Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

The private city OSLO walk with Bjorn our tour guide, was amazing. His in-depth knowledge of not only of the Oslo architecture, but of all Norway kept us intrigued for the entire walk. He is so easy to talk to and learn all aspects of Norwegian customs and traditions. It was a little disappointing that the Oslo Street food tour was cancelled. We were delighted with almost every aspect of the itinerary provided by Kimkim, including all of the hotel accommodations, the cruises, and transfers. In hindsight, we wished Kinkim could have provided more information on the public transportation bus and subway routes around Oslo as we had to rely on the more-expensive Uber services to get to the various scheduled activities. Also, in hindsight, we wish Kinkim offered a walking tour of Bergen as well. The weather was perfect: 40 - 50 degrees with sunny sky's. Otherwise, we were most pleased with our trip and look forward to working with your expert specialists the next time we travel.

Katie and all who had a hand in our adventure....

Karen, Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed our two-week odyssey from one end of Norway to the other. While I was not involved in the planning of the trip, I commend you for the selections of hotels and travel arrangements throughout. Well-situated for our purposes, clean... and the laundry facilities in Bergen a real plus! I personally appreciate your extra effort to add this 3rd traveler in an efficient and economically viable program. The detailed itinerary you prepared was VERY essential to the smooth transitions from one locale to the next (and for accessing travel tickets AND local bus/museum pass in Oslo!); we referred to it daily. The suggested restaurants were spot on for those we tried - as much for a taste of the local culture as for a wide range of food options. The couple who welcomed us on Senia, John and Stiig were all as personally engaging as they were knowledgeable about their cities... and also honest about recommendations about how to use our remaining time in Bergen and Oslo, respectively. Plus.... we got a real feel for each city with the walking we did.... a joy! The extras.... a short snowshoe test, the aurora cabin experience, a floating sauna with dip into a fjord, and the open-air fjord tour in Senia (replete with a short hailstorm) allowed us to experience the real environment of Norway, replete with sea eagle sitings while hunting and nesting. Grateful for the dry suits provided for this expedition.... fun! Finally, my gratitude for the pre-trip conference call to review and finalize details of the trip shortly before departure. The nuances of your scheduling after we hung up were icing on the cake. And it was credit card ONLY throughout the trip.... (with exception of tips to the guides) just as you said. Many, many thanks for excellent service throughout.

A couple of personal observations and a question:
1. It would be helpful if all the information re each step of the itinerary (hotel, tour guides, schedule (arrival/departure) and transportation logistics, city background info, suggested sites to visit) info could be summarized chronologically for easier referral. We got lost in looking for info in a city as pieces appeared in different sections of the itinerary.
2. In Senia... it would have been helpful to know about the dry suits in advance. We dressed in layers for the anticipated cold .... and it took time to remove all the clothes to suit up as others waited for us to finish. Might also avoid packing unnecessary clothing.
3. A single guest is often assigned a room no bigger than a closet.... with a bed to match the dimensions. Almost like sleeping in a coffin. I encourage you to do all you can to ensure that this does not happen to one of your clients. It was miserable in Oslo in particular.

And my question:
I was felled by a virus upon our arrival in Senia. I missed the Northern Lights tour (and never had a chance to see them again as I was still sick as we moved to the second location in Senia). Is it possible I could receive a reimbursement for this activity due to my illness? Such a disappointment to miss this AND to lose my day of outside exploration before traveling to Bergen.

Hotel Review

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

The hotel is very well located for easy movement around Bergen, especially of traveling by train. The hotel was clean, the staff friendly and accommodating, and the availability of coffee and tea in the reception area a welcome gift after hours of touring. A special kudos to the hotel for making laundry facilities available - at no cost to guests - on a 24/7 basis. Customer-friendly doesn't get better! The restaurant facilities are very nice and the ability to use this space outside of formal service hours was a plus..... especially due to the small size of the single guest room (a little bigger than a coffin). My only complaint is that while people around us received a generous glass of wine when ordered, we received a MUCH smaller quantity in the same size glass. NOT an optical illusion. I reported this at the reception desk as we departed... it was noticeable and questionable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

As a single guest, I was assigned to a very, very small room. Almost a coffin. Very uncofortable.

