It was a gorgeous holiday. I enjoyed very much the dogs and the cold winter impressions. We had till -30°C -35°C when we are driven with the dogs over the open lakes. Keep your batteries and camera near by the body, you cannot recharge the batteries the whole trip. The block house are without electricity, but the fire and the saunas keeps you warm after a long day. Make sure you want to help the guide by feeding the dogs, makes the dogs poo away, cutting their meat, or organise water from the next point. I loved it to make such simple work, I forgot the hectic busy modern world. The dogs are amazing, they are patient so long they don't know that we are starting, they are friendly and love to be cuddled. Thanks Reicca for this amazing trip, our group decided that he was the best guide in the world. We loved each minute of this trip, and I had a small tears in my eyes when we had to left the dogs behind. And don't look to the puppies, you don't wanna go without one home! I'm sure I will do it again in the next years.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The easy way of the day, the return to the small things of the day, to do "easy" work to look after the dogs, or even only washing the dishes. Be away from the hectic modern world, no phone, no electricity, no TV, no internet. To calm down and enjoy only the dogsledding in open fields.
What did you think of your group leader?
Reicca was patient with us, no stress at all, he kept us busy, but never strict, he took his time to explain us something and helped by each small problem. We loved him for his kindness and patience, he explained us his country and the culture.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't forget to take more than one pair of gloves with you (thin), goggles were useless, they frozen straight away. Take an own warm ski mask with you and put it over the the provided ones from the hotel, that keeps your face warm. Take a towel with you, and take enough batteries with you. And keep them on the body, so they don't deload by the cold weather (no electricity in the huts). As trousers under the ski overall I suggest thermal trousers, which you can buy in trekking shops. No fluids in the bags, they will freezing (contact lenses you should pack warm in the bag, or in a bag near the body) Look that your face cream is not so much with water, should be have more an adipose consistence.
A brilliant adventure, enjoyed every minuite of the hands on experience working with the dogs on my recent Finnish Dog Sledding Holiday. We had a great Swiss Lady as our guide who made the whole experience a pleasure. Thanks for Exodus and its team of professionals. Norman Maudsley Age 65.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Going from the Hot Sauna and rolling in the Snow at -28deg.C----------Great Feeling enjoyed by the minority.
Running at speed silently with the dogs across frozen lake's.
And at great speed through pine forests ducking and dodging branches loaded with snow awsome.
What did you think of your group leader?
The absolute best one would wish for, we ate four time a day which alway's included hot drinks and three times a day hot cooked food even out in the wilds on a frozen lake, she let us get involved hands on with all the duties we wished to participate in.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared to fully participate to get the best from the experience, take plenty of thermal layers to be able to adjust for the temperatures.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I understand this was the fitst tmet Eoxdus had used this venue in Finland, an excellent choice of locations.
This was the best holiday I have ever had. It was just incredible, being responsible for the care for our teams of dogs from harnessing them each morning to settling them down for the night. The scenery was a true 'winter wonderland', and just perfect for photography. Every scene was a postcard! While we were 'roughing' it by staying in wood cabins lit only by candles and heated by a wood fire, with the only water source being what we bucketed from beneath the ice on the well or spring, it was also the most relaxing and comfortable holiday in terms of simplicity. I cannot recommend this trip enough. Every moment was magical.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Every day with the dogs was inspirational. The dogs are so gorgeous and funny. Each has a distinct personality and it was so much fun getting to know them all through the week. They just love to run and pull the sled, but they also love a cuddle. However, in terms of inspirational moments, seeing the northern lights (the aurora borealis) was probably the icing on the cake. It was a magical moment that we all shared, complete with me dancing and shouting with joy in the snow.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader (guide) Catherine (Katrin in Finnish) was just outstanding. It is hard to put into words just how incredible she was. She is super-capable with everything, from cutting kindling firewood, to lighting fires in the snow for lunch, to preparing the most exquisite salmon dinner roasted over an open fire, to explaining to beginners how to safely care for the dogs, and everything else needed for this winter safari. She was at all times calm and collected, and yet great fun to be with. She explained all the tasks that needed to be done, and let us self-organise as to how to achieve everything. She inspired the necessary team work to make a comfortable holiday whilst being in an environment where there is no electricty, no running water, no gas heating. Her love for the environment and enthusiasm for dog sledding is obvious and infectious.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You don't need a lot of clothes, but you do need the RIGHT clothes. Pack with essentially 'two outfits' in mind. That is, the series of layers you will wear during the day under your Arctic Suit, and the other being what you will wear around the cosy cabins in the evening. For me, I found that four layers of thermals / fleeces on the top half, with two layers on my legs, was sufficient for -28C temperatures, coupled with 3 layers of wool socks and my own gloves under the provided gloves. The Arctic suits provided (jacket, pants, boots, hat and gloves, and a very good sleeping bag) are very good. I would recommend bringing your own balaclava if you have a good one that fits well. And bring your bathers / togs for the saunas, and a travel towel. Or if sauna-ing is not your thing, then bring 'baby wipes'. Bring an extra battery for your camera if you have one. The cold weather tends to cause the batteries to discharge more quickly than usual and you might find your camera 'flat' before you have finished taking photos. But most of all, bring your sense of fun and adventure. This could the be most amazing holiday you will ever have!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you have ever thought about doing dog sledding, then ponder no longer. Book it! You do need to be reasonably fit (controlling the dogs and the sled on descents requires some skill and effort), but you do not need to be superman/woman. If you want a holiday with a difference, with the opportunity to be part of a team in a beautiful winter wonderland, where everyone pitches in, where you will really forget the worries of daily life in the office, then this is the trip for you. You don't have to love dogs, but if you do, then you will be truly in your element.