Kimkim Trip Reviews for Nepal

Tendu Sherpa and our equally wonderful Kathmandu in-town guide were both terrific. Professional, kind, knowledgeable. And, importantly, fun.

Tendu Sherpa, for example, went above and beyond to care for our experience starting with our flight into Lukha and on our winter "off-season" trek to Ama Dablam basecamp. He gave us the gift of a glimpse into the beautiful Sherpa community and culture, including guiding us through a Sherpa museum with a family prayer room, sharing stories of his... read more

Tendu Sherpa and our equally wonderful Kathmandu in-town guide were both terrific. Professional, kind, knowledgeable. And, importantly, fun.

Tendu Sherpa, for example, went above and beyond to care for our experience starting with our flight into Lukha and on our winter "off-season" trek to Ama Dablam basecamp. He gave us the gift of a glimpse into the beautiful Sherpa community and culture, including guiding us through a Sherpa museum with a family prayer room, sharing stories of his own family, and introducing us to extended family in Namche Bizar. In one beautiful and unexpected moment, our 12-year-old daughter had the chance to play and draw and laugh with 4-year-old girl, Ang Sherpa, and hear Ang Sherpa sing "Frozen".

We lucked out on the 6-day trek with blue skies and clear long views. We also got to visit schools, like the Hilary School, and monasteries.

Back in Kathmandu, we mountain biked and saw more OF the city and the local hills that we otherwise would have. In short, our trip was incredible. We felt safe, welcomed, supported and inspired throughout.

I was hesitant to book with an agency online and i was worried about who they would link us up with. I worried for NO reason! dealing with Kimkim to pay etc was easy and we had no issues.
Working with Sangita was WONDERFUL! Even before we paid she was going above and beyond to try and arrange things and help us feel secure in deciding to book with them. When we were not overly happy with one of the hotel suggestions and we wanted to suggest another trekking route she was straight on it to... read more

I was hesitant to book with an agency online and i was worried about who they would link us up with. I worried for NO reason! dealing with Kimkim to pay etc was easy and we had no issues.
Working with Sangita was WONDERFUL! Even before we paid she was going above and beyond to try and arrange things and help us feel secure in deciding to book with them. When we were not overly happy with one of the hotel suggestions and we wanted to suggest another trekking route she was straight on it to try and arrange a new plan.
We are a family of 4 with our girls being 15 and 16 years old.
Once we arrived in Nepal, Sangita was so helpful and kind. She made contact with us each step of the way. Each hotel and driver we had to deal with already knew about us and if they were late or needed to change the time she was calling them and then messaging us each step of the way.
We were greeted and welcomed to Nepal by Bipin and Kancha our trek guide on the first day which really helped set the tone for our whole trip.
Nepal is so different to anywhere we had travelled before and we wanted to soak up as much of it as we could so helping us that first day to get on the right foot was v welcome.
The drivers Sangita arranged were kind, respectful and safe.
The hotels were all clean, safe, great food and so welcoming.
Our whole experience with trekking was fantastic. Our guide Kancha was kind, understanding and informative. We made a new route half way thru our trip because it was more of what we wanted and it was perfect. Kancha made sure we were happy and coping each step of the way. Our daughter had a little medical incident straight away and he was as concerning as you would want when it comes to that sort of thing in a place you dont know. All was fine but I do feel if things were more serious we would have been in good hands.
Kancha brought 2 porters and i felt that both were treated with respect by our guide. Harka has the best laugh and he uses it often. Suma was probably bored with our pace as he normally runs the everest marathon in his off days. both were lovely and we felt all 3 made a truly wonderful asset to our trek.
if you want a lovely trek - do the muldai (mulde- take your pick of spelling ) trek via dobato vs poon hill... but you have to want off the beat track and much quieter tea houses - its not for the those that want luxuries along the way.
and if you want to laugh more than you have in ages then go rollerskating in pokhara...
for me i thought nepal was wonderful - my husband would agree, our 2 teenage daughters really loved their experience - i do honestly feel that all the support and personal interest that Sangita gave to us really helped with all those areas that often can be the stress in a holiday - and when you have 2 weeks and its all new. She was worth every single penny!

Hotel Reviews

Ramada Encore

Thamel

exactly what we needed - we wanted some place that was just like any western hotel we have stayed in before so those first 2 nights we could get our heads down and have a v good nights sleep. breakfast was good and the staff were so friendly we had food upstairs on the roof the first night. outstanding food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Guest House & Restaurant

Bandipur

the owners were kind and helpful as we needed but since we were the only people staying they didnt seem very interested overall we had a great breakfast and the rooms were clean the view from either side of the hotel is amazing the hotel is a slight walk to the main area of a town -

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Peninsula

Pokhara

the owner and manager is such a joy so try and get to meet him. he pointed us in the direction of anything we had questions about. he smiles very easily and he made every effort to make sure we were happy. the place is really big and open with huge rooms electrics are questionable but it had hot water for showers they are in the middle of building a huge new additional building - could be a v different place??

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Parkside

Chitwan , Narayani

the hotel arranges for the jungle treks etc all thru them. they have their own guide Banta - he was so kind and it was obvious he loved the animal aspect of his job. he was outstanding at sighting animals. thankfully he didnt show us any tigers but we saw plenty of prints in the dirt. we saw lots of animals and he did his best to point out everythign around us. when our daughters were scared he adjusted what we did so they felt better. the hotel has elephant and you can go say hello at any time. they might use it for safaris but we didnt want that the food was really good and the masala tea was the best i had in nepal. the chap that helped us each day (i can not remember his name off hand) was so lovely and professional and laughed with us the owners chatted to us and even showed us his rhino injury!! the rooms are big and comfortable bathrooms are tired but all are clean with nets over the beds

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oasis Kathmandu Hotel

Kathmandu

staff could not do enough for us. we had a room with 2 double beds which suited our family v well. v clean and comfortable with heat or air con easily v noisy due to its locations but i feel thats likely most places in thamel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trek Briefing

Kathmandu

exactly what we needed to get us set up for our whole two weeks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome Dinner

Kathmandu

food was fine but probably the poorest in quality compared to all we had in nepal ... the food overall is amazing so this was only ok. but the experience for Bipin to give us an introduction to the food and way of eating etc was educational. dancing was ok. we saw a better show in chitwan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

we walked

Trip Briefing. Evening Tharu Cultural Program

Chitwan National Park

ok i wondered if this would be a bit naff... but it was 45 mins and it was really interesting and they were really fun to watch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Jungle Activities in Chitwan

Chitwan National Park

this is the jeep safari - it felt safer than when we did the walk but you dont get to see as many animals i dont think its v cold in the jeep - in december i think its somethign you need to do but it was not as good as the walk - its better to do all options

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jungle Walk. Free time in Chitwan

Chitwan National Park

this is the canoe trip and the walkign tour - totally do the canoe trip its beautiful. the walking tour was so scary and yet also fantastic. i have no idea what you might see or not but it was really enjoyable and scary. our guides were lovely.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bhaktapur Tour

Kathmandu

a MUST do- and take bipin with if you can!! the city is beautiful !!!! but having bipin with us was such a bonus we learned so much that day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart Kathmandu

Kathmandu Int. Airport (KTM)

When we started to organize our trip until the very end was fantastic! Ngima organized our trip perfectly and when we met him we clicked immediately and became friends. He is really a great guy! Our guides for sightseeing Kathmandu and Pokhara were excellent, showing us every little detail and shared stories of both cities. Annapurna panorama trek was such unforgettable experience with beautiful sights and nature. We had great guide Angelo who took care of us as we are his family. Together... read more

When we started to organize our trip until the very end was fantastic! Ngima organized our trip perfectly and when we met him we clicked immediately and became friends. He is really a great guy! Our guides for sightseeing Kathmandu and Pokhara were excellent, showing us every little detail and shared stories of both cities. Annapurna panorama trek was such unforgettable experience with beautiful sights and nature. We had great guide Angelo who took care of us as we are his family. Together with the best porter with the most beautiful smile ever! Acconodation and food during trek were amazing. We will surely come again and will give our faith in Ngimas hands again!

Activity Reviews

Trek from Landruk to Ghandruk (6,365 feet / 1,940 m)

Nepal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Kathmandu

Kathmandu Int. Airport (KTM)

Ngima waited for us and welcomed us! Felt really welcomed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kathmandu Sightseeing tour to Boudhanath, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Pashupatinath

Kathmandu

Guide and driver fantastic! Talked a lot! Find some great stuff about Kathmandu and Nepal!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Drive to Astam.

Astam

Trek from Astam to Dhampus (1700m)

Dhampus

Eco lodge and their owners fantastic people! Food was exceptional!

Trek from Dhampus to Landruk (6,234 ft / 1900 m)

Dhampus

Trek from Ghandruk to Kimche, Drive to Pokhara

Ghandruk

Pokhara Sightseeing Tour

Pokhara

Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu,

Pokhara

My trip to Nepal through Kimkim was spectacular. I usually make all of my own arrangements as it can be difficult to find companies who cater to solo travelers, so finding this company was exciting. From my start with Erin being so patient helping me form the perfect itinerary, to Krishna helping me while I was in Nepal, my trip was seamless. I’m already looking to book my next trip with them! 5/5 stars for kimkim!

Sangita was fantastic in helping us organise our 2 week stay in Nepal and all the travel in between places. She was very responsive and ensured everything went smoothly, checking in on us daily once we arrived. Likewise Bipin who welcomed us in Katmandu was very knowledgable and made sure we settled in comfortably.
Highlights include our 5 day poon hill trek, the hilltop town of Bandipur as well as safari in Bardiya National park.

Our holiday was memorable! Everything was perfect and we highly recommend travelling with kimkim.
Kripa was very patient in answering our many questions and was fantastic in organising the two weeks.
We did the 9-day trek to Ama Dablam base camp and visited Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.
The trek was fabulous. Our guide Suman was very helpful, punctual, friendly and always cheerful.
In addition, all the transport organised by kimkim was on time and the people we met were very friendly and... read more

Our holiday was memorable! Everything was perfect and we highly recommend travelling with kimkim.
Kripa was very patient in answering our many questions and was fantastic in organising the two weeks.
We did the 9-day trek to Ama Dablam base camp and visited Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.
The trek was fabulous. Our guide Suman was very helpful, punctual, friendly and always cheerful.
In addition, all the transport organised by kimkim was on time and the people we met were very friendly and helpful.

Thank you kimkim for this fabulous holiday and for letting us discover a part of Nepal!

Simply amazing. Awesome flexibility on planning before departed. Amazing guides. Logistics went like clockwork, even when we decided to change plans on a day. Instant responses from Amanda to any question - hate we time of day! Could not recommend this trip highly enough to anyone. Best tour ever….

Raj and Bipin organized an 11 day trek to Langtang and Gosaikunda for me. Raj was responsive and patient as he worked with my preferences and scheduling constraints and made sure that I was prepared for the trip before I left home. Once I arrived in Kathmandu, Bipin briefed me before the trip as well as debriefed me afterwards. I appreciated their professionalism, responsiveness, and friendliness throughout. Thanks to them, the trek itself was exactly what I wanted: long days of hiking... read more

Raj and Bipin organized an 11 day trek to Langtang and Gosaikunda for me. Raj was responsive and patient as he worked with my preferences and scheduling constraints and made sure that I was prepared for the trip before I left home. Once I arrived in Kathmandu, Bipin briefed me before the trip as well as debriefed me afterwards. I appreciated their professionalism, responsiveness, and friendliness throughout. Thanks to them, the trek itself was exactly what I wanted: long days of hiking through alpine terrain with enough moments to appreciate the surroundings.

Hotel Review

Hotel Holy Himalaya

Kathmandu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Free day | Kyanjin Ri Hike

Kyangjin Gompa

My trip to Nepal was great.
Sherpa Ngima was all the time ofering me all I needed douring my stay there. He was very friendly and profesional. He's a reliably person. All his tourus guides and drivers were exelent too.

Pemba, my sherpa douring my trekking from Lukla to Namche Bazaar and back to Lukla was great, we made a good team together, he's a trustworthy man, and even more importantly a very good person.

I learned a lot about your whanderful country and people. It was a... read more

My trip to Nepal was great.
Sherpa Ngima was all the time ofering me all I needed douring my stay there. He was very friendly and profesional. He's a reliably person. All his tourus guides and drivers were exelent too.

Pemba, my sherpa douring my trekking from Lukla to Namche Bazaar and back to Lukla was great, we made a good team together, he's a trustworthy man, and even more importantly a very good person.

I learned a lot about your whanderful country and people. It was a pleasure for me to be able to share those incredible moments with all of you!!!

Activity Reviews

Fly from Rammechap to Lukla, Trek to Phakding

Phakding

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar

The Himalayan views were the best!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Namche to Lukla

Nepal

The landscape couldn't be better. What a an amazing place! Pemba, my sherpa douring my trek was great, we made a good team together, he's a trustworthy man, and even more importantly a very good person.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Day and Evening Trek Briefing

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Phakding to Namche

Namche Bazaar

The landscape couldn't be better. What a an amazing place! Pemba, my sherpa douring my trek was great, we made a good team together, he's a trustworthy man, and even more importantly a very good person.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our first trip to Nepal. 8 days only. Thanks to Ngima for arranging this trip for us and keeping in touch with us every step of the way.
Lakpa, our guardian angel and driver stayed with us during the entire trip and we learned so much about Nepal from him. His attention and enthusiasm made all the difference!
In Kathmandu area, we loved discovering the Newari culture and the town of Bhaktapur the most. Pohkara was also lots of fun and walking the trails in Nagarkot was nice too.... read more

This was our first trip to Nepal. 8 days only. Thanks to Ngima for arranging this trip for us and keeping in touch with us every step of the way.
Lakpa, our guardian angel and driver stayed with us during the entire trip and we learned so much about Nepal from him. His attention and enthusiasm made all the difference!
In Kathmandu area, we loved discovering the Newari culture and the town of Bhaktapur the most. Pohkara was also lots of fun and walking the trails in Nagarkot was nice too. Knowing our interest for genuine local food our local guide, Kamaal, took us to several tiny local food outlets we would hv never found on our own. We just loved it.
We did not stray far from main areas this time, and we also enjoyed the white water rafting with a fun team. Next time we intend to explore other areas farther afield, with kimkim of course!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ambassador

Kathmandu

Excellent hotel. Great rooms! Good rooftop restaurant. Breakfast OK, but staff lazy.

Authenticity & Character

Ok.

Location

Easy to walk to Thamel and other places

Staff

FnB staff lazy.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well appoibted

Hotel Country Villa

Nagarkot

Lovely hotel with a Swiss spirit. Great location for hiking.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely , well maintained. Felt like Swiss !!

Location

Great views of the mountains

Staff

Nice and pleasant

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are good, lovely balconies and heater working well.(necessary in the hills)

Da Yatra Courtyard Hotel & Resort

Pokhara

A 2 star hotel with big ugly rooms and bathrooms. Its clean and functional, and is very conveniently located close to tge lake and restaurants but certainly not pleasant. Website says luxury hotel, definitely a far cry !! Most horrible breakfast with cold and stale food. Terrible coffee and tea. On second day, we decided to get our breakfast outside instead to get decent coffee and danish pastry. Definitely not recommended.

Authenticity & Character

Redo all interiors, make a small cafe opening to street. Get oroper management.

Location

Close to lake area

Staff

Staff was pleasant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Design, wiring, furniture, bedding, towels,

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Kathmandu

Kathmandu Int. Airport (KTM)

Loved the personal welcome from Ngima and Lakpa.

Quality of Experience

Personal

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone very pleasant

Transport

Good jeep. Perfect for Kathmandu.

Pokhara Sightseeing Tour

Pokhara

Ok. Nothing too much really, but guide was pleasant and Lakpa very attentive to our needs

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Car used.

Depart Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Kathmandu: Bouddhanath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square

Kathmandu

Excellent guiding by Kamaal and Lakpa who really adapted to our needs.

Quality of Experience

Going to local places.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Personal attention and knowledge

Transport

Comfortable car

Amanda was fantastic in helping us identify a trek that met all of our requirements, and answering our many questions. The briefing meeting after we arrived in Kathmandu was also really helpful. We trekked in the Rolwaling Valley and it was beautiful and the hike itself posed a good level of challenge. There were not too many other hikers around so it was peaceful, just what we were looking for. Our guide was nice and helpful but unfortunately didn't know the area so well having only been... read more

Amanda was fantastic in helping us identify a trek that met all of our requirements, and answering our many questions. The briefing meeting after we arrived in Kathmandu was also really helpful. We trekked in the Rolwaling Valley and it was beautiful and the hike itself posed a good level of challenge. There were not too many other hikers around so it was peaceful, just what we were looking for. Our guide was nice and helpful but unfortunately didn't know the area so well having only been there twice before, and encouraged us to add a section to our trek that she hadn't previously done and was keen to do, but which turned out to be far too challenging for us - so I suggest checking with Amanda in advance how well your guide knows the area. The porter and drivers we had were very good. Overall a great trip.

Many thanks to KimKim for Raj of Social Tours (Nepal) & Sherab of Bhutan Travel Club & their addressing all of the details of this glorious trip. Leki Tshering, guide (for hiking as well) in Bhutan, was exceptional, full of life, an educator & ambassador. I was immersed in nature, social & religious learning. Our driver, Kim, was always helpful & courteous. In Nepal I hiked from village to village, (all steps) through beautiful farmlands & traveled through different parts of the country,... read more

Many thanks to KimKim for Raj of Social Tours (Nepal) & Sherab of Bhutan Travel Club & their addressing all of the details of this glorious trip. Leki Tshering, guide (for hiking as well) in Bhutan, was exceptional, full of life, an educator & ambassador. I was immersed in nature, social & religious learning. Our driver, Kim, was always helpful & courteous. In Nepal I hiked from village to village, (all steps) through beautiful farmlands & traveled through different parts of the country, lodging in locally owned home stays, a pleasant experience. Some of the properties for lodging were an oasis…just what is needed after an arduous few days of trekking. & then there was a hiccup in Bhutan which Sherab tended to with care and immediacy. His dedication to providing an over the top travel experience is greatly appreciated. I am so thankful for such a lovely experience.

Ngima and his team did an outstanding job from the planning stages all the way. Ngima was very prompt in responding to all my queries and helped us plan our trip without any problems.
We were welcomed at the airport by Lakpa who was very friendly and helpful and he took us around everywhere till we left.
Our trekking guide Ang and our porter Kungha were just as amazing as all others on the team. Very accommodating, kind and helpful.
Ngima is a wonderful tour operator. He made all... read more

Ngima and his team did an outstanding job from the planning stages all the way. Ngima was very prompt in responding to all my queries and helped us plan our trip without any problems.
We were welcomed at the airport by Lakpa who was very friendly and helpful and he took us around everywhere till we left.
Our trekking guide Ang and our porter Kungha were just as amazing as all others on the team. Very accommodating, kind and helpful.
Ngima is a wonderful tour operator. He made all arrangements for our stay and flights in spite of bad weather and flight cancellations. He worked very hard to get us a rescue helicopter when things got bad in Poonhill.
We will be definitely using Kimkim travels again and Ngima’s team in Nepal for our next expedition.

Thank you for reaching out and asking about our trip. It exceeded all of our expectations! First, Kimkim and Himalayan Trails executed everything perfectly. The people that surrounded us were always very professional, caring and made the trip seamless.

Rajiv did a great job of introducing us to the important historical sites in Kathmandu and Patan. What a great day that was. We were in informational overload and I had to let it sink in before going back and reading more about the sites we... read more

Thank you for reaching out and asking about our trip. It exceeded all of our expectations! First, Kimkim and Himalayan Trails executed everything perfectly. The people that surrounded us were always very professional, caring and made the trip seamless.

Rajiv did a great job of introducing us to the important historical sites in Kathmandu and Patan. What a great day that was. We were in informational overload and I had to let it sink in before going back and reading more about the sites we saw.

