Kimkim Trip Reviews for Nepal

Firstly planning our trip with Kim Kim was a delight. The team really asked the right questions and understood what we were looking for in an itinerary. Amanda answered all my detailed questions about safety and they were able to use their local knowledge to suggest the best way to customise our experience. The accommodation exceeded our expectations in terms of cleanliness and luxury. We were given full disclosure regarding the eco lodge not having hot running water but the warmth of the staff (a Nepalese family of three generations) more than made up for it. The highly educated, well informed and friendly guide Surbash gave us insights into Kathmandu that enriched our experience and made lifelong memories.
Himalayan trails provided us with reliable, safe drivers and vehicles that were always in the right place at the right time to smooth our journey, often keeping our luggage secure so we could explore unencumbered. Kim Kim and Surbash only recommended food outlets they had tried and enjoyed and they could vouch for the hygiene standards, so we were able to taste a range of modern and authentic Nepalese food and not risk an upset tummy.
We had no concerns regarding procuring clean drinking water although resources are scarce but I would advise any western woman to take a ‘she wee’ device to ensure comfort during days of visiting historical sights and transiting through local airports etc.
Finally, we were pleasantly surprised by how well the Kim Kim staff communicated with us throughout the trip. I was not expecting each different staff member that dealt with us to be so fully informed of our itinerary and requirements. Kripa remained in daily contact to help us navigate changes to our itinerary due to the weather and maximise the enjoyment of our visit.

Nepal is a stunning location with fascinating history. We had an exciting and memorable trip and would definitely book with Kim Kim again and come back to Nepal in future.

Gathered our far-flung family (Mom, Dad, Son (23), Daughter (20) in Nepal for a couple of weeks' vacation January 2020.

Travel Made Easy:
Amanda crafted an excellent itinerary to meet our request to mix trekking with a few relaxing days. KimKim team headed by Raj worked together to make every transfer from arrival to departure smooth (drivers to/from airports, hotels, trailheads as well as arranging for Trekker's Cards, entry fees).

Guides:
Our trekking guide Rajesh and porters were friendly, knowledgable and helpful. They even found a great spot to dry out and warm up on one rainy day. In Kathmandu, Pratikshya delivered a great crash course on Nepal's World Heritage sites and religions while connecting us with tasty lunches.

Highly Recommend:
Great for families like ours who always wanted to see the Himalayas and are trying fit a lot in to a couple of weeks.

To say this was a perfect experience is an understatement! Sangita and her husband, Bipin, provided my girlfriend and I with the dream excursion around Kathmandu. They made it so special, tailoring each step of the way to our wants, needs and desires. Trying authentic foods, exclusive sightseeing, meeting local friends and even directing us to the best (and fair) shops were all part of our journey - not to mention the stories, laughs and unique exchanges along the way. A hard 10/10! Thank you so much Sangita and Bipin! We're forever grateful for such an incredible adventure.

My children and I had our health put at risk by the disgusting state of the accommodation on the trek. We were not told to bring bedding. We booked a luxury accommodation package at $20,000 usa for three people ( two of which were sharing a room) and 11 days. We were booked into accommodation with no running water no power and no heating. We had to beg every 30 minutes to keep the central wood burning kettle stove alight. We had no room heating in any lodge. The last lodge was a filthy $30 a night tea house. My daughters were reduced to tears when they saw the mouldy bathrooms, stained beds with no sheets.
It was -15 degrees inside and out. We had not been told to bring sleeping bags. in fact we were told not to.
We were defrauded into a holiday of very low standard while paying a premium price. A number of the properties we visited would be closed by Australian standards for health issues.
Both Raj and Kripa were very keen to take out money while there was a great lack in their knowledge of the properties and service provided. They basically stole our money and our annual holiday together. You should be ashamed of yourselves for this calous and dangerous treatment of other human beings. You will never be forgiven for such a terrible and dangerous situation. I would like to talk personally to Max the owner of mountain trails to alert him to the dangerous undertakings of his Nepal team.

Our private trek (EBC, Chola Pass and Goyko lakes for two) was organised by Kripa last minute and was a fantastic experience. All went as planned and Kripa was accomodating to last minute changes. Our guide Rishi took expert care of us up the mountains and knew exactly how much we could do in one day adjusting the pace or the meal stops to our daily needs. I couldn’t recommend these two people highly enough. In addition to the trek when my partner fell ill in Kathmandu, Kripa was there ready to assist with anything we needed. We really felt looked after and cared for and had a great time despite the illness. The Chola pass was my highlight, just so peaceful and serene. Nepal 2020 - book it!

