Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

We had a wonderful 9 day trip to Norway planned by Kimkim. We flew to Oslo, spent 2 days there and then flew to Tromso. We were super lucky and had an amazing night to see the Northern Lights from a boat. Bucket List item for sure! Unfortunately Tromso didn't have much snow so we were unable to go snowmobiling or sledding with huskies. However Kimkim was able to pivot and schedule a snowshoeing trip with Huskies instead. That turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip (in addition to the Northern Lights.) Also in Tromso, we did a cold plunge/spa experience aboard a small boat which was also a lot of fun. Then we flew to Bergen where we did Norway in a Nutshell trip and then took the train ride from Bergen back to Oslo.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Oslo Airport

Gardermoen

Very convenient if taking an early flight. Nice hotel with large rooms, heated bathroom floors, and an excellent breakfast. Dinner at the hotel was more than adequate.

Authenticity & Character

No atmosphere. Just a hotel near the airport

Location

Right near the airport. 10 min taxi ride. $43 USD one way for a taxi or $8 for the local bus. As we are a family of 5, we took a taxi.

Staff

Courteous. Booked us a taxi.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had a large room with a sitting area. The bathroom was huge.

Skostredet Hotel

Bergen

This is a new hotel and was beautiful. Again, the rooms were too hot but the windows could be opened. The bathroom was strange but functional. Ironically this was the nicest hotel that we stayed at but it was the only one without heated bathroom floors. The hotel is near many restaurants and attractions. The breakfast was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Brand new. Clean.

Location

Can walk to many attractions and restaurants.

Staff

Super nice woman at the front desk

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were hot!!

Quality Hotel Saga

Tromsø

Nice hotel with wonderful breakfast. Good location with lots to do within walking distance. The rooms were very small. We had 2 rooms and the one that was for our 3 teenagers was definitely too small for 3 people. The rooms were toward but the windows were able to be opened. Heated bathroom floors!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were too small for 3 people

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

We had a beautiful suite here. The staff was very friendly and the breakfast was great. The location was perfect with lots of attractions and restaurants within walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Wonderful gingersnaps and Groll in the lobby

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were too warm but the windows were able to be opened. Heated bathroom floors!

Activity Reviews

Depart Norway

Norway

I would not recommend doing the Norway in a Nutshell trip on 12/27 and taking the train from Bergen to Oslo on 12/28. This is the one thing about the trip I'd change. We'd much rather have had a day to explore Bergen (12/27) and then on our last day (12/28), had our luggage transported to Oslo while we did the Norway in a Nutshell trip. We met some other people who had their luggage transported to Oslo while they did the day trip. I would NOT have wanted to drag my luggage all day in the Norway in a Nutshell trip. That would have ruined the day. Also, our nicest hotel was in Bergen and it would have been nice to actually eat breakfast there (it didn't open until 8 and we had to leave 1 morning at 8 and the other day at 7:45), or just enjoy time at the hotel.

Quality of Experience

Norway in a Nutshell Day Trip

Bergen

Beautiful to see the fjords from the water. The train ride from Flom was also quite scenic. It's a long day without much activity.

Quality of Experience

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

Beautiful views

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Bergen Exploration

Bergen

We went up to the top of the mountain to watch the sunset which was really neat. It was quite crowded to take the funicular back down the mountain. Unfortunately it was 12/26 and most of the shops were closed.

Quality of Experience

Shops should be open later

Sauna Adventure Boat

Tromsø

This was a great experience. My daughter found it on TikTok and I asked Kimkim about it. They have a small outdoor hot tub, 2 indoor saunas and and indoor spa as well. There were only 7 of us booked at the time we attended and that's all I would recommend. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to move throughout the activities at your own will. We also did a cold plunge from the edge of the boat into the arctic water- invigorating!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kvaløya Husky Sledding Excursion

Tromsø

We didn't get to do this experience but w went snowshoeing with the huskies instead. It was so much fun! The guides were great and we had a lot of fun despite not having much snow. It was a little bit long- after the snowshoeing we went to a small hut for a piece of cake and a hot beverage. Being there for 15 min (instead of an hour) would have been plenty.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Hunt by Boat

Tromsø

Amazing! We happened to be there for a strong night of Aurora. Eventhough we weren't given the right place to embark the ship. we made it to the ship in time for sailing. The Aurora was everything I hoped for. Amazing!!!

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Tromsø Exploration

Norway

Our plane was late as was our taxi. We didn't have time to explore this day. We walked to dinner. Unfortunately all the stores were closed during our time in Tromso due to Christmas.

Quality of Experience

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

This one was ok. Nothing special about the food or the view. Seemed too long.

Quality of Experience

Food

We ordered a cheese tray on our own

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They weren't very attentive or friendly.