Our guide, Wang Chu, and porter, Neema , we’re first rate. I think one of the most important things a guide can do is understand his clients and Wang Chu was able to do that very quickly. He made adjustments throughout the trip that catered to what we were looking for and made our experience unbelievable. We often times felt like we were the only ones on the circuit and saw things I know other groups did not get to witness.

The trek itself was difficult at times but rewarding in every instance. The scenery was spectacular and Wang Chu taught us a great deal about the culture, livelihood and history of the Nepalese people as we trekked from village to village. What a great classroom and teacher!

I am glad we chose the Manislu circuit and I would recommend that to anyone interested in trekking the Himalayans. It offered a good challenge, varied landscapes and what felt like a relatively less travelled path.

Thank you for setting everything up for us and sticking with us for almost two years due to travel restrictions!

Again, thank you, Kripa, Rajiv, Sanzeb, Wang Chu, Neema and the whole staff at Kimkim and Himalayan Trails for making it a wonderful, memorable trip!

David Makepeace

Raj planned a 11 day trip to Nepal for us. During the planning stages he provided quick and very detailed responses to our questions and also made himself available for a couple of video chats. He has a great team of local guides. Our trekking guide Rabin was exceptional. After we landed in Nepal the itinerary had to be modified a bit but Raj and team took care of it and everything went well without a hitch. His team was very easy to reach during the trip - we always got a response in a... read more

Raj planned a 11 day trip to Nepal for us. During the planning stages he provided quick and very detailed responses to our questions and also made himself available for a couple of video chats. He has a great team of local guides. Our trekking guide Rabin was exceptional. After we landed in Nepal the itinerary had to be modified a bit but Raj and team took care of it and everything went well without a hitch. His team was very easy to reach during the trip - we always got a response in a timely manner.

Looking forward to a return visit!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ambassador

Kathmandu

Well located, great people, great restaurant

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Temple Tree Resort & Spa

Pokhara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Buddha Maya Garden

Lumbini

Authenticity & Character

Lovely facility - like a huge old bungalow. Could use a bit of updating but definitely recommend.

Location

Staff

Very helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunset Walk at Soyambhu

Kathmandu

Could have used more time here - did not last 3 hours.

Transport

Kathmandu Heritage Tour

Kathmandu

The tour was done in about 4 hours, even after we added Patan Durbar square which presumably was not in the plan. Felt rushed. So many things to take in. Could have definitely used more time.

Traditional Welcome Dinner

Kathmandu

Lovely dinner in a lovely place. Enjoyed chatting with Bipin and Rabin.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive to Trailhead & Trek to Ghandruk

Pokhara

We changed our trek. But the whole experience was just amazing. Can’t say enough about Rabin - super nice guy and extremely knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an AMAZING trip with Sherpa Wangchhu and our porter, Nima, on the Tamang Heritage Trail. It was a true pleasure to stay with locals in towns like Tatopani and Gatlang, where they made us incredible meals, straight from their farms. We learned so much about the Tamang people and were inspired to see how much they've rebuilt since the earthquake. We had amazing views of the mountains and valley every day, and there was no shortage of cows, goats, and donkeys along the way. The trekking... read more

We had an AMAZING trip with Sherpa Wangchhu and our porter, Nima, on the Tamang Heritage Trail. It was a true pleasure to stay with locals in towns like Tatopani and Gatlang, where they made us incredible meals, straight from their farms. We learned so much about the Tamang people and were inspired to see how much they've rebuilt since the earthquake. We had amazing views of the mountains and valley every day, and there was no shortage of cows, goats, and donkeys along the way. The trekking itself wasn't too challenging and with plenty of time, we could always take it slow if needed. Our favorite part was sipping milk tea at the end of a day of adventuring around the mountains. We highly recommend this trek and the amazing Kim Kim staff.!

My guide Pemba was amazing. We sat down every afternoon to worked through the following day. And When I was tired he helped me with my backpack, which was way too often.
Thanks ☺️ read more

My guide Pemba was amazing. We sat down every afternoon to worked through the following day. And When I was tired he helped me with my backpack, which was way too often.
Thanks ☺️

Activity Review

Trek from Kharikhola to Paiya (2770m).

Nepal

It was a really beautiful section of the walk

Quality of Experience

Very good coordination with Amanda prior the trip and the route were customized to what I am seeking. The guides and porter are very friendly and helpful. Although I have to abandon the rest of my trek due to lack of stamina and kneecaps pain, the company helped to arrange transport to the other hotels we have to rebooked. Appreciate the kind gesture and it is indeed a worry free trip. Thank you very much for the patience. Will definitely use the service again.

Amanda planned an amazing Itinerary, beautiful interesting lodgings and places full with historical sights yet comfortable. The first 3 night was excellent & I was looking forward to the rest of the stay but due to personal physical issue, we had to cancel the rest of the trip. Ms Kripa the coordinator in Kathmandu office was v helpful & arrange for daily transfers to our last few days and airport. Always checking if we need any assistance. Warm & great service. Will book again

The overall planning and booking experience with KimKim was excellent except the first appointment call. When I showed my interesting in KimKim trip, I was asked to book a 15min time slot to talk to a local (California) person. And I found this person has no value added. I asked many questions in the call and none was answered. I would have given a 5 stars if there is no such an annoy call.

The KimKim payment and communication system are very convenient. All the communications and... read more

The overall planning and booking experience with KimKim was excellent except the first appointment call. When I showed my interesting in KimKim trip, I was asked to book a 15min time slot to talk to a local (California) person. And I found this person has no value added. I asked many questions in the call and none was answered. I would have given a 5 stars if there is no such an annoy call.

The KimKim payment and communication system are very convenient. All the communications and attachment are well kept in the system and easy to read. The response from Ngima is incredibly fast and accurate. Nigma answered our questions with patient and with no nonsense. His expertise and knowledge provided me a trustworthy feeling.

KimKim assigned a local driver Lhakpa to us. Lhakpa has very fluent English. Lhakpa drove us to and from airport and also during our sightseeing tours in Kathmandu. He gave us a very nice overall introduction of Nepal and Kathmandu. He was also a good photographer and knew the "should not miss" photography spots.

The most important person in this trip is no doubt our Sherpa guide, Furba. I would like to show my deepest appreciation to him to make this trip safe and memorable. He is responsible, knowledgeable, and considerate. He spotted wild animals to us, for example Himalayan tahr. He pointed and named every peaks to us during the entire trip. Due to the unstable weather, he had to modify our itinerary from day to day to optimize the trip. He also tried his best to accommodate all our requests during the entire trip. For example, we requested to have single rooms for both of us. He told us in some remote village the availability is very limited and because of the high demand, a single supplement might not possible, but he will do his best. At the end, we had single supplement on every nights in our trip. Furba has done an excellent job.

The last person I would to mention is our porter, Lhakpa. He has taken good care of our luggage, especially during a few raining days.

The mountain scenery is the best in the world. The images of the peaks, Mt Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Cholatse, Tabuche, etc., are imprinted in my brain. However, the most critical part of this trip is the persons provided the service to you. Thank you again for the persons I mentioned above.

Activity Reviews

Trek from Dzongla to Gokyo (15,584 feet / 4750 m) via Cho La Pass

Gokyo

Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar

The hike from Namche to Hotel Everest View was very pleasure. It was very impressive of the Namche town viewed from above on the trail to Hotel Everest View. The close up views of Mt Everest, Lohtse, and Ama Dablam are unforgettable.

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... read more

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

2 Star rating for response to bad weather in Lower Mustang

The 2-star rating applies to the entire team handling our trip.

The highlight of our trip to Nepal was supposed to be our mountain biking trip. Bad weather and poor anticipation and replanning made it an experience we rather forget quickly. We had planned to bike in the Lower Mustang region. While we did travel to Pokhara during rainy weather we never made it to Jomson as there were no flights and landslides blocked the roads.... read more

2 Star rating for response to bad weather in Lower Mustang

The 2-star rating applies to the entire team handling our trip.

The highlight of our trip to Nepal was supposed to be our mountain biking trip. Bad weather and poor anticipation and replanning made it an experience we rather forget quickly. We had planned to bike in the Lower Mustang region. While we did travel to Pokhara during rainy weather we never made it to Jomson as there were no flights and landslides blocked the roads. While the team is not responsible for the weather, the implication could and should have been anticipated. We pushed for a replan after an idle day in Pokhara. We ended up traveling to the Everest area where the weather was much better. We lost 3 days. Unfortunately, our guide wasn't very familiar with the trails. She wasn't prepared for the Everest area. We ended up going down two trails that were nothing short of dangerous and required a lot of walking with our bikes. Out of the 8 days of bike rental, I rode my bike 3 days (the bike broke down on the last day and I hiked the trail while my friend and out guide did the ride). The reason for given 2 stars instead of 1 is that the team was helpful, we had some nice experiences at the tea houses, changed plans to have a change to see Mt Everest (which worked out well), ... Again, it all started with bad weather, but the local team could have done a much better job preparing and triggering an alternative plan. We ended up spending about $500 / day (without bike rental) per person, for one hotel room (with double beds). That looks expensive given typical cost of a room ($10 - $20 / night, 1, 2 or 3 rooms as needed for driver and guide as well), meals ($4-$8, need to cover guide and driver), car and driver (on one of the days in KTM we got our own driver (not included in the kimkim fees) and paid $45 for car and driver for the day), guide, ... (we also paid over $200 in tips for guide, driver, ...).

A trip that definitely didn't meet expectations. Luckily the time we spent on our own gave us a chance to learn a lot about the country. And our guide showed us a wonderful monastery and helped us with a great morning experience seeing the Himalaya and Mt Everest (but that was really too little for $5k / 2 people).

I hope that our less than desirable experience will lead to some better back-up planning and makes a difference for future visitors who encounter similar weather conditions. Jan and I did enjoy the country and we look forward to another change to explore it (better).

Thanks for listening.

Niels

I want to say thanks to Kunchok and his team for a wonderful experience. My brother and I visited Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Nagarkot for a week long trip in October 2022. The trip was an adventure and we had the opportunity to trek, explore the towns, and go river rafting. Kunchok was an excellent host and made sure everything went smoothly. We had enough downtime to enjoy the experience and I highly recommend KimKim and Kunchok in particular.

Thank you Amanda, Kripa and Subash for the most amazing trip to Nepal!

Your excellent preparation, guidance, diligence and humour made every second of our trip so special.

The atmosphere in Nepal is best described as simply magical and it doesn't take long until it pulls you in completely. Thanks to the "all in" service attitude of the wonderful kimkim team, we had nothing to worry about or take care of, we could just concentrate on soaking up all images and vibes of this beautiful... read more

Thank you Amanda, Kripa and Subash for the most amazing trip to Nepal!

Your excellent preparation, guidance, diligence and humour made every second of our trip so special.

The atmosphere in Nepal is best described as simply magical and it doesn't take long until it pulls you in completely. Thanks to the "all in" service attitude of the wonderful kimkim team, we had nothing to worry about or take care of, we could just concentrate on soaking up all images and vibes of this beautiful country with its lovely, friendly people all around.

Our trip itinerary was worked out, hotels booked, every car ride arranged, meeting times scheduled, all planes trips organized for us - all we had to do was kick back, enjoy and not worry about a single thing! It all worked out like clockwork.

Amanda did an excellent job figuring out what exactly we wanted to see way before our trip, had a great upbeat attitude that made planning the trip even more fun. She understood perfectly well what we wanted to experience and she put it all into a very carefully selected and planned out itinerary. One that could only be worked out by someone knowing the country very well!

Kripa thank you for taking such good care of us during our stay in Nepal. You were the anchor and support who was always there in the background pulling all the strings and making miracles happen. It also felt great to have you call in and ask if everything is going well and if we are doing great. We felt very pampered!

Subash, our wonderful and very attentive guide showed us corners and customs of Nepal that we otherwise would never have found by ourselves. He paid close attention to where our interests were when we first met and catered exactly to our needs with the sights he showed us and the information he provided about them. As my teenage daughter was travelling with her nosy Mum, this was sometimes a stretch, but he managed beautifully! He was very finely in tune with us to always make the experience comfortable and interesting at the same time for both of us.

We have since returned and still Nepal is lingering in our thoughts and our bodies. And as well as this experience will always stay in our hearts and lives forever, so will it be tied to the people who helped create it.

Thank you very deeply to all of you
Namaste!

The entire trip was well prepared. Ngima and his team did a great job. They answered every question very well and helped me to prepare the trip according to my needs.
I was warm welcomed in Nepal by Ngima and his team. My guide Ang was super polite, knowledgeable and was taking care of me throughout the trip.
Great Experience, can just recommend it to everybody.

Cheers, Alexander

My cousin and I did the Pikey Peak trek in 5 days, this was the perfect trek to do if you have only a few days of vacation to take in Nepal. You will see just about everything in a short amount of time including Everest if you are lucky and get a clear day up on Pikey Peak. Kunchock was fantastic in setting up our itinerary and really made sure we were safe the whole time. We even had some flight issues getting to Nepal but Kunchock made sure everything was adjusted to fit our schedule. Dolma... read more

My cousin and I did the Pikey Peak trek in 5 days, this was the perfect trek to do if you have only a few days of vacation to take in Nepal. You will see just about everything in a short amount of time including Everest if you are lucky and get a clear day up on Pikey Peak. Kunchock was fantastic in setting up our itinerary and really made sure we were safe the whole time. We even had some flight issues getting to Nepal but Kunchock made sure everything was adjusted to fit our schedule. Dolma was our tour guide for the trek and I could not have asked for a better one, she let us customize and do just about anything we wanted to during the trek and was extremely friendly and knowledgeable on the Pikey Peak area. Definitely going back the only thing I would say about my trip was I wish I personally had more time!

Hotel Reviews

Pema Boutique Hotel

Kathmandu

The hotel was great, the area it is in really makes you realize you are in Nepal the culture is very different and the restaurant downstairs has great authentic food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ambassador

Kathmandu

Very nice hotel I felt like I was in a hotel back home in the United States, the food was great at the restaurant upstairs and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Location is great as well since it is not to far from the market in case you wanted to buy any souvenirs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Drive from Kathmandu to Dhap, Trek to Japre (2920 m)

Nepal

I must say although of course the trek and the peak was the highlight of the trip, my favorite part was just driving to the trek start location. It was about a 6 hour drive and I got to see so many different villages and farms that you pass through along the way. This was something I enjoyed since I could see many different parts of the country and lifestyles other then the city and the mountains.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Jhapre to Pikey Base Camp

Nepal

The first part of the trek was not to difficult and a perfect length for just getting done with a 6 hour car drive. You will see prayer flags, stupas and some animals on the way up to base camp

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Pikey Peak Base Camp to Chaulakharka (1460 m) via Pikey Peak

Nepal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek from Chaulakharka to Shivalaya (1770 m)

Nepal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive from Shivalaya to Kathmandu

Nepal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart kathmandu Nepal

Nepal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing trip, the local guides for our hike and safari were absolutely incredible and made our holiday so easy. The whole trip was well organised and we felt very relaxed.

Bire the guide was great in Nepal. You should keep him on your team.
The hotel in Thamel was not great as it was next to an open air bar playing live music until late at night, hard to sleep. read more

Bire the guide was great in Nepal. You should keep him on your team.
The hotel in Thamel was not great as it was next to an open air bar playing live music until late at night, hard to sleep.

Thank you for the experience! Our trip to Nepal was incredible, we loved both our sightseeing around Kathmandu and our trek to Gorephani. What made this experience such a good one, undoubtedly, was the help and support we got from the following people:
Ngima - helped organised the trip before it started)
Lakpa - drove us around Kathmandu, took care of our transfers, and helped with every challenge that came along the way
Ang Gelu Sherpa (trek guide) and Gyalbu Sherpa (porter) - who took... read more

Thank you for the experience! Our trip to Nepal was incredible, we loved both our sightseeing around Kathmandu and our trek to Gorephani. What made this experience such a good one, undoubtedly, was the help and support we got from the following people:
Ngima - helped organised the trip before it started)
Lakpa - drove us around Kathmandu, took care of our transfers, and helped with every challenge that came along the way
Ang Gelu Sherpa (trek guide) and Gyalbu Sherpa (porter) - who took care of us during the trek, made sure we were healthy and comfortable.
We knew we were travelling during a not ideal season (monsoon), but Kim Kim made it sure to plan the best possible options to make the most of our trip.
Thank you again for taking care of us.

Activity Review

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

Nepal

This was the highlight of the trip, Annapurna sight is mindblowing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had an wonderful time in Nepal thanks to the Kimkim team. Right from the beginning when I contacted them, Amanda kept me update and reply to my questions in a timely fashion.
Pratikshya is my guide in Nepal and she is very knowledgeable.
I really like Namo Buddha resort and wish I could stay one more night there.
I am planning to do the base camp trek and I would definitely have them to organize this trek for me.

Thanks to Ngima and his team for putting together an itinerary and experience that worked for my schedule and abilities. It was clear during the planning process that Ngima has great experience in the Everest region and working with clients to design a personalized trip. Once the trip began, Ngima's team was terrific in providing information and support to be sure I was ready to begin the trek. My guide and porter were wonderful, full of local knowledge and expertise that added to my... read more

Thanks to Ngima and his team for putting together an itinerary and experience that worked for my schedule and abilities. It was clear during the planning process that Ngima has great experience in the Everest region and working with clients to design a personalized trip. Once the trip began, Ngima's team was terrific in providing information and support to be sure I was ready to begin the trek. My guide and porter were wonderful, full of local knowledge and expertise that added to my overall experience. It was great learning from them and having them along for support, and after spending 17 days with them, it was hard to say goodbye. Thanks Ngima and team!

Activity Reviews

Trek from Chukhung to Lobuche (16,210 feet / 4,940 m) via Kongma La Pass

Lobuche

Trek from Gorak Shep to Lobuche (16,207 feet / 4940 m), Sunrise from Kala Patthar

Lobuche

Trek from Dzongla to Gokyo (15,584 feet / 4750 m) via Cho La Pass

Gokyo

Trek from Gokyo to Marlung (17,585 feet / 5360 m) via Renjo La Pass

Marlung

We went to Nepal in May2022, two families with kids. We organized the trip with Sangita who made the best suggestions for our itinerary. We visited Kathmandu and Bhaktapur with Vipin, our guide. He was fabulous, knew a lot from Nepal: culture, history and people. After that we flew to Pokhara were we had a different guide. In this case we were dissapointed with his knowledge, however the driver we got was very talktive and nice. We also stayed one night in Astam, it was nice but we wouldn't... read more

We went to Nepal in May2022, two families with kids. We organized the trip with Sangita who made the best suggestions for our itinerary. We visited Kathmandu and Bhaktapur with Vipin, our guide. He was fabulous, knew a lot from Nepal: culture, history and people. After that we flew to Pokhara were we had a different guide. In this case we were dissapointed with his knowledge, however the driver we got was very talktive and nice. We also stayed one night in Astam, it was nice but we wouldn't recommend it, Pokhara is much nicer. Our driver then took us to Chitwan were we stayed in the best hotel of the trip, plus the kids enjoyed a lot the safaris. Finally back to Patan that it was also very nice. Vipin met us there again for dinner and last visits.

We would definetly recommend Sangita and her agency. They were very helpful, giving tips and suggestions, replying quickly to all of our mails and adapting to our requirements.
We hope to come back again!!!

We have nothing but praise for the team at Himalayan Trails and kimkim! This was our first fully guided trip, and our first trip with kimkim. I can definitely say that it won't be our last.

Our trip coordinators, Kripa and Erin, listened to our input and designed a perfect trip, combining cultural sights, light trekking and wonderful views of the Himalayas. They were very helpful before the trip with advice on preparation, packing, logistics, immigration, etc. During the trip, they... read more

We have nothing but praise for the team at Himalayan Trails and kimkim! This was our first fully guided trip, and our first trip with kimkim. I can definitely say that it won't be our last.

