THE SPRING RUT
2025 Dates: May 20th - 26th (Fully Booked) | Guide: Kyle Moore | Location: Finland | Cost: £1,750.00
Trip Introduction
As the snow begins to retreat and temperatures rise, a subtle mute coloured landscape is revealed beneath. The surrounding lakes produce superb mirror like reflections on calmer evenings. May is an incredible time of year, as both the apex predators and birds return to the region to breed. Spring is kicking off, and the most interesting bear behaviours are seen during this month of the year. The bear rut occurs as females start to become sexually receptive, meaning males are much more protective over female bears. Stand offs may occur and fights can occasionally break out between competitive male bears. There is good potential to observe the slightly later bears as they emerge, including females with their young cubs. Sightings of Wolverine are very likely and Wolf sightings are also possible in the surrounding wilderness. Many migratory and breeding birds are now present in the area, as birdsong reaches its yearly climax. The bright spring days begin to increase in length, giving participants a greater amount of daylight in which to photograph. The bear photography season is well and truly underway!
Base Camp
Our base for this trip is a rustic wildlife lodge located in the picturesque surroundings of the Boreal forest. This is one of the best locations in the world to observe and photograph Brown Bear, Wolverine and Wolves among their natural habitat.
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We will arrive on an afternoon flight via Helsinki, where you will be met by your guide. A bus transfer will follow, taking us to our chosen basecamp where we will be based for the duration of the tour. Dinner is prepared for our arrival. After dinner the guide will deliver a short presentation detailing the week ahead. Our first night will be spent resting in our accommodation, after a day of traveling.
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Breakfast will be served early on, followed by a period of free time to spend as you wish. BearPhoto guides will prepare optional daytime photographic opportunities including forest birds and red squirrels. Feel free to explore the surrounding area, during the day as you wish. Before dinner, participants are welcome to attend our informative photo lectures. Dinner will be provided shortly after this around 4:00 p.m. before your guides will lead you to your chosen hides for the night. A packed lunch, flasks (tea/coffee) and bottled water will be provided for each individual whilst in the hide. Following a short walk, upon entering the hides it is simply a case of setting up, getting comfortable and waiting for the first Bears and Wolverine to appear. Each hide is equipped with beds and a basic toilet facility. The following morning you will be escorted from your hides by the BearPhoto guides, followed by the short walk back to base camp where breakfast will be waiting. The following days and hide nights will all run in a similar pattern.
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This is the final day of the trip, and upon leaving the hides at 8:00 a.m. you will be guided back to basecamp one final time for breakfast. We will have just enough time for a shower and any last minute packing that may be required before our minibus arrives to transfer us back to the airport for our flights home.
Meet The Guide
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Kyle Moore
Now on his 10th year guiding Finland tours, Kyle is a wildlife photographer from the UK, whose passion for both wildlife and photography was ignited at a young age. Having quickly built up an impressive portfolio of wildlife images, Kyle's talent was soon recognised through some of the most prestigious wildlife photography competitions in the industry, which included a category win in the British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) and being named overall winner of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards, at the age of 18, both leading to live televised interviews on UK national news. Kyle specialises in predatory mammal species, bears and foxes being personal favourites, and will often spend countless months on location immersing himself in the landscape, all in the aim of capturing the essence of his chosen species. Kyle is currently represented by some of the world's leading photographic stock agencies, where his images are published worldwide.
HOW TO BOOk
If you wish to secure your place on this tour, please follow the link below and follow the instructions to make a booking via our secure online portal. Alternatively we can accept bookings manually, via email with deposits made by means of a BACS. Bookings can only be considered valid following a £300 deposit (per-person).
Please ensure you have carefully read all relevant tour itineraries and terms of business prior to booking. If you have any questions, please email us at info@bearphoto.co.uk