Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Husky safari in Finland, independent reviews
 Reviewed 5 Jan 2009 by Selina Bolton |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being with the huskies... travelling through the snow in the National Park - they had bags of personality and it was an absolute joy to be with them.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Finnish Sauna includes bucket showers - so don't forget your shower gel... we didn't know having only used saunas in gyms so thought they were just hot, dry rooms. It is an exceedingly pleasant way to end the day.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, our guide was entirely reliant on the husky holiday season for her income. We travelled with a very light footprint - everything recycled. The cabins were great - did not miss electricity or running water - they were toasty and comfortable and the short-drop loos were perfectly fine. Also, spoke to staff in Ice Hotel - their livelihood also entirely dependent on tourist trade. They spend the summer repairing / preparing for winter season.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Exceptional. From the moment we arrived at the Harriniva we were very well looked after. The Wilderness Centre was very comfortable. We were well kitted out in terms of snow clothes. We had the best guide - Katrin - she made the 5-day husky safari; it was very well organised, she was a fabulous hostess. The quality of the food was excellent throughout. I think it's been a 5-star adventure and I've been on a fair few treks across the world. The husky safari and Harriniva out shone the Ice Hotel by far. While the staff were very pleasant and we appreciated the warm room / sauna, the food was very poor in comparison. The hotel and restaurant were not particularly busy but the food seemed to be some mass produced packet exercise.
| Reviewed 19 Apr 2009 by Angela Connell | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Husky safari - amazing experience.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don’t worry too much about the cold, gear provided is very good, safari huts were very comfortable and guides knowledge and experience excellent.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Would not say this was a major aspect of the holiday, certainly environmental impact was minimal and tour was run by a local operator.
| Reviewed 26 Jan 2009 by Alex Parr | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The extreme cold, the huskies, the warm huts, the good food, saunas.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take extra face protection, the warmer you are the better. Also take gloves with fingers to go underneath the mitts. It's easier taking photos and harnessing huskies with finger gloves than mitts.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes- absolutely.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic!
| Reviewed 28 Mar 2008 by Simon Patton | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being in the Finnish mountains, miles from anywhere and any normal civilisation, lying on a reindeer skin with a husky curled up next to me, looking at the amazing scenery and just seeing snow as far as the eye could see. Truly beautiful.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The equipment they provide you with is top notch so all you really need is thermals, fleece tops and tracksuits pants. Some comfy shoes for the huts too. They even give you a bag to put all your gear in so you don't have to take a suitcase on the sled, so your pack doesn't smell of dog, and this helps in airport security! Also, a good camera helps. All the snow reflects the sun so much, pics on a poor quality camera can just come out all white. And when taking pics, take your goggles/sunglasses off. You get so used to having them on, you forget how bright it actually is!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Our guide, Petri, did his best to take us the 'local way' rather than the tourist routes and he bought food off the local people also whilst we were on the trail.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic. Worth every penny, although it was a lot harder than you think!
| Reviewed 4 May 2009 by Anthea Whitton | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The dogs & the sledding!! The dogs - they have the most amazing strength and stamina and they were always keen to get going. The sledding - one moment balancing on one runner going down hill round a tight bend (exhilarating), the next enjoying the scenery as you sled across a flat, frozen lake and let any worries evaporate (relaxing).
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This is an active holiday in the sense you need to be fit enough to husky sled all day and then to muck in with chopping meat for the dogs, feeding the dogs, chopping wood for the fire, fetching water from the lake, cleaning the cabin in the morning and so on. However, don't worry if you're not super fit. A lot of our group (including me) were anxious about this and it was fine (the dogs do all the aerobic work!). You do need good strong, supple ankle and knee joints and a sense of balance. Do follow the advice given in the preparation sheet - all the advice re buying wool thermals, wearing wool sweaters etc is spot on. Do remember toiletries; it seems to be a common misconception that no running water means no washing (!) but it's easy to have a make shift shower in the saunas at each cabin. Do take a head torch. I'd also recommend taking a pack of playing cards for evening entertainment. If you're going to have a spare afternoon at the beginning or a spare day at the end plan your activity in advance. I did cross country skiing and snow mobiling - both were great fun.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Must have provided income for the area. Husky sledding wouldn't appear to do much environmental damage. Not sure about the snow-mobile though.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic. Dogs, the outdoors, constant activity and a chance to get away from it all - wonderful.
| Reviewed 8 Feb 2007 by Dawn Johnston | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The complete freedom off being out on the trail! All the problems of the 'real world' seem a million miles away as you glide along behind the dogs through stunning scenery. Being in charge of your own team is a real highlight. It really makes you feel like you're on an adventure. By the end of the week I had really bonded with my dogs. If possible stay on a few more nights to try the snowmobiles reindeer safaris and stay in the igloo (but take a pillow). It's also possible to try night time riding which is amazing. We were lucky enough to see the full moon and the Northern lights as we trekked through the forest.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The temperature can drop very low especially in January/February so bring plenty of thermal underwear and lots of thin clothes that can be layered up. When you think you've got enough layers on put on one more! A good head torch is always handy, swimwear for the saunas, wet wipes, also a small camera bag/case that can be worn under your coat is great for keeping cameras/batteries warm. But the most important thing you can bring is a sense of adventure the more you throw your self into it the more you will get out of it!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I'm not sure how much locals benefited other than to bring money into the area. The impact on the environment is definitely minimized. All trails are clearly marked, well looked after and kept to. You try to leave no evidence you were ever there!
4. Any other comments?
We all had an amazing time it was so much more than we ever though it would be. Harriniva is a friendly well run hotel where the staff are always willing to help. I would recommend this trip to anyone! I got a lot more out of it than i ever thought i would and would do it all again tomorrow given the chance!
| Reviewed 6 Jan 2007 by Karl Jones | |
My wife and I went to Finland on a six day husky safari over Xmas week. There were 7 in the group, plus the guide, Ralph, an East German chap who knew everything there was to know about survival in the cold. He also knew a lot about caring for the dogs - our only way of getting back home. We stayed at a different cabin each night and covered about 150km. The cabins were basic, but lovely and warm when the fires got going - most nights we had to try and cool the cabin down so that we were able to sleep (even though it was -23 outside).1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Holding on to the sleigh as it was pulled through the woods by the huskies - desperate to please and loving every minute.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You have to be fit - it's lots more "Ray Mears" than you think. Don't think that there will be much time for relaxation; there are dogs to feed, water to fetch and logs to cut. Everything takes longer in the Arctic, because everything is frozen. For example - to feed the dogs you have to cut up the frozen meat with an axe, make a hole in the ice to get water, carry the water to the boiler and make a fire to boil the water - the water is then used to defrost the meat. I was not prepared for all of the hard work initially, and after the first day I wanted to come home - but then the group all found their own tasks to do and each night got easier and easier - after the second night I loved it!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Northern Finland is desperate for more tourists so that they can protect the environment from the really serious loggers who will build big roads and destroy huge areas of land - and get rid of the reindeer herders.
