Kimkim Trip Reviews

We asked for an active trip and our specialist delivered. We had several zoom calls to set up the framework for our trip. She put together exactly what we asked for. We had great hikes and visits to Albi, Carcasonne and Mirapoix with our guide Olivia. Our tasting tour with Jessica was fun and informative and our bike ride around Toulouse was fun. Definitely a great trip.

Taos did an amazing job. Everything (drivers, trains,flights) all came off without a clitch.. Our tours were amazing and our guides were outstanding. Our accommodations for the most part were excellent. We had a fabulous time and will recommend to our family and friends.

Regards and Thank you
Linda and Ken Orlowe

Hotel Review

Villa Poggiano 

Montepulciano

My favorite of the trip. The view was amazing and everyone was so helpful and friendly. The breakfasts’ were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Accomodations

Location

The view

Staff

Exceptional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and very comfortable

Activity Review

Private Val D’ Elsa Wine Tasting

Italy

Danny our guide was very informative, and made our tour a total success.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of them were very knowledgeable and interesting!

Transport

The Kim Kim team and Hakim were wonderful to work with. We actually had intended to go on this trip 3 years ago. Kim Kim honored all prices originally quoted. Hakim responded to all our queries promptly and thoroughly. We had one glitch that was quickly resolved by Hakim and our driver, Mehdi. I have traveled frequently and to most continents. Mehdi is probably the best driver I have ever had. His knowledge of English was excellent. He was prompt, cheerful, kept the car clean, a careful competent driver. He was accommodating to all our needs including driving us to restaurants and picking us up after our dinners. Mehdi would definitely get 6 stars if I could give 6 stars. I would gladly travel with Kim Kim again...provided they used Mehdi as our driver.
Morocco is a fascinating country and we felt we had an excellent exposure to its culture and beauty. Our local guides were knowledgeable and thoughtful. Altogether a fabulous trip at a reasonable price. Highly recommend Kim Kim and "The Imperial Cities of Morocco. Peggy Berlin

I had great difficulty with the first local specialist assigned to book my trip. I did complain and KimKim Travel assigned Oleksandra to take her place. Once Oleksandra took over, everything was perfect. She went way out of her way to be helpful. She has a lot of experience and this was apparent in the ease of working with her. She anticipating what I would need before I even asked. I wanted to rent a car to drive in both Argentina and Chile. She arranged this and everything with the car went as planned. You need to have quite the array of paperwork in order to cross the borders. I saw other foreigners at the border crossings who did not have the required paperwork and they were not successful in crossing the border. Oleksandra continued to work with me during my trip. She was amazing to work with.

We are a group of 6 – (3 couples) – who wished to squeeze in a 5-day trip to Morocco – an opportunity that was not to be missed during our travels in Spain and Portugal. Sharon put together a great package in northern Morocco that truly was an immersion in the Moroccan culture. A short 1-hour ferry ride from Tarifa port in Spain took us to Tangier, and in each location – Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Fez – we stayed in the ancient part of the city and our overnight accommodations were in converted homes of wealthy families. Clean, basic, and functional rooms that fit our budget. We were amazed at the size, beauty, and facilities of these homes once you were inside – including rooftop and garden decks - from the street or laneway the access is an unassuming door or gate!
From pickup to drop-off at the port, we were transported in a newish and comfortable Renault 9-passenger van by a very pleasant driver – Abdol – who had good English language abilities and could not have been more helpful in ensuring our comfort and answering our many questions.
Hands down the best tour guide that we experienced was Said - educated in New York and spoke perfect English. Said took us on a tour of the ancient city of Fez – including the famous tanneries, the mosque, and the massive medina (market). So interesting with all the cultural texture and historical facts that Said provided along the way.
Throughout the process, we cannot say enough about Sharon. The tour was efficiently arranged and within our desired budget. She was so responsive when we contacted her with questions, and her answers were clear and informative. Even a last-minute change to a different riad than had been first booked was handled smoothly.
We are so pleased we experienced this amazing destination, and we would highly recommend Morocco Immersion Tours & Adventures to anyone planning a trip there.

We had the most incredible time in Egypt and Jordan! KimKim made the trip super easy and super safe for us! We had a private tour guide and driver in each city and even people to help us in each airport location to make sure we had the appropriate documents needed. The KimKim Team was super responsive and worked with us to plan the perfect trip for us! We had the best tour guides throughout the trip, it started with Shade in Jordan! He was always on time, very knowledgeable of the area and took great care of us! We also had an amazing guide in Cairo, Khaled, he was extremely knowledgeable and answered our many questions about Cairo! Lastly, during our Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor our guide, Ahmed, was incredible! He traveled with us and made the trip especially fun! He joined in the boat festivities, made sure we were able to see everything we wanted to at each stop and coordinated everything needed for each tour. He was extremely knowledgeable but also a great photographer and helped us add on a few additional things to make our trip complete, like a hot air balloon ride. We really enjoyed getting to know him, he took great care of us while on the Nile cruise. Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend KimKim and the trip to Egypt and Jordan, I was blown away by the history, knowledge and people. KimKim was super professional, responsive, and accommodating! They made our trip easy with the guides and drivers taking great care of us.

