Spring Awakening
2025 Dates: April 23rd - 29th (Fully Booked) | Guide: Kyle Moore | Location: Finland | Cost: £1,750.00
Trip Introduction
As winter slowly loosens its grip, the giants of the forest are emerging from their winter hibernation, and are determined to feed amongst the snow blanketed landscape. We try to coincide this trip with the emergence of the very first bears, with the larger males being the first to emerge. With a mosaic of brown tones to their fur, contrasted against the fairytale-like winter landscapes, dedicated photographers can be rewarded with excellent photographic potential when conditions are favourable. Snow depth and temperature can vary greatly during this time of year, but offers participants some stunning photographic potential. As well as the returning Bears, elusive Wolverine are a regular visitor to the area and have no problem moving in the snow. Participants can expect a number of bird species to be present in the area, including Black and Greater-Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch and many more. Red squirrels also frequent the observation hide close to the daytime accommodation. Our spring photography tour operates with a smaller than usual group size, offering each participant more time with our guides. After many years spent observing wild bears, we have carefully selected these dates to give the best chance of photographing bears on snow, allowing participants the chance to build a unique portfolio. It is important to add that our spring photographic tour is quite different to tours during the warmer months, and we must stress this. No two seasons are the same, and it is impossible to predict the extent of snow cover. Bears are wild animals, and it is difficult to guarantee or predict the precise date of the first bears emergence from hibernation.
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
To secure your space on this tour please click the ‘book now’ tab below and follow the payment instructions. All bookings require a £300.00 deposit per-person. Payment can be made securely online using all major card types.
Upon receipt of your booking and a deposit being successfully received, we will confirm your booking by e-mail. Remaining balances are will be due approximately 12 weeks prior to the departure date. This will be confirmed in your booking confirmation.
Please read all the information, itinerary and tour details prior to booking. If you have any questions, please do email us at info@bearphoto.co.uk