Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had an AMAZING Family Vacation to Greece! Chris at KimKim absolutely hit this out of the park!!! The detail and planning that went into to trip was second to none. Every single aspect of this trip was perfection. Beginning with the initial planning phone call with our specialist Chris - all of way to our arrival at the airport to return home was handled with precision. After speaking with Chris and sharing the types of activities an experiences we were hoping for - he went right to work! He had the first draft of our itinerary to us within 48 hours!!

The most difficult part of this whole experience was just waiting until it was time to go!

The transportation provided by Lampros was timely and courteous. We especially enjoyed visiting with Kennedy - he was very personable and friendly. Aris with Nafplio Luxury Tours was amazing during our all day tours of Delphi and Nafplio. He was always on time delivering us to our many tours, and was waiting to pick us up afterward. We had two very full days (8 - 10 hours) of sightseeing and experiences and he was professional and kind throughout! He was dressed to the nines and we felt like celebrities getting driven around in such style.

Our hotel, Athens Manor House was situated in the heart of the city - and the staff was fantastic! They carried our bags to our rooms for us, and even allowed us to leave a suitcase there while we jetted off to Santorini for a few days in the middle of our vacation. It was located near many restaurants, shopping, and within walking distance of the Acropolis.

Hilda, our guide on our hike in Delphi was a treat!! She was so knowledgeable and just a joy to spend time with! We were so impressed with Mer Des Oliviers. We learned so much and had a fantastic lunch! The view of the “Sea of Olives” was impressive.

Georgia, our guide at the Delphi Archaeological Museum was out of this world! First of all, we were blown away that she is an actual archaeologist! She taught us so much and was able to explain things in both an interesting and informative way. We loved it!

George at Landlife Travel was a treat! He was also extremely personable and provided such a memorable kayaking experience. He provided us with dozens of pictures of the experience afterward that he and his team had taken along the way.

The entire vacation was amazing - but our time in Santorini was absolutely spectacular! I can not say enough about Lithies Traditional Homes. The property is stunning and the view took our breath away. Maria and Sony went out of their way to make sure every single aspect of our stay was top notch. We will 100% return to this property - in fact I am devastated that I had to leave!!!

Southside Bicycling Tours provided a fun and adventurous e-bike tour of the island. Vasileios and Katarina did a great job showing us some beautiful sites on the other side of the island and provided us with fun and interesting information about Santorini along the way.

We had scheduled a family photo shoot while we were there - and ouR photographer, Tasos Aggelou was fantastic! He knew all of the best places to take us to capture iconic photos of the blue domes and breathtaking sunsets! These photos will be family treasures!!

We capped off our time in Santorini with a Catamaran Cruise with Vista Yachting and it was a blast! Cruising around to several beaches and getting to swim in the natural hot springs - what a way to end out time on the island!

After arriving back in Athens, of course we visited the Acropolis with a private guide, Sophia. Once again, as with all of our guides, she whisked us to the front of the line - and was able to navigate us to all of the best locations for pictures while providing us with tons of interesting and historical information.

There is no way that we could have planned out all of the details of this trip and ended up with the flawless results that we had without KimKim - and especially without Chris and his team! He arranged dinner reservations for us at the most incredible restaurants (including rooftop seating at one location), selected the PERFECT accommodations, make all of the transportation arrangements as well as all of the activities and tours. We just showed up and got to enjoy all of it!

Chris, and his colleagues - Christos, Ina, Marianna, Marina stayed in communication with us throughout our trip. They were prompt to respond to questions that we had, and they checked in on us and provided updates along the way. I cannot recommend KimKim highly enough…..and if you are going to Greece - you 100% need to ask Chris to plan your trip!! There literally isn’t one thing about this trip that could have been planned better!

Hotel Reviews

Athens Manor Houses

Athens

Perfect location, amazing staff - we had an incredible stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants and shopping - within walking distance of everything….including the Acropolis!!

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lithies Traditional Homes

Thíra

OMG! If absolutely breathtaking views, and getting treated like a celebrity is your idea of a perfect vacation - there is NO WHERE else you should go! Maria and Sony at Lithies Traditional Homes were amazing! This was my idea of heaven on Earth! 100% certain that we will return!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Southside Cycling Tour

Greece

SO.MUCH.FUN. I was a little worried when I saw how hilly Santorini was - but there were no issues whatsoever with the E-Bikes! I had never ridden an electric bike before - but after a quick lesson it was a breeze! What a great way to see the island, and have so much fun along the way!!

Quality of Experience

We would 100% do this again!! It was a blast!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Delphi Day Trip with Hike

Athens

Hilda was amazing! Very personable and outgoing! She was a joy to spend the day with!!

Quality of Experience

The Sea of Olives was so cool!!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hilda was awesome!

Transport

Nafplio Sea Kayak & Picnic

Nafplio

What amazing views!!! George and his team were so much fun!!! They even took pictures throughout the day and emailed them to us! 10/10 would recommend this!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

George and his team were amazing!!!

