Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

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178 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Heidi Dempsey

Reviewed March 2017

Fab Trip -Just Book It!

The trip was recommended to me by previous travel buddies and lived up to all expectations. The scenery is beautiful, the accommodation great and very warm and the equipment provided is superb. Although you try lots of activities there is plenty of time to chill out and you aren’t expected to be up too early so definitely a holiday to recharge the batteries. There is lots of food and always tea, coffee and squash on the table if you are chilling in the lodge.

Most Inspirational Moment

Many! But seeing the Northern Lights appear above the trees as we did the nighttime snowshoe walk in the forest was totally amazing. I also really loved the dog sledding.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sonja was brilliant. Very knowledgable, fun and nothing was too much trouble. All the staff at base camp were excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There is lots to do but also plenty of down time so time to chill. The optional activities are expensive but definitely worth choosing some. I have never been skiing so had a shared ski lesson in Ruka which was definitely worth the money. If you don't want to spend too much there are walks and fat bikes too. Make use of the sauna and hot tub and do roll in the snow after jumping out the sauna it's not that bad. Also pack very light you really don't need much for the evenings.

Rod Whitaker

Reviewed March 2017

Great fun and so beautiful !

really great week with an interesting and varied group of people. The clean air, beautiful fresh snow, pristine scenery, great home made food and the daily exercise made for a really good healthy break from the stresses of work !

Most Inspirational Moment

chillin with the group around an open fire and doing the midnight walk in total darkness through the forest !!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Juuli was absolutely fabulous, patient, informative and always smiling. Nothing was too much trouble and she works incredibly hard for very long hours to make sure everyone is fully looked after.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light ! the lodge and accommodation is really warm and cosy so just t-shirts required ! extra base layers are a good idea as you will need to change after most activities, bring some cosy slippers for the lodge especially the evenings so there no wet boots being walked through and if you like a big mug of branded tea then bring our own cup and bags !!

Bonita Rayner-Jones

Reviewed March 2017

Finnish Wilderness Week

Beautiful Oulanka National Park in March, got to see the Northern Lights and experience the basics of snow shoeing and cross country skiing. The activities were very good and the group leaders. Very remote location with just a few people at the Base Camp. Accommodation very basic which lets down the whole experience unfortunately. No comfy chairs or sofas to relax in after a day of activities. To relax you were either bolt upright at a wooden dining table on a hard wooden chair or laying down in a dark wooden lodge. First time an aeroplane seat looked so inviting at the end of the trip. No fresh fruit all week either. Go for an active break, definitely not for rest and relaxation as the accommodation is too basic in the winter to accomodate this.

Most Inspirational Moment

Oulanka National Park is beautiful, great snow conditions and forest all around for snow shoeing and cross country skiing. Getting to see the Northern Lights was magical.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Group leader very nice.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As stated above, accommodation very basic. Take fruit with you and some alcohol as average bottle of wine was Eur 27 at the bar and there was no fruit all week. Also no food provided on both plane journeys so grab some food at the airport. Take your own thermal underwear and socks. Also your own hats. Everything else provided. Definitely do the Ruka trip as its a fun place and skiing is very good there.

Richard Hillman

Reviewed March 2017

Fun in Finland

This was very enjoyable holiday. It didn’t matter that I’d never done any type of skiing, dog sledding or snow mobiling. We were taught how to do each of these activities. See the Northern Lights was a bonus as there is no guarantee.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Northern Lights and the dog sledding with huskies. Finishing the week with a campsite fire was a nice way to conclude the holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

All the leaders were friendly, accommodating and enthusiastic. This was true of all the staff at basecamp. Juuli was happy to spend time chatting with us and obviously enjoyed her job.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make the most of the free time. There is quite a lot of free time but you are free to use the snowshoes, cross country skis and sledges whenever you like. You might want to bring a few travel games for the evenings. You really don't need to bring many cold weather clothes. I was provided with good quality inner and outer gloves, a hat, boots, 2 layers of thermals, waterproofs and a head torch. If you want to sleep in the quinzee a sleeping bag and mattress are also provided.

Clare Day

Reviewed February 2017

Enjoyable

This holiday was a great opener for those who have little or no experience at previous winter sports. I really enjoyed the Husky sledging and snow shoeing was more fun than I anticipated.
Very cosy accommodation and although the food was not in anyway gourmet it was what I expected for a Nordic menu. (Would be nice actually if you could include a cookery lesson as a optional extra)

Would defiantly recommend as a winter holiday if you want to try a bit off everything and once you have had a lesson you can be as active or lazy as you like.

Most Inspirational Moment

Defiantly the husky sledge, have always wanted to do this.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Teddy (Bjorn) was very informative and consciencious of the needs of the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take lots of books, or games, helps especially during the dark evenings.

Angela Speed

Reviewed February 2017

Finnish Wilderness Week

A beautiful journey of snow filled landscapes and frozen lakes. Looked after from arrival to departure. Delicious hot food every day and competent friendly and efficient staff

Most Inspirational Moment

Storytelling in the dark by leader Henri. One seriously creative and skilled guy like a great teacher one never forgets the

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dedicated and hard working to ensure we were all looked after at all times. Incredible knowledge on all levels yet humble and funny. Someone I will never forget and use as an example of goodness and kindness yet strong and inspiring

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go! Experience the challenges and embrace the Finnish culture and hospitality

Claudia Schmid

Reviewed January 2017

Finnish Wilderness Week

A week in beautiful and snowy Lapland. It’s great to try different activities and get away from it all. With the New Year’s Special group we stayed in the “Logging Lodge” which is deep in the forest; far away from the next village.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of the ice climbing wall. Plus the husky and snowmobile safaris

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri and Miriam were absolutely great! Very knowledgable, good company and they spent hours on the phone to arrange everything!

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you're at the Logging Lodge, bear in mind that it's a 45 min drive from Basecamp. And if you're at Basecamp, there might be a family group staying there at the same time (I preferred the peace and quiet of the Logging Lodge!)

Brian Crockford

Reviewed January 2017

Finnish Wilderness Week

I loved this holiday. Finland in the snow was gorgeous and I enjoyed the mix of activities.

Most Inspirational Moment

We had a 2 hour (?) Huskie sledging trip as part of planned activities and we enjoyed it so much we booked the optional day sledging trip. It was absolutely magical and I can honestly say it was one of the best holiday days I have ever had. Beautiful scenery, lovely dogs, well organised and a very tasty lunch.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bjorn (Teddy) was lovely. He was very chilled but organised and very knowledgeable.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Brian for his review and we were pleased to hear that he enjoyed the trip overall. We are aware that a family group was also staying at Basecamp the week this departure of our Finnish Wilderness Week visited, and whilst groups do not usually do activities together and mealtimes are normally staggered, we have updated our trip notes to include details of when two departures may be at the property at the same time (during some school holidays) so that clients are aware of this in advance.

Paolo Bonato – Product Manager for Finland

Jane O'Brien

Reviewed January 2017

Out of this World!

Amazing, stunning, incredible, beautiful, we ran out of words to begin to capture the beauty of this location and the sheer volume of fun to be had on this trip, it has to be seen to be believed.

Most Inspirational Moment

Snowmobiling through the Finnish forest, taking my own team of huskies through the national park, skiing by floodlight, having a mini party in our quinzee, the staggering quiet and breathtaking beauty of the landscape.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martti was brilliant. It's a big group and I'm sure we tried his patience at times but he was organised, clear and determined to make everything perfect for us. He worked incredibly hard, along with all the staff at Basecamp, and was friendly, approachable and had a good sense of humour. The experience and knowledge he passed on was great, we learnt new fascinating things all the time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Along with your own base layers I would recommend taking your own socks, hat and buff. The first two can be borrowed and the last purchased but it's nicer to have your own (and having your own hat makes you identifiable in pictures!). You only need one pair of shoes, which you can travel in and use for the evening. Budget for the activities not included, but the vast majority of it can go on your room bill or be paid by card at the various locations so you don't have to take much cash at all if you don't want to.

helen belcher

Reviewed December 2016

Trip of a lifetime!

This is an amazing trip packed full of winter activities.I especially loved the (optional) full day husky trip on christmas day but I also did lots of other exciting things.The accommodation was comfortable and the staff at Basecamp Oulanka were excellent especially the leader Bjorn (Teddy).We saw the Northern Lights the day we arrived and we also had a sighting of that special person on christmas day.