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active 8 hours ago

Amanda Delecca

Originally from Australia, I've been travelling for 25 years and found myself coming back to Nepal time and time again. These days Kathmandu is home and I get to show people around this incredible place, introducing our very talented local guides, Sherpas and people along the way who make each and every visit to Nepal unique and special.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Everything Nepal! Cultural visits, trekking tours, mountain biking, relaxation and adventure: everything in between or a combination of them all! My specialty areas mostly stick to the path - you won't find every man and his dog there, but you also won't need your expedition suit. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"After travelling to Nepal in 2010 and having an awesome experience, I started think that that's what I wanted to 'do'. Like what I REALLY wanted to do. Show people around an awesome place and send them home happy. It turns out that the company I booked my tour with in Nepal not only delivered an awesome tour but also had interesting recruitment techniques. After filling in a post-trip feedback form I mentioned in an email that I was interesting in a change of career and I think tourism is it. The response:
"So, when do you want to start work?
Seriously."
WOW! After recovering from the moment that my heart skipped a beat I had a million questions - but what work? And where? How does that even work?
A year later I returned to Nepal, to the company that I had toured with the previous year and here I still am!
Moral of the story - be careful travelling with us, you might never leave! ;)"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Probably my most memorable travel experience, strangely, was right at home. Growing up in Australia, our family hosted many exchange students and each time we had a new international 'brother' or 'sister' to stay for a year, we not only got a new member to our family, but we also got to know all about where they came from. Discovering the delights (and dislikes!) of things such as Thai fish sauce and herbal tea from southern Brazilian were certainly memorable and I now have 'family members' all over the world!"

Amanda is part of the following groups: Nepal Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries

Favorite experiences

Explore Ancient Villages: Bungamati & Khokana

This excursion from Kathmandu is a six-hour tour to the rustic Newari towns of Bungamati and Khokana. It's a unique opportunity to learn about the traditions of the rural residents whose families have thrived here since antiquity. These are the Newars, people who are indigenous to the Kathmandu...

Recent trip reviews for Amanda

A Memorable Visit!!!
Nepal | Aug 5 - Aug 10, 2024

Jennifer
Jennifer B.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2024
Our first city, Kathmandu, afforded us an instant and memorable view into their culture and city life! Our hotel was very nice! Staff was friendly and attentive. Our room was clean and well appointed. Their fitness room was nice! (I’m always happy when there’s a fitness room) While in contrast to Kathmandu, the Chitwan Jungle Resort was beautiful, the room was spacious and we had gorgeous views from our balcony and on the resort grounds. The staff was very friendly and accommodating!... Read more

Our first city, Kathmandu, afforded us an instant and memorable view into their culture and city life! Our hotel was very nice! Staff was friendly and attentive. Our room was clean and well appointed. Their fitness room was nice! (I’m always happy when there’s a fitness room)

While in contrast to Kathmandu, the Chitwan Jungle Resort was beautiful, the room was spacious and we had gorgeous views from our balcony and on the resort grounds. The staff was very friendly and accommodating! Likewise we had an altogether different but equally beautiful atmosphere when we stayed overnight at Matan Chhen in Panauti.

Our guide in Kathmandu was great and we had fantastic tours. Our host in Panauti, Grishma, was very helpful and charming!

If we did the trip again, I would not go to Panauti on our last day before departing Nepal. After the morning flight back from Chitwan to Kathmandu, we didn’t feel like driving another 1.5 hours only to go to a small town, with little to do or see and then just hang out in the residence the rest of the day. (We walked around the town for a little bit as Grishma was kind enough to walk with us but there was not much to do or see) And then having to drive back to Kathmandu exceptionally earlier than needed the following morning only to sit at the airport for 3 hour and 45 min ahead of our flight (and then add on another 1.5 hours for a delay). Had I known all the travel time and the lack of really anything to do in Panauti, I would have opted to stay in Kathmandu or somewhere a lot closer. That’s my only constructive feedback for the tour company. With limited time in the country anyway, the less ‘travel time’ to get to places, the better. Or at least a better call out on the planning side about total trip times.

Overall, it was a very positive experience and I would recommend Himalayan Trails to anyone! We were well taken care of!

