Trip Reviews
NORWAY + SCANDINAVIA
planned by Torunn Tronsvang
The reviews posted here are from travelers who started their planning with Wendy’s trip questionnaire for Torunn. That made them VIPs and earned them these five benefits. If you want similar VIP treatment and benefits, use this black CONTACT button:
Torunn has earned a spot on Wendy’s WOW List of Trusted Travel Experts based on Wendy’s rigorous testing and vetting as a traveler and journalist, including feedback from her well-traveled readers.
Have you returned from a trip arranged through Wendy’s WOW List and want to submit a review? Check your inbox for an email from info@wendyperrin.com with the subject line “Please review your trip: That’s how you get a WOW Moment.”
Travelers John and Vicky Joseph take in the view from a hike in Stavenger, Norway.
This was our second trip with a Wendy Perrin affiliated firm. Their knowledge and communication were outstanding and they curated a wonderful trip.
Kathy and Kim’s Norwegian Adventure
The trip planner that Torunn and Thea created describing the places we would visit, the people we would meet, the accommodations we would stay in, and how we would navigate without renting a car, did not come close to the trip we had. It is hard to pick a single adjective or phrase to express our experiences. Gabriel who checked us in at the Juvet at the start of our trip and provided wonderful hospitality after said it best: “Norway will change you.”
What started as a trip for Kim to cross the Arctic circle became an almost two-week fantastic adventure from Oslo all the way to Tromsø. Our stops included Valldal, Mo i Rana, Trondheim, Manshausen, Ålesund, Geiranger, and Ballstad. We had many farm-to-table meals that were exceptional, not only the food but the service as well. Our accommodations were just as we requested, unique but each in its own way, such as the Juvet Landscape Hotel Writers Lodge, Til Elise fra Marius, a Manshausen seacabin, and a fisherman cabin at Hattvika Lodge.
Along the way we also had unbelievable experiences. For example, our private fjord cruise of the Geirangerfjord captained by Kim aboard the MS Fjord Adventurer. He told us many stories of the people who lived in the mountains years ago and about his life there, sharing pictures of his son after catching a large fish for dinner.
We saw the Northern Lights three times. Twice from our Manshausen seacabin and once with Roland, who made sure our stay at the Hattvika Lodge was not one to forget. On that night we saw the red, yellow, blue, and green lights dance across the sky. And while we were mesmerized by the lights, Roland was capturing the sky on his camera. He then shared those pictures and a video with us to have as memories of our northern lights adventure.
Also at the Hattvika Lodge, we went on a yoga walk with Oda who told us stories about growing up in Norway. This included having cod liver oil every morning and going out mushroom hunting with her grandmother who would teach her which ones to pick and which ones to leave alone.
Before we embarked on the MS Kong Harald at Svolvær we had a private beer tasting and tour at Lofotpils. Thor, who came from Iceland with Viking roots, told us the history of Lofotpils, about his family, and of course about the seven beers we tried and how they were made.
As to our mode of transportation, this included private cars, 3 planes, bus, ferry, small speed boat from the ferry to Manshausen and back, and the MS Kong Harald. All were skillfully intertwined between locations. In addition, originally we had planned to take the Northland Railway but due to a landslide on Sept 5 that closed the route (we were leaving on the 22nd), Thea made bus and plane replacements quickly so our overall plans would not be affected.
In conclusion, Kim and I are both seasoned world travelers. We fell in love with the Norwegian people and the countryside. We both agreed we truly had the trip of a lifetime and plan to return. Thanks Torunn and Thea. We couldn’t have had these experiences without you. And, we can see why your team is on Wendy’s WOW list.
Travelers Jeremy, Marci and Mira Silverman crossing Nærøyfjord in a traditional Norwegian rowboat. Photo: Jeremy Silverman
Thanks to the deep knowledge and expertise of Danny and the company’s team, we had an amazing, personally curated journey through Norway to celebrate our daughter’s high school graduation.
We told our daughter that she could choose the destination for our celebration vacation and that we would design the itinerary around her interests. After evaluating a few options, she selected Norway based on both the experience of close family friends and the planners’ eye-popping website. Like other WOW List trips, we then moved to a planning call with Danny, deep diving into our daughter’s interests, including outdoors activities, food/cooking and truly local experiences. The trip was designed around all of these things, as well as other family preferences (including my unnatural affinity for ferries, which are easy to find in Norway) and we were on our way.
The through lines of our experience were the small and unique hotels that marked our travels, specifically 29/2 Aurland, Beckerwyc House, and Knutholmen. Each of these special places is family-owned and operated with a deep history and connection to place. The personal care and attention of the owners and staff was truly special. I could give 20 examples, but I’ll provide just a couple.
Others have written about their experiences at Knutholmen and the pervasive hospitality of Svien, the founder, patriarch and host. Svien’s personal attention began when he picked us up from the ferry dock and never stopped until wishing us a safe journey back to Atlanta. We were upgraded to an incredible 3-bedroom waterfront apartment that was recently honored with a global hotel design/decorating award. During the brief ride from the ferry to our room, our daughter told Svien about her love of knitting—part of her Norway plan was to buy authentic Norwegian lambswool (which she did in Voss) and knit her own sweater. Svien said she should meet a local woman who made beautiful sweaters that she sold at cost. Sure enough, the next day, Svien took my wife and daughter (along with Svien’s grandson) to meet the “sweater lady.” When they arrived at her shop, she was busy hosting a cookout in her yard, but happily opened her sweater hut for my wife and daughter, who found great sweaters to purchase and bring back home. (Our daughter is headed north for college, so she’ll need it!). Meanwhile, while my family did sweater shopping, I took a bike ride around the island that will forever be a life highlight. Over the course of 12 miles, I saw two people and dozens of sheep while riding the island on one side and the ocean on the other for the entire route. If I’d had a bodycam, this ride could go straight into the Peloton scenic ride catalogue.
We also experienced a “day of days” on the island of Bekkjarvik. This location was part of our itinerary primarily so that we could take a cooking class and dine at Mirabelle, an award-winning restaurant located at Beckerwyc House. We started the day with a beautiful hike straight out of our hotel to Kongskleivo, which is an amazing spot at the top of the island. As with other WOW List trip experiences (including all throughout Norway), our local guide was fantastic and personable. We learned about the island and local history, of course, but spent most of the time sharing about our families, experiences, and life in general. Following the hike, we had the cooking class that was a centerpiece of the trip, which did not disappoint. We spent two hours with Skylar, Mirabelle’s chef de cuisine, and went deep into cooking techniques preparing locally driven dishes that we eventually enjoyed with a French premier cru, selected by Alex the sommelier. After a few hours’ interlude, we were back at Mirabelle where we were treated to one of the most remarkable meals we’ve ever had. We were one of only two parties in the restaurant and had an amazing food and wine experience. While what we ate and drank would have been a highlight regardless, the personal attention and connectivity with our hosts elevated the night to a true all-timer. My wife is a serious wine student, which resulted in a rolling conversation through the evening with Alex, as well as a few extra special sips along the way.
I could honestly recount a long list of experiences from our journey that will be core memories for my wife, daughter and me, but instead you should go to Norway to find them for yourself. We will definitely be going back for more!
My wife and I traveled to Norway 9/5-9/14 2025. We started in Oslo for two nights, continued on by train to Hafslo and stayed at the BesteBakken hotel for three nights, then to Balestrand for one night at the Kviknes Hotel then on by ferry to Bergen and two nights at the Skostredet Hotel. We finished with a flight Saturday 9/13 to Oslo and one night at the Radisson Oslo Airport to be close for a flight back to the US on Sunday.
Our travel planners did an excellent job with our trip end to end. We are active travelers and wanted a lot of outdoor time, and we are also foodies and love history and culture. Our itinerary did a great job reflecting these priorities.
On a trip where every day was wonderful, there were two special highlights. We had a private chef-led cooking class on our second night in Oslo at the Stock restaurant. We spent a long private session with the Sous Chef participating in making our dinner, then enjoyed a wonderful dinner served in the beautiful restaurant. The chef and the maitre d’ both spent extensive personal time with us. It was obvious that they love their jobs and wanted to make us feel we were receiving a special experience, which we did. We learned a lot about Norwegian cuisine and food in general, and of course the dinner was amazing.
We spent three nights at the BesteBakken hotel and spa in Hafslo and the experience was amazing. Lindis, the host and owner, is a gem who delivers a flawless guest experience with an unbelievable level of warmth and personal attention. We have stayed at some wonderful places, and for a small inn, BesteBakken is the best we have experienced for quality of service, food, personal attention and activities. It is the antithesis of “corporate,” more like being a guest in the home of a dear, dear aunt who happens to be a brilliant cook and logistics wiz. While at BesteBakken we hiked Molden Peak, and took a 50km e-bike ride to visit the Urnes Stave Church and Feigefossen waterfall. Meals were wonderful and Lindis knew we are foodies and took extra time explaining her cooking.
While I have just highlighted two experiences, the entire itinerary was great. Our planners managed to ensure that every guide we had was top notch, fun, engaging, and knowledgeable. All willing to adjust to our priorities. Kayaking on the Esefjord in Balestrand was also a highlight we would recommend for any traveler.
A vista (and woolly locals) overlooking Hjørundfjord. Photo: Traveler Mike Gold
We had a great trip to Norway during the last week of August 2025. Danny and Thea from Torunn’s team were a pleasure to work with as we planned the adventure. They listened to our ideas, fashioned an exciting and diverse itinerary that matched our tastes—getting off the beaten path and staying close to nature when outside the cities—and were receptive to making changes and tweaks. The itinerary came together in the form of an easy-to-use digital travel guide that we were able to access by mobile app while on the go.
The nine-night adventure took us from Oslo, to the tiny mountain village of Skåbu, to the spectacular fjords and mountains, and ending in the quirky Art Nouveau coastal town of Ålesund. The natural beauty of the country was breathtaking and the engineering behind the incredible roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferries was nearly as impressive. One highlight: skipping the famous (but often overcrowded) Geirangerfjord and instead spending two days exploring the majestic Hjørundfjord (via boat and mountain hike). Another: driving the zig-zagging, switch-backing, jaw-dropping Trollstigen mountain road, which must be seen to be believed. We met lovely hosts and guides along the way and will remember this trip fondly.
Rocky terrain to gorgeous vistas means paying attention to every step. Photo: Traveler Jennifer Rosenberg
Second Trip to Norway—this time above the Artic Circle!
Last summer (2024) our family (parents and two college-aged daughters) has a fabulous trip to Norway planned by Torunn’s team. We had such a great time that the parents decided to visit a second time from August 22-September 1, 2025. Unfortunately, the daughters were back at school and unable to join.
On our first trip in Norway, we learned that we prefer to visit more rural locations, so planned with Henriette to travel above the Artic Circle for our second visit. This trip saw much more movement than we usually prefer; we generally like to stay in one location for a minimum of three nights so we can soak it all in. But we wanted to see as much of the Arctic north as possible on this trip, so we decided to be a bit more adventurous. We spent two nights in Trondheim, one on the Inderøy Peninsula, two in Alta, two in the Lyngen Alps, one in Tromsø, and two in Copenhagen (since we have direct flights from Copenhagen to our home in Atlanta, we decided we’d rather tack on a visit to Copenhagen than take 3 flights home from Tromsø in one day).
One of the reasons we almost always use a Wendy Perrin WOW List specialist is we find that we stay in accommodations that we otherwise might not find on our own, and that we also get to do some unusual experiences and excursions. This trip was no exception. We loved every accommodation, from the “fancy” Britannia Hotel in Trondheim, to the husky farm in Alta, a cozy and comfortable lodge in Lyngen Alps, and a quirky boutique hotel in Copenhagen. We tasted some of Norway’s great food—the chef’s table at Speilsalen in Trondheim and Restaurant Smak in Tromsø, were of course the highlights (our trip planners secured reservations for both), but the included meals in our rural locations were all fabulous. In terms of excursions, we spent an evening of food, song and comedy at “Bjorn’s house” in Trondheim, viewed 2,000-7,000 year old rock carvings in Alta, hiked to the Blue Ice Lake in Lyngen Alps, and had a cheese-and-juice tasting at Øyna Kulturlandskapshotell in Inderøy.
Probably our most memorable experience was our hike to the Blue Ice Lake in Lyngen Alps. Although the guidebooks describe it as “an easy, family friendly hike,” it was much more difficult than we’d anticipated (as my husband said, this might be “family friendly” for a family of Vikings, but not as much so for your average 50-year-old tourist). Although there was minimal elevation, most of the 2.5-mile hike was over rock fall from the neighboring mountains—tons of small and large rocks, sometime through streams, and lots of gaps between them. We had to pay attention to and test every step, so the relatively short hike took about 4.5 hours round trip. But the view upon arrival was unbelievable, and the lodge had packed a picnic lunch that we enjoyed while resting at the lake. Afterwards, we made use of the sauna and hot tub at the lodge, which we had all to ourselves since we were the only guests that night! Aside from that, the variety of accommodations and landscapes was really a highlight.
We were a bit surprised to find that late August to early September is actually “off season” in northern Norway; tourists tend to come for the midnight sun in the height of summer, or for snow and northern lights in the winter. At two of our smaller hotels (about 20 rooms each), we were the only people staying there. But, that was never a problem as the staff were all very friendly and accommodating, and we got to spend more time talking to them than we would have in the busy seasons.
On both trips, we’ve absolutely fallen in love with Norway. Its landscapes, history, people and food are unmatched. I highly recommend the itinerary above for anyone who is adventurous and willing to move around a bit. Trondheim and Tromsø are both worth a visit, but it’s really the more rural areas and accommodations that make Norway unique. The only downside is that with an itinerary as busy as this one, we did lose almost two full days to in-country travel; but there isn’t anything I could say I wish we’d skipped.
Unfortunately, I do have a couple of issues with the company’s service during the planning phase. If you read my review from a year ago (when we visited Copenhagen, Oslo, the tiny town of Valldal and Bergen), you’d see that while we enjoyed that trip, we had some issues with communication with our trip planner at the company. We had such a good trip that we figured that was a fluke and decided to try again. This time communication was much worse. We sent many emails during the planning process that were not returned until we started copying Torunn, the head of the team. And although we reached out in the fall of 2024 to start planning this trip, the itinerary was not confirmed until March of 2025, and not until I wrote Torunn and said we were going to scrap the whole plan and ask Wendy Perrin for a new WOW List planner; from that point forward, communication was much better. Also, there were several items that we thought were included in our payment to the company that we were told were not included upon arrival. I’ve reached out to the team to look into these items, but I haven’t heard back yet and this has not yet been resolved.
I think the communication issues are very unusual; we’ve planned around 10 trips with WOW List specialists, and this is the only company where we have found we cannot easily get responses to our inquiries without being a squeaky wheel. But yet again, the trip itself was fabulous, and there’s very little if anything we’d do differently. And I can definitely see a third trip to Norway in our future; we’ll just have to decide if we want to use a different planner, or give the company another try.
My husband and I just returned from our first trip to Norway. Torunn’s colleagues Danny and Thea planned an unforgettable trip for us focusing on our love for local culture, cuisine, history and authenticity. Our itinerary included Bergen, Bekkjarvik, Kalvag, Oye, Alesund, and Oslo.
All of our guides and drivers were wonderful. Every day was unique. We had a cooking class, went fishing, cruised the fjords, rode in an RIB, visited a trout farm, went kayaking on the fjord, and more. The weather was just as they told us…be prepared for it to change throughout the day! Despite the rain and wind we still were able to enjoy all the planned activities and got lucky with the sunshine when we needed it the most. I was particularly impressed with the restaurants they selected for us. All of them were very good.
I would highly recommend Torunn’s team to anyone planning a trip to Norway.
The Salzmann family Norway vacation was one of the most fantastic trips I have ever been on. Of course, the most wonderful part was that my whole family was together. There were 13 of us and the ages ranged from 76 to 14. This vacation was perfect for everyone.
There were two especially wonderful places I would like to mention. First was our stay at the Knutholmen Resort. Svein and his entire family could not have been nicer. Svein went out of his way to make our experience absolutely fantastic. The second place was Amotssdalen. My family is still talking about everyone that worked there. The food from chef Thomas was out of this world. Janine, Harvard, Rosa, and Angie could not have been more attentive and wonderful. We met the owners Steiner and Ynave as soon as we got there and they shared with us the whole history of their beautiful place. We had the most fantastic time with our Guides Per Tore, Luke, Kama, and Otilie. There were activities for everyone including Yoga.
I think the best part about Amot was that it was just us there. We were all together as one family enjoying each other and our host Keshia. For my family this was the highlight of our trip. They all said we all needed to come back for my 80th Birthday and I am planning on it. Needless to say we are still talking about this trip and how Torunn and her team truly immersed us in the beautiful country of Norway. Thank you for giving me all of these wonderful memories.
On a family farm in the tiny mountain village of Skåbu, buildings dated to the 1500s. Photo: Traveler Alex Kovac
We truly enjoyed our 12-day trip to Norway (via Stockholm) in June. It was a different kind of trip for our family—one where we moved around every couple of days (5 cities in 11 days) instead of longer stays in fewer places. We weren’t sure if that fast-paced style would work for us, but thanks to the itinerary crafted by the team, we had a great time.
We spent a few days each in Stockholm and Oslo, taking private tours in both cities that gave us a deeper appreciation for their history and architecture. Some of the standout moments from the rest of the trip included a ride on the Rauma Railway, which carried us through some of the most breathtaking landscapes we’ve ever seen; a thrilling RIB boat safari in Ålesund to a seabird colony with hundreds of puffins; and a guided mountain hike near Åndalsnes that brought us to a stunning overlook where we spotted a majestic golden eagle soaring over the water beneath us.
The true highlight of the trip was our stay in the tiny mountain village of Skåbu. Tucked deep in unspoiled wilderness, it was one of the most peaceful places we’ve ever visited. What truly made it unforgettable was the hotel, run by the husband and wife team of Jannicke and Henrik—two of the warmest and most genuine hosts you could hope to meet.
On the day we arrived, Henrik gave us a private tour of the family’s nearby farm, with some buildings dating back to the 1500s. The next day, he led my daughter and I on a canoe trip through three pristine mountain lakes, stopping to show us ancient rock paintings estimated to be 3,000 to 6,000 years old. He also prepared a delicious lakeside lunch—moose burgers made from a moose he had sustainably hunted shortly before we arrived.
That evening, we visited a nearby husky farm (run by one of the hotel’s employees), where our daughter got to cuddle with a very energetic, and adorable, group of three-month-old husky puppies.
Despite being a small-town hotel, the food was top-notch. The restaurant truly lives up to the term “farm-to-table,” with nearly everything sourced locally—fished, foraged, farmed, or hunted. We enjoyed mountain trout (caught by Henrik), local lamb, flaky, buttery croissants, and a chocolate ganache dessert I still dream about.
Finding unique hotels like this is what the team does best. Every placed we stayed at felt handpicked—boutique, character-rich, and well-suited to our style of travel.
One final note: in reading past reviews of the company on wendyperrin.com, we saw a few comments about slow communication during the planning process. We experienced some of that too—responses sometimes took longer than expected, and we ran into a few small errors with details that caused some early frustration.
That said, we ultimately decided to trust the process—and we’re so glad we did! Once the trip began, everything unfolded beautifully, and any doubts we had disappeared entirely.
Torunn and Thea planned one of the best travel experiences we have ever had. Our trip began in Oslo with a visit to the sauna accompanied by an exhilarating cold plunge. This was a great activity for the first day when we were tired and jet lagged. The next day we had an interesting tour of the city and a very fun cooking class at a local restaurant. From Oslo we traveled via scenic railway to the amazing Juvet Landscape Hotel, where we got to stay in a unique lodge that blended into the surrounding landscape—just as the name implies. At Juvet we got to experience their fabulous culinary skills at group dinners, and had an amazing kayak/hiking adventure in Tafjord, one of the most beautiful places on earth!
From Juvet we traveled via private car and a few beautifully scenic ferries to Kalvag and stayed in a hidden gem boutique hotel called Knutholmen. Our three-bedroom apartment at Knutholmen was spacious and beautifully appointed. The staff was just amazing. They did everything and anything to make us feel at home and welcome. The restaurant on property was top notch. The trip was one of our best and helped us appreciate the true beauty of Norway and the warmth and friendliness of its people.
What an amazing vacation I had with my wife and (recently graduated) daughter! We went to Norway for a week and had a blast every day. We couldn’t be more pleased with the curation of our trip and the detailed daily itinerary we were set up with through our team. I give them 10/10 stars on making our vacation as easy as possible. From rental cars to check ins to excursions to suggestions on activities, this was an experience unlike any other I’ve ever had.
We highly recommend staying in Skabu at the Fjellhotell and visiting Lindis at Bestebakken. Both hosts were more than gracious and had great activities for us to enjoy.
The most unusual travel experience was canoeing on a remote mountain lake and then having moose burgers cooked over an open fire while observing the wilderness and raging river, something I’ll never forget.
The trip planners helped in purchasing authentic Norwegian sweaters for my wife and daughter and placing them in our first night’s hotel as a gift/surprise for both of them. They were beyond excited and without the team’s help, that wouldn’t have been possible. It was above and beyond customer service.
I can’t say enough good things about Wendy Perrin and these planners—we will definitely be using Wendy for future travels abroad!
Torunn and her team were awesome. Our trip was planned with meticulous detail, and it went off without any issues. We really enjoyed Norway and the intimate settings that were arranged in the small villages in the more rural fjords. I highly recommend using this team—very nice people, user friendly, and they curate a trip to your requests.
Torunn’s colleagues Danny and Thea did a fantastic job in creating an amazing Scandinavian adventure for me! Danny and I met first, and he asked a lot of questions about what I was looking for, and thoughtfully listened to my responses. Based on that, he suggested an itinerary that was perfect. Once we settled on that, Thea took over, and all I can say is that I wish she could work on every trip with me! No details were overlooked, and the trip was perfect!
I started in Copenhagen, which is a magical city and one definitely to which I will return. From there, I flew to Bergen, Norway which was the perfect place to start my coastal trip. From Bergen, I took a passenger ferry (which I LOVED) to a small town called Smorhamn to get to Kalvag, for a stay at Knutholmen. This whimsical property is located in a beautiful spot, and is absolutely darling. While I was there, a local fisherman took me out in his boat and we fished and pulled up his crab pots. We ate the crab (after he cooked it on board) sitting on a picnic table on his family’s island; this was truly a magical experience.
From Kalvag, I went to Norangsfjorden and stayed at Union Oye Hotel, a gorgeous and magnificent property. While there, I had a private fjord cruise with a wonderful local captain. Everything was just gorgeous, and like with the fisherman, it was wonderful to get to know the captain and learn about life in Norway.
My last stop was Oslo which is another wonderful city. I will return there as well!
Many thanks to Thea and Danny; I will definitely work with them again for my next Scandinavian trip—this time further north in Norway.
On a wing and a prayer, Norwegian wind in her hair—traveler Susan Freeman on the famous fjord swing at Trandal.
We just returned from a 25-day trip to Scandinavia planned by Torunn. We were thrilled with her company’s recommendations, including suggested itinerary, length of time in each place and hotel recommendations. This was the longest time we had ever been away, and yet it felt so well-paced that we weren’t exhausted or burned out as we often are, especially with shorter trips. In my opinion, Norway is THE most beautiful country on earth. It simply must be experienced for travelers who want beauty of nature, few people, and a place where everything works!
We spent 5 nights in Oslo, 2 in Bergen, and the rest of the time in the gorgeous Fjord country, ending with stays just north of the Arctic Circle. We e-biked to an 11th-century Stave Church on the Romantic Road, visited an artisanal brown cheese maker, had dinner with a farmer and his wife in their summer pasture cabin high above the fjords, fished, sea kayaked, and of course hiked. The guides were excellent, with one exception.
The most unusual or unique part of the trip was visiting a former trading lodge in Arctic Circle on private island owned and run by the first Norwegian woman to summit Everest, as well as the highest mountains on all 7 continents. We loved meeting her and learning from her, as well as the other guests.
The combination of cities at the front end and nature for the rest of the trip worked extremely well for us. Innkeepers were all very hospitable, kind, and generous. Torunn’s team uses an app and everything for your trip is loaded into it, which once I got the hang of it, was fantastic; everything at my fingertips all the time. If you are considering a trip to Scandinavia, I highly recommend Torunn with the highest recommendation. It was one of our all-time favorite trips anywhere in the world!
Our trip was fantastic, filled with beautiful historic hotels, delicious food, extraordinary fjords, friendly and talented personnel, magical transitions, and countless adventures!
We began our journey in Bergen, where we stayed in a stunning historic hotel owned by a descendant of the renowned Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. A nearby fish restaurant served us mouthwatering dishes, a delightful experience we enjoyed in many places throughout our trip.
The next day started with a cable-car ride to a mountain, accompanied by our very personable guide Jim, who shared fascinating insights into Norway’s history as we strolled through the forest and city. A one-night cruise, including a picturesque fjord excursion, brought us to the charming city of Ålesund. We climbed the staircase above a park to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views.
We held on tight during a thrilling Zodiac tour through numerous islands. Then, we headed to Storfjord Hotel, which offered beautiful views and trails. We hiked up Meratafjellet through forests and bogs, expertly guided by the AllTrails app. (Internet was available everywhere we went in Norway.)
An incredible tour through the fjord ended with us swinging at Trandal, to the envy of countless TikTok enthusiasts. Next, we visited Åndalsnes, with its amazing mountains and sea. We took a gondola ride, giving us a great head start on climbing Høgaksla. The views were postcard-worthy!
Our excellent driver even gave us a surprise preview of the Troll Wall, which we revisited on the train to Trondheim the following day. We have no desire to base jump off the Troll Wall! In Trondheim, we stayed at the Brittania Hotel, visited the incredible cathedral, beautiful gardens, and cozy coffee lovers’ cafés. We also explored the fortress and enjoyed a great, albeit small, Margarita for $60 along with other delicious food.
We had a wonderful hike through the wilderness with our amazing guide Bernie and his dog Colleen. We dined at the Mexican restaurant Frida. The next day, we indulged in a 12-course gourmet meal with wine pairing.
Our adventure continued to Lovund Island, where we savored delicious food and stayed in a charming hotel (as usual), and explored the multifunctional commercial area. We hiked up the steep and often slippery Lovundfjellet (Lovund Mountain) for majestic views and later enjoyed puffin viewing by the thousands!
Finally, we returned to Oslo, and our guide Gor showed us this amazing city that seamlessly combines cosmopolitan vibes with nature, art, and history.
We are incredibly grateful to the Trip Plans app, which always provided the information and tickets we needed whenever we needed them. And many thanks to Thea and Torunn for such a rewarding and imaginative trip plan!
The port village of Flam is surrounded by mountains at the innermost bank of the Aurlandsfjord. Photo: Traveler Choquette Guiney
We visited many areas and in each one Torunn arranged local guides/hosts that were interesting, passionate, and a joy to spend time with. A few of our favorite activities include having an Oslo tour guide; visiting a Sami reindeer herder (reindeer racing and fantastic stories!); dog sledding (with Iditarod musher); fine dining prepared with local ingredients and in a remote setting (say yes to the wine pairing!); wood-burning sauna; cooking education and hands-on class (fun even for those who enjoy food but rarely cook); train travel (the views); Viking dinner (get the 5 course meal paired with beer); fjord cruise (stunning scenery!) and baking lefse, a Norwegian treat, at a family-run farm (beautiful setting and lively conversation with locals!). By not being overscheduled we had time to hike, kicksled, explore, relax and simply enjoy our time together (aka Norwegian kos).
Special thanks to Roger (our full day guide in the far north) for his Finnmark insights and personal stories as well as his thoughtfulness and suggestions. And to Trine—my mom was able to relax and enjoy the dog sledding experience traveling with you. That would not have been the case if she had been traveling with me or my sister! Shout out to Johnny who is not only an amazing chef but also owner of a fantastic record collection.
The accommodations Torunn picked were perfect for us and enhanced our experience. We enjoyed our stay at elegant hotels in city centers, a historic manor house on a fjord (so peaceful in the winter) and the cabins in the far north. Yes, we saw the northern lights just outside our cabin 4 of the 5 nights!
John Wente lands a big one while deep-sea fishing in Nusfjord. Photo: Traveler Deborah Wente
We had a wonderful trip to Norway! It is such a big country with so many options, and we were thrilled with the choices suggested by Torunn and her team. We spent one night in Bergen, which suited us perfectly. It was fun to see Bryggen and do a little souvenir shopping. The next morning we picked up a rental car and drove a couple of hours to Utne on the Hardangerfjord. The village has a population of about 200, we stayed in a house on a cider farm overlooking the fjord. Our time in Hardangerfjord was a perfect blend of activity and time to enjoy the view of the fjord from our rental. We ate in most evenings, very enjoyable after an active day. We enjoyed a private fjord cruise, a hike up to a beautiful viewpoint and a tour of a cider farm. I can still picture the innumerable colors of green.
We then returned to Bergen and flew up to the Lofoten Islands. What a contrast! Fishing villages, dramatic mountains dropping down to the sea, and a taste of life in the islands. I really appreciate the recommendation to stay in two locations, Reine and Nusfjord. They were only an hour apart, but gave us a chance to explore different areas without a lot of driving. We explored on our own, hiked with a guide, and went deep sea fishing. That was so much more fun than expected!
On our last night, we were surprised with our WOW Moment, one of the best ever. We were told to meet at 10pm when we suited up in inflatable insulated suits, climbed into a rigid inflatable boat and straddled our seats. The captain (and GM of the resort) took us north up the coast cruising at about 30 knots. We stopped near a cave where remains of people and cod have been found from 6000 years ago! Then we pulled into a harbor and sampled some Norwegian whiskey. A fun adventure!
I really appreciate the planning that allowed us to explore Norway, talk to people, and stay away from crowds. We were a couple of weeks before the season started in the Lofoten Islands and were very thankful to not be dealing with the traffic and crowds.
Three generations viewing the Northern Lights at Bjørnfell Mountain Lodge.
We had the BEST time in Norway!! Torunn’s team, Thea and Danny, left us in good hands throughout our journey to Alta to see the Northern Lights! They made everything about the planning process as easy as possible—which was a stretch because we were juggling the needs and desires of three generations spanning from 12 to 81. We were all on different flights on different days…we were a lot to handle. But we had the most fun on this trip. It was well worth the journey north, even for my reluctant traveler husband.
We started with snowmobiling to an overlook down to a river, then had a homey lunch at an inn, followed by an afternoon exploring the ice hotel on our hotel’s property. That night, we were pulled by reindeer to a Sami hut to hear stories of their culture and sample some delicacies. The next day, dogsledding was the event of the day! It was the most fun we had together! From harnessing the dogs to mushing through the pristine scenery, it could not have been better. We had a fantastic dinner that night at the farm where the dog sledding took place. It was delicious, and the atmosphere was exactly what you’d hope to find on a cold snowy night in the middle of nowhere. Cozy, warm, filled with locally sourced food that pleased everyone at the table.
The next day, we transferred to another hotel with a different vibe from the first. I can see why they recommended that we try both. This one was on a mountainside where the family has a small herd of sheep and runs a ski-in, ski-out inn next to the area’s only slope. From here, the good food continued, and we went snow shoeing, ice fishing, spa-ing, tubing, and skiing. It was a blast!
And I haven’t even mentioned the Northern Lights! We were lucky enough to view them 4/6 nights that we were there, from both hotels. My parents even saw them from their plane! They varied in intensity and movement, yet they were always breathtaking. Thank you, Thea and Danny for planning and helping us execute this memorable trip!!!
Traveler Patrick Woerner catching crabs in the Varanger Fjord.
We just returned from Norway on a trip arranged by our local experts. We had a wonderful trip seeing the arctic landscape, the northern lights, dog mushing, crab fishing, ice fishing and snowmobiling.
It was refreshing to travel somewhere where all of the resort/hotel staffs were so accommodating and helpful. We found Norway to be a service-oriented destination.
We try to seek out travel that is bespoke, personal as well as efficient use of time while traveling.
I believe that our team put together a multi-faceted experience for us that was certainly enjoyable, however, we would have liked a more tailored customized itinerary.
We did enjoy the dog mushing (perhaps it was not my wife’s favorite) and the facility was very nice with a helpful thoughtful staff. Perhaps it is a great place to dog mush because it is so big and can accommodate so many people but we found this part to be fairly touristy. The place is well run and seems to handle the full slate of tourists efficiently. We would have preferred a more private experience should there have been one available.
We first went to Alta and stayed at the Bjørnfjell Mountain Lodge. Again the staff was fantastic. The cabins are clean albeit rustic. I think we may have been placed here because I like to ski. The skiing here is very limited and I would not stay here for the skiing experience as I am sure there must be better skiing in Norway.
We traveled from Alta to Vadso. I understand the flights are somewhat limited. On the day we left Alta, we had to be out of our room early. We were picked up for the ice fishing and then dropped off at Sorrisniva Resort for the rest of the afternoon. We had dinner then flew to Vadso. That makes for a very long day, checking out first thing and then hanging around at a hotel for most of the day and not flying onto the next destination until 10pm at night
The ice fishing was interesting but we did not have much luck.
We stayed at the Varanger Lodge. Edgar is an amazing host, cook and fisherman. We loved staying with Edgar, he is an all-star! However it was not explained to us that we would be spending one night in a wilderness camp with no electricity. It’s not even on our itinerary. Our itinerary says wilderness safari but no mention of an overnight move to another camp. Had we known about that we could have planned for it.
The return trip from Vadso to Oslo was an all-day affair. I’m not sure what could be done to avoid all day travel days, but would have appreciated an alternate route that would not have been so rigorous. We were only in the Varanger Lodge for three nights, the first night was a late arrival from the airport. The last morning was an early flight that had multiple stops before Oslo.
In summary, the planners provided a very Norwegian experience to some remote parts of Norway. They are professional and friendly.
Katherine LeClair lands the big one during a day at sea with a local Henningsvaer fishing guide.
You know it is a magical life changing vacation when you’ve made friends with the locals! Everyone in Norway was so friendly and kind. The balance of city and wilderness experiences was amazing.
We were centrally located in Oslo, so happy with the accommodations, near the bus and walking everywhere was a breeze! A flight to northern Norway, a ferry ride, and we were transported to the Arctic Circle! My number one bucket list experience was to see the Northern Lights, and our time at Manshausen delivered!
We were a family of 5, kids are 28, 27, 24 years old. The trip had something for everyone. Of course the northern lights, city walking/food tour, sea kayaking, a moutain hike to a cave, cod fishing, sauna/hot tub time. Time together as a family stood still as we ate meals together and played a lot of card games.
It really is a small world! Turns out our Oslo city walking/food tour guide is a friend of my college girlfriend that lives in Oslo. We were on tour when I mentioned we were having dinner with a college friend and her husband that night. I hadn’t seen my friend since college graduation 37 years ago. I couldn’t even believe it when the guide said they all know each other and she grew up with my friend’s husband!
Torunn and her team added so much value! Everything was outlined in an app, we could message them if we had questions. I was nervous about the language but no worries it all turned out wonderfully, I felt that they gave us the local read on everything. We left our trip with pictures of the Northern Lights, true local connections, and Norwegian sweaters from the sheep farm!
I had a health setback three years ago, and it was at that time my husband said, plan your number one bucket list trip, we will do it. This trip was it. I’m on cutting edge meds and have an excellent heart failure team of doctors. This trip was a celebration of life. Don’t wait for medical side step to prompt you to get out there and travel your bucket list trip. Fill out Wendy’s form, start planning today!
Travelers Jerry and Carol Huller in Alta, Norway, in front of the much-anticipated Aurora Borealis.
A bucket list trip of mine has been to travel to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). I visited Iceland a year ago, but only saw the Aurora for a few minutes on 2 nights of a 4-night trip; they were not very prominent. I learned that seeing the Aurora is somewhat a matter of luck. You need dark skies, mostly clear skies, and solar activity causing favorable Aurora viewing conditions as measured by the Kp Index (measure of global geomagnetic disturbance), HPI or Hemispheric Power Index (total energy of the Aurora), and Bz (solar magnetic direction).
In Wendy Perrin’s newsletter, I have read about successful trips to Tromsø and Alta, Norway, to see the Aurora. So I decided to travel about 400 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle to Alta, which is less commercialized and less crowded than Tromsø. I chose to visit in the winter around a new moon for darker skies. I knew it would be cold in northern Norway, so I said to myself, “I’d like to see the Aurora from a hot tub!” I knew I would need mostly clear skies which is not always guaranteed, so I decided on a 5-night visit to enhance my chances of success. I knew I would need someone with specialized knowledge about the area, so I contacted Wendy’s WOW List planner, Torunn, to arrange my trip.
Thanks possibly to an intervention by Torunn with the Norse gods, I was lucky to see the Aurora on 2 of the 5 nights, including from hot tubs at two different locations in the Alta area—the Björnfjell Mountain Lodge and the Onga Boutique Hotel. So all my expectations were met! We were even surprised with some gifts of champagne and chocolate at our lodges and hotels by Torunn’s team.
Torunn and her staff (including Danny and Thea) listened carefully to what my wife and I were interested in doing, tailored the trip accordingly, and then made adjustments based upon our feedback. They even suggested staying at a second location in Alta, the newly opened Onga Boutique Hotel, which was a definite winner to me. They arranged for all ground transportation, meals, hot tub visits at Björnfjell and a cabin at Onga with a private outdoor hot tub (and sauna). We decided not to do dog mushing, but enjoyed a snowshoe hike with a local insider, lunch in a lavvu, a bonfire dinner (but no stargazing because of the cloudy skies), a tour of the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel with a drink at the Ice Bar, a reindeer sled ride, and stories by a Sami (indigenous person) around a fire. We had to skip a frozen river walk due to a pulled muscle I suffered. Torunn also arranged for an Aurora Dome for us at the Onga—it’s basically a geodesic glass igloo with a wood pellet stove for warmth for observing the Aurora; you could sleep there if you wanted. To me, there was too much light reflection from the stove for stargazing or observing the Aurora. At the Onga, the staff did have daily Aurora walks, weather permitting; one night was cancelled due to cloudy weather; the other night we saw the Aurora prominently in the night sky.
The meals at the hotels, including one meal at the Maku restaurant at the Sorrisniva Artic Wilderness Lodge, were excellent. At the different hotels, we savored reindeer stew, reindeer steak, moose steak, halibut, and cod. We had a choice of dinner meals at the Björnfjell and a gourmet chef at the Onga.
Torunn and her staff also arranged for us a nice hotel, the Amerikalinjen, in Oslo, Norway, on our stopover flights back to the US.
I would definitely recommend Torunn to others. She and her staff did an excellent job with planning the trip to meet our desires.
Aurora tips: bring a tripod if you’re interested in getting time-lapse videos of the Northern Lights. Wear a glove liner that will work with your camera or smartphone; it’s cold in the winter. Locals told me the best Aurora viewing is when the temperature is -10 to -20 degrees Celsius or colder; there tend to be few clouds in such conditions. The best viewing we experienced of the Northern Lights was at the Sorrisniva (we saw the Lights from horizon to horizon) and at the Onga (in a valley, but great views). My wife and I got good photos with the Night Mode on our smartphones (iPhones), which are 2 and 3 versions old. I got some good time-lapse videos using the tripod and the NightCap app for my iPhone. Find and use a good Aurora app or Internet website, or check with your hotel or lodge staff; I used https://northernlightsmap.com and https://Aurorasaurus.org.
Experiencing the Arctic winter was exhilarating! The Northern Lights, which were our initial main interest, became a beautiful portion of our trip and other incredible adventures. Dogsledding, whale and king crab safari, and snowmobile riding were a few of the activities that will stay with us forever. Highlight was definitely Varanger Bay and the night in the wilderness cabin, and the visit to the reindeer sanctuary. Our hosts were amazing both in Alta and in Varanger Bay, we felt so well taken care of and special. The other thing that is incredible about life in this ecosystem of extreme temperatures is how the people thrive and how they are fully connected to their territory and to everything produced locally. A real example of a lifestyle we should all learn from. None of this would have been possible without Torunn’s team and their suggestions of our trip planning. Everything went smoothly and selection of service providers excellent. We have built memories that will last a lifetime!
One tip for someone only interested in northern lights: Check the moon cycle and avoid full moons!
This trip showed me why it’s important to use a travel expert for the area you are traveling, and not a general tour operator. Long story short, our specialist arranged for a van to drive directly from our accommodation to the next. It was an easy 3-hour drive EAST. The tour company another couple used, had them driven 3 hours WEST, dropped off at airport, then flown EAST to the same location that we were heading to. What a waste of time.
Our travel planning company arranged a fine itinerary listening to my wants. Our accommodations were great. Katja was on top of things when a couple of our activities had to be canceled due to weather.
Visiting a Sami family included a covered snowmobile ride and feeding baby reindeer. Photo: Traveler Laura Probst
Torunn billed this as our Scandinavian Christmas Fairytale Adventure. And it truly was!
We wanted to do something out of the ordinary, unique, and unlike anything we’d planned before. From the start,
Torunn helped us choose Christmas time for what we were looking for—Northern Lights, unique animal encounters, authentic local interactions.
We visited Oslo, then went up to Finnmark and trekked along the areas of Alta, Karasjok and Nesseby Bay above the Arctic Circle, drove a bit through the Laplands and ended with a few days in Helsinki. This gave us everything we hoped for and more!
Arriving the day after Christmas, we were still in time to visit Oslo’s festive Christmas market and enjoy some of the city’s holiday decor and seasonal foods. Then getting to Alta, we stayed in beautifully small lodges with exceptional hospitality and got to see the Northern Lights almost every night. We also got to really understand Sami culture, as Torunn arranged really special experiences like New Years Eve with a Sami family…who after cooking us reindeer stew for dinner, packed us up on their covered snowmobile to go for an adventure in the woods to make a hot chocolate pit of snow and feed baby reindeer (after taking us to the best view to see the Northern Lights show for the night). We loved the hospitality at the Bjornfjell Mountain Lodge, where the staff took our kids sledding as late as they wanted every night (pulling them on a sleigh from their snowmobile about a mile up the hill). There are only a handful of cabins there and tons of activities like snow shoeing, ice sculpting, and reindeer rides.
Torunn knew we didn’t want to spend our whole trip on planes or on long car rides getting from point to point, and so broke up our moves with special activities like dog sledding at Trasti & Trine (in between Alta and Karasjok). Hannah and her team there are AMAZING with the pups and gave us such fantastic education about dog mushing, helped get perfectly geared up for maximum comfort, then letting us prep the sleds and take care of the dogs before letting us each drive our own sleds, highly recommend this!
We then moved to the Engholm Husky Lodge where the owner Sven has hand-crafted all 8 lodges along with every furnishing and decoration in each. We could not stop taking photos of every unique fixture and item there—all so cool and smart. And living with the dogs and going out with the local Samis there was incredible.
Torunn encouraged us to go to Nesseby Bay on the Varangerfjord for our last stop in Finnmark and I’m so glad she did. There are only two cabins and a sauna there, and we had the place to ourselves with our host Edgar. The cabins are pods with glass sides that look out at the bay—Edgar makes everything himself, and we spent our days crab fishing, relaxing in our sauna, visiting the local reindeer sanctuary and using Edgar’s skate-sleds to move around the quiet roads along the bay. We could sit and look at the moon and Saturn and every constellation starting by 1pm every day, and just felt like we were on another planet. It was incredible!
Torunn did a really great job listening to what we liked and recommending accommodations and curating activities that were perfectly aligned to our interests. Multiple times throughout the trip we found ourselves exclaiming how much we loved what we had just experienced. She also made sure we packed everything we needed to be comfortable on an Arctic trip.
We have done many trips with Wendy’s planners and this was definitely one of the best. So unique and special—we will be talking about it for years to come.
We’ve just returned from a six-day pre-Christmas vacation to Oslo and Alta, Norway, planned by Torunn and her team. It is very clear, from all that they do, that she wants you to love her beautiful country—and we’re happy to say, she succeeded! Oslo is a beautiful city, and the team’s insightful recommendations and arrangements for a hotel, sightseeing, shopping, transportation, and meals was outstanding.
We ventured from Oslo to the Arctic Circle with hopes of seeing the Northern Lights, and we were very happy we took Torunn’s advice to visit Alta. Alta is breathtakingly beautiful, and not very commercial. There, welcoming and insightful guides outfitted us with warm outerwear (for the below zero temps) and led us on excursions—including snowshoeing, ice fishing, visiting a Sami reindeer herder, and viewing the amazing Northern Lights—that were small, special, and not touristy. Every night, we were welcomed back to cozy accommodations and meals of local delicacies that exceeded our expectations; and at both a riverside lodge and a mountain resort, we enjoyed hot tubs under the stars and saunas reserved just for us. Her company’s personalized app made our many plans easy to follow and the transitions seamless, and also provided great access to communicate with their responsive team. Throughout our vacation, Torunn’s colleagues provided us with special experiences and made us feel welcomed and well cared for. We can’t wait to return to see more of Norway when the weather is warm and the sun is shining!
We had a truly wonderful time—the pace was great, Alta was a true gem, and we definitely got all of the Norwegian food we could ask for. A few notes:
1.Would have been helpful to know how necessary reservations were in Trondheim. We struggled each night—the first night/our anniversary, we had to ask the manager of the hotel to fit us into one of the hotel options (Jonathan’s wasn’t even our first choice) just so we could eat before 9p. It was apparently very busy that weekend both nights, and with the rain and our toddler, it was hard to plan ahead on site.
2. The Christmas lunch was interesting—the location was of course stunning, but the food was a challenge for me—there was no main option that wasn’t pork or fermented! But we managed. I wish we would have known the terrain a bit better (not that it would have mattered because of the weather/wetness)—to see the pixel forest, the mud was too slippery for all of us and the walk was too steep with the stroller, and none of us wore appropriate footwear. So, we missed out but saw it from what felt like maybe halfway up the path.
3. The experience with the Sami was amazing. First, our driver/guide was awesome. He happens to be a dad of a 4-year-old, and I don’t think we could have had as good of a time without his help with our little one. He really made it possible for us to enjoy. The guys at the reindeer camp were personable, fun and engaging. All three of us loved it so much and would recommend it for sure.
Alta ended up being my favorite spot! We all really loved the cabin at Bjornfjell and felt the team there was super kid-friendly. I could’ve spent several more nights there in the cozy cabin and playing in the snow. I did wish Trasti & Trine was a bit more open/friendly. We felt it was hard to get help (like when figuring out how to see the dogs, the answer was just “find someone” out there and ask). Also wished we could have spent time playing with the dogs or taking one on a walk or something. They let us cuddle the puppies in their pen, but we would have had to sit on yellow snow next to an excited but chained up mama dog in order to really play with them. And we were allowed to walk through the area in between all of the dogs chained up to their small houses, which was awkward and riled them all. They were so over excited that it was more like an obstacle course amid tons of barking than really saying hi/engaging with the dogs. The cooking session was excellent, for sure, though a bit strange to start by sitting with Johnny Trasti in the bar while our toddler got restless. Once in the kitchen, it was perfect.
And of course, lastly we were sad we missed seeing the Northern Lights! Apparently while at Trasti & Trine, others saw it further in the valley and near/in Tromso. I guess this means we have to plan another trip!
Thanks again to our planner Henriette for helping make this go smoothly.
The Bolder lodges offered access to hiking trails to the cliffs overlooking Lysefjord.
We visited Norway for the first time over American Thanksgiving week. Our trip was magical. It was just my husband and me and we both left saying it was the best trip we have taken. And that says a lot because we have been fortunate to have made many memorable trips around the world and around North America.
Our Norway trek began in Stavanger, Norway’s fourth largest city, but keep in mind even with that stat, it is a very charming small city of about 150,000 people. A church still stands and is used to this day from the medieval times. Stavanger also has an amazing museum dedicated to the oil industry that has been a vital part of the Norwegian economy. However, one thing you probably don’t expect is that we had some of our best culinary experiences ever in Stavanger. We ate at a Michelin star rated restaurant, Renaa, that was fabulous. But we also ate at another restaurant not Michelin rated, yet, that was just as fabulous named Tango. Not only was the food fabulous, but the sommelier, Jonathan, created the most enthusiastic experience we have had anywhere. We highly recommend both places.
During our stay in Stavanger, we stayed at the Eilert Smith Hotel. Our room was amazing with lots of space, a kitchenette, dining table where we were served breakfast each morning and a bath with double sinks and fantastic shower. The location was perfect in the heart of Stavanger with everything downtown in easy walking distance. Renaa also had its restaurant in the bottom floor of the Eilert Smith, which made it an awesome experience to spend 4 hours at an amazing dinner and walk upstairs to our fantastic room. We highly recommend this place to stay. The staff was amazing and most accommodating with any requests.
Our stay in Stavanger also featured a private yacht tour of Lysefjord from Stavanger. We cruised on Helge’s 70+ foot yacht that was simply amazing. This also was our only day of significant sunshine on our trip and we took advantage with amazing views of Lysefjord from the top deck of the yacht. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch with Sparkling Wine on the back of the yacht enclosed with comfortable heating to make the experience one of a kind. We highly recommend the experience. You will be treated to the most amazing experience!
We then toured the Lysefjord and surrounding areas by car with a private guide. We visited a couple local markets and viewed an amazing boulder field in the surrounding mountains. The end of the day we finished with a dinner at a charming local restaurant before checking in at The Bolder lodges that overlook Lysefjord. Our tour guide was also an experienced hiker and my husband joined him on a hike the following day up to the top of the cliffs overlooking Lysefjord. It was a hiking trail only known to locals and proved to be well worth the effort with the view from the top.
Our next destination was to the arctic circle in the Lofoten islands. After four flights, we arrived in Leknes on our way to Hattvika Lodge in Ballstad. Three hours of daylight in this most magical place. Kristian, the owner along with his wife of Hattvika Lodge was an amazing host that took us on walking tours of the historic fishing village of Ballstad; a visit to a sheep farm where they weave their own wool clothing (Lofoten Wool); a visit to Lofoten Seaweed (the water was too rough to harvest our own seaweed that day) where we met the owner that has developed health products, food products, etc. using the sustainable benefits of seaweed; and a nighttime search for the elusive Northern Lights, which Kristian found unbelievably in a short window of clear skies before clouds rolled in again. Our cabin at Hattvika was part of the fishing village that is now converted into lodging. We had an amazing two bedroom, two bath cabin with a wood burning stove and kitchen. Hattvika also provided a tasting of Cod Liver Oil along with the history of its use and benefits. The lodge also had an amazing restaurant, Fangst. Fangst translates to catch, or catch of the day, and the meals highlighted the local fish offerings, which we amazing. We ate our all our meals there while staying and did not repeat one entrée during our stay. The Hattvika lodge is surrounded by the inlet bay in Ballstad and the views were incredible eating at Fangst and from our cabin. We highly recommend visiting Kristian and the team at Hattvika Lodge. You will not be disappointed.
From Ballstad, we departed by car to Kvitnes Gard with a stop in Livland Gard. Livland Gard is a sheep farm owned by Roy and his wife. Roy is a unique individual with lots of creative ideas. At Livland Gard, Roy has had local IT experts create a 3D experience of local history pursuing mining of iron ore. From the 3D historic record of the mines to the railroads and ships at the port, he will enthrall you with local history in his large viewing room. From there, Roy actually takes you physically into the surrounding area to actually view in person the sites he had recreated in 3D. it is an amazing experience in a beautiful part of Norway. Once all the touring is done, Roy and his wife treat you to an amazing charcuterie board consisting of local meats, cheeses and seafood. They then top it all off to Roy’s own ice cream brand they make locally on the farm. A hidden gem that we highly recommend everyone to see. You will come away enriched beyond your expectations.
Final destination via car was Kvitnes Gard. A local sustainable farm that offers both a lodge and a Michelin type experience (they are still seeking official star rating) at dinner in the amazing farmhouse. You enjoy a 20+ course culinary experience in a charming farmhouse and amazing staff serving dishes provided by the farm and local area. And then at the end of the meal, all you have to do is climb the stairs to a charming room to stay the night. The next day we even enjoyed helping the staff feed the animals including chickens, pigs, sheep and cows.
We flew to our final destination of Bergen before we had to head home. Bergen was the original capital of Norway and was established in the 11th century. A city that is a sister city to Seattle and it will absolutely remind you so much of Seattle. We stayed at the posh Opus XVI. Our room was a junior suite that was well apportioned. The history of Bergen is unmatched and buildings still exist from its early days, and the fort at the entrance to the harbor is a site that must be visited.
Norway is a beautiful country, with water and mountains that highlight that beauty, but we walked away experiencing the beauty of its culture and people. We met the most engaging and interesting people. That is what made our trip most magical and memorable.
Spending 11 days in Norway felt like spending 11 days in winter wonderland. We were able to experience the lights, snow, beautiful landscape, and so many friendly locals! We are SO happy that we were able to see so many different areas of Norway! Our team was very attentive and super easy to communicate with when we had questions. They even helped us coordinate a last minute change in our trip when the weather was bad. If you are in Loften, Peter was a amazing host! My husband and I have never done a Europe trip, and the team made it so easy! We would recommend it to everyone!
Pater Noster is nestled on the tiny rock lighthouse island Hamneskar.
My husband and I toured Sweden just recently from September 29 through October 6. We started the first 3 nights in Gothenburg, mixing work and vacation. Our trip was planned by Torunn and her company, and we stayed at The Dorsia Hotel to start. A fabulous hotel and one of the best experiences we have ever had. The room was incredible, and the food was awesome from a late-night dinner on the evening of arrival after a long trip to the wonderful breakfasts included in our package.
Early the next morning we met a young amazing artist quickly becoming a Swedish sensation at an arranged private tour of a local art gallery. The next two days we explored the immaculate city of Gothenburg including the old walled city with the Fish Church. Definitely recommend a visit to this city and a tour of Volvo World.
We departed Gothenburg for a one-night stay at Ästad, a wellness hot springs in the country, just an hour by private car. There we enjoyed the various saunas before an amazing dinner experience at Restaurant Ang, a Michelin-rated eatery with food and ambiance unparalleled. It is safe to say a definite top culinary experience for the two of us.
The next morning we departed Ästad by private helicopter to a private island that was once a working lighthouse and now an island getaway inn called Pater Noster. We were greeted with champagne upon landing on the island by the inn manager and amazing staff on the island. The inn has 9 rooms and we shared our one evening with one other amazing couple and the inn’s proprietor. A setting to relax, but also a lighthouse to explore and a seafood dinner enjoyed with new friends. Such an amazing and unique experience.
After eating a fantastic breakfast, we left via a RIB that swiftly took us to town to connect with a 3-hour lobster fishing excursion. After a private car transfer, we spent our last night in a castle room at Nääs Slott.
We definitely recommend visiting Sweden with wonderful people and a most beautiful and amazingly clean country!
Meeting the owner of a sheep farm—and making purchases in her wool shop—was a “fantastic” surprise.
Our trip to Norway was fabulous. Torunn and Torstein did a great job of coordinating every detail! The trip planner app on our phones was great and the fact that we could download it and use it when offline. The trip planner truly had all of our reservations and details and more. The hotels, guides and restaurants were perfect! All the activities were perfect for women in their 60s who wanted to take part in activities but not scale mountains.
Our quest was to see the Northern Lights, which we knew was not a definite, but we were fortunate to see many nights of those special lights. Our WOW Moment was truly special, getting to meet the owner of Lofoten Wool and their Viking sheep was fantastic. There was a knitter in our group and she was in heaven, not to mention that we had the opportunity to buy some of her things in her shop. The owner of Hattvika Lodge was very secretive and led us to her farm, he never spilled the beans, truly a WOW Moment.
There was a hiccup at the end, where the airport hotel in Oslo did not have our room reservations marked as prepaid, but an email & call to the team and all was settled. I would definitely use the company again and recommend to friends. You must keep them on your WOW List.
My husband and I wanted to explore Stockholm before our Baltic Cruise and then spend time after the cruise in Norway to enjoy the fjords. Torunn, Torstein & the team developed an excellent itinerary with wonderful hotels and experiences. The restaurant recommendations were perfect. All arranged transportation was timely with very professional drivers.
We were impressed with the quality of the local guides who gave us private walking tours in Stockholm, Alesund and Oslo. They readily understood what interested us and the level of detail for telling stories and history. For example, an exclusive meal experience at Gurines Farm was cancelled due to illness of the owners. Instead, a lunch and guided city walk in Alesund was substituted. Although we were sent to a restaurant that was closed that day, our local tour guide was so engaging she brought the city of Alesund to life. She even talked our driver into taking us to the top of Mount Aksla and gave him a pass card so we could go out on the viewing area. She went the “extra mile.”
The Storfjord Hotel is a secluded luxury boutique where the views are fantastic and the service is top-notch. The staff would go out of their way to provide assistance. When my luggage was delayed, they located 3 swimming suits for me to use so I could enjoy the hot tub. We were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary and were surprised with a special cake.
A highlight was a private fjord cruise and visit to the historic Hotel Union Oye where the rooms are like living museums. Our boat captain was very engaging in spite of the overcast, rainy weather. We enjoyed working with Torunn’s team and recommend their services.
We had the most amazing time on our trip to Norway! The team tailored a trip that was perfect for us with a variety of outdoor activities that allowed us to see the amazing views. They set up a cooking / dinner experience in Bergen that was incredible and something that’s not even offered to the general public.
Every time we asked locals for recommendations on hikes, restaurants, activities, etc. they were all items that we already had on our itinerary from them. They were also great about taking into account my father-in-law’s food preferences. Almost every single meal he had was prepared gluten and dairy free without even asking!
The most unique experience of our trip was this amazing treehouse (the Woodnest) in Voss that we got to stay in for one night. It included a hike to the cabin and provided great accommodations with incredible views.
10/10 would recommend to anyone considering this trip!
We recently returned from an unforgettable two-week adventure in Copenhagen and Norway with another couple that are our close friends. Torunn and Anya orchestrated a perfect journey for us.
First, they prepared us impeccably for the unpredictable weather—thank goodness! Norway’s climate can be a bit of a surprise, but Torunn and Anya had us pack for everything from 75 degrees and sunny to 45 degrees and rainy. Our wardrobe included shorts, bathing suits, rain pants, jackets, smart wool layers, and fleeces—layers, layers, layers! While other travelers canceled activities due to inappropriate gear, we were always ready to embrace the elements.
Although a couple of activities were canceled, we quickly pivoted to alternatives from a list they had provided. We spent one delightful day exploring museums in Trondheim (including their awesome Rockheim museum of pop and rock) and another indulged in extra spa time in the beautiful surroundings of our hotel. Both days turned out to be incredibly enjoyable. Ironically, we received your article about adapting to inclement weather right around that time—we could have been the poster children for it!
Second, Torunn and Anya excelled in finding authentic experiences to connect us with locals—something you know well! They really listened to our needs, preferences, and interests and created a great itinerary with a great mix of active, relaxing, engaging, and memorable. Some highlights include:
• Our private bike tour in Copenhagen began with a bit of disappointment, as our guide was an expat from LA, but we had such interesting conversations with her about her decision to move her family to Denmark and the process for citizenship and talking about the different cultures and lifestyles that we were thrilled by the end. We learned so much from her.
• In Trondheim, we enjoyed a hilarious evening at the Visit Bjørn dinner—it was a real hoot! With only one other group present, employees from the dairy cooperative Tine, we had some engaging conversations. Spotting Tine products throughout our trip became a fun game. Bjørn and his wife were very fun, wonderful hosts and the food (and drink) were great.
• During a travel day, we stopped at Tingvoll for a cheese lunch and farm tour. It was captivating and the cheeses were amazing! We could have spent the whole day talking to the owner about their ethical and thoughtful farming practices.
• We requested something like a “WOW” moment, a surprise activity that we paid for ourselves (used our last WOW certificate already), and they delivered! We had a magical dinner in Øye with a local couple in their family’s milking shed up in the valley, followed by a walk to a hidden waterfall. It felt like stepping into a fairyland, a truly enchanting experience, and getting to know the couple and hear their history and family stories made the whole thing highly meaningful and really special.
• At the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, we enjoyed a private guided tour with the director, Thor Heyerdahl’s granddaughter. It was particularly thrilling for us because we studied Heyerdahl’s work in college, and exciting for our friends learning about his amazing achievements for the first time.
Third, the hotels and restaurants they chose were all lovely and very charming and well-located, with friendly staff who made us feel at home. Special thanks to Martha at the Storfjord Hotel and the delightful day and evening staff at the Britannia Hotel in Trondheim. They were simply wonderful and made a great hotel that much more memorable.
We’d highly recommend Torunn and her team—they really made our time in Norway and Copenhagen special.
We had a fantastic trip to Copenhagen and Norway in June-July 2024 through Torunn’s office. Our family of four (parents and two young adult daughters) loved everything about our trip. The hotels chosen by Henriette were lovely and always in great locations where we could walk easily to most everything we wanted to do. We had several great meals at restaurants either booked or recommended by Torunn’s team. Our favorite stay was in Nikkahuset, a 250-year-old farmhouse in the small town of Valldal. Our host, Leif, was so friendly and cooked us fantastic dinners from his grandmother’s recipes. We loved exploring the farm grounds and the fjords from this location, and learned that in our next trip we’d like to have more of these rural experiences where we get to know our hosts.
We also spent several days in each of Copenhagen, Oslo and Bergen, and we left each place wishing we could stay longer. The two highlights of our trip (other than Nikkahuset) were the private cruise through the fjords with a wine tasting and lunch in the very small village of Trandal, and the guided hike in Bergen, where we rode the funicular to the top of the mountain and then hiked over and down to a 500-year-old farm where we had lunch and a brief baking class (the baking was our Wendy Perrin WOW Moment). Everything during the trip went off without a hitch — drivers were on time, our scheduled activities went smoothly, the hotels expected us, etc. We almost always use Wendy Perrin planners for our “big” trips because they are able to arrange unique experiences that we would not find on our own, and this trip was no exception.
I will say that early in the planning process we found Torunn’s office to not be as responsive in their communications as we are used to with other planners recommended by Wendy Perrin — i.e. they would say they would get back to us in a week, and we’d have to follow up multiple times to get a response a month later. I’m used to planning trips very early — especially so we can book airline tickets — and I was initially concerned that it took so much time and follow-up to get responses to basic questions and an initial trip outline. But once we were on the trip itself, Torunn’s staff were very quick to respond to messages sent through their trip app. We are already planning a return trip to Norway and would definitely use them again.
From May 8th to May 18th, my husband and I traveled with friends, another couple, to Norway. This was our first time traveling together and we worked with Torunn’s team to put together a trip that met all of our needs. We worked with Danny and he created an itinerary that included many of the aspects of travel that we had requested. We shared with Danny that we wanted to experience Norway over ten days, inclusive of both city sights and experiences as well as country- and nature-focused activities, great food (but too fancy), art, culture, architecture, attentive service, physical activity (not too hard, not too easy), intimate lodging (but with amenities and not too small). We were asking for a lot and he delivered.
We learned that travel around Norway can be time-consuming, there is a lot of ground to cover and the initial itinerary had us traveling to four or five different areas, which we felt would add too many logistical details and travel-day stress, and Danny and Anja had no trouble shifting things around so we agreed on three days in Oslo, three days in Aurland and three days in Bergen, which was a wonderful balance.
The hotels they selected were really nice. Amerikalinjen was pleasant, great location, walkable to everything we could want with a pleasant restaurant on site, and a solid breakfast buffet. The Opus XVI in Bergen was also on target and a great location from where we were able to experience the big May 17th celebration without being too central to the wide range of activities. The crown jewel of the trip was staying at 29/2 Aurland: an eco lodge in the countryside that delivered on everything — lodging, food and dining, atmosphere, personnel, and wonderful guides.
Torunn’s office paired us with local guides and drivers that were full of stories of the regions and their own experiences, and this allowed us to really feel that we were getting a taste of real Norway, not just a tourist’s perspective. It also allowed our guided excursions to be more fluid and take different directions than we originally planned. A highlight that I will mention was a visit to a cheese farm while we were in Bergen. When we saw this on the itinerary, we thought sure, fun, why not and expected a large, commercial operation but what we experienced was so much more! A small dairy farm of maybe twelve cows and a family-run operation with six employees. We were treated to a tour of the operations and then a buffet of cheese selections, including one voted World’s Best Cheese. The cheese was delicious but it was the way we were welcomed, the stories shared that made it special and in fact, the farmer/owner, Jørn, even offered to take us out on his sailboat the following day! The sail did not work out but it was a generous offer!
The travel planned was all quite comfortable — the scenic train ride to Flam was beautiful and a great way to experience the landscape. As was the electric ferry when we headed to Bergen. My only comment there is to be aware of the cruise-ship schedule, as our ferry ride coincided with a very large group of cruise goers and was quite crowded.
All in all, we felt that we were able to experience different parts of Norway, enough that we will definitely return to further explore. Torunn’s team heard us when we described our vision for the trip, helped with logistics so it was all seamless and created an itinerary that met all of our needs and it went so well that not only did we stay friends, we are starting to plan our next trip together!
All things considered, this holiday in Scandinavia was what some would describe as a bucket-list journey. Torunn’s office laid out a comfortable mix of travel modes and a leisurely time schedule. There were many memorable moments dining, talking with locals and looking at the stunning countryside. We would enjoy visiting Scandinavia again and would engage Torunn and team if we decide to travel there.
Barbara Lich’s son climbing in Norway’s mountaineering capital of Andelsnes.
Our trip (planned by Torunn and Karin) exceeded expectations! Wow! Norway. My husband and I wanted to take our four children on a graduation trip to Norway. When we first talked with Torunn, she listened to what worked for my family in previous trips, what we were looking for (an active trip to see and experience as much as possible). And she delivered!
Our children are ages 25, 22, 18 and 14. Our trip started in Oslo where we dined at the amazing Solsiden Restaurant. My family has a multitude of food allergies and Torunn’s office managed this expertly by advising the restaurants ahead of time and helping select restaurants that could manage them. We ate very well! The hotel selections were perfect for my family. When Torunn heard that our daughter is a competitive figure skater and wanted to see sights near the 1994 Olympic venue in Lillehammer, she arranged that we would stop in Lillehammer and even set up bobsledding (!) at the Olympic Training site! That was an experience to remember.
We next enjoyed a beautiful train ride to Andelsnes! Our historic hotel was so beautiful! We felt like we were sitting in the middle of a postcard. Andelsnes is near the most gorgeous mountains and a top destination for mountain climbers. Our oldest son is a climber and has earned some certifications for climbing. Karin arranged the most expert mountaineering guide with international certification and amazing demeanor for my oldest son—it was the highlight of his trip. They climbed for 12 hours and the Alpine Hike was one of the most difficult. It was an experience he will never forget…and the lovely staff at Hotel Aak held his dinner for him to enjoy when he returned at 11 pm at night! The hotel was not only beautiful but the staff was so helpful and kind. From Hotel Aak we went to Nikkahuset, a villa owned and run by Leif. My family enjoyed two days with him preparing outstanding meals and he took us to see Trollsvegen since it was closed near Andalsnes. We loved to sleep listening to the running river and seeing the adorable sheep across the way.
From Valldall and Nikkahuset, we took a very long and scenic drive through the mountains to Hotel Walaker in the Lusterfjord. What a beautiful place. Here we enjoyed a RIB boat ride and gorgeous waterfall hike! Not to mention the outstanding meals we ate at the hotel. Friendly and helpful staff. Gorgeous location on the fjord. Karin arranged for us to end our trip in Bergen. There my daughter and I had a great morning horseback ride with the most friendly and kind trainer. That afternoon, my husband and children took a 90-minute helicopter tour over Hardangerfjord. Karin called and confirmed that morning that the weather was good for the helicopter and that it might be a bit windy. My family loved that helicopter experience. Sadly it was time to depart the next morning. What a beautiful country and special family time! We really loved every minute and would recommend Torunn’s team to everyone.
Barbara Palter and her husband during their ice fishing/snowshoe adventure in Alta, Norway.
My husband and I had watched the episode of The Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy where he had visited Finland to see the Northern Lights. We had the bug and had to see them for ourselves!
We immediately contacted Wendy to find out where we should travel to not only see the lights but also to experience a great adventure. She suggested that our needs would be best met in Norway. We were then connected with Torunn and her team, who listened to our requests and put together a terrific 10-day itinerary.
We spent the bulk of our time in the north of the country dogsledding, ice fishing, meeting the Samis, the Indigenous people of Norway, and interacting with the most fascinating people.
We were lucky to see the Northern Lights quite a few times and the phenomenon did not disappoint. However, the highlight for us was the dog sledding excursion from Engeholm Husky Lodge. We were under the impression that we would be riding in a sled pulled by some huskies, but boy were we wrong! We were driving the sleds ourselves — that was quite the experience and one we will never forget.
We ended our adventure in Oslo and had quite a treat planned by Torunn’s office. We visited Grøndalen farm, a family-run dairy farm. Hans, his son Lars who now runs the farm, and his family have owned the farm since the 1600s and can trace their lineage back to the Vikings. He introduced us to his dairy cows, which he taught us how to milk. Most importantly, he shared with us his family’s philosophy for taking care of the cows; specifically, how calves and mothers are not separated at birth as is typical in most farms. Instead, calves stay with their mothers until 2 months of age…happy cows make extra-yummy milk! That milk is then turned into a delicious thick labneh type of product called Nyr. To top it off, we were invited to have dinner with the family. Hans’ wife cooked a delicious meal complete with ice-cream Nyr; the food and the conversation made it a truly special evening!
A huge thank you to Torunn’s team for creating an unforgettable adventure!!
Kathye and her husband watched for the northern lights from inside this glass igloo.
Seeing the Aurora Borealis has been on my bucket list for ages and it was time to make it happen! With Wendy’s help we were connected with Torunn Tronsvang, who planned a terrific 10-day adventure for us in northern Norway in February, 2024. I worked with Karin Andresen on many of the details and Karin did a wonderful job too. My focus was seeing the lights (we saw them twice, yippee!), but the entire trip turned out to be way better than we expected due to the fun activities Torunn and Karin planned for us.
We started in Alta, well north of the Arctic Circle, and stayed at a great property outside of the town in a beautiful setting on the banks of a frozen river. We went snowshoeing (easier than I thought it would be) and ice fishing with Kelle of Glod Explorer, and his husky Bruno. Jim caught an Arctic Char so our lunch was as fresh is it could get! Sitting in a lavvu, around a fire, sipping hot chocolate and eating fresh-caught fish was a real treat. We also took a snowmobile ride at night at Bjornfjeld Mountain Lodge. We were cozy in a beautiful mountaintop glass igloo, cooked our dinner over a fire and looked for the lights. On our last day in Alta we spent several hours dog sledding in the beautiful Finnmark forest and on frozen lakes, which was one of the highlights of the trip. Our guide, Hannah, ran the Iditarod two years ago and was so expert on the trails. We loved our day with her and her dog teams.
While en route to our next destination (we saw moose, reindeer and foxes along the way), we had lunch with Johan, a Sami elder, in the village of Maze. His family has raised and herded reindeer for generations and his sons are poised to take care of the business someday. We learned so much from him about his profession, about the Sami, and got to meet some of his reindeer. Fascinating.
In Karasjok we stayed at one of the most unique, exceptional small properties we’ve ever seen. Every cabin and all of the furniture in each of the 7 cabins has been built by hand from natural materials. This place is a hidden gem, set in the forest and truly magical. On property were 45 Alaskan Huskies who were very friendly and loved “cuddles” from everyone. One of our days was spent with Magrit, a Sami woman who has spent her entire life raising and herding reindeer. We went with her by snowmobile, up high in the mountains, to see and feed some of her family’s herd. We spent time in the forest around a warm fire and she shared stories with us about her life. On our last day there, I went dog sledding with the Alaskan Huskies—it was an exciting ride where the dogs broke a new trail in deep, newly fallen snow on the frozen lake. It was a wonderful experience I will never forget.
The last few days of the trip were spent in Oslo where our expert guide took us to the Nobel Peace Prize Museum (very, very moving), and the National Museum (which houses Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”). We saw several contemporary buildings—the Library and the Opera House—watched some young men run from the sauna and jump into the 32-degree water of the harbor (yikes!); and toured the Vigeland Sculpture Park.
The Aurora was as wondrous as I expected and we were so lucky to see it. Northern Norway is a beautiful part of the world with clean water, clean air, warm and friendly people and so accessible to the outdoors. When we asked local guides (who grew up in Alta and Karasjok) if they ever wanted to move away, their answer was NO!!!! We could understand why.
The trip was so smooth due to Torunn and Karin’s expertise. Prior to and during the trip we made a few itinerary adjustments and all went perfectly. All of the guides and ground transportation services were there when and where they were supposed to be, and the outfitters and lodging choices were a great fit for us. We are so glad we saw the lights but we are also so appreciative of the adventures we experienced on this wonderful, enchanting trip.
Norway was truly magical! I had an unexpected week off after Thanksgiving and saw Norway pop up on the Wendy Perrin newsletter. After speaking with Torunn, I was sold. Torunn, Mari and the team gave me a great itinerary as a solo traveler with only a week available. I rode the magical Flam Railway and was mesmerized by Hafslo. The pictures I took did not fully capture the beauty I had the privilege of witnessing. BesteBekken was the best place to stay. Lindis cooked all the meals (accommodating all dietary restrictions) and was the tour guide to boot. We bonded in just the few short days. Her alpacas were adorable as well!
Next it was travel up north to the Lofoten Islands. Despite needing to change planes a few times, the process went off so smoothly. I was a bit anxious about renting a car but Torunn’s team was absolutely correct that this was the way to go. The apartment I stayed at in Henningsvær was on the water and a perfect location for the places I needed to get to. I had a blast making cheese with organic cheesemakers and making glass beads with a seasoned glassmaker. We were unlucky with our Northern Lights excursion but learned a lot about the physics behind their occurrence. Luck visited me the next night when I saw the lights while walking to dinner. This trip was an unexpected joy. I can’t wait to visit again in other seasons. But to be honest, I would totally go back in the winter again (so many more places to visit in this winter wonderland).
Our family spent a memorable 12 days in Norway in August. Norway is a beautiful, large and varied country and there was no possibility to see it all in the time we had. Thankfully, we had Torunn on our side! She listened and delivered on our request for an active, adventurous vacation with our kids (17 & 19 years old), mixed in with some downtime. Our trip did not disappoint.
Torunn suggested a loop that included mountains, forest and the coast, as well as varied transportation (train, car, boat and ferry), so that we could experience a wide range of what Norway offers. The lodging were all boutique hotels and while they may not have had typical luxury amenities, they were full of charm, local food and character, and really lovely people.
After exploring Oslo, we took the scenic Rauma Railway from Oslo to Lillehammer, followed by a bus to Andalsnes where we climbed the via ferrata (a real highlight!) and e-biked up the switchbacks of Trollstigen Road. The train was supposed to go all the way to Andalsnes but recent rains had flooded the tracks, which required us to switch to a bus midway. Torunn’s office seamlessly took care of switching our train tickets before we even knew there was an issue.
Next we drove The Geiranger-Trollstigen Scenic Route to Valldal, where we stayed in the most beautiful chalet at Juvet. We enjoyed the quiet scenery but balanced it with a canyoning adventure. Don’t miss the cinnamon rolls at the cafe at the waterfall across the street!
We continued along the Scenic Route Geiranger-Trollstigen towards the town of Geiranger. Once there we caught the ferry through the Geiranger Fjord. The drive and the ferry allowed us to see a wide range of Norwegian landscapes. On the way to our next stop, we went horseback riding on Norwegian Fjord horses, one of the oldest horse breeds in the world.
Our last stop was the fishing village of Kalvag, where Torunn’s team arranged for a typical Norwegian shrimp dinner to be in our apartment at the Knutholmen Hotel for our late arrival. We went out on a fishing boat with a local fisherman, eating our catch for lunch on an island that is no longer inhabited (unless you count sheep!). We also tried the (very hot) sauna on the pier, interspersed with (very cold) dips in the water, and went on a scenic hike.
We truly enjoyed the beautiful landscapes, unique lodging and warm, welcoming people. Our itinerary was well-designed; Torunn and her team made sure we had a smooth trip that encompassed all of our requests covering every detail, including reservations at fantastic restaurants in Oslo. We hope to return to Norway to explore the parts we didn’t get to on this trip!!
A small group of longtime friends planned an Arctic Expedition trip close to 2 years ago. As we approached the time of the trip it turned out that we had more time and could spend a week in Norway. We considered planning this extra time ourselves and actually renting a car and driving from Bergen to Oslo. When that plan was discarded we looked for help in putting together a cross-country travel plan. Family members who had lived in Norway for a long time offered some suggestions to get us started. It wasn’t until we hooked up with Torunn that the plan took shape. The only requests we made in the beginning was to do “Norway in a Nutshell” from Oslo to Bergen. Two of our group of 6 were continuing on another cruise up the western coast of Norway starting in Bergen, so we already knew that Norway in a Nutshell was the only way for our friends to see more of the interior of Norway. Norway in a Nutshell was delightful. It was easy to move from one form of transportation to the next — 3 trains, a ferry, and a bus — and 12 hours later we were in Bergen.
Torunn’s office made arrangements for porter service to pick up our luggage in Oslo and deliver to the hotel we had booked Bergen — THAT was a fantastic idea. We had an app that laid out the whole trip — from June 30th – July 5th. The app contained the schedules, descriptions of what we would see, all tickets, contact information for Torunn’s team in case we needed to contact them, and contact names for outings and activities pre-booked for us. Everything about this trip was easy. We were comfortable, we were confident, and we were ready to continue our trip.
We spent a few days in Bergen sightseeing, eating and got ready to leave again. The ferry dock was around the corner from our hotel, which was very convenient. It was close to 4 very scenic hours from Bergen to Balustrade. Upon disembarking from the ferry we were met by our booked driver, who took our luggage for us as we walked the short distance to the historic Kviknes Hotel. Family owned since 1752, it is charming with beautiful views of Sognefjord, and an extensive collection of artwork and antiques. Our time there included a private cider tasting and lunch before Gunnar brought the car around and we headed to Fjærland to via Gaularfjellet — the Norwegian Scenic Route. This route was established in the 1930’s as a transportation route over the the mountains. Now it is a scenic alternative to the main roads. Stunning waterfalls, wild rapids, peaks and valleys.
We arrived at Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel in the late afternoon — another charming historic property from the 1930’s. This is where Sognefjord meets the Jostedalsbreen Glacier. The hotel is small, 15 rooms, committed to sustainability, supporting local farmers to supply the restaurant, with amazing views of the fjords. The hotel manager enjoys conversing with guests, telling the history of the hotel, and information about the local community. Dinner was included with our stay and it was delicious. The next day we were booked for a guided hike to Besshovden, where we would have a picnic lunch and view of Fjærlandsfjorden. The morning was pouring rain and we decided to pass on the hike. Instead we walked to the Norwegian Glacier Museum. The hotel manager had talked about the museum during pre-dinner drinks the night before — how it started, why it was established, what it means to the community. It was a fascinating experience, then we walked back to Fjærland for lunch. Later we were booked for a session in a floating sauna down the street from the hotel. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow views of mountains, the lake, and glaciers (and a take-your-breath-away cold plunge into the lake).
In the morning, Gunnar gathered us up and drove us from the fjord to the mountains, to Geilo. Another scenic drive to a mountain resort and checked into Geilo Mountain Lodge.
This property was built in 1917, a private English home in the mountains. The lodge has an interesting history and the current owner and host, Jan, loves to share the story. Another fabulous dinner in a beautiful dining room with authentic English appointments. In the morning we were served a great breakfast, we walked around the area and village before Jan drove us to the train station to go to Oslo Airport. Another scenic train ride — terminated at the airport. We were booked into the Radisson Blu Hotel at the airport, which was so convenient for our morning flights the next day.
The trip that Torunn’s team planned and booked for us exceeded all expectations. More importantly, we never would have found any of those places ourselves. We are experienced travellers and most of the time we plan and book everything on our own. The decision that we made to engage Torunn’s office was so smart. We had one minor glitch — they were easy to get ahold of and they cleared it up immediately!!
Torunn quickly grasped our interests, desires, travel style, and preferences. She promised to connect us to the “real Norway.” This came to mean experiencing the spectacular environment, meeting people of all kinds, and learning about the Norwegian way of life. Our trip accomplished these goals in ways far beyond our expectations.
Norway is profoundly beautiful. The scope and diversity of our itinerary proved valuable. We could not stop taking pictures of the majestic fjords, omnipresent waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, the troll wall, and charming fishing villages. We also enjoyed cruise ports like Bergen, Alesund, and Oslo with their varied attractions and vibrant harbors.
Our interaction with the natural beauty of Norway was enhanced by Torunn’s clever use of variable forms of transportation. Targeted for just the right places, they included ferries, cars/drivers, fjord shuttles, buses, rental cars, and trains. Highlights were time spent on the water in fjords and the breathtaking Rauma train ride along the troll wall toward Dombas.
Weatherwise, we were lucky. No one could believe it but mid-June 2023 was unexpectedly sunny and warm. The hats, gloves, sweaters, jackets, and raingear Torunn had thoughtfully recommended packing remained in our suitcases the whole trip.
The people Torunn arranged for us to meet at various venues are special and memorable. They were warm, welcoming, informative, and above all, interesting. Among them is Sven, the entrepreneurial owner of Knutholmen in Kalvag who works harder to please his clients than anyone we have met. He became an instant friend. Fjord skipper Roy taught us about commercial fishing and graciously shared much of his life story, helping us learn what growing up in remote Norway is all about. Driver Per delighted in taking us to see a replica Viking ship. Dinner with Edith and Jon at their hilltop “summer pasture” cabin near Oye was a memorable experience filled with stories about Jon’s longtime mink business and special Norwegian delicacies to try, topped off with Edith’s handmade chocolates. Fjord skipper Daniel took us to his family guest house at Trandal where we were thrilled by the famous swing and braved deer-burgers and brown cheese ice cream, both delicious. Guide Britt, also an osteopath, was unusually informative and interesting. She took us on a delightful hike, showed us around the Tafjord village where she grew up, described her annual reindeer hunt, and escorted us to a friend’s guest house for a delicious lunch of deer lasagna.
Introductions to persons like these added immeasurable pleasure to our trip. But we also met many wonderful Norwegians while traveling, in shops, and even just seeking directions in the street.
Our hotels were superb and often historical. Without exception, they were situated in gorgeous surroundings and well managed with great service. The room types Torunn chose for us were perfect. Breakfast buffets were exquisite, and our included welcome dinners were delicious. Remarkable hotel staffers came from all over Norway and beyond. Each hotel was unique and memorable but our favorites were Knutholmen in Kalvag, Hotel Union Oye, and the amazing Storfjord Hotel.
The new-to-us comprehensive Trip Planner web app used by Torunn’s office made managing trip logistics remarkably simple. All the details and tickets were in one place. Thanks to Torunn’s colleagues Anja, Karin, and Mari, the chat feature made it easy to get questions answered and quickly resolve several minor hiccups.
As is evident, Torunn did indeed connect us to the “real Norway.” We will long remember this spectacular trip and the special people we met.
Torunn and her team planned a wonderful 3-week trip to Norway for us that we finished in June. We traveled from Oslo to Nesseby, which is past the Arctic Circle near the Russian border, spending 3 nights each in 7 venues. Torunn tailored the trip to our preferences which lean towards a bit of adventure and agri-tourism, and she provided some memorable experiences. In the north we stayed at a 2-room lodge run by a Sami fisherman and spent a morning crab fishing on his boat and an afternoon on an archaeological walk with his wife. He was an excellent cook and served foods he and his wife had caught, shot, or foraged from the landscape. He served the crab we caught in 3 different preparations, each of which was excellent. The next day we toured the area with a Sami reindeer herder. We also spent time on a small island well out in the Atlantic where we kayaked along the seashore to a lighthouse; foraged in Trondheim with a professional forager picking plants for our lunch; visited a dairy near Oslo producing a unique cheese product and advocating a more humane way to treat dairy cattle; and spent 3 nights at a farm with a gourmet chef specializing in dishes featuring fruit and vegetables from the farm.
We received very personal treatment from the hosts at our smaller venues and each of them indicated how much they valued their relationship with Torunn. There is no way we could have found these experiences on our own. The hotel and apartment selection in Trondeim, Inderoy, and Oslo was nicely curated as well.
Our wedding anniversary occurred during the trip and Torunn arranged a WOW Moment for us that was great fun. We were in Aurland at a farm set in a stunningly beautiful valley with steep mountainsides and many waterfalls. We were serenaded for our anniversary by a musician playing a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle, a type of double-strung violin. The venue was a small shelter with a magnificent view, and we toasted ourselves and the trip with homemade pear Kombucha made by the chef. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
Norway is a long country; it is farther to Nesseby from Oslo than it is from Oslo to Paris. Because we travelled as far north and to as many places as we did, we had several long travel days, mostly by train or ferry. Both modes of transportation travel through beautiful landscapes.
We recommend both Norway and Torunn’s team.
Truly a trip of a lifetime. My family of 4 (me, my husband and two adult boys) went to Alta in early January, where we went dogsledding, snowmobiling, and saw the northern lights. In Oslo we went on a very interesting architecture tour. The highlight was relaxing in the lodge sauna after a day spent snowmobiling and getting called by the lodge staff to come outside to watch the northern lights! The staff at all of the places Torunn and Mari sent us to were exceptional and would go out of their way to provide assistance. We can’t wait to go back sometime in the summer now and see the same location again.
My daughter and I traveled to the following locations in Norway between Oct 2-11, 2022: Oslo, Fjaerland, Hoyeimsvik, and Skabu. The trip was organized by Torunn Tronsvang, based in Oslo. I would rate every aspect of this trip as a 10 on a 1-10 scale. Torunn’s office was extremely thorough in working to understand what my daughter and I were most interested in seeing and doing during the trip. They arranged personally guided tours ranging from hikes to boat rides. They booked us into exquisite hotels and were also available for questions by text or phone at any point during our travels. In summary, they curated a magnificent trip for us and I would give them my highest recommendation.
Our trip to Norway was incomparable—far better than we could have imagined, and our expectations were high. That’s because we were supposed to make this trip in March 2020, and we postponed at the last minute because of impending COVID shutdowns. Our travel planner, Torunn Tronsvang, worked with us over the past 2.5 years to make sure that the trip could be made safely and easily. We can’t praise her and her team enough!
We’re very glad we traveled now, and so happy to have worked with Torunn.
Torunn and her team put together an itinerary that was full of special places: a luxurious yet rustic-feeling hotel on a fjord outside Ålesund, along with a fjord cruise and visit to a tiny fjord community; a night at an Art Nouveau hotel in Ålesund that was literally on the water; amazing visits to two islands above the Arctic Circle: Lofoten and Senja; a short, very wonderful stay in Oslo. We had amazing dinners, from fish tongues in Senja (they’re delicious!) to sophisticated French cuisine in Oslo to several tasting menu dinners that were each works of art.
When the trip was originally planned, we’d targeted March for the Northern Lights possibilities. But now when we were ready to travel, we didn’t want to postpone any longer and risk yet another outbreak in the fall-winter of this year. Torunn worked with us to shift the trip to September. By doing that, we saw Lofoten and Senja in an amazing array of fall colors. And although no trip planner can guarantee Northern Lights, Torunn helped us scout the best time in the fall (around the autumnal equinox) to improve our chances of seeing the Northern Lights. And we did see them, on two nights in Lofotfen!
We could not be more happy with Torunn. The live itinerary app that she uses was such a great tool! Her office updated it with any necessary changes (a couple meals shifted, for example), and they sometimes communicated airline gate changes to us faster than the airline’s own app. The chat function was super helpful as well.
All of the experiences, dining, and travel logistics felt COVID appropriate to us. COVID seems to have mostly abated in Norway, so it was not really a major consideration. But we always felt that the properties and people we were dealing with were aware of possible issues and attended to them.
We didn’t encounter any specific challenges or destination-related problems, but during our long planning process, Torunn did make changes from our original itinerary if she thought that she’d found a better accommodation or dining option. For example, our accommodation in Senja, a beautiful lighthouse-inspired tower on the doorstep of a national park, was a switch from the 2020 plan. We are so glad she made the suggestion. Not only was the lighthouse an amazing place to stay, the property’s owner, Hege, CEO of Norwegian Wild, was a warm and wonderful guide for us. She refashioned a planned night of Northern Light chasing when it became clear that the weather wasn’t going to cooperate. Instead, she spent a day with us, driving us to find the best photo spots. She also made two amazing meals during our stay: a salmon stew that she cooked on a wood stove in a fisherman’s hut on the edge of the fjord, and reindeer pizza in the cafe at the Norwegian Wild campground. We would never have met Hege without Torunn.
Without question, Torunn added value to our trip. She listened closely to what we were looking for in our trip and made those things happen. But she also planned for us lodgings, restaurants and experiences we would never have found on our own.
For example: Our host for an afternoon in a fjord village, Eli Anne, grew up there and is part of the community effort to keep the little town alive. She showed us the village school that her mother attended and which is now a little museum—and we met her mother at the lunch Eli Anne made for us at her home! She showed us the area’s steep gorges and described the importance of avalanche control in the area. She knows that from personal experience: Her grandfather and uncle died in a terrible avalanche in 1971—an event that changed how Norway addresses avalanche risks. You can’t possibly get that kind of experience unless the travel planner is very knowledgeable about the region and is attuned to the traveler’s interests.
If a traveler is going to work with Torunn, I would say to take her counsel on locations to visit, things to do and how long to stay in various places. For instance, we had asked about visiting Bergen, and she suggested Ålesund instead. The city center, which is composed of all Art Nouveau buildings, is so beautiful. But she also knew that Ålesund wasn’t worth more than a short stay. It is touristy, because it is a cruise-ship destination. Our hotel was a wonderfully calm place, and the overnight stay gave us a chance to buy some things we needed for the ongoing trip. She also told us about Senja, an island that is less well known to Northern Lights visitors than is Lofoten. It’s much less visited and possibly even more beautiful. We loved our time there and have talked about visiting again! There is nothing in the tour itinerary that I would have avoided!
PANDEMIC TRAVEL We are glad that we chose to travel in Norway, as there were so few Americans there. Torunn was wonderful to work with. While she initially came back with a plan that was $9000 over our initial budget, she worked with us and respected our desire to stay within our budget. She paid close attention to our wants and needs and arranged a great trip for us. She surprised us by popping in to visit us at a restaurant at dinner our first night in Norway. It was nice to meet her in person. Most impressively, she dealt with our cancelled SAS flight from the fjords to the Arctic. She worked hard to give us a similar experience that we were hoping for in the Arctic (a fishing village) and managed to give us the same experience and booked us new flights on a different airline, all within 24 hours!!!! This experience solidified my appreciation for using a trip planner. Torunn asked us for feedback when we finished the trip in order to plan for future travelers. We gave a detailed and very positive list, with only a few change suggestions. Thank you for leading us to Torunn. I would absolutely recommend her to travelers to Norway.
My husband, 2 older teen agers and I spent 10 days in Norway. Our trip, planned by Torunn, was wonderful and exactly as we had asked. Our favorite part of the trip was meeting local people and having time to hear stories and explore the way people live, including a meal in the summer farmhouse on the mountain high over the fiord, a ramble in the hills of a generations old sheep farm and a fiord cruise captained by a technology professor. We had a mix of active and quieter days and stayed in hotels and guest houses that put us in the middle of beautiful scenery and offered excellent and kind service. We had some dietary restrictions that were carefully attended to in all the delicious meals we ate. I appreciated having access to Torunn throughout our trip via an online app and found her and her staff to be professional, organized and flexible. Torunn listened carefully to what we wanted on our trip, so be sure to let her know how you like to travel and then enjoy meeting people who feel like friends and family.
Stay in the Know With Our Newsletter
I’m not a travel agent—I’m a journalist who has spent the past 30 years reporting on how to travel smarter. To maximize your experience, click to Ask Wendy for a personalized recommendation for trip ideas and custom-trip designers, tailored to your location and preferences.
