at night, fish and later eat piranhas, showed us many different species of plants, fruits and local veggies. He told our children many amazing stories from his life in the jungle. A highlight was kayaking on the Amazon, swimming in the river and for kids mud sliding at the banks of the River. Daily support of a boat driver and a cook, as well as the comfy eco-like lodge added to the amazing experience.
Afterwards, moving to highlands of the Andes made another eye-opening experience. After adjusting to the high altitude in the town of Pisac, we spent a day of climbing the old Inca town at 3500 m, learned about Its history from our guide Natty, indulged into spectacular views and locals playing Andes flute. Later in the day we were invited to a local family living at 3800 m at the village of Amaru. We experienced a day in their life. We learned about their customs, shared the meals, went planting potatoes, watched cloth making, using plants for coloring, tea and food. Our kids played with their kids games, and soccer. Bonfire, singing just started the starry night experience and night under 4 heavy Alpaca blankets.
o Morning started with a scenic car ride to have already prepared kayaks and wet suits to float over an amazing high-altitude lake with ducks and flamingos. Sun and blue sky with high Andes in the background made it amazing. Going for a quick swim in the wet suits awakened us for another adventure. After lunch cooked for us by local chef, the van with 5 bikes awaited. Drive through scenic highlands to a unique Mountain embedded with Inca salt mines, and then Moray, a visit of another Inca site ended with About 15 km bike ride with breath taking views ending by a winding road leading to the sacred valley and then a quick transport to amazing old Inca town of Ollantaytambo. Our high altitude Adjustment allowed us to start the amazing three day two night trek - Tres Lares. With our guide Natty, five horses and two horsemen we ascended to 4300 m through amazing valleys filled with local huts, lamas, alpacas and soul filling views. Lunch already prepared by a chef and his support was an aspiring adventure’s team surprise. With the help of our guide, we reached the summit of 4500m tranquil and really breath taking high altitude experience. An evening descent to a high-altitude village of locals was amazing. The team of horsemen and chefs with assistants awaited with delicious meal and prepared tents. Morning breakfast and a several hour descents to hot springs was a relief. Another night of camping. Breakfast, good byes with the trek team followed by transport back to Ollantaytambo. Afternoon visit of another mountain embedded Inca town helped us start to understand of this amazing old culture. Subsequent scenic ride through sacred valley to the town of Macchu Picchu was the additional highlight of the day. Nice hotel, walk through the town with Natty and then a tranquil deep sleep. Morning blue sky was the special early touch to the visit of Macchu Pichu. Thanks to Natty, we understood many to us unknown details of this very spiritual and Soul opening place. Thanks to the Covid pandemic, the masses of tourists were missing and the experience was so much more special. We finally understood the Inca connection to the sun and Patcha mamma / the powerful spiritual connection to mother Earth. Descent, lunch and transfer to the old Inca capital of Cusco. Tasteful hotel in old town, dinner with Natty, more stories for kids and another cozy hotel night. Next morning, we climbed on top of the town’s Inca ruins, stroll through the town, learning of Its amazing history, some local market shopping and another nice dinner. Following day started with the car ride from the highlands to lake Titicaca. Amazing scenery followed by another home stay of a raqchi Family. Learning About clay pottery making, dinner followed by spiritual wish making to the spirit of mountains and the Patcha mamma. Dancing with locals to their favorite songs and another night under heavy alpaca blankets. Morning breakfast and High-altitude road at 4300 m pass with another soul touching views followed by a visit of two amazing churches and the town of Lampa. The visit of an second Church in Lampa was impressive. The original 400 plus year old paintings , sculptures and skull and bone filled chapel was fascinating. Its history was provided to us by the local guide who already awaited our arrival. Evening trip through unimpressive Júliaca to the final destination of rather awe aspiring Lake Titicaca. Morning ride to visit of floating villages of Urus followed by 2-hour boat ride to mind blowing local Titicaca islands. Blue sky, clear waters of 3800 m lake, and pristine nature makes Ex-au Provence, Greek or Croatian coast pale in comparison. Even with locals, dancing and walk under starry sky make you feel like it Is the most peaceful place on the planet.

Our late august trip had 16 days of sun and perfect weather. While the website and corresponding with Katy gives you a glimpse
o you might experience day to day as far as the adventures and cultural immersion, with perfect coordination of events, activities, seamless transits, meals and hotel stays make you feel that aspiring adventure matches Its name to the dot. For us it was a life altering experience our children and we will cherish it all for a long time. We have traveled to many countries in the World but this trip I think was the best As far As depth of the immersion to the history, nature and the beauty of the Peruvian culture and nature. While this trip was more expensive it was well worth with the money as the coordination of the many daily activities, site visits, punctual transport arrangements, meals would not be possible without such Aspiring Adventures team help.
We wish to thank Katy, Freddie, Natty, driver Paul, horsemen, chefs, local guides, hosting families and others involved to make this so special.
If i had one advice to those who are planning a trip to Peru. Don’t focus solely on Macchu Picchu. Enjoy the exploration of other sites, home stays, go trekking off beaten path if u can, bike and most of all appreciate the nature. It will open your eyes and soul to a much broader level than you could expect.
Absolutely five stars*****

Our kids top 10:
-Trekking tres Lares / camping: enjoying time with local dog who walked with them for 2 and 1/2 days
• biking down to the sacred valley
• Paddling on high elevation lake
• Visit of Macchu Picchu
• Hot springs
• Kayaking on that Amazon and mud sliding
• Amaru and raqchi Family home stays
• Lake Titicaca sunset view from top of the Island
• Lampa Church visit
• Jungle walks and piranhas fishing

Eleni and team did a great job coordinating a 10-12 day trip around Greece. Of course, it's impossible to see everything in Greece in this short amount of time, but she did a great job advising on what we can do for this first time around. She was flexible to adjust along our preferences and budget. The greatest surprise of this trip was being connected to her and her team upon initial arrival, where we had timely response on any questions we had. Their demeanor was service oriented, informative, and we are immensely grateful for their premium service. Totally recommend them!