Customer Review

Nothing was too much trouble. All your staff and those at Nellim were great. Special thanks to Graham in the office without whom we would never have made it to Finland. Quincy is an amazing ambassador for your company. Most enjoyable has to be the Northern Lights as this was the main reason for our trip, and each evening everything was so well organised. But every activity we did was amazing. Everything was fabulous, thank you.

What a magic experience. Even though the Aurora Lights did not appear the package was an excellent offering. I would have stayed an additional day, time allowing, to experience the snowmobile ride. The husky dog sled ride was top notch. To be in charge of a team of six huskies was an experience not forgotten easily.

We enjoyed this holiday so much that we want to go back again. We were extremely lucky and saw the Northern Lights five nights out of seven. Two nights were absolutely brilliant and we have lots of photos to show for it. The day trips were excellent, giving one an insight into how the Finnish people live and get around. I enjoyed the dog sledding, the snowmobile and the reindeer excursions. I thought the chalets were excellent, they had everything one needed. The food in the restaurant was good, and if you didn't want what was offered they would provide an alternative. Our guide was excellent - a little serious to begin with until we saw our first Northern Lights and then he relaxed. He was very good, ensuring that everyone was able to get some good photographs. We look forward to the next trip!

The Aurora Camps, partly because we saw the Aurora so much. The camps were, however, very enjoyable experiences in their own right, as they involved heading out at night in a variety of ways (including snowshoeing and snowmobiling) and then sitting around a campfire in the wilderness. The husky sledding was also great fun. It's hard to think of anything (improvements). It was a really excellent holiday.  We were extremely lucky to be in Finland during a period of intense Aurora activity, so that made the holiday extra-special. Nonetheless, the hotel is excellent and all the activities are great fun in themselves, meaning that the enjoyment of the holiday isn't solely dependent on whether you see the Northern Lights. All the guides and staff were very knowledgeable and helpful, so we were very well looked after.

We have had the most marvellous few days at Muotka, it's remote and idyllic. The staff are superb hosts and always friendly and helpful. Food great, rooms and facilites excellent, I don't think there is much that could improve this place. The trips and activities were well organised and brilliant fun, we particularly enjoyed the dog sledding on Sunday. The guides were knowledgable and alway punctual and we appreciated the time and effort put into talks given at Muotka and at the reindeer and husky farms. Just to add icing to the cake we were treated to two nights of glorious Northern Lights, it was truely magical.  Our only problem was a 7+ hours flight delay at Heathrow with Finnair, a missed connection and an overnighter in Helsinki. Aurora Zone were quickly on the case and had started our compensation claim with Finnair by the following day, informing us by letter personally delivered by Quincy the tour rep. We felt we were in really good hands. Kevin and Lesley

We were impressed with the professionalism of the activity guides. In particular, we would single out Tuomas. He was very knowledgeable & also patient. We enjoyed both the snowmobiling & husky sledging. They were both completely new & different experiences for us & gave that all important adrenalin rush!

We have had the best holiday we have ever had! This was a truely remarkable experience and we loved every single thing about it! I loved the snow mobiling as I got to go really fast across the frozen lakes! My husband loved the huskies as he is a big dog lover. 100% perfect.  I really can't sing the praises of the whole experience and all the people highly enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We saw the Lights every night! I would say that there is a little more to the local area for walks to the village and the rapids in the other direction - I was nervous we would not have much to do on our free days but I think there was lots to keep us occupied so I think you can say this to other holiday makers. The staff and guides etc at Harriniva were truly excellent. We are missing everyone and everything!