Activity Review

Arctic Boat Safari in Senja

Senja

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to experience Norway up close through this time on the open water. The provision of the dry suits was unexpected and MUCH appreciated.... made this tip entirely do-able. The boat's captain was an experienced sailor and kept a watchful eye at all times for any opportunity to see wildlife in air or in the water. The only "needs improving" for this event would be more guidance regarding what we are seeing or stories about the area as we are passing through it for the entire group. The tour manager spoke to smaller groups at times, but there was no real tour information provided at any time during the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As noted, the boat's captain kept a watchful eye out for any opportunity to see wildlife throughout the cruise. He made the difference.

Transport

I appreciated the opportunity to be able to remain outside throughout the excursion, even when water was choppy or weather uncooperative.

kimkim organized a memorable Norway experience for my teen and me. So many great moments to highlight, from snowshoeing above Aurlandsfjord with our wonderful guide Irvin, to exploring the same fjord in a small boat, to discovering Oslo by bike with our very knowledgeable guide Patrick, to snowmobiling above the 69th parallel north near Tromsø in a small group. Our only regret is not spending more than a week in such a mindblowingly beautiful country.

This is the best planned trip I have ever been on. Katie’s help was beyond expectations! The itinerary was seamless and easy to follow! Senja was my favorite place on the trip. It is the most beautiful place on earth. The fjord trip from Flan was another favorite. The guided city tours were exceptional giving a good overview and local content about history and the people. I love Norway and what it stands for: protection of the environment , free education and healthcare, low crime, emphasis on healthy living, recycling, electric transportation, care for its people. It was a spectacular vacation and I was sad to leave. The glaciated peaks and arctic air and water will be forever in my mind. Thank you so much for a beautiful trip! And Katie you were wonderful! I have never experienced the kind and thoughtful connection you provided on any tour I have taken. You are one of a kind. I would definitely book with you again.

Hotel Reviews

Norwegian Wild

Vangsvik

Authenticity & Character

Location location location

Location

This hotel is across the street from a national park. The views from the cabins are breath taking across the fjord.

Staff

They went the extra mile.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Easy access to train to the airport. There was a fire alarm at 2 am that had us leave the hotel and stand in the cold for about 1/2 hour .

Location

I liked the location. It was easy to use the buses and train

Staff

The staff was excellent. They helped me locate my iPad at the airport . A lady was on the phone quite awhile to ID my iPad . I took the express train in picked up my iPad and came back in an hour.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mefjord Brygge

Mefjordvær, Senjahopen

We had a house so we each had our own bedroom. That was nice for Chris because I snore. It was comfortable, local and not fancy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The snow capped mountains and fjords were breathtaking

Staff

Everyone was helpful and guides were entertaining. However, they were not up on the geology of the area.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not much really. It was an authentic local wood house.

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Nice hotel centrally located. The down comforters are too hot.

Staff

Staff was helpful and answered all of out questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Room was right next to breakfast area. Very convenient.

Location

Staff

Didn’t use the staff much. Just to check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Safari

Senja

It’s hit or miss to see the northern lights but our guide made them available to see

Quality of Experience

Good informative guide

Discover Senja

Senja

It was a blustery day with high winds. We did see a lot but it was very cloudy and overcast. The tour guides did a fair job considering the conditions.

Arctic Boat Safari in Senja

Senja

Best part was watching the sea eagles and seagulls dive for fish. We got a really good show. Pictures were hard to get.

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

The guide was well informed and gave us lots of history. The only improvement would be to not talk while walking . It was hard for me to hear everything. If the guide stopped and faced us while talking it would have been alot better.

Free day in Senja

Senja

Went for a walk in the national park. There was fresh powder and it was beautiful. We didn’t need snow shoes so that was nice.

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen

Bergen

Lots of waterfalls!

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

This fjord was very special . I think all people visiting Norway should experience it. Pictures don’t do it justice.

Quality of Experience

Felt like I was in a National Geographic video! The beauty was overwhelming!

Transport

The ferry was perfect! Comfortable and easy to view surroundings!

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Guide was good. Probably walked 10 miles that day. I loved walking thru the different neighborhoods. We got a museum pass for use after the tour and the next day. Put in a lot of walking. Plus learned how to use the busses!