Our trip coordinators, Kripa and Erin, listened to our input and designed a perfect trip, combining cultural sights, light trekking and wonderful views of the Himalayas. They were very helpful before the trip with advice on preparation, packing, logistics, immigration, etc. During the trip, they checked in with us numerous times to make sure everything was going well. Everything was flawlessly coordinated. We always had someone picking us up at the airport or at our accommodation, and a driver was always waiting to take us to our next destination. This is quite a feat to pull off in post-Covid Nepal, which is just getting back into tourism after two long years of pandemic. The team is clearly well connected and has great relationships with the tourism industry in Nepal.

We had two guides during the trip - Pratikshya for the cultural sights, and Tendu for the trekking portion. Pratikshya was very attentive and knowledgeable about Nepali culture, history and tradition. Apart from the beautiful Durbar squares of Patan and Bhaktapur (a must visit when coming to Kathmandu), one of the highlights of the tour was seeing the awe-inspiring chariot in Patan. The chariot is constructed in May for a big religious celebration, and Pratikshya went out of her way to make sure that we saw it.

Tendu was a wonderful trekking guide! He is a Himalayan mountain tour expert and a very positive and friendly person. Our trek was very light for Nepal standards (our choice), but he kept it very fun and interesting. He pointed out all of the different mountains in the horizon (he knows them all very well), told us about other treks that we could experience in the future, and pointed out the local flora and fauna in the region. He also took us around some of the farms in the hills near Pokhara, where we interacted with local farmers. The tea houses were much nicer than we expected, and Tendu always made sure that we were comfortable and had everything we needed. The highlight of the trek was breakfast at the Basanta lodge in Dhampus, where the sky cleared up and we could see the Annapurna mountain range. We also want to give a special thank you to our wonderful porter, Lakpa, who is a legend in his own right, having summited Mt. Everest six times!

Overall, I can't recommend the team at Himalayan Trails enough! Thank you so much for all of your hard work and hospitality! Nepal is an incredible country with so much to see and experience, and we highly recommend Himalayan Trails for anyone wishing to experience Nepal!

Every aspect of our trip was fantastically good - it was a trip I had been dreaming about for many, many years and it surpassed every expectation. Delayed by Covid, Raj and his team were endlessly patient in planning and re-planning our trip, and I felt at every point he really listened to and understood what I wanted - and delivered it. Every activity - trekking, rafting, sightseeing and more - were well-organised and truly memorable. Every transfer (there were many!)worked seamlessly. Big... read more

Every aspect of our trip was fantastically good - it was a trip I had been dreaming about for many, many years and it surpassed every expectation. Delayed by Covid, Raj and his team were endlessly patient in planning and re-planning our trip, and I felt at every point he really listened to and understood what I wanted - and delivered it. Every activity - trekking, rafting, sightseeing and more - were well-organised and truly memorable. Every transfer (there were many!)worked seamlessly. Big shout-out to the legend that is Kumar, who guided us on our Mustang trek and who was generous in sharing his huge knowledge and expertise, meticulous in looking after us and with a great sense of humour too. If he is available, book him. Another big shout out to Bipin who took such great care of us in Nepal and made sure we always had what we needed and was again endlessly generous in sharing his knowledge with us. If you are thinking about traveling to Nepal, you would be in no better hands than this team - just go! We are already thinking about our next trip - as a destination, its highly addictive.

Smooth efficent process coupled withs mazibg trek and even better people. While the weather was uncooperative the trip was amazing. From the start of ommunicatuons with Ngima and his local treking company Nepal Myths and Mountain Trails, the process of my iteneray changes bd request were handled quickly and professionally. Greeted by Tashi, Ngima son, a young professional easy with a smile or laugh, at airport arrival gate and escorted through process to hotel and off to trek. Meet by... read more

Smooth efficent process coupled withs mazibg trek and even better people. While the weather was uncooperative the trip was amazing. From the start of ommunicatuons with Ngima and his local treking company Nepal Myths and Mountain Trails, the process of my iteneray changes bd request were handled quickly and professionally. Greeted by Tashi, Ngima son, a young professional easy with a smile or laugh, at airport arrival gate and escorted through process to hotel and off to trek. Meet by Furba Tashi my guide with 4 Mt Everest Summits and Lagbar (sorry for misspelling) porter i was in capable hands. I was looked after the entirety of the trek. It was obvious that my saftey was most important followed by enjoyment of the environment (views and culture).
My arrival back at Kathmandu and depature onwar again were handled without issues and timely. It is my pleasure to recommend Kim Kim and more importantly Nepal Myths and Mountain Trail Tashi and Nigma.
Dhan'yavāda
Gavon

Amanda, Mads, Raj & team are the best. read more

Amanda, Mads, Raj & team are the best.

Amanda, Mads, Raj & team are the best. read more

Amanda, Mads, Raj & team are the best.

We enjoyed everything about our first trip to Nepal! Actually, my husband had been to Nepal on business, but this was his first trip where he was able to mix business with pleasure. Kimkim, Himalayan Trails, and Amanda helped us from our first thought of "We want to see Nepal" to the finished product. We toured Kathmandu and its UNESCO heritage sites with our wonderful guide, Pratikshya; we trekked the area surrounding Pokhara with expert trekking guide Naresh; we toured Chitwan National... read more

We enjoyed everything about our first trip to Nepal! Actually, my husband had been to Nepal on business, but this was his first trip where he was able to mix business with pleasure. Kimkim, Himalayan Trails, and Amanda helped us from our first thought of "We want to see Nepal" to the finished product. We toured Kathmandu and its UNESCO heritage sites with our wonderful guide, Pratikshya; we trekked the area surrounding Pokhara with expert trekking guide Naresh; we toured Chitwan National Park with the folks at Jungle Villa. Himalayan Trails took care of us always, arranging our transfers, tours, hotels, flights, Covid tests, etc. We highly recommend using their expertise to plan your trip to Nepal. Some of our highlights and favorites: we loved our 'luxury lodges' on our trek with happy hour, delicious farm-to-table cooking, and comfortable rooms - a great complement to the fabulous Nepali mountain scenery and the welcoming nature of the Gurung people (hint: prepare physically for your Nepal trek - it's more strenuous than most hiking in the USA). It was wonderful to visit Chitwan National park and the Tharu people; we saw rhinoceros, small animals, and birds (the tour on the previous day saw sloth bear). And, of course, Kathmandu is a treat - a mix of history, art, culture, religion with so much to see and do. All in all, we had a wonderful experience thanks to Amanda, our guides, and the lovely people of Nepal.

Our experience was wonderful and a lot more qualitative than what we expected. Thanks to the great guidance of Naresh and Kunga we always had the best accomodations and often a private room for us two with bathroom attached. This even in the highest point.
Naresh, the guide, was always adapting to our pace, finding the right balance between giving us additional information and explanation, and respecting our privacy. They were always available if we needed anything.
We made it to the top thanks to them!

Our trek of the Manaslu circuit in Nepal arranged by Kripa was outstanding. During this post-Covid planning phase, Kripa answered our hundreds of questions immediately and kept us up to date on travel in Nepal. Everything was handled smoothly, from our airport pickup to assisting us on our shopping adventure in Kathmandu for trekking supplies. Our guide, Gelu, was the best. He took care of us the entire trek, even assisting in the kitchen with meals. The two porters he selected were amazing,... read more

Our trek of the Manaslu circuit in Nepal arranged by Kripa was outstanding. During this post-Covid planning phase, Kripa answered our hundreds of questions immediately and kept us up to date on travel in Nepal. Everything was handled smoothly, from our airport pickup to assisting us on our shopping adventure in Kathmandu for trekking supplies. Our guide, Gelu, was the best. He took care of us the entire trek, even assisting in the kitchen with meals. The two porters he selected were amazing, carrying our gear effortlessly over passes that took our breath away, powered only by dal baht 24/7. Thanks to Kripa and her team for giving us a wonderful once-in-a lifetime trip.

Sangita did a wonderful time setting up all of the details of my trip. The hotels I stayed at were comfortable and in great locations, the daily tours were engaging and everything was easy and enjoyable. My guide Bipin in Kathmandu was knowledgable and engaging and set the daily tours at my pace. I was able to ask any and all of my questions and he shared so much knowledge that my brain is full of Nepalese history and culture. My time at Chitwan was full of great experiences - I saw so... read more

Sangita did a wonderful time setting up all of the details of my trip. The hotels I stayed at were comfortable and in great locations, the daily tours were engaging and everything was easy and enjoyable. My guide Bipin in Kathmandu was knowledgable and engaging and set the daily tours at my pace. I was able to ask any and all of my questions and he shared so much knowledge that my brain is full of Nepalese history and culture. My time at Chitwan was full of great experiences - I saw so many animals including several Rhinos. I had a wonderful time and will be back one day. Thank you Sangita and Bipin

My daughter and I had a fantastic time during our stay in Nepal. Ngima and his team took excellent care of us. We arrived as clients but felt like friends and family when we left. Everyone took great care of us and we are already looking forward to a return trip with Nepal!

We really like the trekking ! It was as we expected, the organisation was perfect and Sangita is very available and kind. She answers fast and precise and she knows what she’s talking about. We really recommend to travel with her compagny!

I had a 5 days break from work and decided to visit Nepal. From the onset of the trip, I had support from Kripa who provided me with a packed program that captured all of historical and cultural places in the Kathmandu Valley. It was a mesmerising experience made perfect by the local guide Rajiv who was able to give me many insights and information about Nepal. I visited temples, palaces, museums but the highlight of my trip was a hike in the mountain. read more

I had a 5 days break from work and decided to visit Nepal. From the onset of the trip, I had support from Kripa who provided me with a packed program that captured all of historical and cultural places in the Kathmandu Valley. It was a mesmerising experience made perfect by the local guide Rajiv who was able to give me many insights and information about Nepal. I visited temples, palaces, museums but the highlight of my trip was a hike in the mountain.

