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.

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177 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Lamorna Nieuwold

Reviewed March 2022

Fabulous, immersive week

The activities, landscape and Basecamp were all excellent. I was concerned that the itinerary looked less active in the second half of the week but, in fact, it was cleverly designed so that we were introduced to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on days 1 & 2, and allowed to retain the equipment so that we could continue with these activities whenever we had free time. Also, quinzee building on Friday was interesting and very active. Our room was spacious enough, with good storage, a comfortable bed, decent shower and even hairdryer – all with a lovely view. And it was warm! Communal areas were also warm, and welcoming at all times of day and evening. Staff always made time for a chat. The forest, lakes (frozen) and rivers are so pretty, it was wonderful to explore them. As a huge bonus, we saw the Northern Lights – twice.

Most Inspirational Moment

Dogsledding was thrilling. (Definitely worth upgrading to the 20K route.) It was so exciting to drive and be driven through that lovely scenery, with the most excited dogs we've ever encountered! I loved being able to "hike", using snowshoes, on a variety of trails. These were quiet and magical, but also well resourced with shelters and firepits. My husband enjoyed practising cross-country skiing, and he bravely slept in the quinzee.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martti is a very good leader. He's an excellent instructor, with a fund of stories and a nice quirky sense of humour; also hard-working and really well-planned. His enthusiasm was inspiring. He often went out of his way for us and was generous with equipment to suit individual needs and activities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Basecamp really does provide plenty of kit, as in the Trip Notes, so that you only need baselayers and whatever clothes you want for the evenings. On the free afternoon in Ruka, we decided to snowshoe, and Martti recommended the Valtavaara winter trail. In mild March weather, this was quiet, well-marked and manageable, and the steep climb was rewarded by fabulous panoramic views. It's a really enjoyable option and only costs the price of the gondola.

Bill Thornton

Reviewed March 2022

Lot's of fun!

This is a different slant to the other guided trips I have done where you get some instruction on snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and then practice on your own to some extent. This allows you to progress at your own pace and explore on your own. All the other activities are with the group with leaders or guides.
The frozen lake, nearby forests and the rivers are all fantastic to be around, nature at its best. It feels remote and very untouched. Lovely atmosphere when you are out walking on your own.
The accommodation is ideal for the trip, warm, clean, functional and quiet too! There was a light room clean and towel change mid-week.
The communal eating area works well with all the food freshly prepared and plenty of it too. Drinks available all day if you are around. Staff always there to help if needed. Alcoholic drinks available in the evening to buy.
All the clothing and footwear is supplied along with any equipment needed for the activities and whenever outdoors.. This includes a rucksack and flask, even a seat pad to sit on in the snow.
Dog sledging and reindeer farm are great visits, nice to be close to these animals.
We had great weather and this made for a most memorable trip

Most Inspirational Moment

Easy to say what was most fun, dog sledging and 'qiinzee' building but for inspiration for me it was the Little Bear walk which we did on our own on snowshoes. Just great scenery with amazing views of waterfalls, frozen water and sunlight through the trees. Just being here away from the rat-race and it was so peaceful and clean. I think overall you feel closer to nature in these moments and appreciate what these places offer. Having been hunkered down during the pandemic it was great to have this release at last!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Elina was just brilliant. Apart from the usual organising and day-job role she was also really funny, interacted really well with everyone on the trip and nothing was too much trouble. You felt you were an individual as well. Elina was encouraging and supportive as well as being patient when needed! All the leaders and their assistants mucked in to support the chef and kitchen staff. A real team effort!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack light, you could put all you luggage into a carry-on bag easily and save money if you are travelling independently. Basecamp provide all the clothing for the daytime and some of the evening activities as well. So apart from your travelling clothes you hardly need anything else, just something for the evenings in the dining room, some just wore the provided thin layers. Use your down time to take advantage of the time to do your own walks and ski practice. Take a walk outside when its dark to see the stars and maybe even get in the hot-tub! This trip is easy to do as long as you are reasonably fit and can walk a few miles in snowshoes. Nothing was too arduous or complicated.

Ilse Haag

Reviewed March 2022

Narnia! (without the witch and other scary beings)

Finnish Wilderness Week exceeded our (my daughter’s and my) expectations! Our incredible guide, Martti, established an amazing group culture, taught us a ton, and kept us safe all week. There were many different ability levels in our group, and Martti made sure each person was challenged, engaged and having fun.

