Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Managing to climb the ice wall. Never give up and with the support of my son telling me I must get up there was wonderful. Although my arms ached for the rest of the holiday I'm glad I did it! The dog Sledging and Snow Mobil were great fun and a highlight too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri was lovely and very informative of each day of the activities. He was helpful and you could ask him anything.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The holiday offered all the equipment you needed and you really do only need to bring your clothes for the evening. Do all the activities and more that are on offer as they are all great.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, it was the dog sledding! The dogs were beautiful, friendly and very controlled and the mode of transport gave great views across the NP. A very close follow up for me, was the reindeer farm!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader was fab! In fact, all the staff were. Activities were explained thoroughly and all staff were patient and had a sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take lots of layers! It was relatively mild the week we went (31st Jan) but I still felt a little chilly so, pack as your case will allow.

Most Inspirational Moment

The husky sledding was the definite highlight! -39C but sooooooooooo much fun dashing through the national park. Unforgettable

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martii and Juka were just fabulous - they really understood the wilderness, the potential risks and how to avert any accidents. They taught us some great skills and kept us safe, warm, well fed throughout the week with a smile on their faces at all times. Thanks for a great week BaseCamp team

Most Inspirational Moment

This has got to be the husky sledding. As part of the trip, a 2-3 hour husky sledding excursion is included, this was approximately 10km. There is an opportunity to do a 6-7 hour excursion of 30km as an optional extra. Don't hesitate! This was the most amazing day. This is the opportunity to see where the huskies live and chat to the husky guides who live there with the dogs. The dogs get so excited, they bark and howl at the tops of their voices, tails wagging and trying to keep the sled from moving before it was time to go was hard work and took all of my body weight! Mushing through the frozen forest was like going through the wardrobe into Narnia...so beautiful, so remote and so quiet...apart from when you stop and the dogs, who don't really want to stop, start howling and barking..ready to get on the move again!! You get full instruction as to how to operate the sled with safety again being a priority.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Amazing! Henri was so knowledgeable, a great leader, organizer and extremely motivating plus he had a great sense of humour!

Advice for Potential Travellers

The advice given by Henri is not to use skin care products with oil. I did some research before I left home and came up with Kiehl's products which are "torture tested" in Greenland. I'm happy to say my skin survived!

Most Inspirational Moment

Many inspiring moments (and people) although climbing to the top of the ice wall (with Henri's assistance) is a lasting memory. Most inspiring was that Base camp staff have an impressively respectful attitude towards maintaining and supporting the natural environment. Running a team of Husky dogs for 30k across the Arctic Tundra was also fairly awesome (I'll never complain about walking my dogs in rain showers again!).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri was the group leader for the 'wild' people. He did a most excellent job for the duration of our stay. Activities were well organised and well paced with sufficient choice of activities and options for ’down time'. He was knowledgable about, and skilful in all the activities: cross country skiing, snowshoeing, climbing, trekking and more. He engendered a sense of safety such that we didn't even worry when a wild person accidentally walked into a snow drift almost as tall as her. He and his colleague calmly walked her out of it whilst her wild comrades were rendered incapable by laughter! He was diplomatic and generous with his time. He was eternally patient with the wild people and motivated them to succeed in their chosen activities. His character and personality were perfect accompaniments to his knowledge base and skill sets. Henri was an excellent leader and his 'support' colleagues (in particular Julie, Tessa, and the chefs) were equally impressive in their roles.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking across frozen lakes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri was excellent. Good communicator. Good organisation of large group into smaller groups doing varied activities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Good layers of kit provided. Light fleece base, medium fleece mid plus shell outer. Thermos flask for warm water etc. But would take own thermal (fully loop lined) socks.

Most Inspirational Moment

Full day huskie sledding through the snow clad scenery, reminded me of Narnia. Starting the day with excited Huskies to the silence when sledding was serene.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri was a great leader, engaged the whole group with learning new skills from snowshoeing, cross country skiing to quinzee building. Nothing was too much trouble for him or the other staff within the complex.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You don't need much money as you can pay for extras and optional activities at the end of the week on credit/ debit card. You also only need little clothing, base layers and change of clothing for the evening. I found that even 11kg of luggage was too much and most clothes were taken home unworn. Once the taster activities had been done you are free to use the equipment as you like during your stay.

Most Inspirational Moment

Husky ride through the winter wonderland Rolling in the snow after a sauna and then into the hot tub

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri was fantastic, very patient with a sense of humour ( he needed it)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it

Most Inspirational Moment

Dog-sledding was an amazing experience, like floating on top of a Christmas cake, the scenery is like Narnia untouched & spectacular with only the tracks from the sledges before you & the people on your group. The dogs howl & bark & pull until the off then they are silent through the beautiful white forest! Dinner outside making pancakes on a fire also a highlight on our last night. Ice climbing at the base itself - challenging but fantastic to learn a new skill. Snow-shoeing with a few of the group on the Little Bear Trail through forests, passing roaring rivers & sliding down embankments on our bums! Building a quinzee on a lake as a group - scary for the claustrophobic but a fantastic experience. All rewarded with a soak in the hot tub or a relax & chat in the sauna! There were so many inspirational moments, but also down-time where you could pick up a pair of snow shoes or cross-country skis, or sledges & head out on your own. The staff asked that you write down where you were going, times etc & a mobile number so we always felt safe & looked after, perfect as there were many solo travellers within the group. The chefs prepare the meals & then announce what they have made & it was always wonderful! I am a vegetarian and was happier than when at home in England! Lots of hearty stews with fresh vegetables & divine puddings such as almond & berry tart, scandanavian pancakes, cakes, crumbles - yum yum!! There is one meal choice plus lovely salad to choose from, but if you don't like fish, I would tell them you are vegetarian, as some of the soups had whole (but small) fish in them which put some people off. Vegetarians have first dabs at the vege food so the staff say to check they have had enough before the meat-eaters eat the vege dishes which I thought was lovely!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martti was with us for most of the time but also Jukka & Juuri. All were fantastic, knowledgeable, friendly, and really enthusiastic to ensure we enjoyed ourselves, but they also took our safety very seriously. Martti & one of the lovely chefs showed us to the coach at the end of the trip & hugged each one of us good bye - I really did not want to leave as they are all so wonderful & the place stunning!

Advice for Potential Travellers

You really only need to bring your own thermal underwear and probably woollen socks, as everything for the days is provided. In the evenings it is very casual so jogging bottoms & jumpers are perfect - I lived in leg gins & hoodies at night. They advise the women to wear no make up as if it is water-based it can freeze, so once I got my head around it is was so lovely to not wear it for the rest of the trip even in the evenings! Expect to spend a fair bit of extra money as lunches are 11 Euros each & there is no where else to eat (but they are worth usually creamy fish or veg soups...ask if they will make the Beetroot & Blue Cheese Soup one day - it is soooo good!) There are many optional activities and they are a little pricey (290 Euros each for an extra full-day of dog-sledding), but you don't have to do them. Squash, water, tea & coffee always available to help yourself in the main building (not in rooms) but other soft drinks & alcohol is extra. Not a massive choice but we found most people were chilled out with the drinks available or had the occasional beer so it worked perfectly. I made a bottle of wine (21 Euros) last a week which was fine.

Most Inspirational Moment

I really enjoyed the mix of activities but the husky dog sledging and the optional snow shoe to Castle Rocks were particularly memorable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Henri was an excellent leader. He was well organised, very knowledgeable about the area, activities and wilderness skills and communicated this with good humour. All the staff at the Basecamp were lovely and nothing was too much trouble.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Whilst all the clothing (which is of a high standard) is provided I was glad I had a few extra base layers but I do tend to feel the cold more than others.