Just thought we'd drop you a quick email now we're back and have been able to fully digest the wonderful trip we had to Finland. Everything about the process was great - it was fantastic to secure a cabin and also get two extra nights arranged at the start of the trip, which gave us extra time to relax and explore the area around the hotel. The week's activities were great fun, especially the husky sledding, which we both absolutely loved! So much so that we were keen to repeat the experience and the local team was very helpful in swopping our schedule about so we could fit another trip in out on the ice with the dogs. Add to this several spectacular bits of luck. Firstly with the delightful cabin we stayed in, virtually brand new and a picture-prefect gingerbread-house look set alongside the woodland. The private sauna inside was just right for warming up after cold days or easing tired muscles. Secondly the timing of our stay, coincidentally, with the solar eclipse and when that day dawned clear and bright we knew we'd have a great view - as it turned out whilst stood in a paddock full of reindeer milling around us. The hotel had also thoughtfully obtained some pieces of welding glass so that everyone could have a safe view of the shadow progressing over the sun. And thirdly, the beautiful Aurora we witnessed virtually every night, including three amazing displays that will live long in our memories. Add to this a friendly, comfortable hotel with lovely staff and guides, great company, and delicious food there really isn't much that could ever improve on the trip we had. Friends and family have been awed by the stories we have been telling them and pictures we have shared - so much so that we've directed several to your website. It was such a special trip, thank you again. Magnus & Helen Hird – Nellim AITW 14 March 15

Favourite activity: The snowmobiles, which my husband really enjoyed. I thoroughly enjoyed the husky safari. The dogs seemed to be part of the natural world and in harmony with the forest. And of course the 3 nights of excellent Auroras - we were so lucky.

Overall holiday rating: Excellent; I enjoyed all of the activities. Having never experienced any of them before, everything I did was good. The guides on every one of the activities made the experience extra special, lots of local knowledge.

All staff at the lodge were excellent; they were very friendly and worked tirelessly to ensure we had an enjoyable holiday. Snowmobile safari to reindeer farm (was our favourite activity); a long and enjoyable day through a winter wonderland and chance to see reindeers. It was made perfect with a clear sunny day.

Overall holiday rating: excellent. Most enjoyable (activity) : husky sledding, as it's something I’ve always dreamed of doing. Least enjoyable: cross-country skiing, as I'm just not good at skiing. Improvements: everything was perfect. Additional comments: best holiday ever!

Really found the staff at the hotel delightful. They were enthusiastic, knowledgeable, hard working and seemed to be able to turn their hands to anything that needed done in the lodge. I'd go back like a shot for a longer time. Loved all activities, best was probably husky sledding which was much more fun than expected and none of us fell off!

What a great trip! Both the British and the local guides could not have been more friendly, genuine and patient and they were great fun as well. We shall remember the good natured banter for a long time. Tales of reindeer parliaments, exploding sausages, girls ice hockey teams and unrequited love were particular highlights. Next Valentine's Day I shall carve a wooden flower for my beloved and see if I have more luck! The accommodation and food were excellent and the trips were exhilarating, well-organised and safe. I never expected to see an indignant husky but that's the expression we got every time we used the brake - they seemed to want to run for ever. The clouds lifted and the Northern Lights kicked off in glorious fashion on our first night and the following two as well, finishing with an impressive display right over the hotel! At the end we left with new friends and vivid memories and hope to return soon. 

The husky safari was by far the most enjoyable thing! We had a brilliant sunny day, and setting off across the deserted landscape with not a cloud in the sky was just the most amazing experience. The dogs themselves were so friendly as well and just wanted to run!  I wouldn't say it was un-enjoyable, but I found the cross-country skiing hard work! It might just be because I had only slept four hours that night because of the flight delay, and had not long done two hours of snowshoeing, but if I had to choose, it would be the skiing. In all honesty, I don't think there are any improvements to make. We had the seven hour delay at Heathrow, and you guys were onto Finnair and updating us with information more than the airline was! You also started enquiring about compensation before we'd even got home! So although there were problems which were out of your control, the way you guys handled them all was just amazing. Couldn't have asked for more.

Everything about the holiday was what we hoped for and more - I would recommend it 100%. The most enjoyable part was the dog sledging without a doubt, it was a fantastic experience!!!! The least enjoyable activity for me was the cross-country skiing, only because I was hopeless at it and when I fell down I couldn’t get up again; that was due to previous riding accident injuries, however we did have lots of fun trying!!!!! There is nothing at all I would have changed about this holiday, it was perfect.

The sled and husky driving experience was fantastic because the opportunity to drive your own sled pulled by huskies happens once in a lifetime. The dogs were great and even sitting in the sled while my husband was in control was amazing because I could take pictures of everything around me. Overall my husband and I had a fantastic break and we saw the lights every night.