Private City Walk

Oslo

Christina was an excellent guide. We saw a lot of sights and learned some history. She inquired about our interests before we set off so she could speak to those on our tour. It was a fun morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Oslo Exploration

Oslo

Our plane was late and the taxi driver was also late which didn't give us much time. We walked to dinner which was nice- slippery!

We cannot say enough good things about kimkim and our experience. Taylor was amazing and the pre-planning and getting us ready. Then while we are in Norway, Maria handled everything effortlessly. When we arrived in Tromso, the hotel was not up to snuff and Maria upgraded us to a better hotel free of charge and the whole thing was dealt with in a matter of a couple of hours.

We unfortunately did not get to see the northern lights, but that was no fault of kimkim‘s. We were unable to attend one of our activities to see the lights because of Heather‘s conditions and we’re promptly refunding the money as well as given $150 dining credit to enjoy a night out instead of the planned excursion.

The only feedback I do have regarding that experience, is that apparently the lights were visible the first night we were in Trom zone. I think it would be smart for Kim Tim to communicate with the hotels and let them know to wake up the residence that are there to see the lights. We gladly would have gotten up to see them. Also, perhaps more options on seeing the lights. Like we heard about Van trips that will chase the lights all the way to Finland if necessary.

Overall, I would give kimkim a 9.9 out of 10 . They were excellent and we will definitely use them again.

Hotel Reviews

Home Hotel Bryggen

Bergen

Very comfortable beds and a various spacious room. The biggest one we had. Also, in a great location to walk to the Christmas market and the seaside and the shops and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located and not loud even though it’s close to the center of

Staff

There was one worker at the bar who gave my friend an alcoholic cider when she asked for a nonalcoholic. There may have been a little bit of a language barrier, so I don’t think it was really intentional or anything, but it could’ve been dangerous for my friend because she’s allergic to alcohol. She also didn’t really apologize after we told her what happened.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora

Tromsø

This hotel was beautiful, and the beds were far more comfortable. They offered breakfast dinner and Fika, which was amazing. Their room was very quiet and we were able to control the temperature which was great. The windows opened so this helped us cool it down when needed after running the heater. The staff was very accommodating and the shared dining areas were beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful decorations, and the food was authentic

Location

Right by all of the shops and

Staff

Very warm and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Unfortunately, this hotel was not good. The beds were super uncomfortable, the room was very hot with no way to regulate the temperature except a small fan that was left in the closet. It was very loud and the staff was not able to do anything except all for us a very hard board to put under the mattress which did not help. We did not stay at this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

It wasn’t unattractive Building and not as nice as the other ones we stayed in

Location

The location was the only thing that was good about it. It was right by the city center.

Staff

They were not able to solve our mattress issue or the heat in the room

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

This hotel was charming and located right next to the Christmas markets which we loved. Great location to walk around the city as well. We were able to walk to the resistance museum and too many restaurants and other attractions. The beds were comfortable, and the staff was very accommodating and

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was spotless in our room, and the beds were comfortable

Activity Reviews

Depart Norway

Norway

Our driver was on time and we got to the airport with no

Quality of Experience

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

I tend to get C6 so I was afraid to sit inside so my friend and I sat on the upper deck for about 20 minutes until we started to freeze. Fortunately it is very very smooth and I did not get seasick at all. It is about a two hour ride each way, but it is beautiful and I highly recommend it.

Quality of Experience

There should be more of a summer activity and should not be recommended when the visitor center is closed. It is very cold there in the winter and it can be a little bit challenging when not a lot of things are open. We ended up wandering around the grocery store too kill Hime until we can get back on the boat.

Self-Guided Christmas Market Visit

Bergen

This Christmas market is huge! Over 90 stalls. It gets very crowded though so I would definitely try to either go right when it opens or when it’s closer to closing time.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Bergen Exploration

Bergen

We absolutely love Bergen. It’s a very cute city. It’s further south so the sun stays out longer in the winter. Lots of good restaurants and shops and the people are super friend

Quality of Experience

Northern Lights Hunt by Boat

Tromsø

This was canceled due to hazardous conditions, and we did the cable car thing

Reindeer Feeding & Sámi Culture Experience

Tromsø

This was another great experience. It was very cold, but walking around with the reindeer helped to warm us up. They were fun to hang out with, they have interesting personalities. Definitely not as friendly as the sled dogs they only care about food.😆

Quality of Experience

The women who were explaining that Sami culture were very, very nice and knowledgeable, and it was interesting to learn everything

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had to wait a bit for the bus on the way home and it got cold

Fjellheisen Cable Car Ticket

Tromsø

We decided to add this on ourselves when our cruise was canceled. We did not get to see the lights, but we enjoy the ride up to the top and the café was nice to have a coffee

Quality of Experience

Northern Lights Husky Experience with Dinner

Tromsø

I loved this so much. I am a huge dog lover so getting to pet all the dogs was amazing. Unfortunately, we did not get to see the northern lights, but the experience was awesome. That guides are very knowledgeable and very friendly and made it a great experience. We also enjoyed the meal and the roasted marshmallows. You get to spend a lot of time with the dogs, which is really nice.

