Lapland Adventure And The Icehotel Sweden - 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 17 reviews.

Chereen Dethian

LAPLAND ADVENTURE & THE ICEHOTEL

Written March 2013
The trip was like a dream come true - dog sledding, ice hotel, snow mobiling and eventually seeing the Northern lights as the lights were at its lowest.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I loved the dog sledding, I fell in love with the dogs, it was wonderful to experience their excitement pulling the sleighs. The scenery is absolutely beautiful you dont see anyone else on route. Very exclusive.
The other amazing moment was seeing the Northern lights on the last night of our trip at the Ice Hotel, what an experience they came up at 24h30 and we could see if with our naked eye.
What did you think of your group leader?
I felt Barbara, who ran the lodge, was not very welcoming, social and did not communicate very well with the group. The Northern Lights came out the first evening but it looked like clouds, she never once mention to us to still take photo's as the camera on the right setting of ISO will pick up the Norther Lights. We have travelled from South AFrica to see the lights and you can imagine our disappointment to have found this out the next day and missed out on the photo's.
They were also not very proactive in waking up the group when there were Northern lights to be seen, our group had to google the weather forcast to see when was the most likely time we would see them. I would have expected this info from Barbara.
Making up our own beds was another disappointment as you would have expected this for the price we paid.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Follow the trip notes and you wont go wrong but we purchased inner sheets for the sleeping bag and took a towel for the Wilderness night but you did not need them as they provided these for you.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It has been one of my best holiday's ever, I made new friends with amazing people. We all got along so well which made the trip even better. All the activities were mind blowing and just as I would have imagined it would have been.
I never expected the food to be great but it was better than great, the flavours and variety was very impressive. They accommodate food for everyones needs which was very impressive even when we were in the wilderness for an outside lunch.
Helen Simpson

LAPLAND ADVENTURE & THE ICEHOTEL

Written March 2013
This was without a doubt one of the best holidays I have ever had. It gave a great taster for some winter based activities that I had been reluctant to book for a whole week. Dog sledding, even if, like me, you're not very good at it, is incredible. I was not a great lover of dogs before I went but the Huskies are so friendly and their enthusiasm for sledding is infectious, I plan to do a whole week of this in the future. Igloo building is also great fun. I loved the snow shoeing and snow mobiling (an optional extra). We saw the Northern Lights but frankly everything else was so great I would not have been devastated had we not seen them. The Ice Hotel was a novel experience and an unusual way to end a holiday. The accommodation was great, the wilderness camp is actually not that wild and is quite comfortable. The food was absolutely amazing, you will not lose weight on this holiday!!!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Driving a dog-led sled through stunning scenery, snowshoeing through similar stunning scenery and seeing the Northern Lights
What did you think of your group leader?
No single Exodus groupo leader. Bart from Lappis Lodge explained everything and was kind enough to 'phone us when he spotted the Northern Lights. Sabina who took us dog sledding, snowshoeing and snowmoibiling was excellent and very patient with my frankly poor dog-sled driving skills. Cecilia who taught us to build our own igloo and ice fish was also excellent.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't overpack. My advice would be to take thermal long johns, a couple of thermal tops, thermal trousers, walking boots, thermal socks, down jacket and gloves. You just need a few other items of clothing to change into in the evenings. You don't need to take lots of water bottles as lots of drinks provided, sleeping bag or liner as always provided. Take lots of batteries as they will lose charge quicker in the cold and don't forget your sunglasses.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Do not worry about how you will get from the Ice Hotel to the airport on the way home, a bus is organised for you and if, like us, you appear to have a very tight transit time at Stockholm Airport please do not panic, you (and your luggage) will make it, SAS are extremely organised.
Claire Thomas

LAPLAND ADVENTURE & THE ICEHOTEL

Written January 2013
Simply loved the whole experience
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I loved dealing with the dogs on the dog sled trip, and it was quite exciting in parts
Seeing the Northern Lights for the first time
Sipping vodka in an ice glass in the stunning Ice Hotel
Waking up in minus 5 degrees in the Ice Hotel and realising I'd slept well. I was dreading being cold, but wasn't.
What did you think of your group leader?
Lovely, friendly and approachable. Very laid back. Liked the fact she sat down with us and just chatted.
Sometimes we could have done with a little more info, like what to take on the dog sled trip, but we managed. Overall extremely well organised.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Good quality thermals and fleeces are essential. Outside it gets very cold. Take the advice of the tour leaders on how many layers to wear, based on each day's temperature and activity.
Take a good quality camera and tripod if you want to take piccies of the Northern Lights.
I don't eat meat and was concerned about food, but every meal had a fish or vegetarian equivalent. I ate very well.
Alcohol is expensive. Buy in Britain and pack in your suitcase
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Enjoy this amazing experience.
Jonathan Grix

LAPLAND ADVENTURE & THE ICEHOTEL

Written December 2012
A fantastic trip, with a great group that exceeded our expectations and will live in the memory for a long time.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There was no one inspirational moment as every activity was as good as the other. The two days with the huskies was great and the dogs are lovely and friendly and you could spend all day making a fuss of them (this is from someone who does not like dogs!). The dogs were very excited at the start, however they soon listened to us and stopped and started when instructed.

There was a bit of standing around during the igloo building, however again this was a great experience and a real sense of achievement once it was finished – one of our group even slept in it one night.

Skidoos were good fun, although cold.

The Ice Hotel was another highlight and this is the way to see it – you do not need too long there and Exodus seem to allow the right amount of time.
What did you think of your group leader?
There was no group leader – however Barbara and her team at the lodge looked after us very well and made sure that any needs were meet.

The leaders for each activity were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Book it is my only advice!
Take good quality thermals and wear plenty of layers that are easily removed/added - outside it was minus 24C and you would then walk indoors to plus 21C and need to strip off quick.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
We have been on a few Exodus trips and were not expecting too much from the lodge and we were pleasantly surprised – the rooms are clean, very warm and well laid out. The food was exceptional.

This is the best way to see Lapland and stay at the Ice Hotel – although the trip seems expensive it is good value for money. If you stay at the Ice Hotel for 3 -4 days you will spend a fortune and miss out on the lodge and beauty of this area. The day trips from the Ice Hotel were an unbelievable price (Overnight Husky trip £600 per person)
Mark Birch

LAPLAND ADVENTURE & THE ICEHOTEL

Written February 2012
This was the most amazing experience ever, there is nothing we can fault. Amazing snow, the Northern Lights (on 3 nights), fantastic food and accommodation and wonderful guides for all activities. The 2 day dog sledging was the highlight and a full on adventure from beginning to end.We loved it and would love to go back for more.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the Northern Lights is inspiring and can't be described. You just have to lie back in the snow and enjoy it for yourself.
Skidooing at full speed over a frozen lake is exceptional, if you like that sort of thing, and the scenery is breathtaking. The snow shoe walking was a lovely way to get into the quiet wilderness and experience it's full beauty, but the best experience was the 2 days with the dogs. It's a full on experience, with the dogs being the most important part. You care for them, feed them, bed them down for the night and want to take them all home at the end. Sleeping in a hut in the middle of nowhere was great and there is even a sauna which was very sureal. Walking back from the long drop at night, with only a head torch for light and 24 sets of dog eyes staring at you is also something we will never forget.
Each guide we had for each experience was friendly, informative and spoke wonderful english and the food throughout was amazing. Even in the middle of nowhere we eat wonderful moose stew while sat around our camp fire, on seats we'd made from snow and covered with skins.
The Ice Hotel is almost an added bonus. It's a real one off. We had great fun, got a little giddy on the most expensive vodka's ever and were amazed at it's construction and beauty. Sleeping at -5 was ok, we got a good nights sleep (possibly helped by the vodka) and we awoke the next morning to find a perfect snow cone in our room from the air vent. It was all fantastic.
What did you think of your group leader?
We had a different leader for each activity which worked well as they knew what they were talking about.
Cecilia loved snow so was the perfect person to teach us how to build igloo's. It's just a pity for her that the northeren lights came out as we sort of lost interest in our igloo and just stared at the sky.
Ann-Sofia was the owner of the dogs so taught us well. We felt safe at all times and had full trust in our teams.
Our skidoo guide said we all drove well and was happy for us to go at which ever speed we wanted over the lakes, which for us was full trottle. He slowed us when necessary and guided us well through the forests and over the bumpy bits.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Invest in some good thermals (especially the type with thumb holes which come over your hand) the cold finds all your exposed bits!
Layers, about 3 under your suit (which they provide as well as boots, hat, gloves and balaclavas) and good socks. Your feet do get cold when your not moving about. Ski gloves which have gloves inside mittens are a good idea.
Take extra camera batteries and keep them and the camera inside your outfit. The cold kills the battery life very quickly and you need to take photos, lots of them.
Buy some duty free on the way out if you like a drink, it is very expensive
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Allow your inner child out. Treat it as one big adventure and enjoy every second of it.
We made snow angles, we pushed each over in the snow and threw it at each other, we even dived into the snow after our sauna. We made the most of every part of it and did not stop smiling.
You may never experience it again so go for it.
Frances Ashley
LAPLAND ADVENTURE & THE ICEHOTEL

Written February 2012
The holiday exceeded our expectations in all respects, and it's hard to believe we packed so much into just one week. From igloo-building to Ice Hotel every day brought new experiences and fresh challenges - and all in beautiful weather, wonderful scenery and convivial company. We've had some great holidays, but have any been as much fun as this one?
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Feeling like Masters of the Universe as we drove our dogsled through the silent, snow-covered wilderness - before falling off into a snowdrift, and seeing the dogs, relieved of their load, gallopping away into the distance!
Midnight and -23C of sparkling frost, a sky glittering with stars, and an arc of brilliant green light above our heads. Fingers of green stretching up from the horizon like searchlights, and fanning out in curtains: the Northern Lights at last - a dream come true!
What did you think of your group leader?
Barbara, the Lappis Lodge owner, has an excellent and loyal team both at the Lodge and to help with the outdoor activities. Their local knowledge and expertise in wilderness skills is impressive, and they were great company.
Kalua, leader of our dogteam, also deserves special mention for the number of times she swerved to follow a reindeer track and pitched us into the snow - definitely a dog with a mind of her own!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Others have said it before: join in everything and have fun! If something becomes too much for you (the dogsledding and snowmobiling can be quite hard work in heavy snow) the leader is quickly there to help, or even give you a lift.
The accommodation is comfortable but simple: no 5* toiletries, so if you want them, bring your own!
We had fine weather all week, and found the clothing and boots at Lappis Lodge and Ice Hotel very satisfactory. Those who slept in the igloos got rather cold, (see trip note tips) but at the Ice Hotel we slept cosily on our icebed at -5C, having followed the "How to survive the night" advice and worn only thermals inside our sleeping bag.
The mittens provided are rather clumsy, but definitely warmer than any of the ski/thermal gloves we took. Knittted thermal inner gloves tend to get caught on the many velcro fastenings: a smooth texture eg silk might have been better. 2 pairs useful, as they get damp.
Wear plenty of layers on the dogsledding days.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Never having been on a winter activity holiday of any sort before, we were quite apprehensive about this one, but the Exodus reviews looked reassuring. Our great ambition was to see the Northern Lights, and our first thought was to take a cruise up the Norwegian Coast - but then what if we didn't see them?? The Lapland Adventure offered so many additional new experiences, that the Lights - if they appeared - would be a bonus. And so it was!
Our thanks to Exodus, our fellow travellers, and the wonderful team at Lappis Lodge for a memorable holiday.
Jill Whitmore

LAPLAND ADVENTURE & THE ICEHOTEL

Written February 2012
Fabulous holiday! Great snow! Great to do things that are not possible in England: igloo building; snow skooter safari; husky safari with overnight wilderness stay, snow shoe safaris and finally the ice hotel, also we saw the northern lights on several nights! What a fantastic holiday, would do it all again!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
For me the husky safari was wonderful; what great creatures the dogs are, and so friendly! Alothough it was a bit hair raising when all the dogs started howling! The call of the wild!
What did you think of your group leader?
All the leaders we had were great, one for each activity.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go for it!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you like snow, you'll love Lapland :-)