Kimkim Trip Reviews

I enjoyed the trip and tours arranged by kimkim. The hotels and guides were good with 2 exceptions - described below. I did not interact much with Simon so cannot provide comments on his service.
There are 2 things that were of poor quality however:
1. The hotel in Aux-du-Provence was not good quality. I also had a safety issue there, in that someone I did not know, tried to come into my room late at night. Also, my bathroom smelled bad and my refrigerator did not work. I would not stay at this hotel again.
2. The guide who took us to Monaco was not good. She was more focused on her personal activities and plans for later in the day. She provided minimal information on what we were seeing. She dropped us off and never accompanied us to any spots we visited along the way. She operated more as a driver than a guide. I don't feel we got what we paid kimkim, for this person's services.

Had a really great trip. enjoyed it immensely. Definitely would recommend. to others. If I could make one suggestion though. It would be great if the local guides had a cooler on their cars with cold water in it. At many of the less touristy sites it was very hot when we went and there was no place to even buy cold beverages. Would be nominal cost but would make the trip much better

all the arrangements were well planned and perfectly executed
our guides in all the cities were excellent and went out of their way to accommodate our needs and wishes
all in all it was a great trip
i would recommend Kimkim and Yuliana without reservation

My trip was planned by Fridur and after a lot of messages back and forth, the entire schedule was turned upside down or rather north south reversal and no regrets!!! Thanks to Fridur who managed to get all the things we wanted to do into our schedule.
Camp Tamok was our first stop and it was well worth the entire day spent there. Dog sledding with Kristin was fantastic with the huskies sooooo loveable and strong. What an experience! Then we tried our hand(and legs!) at cross country skiing which was done with head lights and plenty of snow! Another incredible experience. But the best is yet to come. Andreas took us to chase the northern lights and there was no chase, cos the lights came to us literally. We set up a camp fire on a frozen lake, and voila after some time we saw the first rays of the aurora. What came in the next 30 minutes were a feast for the eyes and camera as we witnessed the dancing aurora lights with our own eyes!!! What a sight. And this is only the first day. All thanks to the great experience and knowledge of Andreas, great guy and great company.
Next day we went snow shoeing near Tromsø which was another excellent experience. Followed by Tromsø city tour on our own. Boy my face almost froze on the way across the bridge to the cathedral. Oh and how we tried our best not to slide and fall on the slippery ice was fun.
Next thing on the list was to spend the night in a glass igloo waiting for the aurora. An unforgettable experience in Lyngen North but the Aurora decided not to show up in Lyngen that night. :-(
Then we were off to Stavanger for the Preikestolen hike. It was an adventure with ski poles and ice spikes to keep us from falling in the slippery ice. We had a great hike with some really friendly people in the group and our guide Fabrizio was great with the camera. His photos were amazing.
It was a really tiring hike but the reward of the views during the trip and the Pulpit rock makes it worthwhile. Unbelievable sights!
The grand finale of the trip was Norway in a nutshell from Bergen to Oslo. Highlight was the Flam railway and the fjord cruise. Fantastic views.
It was a great trip with fantastic experiences and unforgettable views. I have to say that the best hotel stay in the trip was Bergen Bors hotel with their warm and sincere staff that is ever ready to help and provide helpful tips. This is what makes the hotel the one we want to return to!!!
Oh and not forgetting the Norway in a nutshell staff(sorry forgot the name) in Flam who recommended us to take an earlier train and to stop at Vatnahalsen and explore the charming hotel and its surroundings as it was getting dark and we had to wait for the next train to Oslo. Views there were stunning.
All the above planned and recommended by Fridur, great plan and recommendations. Not all rosy and nice as some minor hiccups, mostly more detailed information needed, which Fridur was on hand to provide within minutes so no major drama.
5 stars service !!!

I had a great time and appreciate the professionalism and flexibility with my trip schedule.
Everybody from Social Tours did a great job.
I will highly recommend Social Tour for anybody looking to do trekking in Nepal.

Our trek in the Himalaya was an incredible experience and we were so happy that we decided to book with the KimKim/Himalayan Trails. Our local specialist, Kripa, was an invaluable resource as we tried to determine which trek was right for us. She was responsive, helpful, and always available to answer any and all questions we had while planning the trip and the KimKim interface made communication seamless and easy. Our guide, Nawang, was one a warm, kind, and fun-loving and companion on the trail. He had friends in every village we passed through and had a knack for picking the best tea houses and side trips for us along the way. Our porter, Paljong, was really more like a second guide on the trek and brought humor, levity and a helpful attitude along every step around Manaslu. We hope to get back to Nepal for another trek someday, and when we do, we'll absolutely use KimKim/Himalayan Trails again!

Highly professional and extremely organized company. Tamara arranged a seamless 5 day trip with very short notice (last minute trip) and accommodated all my requests. I spent one night in Amman, a day in Jarash/Madaba/Mt Nebo, a day in Petra, and my final day visiting a crusader castle in Karak. My driver Mohamed Ali Hilalat was exceptional. He went out of his way to make sure my stay was as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Always on time, a great conversationalist with a wealth of knowledge about the history, geography and culture of the region. Mohamed is a live embodiment of the famous Jordanian hospitality and kindness. Jordan is full of beautiful natural hiking trails, inter-twined with historically significant areas and natural reserves. If you’re interested in an authentic Jordanian experience and not just a cookie-cutter tourist attractions trip, Mohamed is your man. Went on a “backdoor” trail to see Petra and my Bedouin guide Mua’az did a phenomenal job showing me “off the beaten path” areas that made Petra more mesmerizing.
It’s obvious that this company’s owner takes great pride in his work and strives to show customers what’s special about Jordan.

Top notch outfit. Tummas was my guide and was able to modify the tour based upon my activity level. Extremely knowledgeable about Faroese culture and history. Would not hesitate for a second to use them again.

This was a truly amazing trip, I got to see everything I wanted to see and experience.
Alex the travel agent was simply amazing as well, catering this trip to my needs, available at any given time help, answer questions, give information and make any small changes I requested.

Thank you Alex and KimKim for an amazing trip

Took the Pikey Peak 8 day tour and was tailored to our requirements. Amanda was extremely helpful and professional throughout. The planning.The trek was superb and the guide and porter were absolutely fantastic . The whole team delivered a unique and 1st class unforgettable trip. I would not hesitate in using this team again in the future.

Eon was excellent! He was very knowledgeable and gave us time to spend together as a family.
Thanks to Debra for all the helpful tips for the road trip as well!

All of our guides were exceptional! Lina in Bogata, Mauricio in Villa de Leyva, Natalia in Pereira, Daniel in Medellin, Juan in Tayrona Park, Carolina for the cooking lesson and Ingrid in Cartagena. The guides were all very knowledgeable and obviously proud of their wonderful country.
We enjoyed all of the things we experienced. A couple of things that stood out were the visit to the coffee farm that was run by women, the visit to Bazurto market with a local that knows her way around. We also enjoyed the physical beauty of all the different areas of Columbia and being able to do a bit of hiking.

Preeti did a fabulous job!!!! Everything was terrific! Very well organized and detailed.....
The only activity that we didn’t enjoy as much as everything else was the ice cave tour. The “ice cave” itself was interesting but we didn’t know that it involved a good 45 minute + drive to and from the meeting point to get to the cave (it was not a very enjoyable ride at all).

All of the hotels/accommodations were great.
We would definitely recommend Preeti!
Mary Ellen

From start to finish, in country operator Myanmar Pure made our 26-day trip to Myanmar a seamless, rewarding experience. Passing off logistical arrangements allowed us to focus on all this geographically and ethnically diverse country has to offer. Our requested itinerary included the well known "don't miss" sites and a peek into the often unseen "real" life of Myanmar people. Myanmar Pure delivered. Owner Anne's relationship with her local guides brought us into homes for meals, tea, and conversation. We were even serendipitously invited to join wedding receptions in two small villages, an opportunity missed if our guides had not been there to translate. More often than not, we were the only foreign visitors in places off the standard tourist trail.

While the known sites were certainly worthwhile, the overall best part of the trip for us was the brush with day-to-day life. The depth of that experience we owe to Myanmar Pure. Anne chose well when she selected local guides Zayyar, Lu Wine, Thinzar She and Aung Naing Thu. They were our gateway to rewarding interactions with the people we met on the course of our travels. And, they were just plain fun to be around.

We recommend "the kimkim team" for anyone considering Myanmar. Your pre-trip questions will be answered promptly, courteously and completely, and in-country logistics will, if our experience is an indicator, run smoothly.

We had the most incredible Manaslu trek! It was brilliantly organised by Amanda who was incredibly informative and remained undaunted by our endless questions and changes to the itinerary. Our guide Sonem was just amazing and could not have been more caring and supportive. She really looked after us, trying so hard to secure the best accommodation and manage our expectations, checking the food and the kitchen at the tea houses, often cooking for us herself. She was so full of energy fun and warmth: we all loved her. Her team of porters and sub guide were also so cheery warm and positive. Watching over us cheering us on and never complaining.
The trek was more of a challenge than anticipated and the altitude punishing, but the scenery was spectacular as we climbed from rivers to jungle stunning open plains and the majestic awe inspiring mountains. The villages, people we met on the trail, mountain mules and Yaks were fascinating: new wonders every day. We all loved it: there were highs and lows, times spent huddled frozen in our sleeping bags hugging hot water bottles, cold showers and seriously basic accommodation but our spirits always lifted when we were walking and we all feel a huge sense of achievement. We are so looking forward to the comforts of home but will never forget Nepal and Manaslu.

Pedro was great and shared lots of interesting facts. He was very accommodating with some of the changes we made at the beginning of the journey. He picked us up at the airport and then the next morning arrived to take us to Otovalo and the leather town and a good place to eat On the way back we stopped to buy roses on the side of the road. What a treat. On Monday, Santiago was on time to pick us up. His car was also very clean and he was interesting to talk to. We drove to the Cotopaxi park to walk 5 km around a lagoon. It was a nice hike. We noticed that the volcano top was storming and it has turned to snow within the hour around the lake. It started to sleet just as we got to the car. We headed up the volcano road which was very slippery for his car. I suggested if he was not comfortable we could skip the hike. He drove us up to the parking lot of Cotopaxi to walk the 400m to the refuge. The weather was extremely bad with snow and sleet. I trusted his judgement since he is a local guide. However, he should never have let us hike up Cotopaxi in an electrical snow storm. I didn’t realize the danger and he did not seem concerned. We got up halfway to the refuge in the storm and my husband and I immediately started to pick up an electrical charge which I did not understand at the moment what was happening. I knew it was bad and as I was being shocked and in pain he ignored these dangerous signs of an imminent sign of being struck by lightning. I immediately turned to run down the mountain screaming help me. Then I got a shock or was actually struck by lightning. My husband then got to me and rushed me down the mountain as fast as we could. I don’t know how I survived. Everything I’ve read about this situation that I now understand this to be is that it is rare to survive this type of electrical phenomenon and most people do not survive to tell their story. I know I would not survived if I’d had a heart problem because there was no phone signal or medical training by our guide. After my horrifying experience we drove to the hacienda and enjoyed the rest of our journey as much as we could. El Porvenir was awesome. The last day was supposed to be hiking on Quilotoa. In addition to not feeling well and the fear of hiking in the rain again, we asked to change our journey and went to the cloud forest to see hummingbirds and at lunch at Papallacta. We stopped at an amazing Rose plantation I found a brochure for in Papallacta. We appreciate all the last minute changes but my experience prompts me to ask a lot of questions about the knowledge of safety that these free lance guides are expected to have. We never knew the risks of hiking at high altitudes while it is snowing and with poor weather but our guide should have. When I did some research on the internet and mentioned to my guide that we shouldn’t have gone and that I was lucky to be alive he blew it off and said I should’ve unzipped my jacket? What? I expected an apology and for him to do additional research into this subject of hiking in an electrical storm. For the 2 days we stayed after, I remained in a short of shocked state unsure of my emotions and physical well being although I felt mostly well. We were so far from anywhere and I didn’t want to go to an Ecuadorian medical facility. I pushed the incident to the back of mind so as to enjoy my life since it was spared and the rest of our trip. I visited my doctor a few hours after my arrival home and have been given a bill of health which I am grateful for. My doctor had only seen a few patients who have been electrocuted/shocked/struck by lightning and told me how lucky I was to not have had any damage or death. most don’t live to tell the tale.

We are a group of 3 from Australia that completed the Pikey Peak trek in November in 2019. Sangita was very helpful in organising our trip and answered all our queries. It was our first visit to Nepal and the trek was fantastic. We were lucky to have some good weather and had fantastic views of the Everist region and surrounding country. Our guide Bhim was extremely knowledgable and went out of his way to impart his knowledge and to ensure we had a good trip. Our porter Pemba (who is also a guide) did a great job and was a pleasure to walk with. All in all the trip was a great success and I would be happy to recommend Sangita and Bipin for those considering a treking trip in Nepal

Sarah was amazing through this whole process from beginning to end! She mentioned doing 2 extra things while visiting Petra. We had dinner with a local family which was quite nice. We also went to Petra at night. Petra during the day was amazing too. We took full advantage of both days. On the first afternoon we saw the treasury for the first time. We took pictures from a scenic overlook. Then explored a little further and would up at the high place of sacrifice. Day 2 we started super early and went to the monastery. On the way back we went to see some of those other tombs on the hill and saw a sign for a trail to go see the treasury from the highest point. This was so worth the extra couple miles of walking. On the first day, the tour of Amman and Jerash...I had no idea what to expect of the sites we would see. The biggest surprise was the Aljoun Castle. On our way to Wadi Musa our driver, Ahmad, took us to “little Petra” and joked about a surprise and it was a stop to see a boulder formation that looked like an elephant. Ahmad had snacks for us in the car along with water. That was fun. Both drivers stopped at rest areas so we could get out, use the restrooms, grab a snack, and maybe a souvenir. The short stay in Wadi Rum was great. We had a desert tour (also suggested by Sarah) that was so much fun. Our guide for this was fun with his driving and taking us on a route that gave us quiet time from other tourists at some of the stops. Mt Nebo and the Baptism site were well worth it also. For the Dead Sea day, Sarah has booked us a room at a hotel that had a private beach and that made everything so easy. This was the thing I had been looking forward to the most. I have been intrigued by the Dead Sea since I was a small child when I saw it in a book of natural wonders of the world. I know I missed a thing or two, but Jordan, our drivers, the locals, and the sites we saw all exceeded our expectations. This was an absolutely amazing experience!!

We had plan to visit Sri Lanka this year, however after the events at Easter time we almost gave up this trip. We are glad we have done it. Just spend 2 weeks in Sri Lanka with Kimkim and I totally recommend it.
We had a great time here and we have visited amazing places. Sri Lanka is an amazing destination that combines awesome nature, landscapes, history, beach and food.
Anoj was great, always helpfull during the trip, making this a wonderful experience.

Megan has been extremely helpful with the planning and booking processes of our Moroccan trip. She's very organized and responds to all my questions in a very timely manner. She's very patient with my 0 knowledge about the country. I highly recommend her expertise to all others who plan to visit Morocco. Thank you Megan!
To our driver/guide, Omar, my friends and I couldn't be more grateful for his professionalism and compassion for his craft. He welcomed us with a big smile on his face. He's always on time. Made sure we are all safe and comfortable. He treated us as his family (where he welcomed us to his humble abode in Rose Valley - much respect for this Berber family, such a beautiful one! ). He was very patient with our last minute requests. Even if he already dropped us off at our riad, he kept sending messages throughout the night just to make sure we are doing great. Our stay wouldn't be this awesome if not with him. With that, Omar, we are extremely grateful!
We would also want to commend, Emily from the private riad at the desert for being the nicest and caring and hospitable. She welcomed us with open arms, cooked good food for us, chitchatted with us during our stay. We love that she's so cool and sweet that we feel like we could have stayed longer and enjoyed her company and that of the serenity of the desert.
All riads and hotel we stayed at were all superb. There were a few mishaps but doesn't outweigh its beauty and the staff's professionalism. The riads will absolutely make you feel like you are in a different place and era.
Overall, the experience was one for the books. Something me and my friends will definitely treasure for the rest of our lives. Thanks to Kimkim and Wanderlust Voyages! Kudos to all! Keep it up!