Quality of Experience

The whole experience was very welcoming and fun and we got a lot of times to spend petting the dogs

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were very, very knowledgeable

Transport

The bus was comfortable and clean

Self-Guided Arctic Cathedral Visit

Tromsø

I don’t remember visiting this cathedral, Raul unless it’s the one I already reviewed.

Self-Guided Christmas Market Visit

Tromsø

This was a smaller Christmas market than in Oslo, but it was still worth seeing. Tromso is a charming city

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Tromsø Exploration

Norway

We loved walking around Tromso and we walked over the bridge to the cathedral, which was a great walk and a beautiful spot to visit

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Christmas Market Visit

Oslo

We loved this Christmas market right across from our hotel. It was a great activity to kick off our trip.

Quality of Experience

Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo

Oslo

We ended up skipping this spot

Mathallen Food Court Visit

Oslo

We loved this food court and enjoyed a very nice meal and shopping here. This saw that we went to only had one person working, but she was super sweet and efficient and made a nice experience for us. Highly recommend visiting here to get some authentic food and a nice shopping

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Oslo Exploration

Oslo

We went to the resistance museum, which was amazing and saw some really cool architecture and interesting parts of the city without having to walk that far from our hotel

Quality of Experience

We decided to use Kimkim to organise our holiday for us. Having just completed our tour of Norway, we are delighted with the smooth planning of our trip. Our specialist Kimkim guide Mar had been in contact to check everything was going to plan which certainly gave us a lot of confidence. The local knowledge provided by Kimkim has been great, we really would not have been able to have done all this planning ourselves.
We especially loved the chosen accommodation which was always central to where we needed to be. Suggestions for activities while exploring Oslo, Flam and Bergen has been outstanding.
We will always recommend Kimkim to our friends and will be using Kimkim again ourselves.
We love to get around and explore different countries on our own. But Kimkim took away the stress of finding the right accommodation, train schedules, which enabled us to concentrate on simply planning our sightseeing.

Hotel Review

Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz

Bergen

Great location and top breakfast. Staff were very helpful. We had a very enjoyable stay.

Authenticity & Character

Modern hotel

Location

Short walk to the waterfront and the Bergen houses.

Staff

Staff assisted us to find a great restaurant for dinner close by.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were very pleased with our room

Activity Review

Round Trip Fjord Cruise & Bus Transfer via Gudvangen

Norway

This was our top pick of our activities while exploring Norway. The scenery was stunning. It was great to be able to step inside to warm up, then to go up to the top deck for those once in a lifetime photograph's. The return bus was waiting and we found the activity ran smoothly. We were pleased everything ran to time, as we had a train to catch later in the day.

Quality of Experience

The gorgeous scenery was simply breathtaking

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff were always helpful and answered any questions

Transport

Kimkim had expert experience in providing information regarding our transport needs

Enjoyed the overall experience working with kimkim and Krista. There was one hiccup with transportation at one location but everything else went perfectly. Really enjoyed the snowshoeing hike with Tromsø outdoor - our guide was great.

Activity Reviews

Luggage Transfer Service

Norway

Very easy to do and definitely worth it. We did the Norway in a nutshell and was so so much better to not have our large bags or packs with us. The bags even beat us to our next location.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

The staff was great, scenery was amazing and really enjoyed the anecdotes and music played during the cruise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Snowshoe Hill Hike - Kvaløya

Tromsø

This was my favorite experience during the trip. We had a small group and the guide was personable and made the day enjoyable. We also lucked out with the weather so it was quite picturesque.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had an absolutely wonderful trip to Norway! The itinerary was well planned and clearly laid out by my guide, Roy. All of my hotels were in great locations and had good accommodations. The transports for travel between towns and destinations were on-point and led to a stress-free vacation. In Bergen I experienced local history and culture by visiting Fantoft stave church and Bryggen. I got to see amazing views in Flam from my hotel room window and with the Stegastein viewpoint. I toured a viking village (something I hadn't even known existed), and had a viking dinner. I had a great experience in Norway and with KimKim.

Our family trip to Norway was an adventure filled trip of a lifetime. We visited Alta, Briggen and Tromso. Each unique and with its own charm. We enjoyed activities such as dog sledding, reindeer sledding/ feeding with Sami cultural experience, whale watching and of course saw many auroras. The Kim Kim team arranged everything flawlessly and were very flexible, even managing to cancel one of our tours due to last minute change in plans. We take many memorable moments with us. Thank you!!

