Fabulous week in the snow in the Finland. The week exceeded all expectations - helped by the fact... Michelle Craig, 2018 See more reviews
Brilliant week of deep snow, sunshine, stunning scenery, amazing activities, great food and... Daphne Dorman-Smith, 2018 See more reviews
A fantastic location, the hut was lovely cozy & warm. The staff, particularly the leader Ana... Sarah Skinner, 2018 See more reviews
A great escape from everyday life with the opportunity to try out many different snow activities... Gillian Hart, 2018 See more reviews
An amazing holiday in a beautiful landscape. It was like being in a Christmas card. Catherine Ellwood, 2018 See more reviews
Superb trip! loved every minute of it. The activities, accommadation, food and staff were all... Andrew Bennett, 2018 See more reviews
From start to finish this trip was a dream. If you are thinking about booking it - stop thinking... Joti Dhami, 2018 See more reviews
We have done several Exodus trekking trips and this caught our eye as an opportunity for a... Irena Rattray, 2018 See more reviews
An absolutely spectacular trip with some of the best scenery ever. ... Barry Dawkins, 2018 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all London to London Day 1 Fly to Kuusamo; transfer to Basecamp Oulanka (approx. 45mins). Fly from Gatwick to Kuusamo, transfer to Basecamp Oulanka (approx 45 mins). Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Snowshoe hike in Oulanka National park walking through snow-caked trees and the Kitka River In the morning we are provided with all of the equipment needed for a week of activities in arctic conditions. Strapping on a pair of snowshoes we head straight out into Oulanka National Park where we are taught the necessary skills for this activity. Our route today will take us through forests and along the Kitka River, passing an old flour mill that sits adjacent to the dramatic Myllykoski rapids (approx 2½ hours). At the end of the walk, depending on timing, there will be the chance to do some further exploration of the surrounding area or relax in the sauna or hot tub. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Cross-country skiing in the morning heading down to the Juuma lake; free afternoon. Today we experience the Scandinavian-born sport of cross-country skiing. Heading down to the nearby JuumaLake, our instructor will literally walk us through the basics of how to cross-country ski. There may be a few tumbles to start with, but in the softsnow this is half the fun! After becoming more confident on the skis we then head out onto the lake, gliding through the virgin powder. In the afternoon, keep hold of your skis as there is the option of further unguided skiing in the area. Alternatively, you might wish to try kick sledging; a metal frame sled you can use on your own and venture out around Basecamp. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Half day dogsledding instruction and tour (about 10km) in Riisitunturi National Park; optional ice climbing. After breakfast we take a short transfer to the nearby Riisitunturi National Park where we meet up with our dogsledding guide. The day begins with tuition on how to ride on the sled and the importance of caring for the huskies correctly. We then head off into the woods where our teams of dogs eagerly await our arrival, ready to take us on our 10km mushing adventure. Our route takes us deep into the national park and up onto the surrounding fjell where we are rewarded with a fantastic view. Travelling on your own sled, you are able to really appreciate the serenity of this beautiful snow-laden landscape. The afternoon is free to experience some of the optional activities that Basecamp has to offer such as ice climbing (min 4 persons). This evening we head out for nighttime snowshoeing, in search for the Northern Lights. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Free day in Ruka; morning option of snowmobile safari; afternoon option of downhill skiing. We spend the day at the popular ski resort of Ruka. Your guide will take care of transfers and can book activities for you. Transfers are included only to the designated areas and are scheduled at specific times. It is advisable to check at reception before making your activities booking. Downhill skiing and snowmobile safaris are available – see the 'Optional excursions' section below. Please note that due to operational reasons, the bookings for activities in Ruka need to be made by Tuesday. Otherwise, there's the option to stay at Basecamp, having the equipment, snowshoes, cross-country skis etc. at your disposal, with accessible routes to explore. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 6 Wilderness skills including quinzee building and fire-making; optional night in the quinzee. Today we are taught the ancient art of quinzee building. Issued with shovels and spades and in groups of four, we create a mound of snow, which is later hollowed out to make sleeping quarters (2-3 persons per quinzee). You have the option of sleeping in your construction, but the lodge is just a short walk away if you prefer the warmth of your room. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Optional activities including ice climbing and dogsledding; dinner around a campfire. Today we have a free day with several options on offer to make the most of the magical Finland Wilderness. Some of the activities available include unguided cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, dogsledding or snowmobile safaris. As a farewell celebration, we have the option of eating dinner around a campfire on the edge of the National Park. Day 8 Transfer to Kuusamo; fly to London. Lunch is included for clients booked on the group flights for departures from Dec. 24th to Feb. 17th (inclusive) due to a later flight time. Meals included: Breakfast
Basecamp Oulanka Basecamp Oulanka is a superb self-sustaining wooden complex that takes immediate inspiration from its wilderness location. Twin rooms with en suite bathrooms are in two separate buildings. The third building is a cosy restaurant and bar, with a log fire, sauna and outdoor hot tub. The heating system used throughout the complex relies totally on nature using special wood pellets for fuel. Winners for outstanding accommodation in the VESTAS 2011 awards is proof of Basecamp's dedication towards quality. Please be aware that multiple Exodus trips are running at Basecamp at the same time and you might share the room with a member of a different group. Please note that there are Exodus family groups at Basecamp during school holidays.
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Reviewed April 2018 Michelle Craig Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week Fabulous Trip Fabulous week in the snow in the Finland. The week exceeded all expectations - helped by the fact we saw the Northern Lights on night one on the way from the airport. Had a great mix of different activities and stunning scenery. Also food was really good. Lunch was always a filling soup and dinner great home cooked Finnish dishes. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The morning dog sledding - a small company is used who take good care of the dogs and dogs seemed very happy to bring us out for exercise. Also the scenery in the area was like a Winter Wonderland What did you think of your group leader? Martti made the trip. It was clear that he loves the outdoor life in the snow and he was happy to share those experiences with the group. He also had a great sense of humour Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Just book it. Is there anything else you would like to add? You don't really to bring much luggage. All the layers are provided from boots to hats and gloves.
Reviewed March 2018 Daphne Dorman-Smith Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week Superb Week in Wintry Finland Brilliant week of deep snow, sunshine, stunning scenery, amazing activities, great food and comfortable accommodation. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Dog sledding and Northern Lights, followed closely by snow mobiling and walking in the forest. What did you think of your group leader? Marti was brilliant. Very well organised, clear in his instructions, and great fun. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The lodge really does provide all the equipment/outer clothes you might require. All you need to pack is your thermal under layers, a few things to wear in the evening, and you're done. Is there anything else you would like to add? A fabulous week in glorious scenery, the chance to try your hand at lots of different activities and a great switch off from reality. If you love the snow, winter scenery and outdoor activities, then get booking !
Reviewed March 2018 Sarah Skinner Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week Finland wilderness week A fantastic location, the hut was lovely cozy & warm. The staff, particularly the leader Ana were really friendly and helpful. The kit provided was of good quality with top name brands, and kept you very warm, even at -30 for the evening walk. Each day was different, so made it intresting and allowed you to try a range of activities. Would highly recommend. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Snow showing in the National Park on the last day, the scenery was amazing, but huskies were a close second. What did you think of your group leader? She was excellent, great local knowledge, friendly & nothing too much bother. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Book this holiday!
Reviewed February 2018 Gillian Hart Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week Spectacular trip! A great escape from everyday life with the opportunity to try out many different snow activities plus free time to relax or experience optional activities. We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on 4 of our 7 nights 18-25 February 2018. Very tasty food and plenty of it. Comfortable rooms with underfloor heating. Overall a wonderful holiday. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The beauty of the landscape and the wonderful Finnish people. We really enjoyed the dogsledding and it was well worth booking the full-day dogsledding optional activity as the scenery was absolutely amazing. A must if you are a dog lover as the huskies are so friendly and love a fuss. What did you think of your group leader? Anna was superb and went the extra mile to ensure everyone was happy. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Travel light as you only need clothes for the evenings. The water is so soft that you don't need skincare products and oil based lotions are advised against due to the extreme cold. We took our own thermal base layers and all other outdoor gear provided is sufficient to keep you warm during the day. Don't miss out on the sauna and outside hot tub! Is there anything else you would like to add? Don't think twice about booking this trip!
Reviewed February 2018 Catherine Ellwood Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week Like going on holiday to Narnia! An amazing holiday in a beautiful landscape. It was like being in a Christmas card. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I loved snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. On our free day, I walked the Little Bear trail with another member of the group and it was a great day. The huskies are beautiful, and I enjoyed snowmobiling. The evening snowshoe across the silent, dark frozen lake was amazing. Building the quinzee was fun, although hard work! For me, there was just enough taster of all the activities, and the option to do more of them if you wanted to. What did you think of your group leader? Elina was lovely. She explained everything to us really well, made sure we were OK and knew what we were doing. She is so enthusiastic about her job, nature and country and shared it all with us. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I had been thinking of doing this holiday for a while and it was fab. So do it. Is there anything else you would like to add? I definitely overpacked! You get all the outdoor clothing and aren't cold at all, so you only need a couple of jumpers/jeans for the evenings. Maybe take a travel hairdryer if you really need one.
Reviewed February 2018 Andrew Bennett Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week Outstanding trip in Finland Superb trip! loved every minute of it. The activities, accommadation, food and staff were all excellent. Cannot fault a single part of the trip and would really like to do the whole thing again! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Husky dog sledding. Amazing. What did you think of your group leader? Very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, nothing was too much trouble at all. All staff were superb. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Book it. Is there anything else you would like to add? If you are in doubt about the coldness, all clothes were provided and they kept us warm all week. If you needed anything extra you just needed to ask. I am 6 foot 5 and everything fitted me fine.
Reviewed February 2018 Joti Dhami Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week Finish Wilderness Week - Amazing adventure. Perfect. From start to finish this trip was a dream. If you are thinking about booking it - stop thinking and just do it. You will not regret it. The transfers, location, wilderness, activities, staff, comfort, rooms, food, activities, clothing - everything was perfect. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Learning new skills and surviving -30! Sleeping in a Quinzee Body rafting Husky sleding!! What did you think of your group leader? The staff were wonderful. Really caring and informative. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? You really do not need to take any clothes with you other than base layers and a jumper or two jumpers. Something warm to wear in the evenings - pair of jeans. I took the smallest bag and still used very little from it. Good warm sock. I would take a few good jumpers and sturdy shoes for the snow when walking from room to dinner. Saying that my boyfriend took trainors and we still survived. You don't really need much. Is there anything else you would like to add? It was perfect!!
Reviewed February 2018 Lisa Colton Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week A fantastic trip! This review is for the week of 14th-21st January 2018 The whole week was truly amazing. Our hosts Martii and Tiia were fantastic and ensured we had the best holiday possible. Everyone's dietary requirements were taken care of and all of the activities were so much fun. For me the Husky dog sledding was a memory that will last me a lifetime. The Northern Lights made an appearance on the plane ride home which was the perfect end to a fabulous trip. If you want to know about it in more detail please feel free to click on the below link which is a my blog for the week! Enjoy! https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4016466253369531842#editor/target=post;postID=5310183189617508352;onPublishedMenu=publishedposts;onClosedMenu=publishedposts;postNum=0;src=link What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Husky Dogs! What did you think of your group leader? Martii and Tiia - the best! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't wear a ton of layers if you go Fat Biking! Even I sub zero temperatures you will be boiling! Is there anything else you would like to add? Book this trip!
Reviewed January 2018 Irena Rattray Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week A unique and fabulous experience We have done several Exodus trekking trips and this caught our eye as an opportunity for a completely new experience and we were not disappointed. I have been raving about this trip to all who will listen ever since I came back. The scenery was beautiful and the environment offered a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city working life. We got to try some new experiences in a relaxed way with Basecamp Oulanka staff who you could feel safe with and made some like-minded friends within the group. If you enjoy adventure and new experiences, I cannot recommend this trip enough. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We had so many new experiences that it is difficult to pick just one but snowshoeing was so enjoyable and took us to places I have never seen before and that you could not normally access. I have never hugged a tree in my life and would have been sceptical beforehand but snowshoeing deep into the trees and hugging a tree and the absolute complete silence this gave us was truly magical. What did you think of your group leader? We were looked after by the whole team at Basecamp to make our stay comfortable but Teddy was our primary contact and took such good care of us. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It may sound obvious but it really is so very cold there in winter. You are very well equipped when you get there but if you have bad circulation, I would recommend arthritis gloves and knee high woolen socks - the group were great and rallied around with these things for me when it became apparent that my digits were struggling with the cold and it sorted the issue out splendidly.
Reviewed January 2018 Barry Dawkins Trip: Finnish Wilderness Week Finnish Wilderness Week An absolutely spectacular trip with some of the best scenery ever. Although we did not see the Northern Lights we were not disappointed, nobody can control Mother nature. The activity's, ( included and optional ) were all incredible. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The most inspirational moment had to be the scenery when we were out dog sledding, I am so glad I can close my eyes and go right back there. What did you think of your group leader? The group leaders were tops, they go out of their way to accommodate everyone's specific needs, they put in very long days and really enjoy what they do. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't forget to bring your sense of humor with you. Is there anything else you would like to add? Working together with other members of the group to build the Quinzze was a great team building exercise.
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