Most Inspirational Moment
Getting to the top of the ice wall.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Teddy was fun and informative
Advice for Potential Travellers
The clothes provided mean you don't have to bring lots of winter gear. No cash needed for basecamp
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Fantastic
A very busy and cold week but fantastic fun. Expect to we well fed, exhausted and probably bruised by the end of the week but equally thrilled with the beauty of basecamp and exhilarated with activities.
Finnish Wilderness Week
An absolutely fabulous winter adventure spent in a log cabin in the most beautiful Finnish wilderness, with plentiful and delicious local food and a good variety of interesting winter activities, this is a trip not to be missed- if you love the outdoors and adventure, book now, you will not be disappointed!
Most Inspirational Moment
I particularly loved New Years Eve dog sledging with the huskies, the sun was just coming up and shining onto the snowy trees, so beautiful and peaceful and I will never forget it! In fact I loved it so much that I then chose to do a full day with the huskies. You drive your own husky team and led by Lauri the lovely owner of the huskies we stopped half way for lunch and sat on reindeer skins by a fire in the middle of the wilderness and ate Elk casserole and Finnish pudding, both delicious, cooked by his lovely wife before heading off again. I also loved building the quinzee ( a hollowed out pile of snow) with the team and then sleeping in it all night in -15! I loved the snow shoeing through stunning snowy forests and by raging rivers and exploring the frozen lake on cross country skis with a sunset and a mist on the lake. Too many amazing memories to mention!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Bjorn (Teddy) was a brilliant leader, so friendly and welcoming right from the beginning and really shared in our enthusiasm for the activities and the great outdoors. He has a true passion for nature and the national park and really looked after us in every way. He was also very good at looking after everyone whatever their level of ability. Marty did the survival skills with us and was equally as lovely. All the staff at Basecamp are just so friendly and lovely and I cannot praise them highly enough.
Advice for Potential Travellers
My advice is to book this holiday! I have been on a lot of trips but this has for me surpassed them all. You get the opportunity to try lots of different activities and do more of those you enjoy. There is a fair bit of spare time when you can go off snow shoeing or cross country skiing and to use the sauna and outdoor hot tub (and roll in the snow Finnish style!) and its a good idea to take a book to read by the fire. It's a real chill out in the most wonderful scenery. You really don't need to take any winter clothes at all (apart from a base layer) as you get given them all and they are all clean and in good condition. Just take something warm to arrive and leave in and take casual evening wear with you. I really recommend you sleep all night in the quinzee, such a sense of achievement!
Complete change of scene though extremely cold
Base camp Oulanka is great, with a lovely atmosphere, delicious simple food and set in a most beautiful area. I was there at the end of December and it was minus 28 and only four hours daylight a day. The equipment they lend you is top notch and the advice you get from the team is excellent. The only problem I had was keeping my feet warm. Take thick wool socks (not polyester) and wear boots that are a bit too big. Henri was a fantastic guide and everyone who worked at the place were extremely friendly and helpful.
Most Inspirational Moment
I loved snow shoeing through the woods on the Castle Rock walk. The husky drive (short one included in the trip) was also fantastic, but my feet were so cold I thought I was going to get frost bit.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Henry was a brilliant leader. Friendly, knowledgeable and proactive.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take thick wool socks and borrow boots bigger than your usual size. Take a snood or balaclava - my eyelashes froze it was so cold. If I hadn't been able to cover my face, I would have been even colder. Take a kettle if you want hot drinks in your room. Take hand warmers for your gloves. The equipment they give you is top quality and you really do only need base layers - leggings / tops etc. The gloves they gave us were much better than the ski gloves I had taken. Unless you like standing around in the cold and being completely overcharged for the experience, I wouldn't bother with the reindeer farm visit. Unless you really want to see a reindeer close up. Or your children do. The walks are great (I loved the snow shoeing), the igloo building was really fun and the huskies fantastic. Snowmobiling also got very good feedback.
Finnish Wilderness Week
Exceeded my expectations – accommodation, food, staff, activities and facilities were all excellent.
Most Inspirational Moment
Ice-climbing and dog-sledding were two activities I've never tried before - both were exhilarating and great fun. The outdoor elk-stew dinner on the last night is also a good memory. It was very atmospheric, and it was a lovely evening with people I'd only just met, yet already felt like good friends.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Henri was very knowledgeable and competent, and I always felt safe during the activities led by him. He approached all situations with humour and patience!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Remember your swimming costume - sitting in the outdoor hot-tub with a cold beer with snow falling around you is a great way to end an active day :-)
Northern exposure
A very enjoyable week in a remote part of Finland, balancing guided activities with self-determined time. Being taught to snow-shoe on the first day allowed us to explore the area independently, including a day spent on the breathtaking Little Bear walk. The trails were marked clearly, and the occasional bit of challenging terrain intensified our appreciation of the location’s serenity. Also, the tracks left by Arctic hares are amusingly rude in shape.
Basecamp Oulanka provided a welcome contrast to the physical rigours of days spent outdoors, while upholding the ‘green’ principles that such an unspoilt place demands. The comforts of the lodge’s private accommodation – en-suite wet rooms, under-floor heating and external space in the form of balconies or patios – were equalled by the cosiness of the communal facilities.
Most Inspirational Moment
Dog-sledding was, undoubtedly, a highlight. The choral howling of the Husky teams augured the delights to come: crisp, cold air; views of white expanses and distant hills; and, best of all, the responsiveness of these powerful, beautiful beasts, with their dense fur, icy eyes and impressive abilities to poo while in full flight. There’s also perverse enjoyment, not to mention satisfaction, to be had from building your own quinzee, and – if you must – sleeping in it. We didn’t bother with the latter, having sent our respective Tyler Durdens on vacation elsewhere; but construction was made easier by the ‘can-do’ attitude of Rebecca and Andrew, our partners in architectural crime. The wind whistling through our snow-sodden clothes seemed a little less harsh, thanks to both of you. The propulsive powers of the f-word proved remarkable on a steep incline. Indeed, as most of our remaining time was spent falling over or crashing into things, we swore the air into a deep, deep shade of blue. It matched the bruises.
Thoughts on Group Leader
A passionate ambassador for the outdoor life, Noora was also a knowledgeable and approachable leader who acted promptly on requests. Indeed, all of the staff were very friendly and helpful, and the chef had made an evident effort to accommodate our dietary needs.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It was a little cheeky of Exodus to describe the trip as an 8-day holiday, when two of the days consisted entirely of travelling to and from our destination. The lengthy transfer from Rovaniemi to the lodge was especially unwelcome at the end of a 15-hour journey, much of which was spent loitering around airports, waiting for flights. If sentenced to spend an age in Helsinki airport, break up the time, as we did, by taking a Finnair bus into the city centre – a journey of 30 minutes, at the most - and seeing the sights on foot. We found the food at Basecamp Oulanka to be suitably hearty fuel for an active(ish) break, but to other group members it seemed stodgy and over-fried. Stock up on extra fruit, perhaps, if travelling outside berry-picking time: the seasonal menu meant that it was noticeable by its relative absence. Finally, be prepared to NOT see the Aurora Borealis. We didn't. However, if you stare at a lightbulb and then rub you eyelids vigorously, you can achieve a pretty convincing approximation.
FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
We really enjoyed our Finnish Wilderness week. Oulanka base Camp was very well run and definitely to be recommended. Our only criticism was that the group was supposed to be limited to 16 and there were actually 21, which was too many for the snowmobiling and the snow shoe safari to Castle rocks
Most Inspirational Moment
Sleeping all night in the snow quinzee we had built
Thoughts on Group Leader
Teddy/Bjorn was wonderful, as were the other members of his team
Advice for Potential Travellers
Enjoy and do make sure you do the husky safari. It was brilliant!
FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
An absolutely fantastic trip; beautiful country and a great range of activities. Loved it!
Most Inspirational Moment
The whole trip was fantastic and Finland is absolutely beautiful. There was just the right mix of activity and time to chill (in a very peaceful environment) and I came home feeling relaxed and reinvigorated.Getting to try such a wide range of activites in a short time was great and the staff are so enthusiastic that even those that I perhaps found less appealing on paper (snow shoeing!) turned out to be great fun! One of the most inspirational moments would have to be travelling through the silent, snowy wilderness on my husky dog sledge.Similarly, when you can stand back and look at the quinzee that you have built you get a real sense of achievement.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Teddy was the best exodus leader I have had so far (this was my 5th exodus trip) his enthusiasm for his country and the activities was contagious and his energy was boundless. He got on well with the whole group - and we were a very mixed bunch! Similarly, the rest of the staff at Oulanka basecamp were really friendly and helpful; nothing was ever too much trouble. One of them even lent me her own boots when I had problems with the pair I had borrowed!
Advice for Potential Travellers
You really don't need to bring much more than a base layer for the daytime as warm kit is provided. Although, I would recomend bringing your own hats, scarves and gloves.In the evenings it can get quite warm in the dining room with the log fire so bring T-shirts/layers - I only brought 'warm' clothes and nearly boiled alive a couple of nights! This isn't the cheapest of trips, but the optional activities/food are worth it so bring plenty of money (you can pay for most things by card at basecamp)
FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
An excellent opportunity to try a variety of winter activities in a wonderful setting.The location is ideal, snow covered woodlands right outside the door and a frozen lake to play on.
Most Inspirational Moment
Snowshoe walking in the woods after dark, following the trail with head torches was a special feeling, but spending a day with an eight dog sled team was amazing... a sled with thirty two paw power can fly!
Thoughts on Group Leader
An excellent leader, charming and informative, he has excellent people skills and was obviously keen to ensure everyone was enjoying their holiday experience.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Dont expect to lose weight... the food is too good!!!
FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
An incredibly cold, adventerous week full of new experiences and memories to last a life time!
Most Inspirational Moment
Ski Mobiling - absolutely incredible. We shared a ski for four hours and had lunch out. It was lovely seeing all the scenary and going up and down and through the ski resort. You are given a helmit, warm outer clothing and the handles are even heated so you don't get cold. it was nice to share as whilst you are siting on the back you can enjoy all the scenary. dog sledging - beautiful. Take lots of warm layers and something to cover your face! An afternoon goes far to quickly but it was enough to enjoy the experience.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Henri our main guide was fantastic. Quick to respond and help when needed, spoke fantastic english, very informative and made the week an enjoyable and fun one. All the other staff were also very polite and helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a hairdryer!We also invested in a Buff scarf which was fantastic for covering your head and neck. also invest in a good, well fiting pair of gloves that you cna layer up with the camps gloves or invest in some hand warmers. A god send when you take your hands out to take photos! We took $500 which covered all the extra activities we wanted to do and bought a few soveniers home. Take a camera which batteries are not affected by the cold.
FINNISH WILDERNESS WEEK
A trip I could repeat again and again and never get tired of it.
Most Inspirational Moment
Loved the huskie dogs. So good I did it again on the optional day. Great location where you feel a million miles from your day to day life.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The leader made the holiday. The whole team work so hard and the food was fantastic.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't think twice go for it.