Wild Finland

Name: Wild Finland
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)

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6 Days from

USD 3,249

5.0/5 from

Wildlife

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures, Short Breaks

Activity :

Wildlife

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

4 - 14

Ages :

18+

Trip Code :

WBF

A week in the magical Finnish wilderness searching for Brown bears

As if impatient from the tortuously cold winter months, far Eastern Finland emerges from hibernation in full bloom, its fauna keen to redress the balance. Delve into the wilderness to unravel and illuminate its remarkable wildlife, watching eagerly from a hide for the arrival of Brown bears. Bears aren't the only highlight as we get to experience the Finnish wilderness of Oulanka National Park, with its whitewater rivers, spruce forest and scotch pine. Nature rafting and a husky walk are also part of the adventure.

Highlights

Visit to bear hide observing Brown bears
Nature rafting, husky walk and follow the 'Little Bear' trail
Soak up the tranqulity and stillness of Oulanka National Park in summer
Bright nights with up to 22 hours of daylight

Key Information

5 nights at Basecamp Oulanka
Travel by private minibus, on foot and by raft
Group normally 4 to 14 with local leader. Min age 18 yrs
No experience necessary

Countries visited: Finland

What's Included

All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners
All accommodation (see accommodation section)
All transport and listed activities
Local tour leader throughout
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
Outdoor clothing and equipment for rafting

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

Responsible Travel

At Exodus, we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

For every guest, travelling with Exodus Travels, who stays at Basecamp Oulanka, Exodus donates money to the WildOulanka Foundation towards the preservation of the local Taiga (forest). In 2018 this protected some 87 hectares of forest, contributing to the creation of a wildlife corridor across the border between two national parks. Careful management of the protected area has led to the reappearance of a number of species, including bears, which had not been seen here for some years. This amount of forest also equates to a carbon sink of 23,480 tons.

Itinerary

Land only clients should make their own way to Basecamp Oulanka this afternoon/evening. Set on the edge of the spectacular Oulanka National Park, Basecamp Oulanka is a complex of wooden buildings providing cosy accommodation in a stunning wilderness setting overlooking Juuma Lake - surround yourself completely in nature for the next five nights! After a warming dinner you'll have the chance to settle into your wilderness home in the forest. Take a late evening walk down to the lake and marvel at the stillness. During the summer months there can be between 18 - 22 hours of daylight which ensures a colourful sky with drawn out sunsets and sunrises merging together.

Basecamp Oulanka

Meals Included: Dinner

After a hearty breakfast in the main building, we leave for a short walk in Oulanka National Park. We'll likely visit the Old Mill which overlooks the Myllykoski rapids, where White throated dippers are often seen. Our guide will introduce us to some simple wilderness skills, such as how to make a fire, orienteer and basic first aid.

Around 4pm, after we've had lunch at Basecamp, we set off towards the border zone for a short walk to a comfortable bear hide, where we will spend the evening anticipating the arrival of Brown bears and hopefully watching lots of bear interaction! Brown bears are very active in this area and there are thought to be some 1,500 Brown bears in Finland's vast forests. After a long period of hibernation over winter, the bears emerge from their dens in spring, sometimes with cubs in tow. During the months of July and August the bears are very hungry and so typically become nightly visitors to the area where the hide is located as they are fed with carrion. As well as Brown bears (and hopefully cubs) there is a good possibility to see White-tailed eagle in this area.

The hide is warm and comfortable, with large windows for excellent views and plenty of openings for camera lenses (ideal if you are a keen photographer). There is a kettle, compost toilet and around 10 beds with sleeping bags which you're welcome to use if you feel tired at any point. Depending on our sightings and the amount of daylight left we will leave the hide around 11pm or 12am, walking the short distance back to our vehicle. It is important when in the hide and walking to/from the hide to keep voices to a minimum and follow instructions from the guide - we always walk in a group to minimise the likelihood of encountering a bear.

Basecamp Oulanka

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we visit Riisitunturi National Park, home to those iconic snow covered trees in winter. In summer the fells provide the groundwater to feed Lake Kitka and offer the perfect home for a variety of wildlife. On today's walk, we are joined by husky dogs. For this activity, you'll be harnessed in pairs to one husky who will 'lead' the walk at a reasonable pace (huskies are powerful dogs, hence why one dog is harnessed to two people). This wonderful dog breed makes an excellent companion for a hike through the wilderness! Huskies accompany us for the easiest part of the canyon trail, and after this, we complete some steeper sections of the walk by ourselves.

