CFD - Finnish Dog Sledding Adventure

Hi Lee,

Sorry - almost but not quite! We (husband and I) are going on the same trip, but a week before you. We don't know who else is on our trip, but it'd be great to hear from anyone on either your trip of the 29th, or our trip of the 22nd. I am looking forward to this trip so much...the snow, the dogs, and hopefully the northern lights!

 Cheers,

Katrina 

Hi Katrina, I hope you and your husband have a great time on the 22nd, just don't tire the dogs out too much :) I'm very excited and can't wait to get going, I even have Muonio on my iPhone weather app!!! The northern lights would be a wonderful bonus too the whole trip. Lee

I hope I'm not on my own!!! It would be great to hear from anyone else on the 29th trip! Lee

Your not alone Lee  - I'm on the trip on 29th Jan and really looking forward to it.  I spent a weekend dogsledding last January in Finland with Exodus and loved it so much I wanted more! (well actually I missed the plane - I managed to get the next flight (at no extra cost) and stayed in Helsinki overnight then travelled on and finally got a taxi to the wilderness centre) - a long way for only a day but well worth it  On the way home I sat on the plane smiling like a Cheshire cat...... one of the best holidays I had - - I'm certainly not going to miss the flight this time! - Sadly I didn't get to see the northern lights as I was further south, so am really hoping to see the northern lights this time round.

Hi Sels,

 

Thanks for the reply.  I'm glad to hear its not just me, the guide and a bunch of dogs! :) 

 

From what you wrote it sounds great and I'm looking forward to it even more than before, lets just hope those Northern Lights put on a good show.  I'm currently buying all my gear (never knew how expensive it was) and 'researching' by watching 71 Degrees North!

 

Speak soon,

 

Lee 

thought I'd have a look to see if anyone else going on the trip has posted any comments!  - oops no-one -

 Re the gear Lee - the artic gear that is provided is good, a bit limited in sizes though - I'm only 5' and the only one left for me was probably for a 6' bloke - so was a bit long - but once your out with the dogs who cares! - but bring plenty of gloves socks and hats - it may be difficult to dry them as we are moving on each day.  Layering is best too.  Elaine

 

Hi Elaine,

I've been keeping a watchful eye on this forum but sadly no one else has responded who is on our trip. I'm booked on via The Adventure Company so the others may not know to look here.

Thanks for the information, I will get a couple more hats and gloves to bring with me.  If anyone has shares in Cotswold Outdoors then they are in for a bumper payout following all my trips to their chain of shops :)  I have to do more adventures after this one to get my moneys worth!

With a following wind I'm 5'3" so I can see a mad scramble coming for the artic gear.

Have you got all your items?

 

Lee 

Hi Lee - I'm not so organised as you....  I've got to practise what I preach and get those gloves and socks this weekend.  I have salopettes from ski-ing so will bring them too. The good thing about this kind of holiday is no-one cares what they look like - they just want to be warm!  I contacted Exodus this morning and there are 7 people going - 1 couple and the rest on their own.  As normal I'm the oldie going - everyone else is in their 30's and 40's - I'm 61 but don't worry I kept up with everyone before! See you on the 29th - Elaine

 

Hi Elaine,

Nice bit of detective work in finding out who's going, sounds like we have a nice group diversity and I'm sure we'll have a great time.

Following your email I decided to test my rucksack packing abilities, either I failed badly or I have too much stuff! I will try again another day....

Are you flying from Heathrow on the 29th?

 

Lee 

Hi Lee, I wanted to ask you about the flights. You mentioned "flying from Heathrow on the 29th". This is interesting to me. I booked and paid for our trip last July and at that point received confirmation advice with all the flight details etc. And hence, given we live in France and would need to fly into England to join the trip, I booked flights into England to suit those flights. We were advise by email (on several occasions) that our flights were out of Gatwick, so we have flights booked flying into Gatwick and have accommodation booked (as the flights to Finland were not conducive to same day flying). However....just today, 8 days out from our departure, I received the final joining notes, and lo and behold, we are apparently now flying out of Heathrow. I called our customer service manager at Exodus straight away and (1) she cannot confirm which flights are right for our trip and (2) she is not sure when they can get back to me to sort out what to do. Howeve,she also stated something like 'I don't know why the changed flight information wasn't transmitted to you', which would indicate she knew about the changed flights. So, what information did you receive about the flights and when? I just don't know whether to cancel our flights and rebook into Heathrow or what.....!

Hi Katrina Sorry to hear about your difficulties. I can't be 100% sure of dates but this is what I remember. Prior to booking (through a separate firm called the Adventure Company but with the same parent company as Exodus) in mid-2011 the trip was to a different place called Kussamo a little further south in Finland. Just before booking I noticed that the trip itinerary had changed, was a day less (cost a little less as well) with flights from Heathrow, I guess that was about early August. I received all my documents in mid December and I fly out on flight AY832 from Heathrow at 10:20am. I'm not a flight schedule expert but I would assume yours will be the same flight on the 22nd. From Heathrow we go to Helsinki and take flight AY455 at 16:20pm upto Kittila. The only time Gatwick was mentioned was when the trip was to Kussamo. I hope this helps and good luck getting it sorted! Lee

Hi Lee, I guess something happened between July and August to change the flights, and somehow the information was not transmitted to us. But, thankfully, the fantastically helpful Bethany, our customer operations person in charge of our trip, has sorted out a solution. Today, she arranged for transfers for us by car from Gatwick to Heathrow, and accommodation at Heathrow. So we can keep our booked flights, but make it across to Heathrow for the group flights. And Bethany even stayed back at work to sort this out for us! Talk about FANTASTIC customer service! I am so relieved, and also very impressed. Good customer service is what you want, and Exodus has delivered! Obviously something went wrong initially with the flight changes, but they have more than made up for that. So, now I can get back to worrying about the important things, like finding my snow boots and thermal underwear! We are 7 days out from departing and I can't wait! I am going to the alps tomorrow to watch the Grande Odyssee, a husky dog race for the pros. It'll be amazing to see them, and know that I'll be doing something similar very soon! And you too! It's only two weeks to go for your trip! Katrina

Hi Katrina,

Good News that you've got everything sorted, hope you have a great time.

Oh, I think it will be a bit chilly for you next week - http://www.foreca.com/Finland/Muonio?tenday

 

Lee 

Oh my gosh...that is freezing! Well, technically, well below freezing! ;-)

I have started packing my suitcase and having seen that forecast, I think I will throw in a few extra fleeces. I think I might be wearing several at one time!

Only two more work days to go, then the flights......Yippee!