Winter in the Baltics, Helsinki & Stockholm

Customer Reviews

• Helen

  · April 10th, 2013
  This was without a doubt one of the best holidays I have ever had.  It gave a great taster for some winter based activities that I had been reluctant to book for a whole week.  Dog sledding, even if, like me, you're not very good at it, is incredible.  I was not a great lover of dogs before I went but the Huskies are so friendly and their enthusiasm for sledding is infectious, I plan to do a whole week of this in the future.  Igloo building is also great fun.  I loved the snow shoeing and snow mobiling (an optional extra).  We saw the Northern Lights but frankly everything else was so great I would not have been devastated had we not seen them.  The Ice Hotel was a novel experience and an unusual way to end a holiday.  The accommodation was great, the wilderness camp is actually not that wild and is quite comfortable. The food was absolutely amazing, you will not lose weight on this holiday!!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Driving a dog-led sled through stunning scenery, snowshoeing through similar stunning scenery and seeing the Northern Lights What did you think of your group leader? No single Exodus groupo leader.  Bart from Lappis Lodge explained everything and was kind enough to 'phone us when he spotted the Northern Lights. Sabina who took us dog sledding, snowshoeing and snowmoibiling was excellent and very patient with my frankly poor dog-sled driving skills.  Cecilia who taught us to build our own igloo and ice fish was also excellent. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't overpack.  My advice would be to take thermal long johns, a couple of thermal tops, thermal trousers, walking boots, thermal socks, down jacket and gloves. You just need a few other items of clothing to change into in the evenings.  You don't need to take lots of water bottles as lots of drinks provided, sleeping bag or liner as always provided.  Take lots of batteries as they will lose charge quicker in the cold and don't forget your sunglasses. Is there anything else you would like to add? Do not worry about how you will get from the Ice Hotel to the airport on the way home, a bus is organised for you and if, like us, you appear to have a very tight transit time at Stockholm Airport please do not panic, you (and your luggage) will make it, SAS are extremely organised.
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• Chereen

  · March 19th, 2013
  The trip was like a dream come true - dog sledding, ice hotel, snow mobiling and eventually seeing the Northern lights as the lights were at its lowest. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I loved the dog sledding, I fell in love with the dogs, it was wonderful to experience their excitement pulling the sleighs. The scenery is absolutely beautiful you dont see anyone else on route. Very exclusive.The other amazing moment was seeing the Northern lights on the last night of our trip at the Ice Hotel, what an experience they came up at 24h30 and we could see if with our naked eye.  What did you think of your group leader? I felt Barbara, who ran the lodge, was not very welcoming, social and did not communicate very well with the group. The Northern Lights came out the first evening but it looked like clouds, she never once mention to us to still take photo's as the camera on the right setting of ISO will pick up the Norther Lights. We have travelled from South AFrica to see the lights and you can imagine our disappointment to have found this out the next day and missed out on the photo's.They were also not very proactive in waking up the group when there were Northern lights to be seen, our group had to google the weather forcast to see when was the most likely time we would see them. I would have expected this info from Barbara. Making up our own beds was another disappointment as you would have expected this for the price we paid.     Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Follow the trip notes and you wont go wrong but we purchased inner sheets for the sleeping bag and took a towel for the Wilderness night but you did not need them as they provided these for you. Is there anything else you would like to add? It has been one of my best holiday's ever, I made new friends with amazing people. We all got along so well which made the trip even better. All the activities were mind blowing and just as I would have imagined it would have been.I never expected the food to be great but it was better than great, the flavours and variety was very impressive. They accommodate food for everyones needs which was very impressive even when we were in the wilderness for an outside lunch.
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• Brian

  · March 5th, 2013
  What a Fantastic Holiday I really enjoyed it. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The Dogs are Fantastic I fell of a few times but that did not matter. When the sled tipped over and I managed to hang on I shouted to the Dogs to wait they looked around at me as if to say OK. Seeing the Northern Lights was very special as well.  What did you think of your group leader? Our Leader for the trip was Yan a German Man what a Great Man so nice and very helpfull as well. He knows his Dogs very well. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? My advice would be to make sure that you take Hand and feet warmers with you. Make sure that you pack plenty of warm clothes to take with you.  Is there anything else you would like to add? I will be going on another Holiday with Exodus soon.
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