Francesca Stoppani
Hi everyone! I am a northern culture enthusiast and specialist. I have studied and worked in most Nordic and Scandinavian countries where I trained as a linguist and political scientist.
Traveling and living in the North is the spice that makes my life more balanced.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"I specialize in the northern destinations and Scandinavia. Mostly Iceland, Finland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Greenland."
How did you get involved in travel?
"I started off working as a tour leader in Norway during the Summer. Mostly involved with French and Italian groups, I occasionally guided multinational visitors. I am a northern lights hunter, nature whisperer and a greedy consumer of culture and art."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"I have traveled to Greenland for one month to attend a language course in the capital, Nuuk. I was invited there to a baptism where I tasted narwhal meat for the first time!"
Featured trips & expertise
7 Days in Iceland - 7 Unique Itinerary Ideas
A full week in Iceland is an ideal amount of time to explore three regions. In the itineraries below, explore the classic Golden Circle and South Coast stops, or venture to lesser-known areas like the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Arctic Coast, and the Westman Islands. For adventurous hikers, the multi-day Laugavegur Trek offers an incredible outdoor experience, while winter travelers can enjoy an entirely different side of the country, complete with seasonal activities and snowy scenery. Read on for more 7-day trip inspiration.
5 Best Things to Do in Iceland
Dubbed the Land of Ice and Fire, Iceland is a delight for all of your senses, from the deep chill of the air to the smoky smell of the volcanoes to the sights and sounds of the country’s most famous tourist attraction, the Northern Lights. Iceland is a bucket list destination for travelers from all around the world. Here are some Icelandic experiences you won’t want to miss.
Best of West Iceland & Scenic Westfjords - 10 Days
Enjoy the best of Western Iceland and the Westfjords on this 10-day summer adventure. Escape the crowds of the South Coast and Golden Circle area at their peak, when accommodations can be hard to secure. Instead, discover more remote areas of the country, while still experiencing the magnificence of this stunning country. Visit black-sand beaches and fishing towns in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, incredible cliffs in Patreksfjörður, delicious, fresh seafood in Isafjordur, plenty of scenic hikes in the remote Westfjords, and more.
2 Weeks in Iceland - 2 Unique Itinerary Ideas
Glaciers, waterfalls, and wildlife like you've never seen: fourteen days is plenty of time to experience Iceland beyond what you'll find in any guidebook—both on and off the beaten path. Here are two itineraries that make the most of two weeks in the Land of Fire and Ice.
Recent trip reviews for Francesca
Five Stars is Not Enough
Iceland
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Dec 17 - Dec 23, 2022
I cannot speak highly enough of the team at kimkim based in Iceland. During the planning phase, Francesca was highly communicative, accommodating, and responsive. Then, when we arrived in the midst of a blizzard and subsequent wind storm that forced all roads to close for 24+ hours, Sigurour was a godsend, helping us cancel and book and rebook and reroute all of the planned activities and hotel reservations that had to be changed without warning. He advised us on when and where to go, what to... read more
Thank you so much Hannah for keeping up a good spirit with a poorly behaved weather and thanks a lot for your kind words!
The best possible adventure.
Iceland
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Sep 7 - Sep 15, 2022
Francesca was incredible! She took our likes, dislikes, dietary restrictions, etc. into account and had incredible recommendations; she worked with us to make sure we had the best possible hotels for our budget, too. We had a minor hiccup when our plane couldn't land (weather at Keflavik) and were delayed a day, and she helped us to get refunds and to adjust our trip so that we didn't miss anything. Every time we talk about Iceland, I recommend KimKim and Francesca. She is the best! read more
Wow, thank you so much Sabrina! It was a pleasure working with you :)
Thoughtful and cool plan
Iceland
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Aug 11 - Aug 21, 2022
Thoughtful and cool plan considering I made the decision to travel to Iceland only 2 months before read more
Appreciate the feedback, Mark!
Family of 5 trip to Iceland
Iceland
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Aug 5 - Aug 11, 2022
We had a week long trip along the southern part of Iceland and the golden circle. The process with KimKim was very efficient and the trip really was catered to our needs. Francesca was very helpful and knowledgeable. David from our ice cave tour was fabulous.
Thanks for the great review Dana!!
Organized ,Exciting and Free Spirited!!!
Iceland
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Aug 4 - Aug 12, 2022
Francesca put together the exact Itinerary that we had envisioned. We saw and experienced Icelands wonderful sights and experiences so easily with the guidance given by Francesca’s daily itinerary. The Lodging selected was in the perfect locations to complete the exciting days travels. read more
Hi Jennifer, thank you so much!!! Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip!
Francesca was great - good communication etc....
Iceland
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Jul 22 - Jul 29, 2022
Francesca was great - good communication etc.
Our car booked was too small- my son’s head was hitting the top of the car. Thankfully the car company was able to get us a little bit larger car- with the immense amount of driving that would have been a problem.
The teip was great- for the amount of time we were there I think the driving was way too much. That was everyone’s take away. The suggested stops foe sight seeing and hiking were fabulous- that really made our trip!
I think some things... read more
Hi Casie, many thanks for your positive words!! :) We'll strive for better communication concerning meals in the future. All the best!
-Fran
A fantastic Family Adventure
Iceland
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Jul 15 - Jul 22, 2022
The trip was the perfect mix of planned / ticketed excursions and self guided sightseeing. We ended up adding a few extras at our own leisure such as the lava show in ViK and a Puffin Tour in Reykjavik. One of my most favorite experiences was the Glacial hike near ViK. Our guide’s name was Gia and she was so fun and kept everyone safe and also motivated! My 11 year old son loved her too.
Of the two lagoons we visited the Sky Lagoon was by far our favorite. That was something we added... read more
Dear Lily, what a lovely review! It was a pleasure to build this trip together and I am glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you!
-Fran
The itinerary and accomodations perfectly mat...
Iceland
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Jul 8 - Jul 15, 2022
The itinerary and accommodations perfectly matched our requests. read more
Hello David, I am happy about your positive experience!! Welcome back to Iceland :)
Overall the trip was amazing!!!
Iceland
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Jul 9 - Jul 15, 2022
Overall the trip was amazing!!! It was very well planned. Fran did an extraordinary job!
Three recommendations:
Put the options places to visit at the beginning of the detailed daily itinerary. Sometimes we would finish a little early with the planned places and realize the optional places were back at our starting point.
We were very unprepared for the mountain hike. Due to weather it is absolutely a must for the right gear. We were not clear on that. We also didn’t get to the... read more
Hi Jon, thanks for the kind words. We will definitely take into account your feedback for future trip planning!
Planning a trip to Iceland? Hope you get Francesca :)
Iceland
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May 18 - Jun 2, 2022
My daughter and I just completed an epic 15 day tour of Iceland thanks to Francesca, our dedicated kimkim specialist.
Francesca delivered a flawless, personalized adventure that we will never forget.
As a seasoned traveler and past travel agent, I knew better than to try to curate this trip. I needed someone who knew where to go, how long it would take to get there, yet also have the insider information to direct us to off the beaten track sights and special gems.
Of the tour... read more
I am glad you've had a great trip - thanks for the kind words!
Iceland Ring Road trip May 2022
Iceland
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May 4 - May 10, 2022
Excellent trip planning from Fran. We enjoyed everything and the trip was seamless and easy to follow. My only concern is the price transparency. Hard to know what your getting is worthy of prices if you were booking alone. The price is all inclusive and you are not allowed to see receipts or know how much Kimkim is making for their services. read more
Thanks for your positive feedback Nancy and Darrell! We do full-package tours, hence no service-by-service price breakdown. You can see the price breakdown comprehensive of the kimkim-related fees from your booking. Looking forward to having you back in Iceland.