Fantastic trip. Katrina was extremely friendly and welcoming. Hotel basic but comfortable. Alan was great for the tours, enthusiastic and encouraging. Nice mix of activities and time to relax. Food was good, and plentiful. Would have maybe liked tea and coffee facilities in the room. Treated to a fantastic display of the Northern Lights on the last night. Snowmobiling was amazing. Huskies a fantastic experience. Loved the campfire by the lake after nightime snowmobiling. Can't choose the best activity!

Activity guide Alan was in particular very good. Draw between the husky experience/safari and the snowmobile safari (across the frozen lakes) as favourite activity and the fab light show on the last night.

Reindeer farm visit, day with reindeer herders and husky sledging - great activities with the animals and knowledgeable hosts. Also spectacular Aurora on five out of six nights... just brilliant, enjoyed it all. Holiday was excellent from start to finish. We'd particularly like to thank Graham Hughes for his help in sorting our booking; to the guides Markku, Becky and the team in Inari for making our holiday so enjoyable and to the Hotel Kultahovi hosts and team for great hospitality.

This was an absolutely fantastic trip - we loved just about every minute of it. We saw the Aurora Borealis in truly splendid form, and the dog sledding, ICEHOTEL and the area itself were absolutely mind-blowing. 

We enjoyed all the activities, our guides were excellent, really helpful. We enjoyed the reindeer sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoe hiking, cross-country skiing and the husky sledding. The Aurora alert is an excellent idea. We know that we were extremely lucky to have had an excellent show of the Northern Lights, but it was this that made our holiday go from a brilliant activity holiday, to a BREATHTAKING AMAZING STELLAR EXPERIENCE.

This is one of the best holidays I've been on; we had a brilliant time, and were very lucky to see the Northern Lights four nights out of six. Everything ran very smoothly, the activities were great and the staff, guides and rep all very friendly and professional. The husky safari was a brilliant morning spent with these amazing animals taking in some beautiful Arctic scenery. What could be better!

I have quite a number of food intolerances and the lodge catered for me really well, with varied and tasty dishes. Husky sledding - I love dogs and it was such a unique way to see Lapland, lots of fun steering the sled too! Loved it!

The trip was extremely well organised and successful for us in every way. We would comment that the group size (10) was perfect and think that 12 would be a maximum number to get the full benefit of all the activities, bearing in mind the amount of time needed to prepare for those activities.

I really enjoyed 'mushing' my own team of dogs on the husky safari - but the absolute highlight was getting to see the Northern Lights twice during the trip.

For myself the whole holiday was enjoyable. Obviously seeing the lights was an added bonus and seeing them three nights out of four was more of a bonus. The trip to the forest on the snowmobiles was for me, magical, especially when all the headlights went out and you could see the sky, the stars and 'hear' the silence. I honestly do not think that there was a time when I did not enjoy myself. The whole holiday was amazing and even sitting here now typing this, I am thinking about what I was doing this time last week! The rep, Katrina was so friendly and helpful and should be praised. The person who put the icing on the cake, was the guide, Alan who was absolutely amazing. By the end of the trip, you felt as though he was part of your friendship circle and he made every activity accessible for all and helped me realise a lot of things.

Without exception, all the staff were friendly, helpful and courteous. Our activity guides (Jorno and Terhi) were super - caring and supportive - and the restaurant staff couldn't do enough for us and were very informative. Having seen the other locations, I'm really pleased we chose this holiday; so quiet and intimate. The Arctic clothing really worked well - I didn't need my handwarmers. The Aurora alarms were worth their weight in gold. After the night-time reindeer safari with a cloudy sky, we were about to return to our cabin, when we were alerted to the beginning of a stupendous display.

We had an amazing holiday spending many hours of darkness out on the ice and were very lucky to see the Aurora 5 nights out of 7 with two spectacular corona displays. Scotty was an exceptional guide taking us on some great snowshoe hikes and exceptional Aurora hunt.

Dog sledding - I love dogs and this was a magical way to cross the countryside! Also the Sámi visit - Maria is very knowledgeable and makes great reindeer soup! Loved hearing about all the superstitions that the Sámi have as well.  The staff at the Abisko Mountain Lodge are fantastic.