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Photographing Bears

From £891

Excluding Flights

4 Nights

May-Sep

Overview

Few animals capture the imagination or tempt the shutter like the magnificent brown bear and there is no better place to witness them than in their varied natural habitat near Kuhmo, Eastern Finland. Designed with nature photographers in mind, this four-night break is dedicated to the discovery and observation of these incredible animals.

There are few animals who are as photogenic as the brown bear. With their casual strength, they are rarely seen during the day and you’ll need a special set of circumstances to observe and photograph this private animal. Whether they are foraging for food, showing off their skills as climbers by clambering up a tree, or playing and scratching in the short summer nights, the only way to see and, of course, photograph these elusive wonders is patience.

With overnights spent in the specially built hides, this is the perfect setting for the dedicated photographer to wait out these magnificent animals.

During the day, accommodation is provided in the guesthouse, where you will find basic single and twin bedded rooms, there are sauna facilities and swimming is possible in the nearby lake.

When to Travel

The viewing season stretches from May to September but for serious photographers, June and July offer optimum light conditions.

Wild Brown Bear Guesthouse

Relax in the guesthouse during the day and enjoy the sauna or take a swim in the lake.  By night head to the hides, around 700m from the guesthouse and keep watch for the bears.

The hides

The hides are equipped with comfortable viewing chairs and an amplification system to aid listening to the animals as well as a sleeping area with dry toilet facilities. Remember to bring binoculars, tripod, bean bag or ball head (screw supplied).

Wildlife and wilderness

But it isn’t just the nights that offer photographic opportunities. The days stretch from twelve to sixteen hours and are complimented by two to four hours of twilight which provide ample opportunity to experiment with different light. This is also the heart of the Finnish wilderness and other than bears you might be able to capture the beauty of the wolverine, the majesty of a reindeer, or the fluttering concentration of a sparrowhawk. With a renowned nature photographer on hand to provide advice and share stories, you are bound to leave with a memory card full of unique and stunning photos.

Itinerary

On arrival at Kajaani you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Wild Brown Bear lodge in time for late dinner. Overnight at the guesthouse.

After a morning sauna and breakfast, the day is spent at leisure, enjoying the amazing Finnish wilderness. Hiking, rowing, fishing, or photographing the incredible scenery with the crystal northern light all fill these long days with plenty of activity. After an early dinner and briefing, you will head into the hides, which are only 700 metres from the lodge. Here, everyone will settle down for a night of wildlife observation and photography.

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and transfer to Kajaani for your flight.

Prices & departures

What's Included

  • 3 nights in bear hide (with shared facilities) with use of guesthouse facilities

  • Guesthouse accommodation

  • All breakfasts, all dinners, 1 snack

  • Services of a local wildlife expert

  • 24 hour emergency assistance from our team during your holiday

  • No surcharge guarantee

  • Full financial protection

From £891 Excluding Flights

4 Nights

May-Sep

Prices are per person based upon 2 sharing, subject to availability. Your Travel Specialist will confirm the exact price based upon your tailored requirements, inclusions, and travel dates.

Our holiday prices exclude flights. Why? Because we want to offer you the best value, tailored to your needs. Flight prices and offers change daily, so when you’re ready to book, we’ll provide a bespoke quote based on the best options from your local airport. This way, you’ll always get the best prices and the flexibility to choose what works for you.

Make this trip yours

Every trip you see here can be adapted to suit you using inside-out knowledge to create one-off experiences created just for you.

Freya
1

Quarter Swiss

18

Countries travelled in by rail

We create holidays that are as individual as you are. And we’ve been doing it for 40 years, crafting each and every holiday using our in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm for our destinations. Whatever your brief, we’ll create an amazing trip for you to get excited about. That might mean adapting one of our existing itineraries or we’ll build you one from scratch. 

Experts with real experience