Essential Information
Trip Profile
Flights from Heathrow to Kuusamo via Helsinki with Finnair Transport 45 mins by minibus/taxi.
Accommodation
7 nights at Basecamp Oulanka.
Our 'wilderness camp' is a lovely complex of wooden buildings providing comfortable and cosy accommodation in a stunning location overlooking a lake and backing on to the Oulanka National Park.
All rooms are moderately-sized family rooms comprising a bathroom, twin beds for the adults and a mezzanine floor for up to two children.
Swimming
too cold - but there is a sauna!
Food
Breakfast and dinner included throughout.
Reality Check
A mixed activity week for families, with a good mix of guided activities and free time for independent activities or relaxation. None of the activities require previous experience.
Grade B
Activity Details All active winter holidays involve some element of risk; from something as normal as slipping on icy pavements, to the possibility of injuries sustained as a result of the activities themselves. While we do all we can to minimize any dangers, participants must be prepared to accept some risk as part of the holiday. Please see activity details below, and 'risk of injury' note on page 64 of the Family Adventures 2012 brochure.
Cross-country skiing. On a beginner's cross-country skiing course your instructor will choose the trails and terrain carefully, and will avoid steep slopes, however, even on the flat you should expect to fall over. Unlike downhill skiing, where falls can happen at speed, most crosscountry falls happen at slow speeds or from an almost static position, and cause no injury. Although it is very rare, some falls do lead to injury, in the worst cases this may include broken bones. Overall crosscountry skiing is a safe sport to take part in, if properly instructed. Dogsledding. While speeds rarely exceed 20 km per hour, injuries can occur if a sled tips over or leaves the trail, and participants should be prepared for this risk.
Low level snowshoeing. We have chosen to categorize this holiday as 'Low Level Snowshoeing', which is described as snowshoeing over flat or undulating terrain, where avalanche risk is non-existent, and there are no big-drops and very steep terrain is rare. There is minimal risk of injury from falls or slides on icy terrain.
Snowmobiling (optional activity). On flat or rolling terrain snowmobile accidents are rare, and the guides will follow prepared and signed trails for most of the time. As snowmobiles can reach high speeds, drivers must be responsible for safe driving, and must follow the instructions given by the guide to avoid injury and snowmobile damage.
Important note on snowmobiling. All drivers must be over 17 and have a valid (car) driving licence. You will be liable to pay for any damage to snowmobiles up to the excess on the insurance policy, which is approx. EUR500 (currently equivalent to GBP395) per machine. You will be asked to sign a form agreeing to the above. This means, in the unlikely event that you damage a snowmobile in a major way, you will only be charged the excess and not the full cost of repair. Snowmobiles are easy to drive safely and damage is rare if the drivers are alert and considerate.
Normal group size and age
Normally 4 to 20 plus instructors as required. Minimum age 5.
Icons explained
Going on a Family Group trip is a fantastic way to meet new friends and create lasting friendships – for parents and children alike! These holidays combine exploration with sociability and fun, as other families will join you. Minimum ages vary across the trip range, but is usually from 5 years old.
Winter Activities: It's about seeking out alternative ways to have fun in unspoilt locations, you won't find standard skiing or snowboarding breaks here.
Wilderness: Visit the deserts, jungles, plateaux, tundra and mountains of all seven continents, including Antarctica.
All Exodus trips are active but some may have different activities scheduled every day. Activities we offer include kayaking in Slovakia, trekking in the Drakensberg, cycling in the Tuscan countryside or canoeing along the Zambezi River.
Login above to retrieve a previously saved list or 
Click on 'Add to wishlist' to pin trips here.