Trip was a blast! Was the perfect time of year to visit Tromsø and will be visiting Bergen again in the late spring/summertime! Planning could have been better. Almost missed an excursion due to the meeting point listed being in a completely different location than the actual meeting point. Luckily, the excursion company waited before departing and called me to gave me directions on where I was supposed to go. Another hiccup happened when my private transfer from the airport to my last hotel was booked 5 minutes after the planes arrival, which was not enough time to allow for delays. Sure enough, my flight was delayed and luggage pickup was also delayed, so the driver for the private transfer was mad and tried to charge me for him waiting an hour when it was outside my control, despite me messaging him he didn’t have to wait. as I said above, it was the perfect time of year to visit Tromsø, lots of snow but not too cold, and 3 days was enough time to do everything I wanted to do there. Bergen on the other hand, rained the entire time I was there and hiking was a struggle due to slushy snow, which is typical this time of year. There were lots of things to do around Bergen, but sadly only had a day and a half, which is why I plan to visit in the late spring/summer. Other than planning errors, all reservations were legit and I had fun!

Katie at Kimkim was such a great fit for us. There were 10 adults (siblings and spouses) traveling to Norway for the first time. We only had 2 weeks so we wanted to make sure our choices fit our personalities and styles (which is no easy task with 10 participants). We gave Katie a rough idea of the things we liked and the things we wanted to avoid and she gave us choices to consider and was VERY patient as we changed our minds several times. We used trains, planes, automobiles and boats to get all around Norway and everything was seamless. Katie's attention to detail was perfect. Kimkim was available to us while we were in Norway (there were a couple of occasions where they didn't seem to have our prepaid reservation at a hotel and once, our shuttle was very late). Kimkim called these businesses for us to help make sure all was ok. Katie really listened to what we were looking for and chose hotels that we really liked. I also liked that we could leave some days unplanned but Katie still gave us ideas of things to do once we arrived. I would use Kimkim again and again!

Hotels were in good, central locations. Breakfasts were wonderful with many choices. Travel details were perfectly arranged and we had no trouble getting from place to place. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

Hotel Reviews

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful lobby and nicely appointed rooms. Wonderful breakfast buffet

Location

Lovely location, right on the fjord

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daily room service provided

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Great location, clean and quiet. Terrific breakfast buffet. Rooms are very small and minimalist (one water glass for two guests, no luggage rack or closet.) But very serviceable and convenient for our stay

Authenticity & Character

Very small room, few amenities

Location

Located in the center of the tourist area, over looking the water

Staff

Staff were responsive when we asked for drinking glasses, extra towel

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus

Oslo

Great way to get around to major sites in the city. The bus stopped running before we were ready to return, so we walked back to our hotel

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stegastein Viewpoint by Bus

Norway

The view was absolutely magical

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The winding, narrow road to the viewpoint requires a skilled driver.

Transport

Mar planned our perfect getaway to Norway. Two weeks with train travel, cruises, and planes to see Oslo, Røros, Trondheim,Tromso, Longyearbyen, and kirkenes. She hit all our highlights as requested with a price range that was within our budget. We had a couple minor hiccups (not related to kimkim planning) and their emergency number was personally manned with resolutions within 15 min. Will definitely use again. They made it so easy!

Hotel Reviews

Radisson RED Hotel, Oslo Airport

Ullensaker

Great rooms so close to the airport. Made our one night layover perfect before starting home. The restaurant seemed very understaffed at dinner leading to some ppl getting upset. We luckily didn’t have anywhere else to be so no issue for us. Breakfast was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Snowhotel Kirkenes

Loved staying at the snow hotel for the experience! Once in a lifetime! Wish there had been a little more explanation at check in about what to expect but they did have a tour and explanation for everyone later in the day. They do have a lounge that was very private if you can’t get sleep in the snow hotel you can go there to get warm or more comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Havila Capella

Great state rooms. Great food. The staff were very accommodating. The views were amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Polar Hotel Spitsbergen

Longyearbyen

Great place to stay. Centrally located. Great food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Polar

Tromsø

Great hotel. Close to most things. Staff were very helpful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Solsiden

7042

Great location. Close to lots of food options and right on the river.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergstadens Hotel

Røros

Such great character! The people were friendly and everything was clean. Short walk to everywhere

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Easy walk to most of the major sights. Staff was nice and food was awesome!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gamme Northern Lights Cabins

Bjørnevatn

So cozy with great views!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was so nice and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

King Crab Safari

Kirkenes

Great time. The traps are pre-baited and you ride out and watch them pull the traps up. So many crabs!! And eating them was obviously amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Husky Sledding (Oct-Nov)