Photo shoot in Santorini

Santorini

These pictures will be family treasures!! Tasos Aggelou was amazing!! He knew exactly where to take us in the island to capture the most spectacular photos!! Absolutely breathtaking!!!

Quality of Experience

Great trip well organized Marina is amazing

Japan is an amazing country! We really loved our trip there! I'm so glad we had KimKim to help us plan a lot of the logistics, book, lodging, and make recommendations for experiences. I really loved all of the hotels that we stayed at. And the sushi making class that we did, renting kimonos in Kyoto, as well as staying in Hakone to experience natural hot springs. Christine also made reservations for us at an incredible restaurant called Nadaman which was a 5 star meal. The one thing I would have loved more of is more recommendations for restaurants and places to eat. We understood that a lot of restaurants were already booked up for Golden Week, and that reservations were not always possible. However, it would have been great to have a list of a few casual, walk-in type of restaurants/eating establishments that we could check out. We did have to do a bit of our own research, which is fine, but some guiding parameters from KimKim would have been really great. We were expecting a little more help and guidance with where to eat, which was really important for us as travelers!

My family and I had a fantastic experience with Jenny and KimKim overall. It was such a memorable experience. We wanted an adventure style vacation with our 2 young sons, and this didn't disappoint. Jenny took all of my feedback on the type of vacation we wanted and she curated a wonderful itinerary that hit all of the sites and excursions we wanted to see/do all within our budget and timeline. We will absolutely be back to Iceland and will use KimKim for my future vacations.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Eldhestar

Ölfus, Hveragerði

Wonderful hotel - clean and quiet close to our daily activities and with an awesome horseback riding experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hunkubakkar Guesthouse

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Comfortable and quiet guesthouses that are in a great spot if you are traveling on the south coast. Very friendly staff, nice breakfast. Quiet and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshotel Baron

Reykjavík

Great location - you can walk and don't need a car. Very clean and great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Horses and Hotsprings

Iceland

We loved this experience. It was more than just horseback riding on a farm. We went with a great tour and it was a real horseback riding adventure that took your experience into account.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Khaled was far the best guide we had ever had compared to past trips. He was kind, cordial, professional, fluent in English, exceptional knowledgeable in the Egyptian culture and all the places we attended. He was outstanding! Relied on him for other ideas and assistance in obtaining information we needed and he came through with flying colors! I give him 5 stars plus! He deserves a raise! Khaled, I felt went beyond the call of duty.
Muhamond(sp) also did a great job, greeted us with smiles and kindness, assisting and directing us through airports, and to our hotels. He also assisted the students with luggage that did not arrive in time. Very Professional in mannerism. He communicated with others to reassure that we arrived safely and efficiently to our destinations. 5 stars to him as well.
All the other guides and the bus drives were also kind, professional, helpful and we always made it to our destinations in a timely manner and safely. Thank you also for the security guides(I know the government secured them for all travelers in groups, but they were excellent) to be sure of our safety), all were professional and on the alert. I would highly recommend your company to everyone I meet to use you.

Activity Reviews

Day Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx & Sakkara and Dahshour

Cairo

It was amazing to see these sites, the ancient Pyramids, the Spynx & more. We felt in awe that they are still around all these years. The weather was 104, but the breeze was cool and it didn’t affect us that much, as our guide made sure we were there early before it became too hot. Unusual for this time of year we were told.

Quality of Experience

The ease of getting there and just the fact we could explore inside and outside the Pyramids

Food

All the food was great, but sometimes for dinner and lunch we seemed to have the same entrees, but all good. However, all breakfast outstanding when we were not traveling early mornings, but we always received a nice box to go. Excellent food on the Nile, and in the hotels where we stayed for several days

Guides, Drivers and Staff

That we always felt comfortable, safe and treated with respect.

Transport

The drivers were well mannered, kind and brought us to our destination safely.

Cairo - St Catherine

Egypt

Early morning adventure, but well worth it! The sacred place was one of the best experience we could have imagined. Using the camels was far better than I thought it would be, so serene and the stars were so mesmerizing! Thank you Khaled for this recommendation!The camels made the climb easier, and the rest of it was up to us! To be where Moses received the 10 commandments couldn’t be any better experience! Love the sunrise as well, (especially with the camels) breathtaking, was very spiritual experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it, but it was a short stay, however I knew we had to get going to our next place! An incredible journey so far

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The camels!

Aswan

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Khaled again amazing guide

Food

good food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The people on the boat were curtious

Transport

Love the boat adventures

Abu Simbel - Kom Ombo

Egypt

Love the sunset tour of the temple and how the light gives it an extra flare

Quality of Experience

Transport

we walked to the temple, easy walk

Edfu - El Kab - Esna

Edfu

A gain another beautiful temple with much of its original symbols and sculptures intact, love the horse and carriage ride through the town, driver was great too

Quality of Experience

Food

Always good and healthy food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Love the horse and carriage drive through the town and it was very helpful so one didn't have to walk too far to enjoy this temple

Transport

Great horse and carriage ride with driver, who was amusing but, shared the reins with me, a great experience

Swimming in the Nile - Visit the Local village - Gebel El Silsela

Egypt

I did share Kom Ombo temple in another area, but a couple of pictures I did add to this photo gallery. The trip down the Nile was an extraordinary adventure that no one should miss, with a private boat. My pictures here showcases the village people and families we encountered, but, also the boat crew, who were superb, along with just being in and around the Nile on this awesome journey. A

Quality of Experience

Just see above, it was just really great

Food

outstanding!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The boat and staff were amazing!

Transport

The boat ride was fantastic!

Grand Egyptian Museum & Old Cairo Mosques

Cairo

the Museum is a must place to go!The Christian/Catholic Church and the story about the holy family entering Egypt a sacred place.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

West & East Bank Luxor

Luxor

The temples/ tomb of Hatshepsut very impressive especially the stories that as a woman she chose to dress as a man or be masculine at times, but, she also brought great wealth and artistry to her land. Of course, King Tut, you must be sure to go in to that tomb site. Amazing to see King Tut inside as well as some of the carvings/drawing on the walls depicting some of his life missions. The other temples/ tombs and Pharoahs were all of interest having their own legacy of fascinating stories. You don't want to miss these fascinating tombs. At one point we also saw the famous Dam that helps the Nile maintains an even flow throughout Egypt. We also enjoyed the workshop on alabaster, papyrus and healing herbs.

Quality of Experience

Great experience and great guide who was very knowledgeable

Food

Great, always healthy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Safety always first with all of our drivers

Transport

Comfortable upscale Vans

St Catherine - Sharm El Sheikh

St Catherine

St. Catherine is not only beautiful, but very sacred as it holds the generations of the burning bush which still thrives after 1000 years +, it also holds the famous well that Moses helped others (women) to draw water from. The stories continues inside the walls of this special place. Its another must place to see.

Quality of Experience

Food

the food was very good, a nice variety to choose from

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm el-Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh most beautiful place by the Red Sea. Snorkeling was fantastic, the fish were unbelievable, and the Boat ride was incredible

Quality of Experience

The captain made the adventure fun and exciting with all of his tricks, etc.

Food

great lunch, healthy and tasty

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yes, all the crew, especially the captain were amazing, helpful to those who are novice at snorkeling, and the captain added so much more, it was a great adventure. I was grateful I had an underwater camera, as I captured some beautiful shots of fish and coral, as well as video taped the, and was able to use the camera under water as well as land.

Transport

Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm el-Sheikh

Excellent Hotel, recommend Safir Water falls hotel, a beautiful place and on the Red Sea where you can rent your snorkeling to swim around the area and see colorful fish. Food is buffet style, variety and great tasting. The hotel has multiple pools for leisure and lovely areas to relax by the sea as well as a great spa. The rooms are beautiful and the service is great. Everyone greets you with kindness and they are helpful when you need assistance. They do have a doctor on site, which was great because some of our passengers had serious colds and were taken care of immediately. Close to the old market and Farsha Cafe is a must place to see during day and evening. It is on the Red Sea and has multi-levels. Variety of drinks are served, with music and so much more.

Quality of Experience

Food

Buffet style great food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Easy to get around by Taxi

Transport

Free Day

Cairo

Great adventure heading to Alexandria from Cairo, only about 2 1/2 hours away. Relaxing and enjoyed the sites that we saw. The Catacomb was amazing, as well as the Pompeii Pillar with artifacts from Cleopatra's Palace and the Old Lighthouse which are both underwater due to an Earthquake, however you can see some of the pillars, underwater. Lunch on the Mediterranean Sea Fish Market-amazing lunch. Beautiful water and relaxing. The Citadel was also fantastic to see as well the walk around the area, found the perfect gift for my grandson, turned 4 on the day I bought it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Fantastic food Fish Market

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of it!

Transport

The transportation was great

Our flight to Ireland was delayed by a day. Rachel rearranged everything for us so that although of course we were more rushed, we didn’t miss a thing. She was always available in country. Excellent service

Hotel Reviews

The Fleet

Dublin

very nice staff, good room, very pretty atmosphere! Breakfast was great. Good location

Authenticity & Character

Very pretty lobby and exterior

Location

Staff

Gave great recommendations and were very accomodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bayview Hotel

Bushmills

Beautiful views. Nicely appointed rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

This is for people who want to be away with nice views. Fairly close to giants causeway

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ballyseede Castle

Tralee

I think this is a great place for a wedding or if you want to get away and do nothing and sit on the lawn but not in the best shape

Authenticity & Character

It is a castle

Location

Staff

They weren’t very visible. Food staff was nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monks Inn & Famous Restaurant

Beautiful room with lovely room. Even had a washing machine which we took advantage of

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Just a bit of confusion at check

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Imperial Hotel

Cork

Great location. Nice rooms staff couldn’t have been more helpful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was nice but I hate separate hot and cold water taps

Activity Reviews

Black Cab Tour

Belfast

Joe was friendly, charming and extremely knowledgeable. A must do

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Walking Tour

Dublin

Sam was a great guide. Highly recommend him

Trip was well organized. Transit from Lisbon to Carvoeiro via coast & Sagres was good. Carvoeira hotel & location was great. Caves boat tour was spectacular . Monchique/Foia was not very interesting. Day trip to Silves & Lagos was great. Same local guide for most of the local tours - good guide & flexibility (e.g, changed Tavira walking tour to trip to Castro Marim & across border to Spain to Ayamonte). Rio Fomosa boat tour - would have done the shorter excursion option . The only issue was the transit from Tavira to Lisbon. The driver was one hour late, as he was given the wrong hotel location.

The trip plan app was great for providing information

Anna-Maria planned this trip thoughtfully from beginning to end. Every guide she selected was terrific-from our first tour guide in Zagreb (Josepa) to the kayak leader (Tony), as well as the people who led us on a food guide in Split, a bike tour of Hvar Island, and finally a historical tour of Dubrovnik, all were first class! Additionally, the drivers she coordinated were all friendly and professional. We saw so much of Croatia and covered a lot of ground in the ten days we were there, but it never felt rushed or like we were trying to pack too much in.

The hotels she selected were also comfortable, convenient, and just what was needed after a day of travel or sightseeing. They were all right in the middle of the action without being chaotic or noisy.

I had such a good time on this trip that I would like to go again, as I would see and learn new things again. I would book again with KimKim and Anna-Maria; it was truly a trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Canopy

Zagreb

Convenient, modern, and well-maintained with many amenities not found in the older historical hotels (gym, transfer room with shower, full restaurant and bar). My favorite of the hotels we stayed in while in Croatia and a great place to stay in Zagreb!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plitvice Holiday Resort

Grabovac

The hotel was generally fine, but our room was not what I expected. One king bed was provided for my traveling buddy and me (we are not married), and the room was a bit small with a very small bathroom. The shower was so small that the temperature would scald or freeze me if I accidentally bumped into the faucet. It felt more like camping than staying in a hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Teatro Verdi Boutique Hotel

Zadar

Convenient hotel located in the heart of Zadar. Lots of character, with professional staff and a good restaurant on site. The room was lovely, and the bathroom was surprisingly large compared to some of the hotels we had stayed in. This was a charming place to spend the night in Zadar, and I would stay again if given the opportunity.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Slavija

Split

Amazing historical hotel in the Diocletian palace. The bathroom was a little bit small, and the shower was a bit difficult to manage. However, the on-site restaurant and location made up for these slight inconveniences. The hotel had a lot of character to make for an enjoyable stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Hotel Dea

Hvar

I loved staying in Hvar and this hotel added to the experience. The town was so lovely and warm, and this felt like being in a hidden Mediterranean villa with its location and open windows both in the room and the open courtyard of the hotel restaurant. The shower and toilet configuration were a bit awkward and the room got very wet from not having a shower door, but this was remedied with several towels. Breakfast was delicious, and the staff, while fairly incognito, were professional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lero

Dubrovnik

The location was terrific, but the hotel had a few quirks. The building was reasonably modern but did feel a bit dated. The shower was terrible, however--the shower door on the tub leaked like crazy, so the bathroom floor got wet during and after a shower, requiring several towels to mop up the mess. The hotel bar, pool, and restaurant were all nice amenities!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private guided tour of Zagreb

Zagreb

The tour started with a glitch--we couldn't find our guide and were sent to the wrong location--but she stuck around for us and gave us a fantastic tour of the city. I learned so much and really enjoyed the insider's view of Zagreb. The tour was just the right length--we got to see the sights, and some hidden history and had time for a few recommendations for dinner--and then we were able to go on our way for the evening with plenty of time to spare. This tour guide was amazing--truly a global citizen and knowledgeable about Croatia and the world at large!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking Mreznica Canyon

Croatia

I was a little hesitant at first about the kayaking adventure (it wasn't clear what the skill level would be, and it seemed like we would go into a waterfall right away), but our guide Tony was so helpful and patient. He is knowledgeable about the area and truly loves his job. He was a top-notch outdoorsman. We had three other people on the kayaking trip with us which was a fun way to meet some other people and experience the beautiful Mreznica Canyon with other travelers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Split food tour

Split

Seeing the farmers market and meeting the vendors was a real treat. I wouldn't have had the courage to go up and talk to vendors, but we got to learn about food production and what makes Croatia unique from an agricultural and culinary perspective. Our guide was warm and fun, and she took us through the Diocletian palace with some great stories of the history and culture. The food was also amazing--I enjoyed our lunch very much and feel like I got a good sample of Croatian dishes on this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling Tour around Ancient Pharos (Stari Grad)