Flight from Southern Norway to Tromsø

Norway

Flight was a normal flight. Got this picture out the window

Contrary to previous experiences with KimKim, this trip was full of missed details and frustrating, last minute, expensive scrambles for transfers. It was very different from my previous trip to Turkey, where everything was impeccably planned and the communication was flawless. On the bright side, Norway was beautiful and the people were lovely and so kind. It’s just a shame that the overall quality of the trip was diminished by the poor planning and communication.

This was our third trip using Kim Kim, and generally speaking we have always received outstanding service, which was why working with Maria was so shockingly disappointing. From the start, Maria was not responsive to our requests and there were an alarming amount of details there were not addressed. For example, in previous trips, all of our transfers were scheduled and included as part of our package, where as with this trip, no transfers had been set up and no transfers were included as part of the package - something we did not realize until late in the planning process. One of the reasons we use Kim Kim is because of the seamlessness and peace of mind knowing that all of the details have been taken care of. When we inquired about one of the major transfers in our trip, Maria suggested we rent a car, at a huge additional expense, which would have been a 9 hour drive, through mountainous, winter conditions. I find this to be ludicrous for a travel expert to suggest. Due to the last minute planning of these details, we ended up having to take 3 flights to reach our destination. At one point during our trip, we had inquired about canceling an excursion. Our local guides never checked in to ask why we wanted to cancel or if there was something going on that we needed help with. It turns out the excursion ended up being canceled by the tour company (who ended up contacting us directly) and it took Kim Kim more than 3 hours to inform us of this cancellation. Before, during, and after our trip, Maria never reached out once to check in and see how things were going. Again, this has not been our previous experience with Kim Kim. The draw of using Kim Kim, who uses local experts, would imply useful information and tips for the areas and destination, and that was completely absent in this trip. For example, that it was recommended we walk from the train station to our hotel in downtown Oslo rather than being over charged by a local Taxi driver. I can go on and on. Additionally, we had an issue with checking into one of the hotels where the clerk had questions about charging the credit card on file. We tried to reach out to Kim Kim and the emergency line and could not get through. On the bright side, we loved Norway as a destination. The excursions were fantastic and fun. We had requested to stay at Sorrisniva, the Holman Husky Lodge, as well as take the Havila Capilla and they certainly did not disappoint, We would highly recommend each of these stays/experiences. The dog sledding with Trasti & Trine, was a particular highlight and an amazing experience. All in all, despite the unexpected challenges working with Maria presented, we loved our time in Norway, and found the local people to be friendly and kind. Sadly, if this had been my first and only experience with Kim Kim, I probably would never use this company again, as in this case, there was no added value.

Hotel Reviews

Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge

Alta

Simply amazing hotel! Everything about our experience exceeding our expectations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holmen Husky Lodge

Alta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Kirkenes

Kirkenes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

King Crab Safari from Kirkenes during Winter

Kirkenes

This was the most disappointing excursion we experienced on our trip. Not necessarily the fault of the tour company. The weather was too warm, and the ice was not frozen enough for us to actually get to experience the king crab fishing ourselves. We had to stand at a far off distance, while the staff went and picked up the king crabs. Of course, we still enjoyed a lovely dinner of the fresh crabs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dogsledding Day Trip

Alta

This was the most amazing experience of our entire trip. The dogsledding was such an authentic experience. The owners of the company took us out themselves and we had such an enjoyable conversation with them about their own 'professional' competitive experiences dogsledding. Truly amazing. We would do this again in a heart beat. Highly recommend. To top it off, the owners are a Michelin Star chef and provide lunch of the trip. They have their own restaurant and bar on site. Amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a fantastic 2 weeks in Norway! Thanks for the itinerary, and to Katie for the great help when we had questions, and the follow-ups, before and during the trip, together with her colleagues, Tom and Matthia, who stood in for her over the weekends in Norway. The places we went were great, and we particularly loved Sommaroy, which Katie suggested. It was a great winter wonderland, peaceful and so beautiful, and yes, we got to experience faint northern lights just above our cabin, though it was cloudy. We were initially upset about the interior of the Cabin we had, which did not look any like the image we saw, but the beautiful place just compensated the initial disappointment. The view was awesome! Overall, it was all great and awesome! We knew we were paying a bit more for the whole trip compare to if we were to prepare our itinerary and make our own bookings, but its all worth it, as it has been so seamless and saved us a lot of headache planning and all the hassles, and has assured us that there is someone to reach out to when we needed help. Thanks Katie and team! Bravo to Kimkim for the group of professional planners and guide!