Kirkenes

The dogsledders are so nice and helpful. The dogs were friendly and loved to get attention. Amazing experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife and Glacier Cruise

Longyearbyen

Great tour with amazing guides! The views of the glacier were amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided afternoon tour around Longyearbyen and surroundings

Norway

Maxim was an amazing guide who has lived in Longyearbyen for many years. Very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Feeding & Northern Lights Experience

Tromsø

The Sami were so friendly and have such amazing history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise by Traditional Boat

Oslo

Great views of the city by boat. We really enjoyed hearing about the history and seeing the sights

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a terrific trip to Norway and all of the kimkim team did a great job! One of my travel fears is being underway and encountering a snag. How can I easily get it resolved? Twice we needed help and the kimkim 24/7 service team came through quickly and decisively.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Ishavs Tromso

For us, seeking a luxury trip experience, this was just so-so. But great location with amazing views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very indifferent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Home Hotel Bryggen

Bergen

From the moment we entered reception we were not happy. We were trying to book a luxury trip to Norway and this was clearly a budget hotel. Not at all what we wanted. And our first room was a dungeon looking at the side of the adjoining building. kimkim customer service was able to get us an upgraded room that was much better but we still found NOTHING to like about this place. Terrible way to start our trip to Norway.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge

Alta

Wow wow wow! This is a great lodge in an ideal wilderness setting. Great views- Yes, great staff- Yes, gourmet food- Yes! We loved this place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Reindeer Feeding & Northern Lights Experience

Tromsø

Another excellent excursion. It was great to learn more about the Saami people and customs, but really cool to be able to feed a herd of reindeer (40-50?).

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Hunt by Boat

Tromsø

We should not have gone on this excursion. It was a run down , cramped boat with a rag tag crew. And very unsafe. We felt like this should not be offered by kimkim.

Quality of Experience

Husky Puppy Training Visit

Tromsø

One of our top 3 experiences in Norway. Boy we loved this. It is located in a very scenic spot. They had a very friendly and helpful staff but more importantly some 170 dogs! And we got plenty of time to play with them. And the provided lunch was very good and delivered in a very nice traditional building.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Dinner Cruise

Tromsø

Yes- we finally saw the northern lights! Very nice tour boat and crew. The dinner was good, Even though they had a large crowd on board the boat was big enough to not feel crowded.

Quality of Experience

Northern Lights Hunt

Alta

We are conflicted on this. The weather was far less than optimal- it was snowing. So we ended up driving around in a van for 3 hours basically doing nothing. For any lights "hunt" the issue is what to do when the weather is just not cooperating. Like no chance of seeing lights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Winter Whale Watching Excursion

Alta

Wow, one of the coolest experiences we have ever had on vacation! Our captain was just amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Hardangerfjord & Waterfalls Day Trip

Bergen

Our guide, Arne, was the best guide we have ever had. We had a great day with him. He is a local and was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and really treated us as VIP's. And we were surprised at how much we enjoyed the visit to Viking village.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway Day Trip

Bergen

Our guide, Arne, was the best guide we have ever had. We had a great day with him. He is a local and was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and really treated us as VIP's.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

Fernando was an excellent guide even though he is from Ecuador (how is this a local?)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

Fun thing to do and great views.

Quality of Experience

Explore Bergen

Bergen

Fernando was an excellent guide and we enjoyed the tour.

Quality of Experience

This was a great trip. First of all, I'm sure we were lucky by having sunny or "almost sunny" weather for 7 days. My husband and I were thrilled with Anna's responsiveness and ability to modify our trip as a few unforeseen things such as a strike at KLM for baggage handling that changed our inbound flight. It really is worth it to have local expertise that can arrange hotels and transport in Norway. Also, it is important that you do your own research before reaching out to KimKim so that they can know what exactly you want to see and where to go. Norway is beautiful, the people are friendly, and the accommodations and transport are excellent. Again, the experience using KimKim, especially with Anna, was excellent. Bergen was lovely, Balestrand and Flåm railway breathtaking, Oslo is a fascinating city. Our guide, Stig, in Oslo, took us for an unbeatable off the main path tour - great! So much to see - we hope to go back to see even more of Norway.
Go and see the fjords for yourself!

