Spring Awakening
2025 Dates:
fully booked
Guide: Kyle Moore
Location: Finland
Maximum Group Size: 6
Fitness Level: Moderate
2023 Cost: £1,250
Trip Overview:
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.
Cost includes:
✅ 5 nights in professional bear photography hides
✅ 6 days accommodation
✅ All meals inc breakfast, dinner and packed lunch
✅ Expert guidance
✅ Transfers to/from Oulu airport
Cost excludes:
❌ Airline Flights
❌ Travel insurance
❌ Additional personal items
Why Choose Us:
Price Promise. We won't be beaten on price.
We are the most experienced guides at our chosen location with valuable local knowledge.
Our energy and enthusiasm create a fun and productive trip atmosphere for all involved.
We know exactly which hide to position you in to capture your desired images.
We are dedicated to getting the absolute most out of our tours for you, providing an unforgettable experience.
Our destinations boasts some the most pristine Finnish wilderness, where elusive apex predators can be seen together.
BaseCamp
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 Finland to observe and photograph Brown Bear and Wolverine among their natural habitat. This package includes five nights in professional bear photography hides, custom built and carefully positioned, with photographers in mind. We offer you a choice of over 25 professional hides, all with a different view of the surrounding wilderness. A number of hides have been installed with low-angle shooting windows, offering a fresh and intimate perspective of the wildlife.
The wild landscape is totally unique to this site and will allow you to photograph predators in a number of ways among the snow blanketed landscapes and forests the bears call home. The opportunity to photograph bears at this time of year is incredibly unique, and we are incredibly fortunate to work in this location, allowing you the opportunity to build a fresh portfolio of images during the Finnish Spring time.
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Day 1: We will arrive on an afternoon flight at Oulu airport via Helsinki, where you will be met by the BearPhoto guides. A 3-hour transfer will follow, taking us to the Wild Brown Bear lodge where we will be based for the duration of the tour. Dinner is prepared for our arrival. After dinner, we will meet in the auditorium where the BearPhoto guides 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 3 p.m. before your guides will lead you to your chosen hides at 4pm, 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 at 8am, 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 Oulu airport for our flights home.