Hvar

Our driver, the tour operator, and the cycling guide were all world-class! This was a highlight of the trip for me. I loved seeing the other side of Hvar Island, and especially loved being out on a bike, able to move faster than walking but not being in a car. I never felt unsafe on the roads, and I appreciated the new bike and helmet. I am an avid cyclist at home so this was not a terribly challenging ride, but we did see a lot of the island, experienced some of the small villages, and got so much perspective on things from our cycling guide. I have forgotten her name, but I do want to send along my thanks for being so hospitable and open. She was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

This was probably the best tour I have ever been on. Our guide (whose name I have unfortunately forgotten) made it the best day. It was like walking with a friend as he took us around Dubrovnik, sharing stories, history, and, most importantly, his honest perspective and opinion. I appreciated how he could speak his mind but handled topics sensitively and appropriately (specifically, when speaking about the internal war in the 1990s). Dubrovnik might be my favorite place in Croatia because of its beauty and history. Learning about it added richness and depth to the trip, and I 100% attribute this to the guide. He was a 10/10!

Quality of Experience

Food

Our guide's food recommendation for lunch was amazing. I would have never gone to that restaurant, but it was such a treat!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Probably the best tour guide I've ever met. He was top notch!

Transport

This was an amazing trip for my family and me. Chris listened and learned about our style of travel and what we wanted to do in Crete and Santorini. His ability to communicate and execute our trip plans was spot on. There was not one hitch in our trip arrangements. From transfers to drivers and ferry travel Chris and Kim Kim had us covered. I have traveled to many different countries and have had a variety of trip arrangements along the way. I can honestly say that Chris and the team is as good as it gets. Relax…enjoy…..and trust the Kim Kim team.

Hotel Reviews

Lithies Traditional Homes

Thíra

Lithies Home was a wonderful location for walking all over Santorini. The staff was kind and very accommodating to any requests we had during our stay. Our home was spotless and breakfast was just wonderful and abundant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Alcanea Boutique Hotel Chania

Chania Town

The staff at this hotel was wonderful and went out of there way to make everything perfect for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Excursion to Zeus Cave & Lasithi Plateau

Heraklion

This was ok but not as beneficial as other activities. Our guide with this activity was not very active with explaining The history of the cave.

Quality of Experience

The guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camila was fantastic! She set up everything for us from beginning to end. She asked us for the type of trip we wanted and set up all of our tours, hotels, and guides. When we arrived in Bolivia, we had our driver, Gonzalo, waiting for us. He stayed with us throughout our time in La Paz and was absolutely amazing! We also had an English speaking guide, Juan, who showed us Tiwanaku. Then our time in Uyuni was incredible. Omar and Alvaro were awesome! We spent 3 days exploring the salt flats and desert with them before returning to La Paz. I would 10/10 recommend Camila, KimKim, and all of the guides on this tour. It was executed to perfection and I can’t wait to do another country with KimKim!!

Had a wonderful time exploring Morocco, as organized by Abdellah, our local specialist. Through the planning process, he was very responsive, and was able to personalize our trip according to the changes I wanted.

Reda, our private driver, was the cool, calm and steady trip leader on our 9 night journey through the country. We were always happy to see him when he gathered us in the mornings for our daily drive. He had great recommendations, but also was very agreeable if we decided we didn't want to do something. "As you like" is quite a common phrase we heard, which eased us in having an even more relaxed time.

You do spend a lot of time in the car, which we understood when planning, but that part of the trip does get old after several days.

Our trip was lovely. Our guides, Diego (Bilbao to Guernika, San Sebastian) and Juan (to Pamplona) , were outstanding. Our driver from San Sebastian back to Bilbao was also great. The walking food tour we took with Carlos (Devour) on Wednesday was fun and informative. He was also a wonderful guide. Even though it rained almost every day, we enjoyed every minute of our trip. The drives along the coast with stops at villages and sites were stunning. We learned a lot at our itinerary destinations of Guernika and Pamplona and points in between. Of course, the Guggenheim was breathtaking, and the food was absolutely delicious everywhere! People were friendly and helpful throughout our trip. We leave beautiful Basque country with fond memories and a promise to return.

Loved having all the transfers taken care of! Loved the hotel on Santorini! All the guides scheduled for us were prompt, knowledgeable, and personable.

Hotel Reviews

Amalia Hotel Athens

Athens

Pros: good location, good breakfast spread Cons: typical European hotel room (and bathroom), which means fine but small and nothing special

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

Pros: great beach access, wonderful and very hard-working staff, good food Cons: they charge hotel guests for the beach chairs, small rooms

Belvedere Suites Santorini

Santorini

Many of the hotels with caldera views are open to the path that everyone walks on. (If you have been to NYC, imagine living on the high line.) This hotel was situated in a way that made it very private. It was also just lovely, and in a great location.

