Most Inspirational Moment
Husky dog sledding. Amazing.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, nothing was too much trouble at all. All staff were superb.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book it.
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!
Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…
Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.
Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.
Select a trip specific review:
Reviews
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!
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
Learning new skills and surviving -30! Sleeping in a Quinzee Body rafting Husky sleding!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
The staff were wonderful. Really caring and informative.
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.
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
Most Inspirational Moment
Husky Dogs!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Martii and Tiia - the best!
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!
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
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.
Thoughts on 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.
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.
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
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.
Thoughts on 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.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't forget to bring your sense of humor with you.
Unforgettable experience
Recently returned from the Finnish Wilderness Week, staying at Basecamp Oulanka Jan 14-21st 2018 and it was without doubt one of the best holidays I have ever experienced. Firstly the staff, accomodation, facilities and food at Basecamp Oulanka are out of this world (special shout out to our tour leaders Martti and Tiia who were exceptional). The camp is located in the heart of the forest, surrounded by towering trees and a stones throw away from the lake!
The activities included in this tour are also fantastic and truly ‘once in a lifetime’ (the husky sledding being the stand out). Theres a wide range of optional activities too which are reasonably priced and allow you to experience a new adventure every day!
Most Inspirational Moment
Husky sledding through a pristine forest!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Martti and Tiia were both fantastic, friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating leaders, and both should be extremely proud!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Dont take too many euros in cash as most (not all) of the optional activities are charged to your room (as are any drinks etc purchased from the bar) and the bill is settled at the end.
The perfect winter escape
If you’re looking to get away from it all in unspoilt scenery, try out different winter activities, and generally have an experience you’ll never forget, then book this trip.
The location is beautiful, the staff are great, the food was absolutely delicious, and I didn’t want to leave!
Most Inspirational Moment
The optional snowshoe hike in Riisitunturi National Park was fantastic. The scenery was something I'd never seen, and everything I wanted to see when I imagined Finnish Wilderness. Also the silence in the forest, and exploring on snowshoes with others, or practicing cross country skiing alone. It's a perfect escape bubble from the rest of the world.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Teddy/Bjorn was great - very laid back with a great sense of humour. All the staff at Basecamp were knowledgeable and really friendly. The whole place has a relaxed and cosy feel.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just do it! If you like being outdoors, making new friends, and trying out new activities then you'll have a great time. You don't need any experience of the activities, just be willing to have a go. On a practical note: The afternoons are mostly free so you can be as active as you choose to be - either snowshoeing, cross country skiing, using the sauna and hot tub, or just taking a nap! Evenings were spent playing cards or boardgames, chatting, or reading by the fire. Drinks are available from reception - I recommend the cloudberry liqueur, or the peppermint in some hot chocolate! Optional activities can be quite pricey so do allow for that. You pay for everything on your tab at the end of the week. If you're not a downhill skier or boarder then Ruka doesn't have much to do, but I found the day spa and a nice coffee shop. A few others went snowmobiling. Wifi works in the dining room/reception (most of the time) and you can always use 4G in the rooms if you need to. Bring a spare power pack if you like taking photos on your phone. The cold will drain your battery quicker than at home. Basecamp really do provide everything you need to stay warm, and you don't need to pack much at all. Just a few sets of your own baselayers, hat and buff, and then jeans and jumper for the evening.
Truly magical experience
This trip is a fantastic way of exploring northern Finland. The activities throughout the week keep you physically active so it’s an ideal holiday for people who enjoy that! It’s a beautiful location and the scenery took our breath away on several occasions.
Most Inspirational Moment
All the activities included are fantastic but our highlight was actually going on our own 10k snow trek with the snow-shoes. There's lots of information at Basecamp provided. The dogsledding included in the Exodus package was another highlight! We also chose the full day of dogsledding but the included option had better scenery.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Bjorn is fab - lots of knowledge and a great sense of humour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a hairdryer if you use one...they have them at Basecamp but you have to keep returning it. Your own base-layers, hat and face buff are useful too. The wifi didn't work at Basecamp but it wasn't a problem for us as we used our 4G.
A magical wilderness that stays with you long after you have left it behind
If you want to run away and have an adventure then this is the ideal escape for anyone looking
to be part of a small group and experience new things. I am not a fan of the snow but there’s not one moment that I would have changed.
Prepare to be challenged, Prepare to Laugh and Prepare to be full of glorious memories.
Most Inspirational Moment
I paid extra for the Husky Dog sledding optional activity. I feel so blessed to have been able to be part of a fun, small group of people that helped make this day so Magical. The natural beauty of the surroundings felt like you are first people to touch the landscape. This will stay with me forever. We sledged over a lake and it was a pinch my self moment. It was perfectly stunning. If you do this, stop and do a 360 degree look around.The lunch by a open fire that was prepared for kindly by the leader. It tasted great and felt like luxury. The Dogs were well behaved. I didn't expect this day to make me smile as much as it does and it's nearly a year since I visited. The other moment that makes me smile and laugh was tree hugging. A small moment. Fat Biking in Ruka. You hire the bikes and it is a lot of fun!. There was no obvious bike trails in Ruka but that didn't stop the enjoyment and thrill of cycling in the snow.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Julia is an Angel. She is an outstanding group leader. She has a wonderful kindness and sincerity. She fun and attentive. She is serious. If you were to get lost in the Finnish wilderness then you would want her there by your side as she fills you with ease, excitement and wonder. There's nothing that she wouldn't do for a person in her group. Thanks is a small word but I'm not sure it would have been half as much fun with out her help guidance, enthusiasm and support.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I remember going to the travel agents and said that I'm looking for an adventure. I'd always wanted to go to Finland. I said to the travel agent that, if this Finnish wilderness week accepts a non skier than I will pay the deposit instantly. This holiday was booked once the reply came in that it was OK. It was worth the 20 year wait to visit a small part of Finland. There are times when you need to think about all options. This trip isn't one of them. Cease this wonderful moment because it does honestly stay with you and it becomes a travel highlight The only thing that you need is a passport and some spending money. Be open to the optional activities because the only thing that is difficult and challenging is working out how to spend your freed time and then trying to fit it all in.
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.