Want to start with our trip was fantastic and we had complete confidence in our itinerary and specialist. We knew it was an ambitious trip involving many modes of travel that could be overwhelming but Mathia helped organize and plan everything to perfection. Our trip was flawless and his knowledge and communication was stellar which made us feel at ease for a trip of a lifetime for us. All accommodations made for us met and exceeded our expectations. A lot of thought was put into the location of our accommodations to algin easily with meeting points and distance to travel hubs. We had several "bucket list" items to check off while in Norway and Mathia helped us realize every one of them. From dog sledding to seeing the northern lights, sleeping in an ice castle to hiking Trolltunga, cruising the fjords to a cable car ride for a stunning nigh time view of Tromsø we felt like we were able to do it all with ease.

It was important for us to be able to be independent during our trip and we did not want to be part of a guided tour. KimKim offered the flexibility to plan our own customized adventure and Mathia's careful planning allowed us to travel confidently and experience not only the popular tourist areas of Norway but also the smaller out of the way villages and settings. Mathia was in contact with us daily to ensure we made each of our many travel connections and took a genuine interest in our excursions.

Mathia's extensive knowledge of Norway gave us many opportunities to enjoy first class activities that were 100% tailored to our interests. We went dog sledding in Rorøs with Rorøs Husky where our guide went out of his way to give us an authentic and enjoyable experience. The rorbuer where we stayed in Svolvær gave the traditional feel of the fishing village and the driving tour we took of the Lofoten Islands gave us a rich blend of beautiful scenery combined with the history of the area. Our guide was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and customized our trip to include Henningsvær Stadium after he found out we are avid soccer fans. Even our cable car operator in Tromsø was brimming with friendliness and great advice when he recommended we stop at the cafe rather than wait in the long line to return to the bottom of the mountain. We were able to enjoy the most delicious cinnamon knot we have ever had in the warmth of the cafe with beautiful views of the lighted city below.

The staff at Sorrisniva in Alta were second to none. From the friendly and professional drivers who brought us to and from the resort to the staff that were accommodating and assured we were comfortable.

Lastly, the hike up to Trolltunga was stunningly beautiful and fun as our guides were knowledgeable, professional and entertaining. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with their knowledge and witty humor.

We loved Norway and have such fond and loving memories of this beautifully stunning country. The people of Norway were helpful and friendly, often going out of their way to assist us when ever needed.

Our trip would not have been possible without KimKim's flexible travel plan options or Mathia's extensive knowledge and assistance. We highly recommend KimKim and working with Mathia to anyone wanting to explore and visit Norway.

Hotel Reviews

MS Havila Polaris

Fosnavåg

Newer ship, quiet, comfortable with great views for the observation lounge. Our room was very spacious and comfortable. Overall a relaxing experience with professional and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Beautiful and stunning location with updated traditional cabins. Delicious breakfast buffet and options. Staff are friendly and professional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Great location and walking distance to many attractions and restaurants. Clean, comfortable rooms with a wonderful breakfast .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

alta

A fun unique experience sleeping in an igloo / ice castle. We enjoyed the resort and staff that were friendly, accommodating and professional. The hot tub was amazing as we enjoyed the warmth of the hot tub in the winter night and watching the northern lights dance above us. Highly recommend a visit and night's stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trolltunga Hotel

Odda

Incredibly welcoming and accommodating hotel with great restaurant. We arrived late to check in but the very kind woman at the front desk welcomed us and ran to the kitchen to see if we could still order dinner. A few minutes later we were seated in the lounge followed shortly by two very delicious meals. We would have been happy with leftovers as we knew we were inconveniencing the kitchen but the salmon and pork dinners were freshly prepared, perfectly garnished and served by the chef himself. Our room was charming and comfortable where we got a great night sleep before our long hike the next day. Breakfast was healthy, plentiful and served early enough to fit into our schedule. When we returned from our hike of Trolltunga, we celebrated our success with great time spent with the front desk woman where we talked about our respective countries and families. It was very comfortable and warm. Unfortunately we didn't get her name, but we know made a friend and we will remember her kindness and friendliness. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Busy hotel in the heart of the port of Tromso. Short walk to any public transportation as well as restaurants and pubs. Many excursions pick up directly in front of the hotel. Hotel restaurant was a bit expensive but the service and atmosphere were good. Our room had a beautiful view of the port and cathedral.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergstadens Hotel

Røros

Great location to walk the cozy downtown area. Despite the small town there were many restaurant options. Breakfast was abundant and delicious with made to order items. Very close to public transportation. Room was clean and comfortable with beautiful views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Alta

Alta

Our late check in was accommodated and our room was comfortable. They did a good job managing the regular guest along with several guests who were in the area for an athletic tournament. The breakfast buffet was abundant with plenty of options. Walking around town was beautiful with tree lined streets, a skating rink, fire pit and cathedral.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Oslo Airport

Gardermoen

Quick stay before catching our flight out of Norway. Clean, spacious room with friendly staff. Easy shuttle transport to and from airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dogsledding in Røros

Røros

An absolutely amazing adventure with an experienced and knowledgeable guide, Torgeir. Our guide's wife, Mary, assisted us with a smile and quick tutorial. We had the most wonderful time learning how to use and control the sled along with reading the dogs during their exciting running adventure. Our dogs were very determined and excited and we were all smiles as we wove our way up and down hill taking in the beautiful countryside. We stopped for a rest and some snacks and Torgeir shared a warm, mulled fruity drink that was delicious and hit the spot on our pit stop. We returned happy and tired with a great appreciation of our guide's experience and love of the dogs and their excitement for running.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lofoten Highlights - Henningsvær

Svolvær

Our tour of Lofoten Islands was a wonderful and exciting experience. Our guide was knowledgeable, accommodating, funny and friendly. He showed us what he felt was amazing to see and gave us options to choose what we would like to see. We stopped at a beautiful beach, saw the amazing Henningsvær Stadium and magnificent islands of Lofoten. He gave us many insights into the history of the islands and stopped at many beautiful overlooks that we would not have found on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Adventure in Tromsø

Tromsø

What an amazing experience! We left Tromsø in a snowstorm with no expectations of seeing the northern lights. Our driver and guide's optimism and enthusiasm were contagious and we soon found ourselves immersed in her stories and pride in her Sami heritage and history of the northern lights. The hours flew by and soon we were in an open area under a canopy of stars. Soon the lights came streaking across the sky and with her instructions we were able to capture the gorgeous green and pink ribbons in the sky with our cameras. Topped off with delicious cake and hot chocolate we finished our night with more laughs and some quiet reflection before we were dropped off at our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Winter Hike to Trolltunga

Norway

This hike exceeded our expectations in many ways. As experienced hikers in our home area, we had never done any substantial hiking in another country. The pre-hike meeting put some of our nerves at ease and meeting our guides the next morning helped us feel even more comfortable. They were friendly, knowledgeable, easy going and most of all encouraging. Each of us 4 clients had a struggle at one point or another, but our guides knew what to say, how to help and created a safe and supportive environment that was very necessary on a hike this long. Their senses of humor lightened the mood and helped us focus on having fun. The stunning scenery spoke for itself and we thoroughly enjoyed every mile of our adventure.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Katie was great to work with. She was very responsive and knowledgeable about our destination, Norway. We had a number of requests to customize the trip and she was able to accommodate those requests. One of the biggest benefits we realized was when our original destination (Tromso) was booked up and she was able to pivot to another location (Alta) while still fulfilling our requests. We also enjoyed the daily check-in’s and follow through during the trip and after. We highly recommend Katie for your travel needs!

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge

Alta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bjørnfjell Mountain Lodge

Alta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

alta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trasti og Trine Dog Sledding

Alta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Polar Night Bonfire Trip

Alta

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arctic Light Snowmobile Experience

Alta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Snowshoe Tour

Alta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ice Sculpting Experience

Alta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sami Culture Experience with Reindeer Sledding

Alta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stig was an excellent guide in Oslo. We learned a lot on our tour.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Central location. Good food. Helpful staff. Comfortable room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Short walk from the train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

Great hotel right next to the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Grand Tromsø

