FINLAND

25 to 30 April 2027

Finland’s 7 Wonders

Brown bear, wolf, wolverine, black grouse, capercaillie, stoat and great grey owl

Summary

A tour dedicated to photographing bears, wolves, wolverines and capercaillies, as well as any other species we might encounter in the vast forests of central Finland.

Our main target species can be observed and photographed from professional hides, but we will also make the most of our travels to look for other animals present in these areas in May, such as Whooper Swan, Red-throated Loon, Ruff, White-throated Dipper and, depending on the year, Great Grey Owl and Nothern Hawk Owl..

This tour will take us on a journey to discover one of Finland’s wildest areas,‘No Man’s Land’:a strip of land made up of spruce and birch forests, historically sparsely populated by humans, but which has proved to be an important ecological corridor for European wildlife that was hunted during the last century.

Itinerary

DAY 1 · 25 April

Kuusamo

Afternoon:: Once we arrive in Oulu, our journey north will begin. We’ll travel on to Kuusamo and, along the way, we’ll be on the lookout for opportunities to take photographs of the landscape and, if we’re lucky, wildlife.

When we arrive at the hotel, we’ll have dinner whilst enjoying views of one of Finland’s thousands of lakes and get ready for the early session that awaits us.

Night:: At 3:00 a.m. we will enter the hide to make the best use of the morning light, which at this time of year begins to illuminate the Black grouse lecks shortly before 5:00 a.m. This is when the males arrive to display and compete for females.

DAY 2 · 26 April

Kuusamo

MorningAfter leaving the hide, we will return to the hotel for breakfast and spend the rest of the morning looking for White-throated Dippers, female Capercaillies (which at this time of year can come very close to the roads in search of stones) Whooper Swans, Waxwing and Hazel Grouse.

Depending on the year, we may use this morning to search for the Great Grey Owl together with local guides. However, this activity will depend on population conditions, which are difficult to predict until early April.

Afternoon-evening: Like the Finns, we will have an early dinner at 4:00 p.m. before getting ready to meet the prince of the forest. At 6:00 p.m. we will enter the Capercaillie hide, where we will spend the entire night until the following morning.

The small hide will allow us to remain concealed very close to a male’s lek, giving us the opportunity to observe this impressive bird during courtship and, with some luck, alongside a female or confronting another male.

DAY 3 · 27 April

Kuhmo

Morning: After the session, we will return to the hotel for breakfast, collect our luggage and head towards Kuhmo. Along the way, we will take the opportunity to look for Whooper Swans, Goosanders, Hazel Grouse and Moose.

Afternoon::

Once in Kuhmo, we will settle into our accommodation and, at 4:00 p.m., enjoy a typical Finnish dinner featuring local cuisine before entering the hides at 5:00 p.m. These hides will give us the opportunity to observe Brown Bears, Wolves and Wolverines.

Night::

We will spend the night in comfortable hides equipped with a dry toilet. Sleeping bags will be provided for the hours of darkness, as well as a picnic in case we get hungry. From these hides, we hope to photograph Brown Bears, Wolves, Wolverines and White-tailed Eagles.

DAY 4 · 28 April

Kuhmo

Morning:

After the session, around 8:00 a.m., we will return to the hotel for breakfast.

If conditions are favourable, we will search for one of the world’s most fascinating mustelids: the Stoat! Accompanied by a local guide, we will head to an area close to its den, where we may have the opportunity to observe it moving through its habitat while searching for prey. Only at the beginning of April will we know which den it is using and, therefore, whether it will be possible to find this animal.

Afternoon:: Around midday, we will return to the hotel to rest for a few hours and download our photographs. At 4:00 p.m. we will have dinner, as is customary in Finland, and at 5:00 p.m. we will return to the hide.

During the different sessions, we will move between two locations: a peatland area (meadows that may be more or less flooded depending on the year) and a forested area. This variety of habitats will allow us to obtain a wide range of images.

Night:: We will once again spend the night in the hide, equipped with beds, sleeping bags, a night-time picnic and a dry toilet.
During these sessions, we may photograph Brown Bears, Wolves and Wolverines, with the hope of witnessing interesting interactions between them. White-tailed Eagles also frequently visit these hides, making these nights an unforgettable experience for any wildlife photographer.

DAY 5 · 29 April

Kuusamo

MorningAfter the session, around 8:00 a.m., we will return to the hotel for breakfast.

If we have not had the opportunity to find the Great Grey Owl during our stay in Kuusamo, we can use this morning to search for it.Owl activity in Finland depends largely on the annual population of lemmings and voles, so only a few days before the trip will we know whether there are realistic chances of observing them.

If this is not possible, we will instead search for other species typical of the forests of northern Europe, such as Capercaillie, Ptarmigan and many others.

On this final night, we will be able to choose the location we liked most and obtain further photographs in the environments that interested us the most.

Night:: We will once again spend the night in the hide, equipped with beds, sleeping bags, a night-time picnic and a dry toilet, photographing Brown Bears, Wolves and Wolverines, with the hope of witnessing interesting interactions between them.

DAY 6 · 30 April

Transfer to Oulu

Morning: After the final session, we will head directly to Oulu, taking advantage of the journey to look for Whooper Swans, Merganser, Moose and Reindeer.

Afternoon:: Around midday, we will arrive at the airport, where we can take the first afternoon flight, which will normally allow us to return to our respective cities of origin on the same day.

Included / Not included

Included

Transfers throughout the tour
Tour guide during the trip
Accommodation in a double room*
*Single room supplement: €350 (subject to availability)
Full board
5 sessions in professional photography hides

Not included

Recommendations

We recommend booking a flight departing on the evening of 24 April or during the morning of 25 April, arriving in Oulu before 5.00 pm.

We’ll be waiting for you at the airport, and that’s when our adventure will begin.

For the return journey, we recommend booking a flight on 30 April from 2:00 p.m. onwards.

We recommend dressing in layers, wearing thermal wool underwear, and bringing gloves and a warm hat.

The so-called “hand warmers” or disposable heat packs are also highly recommended, especially during the long periods of waiting in the hides.

In April, temperatures can still drop below 0 °C. Although sleeping bags will be provided at some hides, you will need to be well equipped to cope with the cold.

For wildlife photography, we recommend using telephoto lenses of at least 400 mm. A wide-angle lens is also highly recommended for photographing the spectacular Finnish landscapes. A tripod is recommended, although not essential, particularly for hides; however, it is essential to bring a ball head or gimbal to mount your equipment in the hides, where there will be specific plates or screws available to secure the head safely.

Our contact details

Tour leader

English, Spanish and Italian

You need to know

In Kuusamo, we will be staying in a small country hotel, whilst in Kuhmo we will be staying in a former military facility that has been converted into a comfortable hotel. However, as these are very remote areas, the number of rooms is limited and, therefore, we cannot guarantee single rooms for all participants.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the price of the trip to Finland?

The price covers vehicle hire, all internal transfers, the naturalist guide/driver and photographer, all meals, snacks or evening picnics during hide days, five photography sessions at hides, and all activities described in the itinerary. It also includes accommodation in a twin room and access permits for the areas where the wildlife viewing takes place.

What costs are not included in the package?

The price does not include return flights to the starting point of the trip (approximately €500), compulsory travel insurance, or alcoholic drinks consumed during the stay. Any personal expenses, purchases or services not mentioned in the detailed itinerary are also the responsibility of the participant.

What is the accommodation like during the trip?

In Kuusamo, the group stays in a small, cosy country hotel that is ideally situated for access to the photography locations, whilst in Kuhmo they spend the night in a former military facility that has been converted into a comfortable hotel for wildlife photographers. As these are remote areas, the number of rooms is limited and it is not always possible to guarantee a single room for all participants.

Is it possible to book a single room?

Yes, it is possible to request a single room for an additional charge of €350, subject to availability at the accommodation. As we work with small hotels in sparsely populated areas, we recommend requesting this option as far in advance as possible.

Who will be the guide, and what is their experience of the area?

The trip is led by Francesco Rovedo, a photographer, nature communicator and naturalist with extensive experience in Northern Europe. He has lived in Scandinavia for over three years, working as a guide on photography tours in Norway and Finland, which ensures he has in-depth knowledge of the region, its wildlife, and the lighting and weather conditions.