Snowshoeing in Finland

This was an excellent holiday at the cosy and warm Oulanka Basecamp. We were provided with clothing that kept us toasty and boots that were very comfortable. The food was locally sourced as much as possible, tasty and filling. Overall, I cannot fault this holiday.

I was looking for a trip that I could go on with my wife who is not happy with camping and wishes to have some degree of comfort. This trip seemed to tick all the boxes with a great balance of activity, plenty downtime and a relative degree of comfort compared to a freezing tent and basic toilet facilities at over 5000 metres up a mountain. The area of Oulanka National Park is one of outstanding beauty, peace and cleanliness with zero pollution. The easy snowshoe walks mainly in pristine forests were enchanting and did not require much in terms of effort or bravery. All instruction and a safety briefing was given and we all felt very secure. Our group of 12 mixed well staying in the comfortable and well heated logging cabin after Exodus changed the accommodation due to an issue at Basecamp Oulanka. Our guides Ismo and Mary Louise were absolutely fantastic. They conveyed their enthusiasm for the beautiful environment and we learnt so much from them in such a short space of time. There was much raucous laughter as our group got to know each other all encouraged by Ismo’s gentle humour. Everything to make us comfortable in the cold in the way of clothing and hot food and drink was provided and the food was tasty, plentiful and varied during the week. The cabin was really warm even when the outdoor temeperature dropped to -26C, hot water for showers was unending, the sauna and an outside roll in the snow was invigorating and the WiFi was good enough to catch up with the news back home and watch content on Netflix when relaxing in the room. Snowshoeing requires no special skills and is a wonderful way to spend a fun week in this enchanting place. We also experienced other optional activities on the 2 free days, including a visit to a reindeer farm, snowmobiling and husky riding, however these are an expensive add on but worth trying. Everything was so well organised that we found our week both relaxing and refreshing. We even ventured out to walk at night on a number of occasions under the light of the moon, hearing the amazing forest sounds and saw the Northern Lights. I can not recommend this trip highly enough.... really great fun!

First time snowshoeing and I’m already hooked! ❄️ Huge thanks to our guide Joonas for giving us the confidence to explore the Finnish wilderness – crossing frozen lakes, trekking through snow-laden forests, navigating tiny bridges over fast-flowing rapids, and sinking into snow up to our knees! What an unforgettable adventure! Basecamp Oulanka itself is a true highlight of this trip – a magical setting where you can step right out of your cabin and into an adventure, with hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at your doorstep! The camp itself is so well-equipped and has every comfort. The cabins are cosy and warm. The main lodge has lots of comfy corners to sit and enjoy a hot drink from the complimentary tea and coffee station after a hike or sit by the fire in the evenings. The sauna and hot tub became part of our daily routine after active days out. I was also impressed by the kit that Basecamp provide, you literally could come with the basics and they will give you everything you need for the whole week. I found the snow boots and snowshoes themselves very comfortable!

The remote forests of Finland are a very peaceful place, and tramping through them in snowshoes is an ideal way to immerse yourself in their tranquillity. The trees are laden with snow and you cannot hear a thing. It feels like a scene from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - you half expect to come across a lamppost and a fawn. The centre is well run, and the guides are absolute enthusiasts and keen to pass one their passion for the trees and the wildlife. At night the stars are bright, and the Northern Lights make an eerie appearance. All in all, a magical place. The UK seems very busy when you get home.

The holiday was fantastic. We saw the Northern Lights at the end of our first full day. Husky sledding was great fun, as was ice climbing. Riisitunturi National Park with its trees bent into strange shapes under the weight of snow was amazing. The accommodation was comfortable and the food was delicious. All the Basecamp staff were friendly and helpful.

A fabulous week in a wonderful place. We were lucky enough to have sunshine and clear skies, so good views of the Northern Lights several nights running. The accommodation is warm and cosy and the food almost too good!

superb holiday.  Fantastic scenery, lots of well organised, enjoyable activities, good accomodation, great leader, loads of good food :-)

A fantastic trip, wonderful experiences, great food and great people.

You really are in the middle of nowhere. The silence was deafening. The Northern Lights obligingly came out at least a couple of nights during the week - they look better through a lens I discovered. The rooms are basic and surprisingly warm - underfloor heating seems to work for the most part even though the temperature outside remained stubbornly well below zero for the majority of the week. The scenery was breathtaking, not exactly mountainous but with so much snow around there were plenty of picture postcard moments. Winter clothing is provided, but the fashion conscious snowshoer (is there such a thing) might be disappointed. It works, that's all you need to know. There are many prepared trails in the area and walking solely on them could have proven to be a bit boring, but thankfully our leader, let's call him M, was happy to go 'off piste'. The walks were a little shorter than I would have liked and the current itinerary is definitely aimed at the beginner. However the last walk of the week - along and around the Little Bear Trail was simply stunning. Sitting around a campfire at lunchtime slurping some piping hot soup from a flask definitely was a plus in my books. There are optional activities on offer - snowmobiling is a definite must for any boy(or girl) racers out there. The visit to the reindeer farm lacked a certain something . . . speed. The reindeer ride was definitely underwhelming - if they'd gone any slower we'd have been travelling backwards. Just as well then that the course was very short indeed. Ruka is the closest urban centre which offers limited but floodlit downhill skiing and a host of winter activities including cross country skiing (it's compulsory in Finland), ice karting and fat biking. Back at basecamp the sauna and hot tub is a good place to unwind at the end of the day, and rub snow all over yourself in between - you'll only do that once! Food in the evening is excellent and there's plenty of it. Drinks are pricey, but this is Scandinavia. Overall a relaxing week away from the hectic life back home. No masks (within basecamp) and if you can leave that phone or tablet alone you really can forget about all that 'covid stuff'. Anybody can snowshoe - only your stamina dictates how far you'll want to go. Enjoy.

5 days very easy snowshoeing over well walked trails. The optional trips were good in particular the hire of a snowmobile in Ruka plus the short dog sledding experience at the Arctic Circle. Accommodation was basic but found that the underfloor heating in the bedroom section was not up to it as the room temperature dropped to +10 with warmest being +14. Would have rated it as Excellent if there had been more chance to walk in virgin snow instead of keeping to previously walked trails. Also lack of fresh fruit at Basecamp.