As senior citizens traveling on our own (with too much luggage), this trip looked to be ambitious and arduous. I was anxious about our extensive in-country travel, with all the buses, trains, ships, planes. But it went smoothly, thanks to pretrip communications with Christina, maps she included in the itinerary, and because she booked us into nice hotels close to terminals. Bente in Lillehammer, Stig in Oslo, and John In Bergen were all excellent. We especially appreciated Bente's efforts to bring us to Øvre Ulland, the farm my great great grandfather came from in the 1850's. That was special. Our walk through Oslo with Stig was great. He was easy to talk to about life in Norway, current events, and we were able to effectively explore your beautiful capitol on our own afterwards. At City Hall on Sunday we visited with residents, many wearing their bunads, who were attending a weekly ceremony celebrating and welcoming young children. Three days was not nearly enough time for Oslo. Every part of the country we visited was spectacularly beautiful. We did the Norway in a Nutshell experience with a little hesitation (because we were going to be spending a week cruising with Havila), but we are very happy we did it. So beautiful! The cruise along the coast was lovely. All aspects were great, except for cloudy nights obscuring the Northern Lights. I guess we'll just have to come back and spend enough time away from the cloudy coast to see them. Spending 2 days in Tromsø and the excursion to the Sami reindeer family was also highlights. And the food was great! Minnesota is 1,500 km from the nearest ocean, so to be able to eat fresh seafood 3 meals a day - I was in heaven, gastronomically speaking. Overall, the trip of a lifetime for us. Many thanks, Christina!

Our recent trip to Norway truly took our breath away. From the moment we landed in Bergen, we were surrounded by beauty — colorful wooden houses lining the harbor, crisp mountain air, and views that seemed painted by nature itself. The city’s charm and cozy atmosphere made it the perfect place to begin our Norwegian adventure.

Wishing we could remember our tour guide's name for our Cultural and Food Tour of Bergen. He did a great job and was very knowledgeable about the amazing history of Bryggen and the food was amazing that we tried during the tour.

The highlight of our trip, though, was the journey to Flåm. Traveling through the fjords and mountains felt like stepping into another world. The Flåm Railway lived up to its reputation — every turn revealed waterfalls, deep valleys, and autumn colors reflected in still waters. Our stay in Flåm was peaceful and unforgettable, with the sound of waterfalls echoing in the distance and the fjord glowing under soft autumn light.

Even in October, when the air was cool and mist lingered over the water, Norway’s beauty was nothing short of magical. Every view, every quiet moment, reminded us how powerful and pure nature can be.

We left Norway with full hearts, countless photos, and a deep desire to return. This country doesn’t just offer scenery — it offers an experience that stays with you long after you’ve left.

Choosing KimKim and working with Krista and the whole team made this adventure unforgettable. Listening to what the client is wanting to experience during their trip and hitting the mark with the itinerary, will make KimKim our go-to place for our next adventure.

Thank you for making our first out of country experience unforgettable and something we can't wait to do again.

Gary & Amy Burke

Hotel Reviews

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Enjoyed this hotel very much and again the buffet was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Torget

Bergen

The staff was amazing and very helpful and the breakfast buffet was outstanding. Would recommend this hotel for anyone going to Bergen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Floating Sauna Experience

Norway

This was a fun experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fjord Safari by RIB

Flåm

Another experience where photos can't even touch the beauty of actually seeing it in person. We will never forget the calmness of the water and how the villages were reflected off the water like a mirror.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stegastein Viewpoint by Bus

Norway

Breathtaking!!! Photos from this overlook are amazing but the only way to really experience the beauty of this place is to see it in person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Our guide did a great job and was very knowledgeable about the history and the food we experienced was amazing as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kim Kim Coordinator Tom Christer helped us put together and organize a nearly perfect 2 week trip in Norway. The accommodations were as advertised. They were comfortable, friendly, and always well located. The various elements of the trip such as train arrangements, city walking tours ( Guide John in Bergen was particularly good!), ferries, car rental, and taxi pick up were flawless. We especially loved the flower garden island and boat trip from Stavanger. Highly recommend without question! The driving route suggestions including hiking trail recommendations were perfect for our needs. We enjoyed Flam with the train ride and kayaking tour. A great day!
Tom was available to meet with us through Zoom several times prior to our departure from the US. His consideration and friendly personality were quite reassuring and he and other members of the Kim Kim team on the ground, were available and immediately responsive, the few times we had questions or sought information.
Norway is a stunningly, beautiful, easy to be in country of friendly seemingly happy people. It is a gem and we recommend, as we did, traveling there exclusively so it can be fully appreciated and explored.
Please consider for future reference, providing more specific directions, on arrival at Oslo Central Station to hotel accommodations. It is a bit overwhelming to arrive at a large station with seemingly dozens of exits. Also, since there are many Thon hotels the need for more specific directions would be helpful.
When we arrived in Bergen by ferry, we decided to walk from the dock to our hotel. This proved to be an interesting but arduous walk up and over steep cobblestone streets. We would recommend the short taxi ride.
While our all electric rental car ran beautifully, the need to secure charging, and paying for the charge was somewhat stressful at the time, but ultimately worked out well.
We’re not sure what happened with our first class train ride from Oslo to Stavanger, but halfway there we were required to de-train and complete the second half of the trip on what was a more local, less comfortable conveyance.
We particularly loved the hotel Ulansvagen. Awesome scenery, accommodation, history and food.
We also greatly enjoyed our stay at Bestabakken. The setting was gorgeous, the accommodation excellent. The owner – hosts were very nice and the guests who shared the family style dinners were interesting and fun.
The dining experience was beautifully presented and the food was good. Breakfast not great. I think potential guests for this place should be informed that the pre booked dinner with wine is quite expensive. Two nights’ dinners, for two people, was close to $600. It would be helpful prior to dinner for the host to inform guests that wine is extra. We fully enjoyed the experience, and/but the Bill was a bit salty.
In short, we could not be happier with all aspects of our trip. We look forward to future travel opportunities with Kim Kim. Shout out to Tom.
Joel B
Barb C

