Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

Norway Vacation- Truely memorable experience was in Flam and the kayaking. The 3 hours we were on the water was spectacular. The hotel that we changed to was perfect since we did not have to look out to the cruise ships that docked on a daily basis.

The instructions provided were excellent and the vacation went smoothly with no incident. Weather did not cooperate on some days, rain showers for a good portion of the afternoon but we were prepared with rain jackets and umbrellas.

Having an emergency contact was a great comfort. We did not need to utilize

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Christiania Teater

Oslo

Near the train station which is great for an early morning flight connection. Very large room and staff accommodated us with a carry-on breakfast since we had to leave the following day at 530am for our flight. Location was great to walk around the city and explore.

Authenticity & Character

Nice and spacious rooms

Location

Near train station

Staff

Provided us with breakfast given our departure at 530am

Cleanliness & Comfort

comfortable beds and quiet during the late hours

Heimly Pensjonat

Flåm

While Flam does not offer many options for accommodations, I am happy that we changed to this after researching. This hotel was situated away from the large cruise ships that dock. While you could still see the cruise ship, you were able to see the beautiful landscape. Breakfast and dinner were perfect, and the staff even went out of their way to prepare a vegetarian dinner for my daughter. Rooms were nothing spectacular, but we were outside more than inside.

Authenticity & Character

small and staff was accommodating to dietary needs of guests

Location

Away from the cruise ship

Staff

Very accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nothing spectacular about the rooms yet clean and comfortable beds

Activity Reviews

Summer Kayaking Excursion

Norway

Amazing tour and NO rains. Perfect amount of time to see landscape. This was the highlight of the vacation in Flam.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had extra time and guide docked our canoes and had a stop to view Viking graves and see early strawberries growing

Transport

Near walking distance from hotel

Rental Bike Excursion

Norway

Could not rent bikes that afternoon due to heavy rains that came through Flam. This was a disappointment since we were looking forward to biking. Can not control the weather. I should have inquired about cancelation fee due to weather prior to leaving yet never crossed my mind.

After trying to plan a multi-city visit to Norway on my own (a country I had never been to) that including small towns where my ancestors are from, I decided I needed to find someone who could plan it for us and found kimkim.

Veronika did a wonderful job of planning our trip, including the details of setting up taxi rides for us to take from a train to the hotel when needed (this was in multiple towns). And when we rented a car for a few days, she made sure the rental company was in walking distance of our hotel. When we just needed a quick overnight stay, the hotel she booked was within walking distance of the train station (it was even easy for my mother - who is in her 80s - to walk to it). When planning the trip, Veronika paid attention to the things we were interested in and also had suggestions for things we didn't know about but definitely fit our interests. She helped introduce Norway to us and we loved our time there.

The kimkim website did get a little confusing sometimes for where I was supposed to look for the information I needed while during the trip (when I didn't have the pages we printed out readily available). I was using my phone to look at the kimkim website and sometimes couldn't find the info at first, but would eventually find it. I somehow missed a message within the itinerary detailed section about contacting our tour guide ahead of time for the personal walking tour of Oslo. It was to let him know our interests and what we wanted to see. I only saw it right before we met up with our guide, Neil, but things worked out. We let him know some of the things we wanted to see, he made a few suggestions, and then off we went. He was a great guide and having just arrived in Oslo that day, totally unfamiliar with the city, he pointed out where we could find the places that we would be going to in the next few days and the best ways to get there. That was the only time I completely missed something on the itinerary during the trip, though.

It was really nice to have our tickets for the trains, museums, and tours all in one place that I could just bring up on my phone so we didn't have to keep track of papers as we traveled (unpacking and repacking) all over southern Norway.

It was so nice to have hotels and experiences booked before our travel.
Everything went smoothly. When there was a glitch in our schedule Christina was very helpful in finding a solution. She had great suggestions for additional sightseeing and activities.
Would definitely use KimKim travel again!

Hotel Review

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Beautiful hotel! Close to the ferry. Loved that breakfast and dinner were included!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Scenic Boat Trip to Fjærland

Norway

Loved our guide Tor! Geared trip to 4 year old. Made it so fun for her!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This is my first time using KimKim and they were amazing! Anna began planning our trip (then went on maternity leave) so Christina took over. Even on a weekend there was an on-call person Mathia that responded to our questions in a timely fashion. AND not just questions about what they had planned for us, other questions regarding our trip..."How much to do think it would cost to take a taxi from A to B? Should I tip and how much?" You never felt alone and it was awesome to have a resource at your fingertips that lived and knew the country you were visiting. I would highly recommend them if you want your trip customized and at a reasonable cost. 6/5 STARS!

Hotel Reviews

Sogn Hotel

Vadheim

This hotel is a bit scary (for us older folks) as it appears at first glance there is graffiti everywhere! There were pictures in the lobby and each door had graffiti art done by a well known Oslo artist. Upon entering the room it was clean and nicely maintained with THE MOST amazing view looking down a fjord. Since we arrived around dinner time and everything was closed they did offer us dinner, which was pizza or pizza. Very nicely made. Included breakfast was yogourt + cereal but we were offered bacon and eggs which we did not realize was not part of the 'included breakfast'. (our mistake). I was looking for fresh fruit with breakfast and there was none, as was explained to me that there are supply chain issues being in Vadheim (aka, the middle of nowhere). It's owned by a lovely couple who are in the midst of trying to upgrade the hotel (new carpeting was coming and they were planning a complete re-do in the coming years). The bus depot is also right outside their front door, so that couldn't have been easier to continue our trip.

Authenticity & Character

The character came from the graffiti

Location

It's central, near the bus and their is a grocery store a 1/2 block away.

Staff

Lovely couple, Ruth and Mark

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was spotless as was the bathroom. I did have to request a hairdryer which Ruth brought to me.

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

This is THE PLACE to stay in Flam. It was amazing and so beautifully decorated. Their breakfast buffet was absolutely amazing! I'm sure their dinner buffet (675K is about $67US p/p or $100CAN) which is a stiff price to pay if you're not that hungry, but I will say we could see lobster and a plethora of other seafood as a choice among many other food stations at the buffet, so I'm sure it was amazing. All of Flam seems to 'roll up their sidewalks" at 6pm, so I wish the hotel could have offered a less expensive meal option. (Perhaps they did and I just didn't know about it). It is definitely and nicest and best place to stay in Flam and I would do it again, no problem.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was just perfect!

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Wonderful hotel and excellent staff. The breakfast was amazing! It is very central to everything and close to the main train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and as comfortable as it could be. I only say that as we arrived during a heat wave and they (and most hotels in Europe ) didn't have air-conditioning. They did supply a fan to our room., but with upcoming global warming they may wish to consider it, but I'm sure this happens only 3-4 days of the year and I just happen to hit the 'heat wave' they were having.

Activity Reviews

Fjord Safari Taste

Norway

This would be top of my list to do in Flam! You got right down into the fjord and up close and personal with the waterfalls. It was just awesome. They fit you out with proper gear, including googles. The guide was so entertaining and informative too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very helpful in getting the gear on and the tour guide was very informative and funny

Transport

It got you up close and personal with the fjord and waterfalls.

Visit Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

This was ok, but it took 1.5 hrs. It was 0 .5hr to get there and 0.5hr to get back to you only get to spend 0.5hrs there. Buses are clean and comfortable. The bus driver simply drove and did not include any commentary along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Give a commentary as you're driving...

Transport

The buses were clean and comfortable

This was our first time using kimkim and did so based on the reviews we read. We could not have been more pleased. Every planned experience went like clockwork and the hotel choices were perfect for us. Anu’s perception of us was on point with the selected excursions. The highlight was the RIB Fjord Safari. The reason to go to Norway. Also really enjoyed the Cultural and Food Tour in Bergen. Mary Anne was great. The Vigeland Garden in Oslo cannot be missed. Balestrand was our favorite overall destination, so charming and picturesque with a fabulous hotel and delicious ciders. Thank you all for your help and we are already thinking of next year.

Hotel Reviews

Home Hotel Havnekontoret

Bergen

Beautiful hotel and perfect location. Staff were the best and the food was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Like going back in time. Great location and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Small rooms but comfortable. Good location

Authenticity & Character

Lotion in bathroom. Better view.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

We really enjoyed our stay at the Kviknes Hotel. The room was large and comfortable with a killer view and the old part of the hotel is beautiful. We described it as old world meets Viking. The breakfast was fantastic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Food and Culture walk in Bergen

Bergen

Our second favorite experience on the trip. Our guide Mary Anne was ideal. The food we had was delicious and quite filling and the tour around town was perfect. Highly recommend this excursion.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

View is incredible and ride very smooth. As must for Bergen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Fjærland

Norway

Enjoyed the experience. Glacier museum is well done and informative. Thought we would be closer to the glacier itself but not possible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord RIB Safari & Undredal Cheese Tasting

Norway

Overall our favorite on the trip. Exciting, beautiful, comfortable and professionally done. Could not have been better. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stegastein Viewpoint by Bus

Norway

View is everything. Very touristy but good bus ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

Food was very good and sights amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our visit to Norway was beyond our expectations. The original itinerary appeared to be amazing. However, due to Joseph’s special needs, changes were necessary. Thanks to Fenne, we had a wheelchair available at both hotels and needed to change hotels in Bergen. The Scandic Torget Bergen was in a perfect spot as the two bus tours started across the street. Both bus drivers were exceptional. The cider tour and fjord cruise to Flåm were highlights of our trip. We also enjoyed dinner at Engebret Cafe which was on the list of places to eat that you provided. We had no problem with all the tickets for the various events. We were also impressed how responsive team members were to our questions. Overall, we are very pleased. Thank you. Joseph & Patrick

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Here we had an accessibility room which did not offer adequate space for luggage — no dresser. Beds and chairs were comfortable. Shower did not have hand bars for safety, did not keep water in shower area and offered no face cloths. The temperature of the room was good. Here too the breakfasts were great! Enjoyed the fire pit in the lobby.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Friendliness and helpfulness

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were cozy.

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

We had a deluxe room so it was roomy with windows on two sides. The most amazing feature though was the breakfast — so many choices! On the negative side, the shower had no hand bars for safety, did not limit water to shower area, and the shampoo pump was difficult. There are no hand towels and the bath towels barely wrap around one’s body. The air in the room was still and warm and barely improved with oscillating desk fan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It seemed to be in the middle of centre city — only blocks up from City Hall and piers and a stroll along Karl Johans gate.

Staff

Friendliness and helpfulness

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nærøyfjord Cruise, Flåm & Stegastein Day Trip

Bergen

Stunningly beautiful — blessed to have had good weather. Bus driver was outstanding.

Quality of Experience

Have to credit bus driver, not only his enthusiasm but above & beyond our expectations.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See comment above

Transport

Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

Beautiful!! Stunning!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cidery Tour To Balestrand By The Sognefjord

Bergen

Knowledgeable and rewarding — learned a lot about cider. Presentation was professional and cider sampling paired with good was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kristiina did a great job planning our 15 day itinerary! She was attentive to our personal interests, likes and dislikes.
Fenne also did a wonderful job booking all the tours, excursions, hotels, and modes of transportation. Two of the four hotels we stayed at could have been nicer however, the room at one of the hotels had the loveliest view of any place we’ve ever stayed in all of our travels. Everything worked like clockwork without a problem. Julia was our 24 hour contact while traveling in Norway. We only needed to use her assistance once and she immediately took care of the issue.
We spent several days in Oslo. What a beautiful city! We then flew to Alesund, a lovely small city along the coast where we took excursions to Geirangerfjord (breathtaking), an e-bike tour, and a bus tour of surrounding islands. We then flew to Bergen where we did a guided kayak tour, a guided tour along the fjords including a boat trip down Hardangerfjord (magnificent). We then took a lovely ferry ride to Stavanger where we hiked to Pulpits Rock one day and went on a fjord RIB Safari. A relaxing train ride back to Oslo then gave us the final day to visit the Kon-Tiki and Fram museums which were wonderful.
All of the cities were very walkable and easy to navigate.
The Norwegian people couldn’t have been nicer. Very friendly and helpful.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Stavanger City

Stavanger

Not a great location. Our room looked out on an alley type road with nondescript buildings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

Dark and tired looking. Not a great location. Poor view from room. Looking at a big office type building not far from our window. Eating area very dark. The walls were black.

Authenticity & Character

Rugs were old and worn. Eating area dark.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

Great location. On the water.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel The Hub

Oslo

Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Øygarden Kayaking Excursion with Island Lunch

Bergen

Leisurely kayaking around low lying islands. Nothing strenuous. Guide was friendly and informative. Lunch was very good. One of the local fisherman cooked up a fresh fish meal. Yum!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lysefjord RIB Safari from Stavanger

Stavanger

Enjoyable. A bit jolting at times. Got to see Pulpit Rock from the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pulpit Rock Hike with Lunch

Stavanger

Our guide was super nice and engaging. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see anything as it was foggy the whole time. But we got some good exercise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Hardangerfjord Tour: Voss Gondol & Mt. Hanguren Panorama

Norway

Our guide Arne was great!! He even brought a drone. Stopped at a few waterfalls. One was spectacular. The fjord trip was great. Gorgeous scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Viking Islands of Giske & Godøy

Ålesund

Leisurely bus tour around the surrounding islands with visit to a church and lighthouse.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Geirangerfjord Cruise & Day Trip

Norway

We were on a boat with a group of other people who had park service guides. The guides gave interesting commentary about the surroundings which made the ride more interesting .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Art Nouveau Discovery by E-Bike

Ålesund

Our guide was friendly. We rode out of the city to an adjoining island which was lovely. From the Art Nouveau name of the tour we thought we’d be learning about the architecture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

No transport was involved

Oslo private tour

Oslo

Our guide was great!

Quality of Experience

Bonjour! Overall the Norway experience was soooo great!
mini ajustments would be recommended for a friend who would ask but we had a marvelous time.

(left a note to Tricia, but it seems we are not in contact anymore. There was a night on May 19, that was book by mistake. You tought we would arrive on the 19 but it was on the 20.....
also, a guide for Oslo on the 20th, was booked, and for the same reasons, we were not there....still travelling... Can you do something about that??)

Anu was very patient answering all my questions with details and planned our trip in a considerate manner. We had a lot of fun and exp experienced almost all activities that the tourist resort can offer.

Hotel Review

Clarion Hotel Bergen Airport Terminal

Bergen

Very clean and looks brand new. Very welcoming too. Small breakfast was offered from 4:00 am and the big one starts at 6:00 am. Very thoughtful for early flight guests.

Authenticity & Character

Clean and welcoming. The design is unique and stylish.

Location

Walking distance to the airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yes.

Activity Review

Waterfall Hike & Stegastein Viewpoint Experience

Flåm

The guide Rose is very kind, thoughtful, experienced, and professional.

Quality of Experience

Rose is very experienced and made the entire trip very fun and she managed the time perfectly.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rose is full of vitality too.

Transport

Rose planned the trip well so that we had fun and were also able to get back on time.

We had a wonderful trip to Norway. Local specialist Tricia was instumental in helping us decide what to do, where to travel within the country, etc.-based on our interests and goals. Additionally, she and others at KimKim were very responsive in real time to any questions that arose, or if we needed to make a change to plans on a given day, etc...Overall, the trip was truly flawless and I would recommend KimKim without reservation based on our Norway experience.
Margaret Ferrell

Hotel Reviews

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

Perfect!

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Wonderful location, dining room was incredible with frescoes adorning the walls...great breakfast buffet

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fjærland Fjordstove Hotell & Restaurant

Fjærland

Fantastic chef and beautiful location!!!! Beatiful deck on the fjord, great sitting room with window onto fjord...my favorite hotel of the trip

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cheerful, helpful, and funny!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Henningsvær Rorbuer

Henningsvær

Incredible location on the harbor, with two bedrooms, and a great western view from the dock our cabin was on to watch the sun set (almost set!) Nice breakfast and clean rooms. Kitchen was a bit spare, but functional.

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Friendly place- clean. Pub and Bistro on site which is great, as the town is very small. Front desk staff helpful as well.

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Helpful staff; delicious breakfast; beautiful dining room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

It was a perfect tour with only our group of 4. John was a great guide- knew the city perfectlt, having grown up there and been a guide for many years. We walked almost 5 miles (which was great) and really enjoyed the morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thank you for all the help and advice you provided in planning our trip. I had no direct contact with Kimkim, but I benefited from the advice you gave to our trip planners. If we had a question, we were able to reach you easily. You helped us make last minute changes if our plans changed. The hotels were great. You simplified the logistics. You were reachable. We loved the trip. Thank you for all your help. I would used you again with no hesitation.

Lovely trip. Amazing hotels, travel connections, route.etc. If I were to do the trip over I would change the following : book the funicular rather than the cable car in Bergen, subtract the third day from Bergen and it to Oslo. Minor adjustments to a wonderful experience !

Hotel Reviews

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

View superb!! So close to ferry.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Home Hotel Havnekontoret

Bergen

Loved the included meals!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

So near to ferries

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

Location of venue far from hotel and we got lost/ wasted time finding it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Lovely outing. Especially enjoyed the bits of Grieg background music

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cider Tasting with snacks

Balestrand

Loved everything about the experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ægir Viking Meal Experience

Flåm

Ordered smaller meals off of menu

Quality of Experience

Cute place

The trip checked all the boxes. The food tour was good (the guide was pretty soft-spoken and there were 14 in the group.). The hotel was perfect for the location - it could not have been more convenient. However, because of the child safety closures on the windows, they only opened a few centimeters so there was no airflow and it was especially warm weather. I can't imagine staying there in the summer with no AC. Additionally, the windows for our room were over the back alley so we heard the midnight glass recycle dump from the nearby restaurants when they closed. I felt quite poorly on Sunday, so that may impact this next comment, but I would send people to Rosendal first, then to Flam. We went to Flam on Saturday and Sunday to Rosendal. After 5 hours on the boat Saturday, in the "King of the Fjords," the Roesndal trip was slightly disappointing in comparison. It was still lovely, but one's mind naturally compares to prior similar events. But like I said, I was feeling quite poorly Sunday, so it might have just been my mood. We had great food and really enjoyed our time. My husband had never been and enjoyed the Sognefjord the most. I usually plan all our trips and appreciated being able to just "show up" for this without having done much work.

Hotel Review

Scandic Torget

Bergen

The location can not be beat. It has got to be the most convenient location in old town Bergen. The breakfast was fabulous. They said they started serving at 0730 but when we went down around 0700 to get coffee, they let us get started early since we had an early ferry. However, I can't recommend it for summer travel. The windows have child locks on them to keep kids from falling out (good thing) but they restrict air flow so significantly, that we baked all night long without airflow or air conditioning. And our room faced the alley so we heard the midnight glass recycle from the nearby restaurants. If you're going in the cooler weather, stay here. If not, find a place that might be cooler for sleeping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bergen to Flåm "The King of Fjords" Sognefjord in a Nutshell Day trip

Bergen

We loved this experience. It's such a lovely day on the boat (in good weather).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

You need to do this while in Bergen. Then walk down - that was one of our favorite parts of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food and Culture walk in Bergen

Bergen

Great tour to local eating/drinking establishments. The guide was great, if a bit soft spoken. I recommended this tour to others we met later in our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had to go home after 1 day due to serious upper respiratory infection
Julia was an outstanding!! She really helped in everything!!
We were feeling so sick it was not possible for us to function

We had a phenomenal time on our trip! We had been talking about going to Norway for years, so we had incredibly high expectations, and thanks to Maria, our trip exceeded all of them. We saw so many places we never would have thought of on our own, so I highly recommend getting Kimkim to help plan your trip!

We were very pleased with the planning KimKim did for our trip through Norway. During the initial planning, Maria was extremely helpful and responsive. She put together an itinerary that covered many of the things that we sought to accomplish. Once the trip was established, Fenne became our more frequent client service contact. She was professional and helpful throughout.

Communications with Maria and Fenne were generally quickly answered, although there were one or two instances where we needed to follow-up to get a question answered. The documentation in the trip details was generally quite complete and helpful - although I think that an app would be a much better way for clients to organize and implement their travels and store all of the documents/tickets required.

A couple of suggestions for KimKim:
1) Build an app instead of relying on website itinerary - would be much more user friendly.
2) While all of the adventure companies we used during the trip were terrific, they often did not have our email addresses and therefore only could communicate with KimKim. This almost caused us to miss a briefing before the Trolltunga hike - as the company didn't inform/remind us about it and the details.
3) While KimKim didn't arrange a rental car for us, there were aspects of our trip that a local agent's perspective would have been beneficial (the itinerary told us to rent a car for the entire trip). As an example, we rented the car for the almost entire 12 days of our trip. However, we really didn't need the car for the first two days in Bergen (and it was a hassle) and, more importantly, we probably should have returned our car once we reached Stavanger where we stayed for three days and not only didn't need the car there because of all of the planned activities - but parking was expensive while the car sat there and the drive to Oslo from there was long and we would have done much better with the train.

Hope that these are helpful - we would definitely consider using KimKim again for a trip in the future.

Activity Reviews

Øygarden Kayaking Excursion with Island Lunch

Bergen

Really appreciated the kayak trip. The scenery was great and the trip leaders were terrific!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslo private tour

Oslo

A great introduction to Oslo! Christine was terrific and extremely knowledgable about history, art, geography and politics. She was also quite flexible when we asked to make a quick visit to the Munch Museum part of the tour. Loved this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christine was awesome!

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

Surprisingly wonderful. We thought that this would be very touristy (and it is) but the boat ride to the restaurant is lovely and the food was delicious. It's quite expensive though.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Preikestolen Hidden Trail Hike & Canoeing Adventure

Stavanger

Preikestolen is a gorgeous outlook -- awesome. But, I can't imagine hiking there on the main trail because of the crowds of people (witness the large number of tour buses parked in the lot). This 'Hidden Trail' is spectacular and we didn't see anyone until just before arriving at Preikestolen - nor on the way down. It is a challenging hike (much harder than the main trail) and significantly longer (~9 miles vs 5). But truly worth it and our guides (Allen with Terry as an apprentice) were terrific.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trolltunga Winter

Odda

Loved this hike and the guides/company were terrific! It was challenging and long, but so rewarding!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mar and Fenne were fantastic in planning our trip to Bergen Norway. I found Kimkim online and reviewed their credentials. Once I was satisfied with the basics of who they were I started planning with them. It was a great experience all around. All my questions were answered so fast, most within a couple of hours ! The sample itineraries are very helpful and can be adjusted to suit your needs. we wanted a moderately paced trip. Mar suggested a boat ride dinner at the Cornelius seafood restaurant. It was a wonderful culinary treat. We added 2 days to ours with some free time to relax and enjoy the fantastic view of the harbor and mountains from our hotel. We also had Julia's # to contact in case of any urgent issues while we were there. Happily we had none. I asked where we could rent a rolling walker for my husband who has mobility issues, on long walks. Fenne looked into it and 2 were delivered to the hotel ! No charge !! It was provided free from the municipality of Bergen. One was smaller for indoor use & the outdoor one with larger wheels. AMAZING! I would use Kimkim again in a heartbeat. Thanks again to Mar, Fenne & Julia my dream team!

Hotel Review

Clarion Hotel Admiral

Bergen

Very nice hotel. We had a superior double room that provided a 5 star view. Sitting on the deck was beautiful. Staff was so nice. The breakfast buffet is great, lots to choose from and very good. There is a small bistro menu for dinner. Overpriced as most hotel food is but very tasty.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

An absolute must ! Spectacular beauty .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

So fun and great dining experience !

Food and Culture walk in Bergen

Bergen

This was the best time. Freida was our guide and she was outgoing and very knowledgeable. The tastings along the way are perfectly timed throughout the 3 hours. It is leisurely and not rushed. It was so much fun to walk through neighborhoods and all the tucked away spots.

Mar did a wonderful job of mapping out an itinerary that included the highlights of Norway that we wanted to see. We were able to use public transportation to get around and all the tickets for our major travels were provided ahead of time. Even when we had a hiccup (my fault) on the train journey from Oslo to Bergin, we were able to reach Julia (the emergency contact) and get things straightened out quickly.

All our hotels were within easy walking distance of public transportation and convenient to restaurants and major sights.

We really enjoyed the walking tour of Bergen with Magda as our guide. We saw back streets of Bergen and learned some history of this beautiful city. The highlight for my husband and son was the RIB boat safari in Flam exploring the Aurlandsfjord and Naeroyfjord, including the cheese tasting. I really liked the cider tasting and lunch in Balestrand, delightful!

We spent a lot of time on ferries and trains which is a relaxing way to travel. However, I did hope we would have had more time to do some hiking while in the smaller communities. I guess we should have scheduled a longer visit!

Hotel Reviews

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Location and character are terrific. Staff is helpful and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

The old part of the hotel is a slice of the local history not to be missed. The views from the dining room are terrific, and make sure to make time to see the artwork, artisan pieces and historical references in the halls connecting to the main dining room.

