This exclusive and active wildlife photography tour takes you to the most remote areas in Europe, to the eastern part of Finland. The tour includes five days in the gas heated wildlife photography hides and a lot of new experiences and day tours on the tracks of wolves and wolverines.
Your Nordic wildlife vacation is full of exciting moments! You will also have a good time enjoying the new tips, world-class wildlife photos, silence, and rest during your wilderness holiday.
WINTER, WOLF AND AURORAS
WINTER, WOLF AND AURORAS
FACTS AND ITINERARY
Learning about photographing the nordic wildlife, wolves, wolverines, and natural phenomena is always interesting. Also, skills and managing in the wilderness are included in this winter photography tour.
A bit of luck is needed to see the magnificent Northern Lights and these timid wild animals. Sea eagles and golden eagles live here, so it is quite possible that you will see these big birds gliding silently above the untouched white snowfields during five unforgettable days in the wildlife hide.
You travel with a local photography guide to different destinations by foot and by car. The guide is a local professional and knows the best spots for beautiful shooting in the area. Daily distances are about 1-5 km on some days. A few days will be spent in the gas-heated photography hides. You also have to carry your own camera equipment, your daily drinks, and other equipment in your rucksack.
We disquss for example, about the light, photographers' position, equipment, and technical issues. We talk about the artistic perspective and your way of thinking about photography in general.
One of the most important parts of the schedule is the showtime for you at the end of the week. In this part, you can introduce your best shots of the week with a projector on the big screen and tell your stories from your own perspective.
One of our unique skills is making beautiful meals in nature. So, welcome and enjoy. Feel free to contact us and tell us about your expectations and needs. We will make your wilderness holiday dreams come true!
Place: Kuikka Base Camp in Kuhmo, Finland
Dates: 21.-28.3., 28.3.-4.4.2027
Availability: 1.12.–31.3. Ask for availability and book now!
Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
Number of participants: Min 4 persons, max 14 persons
Price: 3890 €/person
Price includes: Return transport from Oulu Airport to Kuhmo, five (5) days (or days and nights) in wildlife hides, activities due to the program, guidance, meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), accommodation in single rooms, sauna, and shower every day.
The price doesn’t include flights.
Equipment: Participants have their own boots, winter clothing, warm underwear, etc. according to the cold weather. Please ask for the whole list of equipment after booking.
Equipment included in the price: Snowshoes, skis, sticks and skiing boots, sleeping bag and all other special equipment needed in the program.
By additional cost: Winter clothing, mittens, headwear, boots 90 €/set/person/week. Supplement for an extra night at a hotel in Oulu. Aurora hunting by car, 80 € / person. Camera equipment.
Supplement: Extra evening/night in the hide, 300€ / person
Payment: Invoice, cash, credit card
Tour level: Intermediate. Previous skiing and trekking experience is not required. A moderate physical condition is desirable.
Languages: Finnish, English
Insurance: We require participants to have their own insurance for outdoor activities in Finland and in arctic weather conditions.
Tour operator: Our tours are organized responsibly by Matexpro Oy, registered with the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV) under registration number 322/21/Mj.
ITINERARY
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At Oulu Airport you will meet your guide. Transfer to Kuhmo, to Hotel Kalevala. The travel time, including a coffee break, is about 4 hours.
Dive into the fascinating world of astrology and the northern lights. Evening aurora excursion to the best viewing locations in Kuhmo. During the trip, your guide will explain how the northern lights are formed.
Dinner, sauna, and a warm outdoor bath under the starry sky. Accommodation in single rooms.
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Breakfast at Hotel Kalevala. Program briefing. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, we provide essential information about clothing, accommodation, and safety instructions for the week.
A walking tour on the ice of Lake Lammasjärvi and in the nearby forest. Transfer to Kuhmo town for short shopping, lunch, and then by car to Kuikka Camp.
Kuikka Camp is a cozy old log house that serves as our base for this unforgettable wildlife adventure.
Dinner in the dining room and accommodation in single rooms. Evening aurora photography trip on the lake ice. Sauna and shower.
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Breakfast in the dining room and introduction to the area. Snowshoe ice‑fishing trip on the lake and into the forest. The excursion takes us to a remote wilderness lake that offers plenty of small fish for quiet and peaceful anglers.
Enjoy the silence. Photography of winter activities. A calm snowshoe hike after fishing leads us to a campfire. Landscape and wilderness photography along the way.
Picnic lunch by the open fire. Walk back to Base Camp. During relaxation and a hot drink, you will hear unique stories from the famous nature photographer and author Lassi Rautiainen. Photo exhibition and the opportunity to purchase books signed by Lassi Rautiainen, a pioneer and professional wildlife photographer.
In the afternoon, dinner, preparation of packed meals, and departure by car to the hides. From the hides you have the opportunity to photograph wolves, wolverines, and eagles, with the option to stay overnight. Transfer back to the camp either in the evening or in the morning for breakfast. If you stay overnight, you can enjoy wildlife in the beautiful morning light!
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After breakfast we take out the wide sliding snowshoes and begin our tour toward the Elimyssalo Nature Reserve. Elimyssalo is the largest, most remote, and wildest area of Wild Taiga. It is home to Finland’s four largest predators. We will likely find tracks of wolves, forest reindeer, moose, wolverines, and possibly the rare lynx.
Skiing through old forests and frozen bogs is an unforgettable experience. Here you can truly feel the wilderness and the quiet nature. Lunch at a lean‑to shelter by an open fire. Transfer back to Kuikka Base Camp.
In the afternoon, dinner, preparation of packed meals, and departure by car to the hides. From the hides you have the opportunity to photograph wolves, wolverines, and eagles, with the option to stay overnight. Transfer back to the camp either in the evening or in the morning for breakfast. If you stay overnight, you can enjoy wildlife in the beautiful morning light!
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Breakfast at Base Camp. Relaxation and photo editing.
In the afternoon, dinner, preparation of packed meals, and departure by car to the hides. From the hides you have the opportunity to photograph wolves, wolverines, and eagles, with the option to stay overnight. Transfer back to the camp either in the evening or in the morning for breakfast. If you stay overnight, you can enjoy wildlife in the beautiful morning light!
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Breakfast. Time to view the best photos of the week! At the end of the photography week, we gather all the wonderful memories, process them on the computer, and create a presentation of the images. Lunch during the day. Warm sauna and showers available.
In the afternoon, dinner, preparation of packed meals, and departure by car to the hides. From the hides you have the opportunity to photograph wolves, wolverines, and eagles, with the option to stay overnight. Transfer back to the camp in the evening.
Festive dinner. Accommodation in your room.
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Breakfast and transfer to Oulu or Kajaani airport or railway station.