Kimkim Trip Reviews for Nepal

I had a wonderful experience with KimKim and the trekking company the set me up with, Responsible Treks. Let me fill you in!
After checking out trekking options on kimkims website, they connected me with trekking specialist Kunchok Nima, who was able to provide me with wise advice and suggestions as to which trek we should do, based off the amount of time we had and experience. After booking the Poonhill trek he continued to keep contact with me, confirming details and answering questions, which was very helpful indeed!
Upon arrival in the country, Kunchok met us at our hotel, he gave us an overview for the upcoming adventure and we were off to Pokhara the following day.
And let me tell you, everything for the next 5 days was very well taken care of, including us...we immensely enjoyed getting to know guide Rickjin and porter Kunchok! Even though the weather was a little overcast, these guys made up for the lack of sunshine! Poonhill trek has a good variety of geography, you see local villages, lush jungle and majestic mountains. And the trek itself is well spread out and gives plenty time to rest.
So if you despise planning and details, KimKim is the number one option for you to partner with to experience the beauty of Nepal! Thank you to kimkim and the guys at Responsible Treks for making our Nepal experience a memorable one!

I cannot speak too highly of the team at KimKim. From the moment I first made contact to the very end of our trip the service was outstanding. They focussed on finding out exactly what we wanted and then provided way above expectations. Mads put the trip together checking throughout if it was exactly what we wanted. The city guide Rajive was very knowledgeable and informative. The Inn Patan was a great place to stay.

The trek was just the right level for us. It stretched us. OK some basic teahouses, but some pretty good ones too, and the views, unbelievable. Our guide on the trek, Suman, was a guide, a butler sorting out food orders etc and a guardian angel keeping an eye on us at all times. Suman and our porters, Manoj and Laxman, became part of our family. They were suoerb and great company.

The pavilions in Pokhara is a fantastic hotel to relax in. Then Chitwan. The Baraha Jungle resort is luxurious but you must go to Tiger tops and be with the elephants.

Finally I must mention Raj, the office manager. He made sure the trip worked. He seemed to have a sixth sense and once when one of our party had to get a doctor within minutes. he phoned me up to check all was OK. How he knew I don’t know as we did not tell him. Constantly checking in the background I guess. Perfect as we did not want to be on an over organised trip but were glad of his quiet efficient organisation.

Perfect trip. I highly recommend Mads and his team to you if you are going to Nepal.

Hi Tashi and Prajwol,

Sorry I've taken so long to review but I was thinking it over and didn't want to write exactly how I was feeling at the time. I'm going to just give a breakdown of my experiences on the trip you planned for me.

Day 1- the touring day.

The guide was very knowledgeable and he made the whole experience quite pleasant for my friend and me. We do recommend using him in the future. However, there were two situations where we felt VERY uncomfortable. I had been feeling off about it and when I asked my friend she said she also felt the same. It sort of felt like our guide had made prior deals to try to force us into spending more money than we wanted to. First time we felt this way was when we stopped for lunch in the Square. Our guide took us to an EXTREMELY expensive restaurant, where the food was VERY average. In fact it might have been the worst food I had during my entire 17 days in Nepal, and yet it cost more than double the meals I had in Thamel. When I went to ask why my food was taking so long to arrive (my friend's food had arrived about 15 minutes before mine) I found our guide lounging with the owners as if they were friends. When he saw me he got up very quickly as if he was trying to hide his affiliations. This is when I got very suspicious. I might be wrong but my friend felt the same way.

The second time was when we were going through the old city and we stopped outside an art school. He told us a bit of its history and ASKED us if we wanted to go in to see the artworks. We, of course, said yes. When we got to the top one of the masters was patiently waiting for us and immediately started giving us a tour of the art. This gave us more suspicions because it was DEFINITELY prearranged. Which means either I had PAID for this tour (in which case I don't understand why our guide asked if we wanted to go in), or else our guide had organized it. When the tour ended the master painter became VERY forceful about us buying art. He kept repeating that it was our choice but he did it in such as way that make us feel we didn't actually have a choice. We told him multiple times that we didn't have money and they kept in forcing the subject and came up with alternative ways for us to buy (eg they charging our hotels or the guide and us paying them back). My friend even mentioned how uncomfortable they made her feel.

