Finnish Dogsledding Adventure: Winter Activity Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

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...

Average Review Rating: from 6 reviews.

Sharon Jenner

FINNISH DOGSLEDDING ADVENTURE

Written April 2013
This was an incredible holiday - an experience I would definitely recommend. It was brilliant to wake up each day and feel the excitement build, in both the adventurers and the dogs. The dogs were brilliant and definitely wanted to run, as evidenced by their impatience to get going everytime we stopped!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I am not sure there was one moment, but the feeling of confidence that grew as the days passed and each day we got better & more confident about getting ready (harnessing the dogs, packing the sleds), releasing the brake and enjoying the beautiful scenery and then at the end of the day settling the dogs in and light the fire for the suana. This holiday was truely a world away from the daily routinue of work!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was Meku and I have nothing but the highest of praise for her. Her organisation skills were brilliant and definitely made the holiday run smoothly and added to the enjoyment of the holiday. Her instructions for what was expected of us in driving the sleds, caring for the dogs and making camp each night were very clear. The meals that Meku prepared each night were delicous and dietary issues were handled with out any difficulty.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The snow conditions at the end of the season might make it harder on your knees. There is nothing to be concerned about regarding the cold, the clothing (trousers, jacket, snow boots, hat, gloves etc.) provided is excellent. No experience necessary - just do it!
Nicola Billows

FINNISH DOGSLEDDING ADVENTURE

Written March 2013
Pristine snow, enthusiastic and energetic dogs so eager to get going, they can hardly contain themselves with the excitement. This is like cross-country skiing without the effort, going through beautiful landscape seemingly far from civilisation.If you've been thinking about this trip for a while, don't hesitate, just go for it!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The dogs are the best! Their strength, stamina and resilience are awe-inspiration. And they are incredibly friendly.
Gliding over expanses of pristine snow with just the sound of the sledges swishing over the compacted snow. Clear blue skies and sunshine all day, followed by a night sky so full of stars, you could see the Milky Way, Pole Star and constellations more clearly than ever at home.
Going through woodland tracks with trees and branches bent down low into snowy arches felt like we were travelling through the Narnia forest. You could almost image that Mr Tumnus would appear from around the next bend.
One morning it was so cold that the moisture in the air sparkled with ice crystals, and two pillars of refracted light appeared over the frozen lake. Quite magical.
Eating lunch cooked by Raikka at an open fire close to the track, that tasted more delicious than anything eaten in more mundane environments.
Lots of laughs with a great bunch of people!
What did you think of your group leader?
Raikka worked incredibly hard to make this this memorable holiday for us all, with expertise and sensitivity. He cooked wonderful meals and told interesting stories of previous trips that kept us all amused.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Even in mid-March it can be incredibly cold. We had night-time temperatures of -36 degrees Celsius and -25 in the day, which is way below the norm. I managed by wearing all my 4 baselayer and 2 midlayer tops under the outer jacket I was provided with by the clothing store, but I still felt cold at times, and wished I had not left my puffy gilet at the hotel!
I wore marino wool leggings, thick fluffy jogging bottoms and 4way climbing trousers under the salopettes provided by the clothing store, which kept me comfortably warm. When I didn't wear the climbing trousers I felt the cold.
Also, do not leave your Polartec hat at the hotel, believing that the hat provided by the clothing store would be warm enough. I was provided with a synthetic 'fur' hat that was not warm enough, although I managed by wearing my balaclava, hood from my midlayer jumper, and another hat provided by a fellow traveller underneath the 'fur' hat. This was OK.
Bring alcholol disinifectant gel for your hands, as there is nowhere to wash your hands. (In the lodges there are bottles of alcohol liquid, but this I found stung my hands.) The alcohol gel was also invaluable for de-icing my glasses and goggles that kept icing over from the condensation caused by my breath, making it impossible to see. By squirting a bit on the goggles and then rubbing it off with a tissue provided me with about 20 - 30 minutes of clear vision. The only other solution it seems is not to pull the balaclava and neck warmer over your nose, but then your face freezes!
On three nights out of 4 in the forest lodges I woke with a headache, which I later thought might be due to the cold. So on the last night I wore a hat in bed, and woke up headache-free. (After all, people used to wear nightcaps in bed in the past.)
You can buy hand warmers and foot warmers at the hotel if you have forgotten to bring any. I found them invaluable, as they kept my hands and feet warm all day.
I wore silk liner gloves and Polartec gloves under the mittens we were provided with, which were great for when we needed to unclip the dogs' harnesses and for other fine finger movements.
My ankle-high sheepskin slippers were great in the lodges. Flipflops or light weight shoes intended, for walking on rocky riverbeds or shorelines would also have been good for walking on the icey and/or muddy floors between the sauna and changing rooms.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
You do not need to be super fit to come on this trip. I am 58 and lead a pretty sedentary life, where gym and exercise are more of an aspiration than a reality. However, this is a full-on holiday where you have to join in all the chores. You also have to cope with the earth loo in a shed a little way from from the lodge, but if I could do it, then so could most people. (This can be a challenge however first thing in the morning!)
Zita Morris

FINNISH DOGSLEDDING ADVENTURE

Written March 2012
This trip was absolutely fabulous. My only complaint is that I had to go back home far far too soon! Our Guide was excellent. I am vegetarian, and was catered for exceptionally well. The dogs were gorgeous, with a multitude of personalities, and it was really fun getting to know them. We had so much fun, from making snow angels next to the trail, to cooking sausages on a log fire in the wilnderness, to impromtu self-made sledging exploints in the evening, it was a week filled with fun and laughter. Definitely to be recommended.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
- Staring at the millions of stars in the Arctic sky - a more peaceful feeling, I cannot imagine.
- Being given dirty looks by the lead dog for standing on the brakes when the team were just getting going.
- Seeing the teams ahead and behind trailing through the snowy white wilderness.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent, couldn't have asked for better.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Leave your phone and your watch at home. You won't be needing them.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Can I go again please?
Anja Wolke

FINNISH DOGSLEDDING ADVENTURE

Written February 2012
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.
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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.
Norman Maudsley

FINNISH DOGSLEDDING ADVENTURE

Written January 2012
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.
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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.
Katrina Katrina

FINNISH DOGSLEDDING ADVENTURE

Written January 2012
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.
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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.