Activity Reviews

Athens e-bike tour

Athens

We all enjoyed this, and it kept us awake on our arrival day. The one thing that was odd was that Chris scheduled a tour guide to collect us at our hotel and walk us a few blocks to the bike shop (where another guide took over) and back to our hotel at the end. He was a nice guy but it seemed superfluous.

Acropolis & Flavors Combo Tour

Athens

Excellent guide, and we were all stuffed when the tour was over!

Naxian Cooking Experience

Naxos

This was very fun. They were very accommodating of the fact that two people in our group wanted meat and two don't eat meat.

Cycling in enchanting landscapes of Naxos

Naxos

This was not as good as the Athens bike tour. To be fair, the weather wasn't great and one road that they apparently always use was closed for repairs. Still, I found it odd when the guide said he only plans on riding about half the scheduled time. For his trips that go to wine tastings that makes sense, but we weren't doing that. We stopped at a cafe and had a drink, which was fine, but unnecessary.

All Time Classic Santorini

Santorini

Very informative guide, and the day was interesting. The end was a waste though. If they are going to offer a "sunset cocktail" they should pick a location with a good sunset view. We were in a charming restaurant, but it was not a sunset viewing spot.

Platinum Morning Caldera Cruise

Santorini

I'm sure it would have been "amazing" if the water had been warmer. As it was, we had several long-ish stops for swimming but nobody went in the water for more than 10 minutes. It would have been nicer to keep moving I think. Great lunch and very nice crew.

Our trip with Himalayan Kingdom Expeditions was amazing from beginning (a six-day cultural tour with acclimatizing day hikes) to end (a seven-day trek). Vishal and guides, Tek and Ngawang, were consummate hosts. Planning was thorough and efficient. Guides were knowledgable and clear when sharing information about Bhutanese history, Buddhist history and customs, natural history, and adept at organizing, executing, and adjusting to conditions while trekking (mainly due to weather and altitude, but also because our group occasionally chose to linger at a location or site longer than planned).
Before departing for Bhutan, I was looking forward most to the Jomolhari Trek that we'd arranged with Vishal, and this did turn out to meet and exceed expectations for adventure and experiencing a remote cultural landscape, but I also got so much more out of the time we spent around Paro, Punakha, and Thimphu than I'd imagined that I would. The temples, monasteries and related Buddhist sites and traditional workshops were profound, magical, and made even fuller by the background and context provided by Tek and Ngawang.
Not being a guided expedition person by nature, I was concerned about being "fussed over" to the point of having the service interfere with my experience of the place that I was visiting, but my experience with Himalayan Kingdom contradicted all of my preconceptions of what this might be like. Interactions with Tek and Ngawang were easy from day one. Their calm, kind, and informative approach to hosting created camaraderie and by the end of the trip I was sad to have to say goodbye to good friends. I have only positive things to say about Vishal and Himalayan Kingdom Expeditions and about the wonderful travel experience that I had because of them!

What a phenomenal, exciting, beautiful, romantic, and memorable adventure!

I still marvel at Nikos' ability to plan the perfect and unique experience for us. At every turn, he asked the right questions to create so many of these special little moments for us all throughout this incredible country. There is no way we could have planned something so thoughtful and authentically Greek on our own.

He planned every little detail so all we had to do was follow his itinerary to be constantly delighted and amazed by what he had in store for us. By the end, we kept laughing at the absurdity of how magical it all was and we'd say to each other, "Of course, this is happening. Nikos planned it."

I started to write out our favorite experiences, but genuinely, I would have listed every single thing we did on our trip.

Here's the point: If you want to go to Greece, work with Nikos. Tell him about you and your travel partners, your budget, and what makes a trip exciting/memorable/desirable and then trust Nikos. He'll plan things you would never find in a tour book and you'll wind up with the most beautifully unique trip. Seriously.

Hotel Review

Daphne's Club Hotel & Apartments

Xylokastro

Daphne has created the perfect little oasis on the Corinthian Gulf in Greece. She has everything you need and lots more than you didn't even know you needed — like the most beautiful and delicious breakfast buffet in all of Greece.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Santorini Sailing Cruise & meal on Board

Santorini

This was downright magical. By this point in the trip, we were a little tired, and having 5 hours of lying on a sailboat, drinking wine, and eating a fabulous meal was exactly what we needed. Also, Cosmos was fabulous. He told great stories, taught us the history of the Santorini Caldera, and looked like the perfect handsome sailor.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had awesome assistance every step of the planning and implementation of our trip to Madrid and Barcelona.
The local guides were super. Margit with Walk and eat in Madrid was terrific! Carmen in Madrid was great! Mar in Barcelona was unbelievable! Patricia with YourTripToSpainAndPortugal was so fantastic and available for all our questions before and during the trip!
I would totally recommend going to Spain with the local guides and helpers!

Hotel Reviews

Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid

Madrid

Super, great place to stay. They were so helpful and friendly yet so professional as well. Loved our room for the three of us and the breakfast was so nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved every aspect of the hotel!

H10 Art Gallery

Barcelona

Good location. Very accommodating and went out of their way for our needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

All nice but the elevator was an issue so we took the stairs most of the time...good exercise!

Activity Reviews

Barcelona private guided walking tour of the Gothic quarter & Picasso Museum

Barcelona

Carmen was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

prompt

Transport

on time and helpful

Barcelona private guided tour of Gaudi masterpieces: Guell Park and "Sagrada Familia" Cathedral.

Barcelona

Cannot begin to explain the beauty and creativity

Quality of Experience

sites!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

answered questions honestly and helpfully

Transport

explained details

Sunset Sailing in Barcelona

Barcelona

The perfect, relaxing end to a few busy days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boqueria market guided tour + cooking workshop

Barcelona

Such a fun activity with the best chef and guide! We were a little apprehensive about who the other "cooks" in the workshop would be, but everyone from many walks of life and countries was courteous and such good company for our cooking and dining experience.

Quality of Experience

The chef was super!

Food

CHOCOLATE! but the other food was nice, too

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Wine and Tapas Experience in Malasaña quarter

Madrid

Margit was so great to share with us the area, history and explain all about tapas and the pork i Spain.

Quality of Experience

Margit's personality was so sincere and welcoming.

Food

Really delicious and Margit's explanation of each dish was wonderful and enlightening.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

!!

Transport

Private guided tour of the Habsburgs' Quarter & Royal Palace

Madrid

Carmen did not leave out a single site or explanation of all the history surrounding the areas we walked. Never boring, though, and answered our "why" questions. She is a wonderful people person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zala was invaluable in planning and executing our travel in Germany and Austria. Truly an amazing job.

I recently had the incredible opportunity to embark on a trekking adventure with Himalayan Kingdom Expeditions, and I must say that it was an experience of a lifetime. From the moment we arrived until our final farewell, Vashal and his team provided us with exceptional care, professionalism, and a genuine passion for what they do.

The trekking itinerary crafted by Himalayan Kingdom Expeditions was perfectly balanced, offering breathtaking views, challenging treks, and insightful cultural experiences. Our guides, led by Tik, our primary guide, and Ngawang, our driver, possessed an extensive knowledge of the region and were adept at tailoring the journey to our group's capabilities and interests.

Throughout the trek, safety was always a top priority. The guides were well-equipped with first aid supplies, emergency communication devices, and a wealth of experience in handling various situations. Their expertise and attention to detail put our minds at ease, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the natural beauty surrounding us.

What truly sets Himalayan Kingdom Expeditions apart, however, is the warmth and hospitality of Vashal and his team. They went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and satisfaction at every step of the journey. From arranging top-notch accommodations in picturesque locations to providing deliciously freshly prepared meals in incredible settings, their dedication to creating an unparalleled experience was remarkable.

Vashal's team was not only professional but also incredibly friendly and approachable. Their enthusiasm for the region and its culture was infectious, as they shared amazing stories and insights along the way. It felt like we were trekking with friends rather than guides, creating a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere throughout the entire trip.

In sum, my trekking adventure with Himalayan Kingdom Expeditions surpassed all expectations. Vashal and his team's impeccable service, genuine care, and expertise made this journey unforgettable. If you're seeking a remarkable trekking experience that combines breathtaking landscapes, cultural immersion, and outstanding hospitality, I wholeheartedly recommend Himalayan Kingdom Expeditions. They are the epitome of excellence in the realm of adventure travel.

Thank you, Vashal, and the entire team for creating memories that will last a lifetime.

In a nutshell, it was a phenomenal trip from start to finish. Sarah did a marvelous job working with me in the pre-planning stages and putting together what promised to be an active holiday that covered a lot of ground, and once we arrived in Croatia, Sarah and Ivan were in regular contact with us to make sure things were going well. Their accessibility and immediate response time was impressive, to say the least. It's difficult to fully convey how prompt, professional, courteous and engaging the drivers and guides were, but we are grateful to our drivers (Ivo and Zoran), our kayak guides (Eddie and T), our speedboat skipper (Ivo), and our bike tour guides (Joseph and Joke) for ensuring we had a truly memorable vacation in a very special part of the world.

