Brown Bear Explorer

8 Days

Highlights

• Bear watching from hides in the middle of the forest
• Chance to see wolf, moose and wolverine
• Activities including walking, boating and saunas

Finnish wilderness is a tapestry of thousands of crystal-clear lakes, forest canopies and mountain slopes. This provides the perfect habitat for 430 bird species, 115,000 moose, 200 wolves and... 900 brown bears! During this one-week holiday you will have excellent opportunities to see many of these animals, with the help of expert guides.

We've chosen the two areas especially; one being excellent for bears and the other wolves, to increase your chances of sightings. You'll be full of anticipation in the hides, hopefully spotting bears amid the purity and tranquillity of Finland's northern forests.

Day 1. Depart UK for Kajaani, via Helsinki

Transfer to Boreal Wildlife Centre in the middle of the northern Finnish wilderness

Day 2. Walks and bear hides

Guided nature walk. Tonight is your first night in a bear hide, in the silence of the Taiga Forest

Day 3. Bear viewing

Return to the lodge; afternoon free to relax or enjoy an optional nature reserve visit before a second evening hide adventure, waiting for wolf, wolverine, golden eagle and, of course, bear watching

Day 4. Petola Visitor Centre. Martinselkonen Wilds Centre

Transfer to the Petola Visitor Centre, spotting wild forest reindeer en-route. Continue to Martinselkonen Nature Reserve, Pirttivaara

Day 5. Martinselkonen Wilds Centre

Guided walk in the Martinselkonen Nature Reserve to learn about Finnish natural habitats, before another exciting night in a hide

Day 6. Bird-spotting & Overnight hide

Morning bird-spotting - maybe see the rare Siberian jay - and evening spent in a hide, your last chance to see brown bear up-close

Day 7. Optional boat ride

Optional boat ride followed by an evening spent watching for moose in a special hide. Lodge accommodation

Day 8. Depart Finland for UK