Finland's Mammals

Tour Code: FIN04

An exciting 8-day holiday in search of Wolf, Wolverine and Brown Bear, as well as some of Finland's other special mammals including the endangered Saimaa Ringed Seal, Siberian Squirrel and Forest Reindeer.

8 days from
£3,395
Land only price from
£3,245
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

If you dream about seeing or photographing wild Brown Bears, Wolverines and even Grey Wolves then this is the tour for you; Finland is without doubt the place to be! Home to an estimated population of around 1500 bears, 130-200 wolverines and around 150 wolves, Finland offers exceptional opportunities to view these three large carnivores at close range. We will guide you to places where you can watch or photograph these predators from hides located near carefully positioned carrion. Regardless of whether you are a photographer or just happy watching the animals, the hides give you some fabulous views of what are usually particularly difficult mammals to see in the wild. Given the increasing reliability of sightings, we are confident that an unforgettable experience awaits for those taking part in this exciting tour!

  • Look for the endangered & endemic Saimaa Ringed Seal, Lake Saimaa
  • Watch Wolverines at close range in different hides situated within taiga forest
  • Search for Siberian Flying Squirrel, along with Common Crane & young, Patvinsuo NP
  • Stay in hide situated within Brown Bear, Wolf & Wolverine territories!
  • Up to 8 Brown Bears a night possible from hide on Russian border
  • Good chance of encountering a local Wolf member of Kuhmo border packs 
  • The rare Forest Reindeer, Elk and Beaver are possible
  • Led by expert naturalist guides

Grading

A/B. Easy walks, but some long nights in hides.

Finland is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most wild and unspoiled countries. Travelling from Helsinki to Kuhmo, a small town not far from the Russian border in eastern Finland, we will search its lakes and taiga forest, and watch open glades, with the aim of finding Finland’s special mammals. We will be searching for such iconic species as Wolf, Wolverine and Brown Bear, the endemic Saimaa Ringed Seal, Siberian Flying Squirrel, Elk and the elusive Forest Reindeer, making it a very special holiday for any mammal enthusiast. We will also enjoy all other wildlife encountered, with birds present including Waxwing, Hazel Grouse, White-tailed Eagle and possibly even Great Grey Owl.

We will begin with a flight to the Finnish capital, Helsinki, and we shall spend our first night close to the airport but at a location with habitat on the doorstep and we seek to find Moose in the nearby fields on our first evening. The following day, we will travel towards the town of Vaasa, making stops along the way and this evening we shall attempt to see a very special species. The tiny Siberian Flying Squirrel. Here, in the far west of its range, its preferred habitat is a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest. With a flap of skin between their front and back legs, they are able to move around the forest by gliding from tree to tree. We may also see Capercaillie and Black Grouse, along with Common Crane, which often have young at this time of year, while lakes often hold Whooper Swans and Goldeneyes and Short-eared Owl often hunt the grasslands.

Next, we will drive eastwards towards Kuhmo and reaching the Russian border, we will spend our first night in a hide situated in the middle of Brown Bear, Wolf and Wolverine territories. Indeed, this hide lies within the core territory of a local Wolf pack which is gaining notoriety for stealing carrion from the bears. This means that, unusually, both species are regularly seen together on the same night, often enabling close views and excellent photographic opportunities of Europe’s most iconic predators. This is a truly remote region, in which wildlife still exists in relative freedom from human interference, and we will explore its expansive and unspoiled habitats, when not in the hide, on scenic walks and drives. One particular animal we hope to find is the Forest Reindeer. This is one of the largest subspecies of Reindeer, quite different from its smaller, semidomesticated mountain relative, not least in its preference for dense taiga forest rather than open tundra. It can, of course, be more difficult to find this quiet forestdweller, but with expert guidance we shall hope for success, as well as the chance to see both Mountain Hare and Red Squirrel along the way. After our night in the hide we spend the following night in a nearby hotel as we explore the area.

Continuing, we will then spend two nights in a comfortable hide deep within the taiga forest. Our goal here will be to observe the world’s largest terrestrial mustelid, the iconic Wolverine, and we have an excellent chance of seeing one here. Wolverines are forever on the move, covering great distances each day. They are reticent animals that are wary of humans so, to encourage them to visit the hide, pieces of meat are carefully concealed by our host. Although they do not visit the hide every night, they are seen regularly throughout the summer months, with a peak in sightings from late June through to mid-July. The hide is spacious, with beds and comfortable seats, and in the long hours of daylight it is a case of being patient and watching late into the night in the hope of a sighting. We will use a comfortable hotel after our hide sessions here for refreshing and meals.

Our final night is spent near the spectacular Linnansaari National Park. Taking to the water, we will explore Lake Saimaa, the largest lake in Finland and one of the most beautiful in the world. Aided by our captain’s unrivalled knowledge of this huge island-dotted waterbody, we will look for the endemic Saimaa Ringed Seal, a unique subspecies of the Ringed Seal, and one of the only seals to inhabit freshwater. It is also one of the planet’s rarest pinnipeds, with just 300 or so individuals. We will also look out for Osprey, Black-throated Diver and Red-necked Grebe, with American Beaver and Elk both possible here too.

As we search for all these exciting mammals, we will naturally enjoy the birds that we come across. These may include such species as Waxwing, Brambling, Bullfinch, Great Grey Shrike, Redwing and Fieldfare, all of which breed in this region. The elusive Hazel Grouse may also be seen in these forests with a little luck, while the mighty White-tailed Eagle is always a possibility at wetland sites, where breeding Whimbrel, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff may be seen. In some years it may even be possible to see such species as Great Grey Owl.

Finally, we must conclude this unique itinerary, which offers the chance to enjoy some of Europe’s most rarely-seen mammals, as well as wild landscapes and special birds, with a flight from Kajaani back to London, via Helsinki.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Helsinki and overnight
Day 2
Vaasa
Day 3/4
Khumo
Day 5/6
Lieksa
Day 7
Linnansaari National Park
Day 8
Fly Helsinki to London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    Comfortable hotels with private facilities, plus three nights in simple, but comfortable, hides with shared facilities.

  • Food:

    All included apart from lunch on day 8.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 23rd Jun – Mon 30th Jun FULL £3,395
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,245
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Male sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£595
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jan Kelchtermans

Tour Leader: Jan Kelchtermans

Tue 1st Jul – Tue 8th Jul FULL £3,395
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,245
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Female sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£595
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jan Kelchtermans
Jan Kelchtermans

Tour Leader: Jan Kelchtermans

Jan Kelchtermans is a Belgian teacher and wildlife guide. After having seen nearly 600 species within the Western Palearctic, Jan expanded his horizons in 2002 into world birding. After his first visit to Costa Rica experiencing the phenomenon of mixed species feeding flocks, the Neotropics became his favourite birding destination. Jan subsequently visited Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, as well as Thailand, California, Australia, Uganda, Ghana, South-Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Besides birding, looking for Europe’s large carnivores and mammals worldwide is another favourite occupation of Jan's. Remote areas in Scandinavia, rural Spain and remote Poland are some of Jan's favourite areas in which to search for these magnificent mammals.

Most beautiful bird: Regent Honeyeater. Best mammal: Eurasian Lynx (his first of 10+ sightings was near Gävle. Central Sweden July 1999). Rarest bird: Junin Grebe, lake Junin - Central Peru July 2007. Best ever mammal sighting: finding his own Snow Leopard with two kittens in Hemis, Northern India in November 2012. Dreams to fulfil: observing Birds of Paradise in Papua New Guinea and seeing all the world’s Felidae species!

Wed 9th Jul – Wed 16th Jul FULL £3,395
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,245
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£595
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jan Kelchtermans
Jan Kelchtermans

Tour Leader: Jan Kelchtermans

Jan Kelchtermans is a Belgian teacher and wildlife guide. After having seen nearly 600 species within the Western Palearctic, Jan expanded his horizons in 2002 into world birding. After his first visit to Costa Rica experiencing the phenomenon of mixed species feeding flocks, the Neotropics became his favourite birding destination. Jan subsequently visited Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, as well as Thailand, California, Australia, Uganda, Ghana, South-Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Besides birding, looking for Europe’s large carnivores and mammals worldwide is another favourite occupation of Jan's. Remote areas in Scandinavia, rural Spain and remote Poland are some of Jan's favourite areas in which to search for these magnificent mammals.

Most beautiful bird: Regent Honeyeater. Best mammal: Eurasian Lynx (his first of 10+ sightings was near Gävle. Central Sweden July 1999). Rarest bird: Junin Grebe, lake Junin - Central Peru July 2007. Best ever mammal sighting: finding his own Snow Leopard with two kittens in Hemis, Northern India in November 2012. Dreams to fulfil: observing Birds of Paradise in Papua New Guinea and seeing all the world’s Felidae species!

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sun 5th Jul – Sun 12th Jul 6 £3,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,345
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£595
Mon 13th Jul – Mon 20th Jul 6 £3,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,345
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£595

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!