I might obviously be wrong about the guide trying to scam us a little, but either way we learnt a lot about the history of Nepal from him so we enjoyed that.
If I am wrong about the guide, and he took us to such an expensive restaurant as it was part of the normal program then I'm more disappointed in you guys as I told you repeatedly that I didn't have a lot of money as I'm a student so I definitely didn't appreciate the poor planning there.

The driver for day 1 was really professional, I really recommend him for future use.

Day 2 and 3- trekking.
This was my biggest disappointment for my entire trip to Nepal. The first day of trekking was better than the second. It went through the forests and several farms so I definitely enjoyed that. It was only a little underwhelming but I was expecting the second day to be better so at the time I was happy. The second day to Nagorkot was VERY VERY disappointing. So much so that I was very irritated with whomever chose this route for me. There was so much construction the ENTIRE 7 or 8 hours, and on top of that I'm sure 95% of the trip was on the road. This isn't what I wanted at all, in fact it might have been the exact opposite of what I wanted. Perhaps you weren't completely aware of this but that just shows poor planning, because it was not a good experience. I actually felt like I wasted one of my few days left in Nepal because of this last trekking day.

My guide Pemba was good. He gave me space to just be by myself which is what I wanted, and he answered my questions whenever I had them. My conversations with him left a bit to be desired but that might have been my fault since I had had little sleep the night before so I didn't have the energy for much conversation. The lodge and guesthouse you booked for me were very disappointing as well. I understand the lodge being how it was but I expected way more from the guest house.

The driving that got me to the trekking start was fine. The driver that took me from Nagorkot to the water rafting was NOT good. But my experience with him was very likely Pemba's fault. This is the only thing I did NOT like about Pemba- he made me worry unnecessarily. The night of day 3 he told me that breakfast will be at 6 and then we will leave for 6.30 as it will take us long to get to the water rafting. He said it will be tight but we should make it on time. When I came for breakfast the next morning at 6.05 my breakfast hadn't even been made yet and Pemba started reprimanding me on my bad time. He didn't outright say it but he basically said "if you miss your river rafting then this is clearly not my fault". This honestly made me very irritated with him. He made me feel like I was a child who had no sense of responsibility. I finished eating at 6.15 and when I said I'm going to brush my teeth and then we can go he again made a comment that if we late it is my fault not his. I really didn't appreciate it. We left at 6.20 (10 minutes BEFORE he said we needed to leave) and he again made a comment about how we might miss the river rafting. So of course I worried. This is where I really started to dislike my driver that took us to the river rafting. Within the first 20 minutes he pulled us over so he could speak on the phone to his family. Normally I wouldn't have minded but Pemba got the idea that we were going to be late into my head so I was worried. After about 5 min we started again. Within 10 min he pulled us over again to phone someone else. He did this a third time. After an hour he pulled us off again so he could go to the toilet (which he should have done before we left if we had such a tight schedule). We ended up arriving over an hour BEFORE it started so all my worrying caused my Pemba was for nothing.

Other than this though, Pemba was great. He was well mannered and was always trying to make me more comfortable (whether it be him carrying my sleeping bag, or making sure my food arrived and that I had enough of it, or making sure my drinks were cold). So because of this I still highly recommend him for future use because even though I very much disliked the trekking route, he made it better.

Day 4- white river rafting.
This was by far my most memorable activity in Nepal. I had an absolutely incredible time. I highly recommend it for future suggestions to tourists. Traveling through the valleys was incredible and we saw monkeys and loads of mountain ranges. Was definitely a highlight for me.