Activity Reviews

Wadi Rum - Amman - Cairo

Wadi Rum

Having someone meet us in the airport as we arrived in Cairo was super helpful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Shade was awesome!

Transport

Aswan

Aswan

Aswan was cool to see, the boat ride was fun to get to the temple! Would recommend seeing it! Ahmed was very knowledgeable!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Edfu temple & Luxor temple and Karnak temple

Egypt

Luxor was a highlight as well! The city is so pretty and very clean! Ahmed did an awesome job and was very knowledgeable!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ahmed I would highly recommend!

Transport

Visit The west Bank and transfer to Hurghada

Egypt

The Valley of the Kings was really cool to see! We also added on a hot air balloon ride that was amazing, would recommend it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ahmed was awesome!

Transport

Boat trip

Hurghada

Had an awesome time snorkeling, the guides did a great job of finding the best spots!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Petra

Petra

The Jeep tour through Wadi Rum was a really fun part of the trip, would highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Abu Simbel temple and Kom Ombo temple

Aswan

Although a long drive, this temple was one of my favorite things I saw. Very much worth the extra drive, incredible to see. Ahmed was very knowledgeable!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ahmed was awesome!

Transport

Pyramids - Museum - Old Cairo

Cairo

Seeing Cairo is a must do as well! The Pyramids and Museum are breathtaking and full of history. They were even more incredible than I could have imagined. Khaled was a great tour guide, highly recommend him!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Khaled was super knowledgeable and did an incredible job!

Transport

AMMAN /PETRA

Petra

We had an amazing tour guide in Petra who was super knowledgeable and spoke great English! Petra was truly incredible and breathtaking to see, it is a must see. I have never seen anything like it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Shade and our tour guide in Petra were amazing!

Transport

Shade was awesome!

Incorporated motorsports interest that I had with a rental car experience + a circuit experience at Paul Ricard.
All places that were mentioned of interest were incorporated into the trip plan.

Hotel Reviews

Residhome Nice Promenade

Nice

Large space, good location a street away from beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

Safe, clean, decent breakfast, good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Monaco Day Trip via Èze & La Turbie with Optional Beach Time

France

A little short for time in Monaco.

Circuit Experience : Ferrari F8 Tributo (6 laps)

Nice

A little short, but good. Was mistaken that it was the big circuit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great cars and instructors

Steve our guide for blue mountains was great very knowledgeable and friendly
John who guided us to 12 apostles was funny, native of area with a wealth of info.
Milford Sound was a must see experience
Glow worms cave was my favorite, our guide was great grandson to one of the first guides. Excellent!
Maori experience was top notch.
Skipper Chris was also great guide on Whale & dolphin safari.
Christine at KimKim is excellent, experience and did a great job matching are desires and accommodations.

We 100% recommend this service and Christine.

Jeanette Ramsey

Beatriz and her team did an amazing job organizing our Gems of Southern Spain and Lisbon trip and was extremely responsive both before and during the trip when we needed help. She quickly grasped during the planning stage the type of accommodation we preferred and understood the type of activities we enjoy. The trip exceeded our expectations which were high!

I have never used a travel agent before so I was unsure about how to get everything started, plus with all the scams it made it a little nerve racking because of the amount of money your spending you don’t want to get ripped off. Jesus took charge and planed an outstanding trip!!! I had 6 places I wanted to see and it was planned so well that I was never not informed about the things we were doing or what was going to happen the next day. There was never a time that I was waiting on anyone or anything!!! Jesus did everything he said he would do and he always made sure the guest had everything they needed!!! If it’s your first time planning a trip or you would like to have a hassle free trip…. Call and ask for Jesus!!!

Our trip to Jordan and Egypt was fantastic. The guides and drivers were very organized, knowledgeable and on time. We felt very safe and had a blast. We would highly recommend this trip to anyone. Thank you to Kimkim, Shade, Ahmut, Khaled, Mahmoud, and all the others who made it such a wonderful and memorable experience!

