Tricia Cantlon

Our late summer trip to northern Norway was incredible. We couldn't have planned such a memorable, custom trip without our trip specialist, Tricia. The pacing of our trip and the chosen destinations were well matched to our abilities and interests. The mild weather added to our enjoyment of the outdoor activities. Because we were off-season, destinations were uncrowded; in fact, on several tours, my husband and I were the only people. Repeating our overnight accommodations as we returned from the far north was genius.

Our flight had multiple legs, first into Dallas, then Dallas to Helsinki, then Helsinki to Oslo. It all went smoothly. I particularly enjoyed the pretty berry pastry at the Helsinki airport coffee shop. Upon our arrival in Oslo, we used the Flytoget train, buying a roundtrip ticket at the station. These trains are clean, frequent, and quick. As we had arrived before check-in time, we left our bags at the Amerikalinien hotel, walked over to the Oslo Opera House, and walked to the top to enjoy views of the harbor and city. We walked over to Barcode Street Food for a wide variety of options for dinner and drink. Altogether, we ate there three times during our time in Oslo; I particularly enjoyed the poke at Hawaii.

Adding a 'recovery day' after our overnight flights to Oslo was wise. The breakfast at the Amerikalinien had extensive, delicious options. We had a rainy day in Oslo, but it didn’t mar our tour on the Silent Oslo Fjord Cruise. With an Oslo pass, we used public transit to travel to Lazy Boyz Harley-Davidson Oslo in the suburbs for a couple t-shirts. The lounge at the top floor of the Munch was perfect for an overview of the harbor and city while enjoying a cold drink.

Using our return pass, we returned to the airport for our midday flight to Alta. The flight itself was scenic and one would wish every airport was the airport in Alta. Our car rental with Hertz went smoothly start to finish. We enjoyed lunch in the local mall at Aranya AS. In total, we ate three meals there. The parking app for the mall was easy to set up and to use. The mall is a good spot to buy a missing cord or some Norwegian chocolate.

Our afternoon was spent at the World Heritage Rock Art Centre and Alta Museum. The museum offers a range of exhibitions including local life in the time of the rock carvings up to 9000 years ago, the more recent history of mining and fishing, and World War II history. There are two long paths with extensive boardwalks that allow you to view the rock carvings along the way. Allow enough time to view the carvings and soak in their fjord setting. We returned for a second visit when we returned to Alta.

Then we made our way to Trasti and Trine’s Lodge. Our spacious room was very comfortable; the breakfasts were delicious with a generous range of dishes offered. We enjoyed morning walks down to the river. It was interesting to learn about the Northern Light huskies and to visit the puppies. We enjoyed a leisurely evening meal in their excellent restaurant. The next morning, we had the Altafjord Cruise on the Ice Cube of Aurora all to ourselves. The water was choppy, but didn’t mar our adventure. We learned about World War II in Alta, viewed a fjord waterfall, and looked for seals with high quality binoculars. The fjord was in full fall color.

After two nights in Alta, we spent our next two nights in Honningsvag at The View, a smartly converted Cold War Era military barracks. As suggested by its name, this location has a commanding view of the fjord. We enjoyed the northern lights on the outdoor balcony each night of our stay. Be sure to download an app such as Aurora that can provide you with alerts. We also left our window drapes open all night. We enjoyed a dinner at NorMat. The hotel does not offer food other than breakfast, but it has several beers on tap. The local museum, Nordkappmuseet, had an excellent variety of exhibits on local history and art – the section on World War II and post war recovery was particularly moving.

Because of the warm water currents, the fall colors around Honningsvag were not as far along as either Alta or Karasjok. Coming into Honningsvag, we passed through several long tunnels, including one that took us 800 feet below sea level – a record for us. Nevertheless, our drive on winding roads to NordKapp was still quite dramatic. NordKapp itself was impressive. We arrived early, allowing for plenty of photo opportunities, and time before the Nordkappmuseet opened. The museum has a nice café and gift shop. It’s a great spot to buy and send postcards from NordKapp. The northern lights, sea birds, local history, and World War II history displays were all well done.

Our next two nights were spent in Engholm Husky Design Lodge in a very stylish custom cabin. Each detail of our lodging was carefully considered and beautifully crafted, mostly from natural materials. It is a perfect spot to cocoon in nature in any season. We enjoyed the opportunity to ride along on a husky training run through woodland trails out to the river and back, and to visit with the latest litter of huskies. We drove over the border to Finland for lunch and a stop at the grocery store for snacks. We bought postcards and stamps and mailed them on the spot. The Sámi Museum in Karasjok - De Samiske Samlinger/Sámiid Vuorká-Dávvirat was an excellent introduction to the culture and traditions of the Sami people including artifacts, traditional clothing and tools, art and history.

After returning to Alta, we went on a northern light tour with Glød Explorer. Glød means ‘glow’. We were the only tour members that evening. Starting with a delicious fish soup and an introductory film, Gard took us out to the best spots for catching the lights. With light rain and clouds, it took patience and a few locations before the lights were visible. Alta claims to be the home of the light for good reason, the local skies seem to be a node for the lights. Not only were the flickering beams dancing, but less common forms directly overhead morphed in forms that resembled fish or flowers. Gard even took our photo with the lights in the background. It was the perfect highlight to our trip!

Our return travels went smoothly. It was a trip we will always remember – off-season and perfectly attuned to our specific interests and requests. Thanks Tricia!

Hotel Reviews

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

Outstanding hotel in a very convenient location across from the train station and within easy walking distance of the city harbor area. Staff was attentive and accommodating. The hotel was able to hold our luggage until checkin so we could begin exploring the city. When checkin was a bit delayed, we were given an upgraded room. The hotel was decorated with items reflecting the history of the American Line in Oslo. Comfortable beds! The sumptuous breakfast was a real treat. On the day we departed before the regular breakfast hours, we were offered a packed breakfast. The hotel bar was very stylish with unusual cocktails. We stayed here for a total of three nights; two as we arrived in Norway and the night before we departed.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the historical details from the American Line that were featured throughout the hotel.

Location

Easy walking distance to the downtown harbor area including the main station, opera house, dining, and museums.

Staff

Attentive - offered a packed breakfast when we had an early departure.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable, cozy bed and bedding. Loved the modern, full powered shower and generously sized bath area.

Engholm Husky Design Lodge

Karasjok

We loved the very stylish custom cabin. Each detail was carefully considered and beautifully crafted, mostly from natural materials. It is a perfect spot to cocoon in nature in any season. We enjoyed the opportunity to ride along on a husky training run through woodland trails out to the river and back, and to visit with the latest litter of huskies.

Authenticity & Character

This lodge exudes character. We marveled over the handcrafted details of the decor. Quiet, peaceful, thoughtfully designed.

Location

This location is convenient to activities in Karasjok and just over the border into Finland.

Staff

Dedicated to huskies! It was a real treat to go out on a training run.

Cleanliness & Comfort

You could happily cocoon in this lodge in any season.

The View

Honningsvåg

A smartly converted Cold War Era military barracks with the outstanding view. We enjoyed the northern lights from the outdoor balcony every night of our stay. The complimentary breakfast was very nice each morning. The hotel does not offer food other than breakfast, but it has several beers on tap.

Authenticity & Character

Very cool retrofitting of an old Cold War era military barracks.

Location

Not in the heart of the town, but with outstanding views of the harbor.

Staff

Staff was very knowledgable of the area with excellent tips.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy, individualized bedding was the best.

Trasti & Trine´s Lodge

Alta

Very welcoming and comfortable accommodations for lodging and dining. Extensive grounds with trails to the river. And, best of all, huskies! This location is convenient to activities in the Alta area. It is a great location for watching the Northern lights. The breakfasts were delicious. The evening is devoted to fine dining. A unique offering.

Authenticity & Character

Huskies!

Location

Just out of town. Beautiful country setting; lovely in the fall. Very convenient to all activities in the Alta area.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful in answering our questions and offering suggestions, such a the river hike.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the individualized bedding; I might just try that back home! Generously sized rooms and baths.

Activity Reviews

Hunting the Northern lights with Photographer

Alta

This was a perfect adventure to conclude our time in northern Norway. Glød means ‘glow’. We were the only tour members that evening. Starting with a delicious fish soup and an introductory film, Gard took us out to the best spots for catching the lights. With light rain and clouds, it took patience and a few locations before the lights were visible. Alta claims to be the home of the light for good reason, the local skies seem to be a node for the lights. Not only were the flickering beams dancing, but less common forms directly overhead morphed in forms that resembled fish or flowers. Gard even took our photo with the lights in the background. It was the perfect highlight to our trip!

Quality of Experience

Alta is the home of the northern light for good reason. The local nodes result in unique, memorable morphing forms.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gard was an excellent guide full of enthusiasm and local knowledge of the lights.

Transport

Van was a comfortable way to tour looking for northern lights.

Altafjord Cruise

Alta

Easy to find. A choppy day did not deter our enjoyment of this trip. We were the only two on the cruise on this day. We learned about World War II in Alta, viewed a fjord waterfall, and looked for seals with high quality binoculars. The fjord was in full fall color.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The personal experiences of our captain and his knowledge of the fjord and local area was a key part of this tour.

Transport

Silent Oslo Fjord Cruise

Oslo

This cruise was an easy introduction to Oslo. It was very peaceful to view the city from the water. The tour guide's narrative was just right, informative while giving space to enjoy the cruise.

The Kim Kim person we interacted with the most was Tricia and she did a great job creating and booking an interesting itinerary and activities along the way. Tom handled communication with us as well , when Tricia was unavailable promptly and with courtesy.
One thing to note, which may help other travelers, is to advise them about the changing weather conditions up in the northern part of Norway in September and beyond because flights can be canceled by the airlines unpredictably due to weather and therefore the other connections will suffer from it. Better include a buffer of time so travelers don’t incur added expenses with flights and lost time, during their return as we did.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Syv Søstre

Sandnessjøen

Good hotel for a short stay. Good breakfast with paid parking on the street. Room was comfortable. Located in the city close to the port close to the departing ferries. Good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Modern, not noteworthy.

Location

Close to the port.

Staff

Helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean room and common areas.

Hustadvika Havhotell

Fraena

Very good hotel by the water with views to the sea and the mountains. Comfortable with a room that had a great view. Free parking with good breakfast. Recommended for a short or longer stay.

Authenticity & Character

Pleasing architecture.

Location

In the countryside by the sea.

Staff

Helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable and clean.

Setran Gård

Salsbruket

An authentic farm close to a lake with a view and animals (sheep, pigs, horses, chicken, rabbits). The individual cabin was great, roomy and comfortable. They do not offer breakfast or meals but there is an equipped kitchen if you with to buy ingredients and cook your own meals. A special location with lots of walking to do nearby and a beautiful nature.

Authenticity & Character

An authentic farm setting.

Location

Countryside location with nice views.

Staff

Very helpful caretaker couple when we went.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean cabin.

Valldal Fjordhotell

Valldal

Very nice hotel close to the fjord. Depending on the room the view is nice. Very quiet hotel with a comfortable room. Good breakfast, free parking. Small lounge. Near the hotel there is a nice trail to walk by the river and a rental place with kayaks and other local guided tours.

Authenticity & Character

It’s a functional hotel with a pleasing look.

Location

Very special location next to the fjord with nice outdoor surroundings

Staff

Not so helpful, but just OK.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room and common areas were clean. Good for a few days stay.

