Kimkim Trip Reviews for Indonesia

Some challenge getting answers back in a timely manner, initial mixup in air flights days

Ana crafted the perfect boutique itinerary for a birthday trip in Java and Flores - beautiful temples, volcanoes and mountain village trek, komodo dragons and manta rays! Our local guides were wonderful and very kind, going the extra mile to show us special sites in Indonesia. Cheers to Hieronimus, Rivaldi, Udin and Veri

this is the second time I have used KimKim and have been impressed both times. One n South America and now this one in Asia. Jessica was very good at finding nice boutique hotels and unusual excursions. Her local contact in Bali was equally amazing. We had the same driver and guild for the entire week and they were also very good. Our guide Budiada was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. Our amazing driver Navya was adapt at navigating the crowed streets and always got us there safely. Thanks for an amazing trip and we will use you again.
Sam and Teressa

Hotel Reviews

The Kalyana Ubud

Ubud

Staff was extremely friendly and accomadating, The Included breakfast was good and the grounds were parklike and well maintained. Perfect little hotel.

Authenticity & Character

have kept the charm of Bali

Location

Quiet setting and on site spa was great.

Staff

very eager to provide whatever was requested

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless grounds

Montigo Resorts Seminyak

Badung

Great pool areas, great breakfast and very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

short walk to beach and shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Departure Meet and Greet

Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)

meet at curb and escorted right through check in to security gate, very helpful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Indonesia

nice maintained spot

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Cooking and Arak-Making Class

Indonesia

fun experience to see how some dishes were made

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Trunyan Village

Indonesia

very unique village with unique cemetery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit A Mask Maker

Indonesia

I was impressed by mask maker skill and preserving old method of making mask,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Home of Local Blacksmith (Keris) Crafting

Ubud, Bali

amazing skill to make the kris daggers with minimal tools doing it the traditional way

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tenganan Bali Aga Village

Indonesia

nice little village with glimpses of how it used to be.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Indonesia

beautiful and well managed fields, amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Sebatu Soul Purification Ritual

Indonesia

very special visit that is worth the many slippery steps to experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Indonesia

interesting but a bit of a tourist trap, but well maintained and worth the visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Angel Billabong

Indonesia

skipped this one

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Kelingking Beach

Indonesia

skipped this one as well, I am checking amazing as all tours have beet to this point but can't continue without checking boxes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Mother Temple of Besakih

Indonesia

quite a large complex

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ana was amazing helping us create a personalized trip! She gave us many wonderful, local ideas and listened to us and what we were looking for. We felt so secure with settled plans and reservations and knowing that Ana was recommending things from personal experience.
She met us at our hotel to go over our itinerary one more time and assure us we could message her any time during our stay.
Our driver Rusna was delightful. He is an excellent driver and gave us so much fascinating information that we couldn't have gotten solo. He is hilarious and very kind. I felt safe having a local who could translate and knew what was going on. I also loved hearing stories about his kids.
Our whole trip was so smooth and worry-free. Thank you Kimkim for connecting us with Shanti Travel!

I really don’t know where to start!

EVERYTHING was so amazing! Ana helped us curate such an awesome itinerary that included so many varied experiences that we still can’t believe we fit so much in two weeks! I kept pushing Ana for more and more and not once did she say “no”! She made our dream Indonesia wishlist come true!

The fun orangutan trekking was the highlight in Sumatra.

The ancient temples and melding of religions and cultures (namely Muslim Hindu and Buddhist) was heart warming in Central Java.

Hot smoking volcanoes were breathtaking in East Java. The once in a life time experience of blue flames at Mt Ijen will always stay with us.

Bali was the hub of so much colorful activity … bike rides, rice terraces, cooking classes and we even made time to be pampered in spas.

Cruising through the waters of Komodo national park gave us the opportunity to see nature at its best… thousands of flying bats, hissing Komodo dragons, dazzling coral and the calm underwater sea life!

At the end of every trip we try to pin down our favorite experience but honestly there were too many in this one to point out just one.
Many of our family members and friends have asked for our travel consultant and our itinerary!!
Very happy to share!

Marc was great to work with! We went back and forth a few times on the details of the trip and a few of the hotels before locking it in. He was very accommodating and provided valuable insights. He kept in touch from planning until we departed and checked in while we were in country.

Hotel Reviews

Tejaprana Resort & Spa

Ubud

Everyone here was very friendly and accommodating. The view from our room and the restaurant were gorgeous. Spa services were relaxing and top notch. The room was clean and comfortable. Breakfast at the hotel was very good. Only downfall was location as there wasn’t much walkable but nothing was to far by car.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful views but not walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Munduk Moding Plantation - CHSE Certified

Gobleg

Love this hotel. Truly a 5 star experience with amazing service, great food and fun activities on site. The location provides a cooler temperature but the property promises amazing views. The staff goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service. Even though it’s cooler and damp the bugs were well managed and bug spray is provided.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Menjangan Dynasty Resort - CHSE Certified

Pejarakan

If you enjoy camping then you will love these yurts. Cute and comfortable. It is a single room with only a screen dividing the bed from the toilet and while it was air it doesn’t do much during the day due to the screens and not being enclosed. However the access and view and the beach is beautiful and the staff is friendly. Service at the restaurant is great. This is a location you come to relax on the beach or at the pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mutiara Bali Boutique Resort Villas & Spa

Nice hotel within walking distance to shops and restaurants. Mosquitos were by far the worst at this hotel. Staff was friendly but not very informative or helpful. Room was ok, felt It could be cleaner and the bathroom doesn’t have AC only the sleeping area. At night there were monkey ir some type of animal jumping on our roof and rummaging through the out door kitchen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Snorkeling around Menjangan Island

Indonesia

Amazing coral reef. We had 2 guides, 1 for snorkel and 1 for diving. Both were great and pointed out many different fish. The boat could use a little TLC and the lunch was was questionable from a temp control stand point. But the overall experience was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit a local market & enjoy a cooking class

Ubud, Bali

Amazing experience with welcoming host. This was a great class, very engaging and everyone got to participate and learn.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sunrise Trek to Mount Batur Summit

Indonesia

This is a hard hike. We didn’t realize you are able to take a motor bike from the parking area half way and then hike the rest of the way. We hiked from the parking lot, but wish we would have known we could take a bike half way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa

Indonesia

What a beautiful property and wonderful experience with the healer. We got to tour the property, make offerings, have a welcome drink and lunch. The Healing ceremony was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kecak Dance Performance

Indonesia

A fun and unique experience. It was cool to see the dancers and hear the story in Balinese. This does take place outside so can be rather warm and you sit on stone benches.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balinese massage

Indonesia

Spa services at hotels except in Seminyak were great.

Quality of Experience

Marc was excellent to work with. He followed my specific requests. I had a last minute change because Ubud was very touristy. Instead, I wanted to spend more time at the beach and it worked well. Nusa Dua is definitely the clean beach area and nice hotels. I am vegan so it was easy to get the best fried rice and stir fry including the best tofu/tempe. Jerry, the local driver was amazing. Jerry was very knowledgeable, humble, flexible, friendly, and very kind. If I were to do it all over again, I would have stayed in Nusa Dua. The mountain bike ride was awesome, excellent local guide and safe ride with a tasty lunch. The cooking class was the best with the locals and delicious (he also shared the recipe with me). The ridge walk hike was a workout as it was at least 31 degrees Celsius; highly recommend it in Ubud. Also, hostels are really nice so this is cheaper and a nicer way to meet people. It was tough to meet people as I was the only person on the tour and not many solo travelers. It would be great for the hotels to have a social hour at the pool to meet people from all over. Highly recommend Marc and Jerry. Overall, a great and fun trip.

Hotel Reviews

Green field Ubud

Ubud

Central hotel in the town center. No social hour at the pool. Friendly and very kind staff. Great food at their restaurant. Close to bars, shops, and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jimbaran Bay Beach Resort & Spa - CHSE Certified

Kedonganan

The staff was so sweet and accommodating. Delicious food at the restaurant and fifth floor (lounge). The beach had a lot of garbage and stray dogs but the sunrise/sunset were beautiful. This hotel also needs to have a social hour so people can meet from all over!!! Prices were cheap.

Authenticity & Character

Location

not centrally located.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa

Indonesia

Learning about the culture, history, and religion was fascinating. The local guide was awesome and the cooking class made my day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mountain bike from Batur to Ubud

Indonesia

The infinity guide was lots of fun. A bummer it was only 2 people and still it was awesome. Made good stops for nice photos! Lunch was delicious too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our local specialist, Jessica was incredible. She gave great suggestions, booked all the right spots, and took into account our feedback too. Our trip to Indonesia was one for the books and would highly recommend booking through KimKim and Jessica for trips to Indonesia!

We had such an incredible trip! Marc answered every question we had and was so helpful throughout the planning process. I had a lot of things to work through while planning and Marc was very patient and checked in throughout to see if we needed any help. He also helped us book our last flight getting into Indonesia, which took some stress off of us.
We cannot say enough great things about our driver, Dinar. He was so kind and taught us a lot about Ubud and Seminyak as he brought us places, and also made additional recommendations, such as visiting a wood-carving business, that we hadn't originally planned. He provided cold water for us each morning for our drives, which was greatly appreciated. He was super easy to contact and made our trip to Indonesia so smooth. We would not have survived the driving without him!
The accommodations were so beautiful as well. The staff were so friendly at each of the places we stayed and they went above and beyond and decorated our rooms with signs and flowers for our honeymoon.
We are so thankful to have booked through Kimkim and will be booking again with them in the future!

Marc did a great job in planning this trip and dealing with the flight changes that were necessary. Everything went very smoothly. Our guide on the Super Deluxe Klotok, Jeffrey was very knowledgable especially about the birds and monkeys we saw. The boat crew were excellent and went out of their way to point out birds and animals along the way and Cookie made very tasty meals.

Just returned home from our longest international and fourth trip using KimKim. It was truly a pleasurable experience! Marco put together a fantastic trip and was extremely helpful when we needed to make a couple of changes ( one change in a room, and another to our itinerary). All of the guides we had were amazing, and our two main drivers, Putu and Sifel) went above and beyond. Our experiences of hiking Mt. Ijen, river rafting, biking, snorkeling, trekking etc. were all very delightful and are highly recommended. Thank you KimKim for employing quality people and delivering a quality experience for us. We will continue to use KimKim for our travels.

It was a most perfect trip to Bali. We visited Ubud, Munduk, Nusa Lembongan and Jumberan and KimKim was a huge help. Thanks to Marc who was patient with our every request and gave us enough information to make good choices. You will see much more detail in the reviews of Kim and Wendi who were our master Bali planners. Their reviews speak more specifically to the success of the trip they planned with Marc's guidance.
We would recommend using KimKim to any traveler.

We traveled with another couple who are our dear friends. Our travel expert Mark Urban was excellent, he was extremely patient planning with us as we were navigating our desires and he directed us on the perfect path! We had an amazing time in Bali for 2 weeks then Nusa Lembongan for the final week of our 3 week journey.

We had a driver who was very knowledgeable and kept us alive, entertained and educated as he navigated us thought the streets of Bali. He was a joy and so kind, we can highly recommend (Renda), he felt like a family member by the end of the trip!

We had a couple of things that needed to be changed while we were traveling and it all went very smooth with great communication during our whole trip! Mark was a delight and very helpful!

We stayed at Kappa Senses, about 20 minutes from Ubud center. The resort was wonderful with many amenities including massages, excellent food and service. It sits in the middle of rice fields and was perfectly picturesque!

In Munduk, we stayed at Munduk Molding Plantation which was amazing and is basically a self sustaining property! The grounds were so beautiful and the rooms were divine! Everyone was beyond helpful and sweet as can be! I got a bit sick and they brought me flowers and all kinds of herbal remedies, teas and it helped so much to be so well taken care of!

Finally in Nusa Lembongan at Batu Karang Hotel, on the water with great food and service. A small little chill town with other areas a close walk, drive or boat ride away!

We were welcomed and felt the generosity of Bali and its wonderful people, cultures and scenery!
Mark helped us to locate all the stays and excursions! It was a fantastic trip and I would highly recommend Kim Kim and Mark !

I enjoyed this trip . A trip with varieties. Our two drivers/main guides were both good. They were friendly and helpful. The highlights for this trip for me are the Mount Bromo sunrise trip and the blue flame hike the following morning. But for the blue flame hike, too bad I did not walk fast enough . By the time when I got to the spot, the blue flame burnt out already. If we started 30 minutes earlier or if we skipped that morning refreshment, I would be able to see the blue flame. Hopefully the tour organizer would consider this point so that other tourists who love to see the blue flame would not miss it.

The 3 cruise days trip to Komodo National Park was interesting too. I enjoyed the beautiful coral reefs, sunrise and sunset there. The cruise crews were good.

For the day trip to Nusa Penida, I wish they could provide us big towel so that we could have it to cover our body when we were going to our next snorkelling spot. It was a bit cold after we got out from the water after snorkelling. Or they told us before so that we could bring our big towel.

Overall the trip was great. I enjoyed it. Thanks.
Ling

Such a wonderful time….our trip to Bali & beyond! As 2 couples, our first time there, & for 3 weeks total, the experience was unforgettable! Kimkim & our travel expert Marc Urban were extremely helpful in making it happen harmoniously & with attention to every detail. The recommendations, coordination, responsiveness, and professionalism were spot on. Marc checked up on us throughout the process and provided active support while we were there, answering questions and making adjustments in the moment, all while being polite, caring & on it!
Adventurous, yet selective in our pacing, vibe & style of travel, we were able to gear things as we desired & felt no pressure to do things otherwise. As friends in our 60’s/70’s, we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy our wonderful accommodations together (some in shared villas & others separate) and still fit in the activities we wanted…. a cooking class (in a multigenerational & self-sustained home) and bike ride through rice paddies in Ubud, a hike & canoe ride at Tamblingan Lake & excursion to Sekumpul waterfalls in Munduk, as well as snorkeling & kayaking on the nearby island of Nusa Lembongan, and visiting Jimbaran & Ulu Watu (watch out for those monkeys!) just before flying home. Seeing temples & waterfalls throughout, having massages & great meals, being treated so graciously by the Balinese people….all was amazing!
The transfers, including boats, hotels, airport, & a wonderful driver that we bonded with so well throughout the trip (thank you Renda!) were beyond helpful. Can’t imagine doing it all without Marc/kimkim’s guidance. Thank you guys so much for all you do! 🙏❤️🙌

Hotel Review

Kappa Senses Ubud

Ubud

This was a wonderful place to stay with no complaints. The only downside is that the town was a bit too touristy and chaotic with lots of motorcycles. However, the people and the hotel itself were great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cycling from Kintamani to Ubud

Indonesia

This was an incredible bike ride that was really great, though it was longer than I had anticipated, lasting for around 6 hours. The views were amazing and the overall experience was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Munduk & Tamblingan Lake Exploration

Indonesia

This was a wonderful experience. I was initially worried because the location seemed pretty isolated, but the activities turned out to be fantastic. It was really worthwhile and the tour guides were excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sekumpul Waterfalls

Indonesia

This tour was awesome. The guides were really good and the waterfall was breathtaking. It's a must-visit if you're in the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our local guides on the trip ( Wayan , kutuk, adit, etc) were all incredible and shared their vast breath of knowledge about the country in their own unique ways. One of my favorite parts about the trio was visiting the Uluwatu temple. This temple had one of the most gorgeous views at sunset and flooded with naughty monkeys which made the trip fun. Ending it with a fire dance and dinner at rock bar was incredible.

From arranging the destinations to solving the minor issues through the trip, Ana has been helpful and responsive. We probably should have taken her advice and took advantage of the free/rest days in between ... While we're seniors in relatively good shape, the hikes to Bromo / Ijen are strenuous ones. It might be a good idea to give future participants a heads up, e.g. set expected arrival times for various stops up Ijen so they would know if they could make it on time to see the blue flames.

Saiful was great for the portion around Yogyakarta - helpful, informative and courteous.

Nyoman went all out - including the birding trip to West Bali NP and the attendance at a Ngaben. From taking us to the laundromats to retrieving the glasses from the monkey at Uluwatu, Nyoman is attentive and more than helpful. And he takes the time and effort to explain the Bali culture and attractions. My wife and I are more than pleased with his assistance!

Revan was simply great throughout the Komodo cruise. He is knowledgeable and goes out of his way to help us - whether it's trekking up the hills or guiding us during the snorkeling trips.

Trip to Nusa Penida was a complete waste of a day - poor infrastructure, average snorkeling, no sightings of Rays after a long rough ride and finally had to turn back from the beach because of traffic. And the communication from the drivers/guides were lacking ...

VW day was less than satisfying - after getting over the initial excitement of riding open top, we're sucking fumes the whole day. The guide speaks little English and provides no explanation of the attractions. Could have used our own driver/car to go to all those destinations.

The Balinese day provides varieties and was a lot of fun.

The long stay at a relatively isolated hotel in Ubud was a bit inconvenient. But the staff and the services provided at the hotel are more than adequate.

Hotel Review

Arkamara Dijiwa Ubud

Bali

The hotel was great, but the location was too secluded. We couldn't easily walk to restaurants or explore the local area. It was nice for peace and quiet, but not convenient for exploring.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Balinese day in Sidemen

Indonesia

This was a fantastic experience. We spent the day learning about the local culture, visiting rice fields, and more. It was a great way to immerse ourselves in Balinese life.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Trek to Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo, East Java

The trek was challenging, especially for our group in our 60s. Our guide was optimistic about our abilities, but we had to start at 3 a.m. and some of us couldn't make it in time to see the blue flame. I wish our guide would have managed our expectations better or suggested an earlier start for those of us who are slower.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Snorkeling in Menjangan

Pemuteran, Bali

Snorkeling was a great experience, but the equipment was subpar. Despite the equipment issues, the variety of things to see, the high visibility, the warm water makes snorkeling at Menjangan a superb experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Nusa Penida snorkeling- Manta Point + Mangrove tour

Indonesia

This was a disappointing experience. The ferry ride was chaotic with tons of people waiting and multiple ferries departing. The drivers did not speak English well and the location was overwhelmed with tourists. The roads were congested, narrow, and bumpy, making the trip uncomfortable. The snorkeling was supposed to include a manta ray sighting, but the rays were a no show that day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful trip to Indonesia. We loved our local drivers and guides. Everything was well planned out and the hotels were spectacular. We much preferred the island of Java to Bali as there were much less tourists and we felt we could experience the culture and people more. On Bali we stayed in Ubud which felt a little like Vegas to us. Lots of people drinking and very crowded. We would definitely return to Java, it was magical, beautiful, spiritual and the people were very kind. Bali is not a place we will return to. We have used Kim Kim for many trips now and it has always been a great experience. They are our go-to company.

Dear Ana and the Kim Kim team. What an amazing adventure trip we had to Malaysia and Indonesia! No tour operator could assist us from Africa and we came across Kim Kim on the internet who connected us to Ana. We did some research as to what we wanted to see and learn about and experience on our adventure getaway, and with Ana's guidance and patience and working through many options, we finally settled and decided on version 9! Starting in Kuala Lampur and visiting the Batu Caves, the Aquarium, the Kuala Lampur Bird Gardens to name but a few things. We then travelled to Bukit Lawang where we started our jungle trek to Gunung Leuser National Park. To see the fauna and flora and experience the jungle with all the different primate species and birds, reptiles and mammals. Orangutans, Thomas Leaf Monkeys, Gibbons, flying lizzards, dragon lizzards, squirrels, butterflies to name but a few. Hearing the sounds of the forest. Camping by a river was just amazing. Then proceeding onwards to Betestagi and climbing Mount Sibayak Volcano and seiing the sulphur vents. To Lake Toba and Samosir Island and learning about the Batak peoples. Then visiting an orchid farm on the way to Medan with hundreds of species of orchids. Making our way onwards to Flores Island to catching our private boat trip to Rinca and Komodo Islands to see the great Komodo Dragons around the Flores sea. We went snorkeling with turtles and the abundant underwater life around these islands. Then onwards to Gili Meno to slow down and take a rest. Stopping over in Bali to experience the culture of the peoples of this island. Learning about Luwak coffee, visiting an amazing local art gallery. Then back to Kuala Lampur. Our getaway holiday trip involved learning about cultures and peoples and seeing amazing wildlife. Eating the most amazing food Malaysia and Indonesia had to offer. We would not have changed anything on our travels and every step was well organised by Ana and the Kim Kim team to provide a hassle free holiday. Absolutely nothing went wrong throughout our travels!
A huge thank you to Ana and Kim Kim as well as all the guides who picked us up at each place and taught us so much about the land and country of Indonesia. To the guides at Gunung Leuser National Park, Atte and Sudhar, to Zulkifli who showed us around Sumatra. To Agung for showing us around Bali. To Yuris who guided us on the boat to Rinca and Komodo and showed us the wildlife wonders underwater as well as on the islands. Truly, this was an amazing adventure and Indonesia and Malaysia are amazing countries to explore and have an adventure getaway!
Thank you.
Wynand and Petra

Ana did an amazing job planning and executing out trip to Indonesia! Our driver, Wes, was wonderful and took very good care of us. He really went above and beyond to make our trip special! All of the hotels that Ana suggested were great. The 4 dat private cruise thru komodo National Park was an absolute highlight! All of our connections went smoothly! It was truly an awesome trip!