Basecamp Oulanka

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After getting fitted out with rafting gear at Basecamp Oulanka (available free of charge) we have a short walk to Jyrävä waterfall to begin our nature rafting excursion on River Kitka. Running through Oulanka National Park to the border zone, the river winds its way through taiga forest, with dramatic cliffs and wonderful views of scotch pine and spruce forest. Traveling by raft is the perfect way to soak up the tranquility of nature and experience the best of Finland's wilderness. We pass over some gentle class I to II rapids as we float down the river, enjoying the sound of silence in the vast forest. From here we take a short walk to Vihvilänlamminkangas, the biggest elk destruction area in Europe which looks like a huge bonsai garden! Here we will learn about the importance of nature conservation, the old forest and its ecosystem, before a short transfer by road back to Basecamp Oulanka.

Back at Basecamp, it's possible to rest and enjoy a traditional sauna this evening or you may decide to join an optional excursion to return to the bear hide once more (at an additional cost of 150 EUR). For this excursion it is possible to use an alternative hide in the same area (perhaps if you are a photographer interested in getting a different angle for your photos).

Basecamp Oulanka

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Oulanka National Park is a vast boreal forest and one of its most scenic walking trails is the Pieni Kahrunkierros - the Little Bear Trail - a 12km loop through some of the most picturesque areas of the park. Setting off on foot from Basecamp we hike on good trails, crossing suspension bridges and passing some of the larger rapids and waterfalls, including the class VI Jyrävä waterfall. Between Oulanka in Finland and neighbouring Paanajärvi in Russia, some 136,000 hectares of taiga forest, lakes and rushing whitewater rivers are protected - one of the world's largest biomes. The flora in this area is very interesting with lichens, heather, wild cloudberries, blueberries and lingonberry bushes. This is a moderate grade walk and there are some steep sections in order to experience the best views.

Basecamp Oulanka

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning our adventure in the Finnish wilderness comes to an end and land only clients are free to make onward arrangements.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Finland

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Finland. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

Finland

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies (bat lyssavirus) and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners included

The food at Basecamp is a delicious range of local produce (Finnish food) that is all prepared on site by the in house chef. Starters consist of a salad buffet with 3-4 different choices. The main courses consist of wild game such as elk, chicken and salmon. Vegetarian options are also available. Dessert consists of lingonberries, blueberries and cloudberries that have often been picked by the chef herself. These berries are served with a selection of quark kurd, cream, ice cream, cakes and pancakes. Lunch normally consists of a hot soup with elk, salmon or vegetarian option.

Weather

Lapland is characterised by an arctic/continental climate that varies greatly throughout the year. Many people expect Lapland to be cold all year round, but in fact, temperatures can soar in summer as a result of influences from the North Atlantic Current which bring warm air to the region. While winters are icy and cold, summers are much warmer and milder. The average temperature is a pleasant 15°C while highs can hit 21°C on the hottest days. With very low levels of wind, conditions can feel very balmy in Lapland at this time. Unlike the chilly winter months, temperatures hardly ever drop below 13°C. Midnight Sun: from the end of May to the beginning of August you will find daylight for much of the day as the sun barely sets below the horizon.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded 2 (Leisurely/Moderate) with a safari rating of 3.

It has been designed for those who want to be completely surrounded by the Finnish wilderness, whilst having the comfort of cosy Basecamp Oulanka to return to each evening. Due to our location not far from the Arctic circle, in the summer months there are long daylight hours, which can mean between 18-22 hours of daylight with just a short twilight period. This is ideal for bear viewing.

Please note that caution must be taken when walking to/from the bear hide and in the surrounding area. We will be accompanied by a bear guide and always walk in a group. It is important to follow the advice of your guide at all times. The age limit has been set to 18 because of this activity. Facilities in the hide are comfortable but relatively simple - for instance, there are only compost toilets in the bear hides.

Basecamp provides all equipment needed for rafting such as over jackets/trousers, rubber boots and dry bags. No experience is necessary - all activities are suitable for beginners.

The included walks all follow well marked trails but there are some steep sections in order to get the best views. Mosquito protection is recommended in Finland during the summer months.

Baiting wildlife - an important issue in wildlife tourism

Baiting is a useful practice in attracting wildlife to aid sightings of certain animals in many areas around the world. It is also an approach that leads to much debate about the ethics in feeding wild animals. In some circumstances we are strongly against baiting, for example camps in Africa placing carrion to attract leopards purely for tourist sightings. However in Finland, and this particular area, we believe it is a practice that can lead to conservation benefits. Our belief is that this will help in protecting the wildlife from hunting which is wide spread in parts of Finland. Tourism is helping create enclaves where hunting is prohibited, and that growing income will hopefully lead to more protection in the future.

Tourism is more sustainable long term than hunting, and growing support locally to protect the wildlife is important in Exodus taking this stance.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Sandra Davies

Make sure you take extra batteries for your camera. When you're in the bear hide, you can end up using a lot of battery power while you wait for the bears, as they can come out at any moment. I would also recommend taking an eye-mask as the sun will be up for something like 22 hours per day, so it never really gets dark. Mosquito repellent also a must.

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