This was a relatively last minute trip to Italy for us, otherwise, I would have planned it myself. Based on this experience, I doubt I can trust a travel agent again.
While responsive, the planning experience was painful. It was like pulling teeth to get details on the trip, especially excursions. Example: You will be on an all day trip, leaving at 7 am, will have lunch and will return late that night. How long will it take to get there, how long will we be at each stop, what will we be doing, any free time, when eat dinner, etc.
When I initially discussed hotel preferences, my only request was we needed a bed to accommodate by 6'4" husband (and I'm 5'8/9". First hotel in Rome, his feet were hanging off the end of our Double bed by an easy foot and 1/2. The room was so small I had to hunch over to get by the bed or scrap my back against the TV. It was an unpleasant four nights. With that said, the location was excellent and the breakfast was good. In addition, Kim Kim made it up to us by making a tour in Venice private & ensured we had a King bed at our next two spots.
The location in Florence was poor - simply too far away with no uber/taxi options. Fortunately, the Venice hotel was changed and this location was excellent as well.
There was a real lack of consideration with the tours as well - who schedules a 4 hour Vatican tour and a 3 hour Coliseum tour back to back in the same day? It was miserable.
Who schedules an all day tour for EARLY morning knowing they also scheduled your all day tour the day before that did not arrive back until LATE at night?
What was excellent was the transportation that was arranged and the Kim Kim CEO follow up (when needed) during our trip, that was a very nice surprise and bonus so, thank you very much.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ala

Venice

Great location. Annoyed the front desk failed to tell us there was a full breakfast at the main location while we ate fruit and bread at the secondary location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fortezza Florence

Florence

Great hotel, just was not a fan of the location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Al Manthia Hotel

Rome

Wonderful location and excellent breakfast. Room was uncomfortably small.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

warning on small room for big people!

Activity Reviews

Best of Venice tour: Murano Island & Guided Walking Tour with St. Mark's Basilica

Venice

This was one of our favorite tours, outside of our Rome Food Tour and Amalfi Coast/Pompeii Tour. The guide was EXCELLENT - what a wonderful way to learn about Venice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cinque Terre Day Trip From Florence

Florence

While a great experience - it was very rushed! It would have been nice to know what to expect before the tour started. Rushing between the 4 locations made the day hectic and provided no time to relax and enjoy the environment. The group was entirely too big and having to listen to the Tour Guide repeat everything in two languages wasted more of our time. Could have been more efficient and eliminate a stop. With this said, the guide did an excellent job with the limitations she had.

Quality of Experience

Food

While food was good - you could tell we were part of a "burn and churn" discount group meal. Were not greeted by anyone from the restaurant, food just tossed on the table (not sure what were eating), no refills, had to get own oil for bread, disappointing experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome in a Day Tour with Vatican, Colosseum & Historic Center

Rome

Personally do not think many people need a 4 hour tour of the Vatican. What made this worse was it was followed by the 3 hour Colosseum tour. Two other couples were on the same tour and everyone was miserable. While all the sights are magnificent, just too much walking and overkill of information. We tried to leave the Vatican tour early and guide became upset and "made" us stay. Another party went to the bathroom during the Colosseum tour and the guide "went off" on the person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There was none!

Tuscany day trip: Siena & San Gimignano (Regular Tour)

Florence

This was a wonderful tour and the guides were great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My sisters and I LOVED our trip to Jordan and Egypt! Everyone that we worked with through KimKim and while abroad was professional, prompt, and very kind. Our trip was tailored to our needs and we felt that we saw everything we wanted to see and more. Our drivers and tour guides while abroad were phenomenal and we never felt unsafe. I would absolutely recommend KimKim to anyone who wants to see Egypt, Jordan, or anywhere else for an affordable price!

Activity Reviews

Visit Abu Simbel temple and Kom Ombo temple

Aswan

Abu Simbel was unbelievable!!! So worth the long drive!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aswan

Aswan

Our tour guide, Ahmed, was incredible!! Very knowledgeable and so fun and easy to be around. He was our guide for 3 days while on the Nile cruise and we really felt that he was looking out for us and giving us the best of Egypt. He also recommended some great add on tours that we really really enjoyed! Thank you so much, Ahmed!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pyramids - Museum - Old Cairo

Cairo

Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and helpful! The pyramids were breathtaking!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

AMMAN /PETRA

Petra

Petra was one of the most incredible places I have ever been. Our driver while in Jordan, Shade, was so nice and accommodating. We loved him and our tour guide in Petra!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Iceland was our first trip with Kim Kim and we have already recommended both (Iceland and Kim Kim) to friends.

Emanuela Grieco was fabulous to work with. She developed a trip itinerary that checked all of the boxes for things I wanted to see and do in Iceland. Her expertise was invaluable in knowing what were the not-to-miss sights and experiences as well as what might not be worth our time or further driving distance. Some of our favorite things were hiking Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Skogafoss and the trail that starts above it to so many beautiful waterfalls, and up along the river to Hengifoss.

Our accommodations were exactly what we had asked for and Emanuela planned our itinerary for the perfect driving distance between each stop so there was time to enjoy the sights and relax in the evenings. We loved her restaurant recommendations from elegant dining in unexpected places (Narfeyrarstofa in Stykkisholmar) to casual, non-touristy breweries (Ölverk in Selfoss).