Tromsø

Location was great. One elevator and very small. Room was comfortable. Breakfast was just ok.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Our guide, Stig, was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We originally planned a bucket list trip to Norway to see the northern lights, Alex was our first connection to kimkim and was fantastic to work with he helped change and tweek things to our interests, while in Norway carina was right on it when I needed her assistance for a booking! Norway in a nutshell was an unexpected delight because it seemed like it was going to be so complicated but turned out so easy with every ticket for train bus and boat all going perfectly! I would highly recommend using this team of travel experts , one added bonus was every driver picking us up at airports and hotels were 100%on! Thanks for my epic trip of a lifetime

Trip to Norway was amazing! Loved the cross-country skiing, dog sledding, and snow mobiling. The tour guide for the snow mobiling, John, was great and very accommodating. Everything went smoothly and it was easy to get around.

Hotel Reviews

Quality Hotel Saga

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Alta

Alta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Snowmobile Adventure

Alta

Great experience going into the backcountry into the mountains. Scenery was beautiful and had a great time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

John was a great guide! Very knowledgable, experienced, and accommodating. Great and interesting guy altogether.

Transport

Northern Lights Dinner Cruise

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Cross-Country Skiing in Tromsø

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kvaløya Husky Sledding Excursion

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arctic Floating Adventure (Evening)

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Hunt with Photographer

Alta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Norway was fabulous! Kimkim listened to us and helped arrange a perfect itinerary based on our interests. They offered lots of options and valuable suggestions for what would work best and arranged a busy, but not chaotic, schedule. Alex, our Norway specialist, was particularly helpful.

Hotel Reviews

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

A perfect downtown location, an amazing breakfast/brunch offering, and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Fjordhytter

Flåm

An amazing location with fabulous views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel Admiral

Bergen

Wonderful accommodations, a central location, helpful staff, and a wide selection of breakfast options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Hotel

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yggdrasiltunet Gårdshotell & Spa

Straumsbukta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Off the beaten path with beautiful views of the fjords.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private City Walk

Oslo

An extremely informative and knowledgeable guide made this a highlight of Oslo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo

Oslo

A must visit museum in Oslo!

Quality of Experience

Ethyl, Fenne and Julia from Kimkim team were amazing from planning the trip to real time assistance when on the trip. Our family had a fantastic Norway trip. They planned all the must do experiences and attractions in detail so most of the trip was fun and relaxing even with 2 kids:)

I would have given 5 stars but we felt the execution ( booking confirmation as planned) as well as matching the needs with the logistics involved could have been much better. It kind of didn’t justify the money premium paid instead of self planning.

Thank you for a memorable trip overall!!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

Excellent service and breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

One of the Best views in the world!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Byparken

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Malangen Resort

Skutvik, Meistervik

Excellent location, service. Note: ALL the activities/experiences over the 3 day trip were canceled with no backup. This resort is 1.5 hours drive from tromso so you are kind of stuck with no activities. All activities were on schedule in tromso so not a good idea if you’re choosing this resort for activities. Better stay in tromso where you have plenty of options .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ægir Viking Meal Experience

Flåm

Very delicious, very unique!

Quality of Experience

Ko

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dogsledding Adventure (Malangen Resort Guests)

Tromsø

Was pre cancelled before arrival. No backup or near by options . Far from tromso where activities were on schedule with many options

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sauna Experience

Oslo

A must do !!! Excellent location, facilities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fløibanen Funicular Experience (tickets included)

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Past & Present City Walk

Bergen

Excellent tour guide!! Beautiful city with very interesting history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Sledding & Sámi Overnight Experience

Tromsø

Excellent!! Must do with kids

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Watch (Malangen Resort guests)

Tromsø

Was cancelled for all 3 nights with no backup. We ended up staying in tromso and still were able to view northern lights. The resort is far from tromso with no backup. The resort itself is excellent!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our entire trip was incredible! Katie designed a trip that included a variety of activities, as well as free time for us to explore. She has been so easy to work with, very responsive to every question, full of exactly the information we needed. I have so many great memories from this trip. I would like to return to Norway some day and hope Katie is still doing this work at that time.

Katie was a great travel agent for our family and planned a great trip for us! Katie was very responsive and incredibly helpful. Her local knowledge allowed her to pick great accommodations and activities. Our trip exceeded our expectations in everyway (except that we didn't get to see the northern lights in 8 nights - but Katie nor Kim Kim can control the weather!). I would highly recommend Katie to a plan a trip for those who are comfortable driving and doing outdoor activities.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Grand Tromsø

Tromsø

We enjoyed our stay at the Scandic Grand Tromso and would stay here again. First, the location is great and cannot be beat in Tromso (only matched at best). It is unique in the area (from what I saw) that there is an area for taxis or cars to pull over to so they are not in the road, and it serves as a great loading/unloading zone. The hotel's breakfast was great and had a huge selection of food and coffees, appealing to many different backgrounds. The rooms were comfortable and appointed well. We stayed in a corner room on the upper floor with floor to ceiling glass windows which provided scenic views of Tromso and the surrounding area. I really enjoyed our stay here. We also visited the bar and the bar tender was great - the space is also great for hanging out in. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that they do not have a hot tub.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Malangen Resort

Skutvik, Meistervik

We were upgraded to a junior suite and it was an absolutely incredible room. The furnishings, the lighting, the floor to ceiling windows, and space was all amazing. It all felt quite premium and upscale. The hotel's restaurant served great food, and the included breakfast was well appointed. The activities provided by the resort are extensive and truly great experiences. Our tour guide on the night time snow shoeing (Elisa) was wonderful and gave us an incredible experience. I would recommend staying here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hamn i Senja

Skaland

We stayed 3 nights in a 2-bedroom apartment here and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The hotel's staff were all very friendly and helpful, and greatly added to the experience of our trip. The activities they offer are great and we enjoyed the boat tour. The surrounding area has amazing views and this was a great home base to explore the beautiful area from. The 2 bedroom apartment was a great space for a family, however I would not describe the accommodation ass well-appointed or upscale at all. It is a very comfortable and serviceable apartment, but after the previous hotels we stayed at it felt a bit down-market. That said, I would stay here again for the views, location, staff, restaurant, and activities. The main challenge we faced was finding where to check in. There are no signs from the road as to were reception/check in was and it was also very hard to find where to park. They could improve by adding signage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Tromsø

Tromsø

This was my least favorite hotel we stayed at on the trip, and in my opinion was not as good as the Scandic Grand we stayed at. The location is slightly worse, there is no loading zone in front of the hotel, the room was smaller, and the staff wasn't as friendly. It is a fine stay however and I wouldn't avoid it - but I would book the Scandic Grand over it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wildlife & Fjord Safari by boat

Senja

This was a great way to see the beauty of the surrounding area, the various fjords, mountains, and towns. They took us through the archipelago near Hamn and we were able to see wild seals, sea eagles, and other birds. The views were simply stunning, and the guide was amazing. He provided great information about the area and was very friendly and helpful. It was the right length of time and was one of the highlights of our stay.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snowshoeing Under the Evening Sky

Norway

This was an INCREDIBLE experience, we were able to snowshoe through a foot of fresh snow and the snow was continuing to fall. The guide (Elisa) was great, and it turned out that we had a private tour as there were no other guests on the activity. The guide shared knowledge about the plants, animals, tracks we saw, the area, and more and really made the experience even better. The hike itself was really fun and was long enough to feel worth it. My 68 year old father (who is in decent shape) was able to complete it (with several breaks) and as a fit & active 30 year old I felt it was an easy hike overall. The area itself was beautiful and we enjoyed the campfire we made in the snow and roasted some sausages and marshmallows. I would do this again and highly recommend it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aurora Dinner Cruise

Tromsø

We really enjoyed this activity but unfortunately had bad weather. The food was good, and the staff was very fun and friendly. On a good weather night this would be a 5 star activity. On bad weather it was a nice meal on the inside of a ferry boat. The staff was great and had interesting information about the area and Norway.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My trip was to Norway from the US. I was completely overwhelmed with work when I decided to try out Kim Kim as a worry free option to book my travel. When I received my itinerary and paid, I was still overwhelmed and basically just accepted all the pieces. It was not exactly what I had in mind when I mentioned I was pretty active and enjoyed outdoor activities and animals, but it was an intriguing itinerary so I went with it. As I got closer I realized some of the activities were impossible to get to due to flight timing. I was able to cancel one activity. I also looked up the rooms they booked me. Given how much I paid, I assumed I would be in great rooms. They were closets. I paid more to get some of them upgraded. As the days got closer I realized all the bookings were pretty standard activities that everyone does. So I started collecting the prices and the hotel room prices. I paid about twice what the cost of the activities and hotels would have been. And there was no "local flair" in anything.
I did enjoy the activities and the company was responsive as weather cancelled several activities and I was able to get some refunds. I realized 4 days in advance that no train was early enough to get me to the airport from my booked hotel and asked about canceling the room. I was told by the local company this should be fine and re-booked in a hotel closer to the airport, but when I asked about a refund I was advised that it was too short notice. So, there was some disconnect either within the local company or between them and Kimkim.
I would overall not recommend Kimkim unless you are okay with paying way above standard travel agent fees (typically 10-15%). The activities booked were all enjoyable, but I really could have booked it all myself and would not have had any trouble getting any of them even after I arrived.

Mar and the entire Kim Kim team made our trip fantastic. We really appreciated the real time help when we had travel hiccups to help us find solutions (or reservations). The plan she set out for us made logical sense and we also got to maximize our time and see the best of Norway in the winter. LOVED the Flam train ride and all the activities in Flam. Mar and her team were very approachable with any and all questions and also very responsive. The only complaint would be that sometimes our taxi's did not accommodate our travel party and luggage, but we were able to work around this. I want to go back!

There were a few hiccups (not KimKim's fault), and it was great that KimKim was so responsive and able to help us with rebooking/refunds where required

Activity Review

Northern Lights Hunt by Minibus with Photographer & Campfire Dinner

Tromsø

We got a perfectly clear night, and a bright aurora! Mickey was great!

Quality of Experience

Food

It was a very good backpacking meal, but still a backpacking meal. Personally I thought it was great but I can see some people not enjoying it

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enthusiasm!

Transport

Comfortable

Mar was able to tailor make a vacation experience for us. While weather did impact some of the planned activities and transportation, Rufo and the team were so helpful in contacting missed tours and hotels. They were all an absolute pleasure to work with. Highly recommend the dog sledding tour in Tromso, as it was the highlight of our trip. Mar had made the recommendation to take the cable car up to view fireworks for New Year’s Eve and it was magical with the added bonus of the northern lights.

Hotel Reviews

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

We loved our stay here. It was clean with comfortable beds. The location was great for exploring the city and the Christmas markets. The breakfast was delicious- one of favorites out of our trip. Will definitely stay again!!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the little touches and charm

Location

Staff

Super friendly and had great recommendations. They are happy to assist with explaining public transport.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds are super comfortable

Thon hotel Nidaros

Trondheim

It was good for a night. Location was nice. The breakfast was good

Authenticity & Character

Bohemian chic

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora

Tromsø

The room was nice and big. It could use some updates. The bathroom was a little grungy with stains on the tile and smelled like a gas station bathroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was easy to get around the city

Staff

The front desk staff was friendly. The dining staff was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

Great location especially for a morning flight out of Oslo. Don’t miss the breakfast. Lots of options and was super yummy.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful.

Location

Easy to get to. Easy to access the airport

Staff

Super friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms with comfortable beds

Activity Reviews

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

The food was excellent. The cruise was fun and beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

The holiday menu was beautifully done

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ice Gallery Experience

Tromsø

It was smaller than expected but it was amazing to see the different ice sculptures. The drinks were delicious. Great way to spend a short time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Reindeer Feeding & Northern Lights Experience

Tromsø

Loved the guides and the camp was beautiful. They were able to answer questions and were very knowledgeable, we learned a lot! Loved feeding and being up close to the reindeer.

Quality of Experience

Food

It was a simple but delicious meal.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Husky Sledding Excursion

Tromsø

This was so much fun and the staff gave so much information about the dogs. They take such care and the dogs are so well taken care of. The area is stunning with great views along the way.

Quality of Experience

Scarlet and Tom were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. It was fun!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The whole crew is wonderful! Juan was the guide for our sled and explained how it worked. He knew all the dogs and answered every question. My husband and older daughter completed the self drive and had excellent instructions.

Transport

Fjellheisen Cable Car Experience

Tromsø

Great views! The northern lights were beautiful and we could see fireworks all over the city for New Year’s Eve. It was crowded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport