Based at three specialist lodges in the taiga forest of Finland, this self-drive trip offers Europe’s best chance of seeing and photographing brown bear, wolf and wolverine in evocative natural habitat.
Our Bears, Wolves & Wolverines Self-drive trip idea represents an incredible opportunity to explore the untamed wilds and boreal forests of northern Finland at your own pace. Nearly one and half times the size of the UK and with only a fraction of the population, a mere five and a half million, Finland is one of Europe’s least populated countries and still retains much of its natural beauty. This allows you to drive between outstanding wildlife locations through the world’s largest land biome, the taiga forest; 78% of the country is dominated by this coniferous forest and a further 10% comprises lakes, rivers and ponds, making Finland a truly wild destination. It's therefore of little surprise that Finland still holds healthy populations of many of Europe’s remaining large mammals, including Eurasian lynx, Eurasian brown bear, Eurasian wolf, wolverine and elk, particularly along Finland’s Eastern border with Russia.
This suggested itinerary features three lodges within some of the most reliable locations in the world to watch brown bears, wolves and wolverines along with numerous bird species, including the mighty white-tailed eagle, great grey owl, Siberian jay and between their breeding season in April-May, black grouse and capercaillie. Utilising well positioned and comfortable hides provides a remarkable wildlife viewing experience, which is particularly good for photography.
However, this trip is fully customisable, whether you wish to spend more or less time at a certain location, visit Helsinki or maybe include a few nights of luxury wildlife viewing at the Bear Centre Luxury Cabins, we can assist with whatever you have in mind. Speak to our team to find out more about your available options.
Suggested Itinerary
Day1: Fly to Oulu & drive to Martinselkonen Wilderness Lodge
Depart on a flight from London Heathrow to Oulu via Helsinki.
Upon arrival, collect your hire car and begin your self-drive adventure. Driving a distance of 270 kilometres to your accommodation at Martinselkonen Wilderness Lodge, this journey should take approximately three and a half hours.
Note: Depending on flight schedules, you may fly into an alternative airport in Finland.
Day2: Martinselkonen Nature Reserve, overnight in large bear hide
Following breakfast, you can walk in surrounding forest to do some birdwatching and wander amongst summer flowers. In the afternoon, after an early dinner, you're driven to the drop-off point in Martinselkonen Nature Reserve, followed by a walk of nearly two kilometres along a forest track to one of the main hides where you settle in for your first overnight bear watch. The large hide is located by a small swamp and has comfortable seating and viewing for ten people, a sleeping area and compost toilet. The guide will remain with you in the hide until the following morning and is on hand to point out anything of interest.
The first bears often appear soon after 1700hrs, therefore it's advised to have an early dinner to have sufficient time to arrive at the hide and prepare for the night ahead. In spring and summer, this leaves plenty of time for daylight photography. The bears may stay around until the following morning, this means you cannot leave the hide until around 0700hrs - as you have to wait for them to disappear into the forest. The guide will advise when it's safe to leave. Should you prefer, it's possible to visit an evening-only hide, from which you will be guided back at around 2300hrs.
Day3: Martinselkonen Nature Reserve, overnight in bear photography hide
Returning to the lodge in the morning, you can enjoy a hearty breakfast before spending the day at leisure, either catching up on sleep or exploring the surrounding area on foot or by car.
After an early dinner, you're again dropped off in the forest. This time you're guided to one of the small photography hides for your overnight stay and bear watching. Here, there's a good chance of seeing many of the forests' predators. Unlike the main hides where you're accompanied by a guide through the night, in the photography hides you're left until the following morning when the guide returns to collect you around 0700hrs.
The photography hides seat one or two people and have five or six openings for photography, plus a bunk for sleeping and a bucket toilet. They're regularly moved between scenic settings in the forest, to ensure these remain pristine.
Day4: Drive to Boreal Wildlife Centre, Viiksimo, overnight in large hide
Today you drive around 170 kilometres to Boreal Wildlife Centre near Viiksimo, another scenic drive with plenty of opportunities to stop for photography and to see other wildlife including Finnish forest reindeer, elk and birds such as capercaillie.
In the early evening, you're taken to the centre’s large hide by a guide. Unlike Martinselkonen Wilderness Centre, guests are not usually accompanied by a guide in the hides at Boreal Wildlife Centre, and therefore you're collected the following morning around 0700hrs. The large hide seats up to 12 guests, has bunk beds and a compost toilet. It overlooks a large swamp and regularly attracts brown bears, wolverines and even wolf.
The forest at Boreal Wildlife Centre is also a great location for viewing elk, Finnish forest reindeer, beaver, capercaillie and golden eagle.
Accommodation: Boreal Wildlife Centre, 2-nights
Day5: Boreal Wildlife Centre, overnight in bear photography hide
After returning from your hide to the lodge you can enjoy breakfast, before spending the day at leisure, now is a great time to rest and revitalise or explore the surrounding forest on foot or by car, keeping a constant look out for resident wildlife in their natural habitats.
As with the previous day, after an early dinner you're driven to a drop-off point in the Viiksimo area and then walk a short distance to one of the photography hides where you settle in for a night of wildlife watching. Some of these hides, such as the three hides located in the forest area, include bunk beds and a compost toilet, whilst others are similar to what you will have experienced at Martinselkonen Wilderness Lodge.
Day6: Drive to Base Camp Kuikka, overnight in wildlife hide
Today you drive south to your third and most rustic wilderness lodge, Base Camp Kuikka, near Kivikiekintie, a distance of approximately 30 kilometres that will likely take around one hour. The journey is particularly beautiful and en route you pass a viewing tower from which it's possible to witness stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Again, it's necessary to keep your eyes peeled as there's the possibility of encountering a variety of species during the journey, particularly elk.
In the afternoon, you're transferred to a hide for another night of wildlife watching and photography. As with Boreal Wildlife Centre, you're transferred to the hides after dinner. Again, you're not accompanied in the hides by a guide and are collected the following morning. The lodge has 20 hides located throughout the forest, each seating between two and five guests. Some hides have bunk beds, while others have roll mats. The toilet is typically in a covered area to the rear.
Though Base Camp Kuikka is the simplest of the lodges we use, it offers the very best chance of seeing bear, wolverine and wolf.
Accommodation: Base Camp Kuikka, 2-nights
Day7: Base Camp Kuikka, overnight in wildlife hide
Upon your return to the lodge, breakfast is served and once again, you have the day to spend at leisure or catching up on sleep. With your own car, you can explore the surrounding forests or relax on site with a sauna and a swim in the lake. Following an early dinner, you're taken to a different hide to the previous evening, where you can spend the night watching bears and the forest’s other charismatic wildlife.
Day8: Return to Oulu & fly back to the UK
After your final night in the hide, you return to the lodge for a quick breakfast and a chance to freshen up before beginning the 320-kilometre drive back to Oulu airport, where you drop off your hire car and board your flight home via Helsinki.
Key info
Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 8 daysfrom £2,495 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 8 daysfrom £1,995 pp
Single supplement:
On request – please contact us.
This reserve is one of the best places in Europe to photograph brown bears. Hides are located in sparse coniferous forest beside a small bog and, lured by carrion, bears can be seen at night from as close as five metres away. During the day there are nature walks, with good opportunities for birdwatching.
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Where: Pirttivaara, Suomussalmi
Ideal for viewing: brown bear, elk, wolverine, black grouse, capercaillie
Located in Finland's Kuhmo region, directly opposite the Russian border, Kuikka Lake is surrounded by boreal forest, the typical habitat of brown bear, wolverine, wolf and white-tailed eagle. The surroundings are composed of wetlands and open grassland, offering good visibility for spotting wildlife.
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Where: Kuhmo
Ideal for viewing: brown bear, wolverine, white-tailed eagle, Eurasian wolf, Ural owl
Viiksimo is located between two nature reserves – Elimyssalo and Iso-Palonen – in an area that is a tapestry of small lakes, numerous ponds, pine heaths and eskers. Right in the midst of the Finnish wilderness, it is a great place to watch and photograph bears, wolverines and wolves.
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Where: Kuhmo
Ideal for viewing: brown bear, wolverine, grey wolf, elk, whooper swan
Excellent for: Wildlife photography, Bear watching, Wolf watching
Suggested accommodation options are shown below.
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for further recommendations.
Base Camp Kuikka is a traditional Finnish log cabin situated on a promontory in Kuikka Lake, in the middle of the forest. It has just nine rooms accommodating 20 guests and offers a convivial, rustic atmosphere, with various photographic hides nearby where you can watch for bears, wolves and eagles.
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These hides are occupy a fantastic position two kilometres inside the forest, from where you can listen to and photograph bears at close range. Two purpose-built wooden buildings accommodate nine people each and offer comfortable seating, with basic bunk beds. Smaller professional hides are also available.
Find Out More about Martinselkonen Nature Reserve Bear Hides
