Kimkim Trip Reviews

Eric planned an unforgettable trip for our family! It was the exact pace we needed plus hitting all the must see spots and more! His trip details and notes and quick links for daily driving plans and food options made planning our days exploring and driving the countryside seamless. He and his team helped during the trip to reschedule a whale watching tour due to weather and were so responsive. We had a trip of a lifetime. Thank you Eric !

We worked with KimKim on our recent travel to Egypt. They made the process seamless and easy. Sun Pyramid Tours in Egypt was amazing. Our Tour Consultant wa Habiba. She made all of the arrangements. Her communication was detailed and made it easy. Sun Pyramid Tours and the entire team made it such an amazing experience from the tour guides to the accommodations the sights and the people of Egypt, it was the trip of a lifetime. Highly recommend KimKim and Sun Pyramid Tours.

Hotel Reviews

Steigenberger Regency Nile Cruise

Aswan

I cannot say enough about our experience. From day one it was amazing. The accommodations were 1st class and both the Managment team and staff were exceptional. Friendly and professional they made the total experience world class.

Authenticity & Character

The Staff

Staff

One of the best. They made the experience unforgettable

Cleanliness & Comfort

5 Star

Marriott Mena House

Giza, Cairo

Absolutely the best experience and location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Best view ever

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

kom Ombo, and esnaTemples

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aswan full day tour

Aswan

Quality of Experience

K

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Old Cairo & Bazaar

Cairo

Can’t miss.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mac was amazing. His knowledge and insight added to the experience

Transport

Luxor East Bank

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Abu Simbel Temple

Aswan

Once in a lifetime experience. Worth the drive.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luxor West Bank with Tomb of King Tutankhamun

Luxor

This is a must see. Unbelievable

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow, my family and I had an amazing trip thanks to KimKim, Egypt Promotion, Ibrahim and Amr. There is no way I could have planned and arranged this trip on my own. Our experience was seamless from start to finish, all we had to do was show up, relax and enjoy. Aladdin and the other handlers did a great job getting us to and from the airports to our transportation vehicles. Thank you! Our tour guide, Mustafa, in Cairo was informative and attentive to our needs. On to the best part... the Nile River Cruise on the Dahabiya: Iris. OMG! Highly recommend! That was absolutely the best mode of transportation from Luxor to Aswan and the most memorable. Not just because it was an amazing boat but the staff was exceptional. They were super friendly, attentive and the FOOD... delicious! Thank you, Ehad, Fouad, Ahmed, Khalid, Zeyad, Hisham and Tarek for the smiles that greeted us on board, to the towel art that awaited on our beds, and again the delicious food. lol My kids said this was their favorite trip by far. Lastly, Ahmed was our tour guide that accompanied us through our trip to upper Egypt. He was very informative, spoke great English, funny and by our last day felt more like a friend than a guide. We learned so much. Thanks for sharing your country with us. I will definitely use KimKim again.

Activity Reviews

Visit Abu Simbel temple and Aswan

Aswan

Most impressive of them all.

Hot Air Balloon - Visit Valley of the Kings - Hatshepsut temple - Sail to Edfu

Luxor

Loved valley of the Kings. Unfortunately we weren't able to do the Hot Air Balloon ride because of the wind.

Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor temple

Egypt

Beautiful! Whenever I see the Obelisk in Place de Concorde, I will think of the Luxor temple. The Karnak Temple is impressive

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour to visit Pyramids, Sphinx, Camel ride, Old Egyptian Museum & GEM

Cairo

Day tour was great. We accomplished a lot in a day. Grand museum was fantastically staged. Wish we had more time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The overall experience of Morocco was exceptional and far beyond our expectations. The scenic beauty, the hospitality and Moroccan food was something we enjoyed to the utmost.
Our local driver cum guide Suffiane was an amazing person, who was always extremely helpful and guided us in best possible manner.
The other driver Osama, who remained with us for last couple of days of our tour, was also very supportive and helpful.
We look forward to coming back to Morocco with our kids.
The Kimkim team lead by Abdellah extended every possible help in arranging our trip and ultimately we had the most amazing tour of our lives.

Habiba was not initially my first choice. And not the cheapest. But she was proactive, and she was highly communicative, and kept adjusting the programme to my liking. The tour was perfect. Granted, one needs to understand that 4/5-star in Egypt is not the same as one would expect elsewhere. But overall the experience was great. The quality of the tour guides was impeccable, especially Hani Arabi in Luxor/Aswam and Sayeb in Cairo. Hani was quite unique. Professional and understanding. Overall it was a fabulous trip. Thank you Habiba for being there behind the chat 24/7 to help me during the trip.

Hakim planned our trip very well. Just a slight glitch , our Riad in Marrakesh was a little uncomfortable ( regarding stairs etc. ), and due to some issues we had to change our room (we were allotted 2 different rooms for our 2 nights there, which was a pain. Staff at the Riad and our guide , however, were extremely helpful.

Special shout out to our driver, Reduan. Wonderful gentleman, very pleasant and extremely helpful.

Overall, we had an amazing time . Would not hesitate in recommending Kimkim team and the team at Morroco.

My wife and I booked a 13-day VIP private tour through KimKim, which included private drivers and guides, 5-star hotels, and a custom itinerary. Overall, we had a fantastic experience, but there were a few areas that need improvement.

Habiba helped plan the trip and was responsive and professional throughout. We appreciated her flexibility, especially when we requested an overnight trip to Abu Simbel instead of a rushed day trip—an adjustment that made the experience significantly better.

Our guides, particularly Qadir and Mohab, were exceptional—well-educated, engaging, and made my wife feel safe at all times.

However, the meal plan fell short of VIP expectations. We were taken to prearranged restaurants with limited or buffet-only options, and meals became repetitive by day four. Our feedback wasn’t implemented until the final day, when we were finally taken to a great spot—Studio Masr at Al Azhar Park. We also would’ve appreciated the option to dine somewhere that served alcohol after long days of touring.

We highly recommend the tour for its structure, service, and expertise, but KimKim and their local partner, Sun Pyramids, should improve transparency and flexibility regarding dining—especially for premium bookings.

Hotel Reviews

Royal elite Nile cruise

Aswan

Royal Elite Nile Cruise – Highly Recommended The Royal Elite Nile Cruise was an excellent choice during our time in Egypt. The room was clean and comfortable, and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful throughout the journey. The meal options changed daily and were easily some of the best we had during our entire trip through Egypt. Great service, great food, and a smooth, relaxing experience overall. Highly recommended!

Authenticity & Character

As

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eskaleh Nubian Ecolodge.

abu simbel

Eskaleh Nubian is a great choice for those wanting to do an overnight trip to Abu Simbel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Movenpick Aswan

Aswan

Movenpick Aswan didn’t disappoint. Too bad we only stayed one night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo

Cairo

Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel – Honest Review The Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel is conveniently located across from the Grand Egyptian Museum. The breakfast buffet was adequate, though the selection remained the same each day. On the bright side, room service was excellent—especially the pizza and beer. Security is taken seriously here. Guests pass through a metal detector, and backpacks are scanned. Even our private driver and his vehicle were thoroughly checked upon entry. A word of caution: the photos online are a bit misleading. We paid to upgrade to a “pyramid view” room, and while technically accurate, we could only see one pyramid from the corner of our balcony. Alcohol is available onsite. Beer and wine are reasonably priced, but hard liquor is outrageously expensive—and they measure every drop. Oddly, we weren’t allowed to take our wine glasses to our room. Instead, we were offered a paper cup. No thanks. Overall, it’s a decent option for the location and basic comfort, but it may fall short if you’re expecting a true 5-star experience.

Authenticity & Character

They take security measures seriously

Location

Close to pyramids and Grand Egyptian Hotel

Staff

Very attentive staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is a bit outdated. The beds are not comfortable. Room was clean.

Activity Reviews

Tour to Citadel, Coptic Cairo, Egyptian Museum, and the Grand Egyptian Museum

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Food

Have your guide take you to Studio Masr restaurant for lunch. Al Azhar Park has some great views and the food was excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour to White Desert and Bahariya Oasis Tour

Cairo

Not sure if the 10 hr drive is worth the trip to the White Desert. A day trip to Alexandria would probably be a better choice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Very limited dinning options. The restaurant was basic at best. Flies were extremely annoying.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to National Museum, Islamic Cairo and Khan El-Khalili

Cairo

El-Khalili Market was a bit disappointed. We went in the morning, so it wasn’t crowded. The National Museum has a few pieces left. There are some sections were photography is not allowed. I would allocate more time to the Grand Egyptian Museum instead.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Check out to Luxor West Bank

Luxor

Luxor West Bank was a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luxor East Bank

Luxor

Luxor East Bank was a bit rushed. We got to see the temples but I wish we had a bit more time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor, Egypt

Luxor

Our ballon ride was cancelled due to weather conditions.

kom Ombo, and esnaTemples

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to High Dam, Philae Temple, and Obelisk

Aswan

Qadir is an experienced guide. We were lucky to have him.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We

Transport

Private Tour to Abu Simbel from Aswan

Abu Simbel

Must visit while in Egypt. We ranked this temple high for its beauty. Our guide, Qadir, was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to Sakkara, Memphis, and Dahshur

Egypt

Karham and Mustafa created a great experience. They are true professionals.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Pyramid Inn Dinner With Pyramids View

Cairo

Meals were limited to a fixed menu for unknown reasons. Other options were available to other tourist not affiliated with Sun Pyramids. No alcohol is served in this establishment. Great view of the pyramids during sunset.

Quality of Experience

Be upfront and provide full disclosure. Honesty matters.

Food

Stop limiting clients to a fixed menu

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very punctual and professional staff

Transport

Tour to Giza Pyramids With Camel Ride

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A/C wasn’t working properly

First, Nihad did a great job organizing our trip and making adjustments based on what we wanted to do - - very flexible when we discussed different options. The driver / guide was excellent.

The real value of the team came into focus when we broke an ankle on Day 2. The team rushed to our side and worked with us to get to a hospital for care and stayed by our side and were able to interpret for us while the doctor was explaining various options for care. When we decided to cut a trip short to head home for more definitive care, they provide options on the best way to get home considering we were 9 hours from Marrakech at that point.

They did a great job - thank you.

We overall enjoyed the experience of booking our 7 day Ecuador Trip with KimKim. The two travel specialists we worked with were very responsive and helpful. We had a great time during our trip thanks to the itinerary put together by the Kim Kim team. Here is a list of Pros and Cons we have found with the process.

Pros:
-Very simple to get the process started by answering a few questions about the length of your trip and the types of activities you like to do. This saved us a lot of research time and allowed us to focus on enjoying our trip.
- You’re provided ahead of time with all the details about the proposed accommodations so that you can determine if they meet your needs. All accommodations on our trip were great, including two memorable ones, Chilcabamba Lodge in the Andes and Huasquila Lodge in the rain forest.
- Our guide, Diego, who drove us around for part of the trip was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable about the Ecuadorian history and culture, and was happy to share his knowledge with us. He was always early to pick us up so we didn’t have to wait for him. He always made sure we were happy with the plan and was flexible in adjusting it to our needs. He also gave us good recommendations for local dining options.

Cons:
-While information was provided about the different activities we had planned, such as canyoning and rafting, it was not possible to obtain the names of the outfitters ahead of the activity despite repeated requests, even after making the full payment. Knowing the names of the outfitters ahead of time would have allowed us to be better prepared for the activities by looking at their specific website. As a family, it is nice to get a sense of the technical and physical levels needed for the activities, which is often better described on the outfitters’ websites.

-Some of the activity descriptions were too generic, such as “you will visit caves”. If more details had been provided, such as “you will tour Jumandi caves”, we could have looked up what that experience involves on the tour provider’s website to be better prepared.

Alfonso planned a great trip for us along the Costa Brava trail. The hotels between hikes were great. Transfers were like clock work. Restaurant recommendations spot on. Level of communication and availability while on the trail was just right. Would definitely use Alfonso and Kimkim again!

The trip was well planned out with a few execution errors during the trip.

Planning the trip online was a breeze with Ioannis. I appreciated his input and recommendations based on my interests and travel preferences. He was very responsive and we got the trip planned out quickly.

Once the trip was handed over to Leah, there was far less interaction than I am used to with this company. For my last 3 trips planned with KimKim, I heard from my local travel agent often in the weeks before the trip, and they provided useful pre-travel information (weather, what to pack, etc). They also made sure I had their local contact info on WhatsApp and were in communication with me throughout the trip.

I rarely heard from Leah. A few days before the trip, she sent me a message that if I had any issues during the trip, to directly reach out to the vendor who was responsible for that part of the trip. When we did run into problems during the trip, she and Ioannis were not accessible. This was disappointing as I have previously had the absolute best customer service experiences with my other travel agents on KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Kaleidoscope Cave Houses

Oía

Thankfully check-in went much more smoothly here. Timmy (the guest manager) and his staff were very attentive and helpful. We did not have much hot water the first night and first morning (a bit disappointing as the hot tub was only lukewarm). Luckily, Timmy was able to fix this on day 2 and we had hot water after that. The area was spacious and comfortable. Bathrooms and kitchen were reasonably well stocked but we did have to ask for a sponge and dish soap. This place comes with breakfast. What is described and what is given are pretty different. The first 2 days, my omlette was average but the last day it was inedible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the middle of Oia, close to shops, restaurants and sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Venti

Naxos

This was a beautiful villa with an incredible view. That being said, it is located atop a 0.25 mile steep hill and is ~5 miles away from town. Taxis are very expensive in Naxos (at least 40 Euro to town, one way) and often not available for pick up here. If one stays here, they must have a rental car and beware that a small manual engine might not be able to make it up the hill. Again, we had check in issues. We arrived at 1pm as scheduled and the housekeepers were still working and did not speak English. Luckily they let us in as we were tired, hungry and thirsty. Again, I had to Google the villa to get a contact phone number and make an international phone call. That person gave me the WhatsApp of the villa manager. I sent him a message and he also told me he did not have my contact info or arrival time. It was him who told me things we should’ve known in advance, including the fact that you should not drink the tap water on the islands (unlike in Athens) and that we would need a rental car. He made arrangements for the rental car company to bring a car to us. Without his help, we essentially would’ve been stranded at the villa. I did try to contact Ioannis by phone and Leah by sending a message but neither answered. A different KimKim agent called me (now another international phone call to pay for) after I sent an urgent message and said she would try to find the villa manager to help me. She was unable to do so and I told her I had already handled that on my own. She recommended I download Uber Eats and get food delivered to us— a fairly recommendation on this island but she was in the states and just trying to help. She did provide me a credit to cover a rental car.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Too far from everything unless you have a car.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Four Streets Athens

Athens

This apartment was incredible— fantastic location and amenities. It was spacious and very clean. The main issue I had was with KimKim (and specifically Leah) not giving the apartment manager my contact info. When we were dropped off at the apartment (close to midnight), there was no way for us to get inside. I had to google the apartment complex to find a phone number. I then had to make an international phone call and luckily the apartment manager picked up. He told me he knew I was coming but didn’t have my contact info, so he was unable to provide me with checkin instructions in advance. He guided me over the phone to find the lockbox and the actual apartment within the building— all at midnight, in the dark, after 25 hours of travel. This could have proceeded much more smoothly if Leah had given the apartment manager my direct contact info and we could’ve made arrangements for my late check-in well in advance of my arrival.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants, shops, sights

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Island Villages & Archaeology Day Trip

Santorini

A good tour to see the rest of the island and learn about its history and culture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cultural Treasures & Local Villages Experience

Naxos

The best tour of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Athens Acropolis and Mythology Walk

Athens

A nice, informative tour. But again— scheduling issues. Leah told us in our itinerary to be there at 8:45am. It turns out we were supposed to be there at 8:30am and so rest of the small group tour was left waiting on us as we arrived late.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The communication with Bas was very easy and efficient. I really had no difficulties with my itinerary.
Its hard to pick which activity was the best as all were pretty spectacular.
Starting with my tour of Amsterdam, Inbal was very informative and was easily able to weave the highlights of the city and the food stops.
The boat tour was great as it gave me a different, very interesting perspective of the city.
In fact I could have spent more time on the water and skipped the Rijksmuseum!
(I know that sounds crazy but the crowds were a bit much!)
The tour of Haarlem was also great. Thessa was quite informative and the amount of time spent was perfect.
Finally, the shining star of my trip was the bike ride. Alex was a fantastic guide as he was able to provide me a safe but spectacular route from Haarlem , through the surrounding tulip fields to Kuekenhof, then as an added bonus, a tour of the sand dunes. We actually ended up spending an extra 1 - 1/2 hours on this tour but Alex graciously didn't mind.
All in all, as with the other two KimKim trips, my experiences in the Netherlands was spectacular!

Activity Reviews

cycling Keukenhof, tulips fields, sand dunes and North Sea Coast with private guide

The Netherlands

The highlight of the trip for me was the the bike ride through the tulips and onto the sand dunes. It was an arduous kinda experience for me, I'm almost seventy now, probably twenty years ago, it would've been easy. Alex, who was my guide, was fantastic. And I was able to really experience that whole area quite well.

Amsterdam - Private canal cruise to Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands

I really enjoyed the canal ride now with the little boat, and that really gave me a different perspective of the city. Highly recommended!

Amsterdam - Private guided historic city walk

The Netherlands

The actual tour of Amsterdam was wonderful. The guide was great, and tasting all kinds of mixed food samples was really good.

Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands

The museum was a pretty crowded place, which at this time of year is very common. So that was the only thing I didn't appreciate. Probably, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have gone. I only spent at most thirty minutes there just because it was so difficult to move around. But that's kinda part of the deal.

The trip set up through KimKim was amazing. They really made the trip feel seamless. We started in Lisbon and moved to Algarve and then to Cascais. The part of the trip I really want to emphasize is the private driver/transfers. Rui was our main driver and he was absolutely wonderful. they were always right on time and it made enjoying the trip much easier when not worried about getting from place to place. All the Hotels were as advertised and I would absolutely stay in any of them again . I cant say enough good things about how well the trip was coordinated. For background we have a 3 kids ages 6-11 and the rooms were all sufficiently large and spacious for each of us. Well done Pedro.

Guido was an amazing guide, he gave us so much value able information and excellent recommendations!!! He had so much knowledge about everything!!! The whole family loved him! We all had a great experience with the travel agency and all the communications!!!

