Linda Veråsdal

Unbelievably Amazing Family Trip to Norway

Linda very patiently worked with me to plan what ended up being a twice-postponed (due to the pandemic) family trip to Norway. Family travel can be challenging, especially with teenagers-- but Linda's arrangements were spectacular! She really took into account our interests and helped us plan a trip full of adventure. Our guides-- especially our hiking guide, Heidi and our kayaking guide, Craig-- were amazing! The excursions were well-planned,... read more

Unbelievably Amazing Family Trip to Norway

Linda very patiently worked with me to plan what ended up being a twice-postponed (due to the pandemic) family trip to Norway. Family travel can be challenging, especially with teenagers-- but Linda's arrangements were spectacular! She really took into account our interests and helped us plan a trip full of adventure. Our guides-- especially our hiking guide, Heidi and our kayaking guide, Craig-- were amazing! The excursions were well-planned, exciting, and took us to some of the most beautiful places we've seen. Each day planned by Linda had a great balance of activity and time to explore. She helped us with complicated travel arrangements (trains, busses, ferries...), and figuring out how to navigate our visit during the Easter holiday week. We felt as though we got to cover a good amount of ground, and our accommodations in the fjord towns were especially wonderful (an area where we weren't sure what would await us when we arrived, since there aren't options as plentiful as in the cities). I cannot rave enough-- this was our first experience with KimKim, and I'd recommend Linda to anyone! Thanks for all you did to make our trip so spectacular and memorable.

Hotel Reviews

Gudvangen Fjordtell & Apartments

Gudvangen

Overall Rating

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Overall Rating

Hotel Review

STAY HERE, in the fisherman's cabin. Very small, but comfortable and (essentially) IN the fjord. We loved this cabin!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central to town, able to walk everywhere!

Activity Reviews

Waterfall Hike Overlooking Aurland

Aurland

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Our guide, Heidi, was really great. A perfect balance of information and just letting us enjoy the hike. So friendly, chatted with our whole family. When we had extra time, she drove us to another lookout point which was as spectacular as the hike!

Transport

Guides, drivers and staff

See above-- a really exceptional guide!

Quality of Experience

Kayaking Adventure in Gudvangen

Gudvangen

Overall Rating

Activity Review

Unparalleled experience being IN the fjord. A fun way to see the area, great adventure, learned about the small farms and towns along the way. Even an unexpected meal cooked for us on the shores of the fjord. This adventure was one of the highlights of our trip!

Guides, drivers and staff

Truly exceptional guides. Craig was our main guide-- knowledgeable, friendly, fun, and made us feel safe from the first minutes of the trip. Craig was training a new guide (Trechelle), and the two of them led an exception afternoon of paddling and exploring.

Quality of Experience

I thought Linda did a great job arranging our trip to Norway.

Unfortunately outside influences affected the trip. SAS changed our flights 6 times which had a knock on affect to our itinerary but Linda was very patient reorganising it multiple times. SAS also lost one of our bags which was returned to us a day later thankfully. We returned to the UK with Norwegian Airlines who seem a great deal more reliable.

I would not recommend travelling to the islands over Christmas when many of the... read more

I thought Linda did a great job arranging our trip to Norway.

Unfortunately outside influences affected the trip. SAS changed our flights 6 times which had a knock on affect to our itinerary but Linda was very patient reorganising it multiple times. SAS also lost one of our bags which was returned to us a day later thankfully. We returned to the UK with Norwegian Airlines who seem a great deal more reliable.

I would not recommend travelling to the islands over Christmas when many of the facilities are shut. However this may be due to Covid restrictions (restaurants are not currently allowed to serve alcohol).

Covid blighted this trip (I tested positive on day 3) but Linda continued to provide support and assistance throughout. Not the trip we wanted at all but not because of anything that KimKim had control of.

Linda planned our trip to Norway and although we had to wait a whole year to get there, due to the pandemic it was better than we could have imagined! The accomodations were really nice and it was quite easy to locate them. Breakfast was delicious and we could even get a lunch package for on the road. Sorting out transportation wasn't always easy because unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, the trains going from the aiport to the city center were cancelled and information was hard... read more

Linda planned our trip to Norway and although we had to wait a whole year to get there, due to the pandemic it was better than we could have imagined! The accomodations were really nice and it was quite easy to locate them. Breakfast was delicious and we could even get a lunch package for on the road. Sorting out transportation wasn't always easy because unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, the trains going from the aiport to the city center were cancelled and information was hard to come by. I think it would have helped to have some more information on all options available (e.g. take train to or Bus XY etc.) and include ALL transportation fees.
We then spent one day in Oslo and explored the city by walking and taking a scooter. As we wanted to have dinner, we realized that most restaurants or shops in Norway let you book your food via a (web) app, so be prepared to pay by credit card most of the time. Although they do have to accept cash, some of the restaurants stilll refused to and we had to take a lot of cash back home . However, that being said, we do like Norway being so modern and digital. We think it's a great step towards a modern society! So not a major problem for us. All the activities that we did were really fantastic!!! Although we enjoyed visiting Bergen and Oslo, we loved spending time in Aurland, swimming in the Fjords and talking to the locals. It was incredibly peaceful and the most memorable day. Then we took a trip with the ferry which was super enjoyable, because you are literally floating over the water - and it feels like a sustainable, not very loud or disturbing choice to traverse nature. We loved loved loved the kayak tour in the fjords. Unfortunately there was a miscommunication with the guide who did not know that we had to take the shuttle and so when we arrived back on land, the shuttle had already left and we had to scramble to find another option (taxi from the nearest town). So be aware that when you are in the middle of nowhere, you really have to catch the one connection you intend to take. Besides from that travel hiccup, we really enjoyed the kayak tour because it is a great way to experience the fjors, while getting to know other travellers. The guide also told us some anecdotes about the region, which was really interesting. Then we arrived in Bergen and spend a day with a guide who taught us about the city's history. We loved taking the tour with him and really got to know the city well. I think it's good to mention that there are really really nice saunas available in Oslo, Bergen and even a floating one in Flam!!! Unfortunately, you have to book in advance, so they were closed when we got there, but I think that could be a really nice option after a long ride in the bus or train. To summarize, this was an amazing experience. We loved the country and the people, got to know a lot about the culture and the history, saw a lot of sights and the beautiful nature. It is perfect for people who love to be outdoors but still fancy a little city trip. It is modern and technologized, clean and tranquille, breathtaking and mindblowingly beautiful and I would have loved to spend more time there. But I will return...one day :) many thanks to Linda! It wasn't an easy trip to plan during a pandemic but you did it and you did it well. Take care! Best, Jess

Our 14 day trip to Norway was phenomenal! Linda did an amazing job curating our trip with a special overnight at a farm to table dogsledding adventure with Kjell. It was the highlight of our trip! Linda also arranged Sami reindeer sledding, northern lights chasing, private walking tour, fjord cruise, flam railway, another private tour and more. We went from Tromso and worked our way down to Oslo. Linda and kimkim created an awesome experience and also booked fabulous hotels, all with views... read more

Our 14 day trip to Norway was phenomenal! Linda did an amazing job curating our trip with a special overnight at a farm to table dogsledding adventure with Kjell. It was the highlight of our trip! Linda also arranged Sami reindeer sledding, northern lights chasing, private walking tour, fjord cruise, flam railway, another private tour and more. We went from Tromso and worked our way down to Oslo. Linda and kimkim created an awesome experience and also booked fabulous hotels, all with views and breakfast. We could never do this alone and our travel agent also agreed she could never have made these arrangements either! Thank you so much for working with us-you have made lifetime memories.

Thank you Linda and the Kimkim team for a wonderful, well planned holiday!

When we were planning our trip to Norway, we had two goals in mind - to see as much of this beautiful country as possible and to discover my family roots. With Linda Verasdal's help, we were able to do both. I presented her with a wishlist and she made it all happen. We like to travel on our own and not with a tour group but Linda took care of all of our hotel reservations, train tickets, domestic plane flights and great suggestions for excursions. We also LOVED our local guides -Stig in... read more

When we were planning our trip to Norway, we had two goals in mind - to see as much of this beautiful country as possible and to discover my family roots. With Linda Verasdal's help, we were able to do both. I presented her with a wishlist and she made it all happen. We like to travel on our own and not with a tour group but Linda took care of all of our hotel reservations, train tickets, domestic plane flights and great suggestions for excursions. We also LOVED our local guides -Stig in Oslo and Vilde in Bergen. With their help, we got an inside look of Norwegian culture - touring neighborhoods, having coffee at an "non-touristy" restaurant and a true feel of Norwegian hospitality. We are seasoned travelers and have used many different travel agents but Linda, in our opinion, is the best. We even had a chance to meet her for lunch. Please check her out if you want a fantastic Norwegian experience. And yes, I discovered my grandfather's family - uncles, aunts, the house he was born in (year 1884) and even his school records. Just awesome.

I consider that one of my luckiest "finds" to be when I ran across a personal travel posting that mentioned kimkim. I had already spent many unsuccessful & frustrating hours on my computer trying to plan a week long trip to Norway with our son, daughter-in-law, 6 yr old grandson and 2 year old granddaughter. It had become abundantly clear that I was out of my depth. Linda answered my initial inquiry at kimkim and we began planning an agenda that included the areas we wanted to see, bolstered... read more

I consider that one of my luckiest "finds" to be when I ran across a personal travel posting that mentioned kimkim. I had already spent many unsuccessful & frustrating hours on my computer trying to plan a week long trip to Norway with our son, daughter-in-law, 6 yr old grandson and 2 year old granddaughter. It had become abundantly clear that I was out of my depth. Linda answered my initial inquiry at kimkim and we began planning an agenda that included the areas we wanted to see, bolstered by what sites and activities she recommended in each of those areas. Through efficient and prompt emailing, she helped build a travel schedule with the 6 yr and 2 yr children in mind. At no time, however, did I feel that she was pushing us in any particular direction. She was happy to adjust, consider, re-arrange, explain why something might not work, suggest alternatives --- all with the goal of reaching an agenda that met our varied personal needs. Once the final agenda was set, I was SO impressed when everything we needed was emailed to us about 2 weeks before departure: a very detailed trip agenda; hotel reservations; pre-paid train & ferry tickets; timed taxi reservations; individual maps to use once we arrived at each destination; pre-paid entrance tickets to Viking Valley; names of guides, their contact information, time & place to meet; even a dinner reservation at a popular restaurant -- plus her contact number if we needed anything during the trip. In addition, she double-checked each reservation right before we arrived. I realized how carefully we were being "shadowed" during the trip when I received an email from Linda, just "checking in" to see how we were doing, and a text another day advising me that a guide had become ill, and giving me the name & contact information of the new guide. That was when I clearly realized the most valuable difference in kimkim and the "brick & mortar" travel agencies I have used in past years: a travel agency here in the U.S. would have been finished with us once we paid, and certainly once we had departed on the trip. Linda and our guides (Matilda & Vilde --- both delightful, by the way) were there for us throughout the trip. We knew intuitively that we could count on Linda and her colleagues to help us in any situation that might arise, or even to just answer a question.

I consider myself a walking kimkim advertisement now. I am spreading the word to everyone I know, as this business model offers a level of excellence & stress-free travel that is completely unique in today's world of limited, impersonal customer service. Thank you, Linda! We LOVED your gorgeous Norway! We hope to use kimkim again!

Norway - Road trip scenic landscape (17 days)

This was my first trip booking through KimKim. Our local agent in Norway (Linda) was fantastic! She did a great job fitting in all our requests of things we wanted to see while in Norway as well as including destinations that were "must sees" for our time in this beautiful country! The hotels were terrific (safe, clean, in nice central locations) and our guides for Oslo and Bergen were fun, knowledgeable, and personable. Linda was also very... read more

Norway - Road trip scenic landscape (17 days)

This was my first trip booking through KimKim. Our local agent in Norway (Linda) was fantastic! She did a great job fitting in all our requests of things we wanted to see while in Norway as well as including destinations that were "must sees" for our time in this beautiful country! The hotels were terrific (safe, clean, in nice central locations) and our guides for Oslo and Bergen were fun, knowledgeable, and personable. Linda was also very responsive to any questions we had while we were on our trip. The price we paid for this service was well worth the money given the time it saved us in researching recommended places to visit as well as to book hotels and transportation. I highly recommend using KimKim and plan to use them again for our next overseas trip!

Our trip to the Norwegian Fjords was wonderful.
Until Oslo, our hotels were owned and staffed by local people who provided excellent and friendly service. Our rooms were all different, a good size, clean and colourful with interesting art works on the walls. Our rooms at the Augustin in Bergen and the Kviknes in Balestrand also had lovely views. All hotels were well sited for making the local area easy to explore. In Oslo, the Scandic Byporten was well sited but our room was very... read more

Our trip to the Norwegian Fjords was wonderful.
Until Oslo, our hotels were owned and staffed by local people who provided excellent and friendly service. Our rooms were all different, a good size, clean and colourful with interesting art works on the walls. Our rooms at the Augustin in Bergen and the Kviknes in Balestrand also had lovely views. All hotels were well sited for making the local area easy to explore. In Oslo, the Scandic Byporten was well sited but our room was very noisy all night and the hotel was a little grubby.
Our 2 guides, John in Bergen and Yunelene? [that will not be the spelling of her name!] in Fjaerland for the Mundal Valley hike were a highlight for us. They were each knowledgeable about their area and shared their knowledge and something of themselves as we walked these 2 very different places together.
Balestrand and Fjaerland were our favourite places to be. The scenery, the friendliness of the people and the peacefulness made it such a special time. When we arrived from there to Flam with its rushing crowds of people we were reminded of how lucky we had been to stay in Balestrand.

Incredibly, 5 months have passed since our trip to Norway and we still haven´t entered our review.
Maybe unconsciously we don't want to end it! But the truth is we´ve been talking about Norway and remembering it since we´ve arrived. 

It was a trip of a lifetime, so good that we´ve made a promise to go back, in summer to see the country's other season and in winter again because we truly loved it. 

The knowledge and understanding kimkim, and our local specialist Linda, provided along the... read more

Incredibly, 5 months have passed since our trip to Norway and we still haven´t entered our review.
Maybe unconsciously we don't want to end it! But the truth is we´ve been talking about Norway and remembering it since we´ve arrived. 

It was a trip of a lifetime, so good that we´ve made a promise to go back, in summer to see the country's other season and in winter again because we truly loved it. 

The knowledge and understanding kimkim, and our local specialist Linda, provided along the way was invaluable and made the experience of planning the trip a wonderful thing. Since the beginning, Linda understood what we were looking for and most important she understood the way we like to travel. The going back and forward between the three of us with ideas and suggestions made the trip feel very much like our creation. It was a tailored made trip done by us, it was very special.

We arrived in Bodø then traveled to Lofoten, drove to Andenes, sailed to Tromsø and finally, we flew to the wild and fantastic Svalbard. We did see the Northen lights, the reason of our trip (5 times in 14 days), but it was much more than that. The road trip through the Islands, kayaking, horseback riding on the beaches, the snowmobile adventure in Svalbard, everything was memorable.

Thank you kimkim! Thank you Linda!

Rita and Eche

We really wished we would’ve gotten to see what we thought we were going to see. On our itinerary, it showed pictures of beautiful places, but that was not what we got to see. One place in particular was over an hour away from where we were, but we were led to believe that is what we would see in the town we were staying in. We also were told that one of our train rides would go through waterfalls, which it did not. All of our accommodations were great.

Thank you for everything Linda! We had the best experience working with Linda and she arranged our trip so well. The communication throughout the planning process was very clear, punctual and helpful. Linda checked in with us prior to the trip, sending weather, maps, any last minute changes and made sure we were all set. The planning on her end was awesome!

We loved our tour with Stig, he was super informative about Oslo, Norway, Norwegian history and we had such a great time walking along... read more

Thank you for everything Linda! We had the best experience working with Linda and she arranged our trip so well. The communication throughout the planning process was very clear, punctual and helpful. Linda checked in with us prior to the trip, sending weather, maps, any last minute changes and made sure we were all set. The planning on her end was awesome!

We loved our tour with Stig, he was super informative about Oslo, Norway, Norwegian history and we had such a great time walking along the river.

Our road trip was very successful, even with our two year old! :-) Our favorite fjord town was Fjaerland. It was so quiet and peaceful and the Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel was beautiful (and the food was incredible!!) We had a beautiful hike with Karianne.

The Loen Sky lift was also a wonderful time. It was so beautiful up at the top and we enjoyed hiking and having lunch in the gorgeous restaurant, the view is insane!

The drive along Gaularfjellet Scenic Road should not be missed! It was truly an epic drive. The fjords are other worldly, magical and we felt so lucky to be able to experience this adventure.

We enjoyed Bergen very much as well. Hotel Norge is a beautiful hotel! Our guide in Bergen was Snorre. He was a lot of fun, very informative and chill, which was much appreciated at the end of our 9 day trip.