I honestly found my experiences unusual because we had spoken at such great length about what I was wanting and not wanting. I'm not sure if I will use KimKim again in the future. You were UNREASONABLY expensive. I saw the prices for the lodges and guest houses, for my breakfast/lunch/dinner during the trekking, for the river rafting and for guided tours. What I didn't see was what the price for private cars was but I assumed it was between 5000 rupees and 10000 rupees per day. Even with this by my calculations you overcharged me by about 25 000 rupees. Plus I still had to pay tips which came to another 7000 rupees. Plus on top of this the reason you told me that you couldn't provide prices to me was because you were receiving special DISCOUNTS from the companies, so the trip should have been even cheaper. I honestly felt very cheated, whether it was because of poor planning or else you just taking advantage of my ignorance in prices, either way I didn't appreciate it.

I did like the fact that you came to meet me in person to introduce the guides etc. It was professional and I appreciated it. But that courtesy wasn't enough to fix it all.

Overall I'd give a 6/10 stars for the trip, but it is only so high because of how much I enjoyed the river rafting.

Organizing and booking through Kimkim was easy and fast. I only contacted them online 5days before my travel and it was still possible to have an amazing 4day trip on the Gandruk trek! The journey was customized to my needs and I had a wonderful guide and porter. I just had to follow them and everything was taken care of. I had a lot of time to enjoy the mountains and the beautiful villages and did not have to worry about anything. Just perfect! The tea houses we stayed in were simple, but cosy and there was all I needed. Honestly a truly amazing experience and good value for money!

our guides - Dawar & Naresh - were so kind and helpful. We loved that they joined us in the evenings before/after dinner, it felt really personal the whole time, they were our local friends telling us so much about the culture, region and country. They did a fantastic job and are a credit to the team.

Most memorable place was Namobhuddha - the tranquility of the resort made us book an extra spontaneous night, it was a beautiful place! The monastery had us mesmerised and we've since learnt a lot more about Bhuddism. The only tip I have for future treks is to have one rest day in Namobhuddha so you can fully enjoy the resort as well.

Bhaktapur took us by surprise entirely - we weren't expecting such an ancient, artistic town on the outskirts of Khatmandu! Pratiksha is a very warm, smiley, amicable person with huge amounts of knowledge on the place. We really respect her passion and devotion to her country and religion and thoroughly enjoyed our city tours with her.

After a week back in the Netherlands I look back after a huge experience in the Himalayas.
Supported by a special team with Raj and Anura, who provided me with information from the booking of the trip, I was received in Kathamandu with a greeting dinner and an afternoon where I got all the explanation and what my responsibilities are during the 19-day trek . Especially because I am no longer one of the youngest (69 years), Raj has gone into great depths about pulling at high altitudes. The meeting with Indra my guide was very cordial and familiar. This all supported fine for the coming trek. Planned was a 19 days trek over the 3 passes, but after the stage from Namche to Thame I got a headache, necessarily a day waited but from Thame to Lumden happened exactly the same. Switched to drink a lot of water and use Diamox and of course I had to wait another day, I was rid of the headache and I could bridge the first pass Renjo La. Great view my first goal was achieved, but I also realized that I was against my physical limit and in consultation with my guide we changed the program and left Everest BC behind and opted for Ama Dablam base camp and Dingboche attempt to see the Makalu. Unfortunately, it got worse in the last week and was hardly visible.
My advice if you like my age and you want something seen from the Himalaya Asia choose Raj and Anura, everything is negotiable and the team is very correct and when you have Indra as guide your are a happy man.

Both the Upper Mustang Valley trek and the Annapurna Base Camp trek were fantastic and both so very different. Our guide, Pemba, was awesome and really went out of his way to make things as easy as possible for us. Would definitely recommend him, and our porter, Amar, was also great. We met some fantastic people, both local and trekkers on these trips and had lots of laughs with them. Every day was different and every day was memorable. It is very hard to pin point any particular day, but we'll never forget the view when we got to Annapurna Base Camp.

