This 6-day tour offers a special opportunity to photograph Finland’s most iconic predators from remote hides, backdropped by the stunning wilderness of the snow-covered boreal forest.
Early spring is a magical time for wildlife photography in northern Finland, with lengthening days illuminating forests still cloaked in winter snow. On this carefully timed tour, we spend our nights in specialist wildlife hides set in prime habitat, giving us exceptional opportunities to photograph the region’s most iconic predators. As brown bears emerge from hibernation, we hope to capture striking images of them against the pristine white landscape, while also watching for wolf and solitary wolverine moving silently through the frozen forest.
Led by an expert wildlife photographer, this unique edition of our Boreal Predators Photography tour offers the chance to create a striking portfolio of dramatic, snow-framed wildlife images.
As well as observing boreal predators in early spring, we also offer photography group tours to this incredible part of Finland in Summer and Autumn.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Fly to Kajaani & transfer to lodge
We take a flight to Kajaani in Finland, via Helsinki. We're then transferred to our remote accommodation beside Kuikka Lake, where we settle into our rooms and enjoy dinner.
Accommodation: Base Camp Kuikka, 5-nights
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Day 2:
Photography from the hides
Today begins with a hearty Finnish breakfast, followed by time to organise camera gear and prepare for our first overnight photography session in the hides.
In the late afternoon, we travel a short distance to the hides and settle in. The landscape at this time of year is still beautifully blanketed in snow, creating a clean, wintry backdrop that offers unique photographic opportunities of the region’s iconic predators.
We aim to make the most of the lengthening daylight hours by eating and sleeping in the hides so we're always ready when the wildlife appears. Encounters can happen at any moment, and we hope that this very first night will bring opportunities to photograph brown bear, grey wolf, and the elusive wolverine.
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Days 3-5
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Photographing bears, wolves & wolverines
Our next days follow the same format, heading out for photography sessions around the optimum times for wildlife activity and the most photogenic light.
After returning from the hides each morning, the daytime hours are yours to rest, back up and review images, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings of our remote camp. For those with energy to spare, there may also be opportunities to return to the hides for short daytime photography sessions, and our expert photographic leader will be on hand to offer advice.
In the late afternoons, we head back out to the hides, settling in for more wildlife photography. With around eight hours of daylight spanning late afternoon, evening and early morning, along with the chance of stunning sunsets and sunrises, we enjoy long periods of beautiful photographic light.
Spending so much time in the hides maximises our chances of memorable encounters, and we should get some fantastic photos of brown bears that have recently emerged from hibernation, grey wolf interacting, and wolverine prowling the frozen landscape. We hope to capture a portfolio of powerful portraits and dramatic behaviours, all with the spectacular white backdrop of pristine boreal forest blanketed in snow.
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Day 6:
Fly back to the UK
After a final breakfast at Kuikka, we transfer back to Kajaani, and fly back to the UK via Helsinki.
Please note: Wildlife is extremely wary around people, and patience is an absolute must – we can be in the hides all night. The exact itinerary may change depending on individual preferences and our success in the hides.