We very much enjoyed the time with all of our guides.

All of the logistics worked out very well, the car rental, the ferries, the hotels...everything was very seamless and the many transitions easy.

Thank you again for everything! Thank you Linda, thank you Ethical Travel and KimKim.

The trip I did was just incredible thanks to Linda! I came across kimkim while I was doing some research of Norway but finding most of the websites being fragmented and easy for me to get lost. The process of communication and enquiries to shape the schedule has been very easy and seamless. Linda was able to make detailed and immediate feedbacks to address my questions or concerns. My partner and I have bought two more guide books for reference and we were constantly surprised by how the most... read more

The trip I did was just incredible thanks to Linda! I came across kimkim while I was doing some research of Norway but finding most of the websites being fragmented and easy for me to get lost. The process of communication and enquiries to shape the schedule has been very easy and seamless. Linda was able to make detailed and immediate feedbacks to address my questions or concerns. My partner and I have bought two more guide books for reference and we were constantly surprised by how the most frequently visit spots or must-see have been incorporated in our trip one way or another. Not only did we not miss the most beautiful spots of Norway, yet thanks to Linda’s help on the routes and sequences, we were also able had the luxury of time to explore ourselves and avoid crowds. We started a road trip around Sognefjord, this part is my favorite. Driving around the fjords via the national scenic routes and through the small towns really showed the authentic Nordic experience! The night we spent on the classic Nordic cruise, Hurtigruten, was truly memorable as well. It was the first time for both my partner and I to soend the night on the cruise. The ship is well equipped and the food was freshly made, was certainly one of the best meals I had during Norway. City wise, my fav has to be Oslo! I wish we had more time there. The city is full of beautiful architecture, colours, parks and ever district has its unique things to offer and see. Certainly want to go back!
Weather was a lil extreme to begin with but that gave us wonderful opportunity to see the fjords in difference ways. Jenne, who gave a hike in Fjærland was friendly and energetic. The view we got after an 3 hours hike was breathtaking!
We really enjoyed the trip and truly thankful for the help and coordination provided by Linda and Kimkim. I have traveled quite a lot in the world this i’ve considered myself hard to satisfied when it comes to logistics and planning, Kimkim and Linda certainly outbeat my expectation!

Linda was great with all the planning and we really enjoyed our Norway trip thanks to all the arrangements made by Linda. We were 5 families and her recommendations were spot-on considering the kids in the group. We did have an issue with mix-up in dates for the local tour on one of the days. However, Linda was quick to take ownership of the issue and was able to arrange the same tour for the same day but at a different time. Our Guide Samuel for the Undredal village tour was awesome.
Other... read more

Linda was great with all the planning and we really enjoyed our Norway trip thanks to all the arrangements made by Linda. We were 5 families and her recommendations were spot-on considering the kids in the group. We did have an issue with mix-up in dates for the local tour on one of the days. However, Linda was quick to take ownership of the issue and was able to arrange the same tour for the same day but at a different time. Our Guide Samuel for the Undredal village tour was awesome.
Other than that issue with the local tour date/time- everything was seamless. We loved the hotel we stayed at with the gorgeous fjord views and the relaxed itinerary that was setup for us. I would highly recommend Linda for anyone planning a trip to Norway.

Thanks Linda for a great trip in Norway in the 3 main cities and UNESCO listed fjords. Bergen is a jewel. Looking forward to discovering the North in a future trip.

Linda planed our Norway trip with not very much notice and the trip was absolutely amazing!!! It was exactly what we want and even with one minor issue which Linda dealt with immediately even though it was not her fault. Would highly recommend Linda for organizing a trip again.

Our trip to Norway was wonderful! Bergen with Vilde was perfect! Fjaerland with Jennie also! And Oslo with Stig awesome! Tks KimKim for doing such a good job!

My adult daughter and I just returned from a seven day Norway Fjord and Viking Adventure (June 17 through June 23, 2019) and could not have been more satisfied with our journey that was handcrafted for our special interests by Linda.

Linda collaborated with us every step of the planning. She was accessible and responsive, listening to our "wants" list and devising an itinerary that included well known sites of interest as well as our own unique jaunts. The end result surpassed our wildest... read more

My adult daughter and I just returned from a seven day Norway Fjord and Viking Adventure (June 17 through June 23, 2019) and could not have been more satisfied with our journey that was handcrafted for our special interests by Linda.

Linda collaborated with us every step of the planning. She was accessible and responsive, listening to our "wants" list and devising an itinerary that included well known sites of interest as well as our own unique jaunts. The end result surpassed our wildest expectations. Linda had to preplan multiple modes of transportation, tour events and guides. Everything went smoothly and she selected well appointed hotels that were so conveniently located as our bases of exploration in Oslo, Flam and Bergen.

We made a special stop at Viking Town with Nick, a fabulous private guide who was very knowledgeable and passionate about Viking life, lore and history. We also felt so fortunate to get a tour in Bergen with a local, Ingrid, who was simply delightful and eager to share her love of Bergen, highlighting what it is like to live in this beautiful and interesting city.

We could not have been more satisfied and will always remember being only 2 of 7 people cruising a fjord in the early morning as the mists hung upon the cliffs and we were humbled by the sheer beauty before us and the sounds of the roaring waterfalls we seemed to encounter at each turn.

We would recommend kim kim and, in particular, Linda's selections and guides without reservation for anyone considering a trip to Norway.

Cheryl and Samantha Steindel-Cymer

It was a great trip and exactly what we discussed. Could not be happier.

Thanks again,
Jake

We just finished a two week trip, starting with the western fjords of Norway and ending in the stunning Lofoten Islands. Linda at KimKim helped organize the entire trip, including hotels, transportation and activities.
Norway is a stunningly beautiful country and the fjords did not disappoint. We drove the coastal roads as opposed to taking a cruise, the only downside of which is that you go very slowly so be sure to include that in your planning. We found the hotels lovely--very... read more

We just finished a two week trip, starting with the western fjords of Norway and ending in the stunning Lofoten Islands. Linda at KimKim helped organize the entire trip, including hotels, transportation and activities.
Norway is a stunningly beautiful country and the fjords did not disappoint. We drove the coastal roads as opposed to taking a cruise, the only downside of which is that you go very slowly so be sure to include that in your planning. We found the hotels lovely--very Scandinavian chic in some cases- the people were friendly and the food excellent! A large breakfast buffet is always included in the hotel stay.
We did have to do some rescheduling of flights and hotels due to cancelled flights by the airlines and then one of us getting a terrible head cold. Linda was terrific--staying in touch with suggestions on flight and hotel alternatives right through the weekend until we got the new itinerary in place. She even found the name and address for a local Norwegian medical clinical! I can't tell you how much we appreciated knowing she was thinking of us and wanted our trip to go well. It was a real comfort.
We found KimKim online so there is always a bit of hesitancy with just blindly pressing "send"! We could not have been happier. Linda and KimKim were outstanding and Norway was fabulous.

We have just returned from our two week tour of Norway arranged by Linda. It was wonderful!! Our lodgings were perfect and all transportation went smoothly. We had great personal tours in both Oslo and Bergen and especially enjoyed our stay in quiet Aurland combined with a sea safari out of Flam. Thank you for a Very memorable trip!

Overall working with kimkim was a great experience. Norway in winter was beautiful. The best was wisely saved for last. Or experience at Trasti & Trine was magical. Hannah, or dogsled guide was terrific and Johnny's food was an event every meal. We will definitely be back and will use kimkim again.

We had an amazing trip to tromso and senja. All the activities were perfectly planned.
And luckily we have seen the northern lights twice! 😊
We would definitively book here again!

Having never visited Norway before, we are so glad we found KimKim, and more specifically our specialist, Linda. With her knowledge of the area, we were able to collaborate and design the perfect itinerary. She was always prompt in responding to my (many) questions and a pleasure to work with.

We were also impressed and appreciative that Linda, or her co-worker Ingrid, were so available to us during this trip. Linda checked in with us periodically throughout the trip to make sure... read more

Having never visited Norway before, we are so glad we found KimKim, and more specifically our specialist, Linda. With her knowledge of the area, we were able to collaborate and design the perfect itinerary. She was always prompt in responding to my (many) questions and a pleasure to work with.

We were also impressed and appreciative that Linda, or her co-worker Ingrid, were so available to us during this trip. Linda checked in with us periodically throughout the trip to make sure everything was going smoothly and when we had weather-related transportation issues, they were readily available to help us out. Most companies we have worked with send you on your merry way with documents and a “have a good trip” and then you never hear another word from them. Linda's "customer service" is excellent and the best we have dealt with in our many travels.

Our trip to Senja and Lofoten was an amazing adventure and many thanks for this goes to Linda.

We contacted KimKim literally a few days before we wanted to embark on an 11 day trip through Norway. We were lucky to be connected with Linda, who put together a fun yet relaxing itinerary for us. After a few days in Oslo, we spent Christmas in Flam which was a true highlight, topped off with a fjord cruise on Christmas Day. Then we journeyed to Bergen for sightseeing and wonderful seafood. The Floibanen funicular was really fun and after the clouds parted we got some amazing views of the... read more

We contacted KimKim literally a few days before we wanted to embark on an 11 day trip through Norway. We were lucky to be connected with Linda, who put together a fun yet relaxing itinerary for us. After a few days in Oslo, we spent Christmas in Flam which was a true highlight, topped off with a fjord cruise on Christmas Day. Then we journeyed to Bergen for sightseeing and wonderful seafood. The Floibanen funicular was really fun and after the clouds parted we got some amazing views of the city. After an overnight cruise we disembarked in Alesund to enjoy the art deco architecture, before returning to Oslo. Linda planned everything for us and was a joy to work with. I can't recommend Linda and KimKim highly enough. We can't wait to go back to Norway (in the summer) to see more of this amazing country. We will use KimKim for every major trip from now on. Thank you for the incredible memories!

Our whole trip was carefully curated to meet our particular interests including our daughter joining for the last three days. She was equally appreciative of Linda’s efforts on her behalf. The whole itinerary unfolded seamlessly and we can’t recommend Linda highly enough. Our guides, David and Stig in Bergen and Oslo also were focused on what we wanted to experience and gave us an interesting insight into contemporary Norwegian life.

This was a trip of a lifetime!! Linda was amazing in planning and coordinating for our group of 6 in all differing age ranges. She was great in getting everything on our wish and things to do and see and most of all giving us the opportunity to stay at the family farm. Staying at the farm was the most memorable part of the trip for all of us and getting to meet some new family. We had great tour guides in both Bergen and Oslo! They were super friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable and made... read more

This was a trip of a lifetime!! Linda was amazing in planning and coordinating for our group of 6 in all differing age ranges. She was great in getting everything on our wish and things to do and see and most of all giving us the opportunity to stay at the family farm. Staying at the farm was the most memorable part of the trip for all of us and getting to meet some new family. We had great tour guides in both Bergen and Oslo! They were super friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable and made us feel welcomed in a strange new place.

Valde our guide in Bergen was amazing and super friendly. She had our updated itinerary ready for us when we arrived and tons of great recommendations of places to eat and things to see and do in Bergen! Thank you Valde!!

Miriam was our guide in Oslo and truly gave us a local insight to Oslo. She was very accommodating to our group and my 77 year old mother who kept right up with our 3 hr tour. Thank you Miriam!!

All of our transports from trains, ferries, buses and rental cars were flawless and made it easy to get to all of our destinations. I would highly recommend Linda and Kimkim to anyone for their next adventure and will be booking with them again in the furture.

One word to describe this whole experience and adventure: AMAZING! Linda has gone above and beyond in making sure the trip was curated to accommodate my needs and requirements. Searching for the best prices/affordable trips always takes time and energy, however kimkim made it seem effortless, and the best part is that they offered a great price value relationship. If I had to do it again there would be no hesitation in working with kimkim again. Hands down made the experience memorable and... read more

One word to describe this whole experience and adventure: AMAZING! Linda has gone above and beyond in making sure the trip was curated to accommodate my needs and requirements. Searching for the best prices/affordable trips always takes time and energy, however kimkim made it seem effortless, and the best part is that they offered a great price value relationship. If I had to do it again there would be no hesitation in working with kimkim again. Hands down made the experience memorable and rewarding, which is what it’s all about. Thank you for being phenomenal Linda, and thanks kimkim for making my first time experience with you special.

Overall, we would rate Linda & Ingrid's trip planning and travel services for our trip to Norway as 5 Star. They did a lot of work behind the scenes to make our vacation a smooth, seamless event. We made a very customized travel plan and they demonstrated considerable patience and much effort to accomplish our goals. Without their help and inside knowledge of Norway, we would surely have experienced a great deal of trouble, especially with the transportation.

The most memorable portion of... read more

Overall, we would rate Linda & Ingrid's trip planning and travel services for our trip to Norway as 5 Star. They did a lot of work behind the scenes to make our vacation a smooth, seamless event. We made a very customized travel plan and they demonstrated considerable patience and much effort to accomplish our goals. Without their help and inside knowledge of Norway, we would surely have experienced a great deal of trouble, especially with the transportation.

The most memorable portion of our trip was our visit to Alesund and the Hjorundfjord & Grirangerfjord fjords. The Sagafjord Hotel in Saebo was outstanding.

We had the best guide in Oslo, Erlend Oyan. He was knowledgeable, engaging and connected well with the kids. My teenagers loved white water rafting with Serious Fun near Geilo. The staff at the Geilo Hotel was also fantastic. They happily helped us plan our short stay to the fullest. Our other favorite activity was the hike to the goat farm with Sam from FjordSafari, great day!

Linda and her team were terrific. They put together a custom itinerary that took into account the varied interests of a family with teenagers and made everything easy. The trip was very fun and educational and, coming from someone that hasn't used a travel agent in years, it wouldn't have been possible without their help. I highly recommend Linda and her team for a Norway adventure.

Just returned from a totally epic trip to Norway, planned with great care by our awesome specialist Linda. Linda service was nothing short of perfect. She listened to what we wanted to do during our visit, understood and respected our budget and planned a trip for us that maximized our dollars and used our travel days very efficiently. Without Linda's help I am certain that we would not have been able to see so much of the country in such a smooth and logical manner and would never have... read more

Just returned from a totally epic trip to Norway, planned with great care by our awesome specialist Linda. Linda service was nothing short of perfect. She listened to what we wanted to do during our visit, understood and respected our budget and planned a trip for us that maximized our dollars and used our travel days very efficiently. Without Linda's help I am certain that we would not have been able to see so much of the country in such a smooth and logical manner and would never have found the interesting, charming and cost efficient accommodations that she did. In addition that tours she planned were spot-on and unique to our family. I was really impressed with Linda's ability really get a sense of what we truly wanted out of the trip (i.e. to experience the "real" Norway, not a tourist version). We had so many wonderful experiences, but I would say the best was probably our stay in Aurland. Our accommodations were amazing (cabin overlooking the fjord) and our tour of the area with Mathilda was just amazing, and included a hike to a beautiful lookout and glassblowing with a local artist. Our tour through Bergen with David was equally awesome. He gave us a local's view of the "scene" in Bergen and had so many great recommendations for restaurants, kafe's, shop's etc. that were off the tourist-path. I think the best part of the tours were that both guides were lovely and engaging and happy to chat and share about what life is like in Norway. We also took the Hurtigurten which was really interesting and fun and ended our trip in Trondheim which is a simply beautiful, young, fun city. I think it is worth mentioning two very important things: 1) Linda really did a great job ensuring all of our booking and travel transitions were smooth and easy to follow, including arranging taxis and pick/ drop off and being considerate of train/boat/travel times to ensure we were not wasting time waiting or were stuck in one place with hours to kill and nowhere to go. 2) When there were a couple of (very minor) hiccups with hotel bookings, Linda was accessible, available to help and dealt with the issues immediately. It was very comforting to know that she was available to help during our travel. Well done Linda! Truly was a trip of a lifetime and my mother was so impressed and happy. Best, Katie

Our wonderful trip to Norway went off without a hitch. Linda was knowledgeable, cooperative and flexible during the planning process. She was willing to Skype with us as well as communicate by E-mail. All the arrangements she made -- hotels, cruise ship, and other transport tickets -- were fine. She did as she was asked when we wanted to be near an airport or a train station. She was also very pleasant personally.

The only thing that might have been better is that a couple of the rooms... read more

Our wonderful trip to Norway went off without a hitch. Linda was knowledgeable, cooperative and flexible during the planning process. She was willing to Skype with us as well as communicate by E-mail. All the arrangements she made -- hotels, cruise ship, and other transport tickets -- were fine. She did as she was asked when we wanted to be near an airport or a train station. She was also very pleasant personally.

The only thing that might have been better is that a couple of the rooms were a bit below our usual standard (at 1 Scandic in Oslo, e.g., room was extremely tiny and there was no closet and -- amazingly -- no place to lay out clothing flat, as in a bureau or on shelves; our cruise cabin was directly behind a lifeboat, hence had no view). However, I suspect she was trying to minimize our cost (and cost was very reasonable). The lesson I have learned is that I should make clear if I want higher-grade accommodations.

All is all, a memorable vacation! I would recommend to other that they plan such a trip with Kimkim/Linda.

Vivian Berger

It was pretty good but I had to check some details. Flemmet at Bergen did a good job too. We had a good time in Norway over all. Thank you for the arrangement.

Our guides in both Bergen & Tromso were excellent!
When we arrived into Bergen off our cruise ship Vilde was there with a huge smile and waving! She called up Ben who was waiting with the van and our luggage was taken care of with out any fuss.
Our walking tour was just right... We saw so much but at a leisurely pace. Enjoyed sharing the lovely City with a local.
Our guide arrived at our hotel in Tromso (sorry I cannot find the notes with her name ) and gave us an excellent over view of... read more

Our guides in both Bergen & Tromso were excellent!
When we arrived into Bergen off our cruise ship Vilde was there with a huge smile and waving! She called up Ben who was waiting with the van and our luggage was taken care of with out any fuss.
Our walking tour was just right... We saw so much but at a leisurely pace. Enjoyed sharing the lovely City with a local.
Our guide arrived at our hotel in Tromso (sorry I cannot find the notes with her name ) and gave us an excellent over view of Tromso and then tailored our walk to suit or interests. We enjoyed it all very much
Thank you to both guides and to Linda for the arrangements!

Linda, Vilde, and Julie collaborated to create a wonderful experience for me in Norway for 5 days on a budget of $1000. I managed to see the sights without being overwhelmed by a packed schedule. I love relaxing for an afternoon in Flam and the ferry ride from there to Bergen was probably the highlight of my trip. The only downside to my trip was that the timing of transportation somewhat limited what I could do in terms of activities in each city. I would get to a city with limited time to... read more

Linda, Vilde, and Julie collaborated to create a wonderful experience for me in Norway for 5 days on a budget of $1000. I managed to see the sights without being overwhelmed by a packed schedule. I love relaxing for an afternoon in Flam and the ferry ride from there to Bergen was probably the highlight of my trip. The only downside to my trip was that the timing of transportation somewhat limited what I could do in terms of activities in each city. I would get to a city with limited time to explore in the evening and only have a little time in the morning before I had to be at a train station. That said, the amount I got in given that I only had 5 days was definitely enough. It also left me spending less than I expected on activities leaving me with a bigger-than-expected food budget, which was great, because I could spend more exploring all the great food in Norway!
Overall, my experience booking through KimKim took almost ALL the stress out of planning the trip. My guides were extremely helpful in providing detailed information, even helping me track down which buses to take, maps of routes to/from train stations, etc. All I had to do was show up in a city and find something fun to do! Next time I plan a trip I will probably be coming back to KimKim, and will just keep an eye to arrival/departure times (maybe see if I can't do overnight trains and such)

Our family's trip to Norway, with the help of Linda, Wilda, Samuel, Stieg, and all the folks at kimkim, was truly amazing. What Linda arranged for us to do and see, the intelligence of all our connections and the appropriateness of all our activities to our interests, made for a wonderful vacation. None of us will ever forget it. Our 3 mountaintop hike, the cabin on the water in Aurland, hiking around Aurland, the fjords, the history as well as the place, our hike to the goat farm, our... read more

Our family's trip to Norway, with the help of Linda, Wilda, Samuel, Stieg, and all the folks at kimkim, was truly amazing. What Linda arranged for us to do and see, the intelligence of all our connections and the appropriateness of all our activities to our interests, made for a wonderful vacation. None of us will ever forget it. Our 3 mountaintop hike, the cabin on the water in Aurland, hiking around Aurland, the fjords, the history as well as the place, our hike to the goat farm, our railway trip, and the sights, museums and coffee in Oslo -- I only wish we had had more time. Thanks so much to kimkim. What an incredible service!

We were pleased with all parts of the trip. All the guides were accommodating and interesting, they all helped with interests and attention span of the young children of our group. The hotels were located in convenient locations, easy walks to and from trains and ferry. Linda had great ideas for us and put it all together....even delivered train and ferry tickets to us. The mini bus tours were perfect, just long enough for families and to places hard to reach other ways. All members of my family were pleased with the trip and the pace of the trip

The whole trip was amazing and this will go in the list of the best holidays I have ever done. The trip was well organised and detailed, down to the time in which I had to catch a train or a bus. This was most helpful. The stay at the three mountain hotels/huts (Haugastol, Geiterygahytte and Osterbo) was most pleasantly surprising. I was expecting something rougher, but rooms and food especially were amazing. Same for the Ronda Hoyfjellshotell in the second to last day. Our preferred spot was... read more

The whole trip was amazing and this will go in the list of the best holidays I have ever done. The trip was well organised and detailed, down to the time in which I had to catch a train or a bus. This was most helpful. The stay at the three mountain hotels/huts (Haugastol, Geiterygahytte and Osterbo) was most pleasantly surprising. I was expecting something rougher, but rooms and food especially were amazing. Same for the Ronda Hoyfjellshotell in the second to last day. Our preferred spot was in Kalvag. We loved it and we may go back there as it was a real paradise.

Linda was super helpful in designing the holiday and in creating the itinerary. She was patient with the changes I asked her to do and was very responsive.

The only suggestions for improvement are:
- the hut suggested for stop in the second hiking day (Stein Bergdal) did not appear to be open to the public. Other hikers stopped there but ended up eating outside on the grass like us. I think it needs to be clear that there are no hospitality places where one can stop. It helps setting up the right pace and mindset at the beginning of the hike
- all the hiking times are excluding stops and probably it is better to specify it
- the hike on the third day was too optimistic and strongly not recommended by the staff in the hut where we stayed overnight. It was possible to do it with no stops and no time for contingency, but it also required leaving at 8 am. Breakfast only gets served from 8! so we shortened it and we took the bus earlier in a spot suggested by the staff in Osterbo
- the overview of Bergen was good and with interesting insights in the culture. I would have probably cut a bit certain areas less interesting and added the bit around the old harbour. Also, I would have liked to hear more about the history. There was no coffee and cake :-(

Overall I thought Ethical Travel Portal was great and I would recommend them to friends. I would recommend Linda to anyone who wants to go to Norway.

Amazing trip - Norway is incredibly beautiful! The trip was amazing - perfectly planned to see the countryside. Linda was responsive and customized our trip perfectly.

Linda helped us plan a trip through Norway that was a nice overview with a few touches just for us. We did the usual things of seeing Bergen, taking ferry trips on the fjords, riding the train to Flam, and even hopped on the Hurtigruten for a few days. These were really lovely. We loved best our time in Tromso and our car trip in the Lofoten Islands. It was a great solution to get us out of the crowds and into nature, which is always what we prefer. Well done Linda. The stay at Eliassen Rorbuer was a special treat.

Thank you Linda Verasdal, our trip planned by you was amazing, so well organised for us, so easy to follow.
Highlights for us was Flam Railway breathtakingly beautiful. We loved Balestrand enjoyed the kayaking and hiking amazing views to town. Cruise on Naeroyfjord was surreal.
Accommodation was easy walking distance from train.

Linda planned the perfect trip for us. The hotels were all carefully chosen to be within an easy walk of trains and ferries and fully met our expectations. Linda’s local knowledge ensured that we had just the right amount of time in each place. Her recommendations were spot on. Local guide Wilde in Bergen gave us an interesting and personalised tour which was infinitely better than the usual city walking tour experience. Lofoten Islands were an absolute treat. Lone at Westerålen is the most... read more

Linda planned the perfect trip for us. The hotels were all carefully chosen to be within an easy walk of trains and ferries and fully met our expectations. Linda’s local knowledge ensured that we had just the right amount of time in each place. Her recommendations were spot on. Local guide Wilde in Bergen gave us an interesting and personalised tour which was infinitely better than the usual city walking tour experience. Lofoten Islands were an absolute treat. Lone at Westerålen is the most delightful,warm and welcoming hostess. This experience has inspired us to come back and see more of Norway and we will definitely use Kimkim again.

Our trip to Norway was all that we had hoped it would be and more! Thank you Linda for doing such a great job of making all our dreams into reality! We travelled to many places that are not necessarily on most tourist’s destination lists because we were searching for ancestral roots. This meant that the modes of travel and accommodations changed nearly daily requiring careful planning on Linda’s part to make sure we were able to get where we wanted to go in as economical a manner as... read more

Our trip to Norway was all that we had hoped it would be and more! Thank you Linda for doing such a great job of making all our dreams into reality! We travelled to many places that are not necessarily on most tourist’s destination lists because we were searching for ancestral roots. This meant that the modes of travel and accommodations changed nearly daily requiring careful planning on Linda’s part to make sure we were able to get where we wanted to go in as economical a manner as possible! We found her very easy to work with and very responsive to any communications by email. We had a detailed itinerary and every ticket and/or voucher in hand before we ever left home and all the information was correct and current. I’ve already recommended KimKim and Linda to several friends.

We had a fantastic memorable holiday experience in Norway. Both Tromso and Malangen were stunningly beautiful. The trips and the guides were excellent; we loved the dog sledding and the overnight Sami experience. The holiday was both adventurous and cultural; learning about the Sami people was fascinating and the environment and scenery were amazing.

We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on two occasions, both in Tromso., which is quite an experience!

We are very grateful to... read more

We had a fantastic memorable holiday experience in Norway. Both Tromso and Malangen were stunningly beautiful. The trips and the guides were excellent; we loved the dog sledding and the overnight Sami experience. The holiday was both adventurous and cultural; learning about the Sami people was fascinating and the environment and scenery were amazing.

We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on two occasions, both in Tromso., which is quite an experience!

We are very grateful to Linda, who arranged our holiday for us, she did a great job! The accommodation and food were first class.

We will be recommending kimkim to our friends. Thank you for a memorable experience.

KimKim and Linda are the way to go! We got the trip that we wanted, with expert advice along the way. For me the Fiords were absolutely enchanting, I could have lost myself in them. For Paul, the whales were the highlight.

We did not get to see the Northern Lights so we already figure another trip to Tromso. Besides it being magic, I got my hair cut there and love it!

Thank you

We had the most amazing time in Norway. Linda went above and beyond for us and customized the perfect trip for my husband and I and our two young sons (1 & 2). It is probably the best vacation we've ever had. Thank you, Linda!

Linda was always quick to respond and listened to everything I wanted to do. The end result of the trip exceeded all of my expectations. Would definitely recommend!

Great accommodations! We saw northern lights 2/4 nights!!!! The weather was perfect we Loved the Hardergruten MSSpitsberg it was a great size great bed!! We added a guide for our day in Tromsø her name was Edle with Individual tours. She was fantastic all day too. We had a carefree adventure because of your help! Thank you so much

Linda made it all possible!!!! Sweet great response time No question was to small....

Great communication before leaving and during our stay.

Linda was excellent, she was on hand whenever I had a query. A landslide occurred whilst we were on the train and I knew a taxi would be waiting for us in Aurland, obviously we did not know what time we would be expected in due to the delays, however, Linda was on hand and continuously kept us updated and also updated the taxi and our accommodation that we were significantly delayed. Couldn't have asked for more.