Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

Tricia at kimkim provided our group of 12 (teens, parents, grandparents) with the most memorable trip to Norway that we could ever have imagined. Her attention to detail meant that each hotel was terrific, that our activities (hiking, biking, kayaking) were all perfectly organized and great fun. We saw stunning mountains, waterfalls galore and hypnotic fjords, all with no stress on our part, as she made all of the arrangements so that we could just relax and enjoy being together in Norway! We came away with great appreciation of this fantastic country and her skill at making this trip happen.
Many, many thanks!

A friend recommended Kimkim to us. They had used the company for years and couldn't say enough by way of praise. We told Ethel at Kimkim we would go first to Normandy France to
Meet up with our daughter, then to Norway and back home to Oregon. We asked Ethel for help planning a trip that would take us to small towns and the fjords. We wanted to hike and enjoy the outdoors. She planned a fantastic itinerary and booked us into beautiful hotels with lovely views and hiking nearby.
Just before we arrived I had a fall from a bike and was then not able to hike. No problem for Ethel. She revised our plan, suggested activities I could do. Small boats and ferries, the famous Flam railway. We asked about renting a car. No problem for Ethel. We drove to Balestrad and stayed in a charming hotel on the waterfront. When I couldn't walk to the large hotel which provided the breakfast for that smaller hotel, Ethel switched us instantly. Whenever she suggested an activity we weren't sure we wanted, within a few moments she had wonderful alternatives to suggest. She was always personally available, always cheerful. I can't imagine a travel company that could do more or better. I have complete confidence in Kimkim and Ethel and recommend her without hesitation.

Our Norway trip was fantastic. The itinerary the kimkim team helped develop allowed us to see so much of this beautiful country and have so many great experiences along the way. There was a bit of a miscue in our initial booking, which led to a rework of our original itinerary, but we appreciated how the kimkim team responded by introducing some different experiences. Our itinerary included 4 days on the Hurtigruten, moving us from Bergen up to Svolvaer; I wasn’t sure how this was going to go, but it turned out to be one of the favorites of our trip. Other favorites were Bergen, a guided tour by Martin in Trondheim, and then sea kayaking and arctic surfing in Lofoton. I say favorites, but these are better described as the best of equals because we enjoyed everything on the trip. There were six of us and everyone had a blast.

Julia was our main kimkim contact. She was terrific, both during itinerary planning and then as a very responsive resource/helper when questions or concerns came up on the trip.

This was our first experience with kimkim. We really appreciated their help in creating a wonderful trip and then their on-going help as we made our way through Norway. We will definitely use kimkim again in other adventures.

We had a few logistical errors but kimkim bent over backwards to make up for any problems. Our trip was incredible and I appreciate the help from the travel experts. Would highly recommend.

Hotel Review

Å Rorbuer

Sørvågen

We actually stayed at Å Hamna Rorbuer and it was incredible!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking in Reine

Reine

A can't miss! Loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Floating Sauna in Svolvær

Svolvær

This was incredible! Loved loved loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful journey through Norway in July of 2023. We used the itinerary provided by Lisa as a foundation for our trip. She provided wonderful accommodations, recommendations and customer service!

We were v happy with the service provided by KimKim and found Tom to be courteous and responsive. Love that everything you need (trip plan, hotels, chat records) is organised and can be found in your trip portal.

I unfortunately fractured my wrist the week prior and Tom went the extra mile in terms of rearranging some activities and also personally contacted me to assist when we had some issues with our rental vehicle.

My advice would be to do some initial research yourself so you can give your agent a detailed overview of what you want to see and do during your trip. Then let them come up with an itinerary for you.

Mathia was the incredibly helpful and answered all questions and addresses all concerns very quickly. Our trip with all the activities was amazing. Thank you!

Hotel Review

Grande Fjordhotel

Geiranger

The best hotel we stayed in Norway - location , staff, rooms, food - everything was perfect

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

White Water Rafting

Geilo

River Kayaking

Voss

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen

Bergen

Guided Hike to Mundal Farm Village

Norway

Exploration of Ålesund's Surrounding Islands

Ålesund

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Oslo Dinner Cruise

Oslo

We had a very enjoyable visit to Norway. We had a rough idea of where we wanted to go and some of the hotels we wished to stay in. Mathia helped us fine-tune our suggested itinerary and suggested several adjustments. He was in touch with us several times during and after our trip. Thank you! Walks to Preikestolen and the glacier at Buerbreen, stave churches at Røldal and Ørness, and the many waterfalls were highlights of the trip. We also enjoyed our two nights in Bergen and our stay at Walaker Hotell in Solvorn. Our first visit to Norway but definitely not the last

Julia did a great job on our 11-day tour. The highlight was our time on the Fjords in Ballestrand and Fjærland. Fishing with Tor on his boat was wonderful. The Rib boat was spectacular and the people were a joy. Norway was beautiful and Julia was always helpful and kind.

This was our second Kim Kim organized trip of this year and it was great. Travel logistics worked out quite well and we loved each of the venues. The only aspect that could have been better was in Bergen. That hotel, the Zander K was immediately adjacent to the train station (making arrival easy) but at least 10-15 minutes walk from any of the sights in the city. We would have preferred a hotel closer to the ‘action’. Also, we ended up canceling our final boat excursion. There was no need for two consecutive boat trips and the final one would have been an all day experience without much for the kids to do. We also never used the bus tickets to the airport given how inconvenient the times were of their availability (and the info for Saturday travel was different that what was shared with us).

But, not to belabor the Bergen issues, the rest of the trip was excellent…well conceived and extremely enjoyable. We added the sauna in Flam and suggest you offer that to other travelers.

This was our first time using kim kim and will not be our last. It really took the burden of the planning and logistics off our plate (hard part of planning trips)! Having our local specialist, Mathia, make suggestions, provide feedback, and answer questions was invaluable. His trip itinerary was a near perfect fit for our family of 5. Also having someone available during the trip to answer questions and handle any travel emergencies was also key. There was a mix up with one of our scheduled bus pickups. Mathia and kimkim responded immediately and took care of everything at no added expense.

Merée was just incredible at organising everything and very patient with us. We changed ideas a few times and Merée was so understanding and really receptive to any feedback we had. We had an awesome time on our trip to Norway and everything was organised perfectly

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Maritim

Stavanger

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right near centre of town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lilland Brewery Hotel

Strand

Cute hotel but in a random location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to a strip of supermarkets and stores and just not near anything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trolltunga Hotel

Odda

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rosendal Turist hotel

Kvinnherad

Authenticity & Character

Location

Kind of random town - not much near

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fleischer's Hotel

Voss

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the water, easy parking

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Augustin Hotel

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close walk to anything in the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kjerag Hike and Fjord Cruise

Stavanger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike to Trolltunga

Odda

Michelle was AMAZING! Day was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Michelle was just awesome

Transport

Blue Ice Hike in Juklavass Glacier

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater rafting (Voss)

Voss

This is just SUCH a great experience - highly highly recommend for anyone, even with no rafting experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had an excellent experience using KimKim. Maria tailored a wonderful trip catered to my interests and requests. The whole team was very responsive at all times throughout my trip. The overall journey was very comfortable and seamless. I am so happy I finally got to see the regions of Norway I hadn’t visited yet and hope to do another trip like this one in the near future!

Fantastic planning from the Kimkim team. They are responsive and able to plan the itinerary around your wishes and needs. The team also checked in with us regularly during the trip to make sure all is in order. I was particularly impressed with how they were able to quickly rectify last-minute hotel issues we raised. They also helped us with taxi booking when we had trouble getting out of Gudvangen to Flåm - this was a real life-saver!

The trip to Norway was truly unforgettable, and breathtaking in so many ways. There was a balance of urban (architecture, museums) and natural (Trolltunga, glaciers, waterfalls) landscapes in this bespoke itinerary. The people in Norway were affable, especially the guides who brought us up Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) and Trolltunga. Everything was rather pricey in the country though (the locals complain about this too! haha), so plan your budget accordingly.

All in all, a trip that rates an easy 6 star out of 5, made possible by the wonderful team at kimkim (shout out to Julia, Fenne, Maria). We could not have planned such a comprehensive itinerary ourselves. I hope to visit Norway again cos there's still so much more to see!

Activity Review

Overnight Hike to Trolltunga

Odda

Friendly, knowledgeable guides (Truls <follow him on IG @trulsoutdoors> and Sunny) and a group of fun-loving hikers made this an amazing experience. The hike is specially timed so that you are at Trolltunga when the crowd is thin (less queuing for your photo op!). The overnight stay at the heated domes added a special touch. I appreciated the quiet moments in the early morning when I could be alone with nature.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was the first time me and my travel buddy were visiting Norway and we were keen to engage the local experts through Kimkim. The booking process was fuss free and the preparation phase was characterised by timely responses and attentive listening by our team comprising of Maria, Julia and Fenne. As Norway is a big country with so much to see and do, the team was respectful in advising us on many of our "wishlist attractions". After 3-4 rounds of changes we ended up with an itinerary we were excited about.
The team kept in touch with us, especially close to the trip to ensure all was in good order and even gave personal tips and food recommendations when requested.
We were very reassured to be able to contact the team via WhatsApp (as opposed to phone calls on an international number) and that they were contactable 24/7 with very prompt response time.
There were minor hiccups along the way as with any trip (such as issues with transportation from one location and a wrong check-out date that we overlooked prior). These were resolved expediently by the team and allowed us to continue to enjoy our trip without worry.
The trip was well balanced with nature and physical activities, which was our primary interest, as well as time to explore the towns and other cultural attractions. There was adequate time to rest in between more physically demanding activities.
Most memorable for me was the overnight hike to Trolltunga. The opportunity to spend time with fellow travellers with a love for nature in the tranquil environment was precious. It was restful and energising.
I was pleasantly surprised by the waterfalls that I encountered along the way. I am a self-professed waterfall fanatic and the detailed itinerary did not mention that we would be encountering waterfalls along the drive and especially during the Flam railway. The unexpected spectacles were awe-inspiring.
I will definitely be engaging their services again the next time I visit Norway with friends and family, and I highly recommend that you do too!

Hotel Reviews

Gudvangen Fjordtell & Apartments

Gudvangen

Very spacious apartment with the most amazing view of the waterfalls. Interior design was simple but place felt homely.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Great location. Helpful front desk staff. Clean and nicely decorated interiors. Excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda

Kristiansand

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Stavanger City

Stavanger

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trolltunga Hotel

Odda

The room was a bit small and interior design was simpler. But the views were exceptional. Have to drive about 5 min to the nearest shops/supermarkets. Located close to an amazing waterfall (by driving).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Bergen city

Bergen

There are 2 wings to the hotel. We were assigned a room in what appeared to be an older wing. The suite we were assigned to had no air-conditioning and the windows in the bedroom could not be opened. It was very stuffy despite a small fan that was provided. This was contributed by the unusually hot weather we experienced during our time there. The staff were kind enough to relocate us to another room with much better ventilation. The overall standard did pale in comparison to other Scandic hotels we had been to.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen

Stavanger

Excellent guide who doubled up as photographer. He ensured we had great photos at the main highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight Hike to Trolltunga

Odda

The most memorable highlight of my trip. Definitely recommended.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Kayaking Excursion

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flåm Bike Experience

Flåm

We didn't have much time to enjoy this and weather was also not the best.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic 2 week trip through Norway with an end in Stockholm. Christina was a delight to work with throughout. She helped planning the trip and suggesting siffer my options until we landed on a plan. And throughout the trip there were the inevitable questions and glitches - she responded immediately and thoroughly. She set us up with wonderful guides and suggested some amazing hikes. I highly recommend Christina if you are going to Norway!

Activity Reviews

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

John grew up in Bergen and provided a very fun and engaging walking tour through the city. It was very much tailored to our interests. And we got to see the building where he grew up. Wonderful guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking in Bergen is an excellent way to see the city. Be prepared for rain

Scenic Boat Trip to Fjærland

Norway

Thor was a fascinating guide and we loved being on the boat with him. It was pretty magical to be on the water in the fjords. Thor pointed out places he had been as a child - so interesting to hear about the history from someone who has lived it. We loved this experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orchard Tour & Cider Tasting

Balestrand

We did the tour led by the grown son. It was fun to hear about the creation of the business and then try the different ciders. We ended up making a reservation for dinner which was amazing (set menu with a theme and a vegetarian optio ) Beautiful views and delicious food and cider

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mathia was the best. He was always available and kept up up to date on any changes we needed to be aware of! He listened to what was important to us and gave a great Scandinavian experience! I highly recommend Mathia and KimKim and we plan on using them on our next trip!

I booked an 11 day trip to Norway with KimKim with my 18 year old daughter for her graduation gift. I didn’t want to do a group tour, yet I needed help with planning, and the KimKim approach was perfect. We went back and forth a couple of times to land on the right itinerary. I felt that my local contacts, Maria and Femme really listened to what I wanted to do and adjusted accordingly. Ultimately, Maria and Femme planned a great itinerary that balanced the activities we wanted to do with travel time and also some downtime. Some days, we had scheduled activities, and other days, we had a list of recommendations to do at our leisure. Our trip consisted of 5 different hotel stays and an overnight hike/camp outing. Our activities included hiking, kayaking, biking, a sauna boat (awesome!) and a local cider tasting. They also recommended local restaurants. As to be expected for such a long trip, not everything went according to plan. However, Maria was always reachable and immediately addressed my questions. The best example of this was a rock slide that closed a tunnel and the only route to one of our overnight accommodations. Maria quickly found an alternative accommodation and dealt with the original hotel separately. It was seamless for my daughter and I. I highly recommend KimKim and will book with them again in the future!

Tricia did an awesome job. And the whole team was available when a mud slide meant that we had to take a ferry rather than get picked up. We especially loved our day spent kayaking, hiking and rappelling in Lofoton and our glacier hike in Tromso. Both were EPIC!

Activity Review

Full day Combo Tour: Kayak, Trek and Rappel

Norway

EPIC!!!! Guide was awesome. Great group of 8. Kayaked to a beautiful island, had a bbq before hiking up to a cliff which we the rappelled down! Then hiked some more and rappelled again. Awesome!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was amazing! One of the best things about the trip was how smooth the transportation went and how close the hotels were to public transportation. This allowed us to maximize our time at each destination. All the guides were prompt and very informative. They went out of their way to help us find the best local restaurants for our meals. The people were extremely friendly and all the views were spectacular! If you haven’t visited a Scandinavian country put it on your bucket list!

Hotel Reviews

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

This is a wonderful hotel. The accommodations were perfect complete with a balcony for optimum views. The restaurants in the hotel were very good. There is plenty of outside seating at the hotel to enjoy all the views of the Sognefjord. I hope to come back….

Authenticity & Character

The hotel has been around for hundreds of years. The furnishings and pictures were amazing!

Location

Convenience to the ferry and the wonderful views it has to offer.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are clean and very well laid out to maximize space and comfort.

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

The hotel has a very interesting location connected to the train station and also part of a mall. Location is very convenient! Staff was very helpful!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is very modern.

Location

Convenient to transportation and in the heart of the city.

Staff

This hotel had plenty of staff and they were very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

This hotel maximizes the space it has.

Activity Reviews

Private tour Copenhagen walking tour

Copenhagen

Ilsa was a wealth of knowledge. She knew so many “folklore” stories! Put on your walking shoes because there is much to see and much ground to cover.

Quality of Experience

Guides knowledge and willing to work with us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We arrived late and she was able to accommodate us.

Oslo private tour

Oslo

Bjorn was very knowledgeable. He did not overload us with facts and threw in some amusing stories.

Quality of Experience

Guide did a great job getting us on and off transport so we were able to move around quickly.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide went out of his way to show us good lunch and dinner spots!

Transport

Our guide was an expert on all the “ways” to get around the city.

Kayaking Tour

Balestrand

Our guide was very patient and helped everyone have a good time. Our group was very large with different skill levels.

Quality of Experience

Our guide did a great job lining up the kayaks for fun group pictures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very laid back and took many fun pictures .

Orchard Tour & Cider Tasting

Balestrand

This was one of my favorite activities. It is a family run cider house that was started by his grandfather. Everything was interesting from how they grow the apple trees to how they pair the cider with food.

Quality of Experience

The amazing thing was how much the taste of the cider changed with the food pairings.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The love for what they are doing!