Activity Reviews

Dubrovnik Kayaking Adventure

Dubrovnik

I had a great time during the Dubrovnik Kayaking Adventure. The weather was good, and the water was refreshing, even though it was a bit early in the season. I got some awesome pictures, and the experience was very enjoyable. I highly recommend this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Boating Excursion to the Elaphiti Islands

Dubrovnik

The all-day boat tour to the Elaphiti Islands was exceptional. Our boat captain, a Croatian Navy Seal, was an excellent guide. The owner of the company personally came to our hotel and picked us up for the tour. Overall, it was a fantastic and personalized experience that I would love to do again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hvar - Island Bike Tour with Local Food and Drink Tastings

Croatia

This was one of the most special excursions of the trip. We rode on brand new e-bikes with fantastic local guides. At the end of the tour, we went back to the owner's tasting room for a wonderful wine and cheese tasting. It was an amazing, personalized experience that I would highly recommend to others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pakleni Islands Kayak Tour

Croatia

The Pakleni Islands Kayak Tour was a great experience. The owner of the kayaking company personally greeted us after the tour, and we were their first customers of the season. The tour was enjoyable, and the scenery was beautiful. I would definitely recommend this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biking Tour of Split & Marjan Hill

Split

The Biking Tour of Split & Marjan Hill was fantastic. We had private guides who spent hours with us, showing us the beautiful sights of Split. There was a small mix-up with the meeting location, but it was quickly resolved, and we had a great time. I would highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Ljubljana including a biking tour of the city

Zagreb

Our day trip to Ljubljana was a memorable experience. We had a small group bike tour with a great guide, and we covered a lot of ground that we wouldn't have been able to on foot. The weather was colder than expected, but we still enjoyed exploring the picturesque European town. I would definitely recommend this day trip and biking tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanos did a perfect job organizing a trip to Greece for my husband, my in-laws and myself! I wanted a smooth trip and felt too overwhelmed to plan it myself. We went to Athens, Naxos and Santorini. Everything went so smoothly and I'm very grateful! Thanos was easily accessible and just knowing he was there if we needed anything took all the stress out of the trip. He even met us for a drink in Athens, introducing us to a rooftop bar with a fantastic view of the Acropolis. He arranged tours based on our interests with knowledgeable guides which added so much to our enjoyment of Greece. All of the transfer drivers to ferries and airports were on time and professional. What a relief to have everything planned and just show up where you're supposed to be! Everyone we dealt with was kind and efficient. The planning stage was fun and Thanos was quick to respond even given the time difference. This is definitely the way to go for a hassle free trip, and I found the price to be reasonable as Thanos worked to fit our budget. We even met a fellow Kimkim traveler, also thrilled with her experience in Greece. I will definitely use Kimkim again and am already looking forward to planning my next trip! Thank you, Thanos!!

Hotel Reviews

Antony Suites

Naxos

For me, this was a stand out place to stay. Absolutely spotless with all amenities. Adorable, great location, super nice staff, delicious breakfast baskets!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful room, comfy, quiet, charming little balcony!

Location

Walk to beach, to old town, to restaurants. Quiet and charming!

Staff

So so nice!! Very caring for our comfort.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfection!

Blue Dolphins Apartments & Suites

Firostefani, Santorini

Beautiful setting, excellent (big!) breakfast, great service. Just don't reserve the Canava suite. Too dark and a foul smell. The other rooms look great, and my in laws had a gorgeous Romantic room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

View of the Caldera is incredible.

Staff

Very responsive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

As stated, Canava suite needs some sprucing up and a solution to the smell. Other rooms are amazing!

Blend Hotel Athens

Athens

We did a basic room which had all that we needed. Maria at the front desk was great, giving us recommendations and she was very friendly and kind.

Authenticity & Character

Clean, everything worked, no complaints!

Location

Walked to everything. Perfect location.

Staff

Maria was wonderful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All good!

Activity Reviews

Santorini Wine Roads

Santorini

We had a great time with our fellow tourists. I already loved Santorini wine, but learning about the production was so interesting. Elsa knew her wine and was a great guide!

Quality of Experience

The delicious wine phenomenal and we loved talking to everyone!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Elsa was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and kind.

Transport

Platinum Sunset Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Our last tour, this was a highlight of the trip! Although it was chilly when we went it did not detract from the experience. We had a great friendly group of people, and the views were just fantastic!

Quality of Experience

The boat was beautiful, new looking and safe. Seeing Santorini from the water was a fabulous experience. Highly recommend!

Food

Very good! Everything I had I enjoyed. They prepared a vegetarian plate for me.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yannis and Rafaela did a great job explaining all that we saw and provided a very delicious meal!

Transport

Friendly driver, Demetrius!

Acropolis & Flavors Combo Tour

Athens

To have a guide at the Acropolis made the experience so much more interesting. Alexandra was knowledgeable and kind. And the food! Delicious and plentiful.

Quality of Experience

Learning about what we saw from a knowledgeable professional was very helpful

Food

Greek coffee, olives, cheese, all of it delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naxos Old Town, Castle & Portara Sunset Walk

Naxos

Loved this tour with Katia. Old town is quaint and beautiful but knowing the history made the experience so much more meaningful. Katia was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Greek people are kind and friendly and love their country. Katia was wonderful.

Transport

We walked!