The stay in Bergen was too long, it should have been remove two night and the last boat experience wasn’t great, there was nothing to do or visit.
But overall all went good.

Our local specialist, Mar put together an amazing trip for my husband and I to Norway for our anniversary. Everything was so easy and everyone was so helpful- from the beginning of the planning stages to the trip itself! I even needed to contact the urgent contact while I was on my trip and Ricardo was very responsive and helpful! The hotels were great, the excursions and activities were perfect for us, and it was so nice to have all of our transfers taken care of with detailed instructions on where meet up and catch busses/trains! We spent time in Bergen, Balestrand, Flam and Tromso and did a variety of things including hikes, ferry rides, private floating sauna on the fjord, Sami and reindeer experience, funicular, northern lights excursions (we were lucky to see the norther lights 3 out of 3 nights in Tromso), etc. It was magical. I would definitely recommend KimKim's Mar and their team to plan a trip to Norway!

Activity Reviews

Reindeer Feeding & Northern Lights Experience

Tromsø

I loved hearing about the history and current day culture of the Sami people and their relationship with the reindeer. The camp was beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

The reindeer stew was great!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Husky Experience with Dinner

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Food

I loved the fish soup!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Max was great!

Transport

Private Floating Sauna Experience

Norway

I loved that we had a private sauna and we were able to get into the Fjord privately from the inside via a transparent door on the floor, or we were able to jump off the roof into the Fjord!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Waterfall Hike & Stegastein Viewpoint Experience

Flåm

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Lauma was amazing!

Transport

Our food tour was special and well organized and our guide to pulpit rock was great especially since we had the challenge of hiking in a light rain most of the way. The funicular above Bergen to watch the sunset is a unique experience. One thing to watch is store and restaurant hours - a lot of shops are closed on Sundays and only one restaurant was open in Rosendal on Monday - luckily it was terrific.

Hotel Reviews

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Suggest upgrading to a deluxe room for a little more room. First class bar and breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the harbor and near shipping and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Victoria

Stavanger

Smaller rooms but central - staff was great and helpful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

Attentive staff and perfect location to walk around Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Old style with current amenities

Location

Very central and very walkable.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

Not to be missed. A dramatic view of Bergen and the fjords.

Quality of Experience

Clear night and great meal at the restaurant

Pulpit Rock Hike with Lunch

Stavanger

Top shelf hike with incredible experience at the pinnacle. It was fairly tough made more difficult with misty rain the entire time. Andi was great and brought very welcomed lunches. Wish we had a clearer day but would do it again.

Quality of Experience

LLP

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taste of Oslo Street Food Walk

Oslo

Well organized and a true inside experience. He knew interesting places and made sure we had a true taste of the local food. Special thanks for accommodating Bev’s food allergies. Deep understanding of history of Norway. Excellent!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private City Walk

Oslo

No clear plan for the day - said she really didn’t like the city and preferred to take a walk in the forest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I had not heard of kimkim before starting to plan for our trip to Norway, so I was a little apprehensive. My experience could not have been better and it exceeded my expectations by far. I found the website online and after reading some of the good reviews (and endorsements by familiar companies), I typed in general thoughts about what kind of travel we enjoy, and some of the things we wanted to do. Anna, our specialist, sent back an itinerary that was a great first start, and within a week or so, we had it almost finalized. I was able to talk with her a couple of times to go through the plan carefully, and she tweaked some things based on feedback. I never felt like I was being forced to pick the most expensive choices, rather Anna was able to point out value where appropriate. She also responded to concerns and adjusted our plans accordingly (where I felt we might benefit from a car service, rather than public transportation, as an example).

Our trip had a few twists and turns, and was not straightforward (one person had to leave early), and we added one person after the trip had been planned, and Anna handled it with grace and a bit of humor. She went above and beyond to help me make it work within my budget, and we wound up with a spectacular experience all around.

The price of our trip did adjust upwards a couple of times, and while it was likely due to adding some things, I would make sure to make sure I know the final cost (and what is included) before I finalize a trip in the future. I will definitely plan on using kim kim in the future, though!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Oslo Airport

Gardermoen

Typical airport hotel. It was a bit worn, and could use a bit of a fresh coat of paint and carpet repair.

Authenticity & Character

It's a hotel airport

Location

Staff

Nothing lacking, but nothing beyond basic service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were comfortable, and room was clean.

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Very spacious, comfortable, beautiful views, great location.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful cabin in traditional style.

Location

Just a few minutes walk to town. Great location on the water.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manshausen

Leinesfjord

Simply amazing! Breathtaking views and totally worth taking a detour to stay there. Everyone was very accommodating and because our unit wasn't rented, they were happy to let us have a late check out, so that we could explore the island until time for our ferry ride.

Authenticity & Character

Unique and wonderful.

Location

Breathtaking.

Staff

Very accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

lovely all around.

Hotel Norge by Scandic

Bergen

Loved the upbeat atmosphere, and the rooms were very comfortable and relatively spacious. The breakfast was amazing - it would be impossible to try everything!

Authenticity & Character

Nice vibe - dj in the lobby was fun.

Location

Great location in the middle of everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable

Highland Lodge

Geilo

Very comfortable and clean. Small rooms, but nice to have common area, and the bakery was great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice lake and hiking in the area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Continental

Oslo

5 star hotel with all of the expected amenities. Beds and rooms were very comfortable (but small). Breakfast was a highlight!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

One of them took the time to walk us to the train station so we wouldn't miss it.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Lofoten Sightseeing Trip

Svolvær

Andrea was a highlight of our trip. We spent a full day touring with him, and we could have spent another day with him! He went out of his way to show us things. It was clear he loves the islands, and sharing his love of the area with others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea had a delightful personality, and clearly loves the out of doors and the environment.

Transport

Comfortable car.

Explore Bergen with a Local

Bergen

John was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable about Bergen, and took the time to explain the history and to make sure we got a chance to see things that were of interest to us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable - we walked, but it was a good pace.

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Loved Stig - very knowledgeable, and we really enjoyed our time with him.

Quality of Experience

Very knowledgeable, and he was very engaging and cared about our time in Oslo.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable - we walked, but it was a fun walk.

The planning process with Anders was great. The hotels selected in each city were in the best locations. The rooms we were given often were not top rate and when I asked for a different room, e.g., with a view or a larger room, upon checking our booking the hotels were unable to accomodate us. Our driver in Norway, Lene, was fantastic. She planned our days well and went out of her way to help the Hernas members of our threesome find their ancestral home towns. All of our other drivers and guides were top flight. Our only issue was that it took several tries to convince Anders that only Deborah and I were travelling to Finland. Even when he finally adjusted the room bookings, he did not adjust other reservations like the ferry to Estonia. Fenne straightened things out while we were there.

Hotel Review

Scandic Grand Central Helsinki

Helsinki

Great location in the heart of the city. Our room was tiny, the only one of the floor that had a former office divided into two rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Helsinki To Tallinn Private Day Trip with Old Town Tour & City Sightseeing

Helsinki

Tallinn was wonderful. It has a great old walled city with lots to see. Our guide was very knowledgeable about it and made it a fun day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porvoo Private Tour with Helsinki Highlights

Helsinki

This was a highlight tour while we were in Finland. Porvoo is a quaint waterfront city with an old shopping district. We also enjoyed the Sibelius monument and the rock church in Helsinki. Our guide, George, was very knowledgeable and kept us entertained the whole day. The only reservation we had was that he insisted on telling us about sauna even after we told him we have one in our home in California. I didn't need to be sold on sauna.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Geirangerfjord Cruise

Geiranger

The Fjord itself is spectacular and the cruise well paced to allow you to enjoy the waterfalls and other sights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Geiranger Skywalk Visit

Geiranger

The trip to get there takes you out of your way to the fjord itself. The view from there is spectacular overall, but the Geiranger Fjord is but a speck in the distance.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cider Tasting with Food Pairing

Balestrand

Although I was a bit skeptical about this going into it, the experience was really fun. The owner walked us through a tasting of ciders and then paired them excellent food choices. I was not a cider drinker before this, but I have gained a whole new appreciation for the genre.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

This was not a worthwhile cruise in our view.

Oslo Private Driver for a Day

Oslo

Lene was fantastic, not just this day but for the whole time we were with her in Norway. On this day, she exerted her "site location" skills from the movie industry to help locate the villages where Deborah and Pat's ancestors once lived.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lene!

Transport