Finland for Brown Bears
Giants of the Forest
Saturday 18 - Friday 24 July 2009 (7 days)
Going on a bear-watch ... and we're not scared! Join us safe and sound in log hides on the Finnish/Russian border where magnificent Brown Bears come during the long, light summer evenings to feed on the salmon provided for them by local wardens. The bears can be within yards of the hides for several hours, offering superb photographic opportunities, with a chance to see other forest mammals including Wolverine.
© Finnature
Brown Bear
Brown Bear
We return to Kuhmo, on the Russian border - for a breathtaking encounter with wild Brown Bears, all from the safety of a well-placed hide! Bears feasting on salmon, bears climbing trees, bears with cubs ... and all within a few yards of the hide. The disadvantage? Well, once you are in the hide, you do have to stay in there for the whole evening, and through the early hours of the next morning if the bears stick around. So the hides are equipped with bunk-beds and sleeping bags, and toilet facilities - and you can choose what 'night-snacks' you'd like provided, in case the sight of all those bears stuffing themselves makes you peckish! The hides are also equipped with an amplifying microphone & headsets for hearing the birds and wildlife in the surrounding forest.
We have booked the hides for two nights, and then have rooms at a lodge booked for resting up during the days spent there.
We thought that, having made the journey up to Northern Finland, you'd also like a little time birdwatching and looking at the summer wildlife here. This is an excellent time for returning migrants, especially arctic-breeding waders, on the coast, and we spend a couple of days here. We'll also be looking at the superb wild taiga forests around Kuusamo, with its specialities including Siberian Tit and Siberian Jay.
And finally - will there be mosquitoes? Well, yes, some, but the main summer flush of these pests of the arctic is over, and with a good dose of repellent, you shouldn't be that badly troubled by them.
Once again we'll be in the good hands of our friends from Finnature.
We have booked the hides for two nights, and then have rooms at a lodge booked for resting up during the days spent there.
We thought that, having made the journey up to Northern Finland, you'd also like a little time birdwatching and looking at the summer wildlife here. This is an excellent time for returning migrants, especially arctic-breeding waders, on the coast, and we spend a couple of days here. We'll also be looking at the superb wild taiga forests around Kuusamo, with its specialities including Siberian Tit and Siberian Jay.
And finally - will there be mosquitoes? Well, yes, some, but the main summer flush of these pests of the arctic is over, and with a good dose of repellent, you shouldn't be that badly troubled by them.
Once again we'll be in the good hands of our friends from Finnature.
Price: £ 1,995
Single supp.: £ 160
Deposit: £ 300 per person
The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of scheduled return economy-class flights London-Oulu, airport taxes, accommodation, all meals, minibus transport, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes travel insurance, drinks and other personal expenses.
Manchester departures to Helsinki may be possible depending on flight schedules. Please enquire for details.
Leaders: John Muddeman and a Finnature guide
Itinerary
Days 1 - 2
We depart London mid-morning to arrive in Helsinki and connect with an afternoon flight to Oulu for a two-night stay.
On the coastal marshes return migration will be under way, and the wildfowl and wader concentrations can be impressive. We have a chance of seeing the very local breeding Terek Sandpipers, together with other waders coming back from their nesting grounds on the tundra. These can include Broad-billed Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint. Caspian Tern breed in the area and should still be present, and many small birds may include Common Rosefinch and the rarer buntings.
Two nights Oulu
Days 3 - 4
After a morning on the coast, we travel north-east to Kuhmo. After checking in at our lodge, a former frontier-station, we meet up with the local bear-guides, who will take us out to the hides. The entire evening, and part of the next morning will be spent in the three hides, before we return to the lodge for a well-earned rest. We can either spend one or two nights in the hides, depending on our luck and whether we wish to return for another night's vigil. Local birdwatching around the hotel can produce a range of breeding and migrant species, including the chance of Rustic Bunting, Parrot Crossbill and Three-toed Woodpecker.
Two nights Kuhmo
Days 5 - 6
We travel to Kuusamo, at the edge of the Oulanka National Park, probably the best area of taiga forest outside Russia. Here we may encounter other mammals of the north including Elk, Reindeer and Arctic Hare, as well as some of the breeding bird specialities. The latter may be hard to find at this time of year, but we do have a chance of seeing waterfowl including Black- and Red-throated Divers, Whooper Swan and Smew, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse, Black Woodpecker, Waxwing, Siberian Tit and Siberian Jay. Flowers out at this time include Autumn Ladies' Tresses and Linnaeus' favourite northern speciality, Twinflower, while several northern dragonflies are on the wing.
Two nights Kuusamo
Day 7
We drive back to Oulu and fly back to Helsinki to connect with a flight from Helsinki-London.
Accommodation: In Oulu and Kuusamo, three/four star hotels with all rooms en suite. At Kuhmo we have rooms in a simple lodge. Some rooms do not have en suite facilities and single rooms are not available here.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients
Days 1 - 2
We depart London mid-morning to arrive in Helsinki and connect with an afternoon flight to Oulu for a two-night stay.
On the coastal marshes return migration will be under way, and the wildfowl and wader concentrations can be impressive. We have a chance of seeing the very local breeding Terek Sandpipers, together with other waders coming back from their nesting grounds on the tundra. These can include Broad-billed Sandpiper and Temminck's Stint. Caspian Tern breed in the area and should still be present, and many small birds may include Common Rosefinch and the rarer buntings.
Two nights Oulu
Days 3 - 4
After a morning on the coast, we travel north-east to Kuhmo. After checking in at our lodge, a former frontier-station, we meet up with the local bear-guides, who will take us out to the hides. The entire evening, and part of the next morning will be spent in the three hides, before we return to the lodge for a well-earned rest. We can either spend one or two nights in the hides, depending on our luck and whether we wish to return for another night's vigil. Local birdwatching around the hotel can produce a range of breeding and migrant species, including the chance of Rustic Bunting, Parrot Crossbill and Three-toed Woodpecker.
Two nights Kuhmo
Days 5 - 6
We travel to Kuusamo, at the edge of the Oulanka National Park, probably the best area of taiga forest outside Russia. Here we may encounter other mammals of the north including Elk, Reindeer and Arctic Hare, as well as some of the breeding bird specialities. The latter may be hard to find at this time of year, but we do have a chance of seeing waterfowl including Black- and Red-throated Divers, Whooper Swan and Smew, Capercaillie, Hazel Grouse, Black Woodpecker, Waxwing, Siberian Tit and Siberian Jay. Flowers out at this time include Autumn Ladies' Tresses and Linnaeus' favourite northern speciality, Twinflower, while several northern dragonflies are on the wing.
Two nights Kuusamo
Day 7
We drive back to Oulu and fly back to Helsinki to connect with a flight from Helsinki-London.
Accommodation: In Oulu and Kuusamo, three/four star hotels with all rooms en suite. At Kuhmo we have rooms in a simple lodge. Some rooms do not have en suite facilities and single rooms are not available here.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients