Maria Shephard

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

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

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

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

Activity Reviews

Guided Kayaktour Bergen

Bergen

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Trolltunga Winter

Odda

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Preikestolen Hidden Trail and Canoeing

Stavanger

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip and Dinner at Cornelius Seafood Restaurant

Bergen

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

Quality of Experience

Transport

Oslo private tour

Oslo

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christine was awesome!

All of our guides were very friendly, accommodating and went above and beyond in helping Paula Olsen, who had leg issues from breaking her leg 9 weeks ago. They went above and beyond for me also. Enjoyed all the excursions and enjoyed the lunches also. Amazing experiences that couldn’t have been Better!

Kimkim is a great resource.

Maria and team did an excellent job of organizing a variety of fun and unique activities across Norway, including experiences on land, sea and air. The highlight of our trip was the time we spent in the Lofoten Islands, one of the most beautiful places we've ever seen.

All the logistics were expertly organized and went without a hitch. When we asked to switch hotels in Bergen, it was swiftly adjusted.

A few of activities were too touristy/not good enough quality or too tightly scheduled for our taste, but that is bound to happen when you're traveling with a pre-set itinerary.

Overall, we were very pleased with all aspects of our trip and would definitely use kimkim again. We want to especially thank Fenne for her support day to day.

This is my 3rd time using KimKim. Maria, Julia and Fenne helped plan a 7 day trip to Bergen, Flam and Oslo. They were fantastic to work with and suggested / booked really top notch and different excursions for us. Our hotel in Bergen and the kayaking outside of Bergen was super awesome (great guide, super location). Our train to Flam was the best time for good viewing and a good time to arrive in Flam. Lovely accommodations in Flam. They made excellent suggestions for things to do/see in Oslo as well. Would highly recommend this organization. They continue to impress.

Hotel Reviews

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

Great location, quiet, super and friendly staff, comfy beds. A newer hotel with a very good vibe that was full of guests from every part of the world.

Authenticity & Character

Great vibe

Location

Directly across from the main train station - super convenient!

Staff

Thomas was so helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

A very pretty property. Beautiful grounds. Most rooms, including ours, had a lovely Mountain View. The staff in the restaurant were very lovely - front desk was ok. The property was a short 5 min walk to the Norwegian sauna we experienced. Awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

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Activity Reviews

Guided Kayaktour Bergen

Bergen

Our guide picked us up in downtown Bergen. We were a group of 6. The location was spectacular and the equipment was clean and in excellent condition. We enjoyed a delicious and simple lunch on a tiny island and just had a great time exploring nature. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, nature, weather and more.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Private Fjord Sauna experience

Norway

So fun! A very short walk from our hotel. The sauna was super private and just gorgeous. Practically brand new! The views were to die for when comparing to other saunas in more populated areas. A must do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise

Oslo

Nice ship and relaxing experience. This provided a good way to enjoy the scenes of Oslo from a very different perspective.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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I planned this trip VERY last minute, and Maria was very responsive and helpful with a nice itinerary that took into account somewhat limited availability due to high-season. The final itinerary was terrific. But, alas, the day before we arrived there were torrential rains and flooding that knocked our bridges and highways, so our journey to Bergen on the railroad was cancelled. Flights were already fully booked, but Maria offered the option of renting a car, or staying in Oslo for a longer period. As a Californian, driving was not appealing, so we opted to stay in Oslo for a full week. What a great choice! We had an absolutely wonderful time, and while we hope to come back to see Bergen and points north, this really couldn't have been a more splendid trip. While in-country Fenne and Meree provided amazing on the ground support, responding almost instantly to our questions and helping us roll with the punches. Also, having missed the Bergen portion of our trip, Meree was able to refund us the costs associated with that component. Above and beyond!

Had an excellent experience using KimKim. Maria tailored a wonderful trip catered to my interests and requests. The whole team was very responsive at all times throughout my trip. The overall journey was very comfortable and seamless. I am so happy I finally got to see the regions of Norway I hadn’t visited yet and hope to do another trip like this one in the near future!

Fantastic planning from the Kimkim team. They are responsive and able to plan the itinerary around your wishes and needs. The team also checked in with us regularly during the trip to make sure all is in order. I was particularly impressed with how they were able to quickly rectify last-minute hotel issues we raised. They also helped us with taxi booking when we had trouble getting out of Gudvangen to Flåm - this was a real life-saver!

The trip to Norway was truly unforgettable, and breathtaking in so many ways. There was a balance of urban (architecture, museums) and natural (Trolltunga, glaciers, waterfalls) landscapes in this bespoke itinerary. The people in Norway were affable, especially the guides who brought us up Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) and Trolltunga. Everything was rather pricey in the country though (the locals complain about this too! haha), so plan your budget accordingly.

All in all, a trip that rates an easy 6 star out of 5, made possible by the wonderful team at kimkim (shout out to Julia, Fenne, Maria). We could not have planned such a comprehensive itinerary ourselves. I hope to visit Norway again cos there's still so much more to see!

Activity Review

Overnight Hike to Trolltunga

Odda

Friendly, knowledgeable guides (Truls <follow him on IG @trulsoutdoors> and Sunny) and a group of fun-loving hikers made this an amazing experience. The hike is specially timed so that you are at Trolltunga when the crowd is thin (less queuing for your photo op!). The overnight stay at the heated domes added a special touch. I appreciated the quiet moments in the early morning when I could be alone with nature.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was the first time me and my travel buddy were visiting Norway and we were keen to engage the local experts through Kimkim. The booking process was fuss free and the preparation phase was characterised by timely responses and attentive listening by our team comprising of Maria, Julia and Fenne. As Norway is a big country with so much to see and do, the team was respectful in advising us on many of our "wishlist attractions". After 3-4 rounds of changes we ended up with an itinerary we were excited about.
The team kept in touch with us, especially close to the trip to ensure all was in good order and even gave personal tips and food recommendations when requested.
We were very reassured to be able to contact the team via WhatsApp (as opposed to phone calls on an international number) and that they were contactable 24/7 with very prompt response time.
There were minor hiccups along the way as with any trip (such as issues with transportation from one location and a wrong check-out date that we overlooked prior). These were resolved expediently by the team and allowed us to continue to enjoy our trip without worry.
The trip was well balanced with nature and physical activities, which was our primary interest, as well as time to explore the towns and other cultural attractions. There was adequate time to rest in between more physically demanding activities.
Most memorable for me was the overnight hike to Trolltunga. The opportunity to spend time with fellow travellers with a love for nature in the tranquil environment was precious. It was restful and energising.
I was pleasantly surprised by the waterfalls that I encountered along the way. I am a self-professed waterfall fanatic and the detailed itinerary did not mention that we would be encountering waterfalls along the drive and especially during the Flam railway. The unexpected spectacles were awe-inspiring.
I will definitely be engaging their services again the next time I visit Norway with friends and family, and I highly recommend that you do too!

Hotel Reviews

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Great location. Helpful front desk staff. Clean and nicely decorated interiors. Excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda

Kristiansand

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Stavanger City

Stavanger

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trolltunga Hotel

Odda

The room was a bit small and interior design was simpler. But the views were exceptional. Have to drive about 5 min to the nearest shops/supermarkets. Located close to an amazing waterfall (by driving).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Bergen city

Bergen

There are 2 wings to the hotel. We were assigned a room in what appeared to be an older wing. The suite we were assigned to had no air-conditioning and the windows in the bedroom could not be opened. It was very stuffy despite a small fan that was provided. This was contributed by the unusually hot weather we experienced during our time there. The staff were kind enough to relocate us to another room with much better ventilation. The overall standard did pale in comparison to other Scandic hotels we had been to.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gudvangen Fjordtell & Apartments

Gudvangen

Very spacious apartment with the most amazing view of the waterfalls. Interior design was simple but place felt homely.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen

Stavanger

Excellent guide who doubled up as photographer. He ensured we had great photos at the main highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight Hike to Trolltunga

Odda

The most memorable highlight of my trip. Definitely recommended.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Glacier Kayaking Excursion

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Flåm Bike Experience

Flåm

We didn't have much time to enjoy this and weather was also not the best.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I booked an 11 day trip to Norway with KimKim with my 18 year old daughter for her graduation gift. I didn’t want to do a group tour, yet I needed help with planning, and the KimKim approach was perfect. We went back and forth a couple of times to land on the right itinerary. I felt that my local contacts, Maria and Femme really listened to what I wanted to do and adjusted accordingly. Ultimately, Maria and Femme planned a great itinerary that balanced the activities we wanted to do with travel time and also some downtime. Some days, we had scheduled activities, and other days, we had a list of recommendations to do at our leisure. Our trip consisted of 5 different hotel stays and an overnight hike/camp outing. Our activities included hiking, kayaking, biking, a sauna boat (awesome!) and a local cider tasting. They also recommended local restaurants. As to be expected for such a long trip, not everything went according to plan. However, Maria was always reachable and immediately addressed my questions. The best example of this was a rock slide that closed a tunnel and the only route to one of our overnight accommodations. Maria quickly found an alternative accommodation and dealt with the original hotel separately. It was seamless for my daughter and I. I highly recommend KimKim and will book with them again in the future!