Overview:
Wild Taiga area has a great expanse of untouched wilderness which offers exceptional wildlife watching and photographing. Under the guidance of a wilderness guide it is one of the best areas in Europe for seeing and photographing the rare large carnivores in their natural habitat.
Meeting the ‘Wild Brown Bear’ in its natural environment is an unforgettable experience and of course for photography enthusiasts an opportunity to take the shot of a lifetime from the comfort and safety of our specially designed Bear hides. The ‘Brown Bear’ and other rare animals such as the wolverine or the wild forest deer can be seen from specially designed hides.
Holiday price is from £ 1,595 per person based on availability and 2 persons sharing a standard double/twin room.
2024 Departure Dates:
| Departure dates |
Departure |
Arrival |
Arrive |
Leave |
| 01 May - 30 Sep (excl. 14 - 28 Jul) |
London |
Kajaani |
Daily |
Daily |
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Kajaani
Arrival to Kajaani airport and transfer to accommodation at Lakeside Hotel Kalevala in Kuhmo. At night, evening sauna with jacuzzi followed by dinner.
Day 2: Wild Brown Bear Adventure
After breakfast there is a visit to Petola Nature Centre which is a large carnivore centre, where you also have an entrance to the exhibition “Predators on the prowl”. This permanent exhibition has comprehensive information on Finnish predators such as bears, wolves, wolverines and lynxes. The information section presents a wide range of information related to many interesting aspects of large carnivores. The visit also includes a 30 minute film “Large carnivores in the border region”.
At around 3PM we move even closer to the Russian border for bear watching. Upon arrival to the main lodge there is information about the hides and bears, and other animals which are possible to observe. You will have an early dinner before leaving to the bear hide. At 5PM you will move from the main building to the hides. All hides are equipped with viewing chairs, sleeping areas and dry toilets. They are situated in a small, open wetland area with a backdrop of spruce pine and birch forest. For photographers the site offers excellent photography opportunities: there is about twelve to sixteen hours of direct sunlight and two to four hours of twilight in the viewing season.
The package includes refreshments and sandwiches in the hides, sleeping bags and a personal tour guide. Recommended equipment includes: clothing according to the weather forecast, binoculars and a camera. Please note that smoking is not allowed during the night.
Day 3: Optional Activities or Relaxing
After an interesting observation night there is a transfer back to Hotel Kalevala for breakfast. After a little rest you have a free afternoon for optional activities such as hiking, fishing or bicycling. You can also relax and enjoy the Finnish weather. You can book activities at the Hotel reception. After an evening sauna and jacuzzi, there is dinner at the hotel for the final night of the trip.
Day 4: Departure Day
After breakfast there is a transfer to the airport for departure.
Package Includes:
- Return flights from London Heathrow to Kajaani on Finnair (other UK airports upon request)
- 1 piece of check-in luggage (up to 23 kg)
- Airport transfers from/to Kajaani Airport
- 2 nights of accommodation in Hotel Kalevala with half board
- Bear watching night in a bear hide with snacks
- Free entance to Petola Visitor Centre and exhibition
- Free use of bicycles, rowing boat, summer games and Wi-Fi
- 24-hour emergency service
- ATOL Protection
- All taxes
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Transportation
Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.
Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.
Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7. Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive. It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.
We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.