We had a wonderful experience with Chhewang and his driver in Nepal. They were so flexible when our flights from Lumbini were delayed and adjusted to every little request we sent through - including transporting our luggage between Namobuddah/Balthali/Panuti so that we could do our own 'wandering' between villages. The transport was the best we had anywhere in Nepal. We would highly recommend them for any type of assistance in Nepal from fully catered to independent travelers like us. Thank you so much for making everything flow smoothly!

Sangita, Bipin, Rabin are all super helpful and professional! Can't describe how happy to get to know them and had such wonderful memories. We have encountered some flight issues due to local weather and Sangita helped with rearranging the itinerary very quickly. The whole trip is wonderful, most memorable places would be the view from Australia Camp and the world heritage architecture in Kathmandu. Rabin and Bipin did a great job of telling lively stories and giving us knowledge of nature, animals, plants, culture...etc. In sum, this is an amazing trip that we both can't wait to visit Nepal another time!

We are just getting back home from the most incredible trip that KimKim helped to arrange for us in coordination with Himalayan Trails which is their local group in Nepal. From the beginning we were looking for a custom tour of the country that would allow us to enjoy both some time on the mountain trekking as well as a resort. KimKim helped make it all work seamlessly throughout our time.

We were met at the airport in Kathmandu and together with our guide flew to Pokhara to begin the trekking journey. Everything was as good or better than we could have expected including the custom route that they chose for the hike. By going a little against the grain on our path we were able to both beat the crowds in certain areas as well as find some more remote parts of the trail that proved to be the most memorable. Specifically our time at Dobato and the Mt Lucky teahouse where we were welcomed by the family and spent most of the afternoon/evening warming up and conversing through our guide who was great at making sure we got a really culturally unique experience. The sunrise on Muldai Hill was the best part of the trip as we had the entire top of the range to ourselves that morning for a really special experience.

Couldn't be more pleased with both the help arranging the trip (thanks Erin!) and once we got on the ground with Raj and the team at Himalayan Trails. Thanks all and look forward to visiting the wonderful country of Nepal again in the future.

A Perfect 10 Days in Nepal

I truly had an amazing time. Kirpa organized the perfect trip which included a trek through the Himalayas and a short 2 day visit to the Chitwan National Park. My trek was exactly what I wanted-challenging! I was able to enjoy breathtaking views of the Himalayas. My guide and porter (both named Pemba) were professional, energetic, supportive and kind. I could not have asked for a better team.

I also greatly appreciated Kirpa's agility. She was nimble on her feet when my flight to Chitwan begin was canceled. She quickly arranged for a driver and I was on my way, having lost little time.

Thank you to the whole Himalayan Treks team. I had a trip of a lifetime.

Tashi, Njima and Mingma all did a fantastic job.

We just came back from a wonderful 11 day trip to Nepal. This included the city of Kathmandu and a trek through the Khumbu valley. The trek was the most memorable part of the tour. Walking through these great mountains, meeting wonderful people, sharing their adventure stories and braving the chilly weather made every day enriching. From the evening we landed in Kathmandu to the morning we left our tour guides Nepal Myths and Mountain Trails were with us. Lakhpa introduced us to the nearby dining hotspots and places to go exploring and shopping in Kathmandu. Our guide throughout the trek to Namche Bazaar and back Pengba was exceptional in his knowledge of the trails and the lodging spots. Since we were first time trekkers he helped us in pacing our trek and made sure we were sufficiently hydrated and had on time meals throughout the journey. The lodges that he selected at Monjo and Choplung had all the necessary facilities with great food. Our porter for the trek Ang Babu was extremely helpful. He used to speed ahead with our luggage and then come back and help us through the trek especially the tricky ascents and descents made more difficult by the frost. Thanks to Ngima for all his suggestions during the planning of the trip and it was finally great meeting him on our day of departure. Overall it was a trip to remember and we will come back to Nepal again! Thanks!

From start to finish our trip to Nepal was an authentic, well coordinated, and memorable experience that my sister, brother and law and I will cherish for years to come. Because we were travelling in winter, and wanted to take a route less frequented by tourists, Tashi recommended the Pikey Peak trek, and it was a great choice for us! Our guide Pemba and local Sherpa accompanied us, providing local knowledge, expert guidance and companionship throughout. At each guesthouse that we stayed, we were warmly welcomed, well fed, and enjoyed spending time with fellow trekkers.

For our journey, we started out from Kathmandu and headed toward the mountains. After being dropped off, we made our way across snow covered passes and, after two nights, eventually up the Peak at sunrise, which afforded 360 views of the Annapurna range, Everest, and the lower mountains leading back to Kathmandu.

We then proceeded down through rhododendron forests, cedar groves, open paths, finally ending and the town of Junbesi, where we visited a monastery, recuperated and got a taste for local life.

This trip allowed us to experience new cultures and see a truly remarkable way of life, reconnect with the awesomeness of nature, and disconnect from the rhythm of our city lives, and we are so grateful to Tashi, Pemba and the KimKim team for making it so seamless.

Would highly recommend!

--Erika

Sangita was excellent from the beginning to the end of the trip. She made one of a kind memories in Nepal programs for me.
Thank you.

We had a wonderful time on our 7 day trek to Khopra Danda which we organised through Kripa from Himalayan Trails. She was so easy to deal with and informative. Our guide Tandu and porter Chhing were marvellous. They made sure that we were always looked after and comfortable. We had great weather and clear skies so the views of the Annapurna mountains was breathtaking. There was plenty of walking up and down hills so our trekking poles got plenty of use.

Truly a trip of a lifetime and an experience that will always stay with us.
Nepal was always a destination I've wanted to visit. Sangita was an almost pleasure in lining up a trip that covered all you would want out of a trip. Always available, plenty of recommendations.
The entire experience was seamless. A perfect mix of culture, food, history, adventure & relaxation.

Sangita & Bipin are wonderful warm & welcoming. The ideal host and can easily tell they love what they do and go the extra mile. When I travel I look for those unique experiences. We are very grateful to Sangita & Bipin for showing us their country, traditions and the time we got to explore Nepal.

We felt that warm hospitality of feeling at home while being away. A lot of thought, care & personal touch went into the experience. Well organized, spaced out and perfectly fitted.
Each stop had it's own unique feel & charm. The trekking was an incredible experience and definitely something we'd like to do again.

We really enjoyed the welcoming dinner & Farewell dinner with Sangita & Bipin left us with a warm fuzzy feeling at the beginning & the end. I highly recommend Sangita for booking your trip to Nepal! Truly a gem of a trip & unforgettable time in Nepal.

Thanks so much for a trip of a lifetime

All the best from Canada - Namaste :)

What a fabulous introduction to Nepal my recent trip was. Whilst primarily visiting Nepal to attend a conference, I organised a 12 day tour to follow the conference using kimkim and their local Nepalese travel agent Sangita & Bipin and the team from HNB. “Wow” did I hit the jackpot, Sangita & Bipin were fabulous and put together a trip to encompass all my requirements of wildlife, natural and cultural sites along with an insight into to the cultural history of Nepal. From the first meeting Sangita was a true professional, continuity providing advise, updates on tour program and where needed calming words whilst I experience the frustrations of airport delays through out the length of the tour. In fact she went far and beyond when one of my travelling colleagues inadvertently left some expensive electronic items in her hotel room and didn’t realise till we were some two hours out of Kathmandu and could not contact the hotel by mobile phone - a quick WhatsApp message to Sangita and within five minutes the items had been located and placed in safe storage for pickup on return to Kathmandu. Sangita and her team use top rated guides, drivers and provided excellent accommodation during the length of my trip. A highlight was having breakfast on the balcony of the Sarangkot Mountain Resort overlooking Annapurna south mountain on what was an exceptionally clear morning. There were many trip highlights from the overnight trek to Australia camp with guide Bhim who is a top rate guide and certainly made the trek the fantastic experience it was, but the one highlight that will last a life time was the cultural tour of Kathmandu provided by Bipin, I can’t say enough about this experience-for me this was what the essence of what I wanted an insight into the cultural history of Nepal. Yes you can explore Kathmandu on your own with out a guide, but you don’t experience or receive the insight into the culture delivered by a local with an extensive knowledge and more so a passion for the history of his country - Bipin your in-depth tour will always be a lasting memory. So if you are planning a visit to Nepal for a multi- day trek or just to experience all it has to offer non trekking visitors I can highly recommend Sangita and Bipin and the HNB team they run a five star operation.
Wayne

The Manaslu Trek was fantastic. Everyday was stunning new scenery, amazing people and fascinating villages. Amanda was brilliant at fielding all our questions and patiently allowing us to investigate all options before settling on a final itinerary. Sonam, our guide and her team were incredible. Calm, capable and great fun. They gave us an amazing insight into Nepalise life and were so open, friendly and encouraging. They really made the trip.

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!

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.