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!

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5 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

Steve Taylor

Reviewed August 2023

Finland

Great when on holiday but 2 days lost in travelling so 6 day trip became 4. Basecamp and activities and group company good fun. Ville good sociable guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the bears and white water rafting.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ville sociable and skilled leader with lots of knowledge about the flora and fauna.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bear viewing is 4 hours. First 2 hours lively as bears knew the food was out, but after their dinner I think they went for a nap as not much happened after that. I do not think a second trip to bear hide at €150 would have tempted me. Rafting good fun. Prepare to get wet. Good hikes throughout time in Finnish foredts. Did not do husky walk which was substituted by a visit to a reindeer farm. Food and accommodation fine.

Suggestions

Not really. Flight times were rubbish though.

Sandra Davies

Reviewed September 2019

Do it!

This was my first solo trip ….. ever! I needn’t have worried, despite a very tight connection flight, 1 passenger and some luggage (including mine) didn’t make it, everything else was spot on. I understand that this was due to the usual airport being temporarily closed, not a lot Exodus could do about that.
Finland is beautiful, the activities on offer were varied, Basecamp comfortable, the food was good and everyone we met was very friendly.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the bears, we were so lucky with the amount of activity. Mums with cubs, cubs up trees, big bears, little bears .... so many bears. It’s a close run thing between that and the day on the river Kitka.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elina was an absolute delight, she wasted no time reuniting myself and a fellow passenger with our luggage. She also located our missing passenger. I was in a small group of 5, Elina joined in with our silly conversations, got our British ‘humour’, took us out on some amazing walks and felt more like one of the group, than the ‘formal guide’.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t be afraid to do the optional whitewater experience. I had never done any rafting before and absolutely loved it. We were well looked after and the hike up to the viewpoint half way along the river was well worth the puff. I took far too much with me, all you need is some decent walking shoes, the usual walking trousers and tops etc. Dinner is very informal, don’t waste luggage space on smarter stuff for the evening, instead of packing the ‘just in case skirt’ put some Deet in instead, you will need it.

Suggestions

Go along and throw yourself into everything, bears, dogs and rafting, what could possibly go wrong!!

Samantha Cook

Reviewed July 2019

Wilderness Escape

If you want to be immersed in the beautiful Finnish wilderness and escape the frenetic pace of modern life, this is the trip for you. 5 days filled with easy hiking, rafting, husky walks and bear watching. There is also plenty of down time just to soak up the tranquility, take a sauna or take a dip in the lake.
Basecamp Oulanka is the prefect place to recharge your batteries.

Most Inspirational Moment

Bear watching was undoubtedly the highlight for me. I visited the bear hide on 3 evenings (including the optional visit on the last night) and each time the beat activity/behaviour was different. The hide is very comfortable and the photographic opportunities are amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elina was an absolute delight - just a genuinely lovely person & so full of energy and enthusiasm. She worked hard to make sure the group was happy throughout.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring some light, quick drying trousers to go under the ‘fisherman trousers’ provided for the rafting trip. Book the wild rafting option - it’s not as wild as it sounds, grade 3 max although one section is officially classed as grade 4. Mosquito repellent and a hat are a must!

Beth Neill

Reviewed July 2019

Great mix of outdoor activities

Although the bear hide was the lure for us on this trip, the other activities of walking with huskies, rideing the river and walking the forests all made this a brilliant short break. Long days meant we had good evenings watching the bears and time to do things during the day as well. Oulanka base camp was a great venue.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the mother bear with 4 cubs emerge from the woods.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elina was a wonderful leader - she always made sure we were all happy and knew what was going on each day, spending time telling us about local culture.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of mosquito repellant!

Chris Adams

Reviewed August 2018

Amazing trip in Beautiful Finland

Brilliant and well organised trip – seeing bears & cubs was a real highlight, and the accommodation was great. you can do as much (or little) as you like during the free time – go for a swim in the lake, go trekking, canoeing, or just relax and enjoy the scenery. Food was nice and all locally sourced.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Bears and their cubs playing and eating in the late evening sun was brilliant and something I will never forget.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Anna and all the staff at the Basecamp Oulanka were brilliant. Very knowledgeable about wildlife, birds, flowers and anything else that was thrown at them. Always smiling and always happy to help.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take extra batteries for your camera. When you're in the bear hide, you can end up using a lot of battery power while you wait for the bears, as they can come out at any moment. I would also recommend taking an eye-mask as the sun will be up for something like 22 hours per day, so it never really gets dark. Mosquito repellent also a must.