Kimkim Trip Reviews

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!

Our trip to Brazil was truly incredible! We asked kimkim to provide us with fun adventures, as well as time for relaxation and they sure did deliver!
Luciana was so helpful and knowledgeable and was quick to respond to our questions. She took care of any issues that arose and made our vacation run smoothly. We highly recommend this service as they provide access to local adventures that you wouldn't normally come across on your own and every part of our vacation was better than the last!
This is the only way we will be booking our travel in the future!

Had a wonderful time on our 13 day Columbia tour . Yuliana who coordinated everything was wonderful .
All our guides - Viviana in Bogota, Claudio in Amazon, Jaime in Medellin & Roberto in Cartagena were excellent & very informative.

Nafisa

We had a wonderful trip to Sapa with Ms May who picked us up from Lao Cai Train Station.
Ms May was helpful and took good care of us throughout the trip. She was with us from the start of our Sapa tour till the end where she sent us off at the Lao Cai Train Station for us to take our overnight train back to Hanoi.

During our tour in Sapa, she showed us the ways of the local and we went to the less crowded spots to have a splendid view of rice terraces. As it is very crowded to queue for the cable car at Fansipan, she made sure we got in and prebought tickets for us.

Overall the tour is to our pace and we didn't feel rushed- which we appreciated. As she knows we like to visit markets, we made additional stops to see "pop-up" weekend/Sunday markets set up by local farmers and traders selling their produce.

She also brought us around Bac Ha market so that we didn't miss anything out. The Sunday buffalo sale is quite a sight not to miss!

Hanoi portion:

1) The pick up from the airport to the "cafe" (to take the train from Hanoi to Lao Cai) to wait for our tickets was frustrating at least. We were given a piece of paper (which apparently can be exchanged for train tickets) and with no instructions whatsoever. Do we wait for our tickets to be collected? Or do we collect them ourselves? In fact we walked out of the cafe and suddenly a kind gentleman told us to wait and have a seat whilst he collect our tickets. Then he disappears for quite a while- leaving us confused again.

But fortunately he returns in time for us to trolley our bags to the train station to board the overnight train to Sapa.

2) The pick up from Hanoi Station was at the same meeting point as we waited (see 1)) Unfortunately at wee hours in the morning 5am meant we had to exit the Hanoi Station at the other end of the block. In order to get to the same cafe (1), we had to make a huge detour around the block, in darkness. But luckily our driver was looking for us in the dark and we finally found each other and he drove us safely to the airport for our onward journey.

I don't know where to start , but wow! Harris knocked it out of the park. We have done trips with zero planning, and done trips where we tried to book all the things ourselves but this trip was nearly perfect. Harris and his group in Greece know what they are doing. They matched us with the right tour guides and hotels, planned transfers and connections perfectly. Our tour in Delphi with Penny was so informative, her ability to weave all the layers of information together was exceptional. Our Naxos food tour with Katarina was just as nice, local recipes supplied and additional places to visit for us was perfect. Thanos guided us around Santorini with a tour of the other side of the island, it was such a pleasant day, very interesting and the connections with our group to make sure we felt a connection to the island was nice. Popi was our guide on another tour of Santorini and we got to see the cave houses and a whole different perspective from her. This was not just a vacation tour but a personally selected vacation that fit our group. The interaction with Harris, questions asked and ideas that he had all made sense. The security of having local contacts and agents that have actually searched out the best local talent, from drivers to guides and hotels is worth the extra money spent. Book the trip! Thanks again, we will be back for more soon.
Doug and Dixie

The trip planned for us by Deborah and Tara at Elgin Africa was amazing. We came up with a base plan and they took it from there. From the boutique hotel in Cape Town to the Victoria Falls Hotel with its incredible history to the tented safari camp in Zimbabwe, everything was well organized and came through without any glitches whatsoever. All in country land transfers were pre-arranged and were always on time (or early). We did 3 private day tours in Cape Town; Stellenbosch, the Cape Peninsula, and shark cage diving (highly recommended). The safaris in Zimbabwe and Botswana were nothing short of incredible. The safari guides and drivers were all top-notch professionals and we enjoyed spending time with them and learning about their countries. They all had stories to tell. The food was also amazing; we were always surprised at the quality of the meals that were prepared for us.

We would highly recommend Elgin Africa and Deborah for anyone looking to spend time in Southern Africa.

Our Guides Alessandro in Florence was excellent. Ricardo in Rome was excellent also. They were also very helpful . I was. Dis appointed in Matthew. On our second he asked us how our cooking class was? We said no one showed or called. Matthew said he would call us back. We never heard another word from him all week! We waited around all day prior to his call, alerted the front desk and no one came. My husband was really looking forward to this. Loves to cook. Communication was a definite issue with the trip, until we took the initiative and asked what time we could expect some one. Andrew was our main driver and was very nice ,. He was on the phone with Matthew 2-3 at least when we were we with him. I use say in higher voice , we are waiting for him to call back. When I asked Matthew if we could go to the isle of Capri, I thought he said it would be to far away. My husband walks around in the morning while we were in Sorrento and what were staring at was Capri from our Bacolony! Our off day we went to for a twenty minute boat ride to Capri and had a wonderful day.

Stephen's planning was exactly what we were looking for! Each of the guides/tours he booked for us were excellent - we learned a lot and had a blast the whole trip. Our hotel was also outstanding. Could not recommend his services more!

Our 13 day trip to Peru was fabulous! This is the first time I have used any kind of travel service and I will use one again. The activities planned were exactly what we wanted, the multiple, multiple transfers were seamless, the guides were wonderful, and the entire experience was great.

Liz made all the arrangements and the few times that I had questions she was available to answer. A welcome surprise that she arranged for us was a cooking class. That is not something I would have done on my own and it was fun and the food was fantastic.

I highly recommend Kimkim and Liz!!!

We visited Morocco in October for 1 week and had an amazing time! Megan was professional, responsive and always willing to help us with last minute adjustments to the trip. Our tour guide while on the trip, Omar, was wonderful and always went above and beyond to make sure the trip was special and memorable for us - he has a great playlist which made even the long-drives enjoyable,
and he was always a willing photographer to help capture every moment. The highlight of the trip was definitely the day we spent glamping in the desert driving ATVs and riding camels during the sunset.

In general we think that the guides here are less professionell than in other countries. We had two different guides (Dawa and Pemba) and both experience were simillar. The guides here only give you information when you ask.

However it was always easy to communicate with Kripa. So with her we made good experiences.

We did like both treks so from the nature it was worth to visit Nepal.

I didn't have any expectations about it, and the whole trip surprised me, specially my driver: what a good mood, i have to say. Since we had to drive for several hours almost every day he truly made the difference. Hotel and food were good as well, so the tours, the places; its entire history. I believe this opened my mind about Sri Lanka, and that's one of my favorite feelings about a trip.

We had a great time working with Sharon in planning our desert experience in Morocco. We were even more fortunate to have an amazing driver, Sallam, who took us through our trip. We could not have asked for a better driver/guide. Sallam was extremely warm and personable. He was flexible when we wanted to change plans. Sallam did a remarkable job of knowing when to share stories/sights while also knowing when to give us time to relax. He adjusted his driving based on our comfort level. Sallam was not only a wonderful guide but he is now a friend that we plan to keep in touch with. He made the experience much more enjoyable especially given how long of a drive it was.

Overall, the desert experience was very fun. The camel ride was very nice and the sand dunes were beautiful. The camp was very nice and we were looking forward to enjoying the experience under the stars at night. However, unfortunately the high winds caused us to have to stay inside. The amenities were above expectations with the nice toilet and shower. We were a bit disappointed to not have more time at the camp in the morning. After breakfast, we were quickly pushed to pack up and leave the site. We expected more time in the morning to enjoy the desert in peace.

Overall it was a very nice experience. The driving time was a bit much but the Camp was quite nice. Sallam made the experience so much more enjoyable for us. He was the best driver/guide we could have asked for.

Our trip to Peru was marvelous, in particular because our needs were catered for in every way beforehand by Jesus. Careful questions and answers resulted in an itinarary that proved to be well put together and balanced. The guides, in both Lima and Cusco, were very knowledgable re the local history and cultures informing us each step of the way what to look for and why. All the hotels were well managed, clean and comfortable. All transport went smoothly and on time; Air, Rail, Road and horseback!
Difficult to single out highlights from so many but; the three lunch locations on the cycle tour with Luis, the day at Machu Picchu with Julio and a days horse ride with Javier were voted the top three by us. Julio in particular gave us so much insight to Peruvian culture for which we will forever be grateful.

Working with Dan and the YGD Travel Agency was easy and seamless. Dan took into account all of my various questions and patiently worked with me on making this trip perfect. He was quick to respond and answer questions I had, whether related to specific points of interest or about traveling through the Philippines in general.

Once on the ground, YGD was in contact with me on a regular basis to provide updates on exact pickup times and/or address any questions I had. The few small hiccups we experienced (e.g., a tour operator picked us up much later than anticipated) were addressed immediately. From the hotels booked to the tour guides, the service was impeccable.

I'm grateful to the YGD team for an amazing vacation and would definitely recommend them to anyone!

I cannot begin to write a review that can give my friends and my experience traversing the Nakasendo Trail in Japan. I think a large part of this amazing time was the service provided by Kimkim and the team. We did not use a guide but honestly, this group is so organized, they gave us almost step by step instructions on how to hike the trail, going to far as to provide pictures of junctures so that we could not get lost even if we tried.
All our train tickets, itinerary and inn reservations (including food restrictions) were all handled ahead of time with no necessary added work on our part. In fact, due to the typhoon that occurred just prior to our trip, a Kimkim agent came to our inn with updated instructions and amended train tickets to accommodate the change in plans due to problems on the trail. I have never, never experienced such service in my life.
This is what I would say, if anyone is considering walking the Nakasendo Trail, please trust your trip to Kimkim. Yes, you can do it yourself, and yes it might cost to give it over to this company. However for peace of mind and even looking back on it now, it was the smartest move and the best money I have ever spent on a trip.

This was our first time using KimKim but it has been a very positive experience and I would not hesitate to recommend it to others. Himalayan Trails were our tour agent and from the outset they were nothing but efficient helping us to plan exactly what we wanted from our trip. Amanda was quick to respond to any queries and provided lots of additional useful information to ensure we were well prepared in advance. The accommodation we had was full of character and in traditional Nepali style rather than anonymous chain hotels, every pick up or meeting happened on time, she even managed to find us last minute accommodation when one of our guest houses had overbooked. Our trekking guide, Mindu, kept us safe, fed and watered and motivated when we needed it - his cheerful singing and whistling along with his infectious laugh kept us entertained for 4 days on the Muldai trek. Our city guide, Subash, was always on hand to answer our endless questions and was great company painting pictures of the sights we visited with lots of stories. He soon joined in our teasing and banter (and gave as good as he got!). We had a fabulous trip but it was the people we met who made it so special. We have fallen in love with Nepal and will definitely be back and will not hesitate to use Himalayan Trails again. Thank you everyone - you did an amazing job!

Easy to navigate and packed with highlights. Sarah and my driver Hasan were awesome :)

Overall experiente was fine; both Amanha and the driver (unfortunatelly I forgot his name) were always helpful. Hotels were also good most of the time, though I've experienced a major disappointment with Memories Aicha Luxury Camp: how do they put a panoramic tent in the middle of the camp facing others and killing privacy? The whole experience there was almost useless.

Another issue was the store I was brought to buy souvenirs next to Mount Nebo (the usual touristic shop who happens to be "friends" with guides) where I bought this mosaic for FIVE TIMES the price I happened to find a few minutes later in another place (not sure if it is the exact same thing but it seemed quite similar).

Jordan is a beautiful and expensive country. Not sure if I would ever visit again but I've enjoyed it.

Normally I handle all of the details for my trips. This time, however, I wanted to join friends who were already using Kimkim. WOW! I could not be happier!

Harris impressed me over and over from transportation and hotel choices to tours and guides. It quickly became obvious he knew what he was doing. In fact, you could tell Harris had hand-picked every part of the experience based on what we were interested in doing.

Our first hotel experience in Mystras was spectacular and fit perfectly for our time in Sparta. Not only was the hotel quality, but each morning at breakfast Joanna taught us more about Greek foods and especially Greek coffee.

Our guide in Delphi, Penny, was amazing! We benefited from her being born and raised there, and her knowledge of history was exactly what we wanted as we toured the "Center of the World."

The hotel in Athens was perfectly situated at the foot of the Acropolis with breathtaking views of the Parthenon. It was also within walking distance for everything we wanted to do in Athens. If I were to change anything about our time in Athens, it would be to add one more day so we could see even more.

Our time on Naxos was an opportunity to slow down the pace of the trip, and settle into Greek island life. They have a saying on the Islands - "Siga, Siga" - "slowly, slowly". The family run Adriani Hotel was a great way to begin that process. The roof top deck provided a beautiful view of the city, and the breakfasts prepared by Adriani, the hotel namesake and family matriarch, were delicious!

Our food tour on Naxos with Katerina was tasty. Born and raised on Naxos, she used her culinary education and knowledge to provide insight into it's history and the local delicacies. She even made recommendations for a drive around the island with places to see and food to taste.

When we arrived in Santorini, we were met by Papi who gave us a wonderful tour that included an an amazing winery overlooking the caldera and a walk through some of the older cities at night. It was breathtaking!

The next day we met Thanos for our walking tour of the Caldera. Thanos is a teacher, with a passionate love for the outdoors, history, and people. As we walked through the old cities around the Caldera, Thanos shared about their history, pointed out local flowers and trees (which my wife loved), and helped us understand the culture of Greece on the islands. Our time with Thanos included a private tour of a multi-generational winery which produced a wine that was internationally noted as possibly one of the best in the world. If you go to Santorini, you MUST tour with Thanos.

I have traveled and/or lived in 30 countries around the world. My experience in Greece would definitely fall in the top three places. Thanks Harris for making this experience amazing, we are not disappointed!