2-day Hiking Trip in Search of the Brown Bear
Learn more about the brown bear and its importance in Finnish mythology : this 2-day guided trip includes a bear-watching overnight in the wilderness cabin and a hike in the Oulanka National Park!
Route Info
Type: Animal Trip
Departure/Arrival: Rovaniemi
Duration : 2 days, 1 night
Transportation by Minivan
Distance : 480km
ITINERARY
Rovaniemi – Kuusamo – Oulanka National Park – Rovaniemi
Nights
One night in a bear-watching cabin
TIME
Departure : 14:00
Back around 17:00 the following day
BEST SEASON
Available: May-September
BEST PRICING IN LAPLAND!
ADULT
1-2 adults : 425€/pers. (530€)
3-4 adults : 395€/pers. (500€)
5+ adults : 365€/pers. (460€)
CHILD (4 – 12 years)
300€/child (380€)
Program can be tailored on request!
ITINERARY
This is our standard itinerary for this journey. If you would like to adapt the duration, the type of accommodation or the activities included in this package, please contact us. Meals are included when mentioned : (B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) Dinner, (S) Snack.
DAY 1: BROWN BEAR
OBSERVATION! (L, S)
Bear-Watching Overnight in a Wilderness Cabin
As you arrive to the limits of Finland, you will already feel the call of the wild! Your guide will lead you to a bear-watching hut in the middle of the wilderness.
You will probably already spot some marks and footprints left by the bears on the ground, as you walk to the remote cabin. Inside the hut, there are many large windows and special places to install our cameras, so that you do not miss anything of the show!
Bear watching is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Quiet, calm, a professional bear-watcher will explain you more about the lives of the bears, while you will be waiting for the massive animals to approach the cabin. Soon, the bears should come, as dusk colours start covering the Autumn sky. They would be looking for food in the surrounding bogs, offering their large furry figures to your eyes and cameras.
Wildlife is always unpredictable, and you may have to wait for a few hours before some bears appear. Cold snacks and drinks will be provided for the evening. Unfortunately, it is impossible to cook in the hut, as the smell and noise may affect the behaviour of the bears walking all around you!
Comfortable bunk beds are installed in the cabin, so you can use them whenever you need a rest. Warm sleeping bags and dried toilets will offer you a bit of comfort during this adventurous night!
DAY 2: OULANKA NATIONAL PARK (B,L)
Learn more about bears during a gentle hike on the Bear’s Trail
After your breakfast, depart in the morning for Oulanka National Park, located in the east of Rovaniemi.
This National Park is known for the Oulanka River and its various streams which flow through the park, creating valleys and gorges with impressive panoramic views.
It is also famous for its long-distance hiking route, the Bear Circuit : Karhunkierros.
Once there, your guide will make you a wood-fired lunch and take the time to introduce you to the history of brown bears.
He will give you an insight into the old traditions, fascinating legends and ancestral cults associated with the brown bear.
Depending on your physical level, the guide will choose one of the 4 hikes we offer in the park, with different levels of difficulty.
All 4 options do not exceed 4km in total and are quite flat so that they are accessible to as many participants as possible.
After the hike, you will slowly head back to Rovaniemi, you will have a small break at “Karhujärvi”, to end this trip with another bear related nature spot.
INFORMATION
INCLUDED
Activity
- Guided hike in Oulanka National Park
- Bear-watching experience in a wilderness cabin
*The trip may be customized – please request it at info@nordicodyssey.net before booking.
Accommodation
- 1 night in the wilderness cabin
- Sleeping bags and equipment
Others Services
- Personal guide
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off (or airport transfer)
- Meals as mentioned (B=breakfast, L=lunch, S=snack, D=dinner)
- Transportation
- All taxes & handling fee
NOT INCLUDED
- Flight tickets
-
Accommodation before and after the trip
PLEASE NOTE
We recommend to book in advance, as availability is limited to small groups in Autumn seasons. The trip departs from Rovaniemi in the afternoon (around 2:00 PM) and returns to Rovaniemi the next day (around 4:00 PM).
A minimum of 2 adult participants is required for the trip to operate. The maximum capacity is 6 people for comfort reasons. For larger groups, please contact us and we can discuss a specific package.
Child rate applies up to 12 years old. Please note that the bear-watching experience, and all animal activities in general, require that participants remain as quiet as possible not to disturb local wildlife. We do not recommend to bring young children on this tour.
Animals in the Wildlife Park may be hiding, and not all of them are always visible. Likewise, the bear-watching hut is located in a special place with a large population of wild brown bears ; the observation of brown bears, and the number of them is not guaranteed. Usually there are around 90+% chances of observing the bears.
Please dress appropriately depending on the weather conditions.
CANCELLATION POLICY
- We will charge a cancellation fee of 20% if booking is cancelled 31 days or more before departure;
- We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 30 days or less before departure.
BOOK THIS TRIP
HOW TO BOOK
Select the number of participants, the date and time in the calendar below and follow the booking steps. Payment by credit or debit card.
PAYMENT
Payment by bank transfer and credit card are accepted. Full payment is required to confirm the booking.
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