We also truly appreciated that Emanuela was looking out for us during our trip. At one point a big storm was headed to Iceland and Emanuela got in touch to make sure we knew to headed to our next destination early, before the Ring Road was closed. She managed a couple of tours that were canceled because of the storm and made sure we were refunded - no extra work for us. With her guidance we were safe and sound!

Activity Reviews

Vatnshellir Lava Cave Experience

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Driving around Iceland you see plenty of lava fields but seeing what lava does underground is amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Silfra Snorkeling Adventure with Transport

Reykjavík

Silfra Snorkeling was one of the most unique experiences of our trip. The water was so blue, so clear and so cold! But the equipment kept us comfortable and we have a great story to tell!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Top notch!
We went to Costa Rica for 6 nights, no hiccups, everything was great. The local tour guides were aways helpful and friendly. Kimkim chose great companies to work with.
The activities we did always met and surpassed our expectations.

P.S. if you fly into Liberia, I would recommend using Adobe car rental, they are super friendly and have a shuttle from the airport to their HQ. When you walk out of the airport you will be greeted by your shuttle driver holding a Adobe sign.
Don't pay attention to any other companies there or anyone in the airport.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Pasatiempo

Tamarindo

Hotel Kokoro Mineral Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Activity Reviews

Snorkeling at the Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

Rincón de la Vieja Full Day with Hot Springs Visits

Gulf of Papagayo

Catamaran Sailing Adventure with Barbecue

Costa Rica

Sloth Discovery Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese

Arenal/La Fortuna

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Coffee & Chocolate Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

Roberto was such a great guide. He was able to adapt to our needs and he was so passionate about Croatia. He took us into places on the ways to ones we knew about as it would be so interesting. His historical knowledge was excellent and he loved to tell us about it. He chose such a great selection of accommodations and all the breakfast's provided were very good. It is hard to choose one place but some of the places I loved was Hum, Montovo, Porec and Plitvice Park. Oh the Pula and the amphitheatre. If we were to do the same trip again I would make it 2 days more as sometimes to see all we asked to see the time in the car was long and we got into places late. I would highly recommend Roberto to any of my friends.

Additional comments : Robi shared his extensive knowledge of the history, culture, architecture and politics enthusiastically. His love of Croatia was contagious and we appreciated his insights and perspectives during our 7 day tour with him. He was flexible and was accommodating to our needs and interests. I highly recommend Robi for an enriching and enjoyable tour. (Jody)

We did so much in five days that my head is still spinning. The detailed plan, with driving directions and all confirmations and reservations made it possible to stay on schedule and see as much as we possibly could. Duncan worked with me to make changes as needed before the trip, including some last minute changes due to a traveller not being able to go with us. It all worked out with minimal stress for me. Duncan's expertise and knowledge of Iceland was invaluable, and resulted in a week packed with activities and no wasted time.

Iceland itself is an incredibly beautiful country, with dramatic, and at times otherworldly landscapes that have to be seen to fully appreciate. Waterfalls everywhere, history that goes back over a thousand years, and the "Fire and Ice" aspect make it a destination for anyone, but especially those who enjoy the outdoors. We bought new hiking boots for the trip and they were well used every day. We were cautioned that a fall (October) trip meant potentially mixed weather, and this trip didn't disappoint in that regard, but we got three nice days out of five, with one incredibly windy day, and one very rainy and cloudy day to round it out. We packed layers, with a good winter coat and rain pants to keep us warm and dry, and they worked. Our rainy day was just as full and fun as the others.

Must see spots from our trip and our perspective would include the lava fields at Fagradalsfjall. Parking area P2 is a short hike to the tip of the flow, and about a ten minute walk to the edge of the lava field where you can collect a sample for a souvenir and photo. If there's an active eruption (which there wasn't for us) it will take a much longer hike to see it, but this stop is easy. There are other trails that go farther to other parts of the valley and lava fields.

The Bridge Across the Continents is another quick and easy stop. There isn't much to it, but the impact of standing at the rift between two active tectonic plates is pretty impressive to contemplate, and it's fun to walk across the bridge from Eurasia to North America (and back).

The Blue Lagoon is a classic, and while more touristy than other hot springs, it is big and impressive, and warm and nice. I would recommend it for a final day activity to relax and unwind before flying home.

We spent the first night in Reykjavik and enjoyed the town. If seeing the city itself is on your list, then plan to spend one or two days there. It's a great town, and worth seeing, but we had a quick afternoon before dinner and bed and then on to the next day's adventures.

Whale watching at Reykjavik harbor was fun and easy, and we got to see whales! Several white nosed dolphins, four Minke whales, and two Humpback whales. The boat is large and comfortable, with inside seating to keep you warm, as well as full weather suits so that you can go up on deck without freezing when it's cold outside. On deck is definitely the best experience, even if it's cold. Our crew did a great job of looking out for whales, and helping us all look in the right places to see them. The two humpbacks came up alongside the stern for photos, which was a real treat. Do be careful with the directions to the ticket office; there is more than one operator, with different locations at the harbor. You don't want to be at the wrong one and miss your boat. If you are heading out of town afterward and want a good burger for the road, I recommend the Plan-B burger place on Grandagarður street. Very tasty.