I can not say enough how amazing our experience was with Kimkim. I worked wih a Amanda who customized our trip to fit the very limited time we had in Nepal. We did a 3 day trip and were able to hike and explore the Kathmandu area which would have been very difficult to do on our own. We had a hiking guide and a city guide and both were amazing, knowledgadble and super friendly. We loved the hotels Amanda reserved for us. The Namo Buddha Resort was beautiful and very peaceful. If and when I go back to Nepal I will use this company. I highly recommend them!

The Manaslu Trek was everything we hoped for and more! Right from the start, our travel specialist Amanda, was very helpful and quick to answer all of our questions and concerns. She helped to plan and organize the perfect trip tailored specifically to our requests. The online booking experience was also very efficient and easy.

Upon arriving in Kathmandu we had the opportunity to meet with both Amanda and our guide Chhiring and were given a full briefing of the itinerary prior to the start of the Trek. Amanda also took the time to meet with us at our hotel after the trek to debrief about our trip. Everything was very well planned and organized.

We had a wonderful experience throughout the trek enjoying the spectacular scenery and observing the village life along the way. Our guide Chhiring, and porter Santa, were both extremely attentive, professional and respectful. We felt well taken care of and are grateful to have had them accompany us on our trek. In addition, Chhiring's knowledge and experience provided us with detailed insight into the local culture and trekking routes through the Himalayas.
From start to finish we received great service that surpassed our expectations! Thank you to all involved for making this a trip to remember! Tina & Jason

The Lang Tang trek was exactly what I was looking for! Following a beautiful blue river through the jungle like forest, past a variety of rhodedendron and finally up, up, up to the Himalayas was spectacular. Rishi our guide was lighthearted and fun. Susan our porter not only carried some of our weight but added to our enjoyment throughout our journey. By the end of the trail we had become friends, sharing laughter and life stories. It was refreshing to get away from the crowds of people and take in the beauty around us. Along the way we met some very friendly people, one of our favorite interactions was with Sylee at the Lama Hotel, her bright spirit and playfulness made us feel right at home! We lucked out with a clear day at the top and really enjoyed taking in all of the breathtaking views. I wiuld definitely book a trip with Kim Kim again and again!

This was truly a trip of a lifetime for our family. We spent 9 days just below Everest and had a wonderful time. Our guide Tendu was excellent and his attentiveness and personal touch made this trip unforgettable. He worked hard to make sure we were all looked after and that everything went smoothly.
Sadly, the weather was much colder than predicted which impacted us on the last few days. The teahouse in Panbouche was below standard and the ownership seemed indifferent to the comfort of their guests. Luckily the next day Tendu had arranged for an excellent teahouse in Phortse - which was the best one we stayed at.
I would highly recommend that portion of the trek (Panbouche - Phortse) - it was the highlight of the trek.

We wanted a hassle-free trip and Raj and his team had certainly delivered. Everything was executed as communicated ahead of time with positive surprises threw in here and there. One certainly has to pay for this kind of service but it's nice that the result is as advertised. We had a short and easy trip and would really love to go back to Nepal to explore her natural beauty in the future.

I had a wonderful experience on my trip to Nepal. I will remember it forever. Amanda organised us a wonderful Trip. Mingma Sherpa our guide was very professional & friendly, happy to accommodate our changes when asked.
Megshha Karki our yogi was very friendly & made us laugh often. He is a funny guy. His yoga sessions helped us continue on our Trek everyday with all our aches & pains. The Porters, Bashil, Hindu, Navarus, Rokman & Mingmar 2 were all very friendly & helpful, ready to help us whenever needed. I was almost virtually carried down the mountain a couple of times with my bad knees. I looked forward to their cups of tea to warm us up. The accommodation we stayed in varied from Ok to terrific, but the families were always friendly & inviting. The toilets were a bit difficult for me with my knees 7 took a bit getting used to. We were fed lots & I loved the food. The trail was difficult at times but we loved it. Seeing Everest for the first time was amazing. Walking past Glaciers & seeing the Rhodedemdrum Forest was beautiful. People said Namaste with a smile wherever we went.
We had such a good time travelling together for the 10 days & I would recommend it to anyone thinking of going.

First of all, Nepal and Nepali people were just amazing! Himalayan Trails were great!! Amanda and Himalayan Trails couldn't have more helpful, knowledgeable and coming up with solutions when issues arose.

It was a lot harder then any of us imaged. Challenged us, some of us got sick. Mingmar was great! He was a fantastic help all along the way! Made us amazing food and taught us about the culture. Meghsha was also fabulous in the way he helped us lumber up for the day ahead! Meghsha also has a lot of knowledge regarding culture, and history. Amanda was great in the way she set us all up, to bring us all together. The porters were also so amazing, they assisted innany way they could, including dragging us to a safer destination.

From the beginning of planning to days after our trek ended, our family group of seven have received five star treatment from everyone at Himalayan trails. After way too many requests and questions from us, Amanda put together a fabulous trek to match our needs. We felt privileged to have Mingmar, the best Sherpa guide ever, along with Meghsha who taught us yoga, meditation & totally enhanced our experience with lessons on local religions, beliefs and cultures. With five fabulous (& strong!) porters, we trekked for 10 days on a community trail in the lower Everest region. When the weather hindered our views, Mingmar made changes to our route to make sure we did not go away disappointed-and we didn't! This was an experience we will never forget, made super easy by Amanda & her crew who had absolutely everything covered ... even a surprise birthday cake for my niece on the day we arrived! I Highly recommend these guys.

Welcoming by people living in the mountains was always good. Teahouse food always freshly cooked on demand and very good, which was surprising with the remoteness of the villages or base camp.
Dawa our guide know well the track so no issue about being guided. Many new roads are being built so sometimes it was hard to find the right track. From the description of our trip, we went through a cheese factory village. Dawa didn't tell us and it is a bit disappointed that he never talked about life of people living in villages, how they sustain, what is their culture and values.
Amanda was welcoming before and after the treck and helpful for any question.

Overall the planning process was smooth - Kripa was responsive and addressed my questions. My guide, Rishi was great! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and a pleasure to trek with.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the route (Balthali Village Trek) designed by kimkim. Based on the descriptions on the site (and research I did online), I was under the impression I would be trekking between quiet hillside villages, off the beaten path, near mountains. This was not the case. While Rishi made every effort to take alternative routes that took us off main roads, most of the trek was in earshot of bus and truck horns, loud music, and general city life. I wish kimkim had been upfront about the type of trek this was and had more accurate descriptions of where I would be trekking (ie, between cities, on roads). I would not recommend this trek to anyone interested in a peaceful trek through the mountains or countryside.

In addition, while I walk fast, I thought the trekking time estimates were really off. One day, the trekking time was listed as 5 hours, but I completed the distance in 2.5. Adding distance to the descriptions would be helpful.

Nepal is a great place but can be chaotic even by South African standards. Every trip to Nepal and Himalaya should be done with a guide from a reputable company.

From the start to the end of our trip we were in the fast lane. When people were queuing, either Ngima or our guide Mingmar got us to the front with no hassle.

There are premium accommodation options along the EBC and Three passes trek, however, most are very basic but adequate. Western toilets become a rarity the closer one gets to Base Camp.

The trip was amazing. It was also very hard. I would not recommend three passes or Base Camp/Kala Patthar to anyone that is unfit, is injured, is overweight.

Everything about my trip was wonderful! I booked this trip on pretty short notice so I really relied on Kim at the KimKim to plan everything and I’m glad I did. Kim and I talked about what I was looking for and she was really helpful in letting me know the different options. She recommended a trek in the Everest region and it was exactly what I wanted. My guide, Phutashi, was great - he was really knowledgeable and friendly and made sure I had a great trek. He changed our route a little after one of the Everest-viewing days turned out to be cloudy, and took me to Mong La, which had some of the best views of the trek and was one of my favorite spots. I’d highly recommend booking through the KimKim - everything was really easy and I had an amazing trip. And for anyone wondering, I’m a female and was traveling alone and felt perfectly safe the entire time.