Local specialist: Amanda Delecca

Go with the people who know Nepal
Nepal | Jul 29 - Aug 2, 2024

Chris
Chris J.
Australia | Reviewed on Aug 08, 2024
From the outset the service and communication was EXCELLENT. Our planner Amanda was super helpful in good advice for travelling in the off season / monsoon season and helped create an amazing itinerary that gave us the best trip for the little amount of time we had in Nepal. It was all organised in a short time and meant we didn't have to worry about what to do when we arrived. Our on ground contacts and guides were equally amazing - they contacted us before our tour started while we were... Read more

From the outset the service and communication was EXCELLENT. Our planner Amanda was super helpful in good advice for travelling in the off season / monsoon season and helped create an amazing itinerary that gave us the best trip for the little amount of time we had in Nepal. It was all organised in a short time and meant we didn't have to worry about what to do when we arrived.

Our on ground contacts and guides were equally amazing - they contacted us before our tour started while we were in Kathmandu to have a quick catch up, meet and greet and go through the upcoming days in more detail. It's little things like this that make for a confident trip and ease any concerns about travelling in a new country.

Throughout the whole tour our guides were prompt, friendly and very knowledgeable. Flights, transfers and site entries / permits were all sorted and something we didn't even have to think about - all we had to do was enjoy the amazing scenery, culture and interesting history.

An extra special mention to the team in adjusting our tour when I sustained an injury which meant we couldn't do a planned small trek. They arranged extra nights in our current hotel so we could stay where we were and rest.

Couldn't recommend the team highly enough.

Cheers Chris

Local specialist: Amanda Delecca

Amazing experience
Nepal | May 15 - May 19, 2024

yancey
yancey A.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on May 19, 2024
Just an amazing experience. The trek was well thought through and fit the level of skill and challenge I was hoping to get. Guide and Porter were, simply put, Professional,
Friendly, Respectful. We had some great laughs and pushed through some challenging spots as a team.
Read more

Just an amazing experience. The trek was well thought through and fit the level of skill and challenge I was hoping to get. Guide and Porter were, simply put, Professional,
Friendly, Respectful. We had some great laughs and pushed through some challenging spots as a team.

Hotel Review
Hotel Manaslu
Kathmandu

Our stay was great. We enjoyed the clean room and the convenience of the morning breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
The look and feel was perfect.
Location
Breakfast was very good.
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sheets
Local specialist: Amanda Delecca
Amanda
Amanda Delecca
Local specialist in Kathmandu and USA | Replied on Jun 01, 2024

Hi Clay,

Thanks so much for your glowing review, it was an absolute pleasure working with you on this one!

From Amanda, Keshab and the HT Team

Incredible Nepal and Bhutan
Nepal | Apr 22 - May 8, 2024

Jane
Jane G.
Australia | Reviewed on May 13, 2024
Wow! This was such an amazing holiday. Amanda, Raj and their team at Himalayan Trails were just so great to work with. Our guide in Nepal, Pratikshya, and the drivers who supported her, all did such a fabulous job of showing us their country. The team were great with not only helping us plan the itinerary, but also making a whole lot of last-minute changes when things didn't go to plan. We were able to quickly and easily discuss things with Pratikshya and make the necessary changes. They... Read more

Wow! This was such an amazing holiday. Amanda, Raj and their team at Himalayan Trails were just so great to work with. Our guide in Nepal, Pratikshya, and the drivers who supported her, all did such a fabulous job of showing us their country. The team were great with not only helping us plan the itinerary, but also making a whole lot of last-minute changes when things didn't go to plan. We were able to quickly and easily discuss things with Pratikshya and make the necessary changes. They also set us up with Wind Horse Tours in Bhutan to spend some time there, and both companies made everything just so easy for us.

The Kimkim platform made it so easy to research and discuss what we wanted to do and communicating with Amanda and the team was so straightforward.

Highlights of the trip - definitely seeing a tiger in Bardia National Park, hiking Tiger's Nest, and spending some time in local communities in Panauti and Kirtipur to see what everyday life is like for Nepali people.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Manaslu
Kathmandu

Very comfortable, well-maintained with excellent, helpful staff. Good location too - not too close to all the hustle of Thamel but close enough to access it if you want

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Milla Guesthouse Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur

Lovely guesthouse! We visited here near the end of our time in Nepal and it was such a good place to relax and catch up before moving on.

Authenticity & Character
Newari style house, but with everything western travellers could need
Location
Easy to get to and right near a square with lots of food options. Also a charming
Staff
Caring and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Matan Chhen
Panauti

Just incredible. Having a place to stay in the middle of the old city was like really being part of the community. Particularly with the festival we got to witness

Authenticity & Character
So well renovated. Gave us the character we were looking for but still the comforts we needed.
Location
Right in the middle of a lovely Newari neighbourhood
Staff
Grishma and Maya were so welcoming! We got to go out to the markets with Grishma, and they made us a lovely dinner and breakfast. So special. Thank you both
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tiger Tops Karnarli Lodge

This was an amazing place to stay and really added to the experience of visiting the park. BC and his team were so thorough and professional, but very welcoming at the same time. The cool towels and drinks were really well received every time they were offered. I loved the sustainable approach to running the lodge and the safari guides and drivers (we had Krishna and Ramsingh) were just so good at their jobs. They found us two tigers and so many birds! They There were also a lot of people behind the scenes who I don't know the names of, from the gate guards to the nightwatchmen, the cleaners and the cooks, who all help make this such a special place. Thanks you so much for everything

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful rooms in the style of the Tharu longhouses as well as the communal areas, all beautifully taken care of.
Location
Right next to the National Park and a short but nice trip through the local villages to get to the park entrance
Staff
If I could give more than 5 starts I would. The staff were just so caring, welcoming, and friendly. Everyone there was just fabulous
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Amanda Delecca

Trip of a lifetime!
Bhutan | May 2 - May 10, 2024

Tara
Tara V.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on May 12, 2024
Amanda helped us plan an incredible vacation to Kathmandu and Bhutan. We had knowledgeable guides on every date of our stay, and were taken care of from airport pick-up to drop off. The itineraries were easily customizable based on our interests (even including a trip to a middle school I attended), and there was both plenty of sightseeing as well as down time. Would highly recommend booking with KimKim! Read more

Amanda helped us plan an incredible vacation to Kathmandu and Bhutan. We had knowledgeable guides on every date of our stay, and were taken care of from airport pick-up to drop off. The itineraries were easily customizable based on our interests (even including a trip to a middle school I attended), and there was both plenty of sightseeing as well as down time. Would highly recommend booking with KimKim!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Manaslu
Kathmandu

Great breakfast, comfortable lodging, courteous staff, convenient location near Thamel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Peacock Guest House
Bhaktapur, Nepal

Historic guesthouse in the heart of Bhaktapur.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Phuntsho Pelri
Thimpu

Comfortable room, amenities, and very responsive staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Zhingkham Resort
Punakha

Incredible hotel with a view of the Punakha Dzong.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tashi Namgay Resort
Paro

Comfortable, large rooms, all amenities, fast wi-fi.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Amanda Delecca

Stellar Trekking Experience with Amanda & team!
Nepal | Apr 5 - Apr 10, 2024

Juan
Juan C.
Israel | Reviewed on Apr 19, 2024
Amanda played a pivotal role in making our trek through the Annapurna region unforgettable. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for trekking in Nepal were evident from the start. She provided invaluable insights and recommendations, ensuring our trip was tailored to our interests and fitness levels. Amanda's professionalism and responsiveness made the planning process seamless and stress-free. Her coordination with the local team was impeccable, allowing us to focus solely on enjoying the... Read more

Amanda played a pivotal role in making our trek through the Annapurna region unforgettable. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for trekking in Nepal were evident from the start. She provided invaluable insights and recommendations, ensuring our trip was tailored to our interests and fitness levels. Amanda's professionalism and responsiveness made the planning process seamless and stress-free. Her coordination with the local team was impeccable, allowing us to focus solely on enjoying the trek.

Special shoutout to our trekking guide and porter, Chhepal and Furi, who were truly outstanding. Their expertise and knowledge of the terrain enhanced our trekking experience immensely. They were attentive, supportive, and always made us feel safe during the trail. Also, the accommodations provided along the trek were fantastic. The lodges were comfortable, clean, and offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes.

We're immensely grateful for Amanda and the team for an exceptional service and support. Thank you for an amazing adventure—we can't wait to plan another trek with you soon!

Hotel Reviews
Snowland Lodge - Ghandruk

This lodge was comfortable, clean, and offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. After a long day of trekking, arriving to this cozy lodge felt like a treat!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Landruk Lodge by Mountain lodge of Nepal

This lodge was comfortable, clean, and offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. After a long day of trekking, arriving to this cozy lodge felt like a treat!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dhampus Lodge
Dhampus

This lodge was comfortable, clean, and offered breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. After a long day of trekking, getting to this cozy lodge felt like a treat!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Amanda Delecca

Very nice
Nepal | Apr 5 - Apr 12, 2024

M
Mehrbano R.
France | Reviewed on Apr 18, 2024
Nepal was really lovely Pros:
1. they took care of everything!
2. the guide was really great.
3. The first hotel called Hana lo was excellent.
Cons:
1. It was smoggy and visibility was minimal in the places we trekked.
2. The reason we used kimkim for the first time is because we are terribly busy with work this year and dont have time to research and book ourselves. In response to several queries like, where to get SIMs etc, we would get a web link guides. Which is exactly what we...
Read more

Nepal was really lovely

Pros:
1. they took care of everything!
2. the guide was really great.
3. The first hotel called Hana lo was excellent.

Cons:
1. It was smoggy and visibility was minimal in the places we trekked.
2. The reason we used kimkim for the first time is because we are terribly busy with work this year and dont have time to research and book ourselves. In response to several queries like, where to get SIMs etc, we would get a web link guides. Which is exactly what we were trying to avoid by using Kimkim. So would suggest in the future answers like "at the airport after exiting immigration" than a website blog.

Hotel Reviews
The Pavilions Himalayas The Farm
Pokhara
Snowland Lodge - Ghandruk
Landruk Lodge by Mountain lodge of Nepal
Dhampus Lodge
Dhampus
Authenticity & Character
Hana No Ie
Pokhara
Temple Tree Resort & Spa
Pokhara
Local specialist: Amanda Delecca

Manaslu circuit trek April 2024
Nepal | Apr 1 - Apr 14, 2024

N
Nick H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Apr 17, 2024
Our experience with KimKim was pretty much perfect from the initial contact right through the entirety of our Manaslu circuit trek.
Amanda was friendly and her responses were always prompt and helpful. We really appreciated the opportunity to meet with both Amanda, and our guide, Suman, in Kathmandu, the day before our trek.
Suman was professional and courteous through and through. He was sensible, measured, endlessly knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with. His English was...
Read more

Our experience with KimKim was pretty much perfect from the initial contact right through the entirety of our Manaslu circuit trek.
Amanda was friendly and her responses were always prompt and helpful. We really appreciated the opportunity to meet with both Amanda, and our guide, Suman, in Kathmandu, the day before our trek.
Suman was professional and courteous through and through. He was sensible, measured, endlessly knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with. His English was impeccable and we always felt safe with him.
Our porter, Laxman, was very friendly and hard-working, and we felt lucky to have him on our ‘team’ too.
The Manaslu circuit trek was absolutely epic - The jaw-dropping scenery was rivalled only by the unique cultural experience we had.

Local specialist: Amanda Delecca

Made the most out of 8 days in Nepal
Nepal | Apr 1 - Apr 8, 2024

Kristin
Kristin M.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Apr 12, 2024

Had an awesome experience in Nepal thanks to Amanda, Chhiring, Pratikshya, and Rasheev. (sp?) We were met at the airport, brought to our hotel and after a short rest, met by Amanda and the guides and briefed on the whole trip. The trekking was full of amazing views and the city tours were informative and fascinating.

Local specialist: Amanda Delecca
Amanda
Amanda Delecca
Local specialist in Kathmandu and USA | Replied on Apr 15, 2024

Hey Kristin,

On behalf of the whole team (including those that you don't get to meet), thanks for your kind words about your trip to Nepal! We are passionate about what we do and love that we get to share this incredible country with so many wonderful people. You got a little taste of Nepal on your short trek and city exploration, there's plenty left for next time :)

Cheers,
Amanda

Great time in Nepal?
Nepal | Apr 1 - Apr 8, 2024

K
Kristin R.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Apr 11, 2024

Booking was a breeze and keeping up communication with changing plans was easy. We had a really great trip and our local guides were lovely.

Local specialist: Amanda Delecca
Amanda
Amanda Delecca
Local specialist in Kathmandu and USA | Replied on Apr 15, 2024

Thanks so much for the review Kristin, we agree that Kimkim makes communication very easy - it was great to meet you both and we're all very glad to hear that you had a great trip!

Until next time :)
Amanda