Our 1st-class accommodation, Basecamp Oulanka, and it’s attentive staff, definitely exuded a vibe—totally chill. Every meal was comfort food (Finnish style), delicious and plentiful, with all dinners and desserts made from-scratch. And of course, there was a sauna!

We snowshoed through snow-covered fir trees, we skied on a frozen lake, and we drank hot tea from a thermos at the summit of a mountain, overlooking a lake. Everywhere was so silent!

When we visited the dog-sledding and reindeer farms, we experienced first-hand how the owners of each organization “walk the talk”, and are true stewards of their animals. I, personally, overcame a huge fear of mine, when I was coached, entrusted and encouraged to drive a team of dogs!

Another personal challenge I met, as a claustrophobe, was squeezing through the opening of the quinzee we built, then committing to spending the night in it. And when we turned off our headlamps to call it a night—lo and behold, the Northern Lights began to shimmer!

But my favorite and most memorable travel adventures are the ones where I end each day sitting around a table with new-found friends, eating and drinking together, and sharing stories—this week had that in spades! This adventure is another Exodus home run—challenges, comfort, fraternity.

Sonja Barnard

Reviewed March 2022

Wow, wow, wow!!

Wow is the only word for this trip! I was truly blown away by the breathtaking scenery and the incredible experiences and adventures of this trip. A real holiday of a life time – I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to mention! The husky dog sledding was incredible (definitely upgrade to the 20k option in you can). The snow shoeing adventures around base camp were fantastic and the optional extra to visit the breath taking Riisitunturi National Park is a must. Finally the excitement of getting to sleep in a quinzee you built, is a truly memorable experience (and not as cold as you’d image, even when it’s -16.c outside)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martti was an exceptional leader, he was very friendly and knowledgeable and above all made the activities fun for everyone. The rest of the staff at base camp were friendly and the food was delicious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t hesitate - just book it, you really won’t regret it!! Although they do provide the clothing needed for the week I would definitely recommend taking your own clothing if you would prefer, especially base and mid layers including fleeces (as theirs were a little ‘tired’) Their boots and outer layers were of good quality though.

Roy Easto

Reviewed February 2022

The best

A great itinerary of fantastic activities. Enough spare time to go and snow shoe or cross country ski in the area in any spare time.

Most Inspirational Moment

The 20km husky drive and optional Ski Mobile trip were the best single moments for me but I also hugely enjoyed the optional walk high up in the national park that is visited by Instagram photographers to capture the beautiful snow sculpted trees. In the spare time a few of us took the skis out and set off on the cross country trails at our own pace which was a good taster for a possible cross country ski holiday in the future.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Marti was great, very friendly and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for all of the extras, definitely extend the husky ride from 10km to 20km as you go further out into the higher up areas which are so beautiful. If you are worried that you cannot do an activity then you can always skip it.

Katie Shilton

Reviewed February 2022

A Must Do Trip!

This is an absolutely fabulous trip that I would not hesitate to recommend. I really wasn’t sure how I would get on with a holiday in the cold as I am a warm weather person normally but I really enjoyed it. My feet and hands got cold sometimes but my body was warm all holiday – even in -24 watching the Northern Lights.

The variety of activities is brilliant – I got to do so many things for the first time.

I loved the Basecamp – so cosy with lovely staff and great food. The rooms are fairly small but are warm and comfortable with good storage space. I was fortunate to have an absolutely amazing group as well.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick one as the whole trip was an inspiration. Obviously things like the Northern Lights and Husky ride were amazing as was the optional walk in Riisitunturi National Park but I also really enjoyed some of the things I wasn't so sure would be as amazing like the reindeer farm which was really interesting and also the quinzee building which was brilliant fun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martti is fabulous. Funny, interesting, efficient - a great tour leader. His love for his country and the outdoors is infectious.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't worry about taking too many clothes if you don't already have them as they give you lots of layers to wear as well as boots and gloves etc. I would recommend hand and foot warmers though and good socks. It is well worth upgrading from a 10km to 20km husky ride if you have the option. Also - being on the back is way more fun that sitting down! Remember your driving license if you want to snowmobile as that was great fun as was the ice karting.

Simon Burbidge

Reviewed February 2022

A fantastic week of winter activities in Finland

We’ve just returned from the Wilderness Week at Basecamp Oulanka and it’s been brilliant. I can’t believe that we managed to pack so much into one week. As complete novices to wintersports we weren’t sure how we’d fare but wanted to give them a try, which we did and thoroughly enjoyed them all. The tuition from Elina, Martti and the team was really good, they are a really friendly team and were happy to ensure that we got the most from the trip. For example Elina gave my wife a one to one lesson in cross-country skiing after she had to miss the group session. The food was lovely, including some traditional Finnish dishes and plenty of it too. The accommodation in the cabins was warm and comfortable and we were supplied with all the kit we needed, which included three sets of boots to cover all the activities.
I would wholeheartedly recommend the trip to anyone after an active holiday, as I have done to all our friends.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, I would say that three activities were my favourites. Firstly, the dogsledding was really memorable gliding along through the snow behind seven huskies. Secondly, the chance to try some ice climbing was a treat even if I'm not likely to repeat it at 70 and thirdly, racing ice karts was really good fun with the competitive spirit kicking in big time. I'm sure that my wife would add spending a night in the Quinzee we built in -20C to that list.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elina, Martti and the team were really first rate with their tuition and helpfulness as I've said. They were all really sociable, informative about flora and fauna and Finnish history and customs all of which go to make the holiday enjoyable. All of the organisation was first class and all the excursions and externally provided activities went like clockwork.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Not particularly save that when the trip notes say that all kit will be provided it will be and good quality it is too.

Alice Nimmo

Reviewed November 2019

What a week!

Highly recommended and couldn’t stress how much effort the guides put in on making you feel welcome to this amazing country and how supportive they were in making the trip perfect for each individual. Head guide Elina is a fantastic overall lovely person.
The food was to die for (all traditional Finnish), don’t be expecting burgers unless it’s an Elk one!
The drink was expensive, but I had budgeted for this prior to the trip as I knew this would be the case. It’s good idea to purchase alcohol at a UK airport or lack some in your case before hand.
All of the activities were perfect to gain a taster of each, and once equipped with your gear, you were free to use them as you please in your free time.
I took a hike up a local hill on our free day, using the snowshoes provided, Elina showed me a map in which I took with me, and an easy to follow, well marked trail. What a fabulous day to get a view of the Russian border from the top.
The owners of the Huskies were so caring and knew a of the dogs inside out, what a lovely life they lead and the dogs really enjoy their work, this is obvious when you meet them, due to the excitement and noise they make when they know they’re going on a trip.
The reindeer are well looked after, and the herdsmen explained that they are trained to pull the sleighs in the winter when they are brought back to the farm, but released again to roam during the summer months.
I can’t tell you enough how much I love this country, the lovely people and how close they are to nature.
If your after a really laid back holiday and an escaped from the rush of day to day life, this is for you!

Most Inspirational Moment

The way of life the Finnish lead is to die for, they really are the most lovely people with an amazing connection to nature and their wildlife

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group leader Elina couldn't have been any better, she couldn't have tried to please everyone anymore if she tried

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't expect restaurant quality food, expect a more rustic and traditional Finnish cuisine such as reindeer, elk and fish

Paul Viollis

Reviewed July 2019

Fantastic Finland

For me its was a amazing trip. Although my staying arrangements was not that good as expected but other things made my trip awesome. I enjoyed range of outdoor activities such as snowshoeing,downhill skiing and dog sledding.

Most Inspirational Moment

Riisitunturi National Park

Pamela Marshall

Reviewed May 2019

Finnish Wilderness Week

Hi – as a single female traveller over 60 years of age I really enjoyed this holiday. Accommodation was quite basic, but this was too be expected and food showed much creativity but the company was enjoyable and activities varied and very interesting.

Most Inspirational Moment

My favourite activity was the husky sledge rides and seeing all the dogs in their natural surrounding.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was great - she couldn't do enough for us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just be wary of your own capabilities. On my free day off I chose to do a 6KM hike with a younger and fitter member of the group ; I think I would have been okay had we not cover the distance up to the highest point of the resort in 2 hours - however I've since suffered a repetitive calf injury and am still suffering 5 weeks later. Great views though and wouldn't have missed the trip!

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