Þingvellir National Park was a great stop for us. The visitor center has a large area that shows the history of Þingvellir back to its use in the earliest days of Iceland's history as a place of government. You can easily spend an hour in the visitor center, and there's a lot of park outside of that, so plan your time accordingly. We took a hike to the waterfall and then back past Thingvallakirkja (church). There are many hiking trails that you can follow if you want to spend the day.

The Geysir geothermal area is small but a fun visit. It doesn't have to take much time, so it fits into the schedule pretty easily. There were two highlights for us; one was visiting the place where all geysers got their name (though that original Geysir is no longer active), and the other was the very active geyser that erupts on about a five to seven minute cycle, so you never have to wait long for a show. More for the "fire" list. We were scheduled to go to Gullfoss after Geysir, but we spent so much time in Thingvellir that we ran out of daylight, so that will have to be on the "come back for more" list.

Kerid crater is a good stop for a short hike. The crater adds to the "fire" checklist, and there is a hiking trail around the upper rim, as well as inside along the water's edge. The blue-green water is beautiful. It makes for another easy and impressive stop.

Waterfalls. What can I say? Each is different, and all of them are beautiful. Seljalandsfoss was especially fun to walk behind the falls. The climb to the top of Skógafoss is a steep and long one, but the view is impressive. On sunny days, when the sun is right, the spray from the falls creates a beautiful rainbow.

The black sand beaches are really impressive, and there are many to choose from. We stopped at Dyrhólaey, which has a few hiking trails, one leading to the ideal spot for a photo of the "door hole" arch. Just up the road from Dyrhólaey is Reynisfjara, which was a big hit with my son, who loved to explore the caves and climb on the rocks. The scenery is dramatic, so be ready with a camera, but stay clear of the waves and be aware; the surf is dangerous and bitterly cold. Don't mess with it.

Vik is a charming little town on the south coast. We didn't have time to explore but it would be worth going back to. In Vik there is a "Lava Show" where they melt lava rock and black sand in a furnace and then pour it down a sloping display in front of the crowd. The heat and sound and sight is really amazing, as is the information provided by the guide who runs the show. You learn a lot about lava, how it forms, how it flows, as well as some local history about the nearby Katla volcano and the glacier that covers it. We enjoyed the show a lot. There is a nice little cafe outside of the theater where you can have lunch. They have some really great soups and light sandwiches.

Further east is Jökulsárlón, where icebergs break off from Vatnajokull (say "vat-na yokurk" and you'll sound like a local) glacier and float out to sea past the "Diamond Beach". There are lots of icebergs to see, as well as some harbor seals swimming among them. You don't need to go out on a boat to enjoy the bay, but we took the amphibian boat tour, which was fun just for the amphibious boat, but also for the informative tour and ability to get closer to the icebergs. The tour guide did a nice job of presenting information about Jökulsárlón and Vatnajokull. It was interesting and a pleasant half hour tour. There are also tours that go out on smaller, faster, inflatable boats.

On the beach side of the road is "Diamond Beach" where pieces of ice from Jökulsárlón wash up on shore and sit on the black sand like diamonds in the sun. It is very pretty and you can get some nice photos, but be aware that, like Reynisfjara, and other popular places, it can be crowded, so you will probably not get that "lonely beach" photo.

Further east was our easternmost stop, for the Crystal Blue Ice Cave tour under the Breidamerkurjokull glacier. The tour begins with a ride in a large off road capable van, which carries you down a bumpy, twisty, though flat, "F road" for about a half hour to a parking area where you then hike across the glacial moraine to the foot of the glacier. The walk is about twenty minutes and is not difficult, though the path is not paved. The view of the landscape is dramatic and enjoyable in and of itself. Our tour guide Andrea was a wonderful resource, providing history, and natural science information about the glacier and its moraine valley. Once at the glacier it's similar to entering any cave, but this one is made of ice. The color and shapes were spectacular. The cave is large, and although there were a fair number of people there from multiple tours, there was plenty of room. Again, be aware that you aren't likely to get a photo without people in it. This tour was one of the real highlights of our trip. The folks at GlacierAdventure.is were great and provided a very memorable experience. If you've worked up an appetite on your tour, there is a restaurant just across from their office that serves Icelandic dishes. "Ice theme"; check, check, and check.

Along the ring road is Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, which was formed by a glacial lake that overflowed and cut the canyon long ago. It is deep and dramatic with a waterfall down one side. It doesn't take long to see it, and is a nice stop that won't take all day.