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

The hotel is close to the main Oslo rail station which is a few minutes away walking. The hotel has small rooms but clean and tidy. Breakfast was good.

Authenticity & Character

Just average.

Location

Very centrally located close to the railway station.

Staff

Helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean hotel.

Thon Hotel Trondheim

Trondheim

A centrally located hotel good for a short stay. Paid parking available a couple of blocks away from the hotel. Decent breakfast. The room was rather small but clean.

Authenticity & Character

Just average. No character to speak of.

Location

In the city center.

Staff

Staff was OK.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean room and common spaces.

Vega Havhotell

Vega

A super nice hotel with a Norwegian character by the sea. Nice room, quiet with a view and great breakfast. The hotel has a small lounge and a nice architectural character. Family owned the staff was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Traditional Norwegian architecture

Location

By the sea in an undeveloped area great for walks along the seashore.

Staff

Very helpful staff, provided by the family that owns the hotel.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and tidy with a comfortable room.

Scandic Havet

Bodø

The hotel is on the port with nice room views. Ample space in the room and in the common areas. The hotel has a contemporary character. Helpful staff and easy to walk to. The hotel does not have a dedicated parking and paid parking is available in surrounding parking lots. Street parking is free between 4pm to 8am. Breakfast is very good and varied.

Authenticity & Character

It’s a modern hotel with no particular character.

Location

Central location easy to access cruises or walks in the city.

Staff

Very helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and common areas are clean and well maintained.

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Very nice hotel with individual cabins next to the water an excellent location close to the port. Breakfast is ample but not as varied as with other hotels. A good place to stay for a few days to visit Lofoten and learn about the fishing tradition of the stock fish trade. The hotel is not one building and it’s pleasant to walk to the main reception and restaurant from the cabin.

Authenticity & Character

The architecture with wood is attractive and cozy.

Location

Activity Reviews

Guided Kayaking in Valldal

Valldal

The kayaking tour in Valldal was quite enjoyable. Initially planned as a five-hour tour, it was cut down to three hours, which was actually sufficient for us. The guides were not local but were knowledgeable and made the experience interesting by explaining different aspects of the fjord and aquaculture. There were about eight or nine kayaks, making it a pleasant small group experience.

A Taste of Norway's Culture and Cuisine

Oslo

The culinary and culture tour in Oslo was a bit disappointing. The guide was nice and knowledgeable about the city and its architecture, but the food stops were underwhelming. We only visited two places, and one was even closed. The food we did try, like a hot dog with shrimp salad and a pancake, didn't live up to the expectations of a "gastronomy tour."

Tricia planned a great multisport (glacier, hiking, biking, rafting, ziplining...) weeklong trip for our family into the fjords for us at the very last minute. We didn't decide to go until two weeks before departure and it was at the height of season! She worked quickly and found us accommodation where there seemed to be none. She found activities for the varying interests and abilities of our family and then juggled booking those tours and activities that all seemed to be all booked up when I checked. Tricia, Tom and the team also were readily available to handle and solve the small issues that arose during the trip and kept those irritations to a minimum. We had a lovely trip and could not have done it without Tricia. It was a pleasure and easy to work with her and she put together a great itinerary for us with lightening speed. Highly recommended.

We had never used a service like Kimkim to plan a trip before, but have had such an amazing experience in Norway, thanks to Tricia and the Kimkim team, that we'll be coming back. Having someone like Tricia give us expert advice and structure our trip around our wish list has been amazing, and she had us doing things we wouldn't have thought of (Flam bike ride, floating sauna, walking tour guide in Bergen, and staying in Hjelle, to name just a few!)
We knew that it could be a busy 12 days in Norway, but the local knowledge from Tricia meant that a good mix of travel, activity and downtime to simply appreciate the beauty of the surroundings was achieved.
And it didn't stop with the planning and booking of everything, it was really nice to have Tricia keeping in touch with us nearly everyday to make sure things were going to plan.
Thanks Tricia, a truly memorable holiday, that managed to avoid the crowds, and had my daughters constantly saying, "this place can't be real, we're in a fairy tale!"

Hotel Reviews

Wangen Apartments by Fjord Resort

Aurland

This place is very modern, fancy, and ideally situated at the waters edge. Fantastic views, and very very comfortable.

Location

10 min from Flam, right on the waters edge in Aurland. Lovely balcony to admire the fjord from!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fjelleventyret gårdsovernatting

Vassgangen

Ultra modern, really comfortable, and perfectly located for the stables, and hill walks. The restaurant on site serves amazing food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vollsnes Feriehus Stryn

Stryn

We did not expect this apartment to be so amazing. The location is stunning. The apartments are super super comfortable, with our own sauna and all the facilities we needed. Having access to row boats, kayaks, SUPs, and bikes made this seemingly remote location just come alive for us. The one thing I would recommend though, is to get an apartment with a view of the lake, ours didn't which was a little unfortunate. Otherwise, we couldn't fault the place, and would happily spend a week or more there next time!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet, but stunning!

Staff

The owner and her father, always stopping for a chat if we were outside, and generally interested in what we wanted to do.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hurtigruten

This wasn't a ferry trip, it felt more like a cruise! Amazing food, comfortable cabins, smooth sailing and scenery everywhere!

Authenticity & Character

Location

How can cruising up the coast of Norway, weaving through fjords and islands not be AMAZING!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

A nice old style hotel which seems to come from the age of steam trains! Located right beside the main railway station in Bergen, but also close to the main tourist areas. Very helpful and friendly staff. No great view from the hotel, but you are in downtown Bergen!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nes Gard

Høyheimsvik

Lovely farmstay type hotel, with comfortable rooms in a converted barn/warehouse. The restaurant cooks amazing set meals (no choice) which were divine, even for picky teenagers!

Authenticity & Character

The use of the old farm buildings and homestead give the place so much character. The fact that the evening meals are prepared with as much local produce (and farm grown if possible) added to the authenticity.

Location

A nice quiet location, with a fabulous waterfall on the far side of the fjord.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

The hotel was nice and close to the central railway station, and well placed for walking through central Oslo, the opera house, and the harbour areas. Breakfast was exceptional! Other than that, it is a typical city centre chain hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Typical city centre chain hotel.

Location

Very close to central railway station, a lot of public transport options, and easy to walk through central Oslo.

Staff

Friendly and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

In general the place was very clean and comfortable, but a couple of areas of cleanliness in the bathroom were lacking.

Activity Reviews

Horseback Riding: From Village to Mountain

Lom

This was an activity for my daughter who is an experienced rider, used to guiding treks herself. She had such a great time with the guide, pony, and the other rider on the trip, and found the whole experience truely memorable.

Explore Bergen with a Local

Bergen

Not something we would have thought about doing, but another suggestion from Tricia that hit the mark! John was brilliant at understanding what would be good for us to see, and tailoring his tour and commentary to suit. We saw parts of Bergen we would never have found, and gained a better appreciation for the city away from the tourist areas. The guide, John, has so much knowledge and a really nice and easy going way working with us.

Flåm Railway and Cycling Adventure

Norway

The Flam railway was on our list of must do activities, and it lived up to expectations. A great 1 hour train journey. But, the cycling back down to Flam was even better! Great suggestion from Tricia that we would not have thought of. We had such a great morning cycling back down with amazing scenery, waterfalls, tunnels, river, and goats! So good, we wanted to do it again straight away!

Embark Hurtigruten

Norway

So good... comfortable, smooth and really well looked after onboard. But the scenery that is going by, steals the show.... it's amazing. So good that I had to get up at 4am to watch the sunrise as we cruised between islands and fjords. Wished we were booked to stay onboard for a week!

Kayak Trip on the Lustrafjord

Norway

The trip itself was amazing and not a hard paddle. The guide was brilliant, a lot of humour, a lot of facts, and generally kept everyone entertained!

My sincere apologies for the delay in responding to your invitation to review our KimKim-organized trip to Norway of June 24-July 7. The truth is that there is little I can add to the glowing and comprehensive account Robin submitted. The experience made me regret that – and wonder why – I had delayed so long in visiting Norway, having always wanted to.

The country was even more beautiful than I had anticipated (I was particularly struck by the abundance of flowers, both wild and cultivated, everywhere we visited), but more striking still was the unfailing friendliness, warmth, efficiency and readiness to be of help of everyone with whom we came into contact, from hotel staffs to guides to taxi and transfer service drivers, all of whom were knowledgeable, personable, flexible and utterly dependable. (In my case they courteously fielded requests for assistance that I’m sure a less technologically-challenged guest would not have troubled them with – I came away with a deeper appreciation for the achievements of Scandinavian bathroom-fixture and lighting design, and renewed chagrin at my dim-wittedness in mastering its use!)

I would find it difficult to single out any particular guides for praise, but was most grateful for the unflagging energy and enthusiasm of Ole in showing us the highlights of Hamar and Lillehammer (from the glorious sunlit morning exploring the Domkirkeodden to displaying the view from the apartment he has had purchased atop the “world’s tallest wooden building” Mjøstårnet – where he also showed us a video introducing us to the Norwegian comedy team Ylvis – to plying us with delectable jordbær and cream), as well as for Randi’s astuteness, aplomb and adaptability during our damp but delightful short stay in Ålesund. She is certainly someone I would keep on your short list of guides for anyone visiting that area.

In brief, it was hard to return home (and would have been hard even had “home” not been as unsettled a place as many of us now find it). I can only hope I will be granted enough years to make another trip over, in which I can see some of the things we had insufficient time to get to in the two weeks we were there – e.g., to see more of the three great open-air museums (the Norsk Folkemuseum, Maihaugen, and Sunnmøre) we were introduced to, and to visit the sites associated with great Norwegians that we noted in passing but couldn’t include in our schedule, such as the homes of Ibsen, Kirsten Flagstad, Sigrid Undset, Grieg and Ole Bull, among others.

You and your colleagues surely merit the highest praise (and quite possibly canonization) for your patience and professionalism in putting together a travel plan that met such a complex set of requests, and for dealing so promptly and capably with such small emergencies as arose while we were there. I would be only too happy to recommend your services to anyone I knew who might be hoping to visit Norway.

With many thanks and sincere best wishes,

Jennifer Boger

Tricia created an exceptional trip for us that we enjoyed immensely. It was a remarkable trip for the following reasons:

1). We saw a variety of the ways in which contemporary Norwegian society functions - from the sunbathers (a lot of them!) and commuters on the Aker Brygge to the shoppers in central Oslo to the residents of Hamar, Lillehammer, Bergen and Alesund as they went about their daily lives. This immersion into Norwegian life helped us go beyond stereotypes and experience a social climate quite different from what we have in the States, (especially right now).

2). We had numerous opportunities to learn about Norwegian history. The outdoor museums - from the Norse Folk Museum in Oslo to the Maihaugen in Lillehammer and the Sunnmore in Alesund - were all very impressive and well done.

3). Our guides were fantastic! Stig, Ole, John and Randi - each one very enjoyable and knowledgeable. They added so much to our experience of place.

4). We had surprises at each location. The ethereal singing of the guide in the Domkirkeodden in Hamar might have been the most magical moment in the trip for me. We also enjoyed Ole taking us to the wooden hotel, the “Norwegian Stonehenge”, and the ski jump from the Olympics. Randi’s walk about Alesund, pointing out the Art Nouveau buildings was very informative. After seeing the Schotstuene (Hanseatic League building) and the Bergenhus Fortress in Bergen, John walked us to the University where we saw the beautiful botanical gardens and the Maritime Museum. Our trip to the Fram and KonTiki Museums and to the Norse Folkermuseum with Stig far surpassed our expectations.

5). The seamless transition from place to place with taxis arriving/waiting as necessary made us feel well cared for. It was also instructive to travel by both train and bus - another aspect of the immersion experience. We very much also enjoyed our night onboard the Havila Capella from Bergen to Alesund. It’s too bad the weather was rainy because I can only imagine how fantastic the view would have been under other conditions.

Food wise:
- The Venti Venti in Oslo was a lot of fun and we enjoyed the great people watching.
- The breakfast buffets at all of the hotels were excellent except at the Raddison Blu Airport Hotel where it was terrible.
- Eating at the Bro in Alesund was another fun experience. We had gone to the Fishery Museum earlier that day so I tried the dried cod dish because I thought the pairing (of the historical information and cuisine) would be interesting. The dessert - 3 kinds of ice cream - was among the best food we had on the entire trip.

So - in summary - we went from south (85’ heat) to north (55’); from urban to small city to rural; from plane to bus, train, taxi and ship - with 4 wonderfully informed and friendly guides enjoying lovely breakfast buffets that lasted us through the day and seeing many interesting sights. I can’t imagine a better time then than!

Tricia was crucial to the success of our trip in Norway. She was always available to tweak things to make them perfect, was a dream to work with and her suggestions for what to do on our own were perfect!

My friend and I had the greatest trip to Norway! Tricia, our local specialist, really worked with us to understand our travel style and put together an itinerary that fit in everything we wanted to do.

We covered an incredible amount of ground in the Western Fjords and got to do some really cool things. My personal highlights were our food tour of Oslo with Stig and our visit to the Mollfarm in Geiranger. That was truly special. Those experiences gave me the opportunity to learn so much more than I could have in a museum. And, of course, the fjords were absolutely stunning.

All in all, I have never stressed out about a trip less. That in and of itself was a gift, but Tricia did such a great job putting together our itinerary. My friend and I said several times, "I think she's magic."

Thank you for a great trip. Now to come back in winter to see the Northern Lights...

Hotel Review

Hotel Union

Geiranger

Hotel Union in Geiranger was absolutely phenomenal. The views were breathtaking, and the staff was incredibly kind and welcoming. The restaurant and breakfast were top-notch as well. It was easily my favorite accommodation of the trip. The surprise spa access was a wonderful touch that made the stay even more special.

Activity Reviews

Geirangerfjord Kayak Tour - Seven Sisters Waterfall

Geiranger

The kayak tour was quite the adventure! Unfortunately, we had terrible weather, which made the conditions really tough. Our guide was fantastic, though, and made sure we felt safe the entire time. Despite the rough conditions, it was an experience we laughed about afterward and had no regrets doing. It was a lot of work and maybe not ideal for everyone, but it gave us some great stories to tell.

Home visit at the Møllfarm

Geiranger

The farm visit in Geirangerfjord was one of the highlights of the trip. We got to interact with locals and learn about their way of life, which was fascinating. This experience gave us a deeper understanding and appreciation of Norwegian culture that we wouldn't have gotten from just visiting museums. It was truly special and added so much value to our trip.

A Taste of Norway's Culture and Cuisine

Oslo

The food tour in Oslo was incredible! We got to spend time with locals and learn about Norwegian culture through its cuisine. While we didn't try anything too exotic, we did have fish sticks, which was probably the most unusual item on the menu. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and made the experience both educational and fun. I wouldn't recommend it to extremely picky eaters, but there are different tour variations that might suit different tastes. Overall, it was a memorable and enriching experience.

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

Perfect!

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fjærland Fjordstove Hotell & Restaurant

Fjærland

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cheerful, helpful, and funny!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Henningsvær Rorbuer

Henningsvær

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

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

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

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Helpful staff; delicious breakfast; beautiful dining room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff