Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

What a wonderful trip to Norway! Christina was very knowledgable, responsive and helpful. Highlights were Aurland, the Fjord boat cruise and Lyngen.

Hotel Reviews

Lyngen Experience Lodge

Nord-Lenangen

This place is magical! So beautiful. And the food, prepared by Simon - was OUTSTANDING! Would come back, even though it is a journey....

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Oliver, Mike and Simon are top notch.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wangen Apartments by Flåmsbrygga

Aurland

Loved it here! The top floor room was much better than our 1st floor room. Recommend asking for that. Also - definitely schedule the floating sauna!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Charmante

Bergen

quirky, comfortable hotel in Bergen Center. The staff was amazing. The food was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

Don't miss this!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was all around amazing. We ended up in Oslo for two warm days and enjoyed our tour with Stieg. The Thon hotel was a great location. Note:/fisheriet Bjorvika restaurant is wonderful and in a cool neighborhood. Train to Flam, then Aurland. There was a hiccup in the taxi but ferry or bus is a good alternative. The fisherman’s cabin in Aurland was really special..on the water literally and simple but amazing views. We highly recommend the sauna and dipping on the pier. Breakfast was particularly nice in an old historic house with a nice spread. The Fiord Cruise was amazing as was the Stegstein viewpoint. Ferry to Balestrand and the hotel Kniknes was outstanding. Loved walking around the town (a great local restaurant Pearl of the Harbor , run by a Ukrainian with a Norwegian flavor). Note the hotel has no elevator and a lot of stairs to climb to our room. We were fine but some may not be. The cider tour and tasting was fantastic….and impressive history. Bergen was great ..as was the tour with John…a lot of local knowledge. The Hotel Terminus …very nice room, and location. Personally we felt that there were too many groups and events and not catered to individuals as much. . Loved Bergen , roaming around, food, and the funicular. We went early up the Funicular and highly recommend the walk down. Then the Hurtigruten….the fiords were spectacular…so glad we did it. And Trondheim. we LOVED the hotel Britannia….really top notch spot in every way. The Breakfast buffet was the most impressive I have ever seen and the service impeccable. Walking tour with Wanda was perfect. She is very knowledgeable and very entertaining with her stories. We also love the Bakklandet neighborhood and restaurants. Trondheim was really a lovely little city….turned out to be one of favorites!

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

The Grand Hotel Terminus in Bergen has a fantastic location, and the rooms are beautiful, but it was not quite our style. The hotel was very crowded with groups, and there was a wedding on Sunday that seemed to take over the place. There wasn't a lobby area to relax in, which was a bit inconvenient. Despite these issues, the room was great, and Bergen itself is lovely.

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri in Aurland was absolutely magical. It's located right on the water, and we stayed in the fisherman's cabins, which were fairly basic but offered such an amazing experience with a deck overlooking the fjord. The setting was reminiscent of being in the Alps. The breakfast spread was also lovely. If you prefer super fancy, this might not be your cup of tea, but we loved it.

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

We really enjoyed staying at the Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand. It's an old, charming hotel with beautiful views by the sea. However, it doesn't have an elevator, which might be a concern for those who have trouble with stairs. There's a lovely restaurant nearby at the harbor run by a Ukrainian chef, which was a pleasant surprise. The food was great, with a fusion of local and Ukrainian flavors.

Activity Reviews

Cider & Fruit wine tasting with 5 snacks

Balestrand

The Cider & Fruit Wine Tasting with snacks in Balestrand was a delightful experience! We loved the variety of local produce and snacks on offer. It was a perfect way to spend the afternoon and learn about the local cider-making traditions. Definitely worth doing if you're in the area.

Floating Fjord Sauna

Norway

The Floating Fjord Sauna in Aurland was a unique and enjoyable experience. We love dipping in cold water, and the combination of sauna and fjord was perfect for us. The staff advised us to shower with warm water before the dip, which made the experience even better. We spent around an hour alternating between the sauna and cold dips, and it felt invigorating. A highly recommended activity!

My parents and I recently returned from a two-week journey through Norway organized by Mathia, and I can say without hesitation that it was truly the trip of a lifetime.

From our very first conversation, Mathia was exceptional to work with. He was consistently responsive, patient, knowledgeable, and incredibly thorough throughout the entire planning process. No question ever seemed too small, and his communication was outstanding from start to finish. Planning an international trip with multiple destinations, hotels, transportation arrangements, and activities can feel overwhelming, but Mathia made the process remarkably smooth and stress-free.

Because I was traveling with my parents, it was especially important that the itinerary strike the right balance between activity, comfort, sightseeing, and driving time. Mathia did an excellent job creating a journey that accommodated different interests and energy levels while still allowing us to experience an incredible amount of Norway. Every stop felt purposeful, and the pacing never felt rushed.

What impressed me most was how thoughtfully the itinerary was designed. The trip struck a perfect balance between iconic destinations and lesser-known experiences, allowing us to experience Norway’s extraordinary natural beauty while avoiding the feeling of being shuffled from one attraction to the next. The route flowed seamlessly from Oslo to Aurland, Bergen, Ålesund, Valldal, Åndalsnes, and back to Oslo, with each destination offering something unique and memorable.

The accommodations were excellent throughout the journey, and many of Mathia’s recommendations became highlights of the trip. We experienced spectacular fjords, mountain scenery, charming villages, scenic drives, unforgettable hikes, wonderful restaurants, and countless moments that will stay with us for years to come. Some of our favorite memories came from places and experiences we likely never would have discovered on our own.

Another aspect we greatly appreciated was the support provided while we were traveling. Mathia happened to be on holiday for a portion of our trip, but he ensured we had contact information for other members of the KimKim team who were available to assist if needed. The transition was seamless, and the team checked in with us during the trip to make sure everything was going smoothly. That level of preparation and care gave us confidence that support was always available, even while Mathia was away.

If I were to offer one piece of constructive feedback for future travelers, it would simply be to provide a bit more guidance regarding transportation limitations in some of the smaller destinations outside the larger cities such as Oslo, Bergen, and Ålesund. This is certainly not a criticism, but rather something that may help future visitors better prepare their expectations.

For example, during our stay in Aurland before picking up our rental car in Ålesund, we discovered that local transportation options were extremely limited and often needed to be arranged well in advance. Demand was high, availability was scarce, and pricing could be surprisingly expensive. We looked into transportation to a nearby hiking trailhead and found that a round-trip transfer would have cost nearly $400 USD, which was far more than we anticipated. Ultimately, we adjusted our plans and found an alternate hike within walking distance of the hotel, but having a bit more advance awareness of transportation constraints in these smaller communities would have been helpful when planning activities. This is less a reflection on the itinerary itself and more a reality of traveling in some of Norway’s more remote and beautiful regions.

That minor observation aside, our overall experience was exceptional. Norway exceeded every expectation we had. The country’s natural beauty is extraordinary, but what transformed this from a great vacation into a truly unforgettable experience was the thoughtful planning and guidance we received from Mathia. His recommendations, organization, responsiveness, and attention to detail helped create memories that my parents and I will cherish for the rest of our lives.

I would enthusiastically recommend Mathia to anyone considering a trip to Norway. We are incredibly grateful for his assistance, professionalism, and dedication, and we would not hesitate to work with him again in the future.

What a magical trip! My husband and I are independent travelers but we wanted the expertise and logistical skill of a destination specialist who knew Norway inside out, and that's just what we got with Katie. We decided to travel from Oslo to Balestrand and fjord country to Bergen and then go on to Floro and the tiny island of Kinn -- mostly by ferries and train. Katie understood our budget constraints and still offered up remarkable suggestions on centrally located lodgings, including a cabin in Balestrand overlooking snow-capped mountains that we wanted to stay in forever. All the ferries and trains were arranged for and paid for in advance and she helped us secure an electric car for two days. Our entire trip (with PDF attachments and confirmations) was placed on an app, so all we had to do was open the app -- couldn't be easier. When a couple of hitches developed (as they always do in travel), we just reached out to KimKim and they responded in literally a minute and solved the issue right on the spot. Everyone there seemed committed to ensuring we enjoyed a wonderful vacation. A number of helpful suggestions were offered for us to explore at every stop we made, and we feel our two-week trip was filled with well-balanced activities (from cultural activities to awesome nature). We are still glowing from this trip and the wonderful people we met in Norway and the sights! OMG, the sights!

From the beginning of our planning stages, Krista was amazing. We had a broad idea of what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go, which of course was probably a bit grand for our available time, and budget. Krista was great in helping us to navigate what we could reasonably get in and do in the time alloted. During our trip, we ran into a few issues that needed to be addressed, and the customer service team took care of all of them! I would not hesitate to recommend Krista and NORD/KimKim for anyone wanting to visit Scandinavia!

Hotel Reviews

Heimly Pensjonat

Flåm

Great small boutique hotel just a 10 minute walk from the center.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Perfect location right across the street from the fish market and Brygenn.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Utsikten

Geiranger

This is an amazing hotel with unprecedented views...but you MUST have a car to stay here. Too far away and a steep walk to town, with no or limited taxi service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lilla Rådmannen

Stockholm

Now called the Corner Hotel, it's a little far away from the center of the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Viking Line overnight cruise

Stockholm

Loved this overnight cruise across the Baltic and into the Stockholm Archipelago!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Upgraded Superior Room was a necessity, and was great!

St.Barbara

Tallinn

Great hotel just outside the old town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Grand Central Helsinki

Helsinki

Great hotel in a great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Geraingerfjord Safari by RIB

Geiranger

Food & Beer Walk

Oslo

Walking Tour Stockholm

Stockholm

Guide didn’t show up

Estonian Food Tour

Tallinn

Guide didn’t show up.

Copenhagen: A Food Tour of Past & Present

Copenhagen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katie was very easy to work with and extremely knowledgeable about the areas we were visiting. We had a fantastic time and the guides we interacted with both did a very good job. Aspan, our driver, was very knowledgeable about the area and took us on a beautiful scenic drive along the edges of the fjords and to many scenic waterfalls and other spots. We also really enjoyed our day with Elin, she is a sweetheart and made sure that we were all having a great time and she was full of fun stories and knowledge as well. The only “glitch“ was on the morning that it was pouring rain and we decided to not go on the guided E bike tour. As Katie was on her maternity leave we were working with Tom and that communication wasn’t as fluid. I assumed we would be refunded the money we paid for the tour but Tom said we had to cancel within 72 hours but I do not believe that any bike tours took place that morning due to the heavy rain so it was probably cancelled by the company anyways. We asked for a couple of other options to do that morning and one of the options he gave us was closed and the other one was an outdoor museum. But we figured out a fun activity for that morning, regardless. At the last minute, I wanted to have the experience to ride a Norwegian fjord horse and asked the kimkim team if they could arrange for that at a farm, Øvre-Eide Gård. I was told by kimkim they had nothing available, but when I emailed them they were able to accommodate us, and it was one of the highlights of our trip! Overall, we had a phenomenal time in Norway and are looking forward to hopefully being able to go back in the future. This was a bucket list trip for me and it fulfilled my heart, as well as my soul to visit the land of my ancestors!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

A beautiful hotel with wonderful staff. The balcony overlooking the harbor was great and the breakfast buffet was amazing. Just like the other two hotels, the lack of air-conditioning was a bit of a problem for us. We would highly suggest that the hotels install ceiling fans or fans for those of us who like to sleep in cooler rooms. We had to sleep with all the windows open, and it was a bit noisy since it was right in the hub of the downtown activities. But the location was great with lots of walking activities nearby, and easy access to public transportation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

The view of the fjord from our room was spectacular. We were not expecting the dock to be right in front of our room, though, and sometimes made it a little awkward when people were out on the dock looking into our room. The room was absolutely beautifully appointed, but the only thing it was lacking was a place to put our luggage. Due to lack of air-conditioning the room did get a bit warm so I would suggest a fan or a ceiling fan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

The room was very comfortable and spacious. Although it got very hot due to lack of air-conditioning. The bathroom did not have an electrical plug so that made getting ready in the morning a bit tricky. Even though it was right next to the train station the noise was not really a problem. We ate dinner in the restaurant on the first night and we’re not overly impressed, but it’s a fantastic location, and they have an amazing breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waterfall Hike & Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

Our guide, Elin, is who made the day as amazing as it was. The drive up to the viewpoint was windy and twisty but once we got there, it was amazing. And I am very glad that we got there first thing in the morning as it got very crowded and when we arrived, we were the only ones there. The waterfall hike was fine, it really wasn’t a hike that we needed a “guide“ for, but what made it so fun was Elin’s enthusiasm and fun stories.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

Another amazing day out on the fjords. Again, spectacular views, and this time it was not pouring rain so we were able to enjoy without getting soaking wet, although it was a bit chilly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen

Bergen

This was amazing! Even though it was raining and very cold, it was well worth it. One of the highlights of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oh

Transport

Guided Bike Tour: See the City Like a Local

Bergen

We did not go on this activity as it was pouring rain that morning. We contacted Tom and he said that we could not be refunded our money for the tour as we did not cancel 72 hours in advance. I highly doubt the company even had the bike tours that morning, as it was raining so hard. But we were never offered a refund.

This was my first time using Kimkim and I highly recommend it. Accommodations were nice, the one in Balestrand was exceptional, with a gorgeous view.
I love the way Alex and Maria were so accessible and knowledgeable.
I would absolutely recommend!

We generally liked the hotels that were booked, with the Brittania in Trondheim and the Hamn I Senja our favorites. We had to change plans a few times because of two Norwegian national holidays that occurred during our trip (not known to us - we might have rerouted our trip a bit since many places were closed. The ongoing hospitality strike impacted our stays in the larger cities - Bodo, Tromso and Oslo. Most hotel restaurants and bars in those cities are closed (except for breakfast buffets).

Hi, My friend Dave did most of the planning and decision making with Krista, our local specialist. For the most part, the trip was incredible. Though we only spent 1 night in Oslo, we enjoyed walking around seeing the sights and ate a delicious dinner. Our long drive to Odda was smooth. The Hotel Trolltunga was very nice. We liked the small town and restaurants. When our hike to Trolltunga was cancelled due to a rockslide, Krista immediately scheduled us another hike to Queen Sonya's trailhead. Next, we traveled to Stavanger, which was a great place to walk around and eat more delicious food. Absolutely loved the hike to Pulpit Rock. Unfortunately, our hike the following day to Kjeragbotten was a bust. They were to pick us up at the Clarion Hotel and never showed up. Dave was very disappointed as he is an avid hiker. Krista did manage to book us on a Fjord cruise instead. We absolutely loved Bergen. So walkable, pretty area near the water, delicious food and friendly people. We enjoyed another Fjord cruise and the Funicular ride. Didn't get to enjoy the view as it was rainy and cloudy that day. Would love a return trip to Bergen!

Mathia setup a wonderful trip for us, with a beautiful hotel in Oslo, then a train trip on the Flam scenic railway. Next stop was Aurland, which I loved our hotel there as well, with a gorgeous view of the fjord. My favorite part was traveling on the fjords to Balestrand (quaint villlage) and then on to Bergen. Our trip went very smoothly and I've highly recommended it to all my friends. Thanks so much

The trip was great! The chosen activities were all good and I was very glad to have used Kimkim for the most part. I don’t like giving up control so much (control freak, obviously), but I only truly regretted it twice and kind of rolled my eyes once. They were not quick enough on getting us train tickets and we lost the opportunity for the original timing altogether (which I ended up being really glad for) and still weren’t able to get us seats together on the later time (which was not pleasant- not only was it annoying to not be next to my family, but also none of us had windows). The second thing I regretted was the first hotel- but it’s hard to say if I could have done significantly better - I did do way better on the last hotel 😮‍💨. That said- without them I would have likely not done three things that were the true highlight of the trip: one was a cruising sauna (in the end I booked this outside the Kim Kim portion of my trip myself, because due to the train timing issue they had to cancel the floating sauna they had intended for us- but I wouldn’t have booked at all probably without them putting it in my itinerary originally! The second was the Flåm train ride- what a treat! And thanks to the awful seats on the first leg of the train journey, we ended up having probably the best seats in this ‘free seating’ portion- so that worked out and was a true treat. The third was the fjord safari- super highly recommend!! It was wonderful, and we ended up having a private tour which was great. The one activity that was eye roll worthy and I regret on so many levels was the ‘dinner cruise’ in Bergen. For one, I’m sure it was unnecessarily expensive, two: at this point we had seen the fjord several times and it is definitely way prettier by Flåm and Balestrand, and three: the meal was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long. My 16yo was jumping out of his skin and frankly so was I- it’s just that as an adult I could hide it better. Even my husband, who does like relaxing in beautiful scenery way longer than us, was not pleased with the overly drawn out meal. I wish I had asked more about this, I would have likely taken it out. To me, dinner cruise means you’re on a boat that has food- so it was also a case of wrong interpretation by me. Overall- the trip was amazing and I’m glad I used Kimkim, but I will ask more questions next time.

