Finland Bear Watching Holidays

Natures Thrill Wildlife Specialists | 30+ years guiding Finland | 10 min read

Our team of specialist travel consultants has more than three decades of combined experience creating unforgettable holidays to Finland. We have travelled the length and breadth of the country in search of its most remarkable wildlife experiences, developing an unrivalled depth of first-hand knowledge along the way.

Through close partnerships with Finland’s leading wildlife lodges, guides and conservation-focused operators, we can take you deep into the country’s wildest landscapes and provide exceptional opportunities to observe its iconic wildlife.

Whether you choose one of our guaranteed-departure small-group tours, led by expert wildlife photographers and guides, or a completely bespoke tailor-made itinerary, our team has the experience, local knowledge and trusted connections required to create your perfect Finnish wildlife adventure.

Where you’ll stay

Carefully Selected Wildlife Accommodation

1 Martinselkonen

Martinselkonen Wilds Centre is a family-run wildlife lodge founded in 1991. It is located in the municipality of Suomussalmi, beside the protected Martinselkonen Nature Reserve and close to Finland’s remote eastern border.

The centre was established by retired border guard Markku Määttä and his wife, Oili, and has since become one of Finland’s best-known bear-watching destinations. Its carefully positioned hides provide outstanding opportunities to observe and photograph wild brown bears, with the area being particularly renowned for sightings of mothers with young cubs during the summer months.

Look out for

2 Boreal Wildlife Centre

The Boreal Wildlife Centre offers excellent opportunities to watch and photograph some of Finland’s most elusive mammals. Wolverines and Eurasian brown bears are frequent visitors to the surrounding area, while Eurasian wolves are also occasionally encountered.

The wider region supports an impressive variety of wildlife, including elk, Finnish forest reindeer and beavers. Birdwatching opportunities can include golden eagles and capercaillies, with the early spring courtship season being an especially rewarding time to observe the latter.

With a selection of both spacious observation hides and smaller photography hides, the Boreal Wildlife Centre is particularly well suited to guests hoping to experience and photograph Finland’s charismatic wolverines.

Look out for

3 BearCentre

Located in the remote wilderness of Vartius, Kuhmo, the Bear Centre is one of Europe’s leading destinations for bear watching and wildlife photography. Since 1999, it has specialised in providing memorable, close-range encounters with wild brown bears and wolverines in their natural environment.

Surrounded by extensive forests, wetlands and peaceful lakes, the area offers a wonderful variety of settings for both wildlife observation and photography. Since 2016, the hide area has formed part of a privately protected nature reserve where hunting is strictly prohibited. This provides a peaceful sanctuary in which bears, wolverines and other wildlife can move naturally and undisturbed.

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4 Basecamp Kuikka

Basecamp Kuikka is a traditional Finnish log lodge situated on a peaceful headland overlooking Lake Kuikka and surrounded by extensive boreal forest. With just nine guest rooms and space for approximately 20 visitors, the lodge offers a relaxed, welcoming and authentically Finnish atmosphere.

Kuikka provides access to an extensive network of specialist wildlife hides positioned across forest, wetland and lakeside habitats. The area is particularly renowned for its opportunities to observe and photograph brown bears, wolves, wolverines and birds of prey. Although the accommodation is rustic, its exceptional location makes it one of Finland’s most rewarding bases for serious wildlife watching and photography.

Look out for

Tailor-made

Your Tailor-Made Finland Wildlife Itinerary

The suggested itinerary below has been designed to demonstrate what your Finland wildlife holiday could look like. Every journey can be tailored to suit your individual interests and requirements.

Working closely with one of our Finland travel specialists, we can design an itinerary around your preferred target species, travel dates, budget, accommodation style and holiday duration. Whether your priority is photographing bear cubs beneath the midnight sun, searching for wolves and wolverines or combining several of Finland’s leading wildlife locations, we will create an experience that is entirely your own.

The following itinerary is designed to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your individual requirements.

Day One

Your adventure begins with your arrival at Kajaani Airport, where your private driver will be waiting to welcome you. From here, you’ll travel through the beautiful Finnish countryside towards Martinselkonen

Wilderness Lodge. The journey takes approximately two hours, gradually carrying you away from the towns and roads and deep into the vast boreal forests of eastern Finland. This is where the character of the trip really begins to change.

After settling into your comfortable accommodation, you’ll have time to meet your guide, learn more about the region and discover what lies ahead.Then it’s time for a delicious evening meal at the lodge before your first night in the Finnish wilderness

Day Two - Three

After a peaceful night at the lodge, you’ll enjoy a hearty Finnish breakfast before spending the morning relaxing or exploring the surrounding area. Later in the afternoon, you’ll have time for some afternoon tea before an early evening meal. Then the real adventure begins.

Your local Finnish guide will drive you into the Martinselkonen Nature Reserve before you continue on foot along a forest trail to your overnight wildlife hide. As evening approaches, you’ll settle into your hide and wait. The forest becomes quieter. The light begins to soften. And somewhere beyond the trees, Finland’s brown bears are beginning to stir. You could spend the next several hours watching and photographing these extraordinary animals from the safety and comfort of your hide.

Depending on the season and local conditions, sightings may include everything from solitary adult bears to females with cubs, dominant males and, occasionally, other elusive wildlife such as wolverines. You’ll remain in the hide throughout the night, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the Finnish forest

Day Four

After your final morning at the lodge and breakfast, it’s unfortunately time to leave.Your private transfer will take you back towards the airport for your journey home.

You’ll leave Finland with memories of wild brown bears, endless forests and quiet evenings beneath the northern sky — and, hopefully, a memory card filled with photographs to prove it all really happened.

Prefer to Travel as Part of a Group?

Would you prefer to join one of our popular guaranteed-departure small-group tours, accompanied by a professional wildlife photographer and experienced guide? Browse our collection of expertly led Finland wildlife tours below.

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Finland Bear Watching Holidays