Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...
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.
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!
Janet Jones
FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
Written
A brilliant Winter activity holiday, which did exactly what it said in the dossier. You can participate as much or as little as you want. There is no rush, no early breakfasts, generally a fairly leisurely holiday. All the clothes are supplied as mentioned in the dossier, so no need to take many clothes at all, just a few teeshirts.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The husky dog sleigh ride was the most thrilling experience I had ever come across. Thrilling but not too dangerous which is how I liked it. It is something I will remember for ever.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was absolutely superb. Always there ready to answer questions, nothing too much trouble, I felt genuinely safe with him and trusted his judgement.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't take too many clothes - all your warm gear is supplied from fleecy trousers to hat and gloves and an outdoor coat.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Try it! I'm not particularly brave or foolhardy and do not like stepping outside my comfort zone. This is for everyone and you don't need previous experience. Obviously as a novice you can't do things as well as those who have done it before, but it doesn't spoil the holiday at all. You don't have to be young to do it either - you can do as much or little as you want - plenty of optional activities - so if you want to stay in the warm and relax and do nothing you can.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The scenery of Oulanka National Park was beautiful, I could definitely see myself returning in the summer.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was absolutely fantastic. His english was very good and he pitched all the instruction at the right level. He and the other staff at Basecamp Oulanka were exceptionally friendly and helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As a recently singlelised person (!) I was a bit apprehensive about going on holiday on my own, but the group was 40% single travellers and was very inclusive. Fellow newly single ladies - go for it!! I was also a bit worried about my fitness, but all of the activities are easily doable provided you are reasonably active and mobile.
The rooms are nice and clean and the equipment provided is better than most stuff you will own. Things you may want to take: hairdryer, spare towel for the sauna, books, alarm clock. Useful but not necessary: your own thermals, lots of pairs of your own warm socks, woolly hat, warm coat and gloves. Not necessary: cash! there are limited shopping opportunities and any optional extras get added to your room bill so you can settle with a card.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Haggle with them about the price of the optional extras. The euro exchange rate is rubbish at the moment which means the price of extra trips feels expensive. If most of your group want to do an activity, ask for a discount.
An enjoyable glimpse of life and introduction to winter sports in a remote, fascinating region with a pristine wilderness literally on your doorstep. no need to fear the cold - it was exhilirating.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Immediate arrival - seeing the comfortable, homely accommodation at Basecamp and the deep snow, smelling the woodsmoke hanging in the pure, cold air, sensing the deep, still forest all around - was itself a magical moment. I thought, this is going to be good, and it was.
What did you think of your group leader?
Outstanding. All the staff at Basecamp were young, friendly, helpful and patient, and the leader in particular had quite exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take some fresh fruit if you think you will miss that. Don't try and sleep out in the igloo you helped build, unless you can literally sleep anywhere - most people gave up and returned to their lovely, warm rooms after a few exhausting hours.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The optional extras are very expensive, and if you don't do them you have a lot of time on your hands to fill, practising your ski-ing and going on snow shoe walks. The deep powdery snow is very limiting on where you can go. In fact, there is only one prepared ski trail and one long distance circle walk you can do - the Bear Trail - which is superb, but I ended up doing it three times.
A remote wonderful unspoilt wilderness ( no tv or newspapers) location with superb cabins and an endless supply of good equipment to practice all of the snowy activities.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Arriving at the airport to a warm introduction from tuomas our guide for the week set the scene. For me the first 10 seconds in control ( did I say in control?) of the husky dog sled was the most exciting followed closely by seeing the awe in the eyes of my campmates watching the northern lights on the very last night. Lighting a fire with damp wood shavings and cooking my sausage in the open fire and it only dropped off the fork once!
What did you think of your group leader?
Brilliant. All of the basecamp staff were most helpful, smiling young people something sadly missing from many in the service industry back home. Tuomas was very friendly and knowledgeable of his local environment which he was clearly passionate about maintaining in a sustainable way.
I think he loves basecamp so much so he is getting married there this summer!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Open the cabin window to avoid dry throats at night. No need to take any food as all the food provided is more than enough – my stock of 35 muselli bars were somewhat of an overkill. Try sleeping in a fridge ( health and safety warning applies ) before you come to prepare yourself for an overnight stay in the quinzhee. Seeing those returning from a night inside reminds me of the film “night of the zombies”
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We had the use of the cabins at no extra charge right up to one hour before leaving and the late flight ( but not too late) meant we had a full last day ending with a group hug down at the mill. Tuomas provided his own ice drill ( auger) to enable us to do a bit of ice fishing in the frozen lake – add this item to available basecamp equipment. Thanks to all of my fellow travellers and new friendships made on what was my first exodus holiday.
This holiday is mega, one you will talk about for the rest of your lives, it is such an experience and so varied - snowshoeing, cross country skiing, dog sledding, ice climbing, snow mobiling etc etc. The accommodation is beautiful and the week is designed so that in the morning you are doing structured activities ie learning cross country skiing and then the afternoon is free for you to go out with ski's or snow shoes by yourselves and explore, or alternatively do the optional activities such as ice climbing or visiting a reindeer farm. Its a well thought-out holiday, suitable for loads of people, with an age range of 24-75 on my trip!!!!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Moving quickly through the snow, on snow mobiles or driving a husky sled is something you cant describe to anyone, the forests are silent and eerie, covered in snow and ice with many branches bent over with the weight of the snow. It is breathtaking, especially when the watery sun tries to peek through the branches.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was fab! Her name was Ellu and she had lots of energy and enthusiasm and was very friendly and approachable. She was not an exodus leader but worked at Basecamp, so she could instruct us exactly in what was happening. At the end of the week she told us that she had not led an adult group before, and this was a surprise because the week had gone so well.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't pack as much as you think you need. A lot of the daywear is provided, you just need a few t-shirts for underneath the fleece layers. Don't take much for the evening either, just some jeans and a normal jumper is fine as the evenings are spent in the main hut with a fire, and if you want to go out on a moonlit trip you have to wear what you had on during the day.
from 86 reviews.
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