From start of planning to even beyond trip’s end, Felipe and his Aracanto team associated with KimKim were nothing short of amazing in planning and implementing our foursome Colombian adventure. Felipe promised to be with us via Whatsapp and/or the KimKim chat every step of the way; this was more than a sincere pledge. Without exception, responses to questions or concerns were always timely, if not unbelievably immediate. No matter a simple request or out-of-the-box queries, everything was dealt with in a kind and effective manner. (Aside: a reservation was made by Aracanto at my request for someone we met in the Amazon and not even traveling with us!)
Of note: We were grateful for airport assistance. Rides were not just arranged to various airports, but also help guiding us through unfamiliar mazes and a foreign language to get us and our luggage safely delivered and on to our next location. Very helpful!
Pre-arranged guides at every stop were, without exception, qualified and eager to help to provide the best experience possible. For me, our Amazon guide, Ramiro, was a favorite, impressive in his sincere attitude as well as his knowledge of the Amazon area; his self-taught English was equally amazing. He was so unassuming, so thoughtful. Other guides (and drivers) throughout our journey were kind and well informed. How in the world drivers knew routes on the mountainous windy, narrow roads is a wonder (without GPS assistance for the most part). Alex, in the Pereira coffee region, was the standout driver!
As a sort of downside, tour timing may have been underestimated in terms of hours spent. This, due mainly to road and weather conditions. Some days got a little long. On the other hand, when will be here again? Guides wanted us to see and do as much as possible.
Our overview of Colombia began in Cartagena where we were housed in a beautiful boutique hotel, as I initially indicated to Felipe that we enjoy during travels. Spending three nights gave us the opportunity for enough exploration (as well as to fully realize the heat and humidity that is Cartagena). These outsiders are not used to that!
On to Bogota, a massive city sprawled far and wide as well as scrunched against and up the eastern range of the Colombian Andes. We found the weather gods with us, experiencing and appreciating the high-altitude coolness with, miraculously, little rain and nice sunshine. As arranged by Aracanto/KimKim, in addition to several tours of interest, we found Bogota dining exceptional. Of the several places we visited this trip, Bogota takes the cake in gastronomy. Delish! For a memorably unique dining experience, we especially recommend Prudencia for a late lunch. After that, no need for dinner! For the best lemon pie ever, it’s Armadillo.
On to the Amazon by way of the border (Brazil, Peru and Colombia) city of Leticia. Back to hot and humid, but if you want see the Amazon, this is the deal. Staying at what is perhaps the nicest accommodation on the Colombian Amazon was an experience to remember. We were booked for 4 nights. Having now been there, 2 days (so maybe 3 nights) would suffice. We had a nice (rustic) hut, king-size bed with mosquito netting, indoor plumbing, an outdoor porch with a hammock and stunning view of the Amazon flowing by before our eyes. Downside: no hot water equals cold showers. (We did not know this ahead of time.) That said, if you have no hot water, the Amazon might be the place where it’s at least semi-ok! Hot, hot, hot and humid.
Outings: pink and gray dolphins performed as promised, jungle tours by hiking and boating, piranha fishing. Not included in our particular tour was an early-morning outing to particularly see parrots. Three in our group signed up in addition to what had been scheduled; I regret that I did not. Parrots and other birds were seen as promised, but the highlight was saving a momma sloth and her baby, stranded on a fallen floating tree. Spotted by the boat driver, guide Ramiro knew how to handle the situation and the pair were carefully rescued from sure drowning and taken by boat to another tree rooted on land down river. Wow!
And, actually, one of the very best things about this camp, like so many times on travels, was meeting folks from around the world: people from Europe, Dubai, Africa, USA and probably other origins populated our camp. There was even a Montana/Kenya connection that may blossom further – the small world thing!
Downside: On checking out, we were informed cash was much preferred, which we did not know ahead of time (or had forgotten). Not everyone had enough COPs and/or other currency that could later be exchanged in Leticia. Credit cards could probably be dealt with, but definitely not preferred and, I believe, a service charge would be added. Also, on our arrival, the camp manager asked us what we would like to do. I, for one, was sort of taken aback at the statement, as I thought it was more or less laid out what the itinerary would be, weather dependent. Odd. It all worked out!
Next, the coffee region. Down the Amazon we went, back by way of Leticia to Bogota for just a night in order to catch an onward flight the following day. Once there, did we learn about coffee! The landscape here (and, really, throughout this lovely country) is stunning. Along with the spectacular scenery, though, is a study in inconvenient living. Steep! Mountains and valleys galore, with any cleared space planted for coffee production and other crops. All this with most everything from planting to harvest done by hand. (Coffee beans are picked one by one by one by one…). The entire agricultural economy is extremely labor intensive. For sure going forward, we will more fully appreciate our cups of coffee!
The Corcora Valley was also something to see with its unique wax palms (Colombia’s national tree) soaring up to 200 feet in the air, the tallest palms in the world; slow growing, and made to last 100 to 200 years!
Horseback riding was on the docket in this area as well. Again, the weather gods accommodated, giving us a wonderfully sunshiny day amidst a spectacular Colombian ranch backdrop. I asked for an authentic ride with good stock. Aracanto saw to it! New for us in riding in various places around the world was to include our guide. Jorge, who was with us throughout the coffee region, provided welcome translation along the way. Our llano leader, Victor, had no English and we had no Spanish. While we can always make do, it is helpful to have a translator.
Next, from Pereira in the coffee region, it was on to Medellin, formerly a city of drug lords (particularly, Pablo Escobar) and extreme violence transformed into a progressive city of appeal that we were happy to see. Besides a city tour, we had a treat outside of Medellin to visit an extensive hobby orchid collection along with its accompanying hydrangea farm. Each hydrangea is planted and picked by hand. Some 8,000 highly perishable stems are picked and packed for air transport, mostly to the USA, daily, year-round, from this one farm. What a process – by hand.
And not so far from Medellin, a final stop by way of the colorful city of Guatape and Marinilla, we spent 2 nights digesting this fine Colombian excursion at a lodge with more wonderful meals and final views of the lush green that is Colombia. As a bonus (at my last-minute request) laid out before us was a surprise celebration for the April birthday guys, complete with a private dinner and concert!
All this ably arranged through Felipe and the Aracanto/KimKim team. Impressive. We four have traveled the world extensively. We offer only praise for this team of travel planners, and heartily recommend their service should you be traveling to the beautiful country of Colombia.

photo: https://imemories.us/3RW2ShJ

Andes Travel planned a great trip for us. We had excellent guides, cars and support while traveling. There were a few of hiccups (confusion of breakfast inclusion at our first hotel, a flight schedule change - not their fault but some communication would have been useful, and an unnecessary baggage fee), all other aspects of the trip were wonderful.

Our trip to Costa Rica with Kim Kim was amazing! Everything was done exactly as it was described. All the transportation arrived as expected exactly on time. We stayed at four different hotels or resorts. Each one was unique, beautiful and comfortable, even luxurious in the case of the resort -Manao- we stayed at in La Fortuna, under the Arenal volcano. There we watched hundreds of egrets roosting in the trees across from our dinner table and relaxed in a few of the many hot spring pools located on site. The nature tour we took just outside the town was the best among all the many excellent opportunities we were booked into. The guide was super knowledgeable and helped us get fantastic pictures of sloths, birds and crocodiles with his spotting scope. We even got to spot a gorgeous trogan which was the bird my husband had hoped to see. The cooking class and tour of the organic farm was also so much fun and educational and both our tour guide and cooking instructor were full of fascinating info about plants and the locale cuisine which was even more delicious because we helped prepare it. I loved making tortillas!
All that being said, my favorite place was Sarapiqui. We stayed at a marvelous gem of a resort called Ambigua, which is surrounded by a jungle like garden. In the evening the red eyed tree frogs come out all around the dining area providing me with amazing photos. The night hike we were booked into on the grounds was magical. The guide, Tavo , went out of his way to make our time with him full of glimpses of all sorts of night creatures from bulletin ants to kinkajous. The pool was lovely and refreshing and the reflexology in their spa was the best I have ever had. Our nature tour at a local ecological institute was full of toucan and parrot sightings as well as many other birds and sloths. The guide was most excellent.
Our stay at Tortuguero was awesome as well with special kudos to our two day guide there- Raymond, who clearly knows his stuff and has a great affinity for the natural bounty of his country as well as a great sense of humor. The only disappointment was that an optional hike was too rigorous for me to attempt and we wished there was an alternative choice.
A huge thanks to Kim Kim, Olman and the team in Costa Rica (Aleska Tours I think was the name and they were able to change our airport pickup time with one phone call), for creating and managing our unforgettable and magical visit to Costa Rica ! Everyone and everyplace was no less than fantastic!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

This place is awesome! It sits back well off the main road which provides the guests with an amazing view of the volcano, and also some exquisite natural settings all around. Our first dinner there we were seated where we could see hundreds of egrets roasting in the trees for the night, which was unforgettable. The front desk was quite helpful in managing our connections with our tours that we were taking in the area. our room was absolutely perfect and unique. We could see Arenal volcano from our patio and at the same time experience the natural beauty of the area and local vegetation. The bathroom of the room was most amazing with a tropical plant in the floor and a luxurious shower. During the day when we weren’t taking a tour, we were relaxing in the many beautifully designed thermal springs on site. The pools are phenomenal and one day we had lunch served at the bar actually on the edge of the pool . The restaurant is pricy but the food is excellent. The included breakfast was a huge buffet with more choices than can be named- all fresh and tasty. The only downside is that the lobby is not very comfortable and there was no way to get any forgotten toiletries at the resort.

Authenticity & Character

Natural setting, architecture,food

Location

As I said great view of volcano and access to hot springs. Downside was that it was far from town and there is no shuttle, so without a car we were unable to see the town unless we wanted to pay dearly for taxi ride.

Staff

Everyone tried to be helpful but service wasn’t quite as personal as elsewhere. Quickly rectified problem with laundry, though and cleaning staff did amazing job on room.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fantastic level of cleanliness- not sure how they do it in such a big place

Ara Ambigua

Heredia

This hotel is the home of our fondest memories of Costa Rica and a prime example of Pura Vida! Surrounded by beautiful gardens blooming vegetation, and much wildlife. This is a magical place! We watched red eyed tree frogs come out at night while we ate dinner and were able to experience a night hike right on the grounds. This unforgettable trek with Tavo gave us a sneak peek at many nocturnal creatures we would never see on our own. The pool was lovely and relaxing, the spa provided me with the best reflexology I have ever had and the staff was exceptional in helpfulness. Highlights were the frogs, birds , iguanas, and basilisk lizards, and lovely murals.

Authenticity & Character

Nature, architecture and delicious food

Location

Close to chocolate factory and nature preserve. Quiet set back from road.

Staff

Friendly , patient, helpful, speak excellent English

Cleanliness & Comfort

All was clean and comfortable

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

Our first encounter with the natural wonders of Costa Rica. When we arrived we were all greeted with a refreshing drink and welcoming faces. Considering it is located very remotely, the resort has the routine well organized but still feels relaxed. Service at the desk was excellent and always cheerful. The hotel is nestled within the jungle and has a few trails right around itself., but it carries off a luxurious feel as well with a lovely pool and bar and patios right on the river. All personnel were lovely and our guides were exceptional. Food was similar from meal to meal but always fresh and tasty.

Authenticity & Character

Jungle canopy and location

Location

Very near to National Park and preserve and within an actual jungle complete with howler monkeys

Staff

Our guide Raymond

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spa was squeaky clean as was everything (except the nationwide toilet paper disposal system which was never explained adequately in terms of how to properly handle toilet paper in a sanitary manner and was cause for smells in the room)

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Beautiful pool and dining area. Outstanding service and exceptional food. Lobby a bit small and room adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful garden around pool and delicious typical dishes.

Location

Close to airport but far from other sights

Staff

Service outstanding even gave us a box breakfast when we left too early for dining room to be open.

Cleanliness & Comfort

all was clean and adequately comfortable

Activity Reviews

Traditional Cooking Class - Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fantastic way to get closer to the people, food and customs of Costa Rica. Also delicious! We also got unexpected presentation on sugar cane which was fascinating!

Quality of Experience

The cook was a lively woman who did not speak much English but managed to communicate with us well enough and with enthusiasm. She had so much energy and skill!

Food

Loved eating what we had a part in preparing.everything was so fresh and very delicious and all typically prepared.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We learned so much from our guide about the plants. Our favorite part was his humorous presentation about sugar cane!

Transport

Guided Nature Walk at Danaus Ecological Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was our favorite guided hike and preserve. The guide had exceptional knowledge and great enthusiasm for what he was doing. He helped us take pictures using his spotting scope and found many birds. He was never in a hurry and told us one of the most memorable stories we heard on our trip. The preserve is outstanding with so much to see from alligators to shunting and so many birds!

Quality of Experience

We were delighted to be served fresh fruit and water at the end of the hike. Also loved the native craft area and learning about the art and the people who craft it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So much enthusiasm and knowledge

Transport

On time comfortable communicative

Birdwatching Tour at La Selva Biological Station

Sarapiquí

Guide was exceptional knowledgeable and well spoken. The center was fascinating-I especially enjoyed seeing toucans and walking on the bridge across the river and seeing the nesting birds there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was a woman with a kind and relaxed manner who made us feel welcome. She even presented us with little souvenirs of Costa Rica!

Transport

Always on time and courteous

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Absolutely amazing! Raymond our guide . Was extremely competent and patient as our leader for three days. He made every effort to provide us with knowledge and opportunities to see even rare wildlife. His affinity and understanding of the natural wonders of his country and his sense of humor made it all very special. His command of English is also quite impressive. Ray is a great example of Pura Vida and a Costa Rican we won’t forget!

Quality of Experience

Ray and jungle location

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Always eager to help, friendly and cheerful. Captains of boats went out of their way to show wildlife.

Transport

Always on time. Captains and Drivers were friendly and communicated well. Vans and buses and boats were clean and comfortable with the exception of life preservers which were bulky and hot.

Mint put together a great itinerary. Leena was punctual and very knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the whole trip. The cooking class might have been the highlight of the visit. The only suggestion would be during the tasting event in Chinatown that Leena would have provided tastes of several dishes. Instead she would ask if we wanted to try this booth or that booth. Once we had a dish it represented the whole meal and we had very little room for other foods.

Activity Review

Authentic Thai Cooking Class in a Traditional House!

Bangkok

This was probably the highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prompt and safe.

We had an amazing time. All drivers & guides were perfectly on time. The acommodations were exactly what we expected.
Louis, our Guatemala Guide was fantastic. He gave us a great understanding of the Maya and Highland cultures.
Oliverio, our guide in Tikal and Yaxha had an immense amount of knowledge and experience. Our various activities were perfectly planned and executed.

Hotel Reviews

Black Rock Lodge

San Ignacio

Amazing food and super helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Way out in the jungle. Beautiful setting along the river

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Fortuna Atitlan

Santa Cruz la Laguna

Wonderful place to explore Lake Attitlan Everyone is so helpful and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Posada del Angel

Antigua Guatemala

Great place to stay in Antigua. Amazing Staff, everyone was so friendly Breakfast was fantastic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little away from the main traffic and downtown craziness.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cacao Farm & Chocolate Making Tour

San Ignacio

The farm visit was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Line at Calico Jack's Village

Guatemala

Great experience, felt safe at all times. Very well maintained. Great rides through the jungle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves day tour

San Ignacio

The most amazing place. A MUST see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Yaxhá Maya Ruins

Guatemala

What a fantastic place away from the main tourist path. We felt like we were the only ones there. Very well maintained.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oliverio was fantastic

Transport

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Fantastic place and Oliverio was a great guide. Start early before all the busses from Flores arrive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour the famous Chichicastenango Market

Guatemala

Great market, a bit overrun by tourists. Little side trip to the cemetery was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Car was "OK"

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Great tour of two of the villages around the lake. We should have done two days to get to see more than two villages. Luis was the perfect guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The boat ride can get a bit bumpy at times.

Sip n' Cycle - Bike/Coffee Combo Tour

Antigua

Traffic was a bit scary when you are on a bike. Perfect amount of exercise. Not too strenuous.

Quality of Experience

Fantastic experience on the Coffee farm. The owner was so enthusiastic and friendly.

Food

Fantastic home cooked lunch and the best coffee.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Luis was a fantastic guide. Perfect for a one-day hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Perfect little lunch on the volcano

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The planning process was painless. Some back and forth with the consultant Long, based in Hanoi. We had to cancel the original trip in 2023 due to our other tour in SE Asia being cancelled. Kimkim held our deposit to be applied to future travel, with no time restrictions. We reactivated the itinerary for 2025 with the expected price increases.

We were provided details for pickup at BKK airport which was seamless. Our guide Eddie met us at the airport and transferred us to our hotel in Rangnam district. The next three days included a floating market, the River Kwai bridge and railroad, Erawan waterfall trek and the temples at Auytthaya. The final day in Bangkok was self guided. We used it to relax after 23 days in Vietnam and Cambodia, and tour the Rangnam district. We were assigned a room at the hotel that we felt was not up to the expectations based on the hotel website. Long made arrangement and we changed rooms. The hotel and staff were perfect for our stay.

Day 6 was a flight to Chiang Rai. Airport transfers were seamless, as well as the flight arrangements. The next day we met our guide Mai and driver. The day included the “Black House”, Long Neck Village, royal gardens at Doitung. We then Mae Sai market at the border with Myanmar. A stop at Sop Ruak “golden triangle” included a long boat cruise of the Mekong River which splits Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. The day ended at the Blue Temple. Next day was a stop at the White Temple and a scenic drive the Chiang Mai. The hotel in Chiang Rai was not in the city centre, but there were several options for local Thai Food. The hotel was clean and comfortable.

Day 9 was an early start with a visit to the Kanta Elephant Sanctuary. We met our guide Nan and driver at 06:30. It was great to see how rescued domestic elephants are treated and not used for entertainment. We interacted with the animals in feeding and bathing. The next stop was an orchid display. Orchids are everywhere in SE Asia, wish we could grow them like that in Canada. After lunch visited “workshops of craftsmen”. This was a disappointment as it was nothing but high pressure sales, very little about the production of the products.

Day 10 was an almost 2 hour trip to Doi Inthanon National Park which is the highest point in Thailand at over 2,500 metres. We were supposed to do a trek on the Ban Mae Klang Luang nature trail. It would have been after a late lunch and was approximately 2 hours. This should have been first in the itinerary in order to do it while the temperature was still lower, and not on a full stomach. The hotel was in “old town” Chiang Mai, inside the moat. Lots of food options available.

Day 11 the transfer back to Bangkok was seamless, including the flight. The hotel was the same as at the start of the trip. Rangnam is walkable, with lots of food options. Next day was a seamless transfer to BKK for our trip home.

Communication with our consultant Long during the trip was via WhatsApp. He checked with us on each change of location, and quite often after business hours. Over all a seamless worry-free experience. I had some reluctance at the start of planning for this trip on using Thai ULCC airlines. Long reassured me that there should be no problems, including no baggage charges. I will now recommend Thai AirAisa to friends and family. The drivers were professional, and the vehicles were clean and comfortable.

Hotel Reviews

Khamthana the Colonial Hotel Chiangrai

Chiang Rai

Khamthana the Colonial Hotel Chiangrai was wonderful. It was located in the old city inside the moat, which made it easily accessible to various activities and good restaurants. We really enjoyed the convenience this hotel offered during our stay.

True Siam Rangnam Hotel

Phayathai, Rajthevee, Province

The True Siam Rangnam Hotel in Bangkok was generally good but had its hiccups. Initially, the room we got was in their secondary building and didn't match the pictures. However, after reaching out to Long, we got moved to the main building, and it matched our expectations. The internet was even better there. The location is a bit away from the city center, so dining options were somewhat limited, but overall, it was a decent stay.

Activity Review

Kanta Elephant Sanctuary & Handicraft villages

Chiang Mai

Visiting the Kanta Elephant Sanctuary was a highlight of our trip. We were moved by how well the elephants are treated. They've have been rescued and are now living comfortably. It was a heartwarming experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting.