Kimkim Trip Reviews for Nepal

Sangita did an excellent job putting our trip to Nepal together. Everything worked like clockwork from the airport pick up to the drop off. She listened to our ideas and concerns and came up with the prefect trek for us (Pikey Peak). Throughout the entire planning and travel period she was always friendly, available and answered our questions without any delay. You could feel how much she cared about us and made sure we were ok both in Kathmandu as well as . She came and visited us in Kathmandu and even gave us a private walking tour in Thamil showing us some insider locations. THANK YOU Sangita.
The Pikey Peak trek was a spectacular hike along the Himalayans with stunning views of Mount Everest. Our guide, Mietra, was a local and knew the area very well. He also knew the owners of the Tea Houses and made sure we were very well taken care of. The warm breakfasts, lunches and dinners were delicious everywhere.
Our porter Buan always had a big smile on his face, despite the heavy bag he had to carry. Also a shoutout to our driver, who managed to drive us safely to/from the trails despite the very bad road conditions (most roads were washed away in September).

In Kathmandu we met Raj and Bipin, both excellent always on time and spoke excellent English. No language misunderstandings and always accommodated our needs. Food recommendations were great and we enjoyed a wonderful Nepalese experience in Kathmandu.
We went to Pokhara and Rabin did a great job accommodating all our activities such as paragliding, Sunrise Zipline, Canoeing and light trekking. Once again Rabin could not have been more helpful. Always on time or early and helped us enormously.
We went on to Chitwan at Tiger Tops, looking for Tigers. Sam was our guide, once again, as with all guides, communication was perfect and he thought outside the box to help us. In particular when I had trouble getting into the back of the jeep, he provided a crate as a stepping stool for me. Most helpful and helped make the ride more enjoyable without worrying about getting in and out of the jeep.
Food has been incredible and plentiful. All staff most accommodating and polite. Such an amazing experience.
Last we went to Bhutan and met our guide BJ and driver Mr Supra. BJ gave us a wonderful history of Buddhism and the History of Bhutan. He gave us a perfect view and taste of Bhutan. He even managed to give us a free room upgrade in one of the hotels when we wanted to be close to the dining area, as we were so happily tired from sight-seeing and needed an early morning departure to get to the start of the trek to Tigers Nest. BJ and Mr Supra could not have been more helpful in assisting us safely up to Tigers Nest Monastery and then the long trek back down to the parking lot.
What a wonderful vacation. So thankful for Social Tours help in organizing this trip, always available and always helpful and always waiting patiently at every airport to assist departures and arrivals with ease and happiness.

Truly a unique experience - Sangita had everything organized perfectly from pick-ups to transfers and even checking in on us during the trip to ensure we were ok.

The trekking route (Pikey-Peak) was amazing, with Himalaya views most of the time. Mitra guided us safely from teahouse to teahouse and knew all the people to interact with so well. We enjoyed delicious Nepali food in all locations, and bottled water was available everywhere as well.
Our porter Buan was reliable and always ready to assist with the luggage :)

While trekking was not always easy, it made for a wonderful experience with amazing sights!!!

Sangita was amazing! The trip was perfectly planned and anytime we needed to reach out she responded promptly. I couldn’t recommend more highly! The trip of a lifetime :)

Thanks sangita for a 10/10 trip. Very good

Before we started on a typical long-distance trek (Annapurna Base Camp), we approached Kimkim to organise a short 7-day acclimatiser in the Kathmandu Valley. Liaising with the local representative Sangita, we organised stays and tours to the local villages and towns including to Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and magical Patan. We also had a short 2-day trek into the mountains to Nagarkot. Sangita arranged for a trekking or cultural guide as appropriate. The mixture of beautiful outdoors and culture was just what we had hoped for. Sangita also gave much of her own time to make our visit uniquely memorable. We highly recommend Sangita and her team.

We could not have been happier with our experience with Responsible Treks, Chhewang and Gyaljan. Our initial planning for our trip was all through communications with Chhewang who listened to our requests and desires and put together an itinerary that truly exceeded our expectations. All communications were very timely. We wanted a combination of city life in Kathmandu, trekking in the Annapurna area and safari in Chitwan. All the elements were fantastic. Our city and trekking guide, Gyaljan, was both very knowledgeable as well as fun to be with. He made sure all of our accommodations and needs were met and was able to make adjustments as needed. We felt like we were in great hands. He was able to make the extra effort to make sure we maximized our experience. All the accommodations were top notch, though more rugged during our trek which was expected. We highly recommend Responsible Treks, Chhewang and our guide Gyaljan.

My experience with you guys was just perfect, especially working with Amanda on the planning, the small details, and her attentiveness to everything I was asking for.
This was my first ever trip to Nepal and my first such a long trek. Everything worked as planned, from the pre-arrival instructions till the final advises and support from the team on the ground - especially the guide (Nuris) and the porter that were assigned to us.
as mentioned to Amanda in our debrief once we were back to Kathmandu - the trek hiking days are well planned including all the accommodations and I will not suggest changing them.
The combination of the Tsum Valley with its unique Tibetan cultural impact, and the Manaslu Circuit on the top of it is just perfect.
It is indeed one of the best trekking experience I've done in my life.
Thank you all for that.

Amazing trek. Our guide Gyaljan and our porter Khawa were superb. They looked after us exceptionally well, from our arrival in Kathmandu to our return to Pokhara. They made sure we had the best rooms in the tea houses and even woke us up some mornings when we nearly overslept..! We had lots of laughs along the way 😁. The trek itself was superb. The Thorang La was tricky and requires a reasonable level of fitness, but the sense of achievement was incredible. Would recommend this trek and our guide/porter/friends Gyaljan and Khawa to anyone who wants to experience this area.

Ngima was my first and only contact with KimKim and provided first rate service, keeping me informed during every step of the planning process. Communications were both timely and thorough. Ngima was the consummate host and guide, catering to our every need during our travels. We enjoyed his company, knowledge, camaraderie and sense of humor. Food and accommodations were greater than anticipated. We can easily recommend planning and traveling with Ngima and with KimKim.

Highlights included the cultural tour of Kathmandu and the natural safari tours at Chitwan National Park. We were fortunate to be traveling during the Diwali holidays, as this added to the whole Nepal experience.

Activity Reviews

Kathmandu Sightseeing tour to Boudhanath, Swyambhunath, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square

Kathmandu

Excellent interpretive guide and great introduction to Nepal. The Stupa and artist’s school at Boudhanath were highlights of this first day of touring.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traffic is an experience of its own.

Full-day Chitwan activities

Chitwan National Park

Safaris included jungle tours by jeep, canoe, and by foot, each offering different experiences and opportunities for wildlife viewing. These were spaced out over three days, and afforded rest and relaxation along the way. We stayed at Green Park and highly recommend for its wonderful accommodations, gardens, meals, swimming pool, and overall service.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early drive to Sarangkot for Sunrise and Pokhara Sightseeing Tour

Pokhara

We looked forward with great anticipation to our first views of the Annapurna range, but were disappointed that the weather did not cooperate. We enjoyed the experience none the less.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul then Trek to Trek to Ghandruk and return back to Pokhara

Pokhara

We hiked from Kimchie to Ghandruk and were impressed by the gardens, forests, and villages. Ghandruk was a welcome destination on our itinerary.

Planning and booking our bucket list trip through Kimkim was so easy. Thank you, Amanda, for answering our questions with knowledge, compassion, and grace!

We started our trip in late September and did run into some late monsoon season rain that made trekking in some place difficult. Guide Bire's experience, energy, and gentle encouragement got us through some tough days and made it all worth it (seriously, give that man a raise!). Porter Tez was so attentive and kind. They're a great team! Trip highlights were the beautiful remote villages of Shyala, Samagaun, and Samdo. Thank you Kimkim!

Dolma was really great, I loved having a young woman as guide. She was gentle and kind, but also feisty and fun. And Sanjeev our Porter went above and beyond, helping me descend Kyangjin Ri which was slippery. Langtang village was beautiful and the Flavours Hotel clean and lovely.
Our accomodation in Kathmandu was very nice, the breakfast delicious and the room a nice big size!
Amanda also did more than expected with helping us post trek, organising flights.

Sangita was unbelievably brilliant from start to finish, from the first moment we enquired about going to EBC she responded immediately with advice and guidance on how to make our trek personalised for our family. She met us in Kathmandu at the start and at the end of the trek. Mitra our guide met us at the airport in Kathmandu and was the nicest, most knowledgeable and polite person. He knows the mountains and has family and so many friends in the Khumbu region so when we needed to change or alter our journey it was no problem. When trekking to EBC with altitude and weather as major factors you need a local guide that has the experience and can call on their contacts at a moments notice, for example the weather in Lukla has been terrible for the last week with no flights going in or out. We paid extra for a helicopter to take us in and out, many people have been stuck there for quite a while, having already paid for a helicopter to take us back to Kathmandu the weather came in , which meant the helicopter couldn’t land at Lukla so Mitra organised for us to walk an hour and a half down the valley to get the helicopter, this was a last minute decision but he had friends who we paid to carry our bags. A western guide had to send her group out in shifts on various helicopters and she ended up on our flight having no other way to get back. Mitra was utterly brilliant and we can’t recommend Sangita and Mitra enough.

Hotel Review

Barahi Kathmandu

Absolutely brilliant hotel and such a great way to start and finish our trek.

Authenticity & Character

Location

5 minutes walk from the shops to buy any extras you need.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Drive to Ramechhap. Fly to Lukla. Trek from Lukla to Phakding (2,610 m/3-4 hrs)

Phakding

Thank goodness we didn’t get to do this. We paid for a helicopter to take us direct from Kathmandu to Lukla. People we spoke to who did this journey said it was awful.

Fly from Lukla to Ramechhap(about 20 min). Drive to Kathmandu.

Kathmandu

Don’t do this pre book a helicopter as the weather is so unpredictable that you may be stuck in Lukla for days. Budget the price of a helicopter into your trek. The people we spoke to who had done this journey said the road trip was awful.

10/10!! First time visiting to Nepal and Bhutan, and we were delighted with everything. Totally smooth sailing, amazing things to see and experience in both countries.
Amanda was communicative, and inspired confidence so we could relax and be taken care of in the multiple stops. Would not do less than 12 nights, Kathmandu x3, Pokhara x2, Chitwan x2, Kathmandu x1, and 4 in Bhutan (at 3 different spots,) which is what we did, and ideally would do a few more days in Bhutan if we had the time. Both countries are very different from each other and from anywhere else we have traveled.

Amanda and Raj from Himilayan Trails, who provided or coordinated guides and transfers with Amanda were outstanding! They kept us safe and changed some hikes etc due to landslides, were there for us every step of the way. I highly recommend both Kimkim and Amanda, who organised all from the heart and provided a no worries, unforgettable,trip.

Mr. Ngima Sherpa had to change our original itinerary due to horrendous rainfall which destroyed road and bridges to alternate itinerary with uttermost conditions of safety of us. New itinerary was totally satisfied one with serious concern of our safety. Our trekking guide, Ang Geld Sherpa took care of us from beginning to an end. He was not only excellent guide and also very kind and caring person. We felt like as we were trekking with our son who care of his parents. Our porter, Purna was also excellent member of our trekking.

Our experiences in Nepal was most fascinating travel experience. We thanks to Kimkim to connect us with best ones in Nepal.

From day one, Sangita interacted & engaged with us in an excellent manner - always ready to listen, advise and provide useful feedback. When we arrived in Kathmandu, we were well received in the traditional Nepalese way, garlanded with a typical Nepalese shawl. A welcome dinner in the evening with Sangita and Bipin further enhanced our first day in Kathmandu. The short walk to the restaurant along the narrow and busy streets was very interesting.

Kathmandu is a bustling city with smiling faces on everyone. Very interesting and exciting places - Thamel, Bhaktapur and Patan. The city lived up to it's claim - 'city of temples'. Beautiful scenes of the local people, culture and we were fortunate enough to witness a very colourful and joyous festival. I would like to make special mention to Ichaa (our guide) to show us around in Thamel and Patan. She was knowledgeable, helpful and engaged with such passion and charm that made our trip more memorable. Sangita also made an extra effort to take some time off her busy schedule to take us on a walking tour of Kathmandu on our last day in Kathmandu.

Pokhara was out of this world. The view of the mountains were awesome and quite extraordinary, something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Thanks to Sangita and kimkim for organising our trip. It was a wonderful trip and we hope to return soon. Cheers.

Hotel Review

Hotel WoodApple

Thamel

Tucked away in a corner of Thamel, but was fairly comfortable. Good breakfast and excellent staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air condition

Activity Reviews

Patan Tour- Explore Newari culture, history, architecture and many untold stories

Kathmandu

Beautiful ancient temples and architecture. Walking through the narrow alleys and into the courtyards of the palace & temples was amazing and unforgettable.

Quality of Experience

the ancient artifacts & buildings

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Ichaa was excellent with her explanations & her amazing attitude left us with a amazing experience.

Transport

Welcome to Nepal. Evening Welcome Dinner

Kathmandu

Good food and an important meeting with Sangita - useful information with an overview of what to expect

Quality of Experience

The somewhat slower pace which I had requested

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable, friendly and will to go an extra mile

Transport

On time, comfortable & safe

Bhaktapur Tour- Explore Newari culture, history, architecture and many untold stories

Kathmandu

Unique and interesting architecture of the buildings, temples, wooden doors, clothing of local people. Excellent yogurt , must try - Juju Dhau

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Shiva Temple

Pokhara

Beautiful and captivating

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Davi's fall , Gupteswor Cave and Bindabasini Temple

Pokhara

Very interesting, witnessed a wedding.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kathmandu Sightseeing: Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa

Kathmandu

Pashupatinath Temple was extra-ordinary. Being Hindus, we fully embraced and immersed in the cultural & tradition. The Boudhanath Stupa was immense and captivating - good feeling about it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ichaa, our guide, was absolutely fantastic.

Transport

Ngima tailored a really wonderful trip to Nepal for me. Fantastic level of attention to detail & quality. All the guides & drivers for the trip were also of a high calibre.

Activity Reviews

Kathmandu Sightseeing tour to Swayambhunath ( Monkey Temple ), Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Kathmandu

My guide Surendra has the most incredible level of knowledge and a wonderful story teller. Bhaktapur was my favourite place to visit on the day. My driver Amit made me feel very safe in the crazy traffic of Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Surendra is like a walking encyclopedia. His level of historical knowledge is exceptional. Amit was the best driver I had during my whole trip. Really safe & capable driver

Transport

Drive from Kathmandu to Sankhu, Hike to Nagarkot (7,136 feet / 2,175 m)

Nagarkot

My first hike in Nepal & coming off a foot injury made me slightly anxious. My guide Angalo quickly made me feel reassured that I was in good hands. The view at Magarkot was breathtaking

Quality of Experience

My guide was very thoughtful and patient with my slow pace. The view at the top was breathtaking

Food

The food at Country Villas was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pokhara Sightseeing Tour

Pokhara

What a great place Pokhara is! So beautiful with treks on your door step, great energy and the Himalayas visible on a clear day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul then Trek to Trek to Ghandruk and return back to Pokhara

Pokhara

What a magical place Ghandrul is…and the people are lovely. The walk up to the village was so beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our first city, Kathmandu, afforded us an instant and memorable view into their culture and city life! Our hotel was very nice! Staff was friendly and attentive. Our room was clean and well appointed. Their fitness room was nice! (I’m always happy when there’s a fitness room)

While in contrast to Kathmandu, the Chitwan Jungle Resort was beautiful, the room was spacious and we had gorgeous views from our balcony and on the resort grounds. The staff was very friendly and accommodating! Likewise we had an altogether different but equally beautiful atmosphere when we stayed overnight at Matan Chhen in Panauti.

Our guide in Kathmandu was great and we had fantastic tours. Our host in Panauti, Grishma, was very helpful and charming!

If we did the trip again, I would not go to Panauti on our last day before departing Nepal. After the morning flight back from Chitwan to Kathmandu, we didn’t feel like driving another 1.5 hours only to go to a small town, with little to do or see and then just hang out in the residence the rest of the day. (We walked around the town for a little bit as Grishma was kind enough to walk with us but there was not much to do or see) And then having to drive back to Kathmandu exceptionally earlier than needed the following morning only to sit at the airport for 3 hour and 45 min ahead of our flight (and then add on another 1.5 hours for a delay). Had I known all the travel time and the lack of really anything to do in Panauti, I would have opted to stay in Kathmandu or somewhere a lot closer. That’s my only constructive feedback for the tour company. With limited time in the country anyway, the less ‘travel time’ to get to places, the better. Or at least a better call out on the planning side about total trip times.

Overall, it was a very positive experience and I would recommend Himalayan Trails to anyone! We were well taken care of!

From the outset the service and communication was EXCELLENT. Our planner Amanda was super helpful in good advice for travelling in the off season / monsoon season and helped create an amazing itinerary that gave us the best trip for the little amount of time we had in Nepal. It was all organised in a short time and meant we didn't have to worry about what to do when we arrived.

Our on ground contacts and guides were equally amazing - they contacted us before our tour started while we were in Kathmandu to have a quick catch up, meet and greet and go through the upcoming days in more detail. It's little things like this that make for a confident trip and ease any concerns about travelling in a new country.

Throughout the whole tour our guides were prompt, friendly and very knowledgeable. Flights, transfers and site entries / permits were all sorted and something we didn't even have to think about - all we had to do was enjoy the amazing scenery, culture and interesting history.

An extra special mention to the team in adjusting our tour when I sustained an injury which meant we couldn't do a planned small trek. They arranged extra nights in our current hotel so we could stay where we were and rest.

Couldn't recommend the team highly enough.

Cheers Chris