Hotel Reviews

Flåmsbrygga Apartments

Flåm

Super spacious! Very clean, lots of doors to open (important because I could not turn off the heat). However- the birds are LOUD, so theres a downside to open doors. Despite the great amount of space there aren’t enough surfaces for luggage. They have maybe one that is supposedly for luggage, but it’s so narrow we couldn’t even successfully use it for backpacks, let alone carry-on size luggage. So then we used the chairs to open up our backpacks, because the couch needed to be opened for our third person (our son), so then we had nowhere to sit. Thus, despite the huge size of this place, it was not comfortable to hang out in. This extended to the ginormous ballroom size bathroom which contained one of those ridiculously tiny round door showers. Good luck washing your feet without fancy acrobatics or opening the round doors thus creating an even bigger mess of water. They could have simply strung a curtain in a larger area and it would have likely been cheaper (presumably why they used the round doors instead of actual glass that created a bigger footprint). They have shelves, but are the cheap, plastic, wobbly kind, so you can’t use them for anything other than their towels. At least the sink counter is spacious though. All in all- I was very pleased with how clean and well kept it was, but wow what a waste of space that ultimately made it exactly as comfortable as a cramped hotel room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Theres no staff- but check in and out were easy

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean yes! Comfort- half yes half no per review

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

It was ok- pretty cramped (we were three, so our chair bed was opened), very hot (zero control over temperature- can’t even ‘turn it off’). However, very well located and the staff were very friendly- they got us two fans to help with the heat. The shower is open- the glass that is there doesn’t even reach the floor, so water goes everywhere, very literally everywhere. Important to note that most European hotels have zero A/C (although I can usually at least turn off the heat!), are usually tiny, and the showers tend to be tiny and uncomfortable- so the downsides here weren’t exactly abnormal, but with careful researching I’ve successfully avoided all of these in the past, and did so in Bergen. Last thing- the breakfast was amazing! And again: the staff is outstanding and delivered good service despite an ongoing strike that affected their staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean yes! Comfort so-so

Activity Reviews

Fjord Safari by RIB

Flåm

It was an amazing way to experience the fjords up close and personal! Our driver/tour guide , Anton I believe, was great- caring, entertaining and friendly. I would highly recommend this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

Ok- it wasn’t- it just wasn’t worth it for us. We had come to Bergen by ferry from Balestrand- so a nice four hour tour of the fjords. Zero upside to the boat ride required to get to the restaurant. The dinner itself was three long hours long- waaaaaaaaaay too long. It was solidly good, but nothing out of this world and because it’s strictly seafood, people who don’t love seafood won’t have as great a time. Also- I’m sure it was ridiculously expensive in a city area where you can get great fresh seafood without even trying. The location is very nice with a great view of the water, and the service is excellent. So again: not bad, just not worth it IMO. For us it was a waste of five hours for something we could have accomplished in one anf slept earlier 😂 but it may very well be something you love if you love spending hours on dinner and want to feel extra fancy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Past & Present City Walk

Bergen

Excellent tour- Erik was a great guide and quite entertaining. We learned a lot and had a lovely walk around the city, surely we wouod have missed some things if it hadn’t been for this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to Norway was great, and we were very happy with our KimKim experience. Mathia did a great job helping to translate our trip preferences into a detailed itinerary during the planning process. He also answered various questions that we had about various aspects of the trip. The KimKim chat feature was very helpful for this, and Mathia was always very prompt with his replies. As our plans solidified, Mathia handled all hotel reservations, train and ferry reservations, and internal transfers. All of this information was then consolidated into our trip plan on the KimKim website.

During our trip, we used the KimKim app to follow our trip plan--this was very helpful. There were no surprises or missed bookings. At a couple points I used the chat feature to reach out to the KimKim team to ask a question and got prompt, clear answers, including over the weekend. Mathia had set up three different 3-hour guided excursions as part of out trip, which I would highly recommend. Our local guides (Stig in Oslo, John in Bergen, Tiril in Aurland) were excellent--very knowledgeable and passionate, friendly, happy to answer questions, and accommodating of requests to adjust the itinerary a bit during the tour itself based on our preferences.

Overall we had a great experience both before and during the trip. KimKim helped manage the details and connect us to great experiences, while still preserving a lot of flexibility and independence during the trip. Thanks to Mathia and the KimKim team.

The entire team was very helpful and provided activity and hotel recommendations that were a good match for me. The instructions and information in the app were intuitive and helpful. I also appreciated the quick responses on a couple of logistic items while we were on vacation. We really enjoyed the boat tour in Oslo, partly because the weather was perfect and our tour guide in Oslo was wonderful as well. I liked the Oslo hotel and its history. The hotel in Flam had a great view and reasonably appointed but the shower in room 12 was atrociously small. I am not a large person but it was small for me and there was nowhere to put any of your shower items. The other rooms may have a better layout but the shower was so bad that I was grateful that it was a one night stay. It would be helpful to have a general but better understanding of what food and drinks are included in the food and culture tour in Bergen. For example, we'll try a two local drinks, a few small tastings and finished off with a lunch. Thank you all for helping us have a wonderful trip in Norway.

Hotel Review

Flåm Marina

Flåm

The hotel in Flam had a great view and reasonably appointed but the shower in room 12 was atrociously small. I am not a large person but it was small for me and there was nowhere to put any of your shower items. The other rooms may have a better layout but the shower was so bad that I was grateful that it was a one night stay.

Activity Review

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

It would be helpful to have a general but better understanding of what food and drinks are included in the food and culture tour in Bergen.

An absolutely wonderful trip to beautiful Norway! Alex and his team arranged an idyllic itinerary combining the must-see sights of Oslo with an immersive tour of gorgeous fjords and picturesque villages. The scenic Flåm railway was breathtaking! Hiking and boating to see the stunning fjords was otherworldly! Add a cheese tasting, culture walk, RIB safari, traditional Norwegian lunch, funicular ride, and so much more added to our amazing experience. Our accommodations and activities were expertly chosen and we couldn't have been more pleased. Alex and his team were communicative, professional, friendly and truly cared that our experience in Norway was beyond memorable. We highly recommend Alex and his team.

My friend and I traveled to Norway in June 2025, fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine. I had always wanted to visit, but I had no idea where to begin when it came to planning the trip.

I contacted [KimKim](https://www.kimkim.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com), and Mathias took care of everything. Before I knew it, we had a well-organized itinerary that included transportation, hotel bookings, train tickets, and tours along the way.

Everything was fantastic, and the entire trip went smoothly from start to finish. I would definitely use [KimKim](https://www.kimkim.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com) again.

We had a wonderful trip to Oslo thanks to Katie's expertise. All of the activities were fun but the food tour was an especially huge hit with everyone. Our guide, Stig, was lovely and extremely knowledgeable. I doubt this will be our last kimkim trip.

Hotel Review

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

The rooms were a great size. Wonderful showers. And the staff were all very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the central train station and the port.

Staff

Everyone we met were very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

A Taste of Oslo's Culture and Cuisine

Oslo

It was such a treat. We were able to meet up at the hotel lobby. Walking around and not being in a rush was especially enjoyable. And the snacks were all delicious. We're still talking about the waffles.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stig was a wonderful tour guide. We learned alot about Oslo and had some delicious treats. Highly recommend.

Absolutely wonderful trip and all the details worked out flawlessly. We had a little bit of everything in our family trip to Norway and it went off without a hitch. We loved the fjords, the saunas, the Viking Village, and the city of Bergen. We made some unforgettable family memories!

Here is a brief and honest opinion of our Norway sojourn with Kimkim. Oslo and Bergen, although nice, were not special. However, we did get to hear the Oslo Philharmonic. My husband and I were especially impressed with the Lofoten area of Norway. Seeing those gorgeous snow-capped mountains and the surrounding landscape was indeed amazing. The apartment (Nordis Suite) in Svolvaer was spectacular! The view from those floor to ceiling windows of the harbor and the mountains was simply magical. Unfortunately, my biggest yearning was not fulfilled: the weather was not cooperative and we missed seeing the Aurora. We were booked for a photographer's hunt for the Aurora in Svolvaer which never happened. But our snowmobiling north of Tromso was really exciting. We enjoyed most of the local guides who helped make the towns and cities come alive with history. We stayed at the Oslo Grand Hotel, which was a nice 5-star hotel, but the rooms were certainly not "grand." The concierge service was wonderful, however. They went out of their way to try to respond to our needs. The Bergen Bors hotel, a so-called 4-star hotel, was not as good. Word of caution: Do not make a reservation for the Loft Suite. The low beams are hazardous. The bathroom is downstairs but the loft-like bedroom is up a long flight of stairs. Using the bathroom at night would have been challenging so we changed our room. In general, the hotel rooms were rather small compared to those in the US. The AERA Lodge near Tromso was quite "rustic" and is only for those who enjoy roughing it a bit. Kimkim was excellent in helping us plan our trip and was there every step of the way. Our local specialist at Kimkim, Taylor, went above and beyond. We couldn't have done it without her careful and expert guidance. I highly recommend Kimkim as a travel agency that really cares about its clients.

Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the trip planning and overall service for our Norway trip. The only reason I am giving stars is because Norway is an incredible country and, thankfully, it runs so well on its own. Also, the hotel in Alta , Onga was extraordinary, and we were lucky enough to see the Aurora, which was truly unforgettable.

That said, the planning felt overly commercial and generic. From hotel reservations to transfers to restaurant recommendations, everything seemed focused on standard tourist logistics rather than creating a meaningful or authentic cultural experience. We had no real opportunities to connect with Norwegian culture, traditions, or local experiences, which is what I expected from a company like Kimkim.

There were also several major issues that should never happen with a professional travel agent:
1. The castle visit in Denmark – we were not informed of the ticket time, and we missed the visit completely.
2. Bergen airport transfer – we were forced to arrive extremely early, which caused us to miss the only great part of the Bergen hotel: the breakfast.
3. Transfers advertised as private – we were clearly told in writing (and charged accordingly) that all transfers would be private, yet in Alta the transfer was shared. Because of this, we had to miss a museum visit.

Overall, there was very little attention to detail and almost no care in making sure the trip flowed smoothly. For the high price I paid, the service and planning did not match expectations at all.

I strongly recommend that future Kimkim travelers consider working with a different Norway specialist.

This was our fifth trip trip booked through Kimkim, and once again, it did not disappoint! Kimkim has done a fabulous job coordinating trips around the world with well-qualified local tour companies. For Norway, we worked with NORD DMC. Jacob, Ethel, Riccardo and the whole team were fantastic in planning out a tailored itinerary that met our travel needs and interests. They also made themselves readily available when we had questions along the way, ensuring that our trip to Norway was a memorable one and went as smoothly as possible.

Our trip entailed seven nights in the northern region of Norway. The first night was spent in Bodo where we went on a late night small-group tour in a van up into the mountains to see the Northern Lights which were magical (as it was our first time seeing them). The next three nights were spent in Svolvaer in the center of the Lofoten Islands. What a beautiful place! We did another small-group van tour through the snow covered islands, taking many pictures along the way. The highlight was stopping in Reine which was picturesque! We definitely recommend lunch at Anita'sd Seafood. Best fish soup ever! Svolvaer where we stayed was also a very walkable charming town. Our two go-to restaurants were Nordis and Bacalao. Great selections of quality food! Afterwards, a couple of Norwegian beers at the Telegrafen Pub were enjoyable while we chatted with locals and tourists. During the day, we did a couple of easy hikes outside of town, taking in the beautiful countryside, and ending the day doing the floating sauna and jumping into the harbor to cool off! The final day in Svolvaer was spent in a zodiak-style boat jetting around the fjords and enjoying the sights while the captain threw fish to the eagles that flew aroud us! A great experience!

We then flew to Alta where we spent the next three nights. We stayed in a cabin at the Flatmoen Natur Lodge where we had a glass ceiling to watch the Northern Lights from our bed! We visited the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel (great for taking photos at, but too cold to sleep there -- glad we were at Flatmoen!). In addition to a side excursion one day to go cross-country skiing (which was a lot of fun!), the highlights in Alta were doing an evening dog-sledding excursion from the Trasti & Trine lodge (where we had delicious elk stew for dinner) and then a reindeer sledding excursion and Sami experience at the Sami Siida Restaurant where we enjoyed the local delicious salmon!

All along the way, the NORD DMC team were readily available to address all our logistical questions (it took some coordination to make sure we made the flight connections with the small planes between cities). As with our prior trips through Kimkim, my wife and I were very comfortable that we were always in good hands!

Norway is a beautiful country for both its scenery and its people! We really enjoyed experiencing it and the many outdoor adventures in the wintertime. My wife and I both agreed that we will be back another time during the summer to experience it once again in warmer weather!