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Bear watching in Finland

See wild brown bear, wolverine and wild deer in their natural environment in Kuhmo

Prices from £778 per person
Period: April – October 2012
Group size: 2 – 32 persons

The package offers the Wild Brown Bear Adventure, and a visit to Petola Nature Centre in Kuhmo. This is a wonderful trip for all animal lovers.

Meeting the wild brown bear in its natural environment, the wild Taiga, is an unforgettable experience. For photographers it is an opportunity to take the shot of a lifetime from the comfort and safety of a specially designed hide.

Hotel Kalevala in Kuhmo, Finland, is a unique attraction offering relaxation and wellbeing as well as culture and heritage.

The hotel building mirrors the nature that surrounds it, and nestles on the shores of Lake Lammasjärvi in Eastern Finland close to the Russian border. This is a region of great tradition and folklore. This is a place where Finland’s great epic Kalevala still survives.

The hotel restaurant overlooks the lake, and offers meals made with local ingredients from the Kainuu region. On the menu are many local delicacies like fish soup, wild boar filet and smoked reindeer, and also a good selection of vegetarian dishes. There is a special wellbeing-menu for those aiming to eat healthily.

The hotel works closely with local companies and guides promoting responsible travel in the taiga region.

Hotel Kalevala in pictures

Programme

Day 1 – Arriving to the Kalevala village
- Arrival to Kajaani airport, transfer to Kuhmo
- Accommodation
- Welcoming drink and dinner

Day 2 – Bear watching and Petola Nature Centre
- After breakfast introduction to the program and visit to Petola Nature Centre (large Carnivore centre), with the exhibition `Predators on the prowl`- a permanent exhibition with comprehensive information on Finnish predators bear, wolf, wolverine and lynx. There is also info section which presents a wide range of information related to many interesting aspects of large carnivores.
-Early dinner
- At 16.30pm transfer to the Wild Brown Bear site which is situated close to the Russian border in the wild region of Kuhmo. Information about hides and bears in the main building.
-At 17.30pm start from the main building to the hides with a picnic packet, camera and binoculars.

“Wild Brown Bear Adventure”
All hides are equipped with comfortable viewing chairs, sleeping areas, amplification system to listen the animal noises, and dry toilets. Smallest three-man hide gives you a close encounter with the bears, while larger; six to ten person hides offer a panoramic view of the site at a comfortable viewing distance. The hides are situated in a small open wetland area with backdrop of spruce, pine and birch forest. For photographers the site offers excellent opportunities. There is between 12 to 16 hours of direct sunlight, and two to four hours of twilight in the viewing season. Package includes refreshments and sandwiches in the hides, sleeping bags and a personal tour guide, sound equipment, diploma of Bear Night and insurance.

Day 3 – Hiking and fishing
- 6am-8am, after an interesting observation night, transfer back to the Hotel Kalevala
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Free afternoon for optional activities like canoeing, waterfall swimming, hiking, fishing or bicycling.
- Evening sauna
- Dinner

Day 4 – Leaving the Taiga
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Kajaani airport

Package prices

Prices April-October
From Heathrow, starting from: £778 /per person when two sharing a room, from £854 /single
From Manchester, starting from: £871 /per person when two sharing a room, from £948 /single