Self-Drive Norway -- Terrific!
Norway
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Aug 16 - Sep 6, 2026
Kimkim was terrific and we just completed an outstanding trip to Norway!
I asked Anna to help put together a 3-week self-drive trip that focused on the outdoor beauty of Norway, including lots of day hikes I had read about (including others she might recommend), with accommodations that were nice & clean – and a handful of splurge stops she thought were worth it. Anna was quick to propose a trip that looked great, worked with us as we made a few tweaks (including a start in Oslo to take the cross-country rail trip before starting our self-drive – worth it!), and she recommended & incorporated a handful of private city walks and guided hikes. The process was easy, the trip was custom, the results were great.
Accommodation favorites include: The Bolder (a modern compact stand-alone cabin with a spectacular view), Fjaerland Fjordstove Hotell & Restaurant (a historic gem in a charming tiny town with a terrific restaurant), Blatind Botique Hotel (cozy luxury in a private mountain setting with excellent dining), and an unbelievable lakeside view from a Vollsnes Feiehus Stryn cabin near Loen. We also enjoyed the quirky/funky Dovregubbens Hall, and Hotel Brosundet in Alesund. And we stayed in a handful of Scandic hotels which were nice, clean, and had great breakfasts. We wanted a variety – and we were happy with the variety!
Add-on favorites include: A private city walk in Bergen, followed by a hike above the city the next day (beautiful). A private hike to a historic farm now known for wild blueberries in an idyllic setting near Fjaerland. And a floating sauna (with occasional fjord plunges!)
Hiking area favorites: Forsand, Voss, Loen, Andalsnes
One other note. Kimkim provided support during our trip – I didn’t expect to need it, but I did. During one of our drives, we arrived at what looked like an abandoned ferry terminal (we were the only ones there). I couldn’t quite make sense of the ferry terminal schedule on-line, so I reached out to Kimkim’s 24-hour number (it was Sunday), and they responded immediately --confirmed the ferry schedule, provided an alternate route if I didn’t want to wait, and asked what else they could do. I really appreciated the support.
A great trip! Thank you.
Hotel Reviews
Great location in Voss. Big nice breakfast.
Top floor room of old building had a tiny triangle-shaped shower with no shower door, and angled (roofline) ceiling in the bathroom (I hit my head twice). We ate at the restaurant on the night they were serving crab and shrimp buffet -- we did not care for it.
Small but fantastic. We spent one entire afternoon marvelling at the view.
A historic gem in a charming tiny town with a terrific restaurant. The expansive lobby lounge and wrap around deck were really nice. This was a favorite for sure.
The setting is spectacular -- the views amazing. Big, modern, and it has a washing machine! Free kayaks -- we used these and they were great. Walking distance to some great trails. The cabin is a 4-plex, so if others are out late on their deck, you will hear them (we did).
Quirky, funky, but perfect for the setting, and we liked it. Clean and comfortable.
Rooms were clean, but dated. Overall, this hotel seems tired. Breakfast was nothing special.
Clean rooms. We liked and used the common lounge several times. Handy to have a grocery close. But the restaurant in the building is closed. And it's in a bit of an odd part of town.
Cozy luxury in a private mountain setting with excellent dining. This was a treat.
Great location. Rooms were fine.
Small but comfortable rooms. Very handy to adjacent mall, restaurant, train station. Good breakfast.
I liked the location (away from the cruise crowds, but still very walkable to the main city area). Nothing special, but clean. Good breakfast.
Activity Reviews
We had a beautiful day -- the scenery was terrific, and we even ate a few blueberries (though the season had passed). Our guide was a life-long local, very knowledgeable -- and enjoyable.
Fun and hot (sauna) and freezing (jumping into the fjord). A must do. And the scenery -- fantastic!
The gondol ride was nice and the view up top is nice. Unfortunately the trails at the top are shared by mountain bikes, and though we didn't see/meet any mountain bikers on the trail, the trails themselves were torn up from bicycle ruts & very muddy -- a disappointment. Loved the swing at the top of the mountain.
The view is very nice. The drive up is insane.
Great cheese, and hands-down the best brown cheese of the trip. An informative hour.
Steep, and tree-root covered along much of the way, but very doable. The hike above the viewpoint to the top is the steepest and most exposed along the side of the mountain.
This is a quick stop (you can do a hike from the hotel, or drive there and step out). We drove (and did a separate hike around the city).
The day was cloudy & misty. Our guide was fine but not particularly exciting. We had arrived via ferry from Hellesylt (due to a road closure), so we had already seen most of it. On a clear day with a more entertaining guide, it would be better.
I liked getting away from the tourist center to see other parts of the city -- a more "real world" look at Oslo. We had a few bites of local food along the way (cinnamon bun, Syverkiosken) -- a nice walk!
Informative, and away from the cruise crowds -- our guide timed it so the bulk of the crowd had cleared once we arrived at the fish market area. Enjoyed walking the narrow streets and seeing the historic homes.
Our guide modified our original hike to accommodate us with a less strenuous hike -- funicular up, then hiking above the city, and back down to our hotel.