Sangita, Bipin were wonderful - they were generous with their time, friendly, and looked after my brother and I very well. Every aspect of our trip was planned well and we knew that they were always available to help if we needed anything. Cannot recommend anyone more. We spent 9 days trekking the Tamang heritage trail followed by the Langtang trek with our guide Palsang and our Porter Kazu, both organised by Sangita. Trekking with knowledgable and friendly experts ensured our safety and... read more

Sangita, Bipin were wonderful - they were generous with their time, friendly, and looked after my brother and I very well. Every aspect of our trip was planned well and we knew that they were always available to help if we needed anything. Cannot recommend anyone more. We spent 9 days trekking the Tamang heritage trail followed by the Langtang trek with our guide Palsang and our Porter Kazu, both organised by Sangita. Trekking with knowledgable and friendly experts ensured our safety and made the experience much more enjoyable. My brother and I plan to return to Nepal one day and plan to organise any trip we book with Sangita!

We did a semi custom trip (11 day) for three with some moderate trekking in Annapurna region, tiger safari in Bardia NP, with some cultural activities in Kathmandu. The trip was well organized and flexible. I only provided some general guidance on my desires and Chhewang made suggestions and tied it all together after some feedback from me. We all enjoyed the trekking and the tiger safari, where we we able to see 4 tigers in the wild over 2 days.
Our trip was interrupted by the covid-19 virus... read more

We did a semi custom trip (11 day) for three with some moderate trekking in Annapurna region, tiger safari in Bardia NP, with some cultural activities in Kathmandu. The trip was well organized and flexible. I only provided some general guidance on my desires and Chhewang made suggestions and tied it all together after some feedback from me. We all enjoyed the trekking and the tiger safari, where we we able to see 4 tigers in the wild over 2 days.
Our trip was interrupted by the covid-19 virus with us being one of the last tour groups. Luckily it was near the end of trip, but there were several scares that the airport would be shutdown to international flights. Chhewang and others were very supportive and helpful in altering the last few days of our trip to try to leave early. We ended up making it out about 36 hrs before the airport closed.
We will consider using the company again for a future trip to Bhutan.

Excellent trip. Amanda did an excellent job of understanding my requirements and tailoring a trip to my exact needs. She was very responsive in her communications and ensured that each aspect of the trip was handled smoothly.

The logistics of the trip were handled flawlessly; from various pick ups and drop offs (airport, hotels, trip legs, etc).

My guides were wonderful.

My cultural guide, Suman was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. I appreciated the personal touches; guiding me... read more

Excellent trip. Amanda did an excellent job of understanding my requirements and tailoring a trip to my exact needs. She was very responsive in her communications and ensured that each aspect of the trip was handled smoothly.

The logistics of the trip were handled flawlessly; from various pick ups and drop offs (airport, hotels, trip legs, etc).

My guides were wonderful.

My cultural guide, Suman was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. I appreciated the personal touches; guiding me through receiving a Hindu blessing and lighting candles for departed loved ones to buying me the best frozen yogurt in Katmandu.

My trekking guide, Rishi was a joy to spend 4 days with. He was very attentive and made sure I was safe and comfortable. His warm smile and sunny personality made each day special and fun. I really enjoyed getting to know him through each day of walking and the meals we shared.

The accommodations exceeded my expectations. Each hotel/guest house was very comfortable with modern facilities. The meals and service were excellent. The staff were consistently warm and accommodating. It was clear that everyone wanted to ensure I had an excellent experience.

The trek was perfect for my needs. It was just challenging enough to make me feel a sense of accomplishment when we reached each destination. The countryside is gorgeous and the historic sites fascinating.

My experience with Nepal was made incredible by the warmth and friendliness of the people.

Amanda planned for my travel companion and I a 8-days, 7-nights trip to Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. It was both of our first trip to Nepal and I must say it was an eye-opening experience!

Here's what I liked and did not like about the trip:

The positives

- The planning was generally good and made sense. We arrived on late night of 20 February right before the Maha Shivatri festival on 21 February. Instead of planning for us to visit Pasupatinath temple that day (which would have been... read more

Amanda planned for my travel companion and I a 8-days, 7-nights trip to Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. It was both of our first trip to Nepal and I must say it was an eye-opening experience!

Here's what I liked and did not like about the trip:

The positives

- The planning was generally good and made sense. We arrived on late night of 20 February right before the Maha Shivatri festival on 21 February. Instead of planning for us to visit Pasupatinath temple that day (which would have been exploding with millions of worshipers and impossible to get in), Amanda and team planned it on the following day, 22 February, when we still got to experience remnants of the festivities and the crowd, but still be able to get around the temple

- Being flexible in terms of our asks and requirements, e.g.: planning two separate hikes for us when we stated that we wanted to experience a bit of hiking during our trip, and planning a really enjoyable white-water rafting session for us even though we were not in the season for white-water rafting yet. (The rest of the crew had to be made up by other members of the rafting team, but we were good to go with two pax).

- Special mention goes to Ritesh from the Operations team, who has been extremely responsive throughout the trip and helping us whenever things did not go as planned. Due to weather conditions, our Everest scenic flight was cancelled twice, our hot air balloon and helicopter flight to Annapurna base camp were also all cancelled, and he was very diligent and fast in helping us liaise with the respective provider companies, and in helping us get our refunds. The trip would have been quite dreary if not for his help, with so many things being cancelled! So I must really thank him for being there (via text) for us

- Keshab as a guide for Pokhara - He is really young but he made up for it by his boundless energy. He doubled up as both a tour guide and as our trekking guide up the World Peace Pagoda, and was really helpful to us especially throughout our hikes, helping to carry not just one but both our bags as we made the journey up the steps. He also told us interesting stories of the attractions we were in, and made jokes and riddles along the way to liven up the atmosphere, and make sure both of us were well taken care of

- The guesthouses that were booked were really charming and full of the flavours of local Nepali architecture. I especially liked Milla Guesthouse in Bhaktapur and Thamel Villa in Kathmandu. The former felt really cozy with a lady owner who was so friendly and accommodating, and specially prepared our breakfast (baked our bread and made jam for us) late into the night! Whereas the latter was a bit more European in its architecture / chandeliers, but still really charming, and it tied up with a restaurant across the road for breakfast that was really delicious.

The (slight) negatives

- Amanda, while being fairly responsive, regrettably had a slightly different communication style from me. The itinerary she planned was a little high level and vague, and I realised I needed to be very specific when communicating with her, if not her responses may still not really answer the crux of the question. Also, there were some errors in what she communicated with us vis-a-vis what eventually panned out: E.g.: there was no heater in our hotel in Patan - Swotha Traditional Homes, even though she sounded pretty sure there were heaters in all our hotels; Or that after whitewater rafting, as we were enroute from Kathmandu to Pokhara, there were no shower facilities and only a small room for changing (we were of the impression from her there were shower facilities). I had also requested for her to try to put some of the information that she mentioned in our fairly long interactions on KimKim into the final itinerary, e.g.: estimated start and end time every day, emergency contacts, etc. But that was eventually not added into our itinerary and only passed to us on a handwritten paper that could have been easily misplaced on the 2nd day. Again, I acknowledge most of my frustrations could be attributed to a difference in communication styles, but at the amount we were paying: ~USD1.8K per pax for 8 days of mostly 3-star guesthouse accommodation, I believe I was justified to expect a little more

- Our guide in Kathmandu Valley, Pratikshya. She was very comprehensive, fluent in English and detailed in her explanations to us, which I agree with some of the other reviews written here. However, I felt there was still a little room for improvement. Throughout the few days in Kathmandu valley when we visited the various UNESCO world heritage sites, other than Pashupatinath temple, I felt she was a little bit rushed, and I did not have enough time to fully explore the various places or imbibe in the local culture and vibe. This was especially the case in the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which was really pretty. We just briefly walked into the palace for a very short while (and wasn't sure if there were any other buildings in the square to explore), and then continued on our walk to the hotel. Granted, she did give us our Durbar Square tickets so that we could come back if we wanted to. But in the case of some of the venues, like Bhaktapur, it was a very long walk from our hotel and very difficult for two females to come back all the way in the dark. Also, we were travelling in a very small group of two. However, most of the time, she was walking ahead with my other travel companion and explaining to her, leaving me trailing behind and not knowing what is happening. I think the trip would have been more enjoyable if she made a bit more effort to involve both of us (given it is such a small group). Last but not least, on our hike up to Namobuddha, we were given the choice of two places to eat for lunch - the Namobuddha resort that served farm-to-table organic vegetarian meals, and the monastery restaurant. The former needed to be booked half an hour before we arrived. She briefly mentioned the choices the night before and I opted to decide on the day itself. She asked us for our choice again midway through our hike. However, as the information was incomplete / erroneous and my travel companion was extremely strong-minded, I was compelled to make a decision I did not want at a time I was feeling very exhausted - Pratikshya told us that the resort only had a fixed vegetarian menu every day (without telling us what is the menu that day) whereas the monastery restaurant had an ala carte menu where we can order whatever we want. Also, we could drink beer in the monastery restaurant but not at the resort (something I wanted to do to celebrate our achievement of completing the hike). The impression I got was that the resort was more touristy whereas the monastery restaurant was more authentic. But when we finally made the hike up I realised it was anything but! The monastery restaurant had only a menu handwritten on the board of 7 dishes (most of them included things I could find in my local country like Fried Rice and Fried Noodles), was full of tourists, and last but most importantly, could not serve beer because it was a restaurant owned by the monastery. I had to go the the restaurant opposite if I wanted beer. I felt a little cheated because I might have enjoyed it a little better if I went to the Namobuddha Resort and tried food that was actually grown locally. But there was no more time to try or change my decision after the hike, as we could not afford a slightly longer lunch and had to drive down to Bhaktapur, for which she rushed through anyway.

- Kimkim's payment policy: We were a little uncomfortable having to pay 100% of our trip costs even before the trip commenced, and were worried that Himalayan Trails would not be incentivised to put in good service as a result. Thankfully it turned out OK, but it would be good if kimkim can review its payment policy to leave some percentage (perhaps 10% or so) to be paid at the end of the trip.

Sangita was so great from the start. She promptly and patiently answered all questions and concerns when we were coming up with the itinerary. Together with Bipin and Rabin, they gave us a memorable trip that introduced us to how wonderful Nepal is. We hope we'll have the chance to return.

Our party of 4 adults from Thailand were in Nepal for our first time for 4 nights and we all had a safe and wonderful time thanks to kimkim and the team. As the organizer, it wasn't easy to choose a local tour company because there are so many to screen, but I was very happy to have chosen kimkim and this team. Pre-trip, the entire coordination process such as emails back and forth, queries, payment etc was very smooth. I love kimkim's email communication system which basically makes life... read more

Our party of 4 adults from Thailand were in Nepal for our first time for 4 nights and we all had a safe and wonderful time thanks to kimkim and the team. As the organizer, it wasn't easy to choose a local tour company because there are so many to screen, but I was very happy to have chosen kimkim and this team. Pre-trip, the entire coordination process such as emails back and forth, queries, payment etc was very smooth. I love kimkim's email communication system which basically makes life so much easier than going through regular email chains. Also appreciated the fast response times to queries and for this we have to thank our point man, Chhewang, who met us several times during the trip. Our local guide Gyaljan and trek captain Sonam were both excellent as well, very knowledgeable and highly flexible to accommodate our needs (and we were at times very demanding!) which is exactly what we were looking for in a customized tour. We chose accommodation (btw the Mariott Kathmandu is the best at the moment) but transport, restaurants etc which were pre-arranged were all very good quality. The historical sites in the capital are not to be missed, and we also loved the Chandragiri cable car. However, the highlight of the trip was no doubt our 14km trek (easy one for Nepal) to Nagarkot - the weather was perfect and the views of the Himalayan ranges simply amazing. 5 days and 4 nights was too short. We'd love to go back and if we do, we'll use kimkim and team again.

Yogesh has been very good and helpful, he made my whole trip. Everything went exactly as in the itinerary, except for a minor mistake on Temple Tree Hotel check out and pick up time. The hotel staff told me the wrong time which was one and half hour earlier than the arranged. The last day photograph tour was the best, far beyond my exception. The guide was a super kind and knowledgeable gentleman. He was the best during this trip.

Overall, great experience. I will surely consider Social Tour next time in Nepal.

Had a wonderful time and memorable experiences on the Annapurna circuit. Fantastic scenery and breathtaking mountains.

Tashi organised everything perfectly - it couldn’t have been better. He was very attentive and quick to respond to questions about the trip. Also helped me out making sure I had the right gear.

A special thanks to my marvellous guide and new found brother Pemba - he was a delight to be with. Really experienced and informative. Nothing was too much for him to help out with. He was super company on the treks which made the trip so special.

Thanks again
Dale

Firstly planning our trip with Kim Kim was a delight. The team really asked the right questions and understood what we were looking for in an itinerary. Amanda answered all my detailed questions about safety and they were able to use their local knowledge to suggest the best way to customise our experience. The accommodation exceeded our expectations in terms of cleanliness and luxury. We were given full disclosure regarding the eco lodge not having hot running water but the warmth of the... read more

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

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

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

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

Guides:
Our trekking guide Rajesh and porters were... read more

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

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

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

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

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

My children and I had our health put at risk by the disgusting state of the accommodation on the trek. We were not told to bring bedding. We booked a luxury accommodation package at $20,000 usa for three people ( two of which were sharing a room) and 11 days. We were booked into accommodation with no running water no power and no heating. We had to beg every 30 minutes to keep the central wood burning kettle stove alight. We had no room heating in any lodge. The last... read more

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

Our private trek (EBC, Chola Pass and Goyko lakes for two) was organised by Kripa last minute and was a fantastic experience. All went as planned and Kripa was accomodating to last minute changes. Our guide Rishi took expert care of us up the mountains and knew exactly how much we could do in one day adjusting the pace or the meal stops to our daily needs. I couldn’t recommend these two people highly enough. In addition to the trek when my partner fell ill in Kathmandu, Kripa was there... read more

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

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

Sangita, Bipin, Rabin are all super helpful and professional! Can't describe how happy to get to know them and had such wonderful memories. We have encountered some flight issues due to local weather and Sangita helped with rearranging the itinerary very quickly. The whole trip is wonderful, most memorable places would be the view from Australia Camp and the world heritage architecture in Kathmandu. Rabin and Bipin did a great job of telling lively stories and giving us knowledge of nature,... read more

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

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

We were met at the airport in Kathmandu and together with our guide flew to Pokhara to begin the... read more

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

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

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

A Perfect 10 Days in Nepal

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

I also greatly appreciated Kirpa's agility. She was nimble on her feet... read more

A Perfect 10 Days in Nepal

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

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

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

Tashi, Njima and Mingma all did a fantastic job.

We just came back from a wonderful 11 day trip to Nepal. This included the city of Kathmandu and a trek through the Khumbu valley. The trek was the most memorable part of the tour. Walking through these great mountains, meeting wonderful people, sharing their adventure stories and braving the chilly weather made every day enriching. From the evening we landed in Kathmandu to the morning we left our tour guides Nepal Myths and Mountain Trails were with us. Lakhpa introduced us to the nearby... read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

Would highly recommend!

--Erika

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

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

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

Sangita & Bipin are wonderful warm & welcoming. The ideal host and can easily tell they love what they do and go the... read more

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

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

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

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

Thanks so much for a trip of a lifetime

All the best from Canada - Namaste :)

What a fabulous introduction to Nepal my recent trip was. Whilst primarily visiting Nepal to attend a conference, I organised a 12 day tour to follow the conference using kimkim and their local Nepalese travel agent Sangita & Bipin and the team from HNB. “Wow” did I hit the jackpot, Sangita & Bipin were fabulous and put together a trip to encompass all my requirements of wildlife, natural and cultural sites along with an insight into to the cultural history of Nepal. From the first meeting... read more

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

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

I had a great time and appreciate the professionalism and flexibility with my trip schedule.
Everybody from Social Tours did a great job.
I will highly recommend Social Tour for anybody looking to do trekking in Nepal.

Our trek in the Himalaya was an incredible experience and we were so happy that we decided to book with the KimKim/Himalayan Trails. Our local specialist, Kripa, was an invaluable resource as we tried to determine which trek was right for us. She was responsive, helpful, and always available to answer any and all questions we had while planning the trip and the KimKim interface made communication seamless and easy. Our guide, Nawang, was one a warm, kind, and fun-loving and companion on... read more

Our trek in the Himalaya was an incredible experience and we were so happy that we decided to book with the KimKim/Himalayan Trails. Our local specialist, Kripa, was an invaluable resource as we tried to determine which trek was right for us. She was responsive, helpful, and always available to answer any and all questions we had while planning the trip and the KimKim interface made communication seamless and easy. Our guide, Nawang, was one a warm, kind, and fun-loving and companion on the trail. He had friends in every village we passed through and had a knack for picking the best tea houses and side trips for us along the way. Our porter, Paljong, was really more like a second guide on the trek and brought humor, levity and a helpful attitude along every step around Manaslu. We hope to get back to Nepal for another trek someday, and when we do, we'll absolutely use KimKim/Himalayan Trails again!

Took the Pikey Peak 8 day tour and was tailored to our requirements. Amanda was extremely helpful and professional throughout. The planning.The trek was superb and the guide and porter were absolutely fantastic . The whole team delivered a unique and 1st class unforgettable trip. I would not hesitate in using this team again in the future.

We had the most incredible Manaslu trek! It was brilliantly organised by Amanda who was incredibly informative and remained undaunted by our endless questions and changes to the itinerary. Our guide Sonem was just amazing and could not have been more caring and supportive. She really looked after us, trying so hard to secure the best accommodation and manage our expectations, checking the food and the kitchen at the tea houses, often cooking for us herself. She was so full of energy fun... read more

We had the most incredible Manaslu trek! It was brilliantly organised by Amanda who was incredibly informative and remained undaunted by our endless questions and changes to the itinerary. Our guide Sonem was just amazing and could not have been more caring and supportive. She really looked after us, trying so hard to secure the best accommodation and manage our expectations, checking the food and the kitchen at the tea houses, often cooking for us herself. She was so full of energy fun and warmth: we all loved her. Her team of porters and sub guide were also so cheery warm and positive. Watching over us cheering us on and never complaining.
The trek was more of a challenge than anticipated and the altitude punishing, but the scenery was spectacular as we climbed from rivers to jungle stunning open plains and the majestic awe inspiring mountains. The villages, people we met on the trail, mountain mules and Yaks were fascinating: new wonders every day. We all loved it: there were highs and lows, times spent huddled frozen in our sleeping bags hugging hot water bottles, cold showers and seriously basic accommodation but our spirits always lifted when we were walking and we all feel a huge sense of achievement. We are so looking forward to the comforts of home but will never forget Nepal and Manaslu.

We are a group of 3 from Australia that completed the Pikey Peak trek in November in 2019. Sangita was very helpful in organising our trip and answered all our queries. It was our first visit to Nepal and the trek was fantastic. We were lucky to have some good weather and had fantastic views of the Everist region and surrounding country. Our guide Bhim was extremely knowledgable and went out of his way to impart his knowledge and to ensure we had a good trip. Our porter Pemba (who is also a... read more

We are a group of 3 from Australia that completed the Pikey Peak trek in November in 2019. Sangita was very helpful in organising our trip and answered all our queries. It was our first visit to Nepal and the trek was fantastic. We were lucky to have some good weather and had fantastic views of the Everist region and surrounding country. Our guide Bhim was extremely knowledgable and went out of his way to impart his knowledge and to ensure we had a good trip. Our porter Pemba (who is also a guide) did a great job and was a pleasure to walk with. All in all the trip was a great success and I would be happy to recommend Sangita and Bipin for those considering a treking trip in Nepal

In general we think that the guides here are less professionell than in other countries. We had two different guides (Dawa and Pemba) and both experience were simillar. The guides here only give you information when you ask.

However it was always easy to communicate with Kripa. So with her we made good experiences.

We did like both treks so from the nature it was worth to visit Nepal.

This was our first time using KimKim but it has been a very positive experience and I would not hesitate to recommend it to others. Himalayan Trails were our tour agent and from the outset they were nothing but efficient helping us to plan exactly what we wanted from our trip. Amanda was quick to respond to any queries and provided lots of additional useful information to ensure we were well prepared in advance. The accommodation we had was full of character and in traditional Nepali style... read more

This was our first time using KimKim but it has been a very positive experience and I would not hesitate to recommend it to others. Himalayan Trails were our tour agent and from the outset they were nothing but efficient helping us to plan exactly what we wanted from our trip. Amanda was quick to respond to any queries and provided lots of additional useful information to ensure we were well prepared in advance. The accommodation we had was full of character and in traditional Nepali style rather than anonymous chain hotels, every pick up or meeting happened on time, she even managed to find us last minute accommodation when one of our guest houses had overbooked. Our trekking guide, Mindu, kept us safe, fed and watered and motivated when we needed it - his cheerful singing and whistling along with his infectious laugh kept us entertained for 4 days on the Muldai trek. Our city guide, Subash, was always on hand to answer our endless questions and was great company painting pictures of the sights we visited with lots of stories. He soon joined in our teasing and banter (and gave as good as he got!). We had a fabulous trip but it was the people we met who made it so special. We have fallen in love with Nepal and will definitely be back and will not hesitate to use Himalayan Trails again. Thank you everyone - you did an amazing job!

Kimkim connected me with Sangita to help me plan a 12-day solo trip to Nepal during Tihar. She listened to all of my requests and planned the perfect trip for me. I started in Patan, then flew to Lumbini, and then traveled by bus to Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, and back to Kathmandu, ending the trip in Bhaktapur. Sangita took care of all of the domestic travel, accommodations, and tours. While I did meet her once, we were in constant communication during the trip. My guide throughout the... read more

Kimkim connected me with Sangita to help me plan a 12-day solo trip to Nepal during Tihar. She listened to all of my requests and planned the perfect trip for me. I started in Patan, then flew to Lumbini, and then traveled by bus to Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, and back to Kathmandu, ending the trip in Bhaktapur. Sangita took care of all of the domestic travel, accommodations, and tours. While I did meet her once, we were in constant communication during the trip. My guide throughout the Kathmandu Valley was actually her husband, Bipin. Both Sangita and Bipin were knowledgeable, warm, and welcoming. I felt like a family friend the whole time. I can’t say enough good things about them. As for the destinations, I liked them all. Patan is a beautiful city with a lot of culture. I went on a special street art tour there, and learned about the local scene there. In Lumbini, I was on my own. I hired a driver to take me around to the different monasteries. They were all beautiful and unique, designed in the architectural style of the host country. I couldn’t pick a favorite. In Pokhara, I had a guide named Bharat who was also amazing. He was so kind and taught me a lot about the Himalayas, Pokhara, and the Tibetan refugees. Chitwan National Park was one of my favorite parts of the trip. I stayed at Hotel Parkside, where the staff is fantastic. Gopal was my guide for the excursions. He can spot a bird from miles away and tell you exactly what kind it is. I told him about my love of rhinos, and we actually ended up finding five of them during my stay. They were so cute! It was amazing to see them in the wild. I would definitely stay at Parkside again. In Kathmandu, I had free time to celebrate Laxmi Puja with my friend at her home. Then, in Bhaktapur I met back up with Bipin to tour the city. It is a beautiful, historic city. I stayed at Vajra Guest House, which I also highly recommend. The two owners Sajan and Sujan are so sweet, and they really made me feel at home. Overall, I had a great time in Nepal. My favorite parts were the wonderful people I met there and the beautiful Chitwan National Park (with the rhinos.) I would love to return again, and if I do, I will definitely contact Sangita. Thank you all so much!

Our experience in Nepal was magical. It was a return visit for my husband and I and we were not disappointed. The place remains amazing, the people warm and welcoming and our overall experience reinforced our love of the country. The Kathmandu Guest House was a good start with a great location in the bustle of the old town. Amit, our guide in the city, was sensitive to our wishes, thoughtful and informative. He did not rush us at any time but gave sensible advice on how long to stay and where... read more

Our experience in Nepal was magical. It was a return visit for my husband and I and we were not disappointed. The place remains amazing, the people warm and welcoming and our overall experience reinforced our love of the country. The Kathmandu Guest House was a good start with a great location in the bustle of the old town. Amit, our guide in the city, was sensitive to our wishes, thoughtful and informative. He did not rush us at any time but gave sensible advice on how long to stay and where to be. The Balthali Lodge was our only disappointment, not a view shared by our travelling companions I don’t think! We thought its location 2 hrs east of Kathmandu added unnecessary travelling for a view of the hills we could have found west of the city. The road to the resort was shocking, even by mountainous Nepalese standards! This made our drive to Bandipur long and required an earlier start than would have been necessary from a more westward location. This left us with little time to explore the beautiful old town again before it was dark. Another half day here would have been better - possible if we had been that side of Kathmandu the previous night. The Old Inn was as lovely as we remembered! Our trek lived up to all expectations. Our guide Nema and his assistant Nema Tassi were excellent. They set a brilliant pace and were attentive to our needs and safety at all times. Accommodation along the way was first rate and the morning views from Gurung Lodge, La Bee Lodge and Himalayas Lodge were all stunning and worth waking up at dawn for. The tea house in Tadapani was basic but adequate, the cold and damp were simply due to altitude and cloud! The morning view made up for it and was quite stunning. The Hungry Eye Guest House in Ghorepani was much better than “just a tea house”. Our trek up Poon Hill was worth every step and we enjoyed wonderful views of the Dhaulagiri range and the Annapurnas. We were genuinely sad to say goodbye to our team, including two splendid porters who always raced ahead to get us the best rooms they could! The drive down from Ulleri was exhilarating, made more so by the brilliant and thoughtful driving and I’m sorry I don’t know the drivers name. Arriving at Temple Tree Resort in Pokhara was a treat. Lovely hotel in the Lakeside area and a great place for R&R. I’m glad we chose an extra day here. Next was the rafting trip. It was enormous fun and as people who’d rafted before exhilarating and made us smile the whole way. We had been led to believe it would be a drift, we were glad it wasn’t but if we’d known there were rapids involved may have dressed differently! Sukra Lama was a brilliant boatman and his team provided us with amazing food and a comfortable camp in lightning time great team work! Recommend him to anyone. Our next location was Tharu Lodge in Chitwan. A lovely place, great food and comfortable accommodation. Our jungle walk, elephant day, Jeep safari and river safari were all magical in their different ways but the highlights were 5 grazing rhino in the meadow and watching the elephants bathing and playing n the river. Our return to Kathmandu gave us an extra day to explore Patan. On reflection perhaps we should have asked for a hotel that end of the city for a change but the central location of KGH in old Kathmandu was still great.
Our driver over the visit was good. Always
punctual, helpful and polite. My only reservation was that he seemed to rate speed over comfort and at times his determination to arrive on time made for scary moments and a bumpy ride. However, he is not responsible for the state of the roads!!!!
As you can tell we thoroughly enjoyed our return visit and would happily recommend you to friends wanting a tailored tour and indeed all the individual operators.

What a fabulous introduction to Kathmandu ! Raj of Socialtours arranged for us the perfect exploration of the city and its surrounding areas. He understood that we were looking for contacts with the locals and this is exact what we did in the few days ( too few) we spent in Kathmandu. From the Aarthi ( sitting in the midst of the Nepali faithful) at Pashupatinath to the exploration of the local markets , and the walk in the Newari villages of Bungamati and Khokana we really felt the... read more

What a fabulous introduction to Kathmandu ! Raj of Socialtours arranged for us the perfect exploration of the city and its surrounding areas. He understood that we were looking for contacts with the locals and this is exact what we did in the few days ( too few) we spent in Kathmandu. From the Aarthi ( sitting in the midst of the Nepali faithful) at Pashupatinath to the exploration of the local markets , and the walk in the Newari villages of Bungamati and Khokana we really felt the connection with the locals . We especially enjoyed the dawn walk of Bhaktapur ( not to be missed !) . In all of our travels , we never had a similar experience : we tasted street food breakfast , witnessed the morning prayers and offerings in the street and in the temples and got the major sightseeing spots all to ourselves. I especially want to commend Raj , Sarita and Bikram our extraordinary guides , not only did they explained to us what was happening but we also shared many laughs and had a lot of fun with them . Bikram in particular knows everyone in Bungamati and Bhaktapur and was able to introduce us to a lot of the locals. Naturally our experience would not have been the same without the kindness and the warm welcome we received from the Nepali people . We will be back !

We want to thank Kripa for arranging this awesome unforgettable vacation. This goes beyond my expectations. Love the Hotel both the Dwarika's in Kathmandu and the Pavilions in Pokhara. Walking in the streets of Kathmandu is an experience and seeing the UNESCO sites (Pashupatinath, Boudanath, and Swayambunath). Being on the off the beaten path Trekking is also great, with varied terrain, and scenery and scanty tourists. Our guide Suma made our trek interesting who also carried my backpack.... read more

We want to thank Kripa for arranging this awesome unforgettable vacation. This goes beyond my expectations. Love the Hotel both the Dwarika's in Kathmandu and the Pavilions in Pokhara. Walking in the streets of Kathmandu is an experience and seeing the UNESCO sites (Pashupatinath, Boudanath, and Swayambunath). Being on the off the beaten path Trekking is also great, with varied terrain, and scenery and scanty tourists. Our guide Suma made our trek interesting who also carried my backpack. And of course our porter Mikma, carrying our load. Tadapani and Dobato and Ghorepani sunrise is spectacular. What an experience sleeping in those teahouses. But the highlight of this trek is the Muldai viewpoint trek with spectacular, breathtaking view of the mountains so close. Interesting to see the local (Gurung culture), and getting inside the shepherd's hut. Overall wonderful experiences. Almost all the people we met are very nice. Well, I hope to see Nepal again maybe during Spring in the near future before I get too old. Thanks again Kripa for the wonderful trip and excellent service.
From Cesar Alcid.