Authenticity & Character

We are referring to the original building. We stayed in the newer 60's add on. It is well integrated, but lacks any of the charm and character of the original building. The room was fine, nothing to complain about, but not the original experience.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Great location for everything we wanted to do and see in Bergen. Short walks to the ferries, downtown and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

The chief recommendation for this hotel is its convenience. It is just a few steps from the central train station and bus, tram connections to all of Oslo.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Fjærland

Norway

A boat ride into the small, charming town of Fjaerland is followed by a short bus ride to the glacier museum. The museum is small, but well designed and packed with interesting facts and exhibits. The highlight is a very short, well-done wide screen movie. After reboarding the bus you are dropped off a short walk to the base of a massive glacier. It is supposed to be the largest in Europe and one of only three that is expected to survive into the next century.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gudvangen to Flåm fjord cruise

Gudvangen

Riding the electric ferry is reason enough to do this cruise. You also get to experience some of the most vertical mountains and fjords you will see in Norway. Get close enough to waterfalls to hear the roar and feel the spray.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Viking Day in Gudvangen

Gudvangen

We thought this might be a little too artificial since it is a recreation of Norse/Viking life. However, the experience was positive due to the factual, accurate information provided by the guides in the village. Seeing and getting explanations of the Viking ships, weapons and armor helps understand the Viking Age. The blacksmith and his explanations of how things were done is not to be missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord RIB Safari & Undredal Cheese Tasting

Norway

It was great to get down to sea level and ride in a fast boat in the fjord. They provided and insisted we gear up for the temperature changes we did encounter on the ride. The guide was very knowledgeable and personable and spent time going over all the safety features built into the boat, communications, the gear we were wearing. The perspective from these relatively small boats cannot be duplicated on the large commercial craft nor the ability to interact and get one on one questions and answers from a well informed guide. The goat cheese tastings was a delight. We were surprised by how much we enjoyed the flavors and textures of this local delicacy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

We were unlucky with the weather. It was completely socked in and rainy. We saw very little and got a little wet. Ground transport, drivers and staff were all great, but there was not much point given the weather.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cider Tasting with Food Pairing

Balestrand

Much to love in this experience. We learned historical and cultural context for apples. The ciders were tasty and food pairings were a delight. Enjoyed every aspect of the experience including the walk back to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Past & Present City Walk

Bergen

Our guide was terrific. Magda was knowledgeable and personable. She brought the history to light and made the culture understandable. We really enjoyed getting off the beaten paths and seeing some of the neighborhoods just a few hundred yards from the harbor. Magda answered all of our questions and provided great context.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mathia did a wonderful job putting together an itinerary for our family. We had a fantastic vacation.
He was flexible and listened to our wishes. We wanted to incorporate some hikes and experience as much as possible the beautiful country .
Until a month before departure we were not sure how many travelers were going to be able to join and Mathia was flexible with booking the accommodations.
We did a 6 nights trip going from Stavanger , Bergen, Flam and Oslo. The hotels choices were great conveniently located short walking distance to the center.
The top 2 attractions of our trip were the hike to attain Pulpit Rock and our stay at Flam.
Thank you Mathia for an unforgettable trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Heimen

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

I couldn't have chosen a better location arriving from the train. It was great so close 3 minutes walk! The hotel was very nice and just perfect. Breakfast was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is next door to the train. Wonderful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

I wish we had an extra night in Flam at the hotel! The hotel was beautiful with lots of area to sit and relax and enjoy the views. Breakfast was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Excellent location next to the train and beautiful view of the mountains and Fjords

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Stavanger City

Stavanger

Wonderful breakfast ! We arrived by bus from the airport and we were dropped just in front of the hotel. That was wonderful. Stavanger is a small city and the hotel was close to the center of the city.

Authenticity & Character

The decor in the lobby was nice and they had outdoor seating

Location

Close to the ferry

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was very fun

Transport

Short Hike with a Local in Bergen

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Pulpit Rock Hike

Stavanger

We enjoyed a lot the hike. Arriving with the cruise and coming back with the bus was perfect. I am 60 years old so the hike was a good effort for me but so worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Every thing went smoothly.
Our hotels were excellent, and the transportation was the same.
Had a great time and the weather was superb.
We loved our time in Norway and would definitely use Kimkim again

Thanks to Anna and the team

Martin & Kathy Woodward
Tasmania