Holiday Breakdown

Day 1

Viiksimo

On arrival in Kajaani you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your accommodation, level – Forest cabins (Boreal Wildlife Centre Lodge) where you will have your lunch and evening meal. Today there will be an excursion into the forest to try and locate the long-legged Elk here browsing on the trees on the edge of the meadow.

Day 2

Viiksimo

After breakfast you will depart in search for wild forest reindeer in Elimyssalo Nature park. The Elimyssalo Nature Reserve represents the best of forest nature that Kainuu region has to offer. It is a tapestry of different types of mires, old spruce forests draped with beard lichens, lush stream banks, and small lakes and ponds. Here are superb photographic opportunities in the Park itself and in the surrounding forests where forest reindeer move around. You will then drive back to Viiksimo for an early dinner before going to the hide cabin for brown bear and with luck wolf viewing which begins around 16:00. The entire evening and the following night and part of the next morning will be spent in hide cabin, before we return to the lodge for a proper breakfast and well-earned rest. Just as it gets dusk – still with good light here this far north – the brown bears appear out of the forest. We may even catch a glimpse of the scarce and elusive wolves that forage from across the Russian border. There will be wandering immature bears, large territorial males, and possibly mothers protecting their young cubs. The bears can be within yards of the hides for several hours, offering superb photographic opportunities. The hide cabins are equipped with bunks and a toilet although the wildlife watching is usually enough to keep you occupied and awake all night.

Day 3

Viiksimo

After a long rest at our accommodation, level – Forest Cabins (Boreal Wildlife Centre Lodge), there will be local bird watching; as the vicinity of Viiksimo can produce a range of breeding species, including the chance of Rustic Bunting, Parrot Crossbill, Three-toed Woodpecker and Siberian Jay which are all very rare to see elsewhere. After an early dinner at our lodge you will depart for a second night in the hide cabins. Here brown bears, wolves and wolverines will be on the menu until the next morning.

Day 4

Leiksa

After breakfast and rest at our lodge, we will depart to Lieksa. You will arrive in time for an early dinner at your accommodation, level – 3* Hotel (Hotel Puustelli), before a departure to the log hide cabins for wolverine and with luck brown bear viewing. The drive will take about three hours and on the way we may encounter other mammals of the north including elk, reindeer and Arctic hare, as well as some of the breeding bird specialities. The entire evening, the following night and part of the next morning will be spent in hides, before we return to our hotel for a proper breakfast and well-earned rest. This is one of the best places in the world to see the elusive and legendary wolverine and this is the main animal to see here.

Day 5

Lieksa

After breakfast and rest at our hotel, you will be taken to search for beavers, the population here was introduced from Northern America, and they now inhabit some of the wetland areas. As well as the animals themselves, we will see dammed streams, felled trees and saplings, and lodges that are a collection of birch and vegetation piled high. You will return to our accommodation, level – 3* Hotel (Hotel Puustelli) around 14:00 for a late lunch buffet before our second departure to log hide cabins for wolverine viewing. Brown bears are also possible here, but not that numerous as at Viisksimo. The entire evening, the following night and part of the next morning will be spent in hides, before we return to the lodge for a proper breakfast and well-earned rest.

Day 6

Lieksa

After breakfast and rest at our hotel, there is the option to visit Ruunaa Nature Reserve with lake view and rapids close to Russian border. This area is true wilderness with possible encounters of wild forest reindeer and other local species. After lunch you will visit Patvinsuo National Park with its nice mires and wilderness-like nature. The National Park is an internationally important as a mire conservation and research area, with old-growth forests and waterways with sandy shores. The emblem animal of Patvinsuo National Park, is the bear, however they tend to avoid people and are rarely seen, where as beavers and their dams can be seen along almost all the parks streams. Swans, cranes, geese and many waterfowl, tetraonids and birds of prey inhabit the park and make for great bird watching. Birds can be observed from the bird-watching tower at Teretinniemi and bird watching platforms at Lahnasuo and Surkansuo. You will return to our accommodation, level – 3* (Hotel Puustelli) for your farewell dinner.

Day 7

Home

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Kajaani airport in time to catch your return flight home.

Please note that the itinerary stated above is correct as our planned intentions for the tour. However adverse weather conditions and other local considerations can necessitate some modifications of the itinerary during the course of the tour; any changes will be made to make the best of the time and weather conditions available to us.

This tour is available on different date (subject to availability) please contact us for more details about running this tour on a date which suits you more.