Back toward the west the "Lava Tunnel tour" is a cave tour of a lava tube that formed during an eruption long ago. If you have toured a cave before, this one is nothing unexpected, and in some ways less dramatic. There are no stalactites or stalagmites, but there are basalt formations and some mineral colors on the walls and ceiling that are unique to the lava tube. What makes this tour interesting is understanding how the tube was formed and seeing how the lava created the structures that cover the walls and ceiling. This tour isn't long, and it's not too far off the main road, so it would fit into a busy day without too much time taken. If you've seen other caves, and don't have a lot of time, this might be one to skip. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't give up a glacier tour or famous waterfall for it.

Iceland is a spectacular country; from the mountain climbing sheep to the volcanos, and glaciers, it is dramatically beautiful and full of surprises. My advice is to pack well for all types of weather because you are likely to see them all. Bring rain suits or a waterproof coat and rain pants. Waterproof hiking boots are a must. Most of all bring an adventurous spirit because this place has a lot to offer and it's almost all outdoors. Make sure that you pay attention to the cautions and advice about driving; there are some "gotchas" like the gasoline pump handle being green and the Diesel handle being black. Don't mess that one up. Make sure that your cell phone works in Iceland for voice as well as data. Mine (Verizon) worked fine for text and data, but was hit and miss for voice calls. Food was a question in my mind, especially in some of the less built up areas, but in general it's not hard to find something to eat, and as long as you are flexible, you will not go hungry.

October in Iceland was beautiful and amazing. We need to come back to see the summer, hopefully very soon.

Thanks to Duncan and kimkim for the excellent trip plan and coordination. It made getting the most out of our time so much easier. I have a memory with my sons that none of us will forget.

Hotel Reviews

Eldey Airport Hotel

Reykjanesbær

Eldey is nothing fancy, but it is very convenient for staging prior to a departure the next morning. The rooms were simple and comfortable. There was a continental buffet breakfast in the morning, which helped get everyone going before heading out to our flight.

Authenticity & Character

It's just a hotel. No special theme, none needed. It doesn't have "character", but it was a nice stay.

Location

Right on the airport, it's a ten minute drive to the terminal.

Staff

Very friendly staff. The woman at the reservation desk gave us an excellent recommendation for a restaurant for dinner.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable rooms. Nothing fancy, but they did the job. The rooms have very large closets and a counter with a sink that suggests maybe longer stays would be suited to it, though I'm not sure why you would do so in this area.

Hotel Laki

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Hotel Laki is an interesting mix for me. The location is stunning, with scenic countryside all around. The hotel itself presents well in the exterior and public areas. The restaurant, though a bit expensive, is nice and puts on a great buffet for dinner and breakfast (maybe lunch too?). There is a roof terrace that has a beautiful view, and is a great place to view the northern lights at night (if they cooperate). The surprise that cost them a star was the corridors and interior of the rooms. Both were clean and in good condition, but the decor was what I'd describe as "cell block chic", with plain, undecorated surfaces, and steel doors with turn-key deadbolts. It gave the impression of being fairly old, but maintained reasonably well, though it could definitely use an update. The rooms were compact but perfectly comfortable and clean. I would stay there again, but not if I was trying to impress a traveling companion. Any shortcomings were more than made up for by "Lady", a delightful Border Colley puppy (ca 2022) who met us in the front yard and invited us to play "fetch the stick", which of course we did.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms and corridors need a make-over.

Location

Very convenient location between Vik and the more eastern glacier areas.

Staff

Nice, friendly, and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and working.

Blue Hotel Fagrilundur

Bláskógabyggd

The hotel is right on the Golden Circle, which makes it a good stop. The check-in area has a sort of family feel, while the separate building with the rooms is more like a traditional hotel. Breakfast in the morning is a continental buffet as at most places, and it was good. They have hot tubs out back in the evening to relax in.

Authenticity & Character

The layout of the hotel was different, the rooms were simple and nice. It was just a pleasant place.

Location

Right on the Golden Circle. Very convenient. There is a nice restaurant "Restaurant Mica" right next door. It was very good, with a varied menu. Note that this is the only restaurant in the area, so be prepared. They're open for lunch and dinner. There was a 1 hour wait for dinner when we dropped in unannounced. Not a problem for us, but it pushed bedtime back a little.

Staff

Very friendly, helpful and nice people. Everyone in Iceland is nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room With A View Apartment Hotel

Reykjavík

This hotel is downtown on one of the main shopping streets. The location is very good for someone staying to see the city for a day or two. The rooms are nice, with a European style. The restaurant for breakfast was great. You'll want to figure out where to park in advance since there is no parking associated with the hotel itself. Street parking is available if you can find a spot, and there is a parking lot not far away but you don't want to be searching at the last minute.

Authenticity & Character

The decor was nice, it was contemporary European style, which fit the area.

Location

Right in the shopping district.

Staff

Friendly staff, especially at the restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable beds, everything was clean and working as expected.

Activity Reviews

Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion

Reykjavík

This was a great activity. The boat and crew were wonderful, with constant communication about what we were seeing outside, where to look for whales, and dolphins, etc. There was a large indoor cabin where you could stay dry and warm, and they provided cold weather coveralls so that you could go out on deck without getting too cold. Being on deck was the best place to be for seeing the wildlife. We got to see several Minke whales, two Humpback whales who came alongside for close up pictures, and many white nosed dolphins and countless sea birds.

Quality of Experience

The great crew kept us informed and entertained. There was a place inside to get snacks and things to drink. The boat was large and comfortable. We got to see whales!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent staff. They were constantly working to help us find whales and other things to see.

Transport

We drove ourselves. If a tour operator takes you there, it's no fuss, but otherwise you have to find your own parking and then walk over to the ticket office.

Lava Tunnel Activity

Iceland

This was an interesting and fun stop. Anyone who has gone on a cave tour will recognize this, however unlike a "normal" cave, the geology of the lava tunnel is very different. For example there are no stalagmites or stalactites, but there are basalt formations and colors created by the minerals deposited by the lava as it flowed through. I would say that this tunnel is not as visually dramatic as a lot of traditional limestone caves, but I found that the reality of what it is, a tube that lava flowed through and formed, was really special.

Quality of Experience

Different, educational, unusual type of cave to see and experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a great personality. The staff was very friendly and extremely helpful, even accommodating a change in tour times for us.

Transport

We drove there ourselves. It was easy to find the location, there was adequate parking, and the ticket office is right at the entrance to the lava tunnel.

Crystal Blue Ice Cave

Iceland

Wow. This was my favorite activity of our trip. From the bumpy van ride to the parking area to the hike through the glacial moraine valley to get to the cave, just getting there was an adventure. The cave itself is beautiful and dramatic. Large enough to have many areas to see and photograph. I consider this a unique experience. There aren't many places where you can explore underneath a glacier.

Quality of Experience

Magnificent scenery to and from the cave, and the absolutely beautiful cave itself. The whole trip was an adventure.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Andrea, was excellent. She was engaging, and knew the area well, providing history, science, and climatological information all along the way, as well as being a great driver and entertainer.

Transport

The ride to the parking area was an adventure in and of itself. Some will disagree because it is very bumpy and twisty, but it's clear that you are going somewhere off the beaten path!

Icelandic Lava Show

Iceland

I really enjoyed this presentation. They have a great presentation where the presenter talks about the types of lava, how it forms and flows, the geology of the local area and the huge Katla volcano that sits under a glacier just outside of town, complete with a story from the last eruption in the early 20th century. The lava show itself is impressive. The heat and sound and bright glow of the lava as it flows out is very cool. The presenter does a great job of helping the audience learn about the nature and behavior of lava. It's a great activity, especially on a rainy day.

Quality of Experience

It was dramatic, beautiful, and educational.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our presenter was very knowledgeable, and had a great sense of humor and personality. He gave us a great show.

Transport

We drove ourselves. Finding the place was easy, and there was plenty of parking available.

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

This is probably the most "touristy" thing we did on our visit, but it's almost required. They have a kind of spa theme now, that has been added since I was last there many years ago, but it is still warm and wonderful to soak in the water while the cold Icelandic air swirls around.

Quality of Experience

Well organized and easy to get in and out. Everything was clean, the water was wonderful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helpful, friendly.

Transport

We drove ourselves there. Parking was close and sufficient. It's easy to find the entrance.

From the get go Ngima instilled confidence with his prompt replies to my questions during the initial planning stages. We had limited time and wanted to fit in as much as possible without having to worry about transport and transfers from one destination to the next. The Poon Hill trek was memorable, not least because our guide Dafuri and porter, Ngima had the best sense of humour and kept us going by gauging our ability perfectly and taking care to make sure that we were safe and comfortable at all times. We also spent the evenings teaching each other card games and we had a lot of fun. Our driver from Pokhara back to Kathmandu via Bandipur, drove with skill and patience through monsoon rain, landslides and festival traffic. We always felt safe despite some tricky conditions and were able to enjoy the amazing sights and scenery along the way. Everyone we met contributed to a memorable experience and knowing someone always had our backs meant we could just enjoy the trip and appreciate Nepal to the fullest.

Activity Review

Trek from Ghorepani to Tadapani (8,562 feet / 2,610 m), Sunrise at Poon Hill

Nepal

Definitely the highlight. The climb of the previous day was challenging and the extra trek uphill to see the sunrise seemed never ending but it was so worth it. The cup of coffee at the top probably one of the best ever and the views just breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First of all, Bryan was an amazing help in discussing our travel ideas and after confirming everything, he made an awesome job of scheduling the full holiday.

Every accommodation, activity, guide, travel, etc was smooth and punctual. The only thing we had to do was follow the itinerary and enjoy ourselves.

There were several times when arriving at the new accommodation, the guides were already there waiting for us, so we could go immediately if we feel like it, for example, the river tubing in Bijagua. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of our river tubing guide, but he was a really informative, friendly and good guide who made sure we enjoy the river tubing and hiking with him in Bijagua. The Casitas Tenorio B&B in Bijagua was a beautiful and calm resting place for us in the middle of our trip, where we could even spot howler monkeys a few meters away.

One of the most beautiful, calm and nature surrounded and favourite place we stayed at was the Caribbean side, the Congo Bongo EcoVillage Costa Rica in Puerto Viejo - Manzanillo. Here, you feel like you are inside the jungle, with monkeys above the house, with raccoons trying to steal your food remains in the night and hummingbirds buzzing and flying around you (less than a meter away) while you are chilling on the porch and sipping your coffee. It is beautiful.

In La Fortuna, I would strongly recommend that you would stay in the Tabacón Thermal Resort and Spa. While it is really not the cheapest (however not the most expensive either), it gives you a transcendental experience. Here, you will not have any other task just to unwind and relax. They are making sure you will have a perfect time there and nothing to worry about. I would really like to go back there, even if the level of pampering there were so new to me that I was sometimes a bit flustered. :)
I would like to mention two people from Tabacón who were extra friendly and helpful. Diego was one of the chefs (at least at the breakfasts) who made sure that you had everything you wanted, and was willing to go the extra mile to make something for you if you had any wishes.
The other person was Diane, who was the most friendly and cute person we ever had the chance to talk with. She was a joy to speak with. (most of the time she was in charge of greeting and sitting the people at the restaurant reception)

In Monteverde, while the accommodation we selected was nothing special (and even had some struggles to change rooms because the rooms randomly don't have safes), the area is wonderful and filled with animals. The coffee and chocolate tour with the Don Juan Tours was really informative and our guide was one of the funniest on the whole trip, always cracking us up. The next day, in Sky Adventures park, we had two really good guides. The hike in the park was really informative and after that I really enjoyed the Arboreal tree climbing experience. It was challenging and rewarding at the same time and had just enough trees to enjoy it.

And for last but not least, we visited Manuel Antonio and stayed in the Tico Tico Villa which was an another amazing and relaxing experience. It is just a small but well equipped nice apartment with swimming pool, BBQ and etc, meanwhile scarlet macaws are flying above you, iguanas relaxing on the porch, capuchin monkeys are travelling on the trees. The owner is the loveliest person we have met on the trip. This place in details was nothing special, however I would really recommend it because overall it is a beautiful and relaxing experience after travelling through the country.
In Manuel Antonio we went to kayaking in the Damas'Island mangrove forest which is a really nice, relaxing and unwinding experience where Emese even realised how much she likes kayaking.
The next morning, we went to the Manuel Antonio national park with Adrian from Paddle 9, who was one of our favourite guide. He was informative, friendly and helpful and through him, we could get to know a lot not just about nature but Costa Rica too. Later on the same day we had another trip with Paddle 9, however it was less successful. While the activity would have been perfect, unfortunately trying to learn to do Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP) on the ocean is not beginner friendly. Unfortunately our guide misjudged our level and we went to a shore where the waves were over our levels and had to cancel our activity, but I have to mention that they really did their best to let us hike out of that bay through the forest the safest and easiest. As a summary of this activity, it is a good fun, but be sure you are not a total beginner or if you are, you are a confident swimmer in a really good shape.

And for the end, I would like to thank Bryan and the Serendipity Adventures team again for their efforts to make sure we enjoyed this trip. Be it organising everything, giving us travel updates about larger road closures or trying to get back our lost belongings, they always did their best and we are really happy to recommend them. Thank you very much. This 19 days and 1500km round trip was a really amazing holiday.

Overall we were very pleased. Yuri provided the guidance we expected and fulfilled our experience. The trip was great.
Pickup at the airport was a little disorganized but then which airport isn’t. Checkin was good but had to wait for our room. After 15 hours in airports this was unfortunate but again not surprised.
Tour of the Familia Sagrada was great. Danny was informative and helpful. What a place!
Wine tour was also great. We’ve been on many but this one was more informative and extensive. Plus portion size was large compared to North American wineries.
Montserrat was good but did have it’s issues. Many unavoidable but it still made the day a little rushed. Our guides Matteo and Roger did what they could to alleviate the delays however it did take away from some of the attractions we wanted to do.
Overall though Barcelona is a beautiful, clean and friendly city. Costa Brava is also a beautiful area with much to see and do. Slightly off season definitely helped us enjoy our time.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Aigua Blava

Costa Brava · Girona

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little complicated to get their

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Astoria

Barcelona

Well located. Walking distance to many attractions or alternatively the metro was two blocks away. Service was friendly, rooms clean and typical European size. Would stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Extended Visit to Sagrada Família

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff