FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK

8 days from GBP1,379 to GBP1,499 including flights
Tripcode: CFA

Countries Visited: Finland

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 29 reviews.

Robina Tucker

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
Written March 2010
Wonderful holiday in amazing surroundings with great food, accommodation and company.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We were lucky enough to have the best display of the Northeren lights seen this winter. It was amazing.
Snow shoeing around The Pieni Karhunkierros trail with some wonderful views and getting up the steep hill (252 steps) !.
Riding in the sledge with Huskies pulling me along.

What did you think of your group leader?
Martti was great fun even when he nearly tipped me out of the sledge!! Very easy to talk with and a good instructor when learning new sports.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The evening in the winter months can be long and dark. There was no comfortable seating. Take some ideas for evening fun, games or quizzes to help while away the time.
Also if you like early coffee in the mornings take a little travel kettle etc with you. There is plenty of coffee and tea during the day available.
Don't worry if you think you aren't fit because the activites make it possible to do a bit of everything. The fitter you are the more you do!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
It is classed as an active holiday but I found plenty of time to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Mandy Kingham

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
Written March 2010
Unfortunately I was taken ill during my holiday so did not do everything that was arranged. However what I did do was fantastic I had a brilliant time. During my illness I was looked after amazingly well. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Many thanks to all concerned for their kindness.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
As I have said I didn't do everything on the itinerary but loved the cross country skiing and the walks with snow shoes. However the nights were clear, quiet and beautiful, the stars seemed so close and bright it was great to see, it was just a shame that we didn't get to see the Northern Lights.
A must do is the kick sledge. Great fun and a real laugh.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was fabulous, so much fun and very considerate.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take any medication you feel may be useful with you. You really are out in the sticks and getting into the village is not easy or cheap.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I will definitely be going back to do all the things I missed due to my illness. Great people, great food and a fantastic opportunity for loads of fun amongst some amazing scenery.
Anna Cheer

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
Written February 2010
We have made virtually everyone we know acutely envious. Dogsledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and not only building a quinzee but also sleeping in it. All in a fantasy winter wonderland. From a warm, comfortable base. And we will not shut up about it. It sounded too good to be true before we went, but it was even better than we dared hope so they are absolutely right to be jealous!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I am crying with happiness. I should stop, not only because it's soppy but also, and probably more crucially, because I can feel the tears freezing on my face. This is probably not good at this unbelievably cold temperature. My team of dogs is pulling me, on my sled, through this completely white, beautiful, silent landscape. Every bit of the trees is coated with snow; I have never seen anything like it. There is a glorious swishing noise from the sled runners and my two lead dogs have been running with their tails curled together all day. I am completely and utterly happy.
What did you think of your group leader?
Hanna was fantastic. She really put herself out to give us a wonderful week. Endlessly cheerful and enthusiastic, she was utterly professional and an excellent teacher. If you can get her to teach you to make a Sami drum, grab the chance for an absorbing and satisfying evening or two.
Believe her when she tells you not to put water-based moisturiser on just before going out - it really does freeze on your face in a mildly unpleasant way!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Others have said it, and we did not believe them, but you REALLY don't need to take much. The clothes you arrive in, some round-necked teeshirts and underwear, a book, an alarm clock, camera, wash kit and swimsuit/trunks for the sauna/hot-tub (if you are modest) would, genuinely, be enough if you are happy to spend the evenings in fleecy trousers! You are provided with huge amounts of high-quality kit.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sleeping in a quinzee is surprisingly comfortable! Honestly! We actually overslept. Allow approximately one hour if you need to go up to the base for a wee during the night, to wriggle all your kit on, wriggle out of the quinzee and eventually wriggle back, gratefully, into your lovely warm sleeping bag - don't put it off until you're desperate!
Louisa Gonzalez

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
Written February 2010
A great variety of different activities set in a winter wonderland. Good fun, total de-stress, you set the level you are comfortable with, the slightly aching muscles you woke up with each morning dissipated immediately upon starting the next day's activities.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There was no one moment, as there were quite a number. Running vertically down a steep hill with snow shoes (who'd have imagined 'extreme snowshoeing' was possible?), husky dog sledging through a setting as if from Narnia, downhill skiing on powder snow, skidooing through pristine winter beauty with the sun on the horizon on one side and the moon on the other, star gazing hoping to catch sight of the Northern Lights, hand-making and decorating my own raindeer skin drum, hanging off the icewall held on by mere crampons and ice axes (well, ignoring the harness!), attempting to sleep out in the quinzee in minus 30 degrees, and finally rolling in the snow between sauna and jacuzzi sessions!
What did you think of your group leader?
Teemu was one of the most charming people I've met, with lots of interesting stories. Very relaxed and friendly individual, you felt almost like he was just another member of the group, but still showing us the ropes.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As mentioned by previous reviewers (whose advice I followed), the clothes the base camp lend you for the week are great quality and really do the job of keeping you snug. Take some additional t-shirts/thermals to add more layers, and then jeans and top for the evening more than suffice. You do not need to buy a new wardrobe just to do this holiday. As you are active all the time you are outside, the cold is not disabling. There was more than enough day light from 9am to 3pm in mid-January, so don't think you'd be in darkness. And just try it all - that's the beauty of this holiday! In order to do some of the optional extras a minimum number of peope (eg, 4) are needed. As it is not likely that everyone in the group will want to do the same as you, a larger group is probably more advantageous if you want to do the extras as there is greater chance the minimum numbers can be made up.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was one of the most fun holidays I've been on. I thoroughly recommend it. Don't be put off by the cold, and take advantage of the variety of activities.
Janet Lingley

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
Written January 2010
A brilliant week of snow, fun and falling over, but most of all, of laughter. I forgot that I am middle-aged and acted like a ten year old for a whole week!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
A white woodland landscape, brilliant red sun rise, clean air and perfect quiet - the scenery has to be seen to be believed as the views are just breathtaking. Add to this the huskies in front of you racing along the path.... You just had to be there, as words can never be enough.
What did you think of your group leader?
Teemu was great - very much part of the group and joining in all the fun. Always ready and willing with a smile, whatever was asked of him.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Eat before you travel with Jet2 as we had not realised that we would only be given an apple and a slice of cake on board the flight!
Wear all the clothing that Basecamp offer - it was unbelievably cold, on our trip it was below minus 36C one day.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
For the first time ever I have bored my friends to death talking about how great my holiday was - and I holiday often. Just thinking about it makes me smile, even on the dullest day.
Graham Lingley

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
Written January 2010
A really, really good holiday. Have not laughed so much for a long time.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Where to start? Two of us went off on the Pieni Karhunkierros Trail one day, plenty of advice from the people at Basecamp and armed with a map - it was a brilliant day. The dog sledding was exhilarating and would like to do more. Possibly the most bizarre - sledging at midnight on New Years Eve and acting like a ten year old.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent, need not say anymore.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
There is no hot food at Kuusamo airport so be prepared on the return journey. Make sure you are ready to laugh and be laughed at, it really is a fun trip. Can get very cold so much sure you use all the equipment and clothing provided.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Customer services at Exodus could do with improving. Complete lack of response to enquiries made just prior to trip!
Jill Stevens

FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
Written December 2009
Had a great time. I liked the way you had freedom to use the equipment etc once trained and therefore could do as much or little as you wanted. Free day a little dissappointing for me as didn't realize the ski resort had so little in the way of shops etc, would have skied if I had known as slope were empty.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Loved the dog sledding at dawn (about 10am!)
Good to get tuition in various ways to ice climb, gave me something to think about on the way to the top!
What did you think of your group leader?
Eki and Hanna were both fab
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take your own thermal undies but don't worry about anything else the equipment and clothing provided was great.
Have a go at everything, you may be surprised and I include sleeping in your Quinzee in that!