Photograph bears, wolves and wolverine at the Russian border
Bears and wolves in classic Finnish lands
With guideLasse Lindahl
Lasse Lindahl
Trip description
Join FocusRAW to the classic Finnish bear and wolf regions, where the wolverine may also appear.
When the first brown bear silently slips out of the forest edge, your pulse rises immediately. It is fascinating how such a large and powerful predator can move almost completely soundlessly.
The Finnish summer light creates a magical, soft light during the night.
The bears not seldom come very close to the hides, sometimes within a few metres. The sound of their heavy yet almost silent steps and deep breaths can be heard clearly through the thin walls of the hide.
Sitting in a hide in the Finnish wilderness is probably one of the world's best experiences for bear photographers.
The specially built hides are strategically placed near the Russian border. We step into the hide in the late afternoon, and we stay until morning.
An intense and expectant silence reigns inside the hide while we wait. Through specially designed openings in fabric, our telephoto lenses stick out towards the landscape.
The wait is usually rewarded with dramatic images when the bears interact or search for laid-out food. The mist that softly lies over parts of the marshland at dawn gives a mysterious backdrop to the images.
Experiencing these mighty predators so close up in their natural environment changes one's view of nature forever. Once morning arrives, we pack up our equipment, tired but probably filled with unforgettable image memories.
This is probably also the most reliable year-round place for wolf. A wolf territory not too far away makes the wolves more reliable than elsewhere, and the wolves do not seem to mind that there may also be many bears in the same lands. Not seldom can photographers here witness encounters between these predator species. Now and then the wolverine also appears.
Price
Clear pricing. Small groups. Focus on the images.
Early bird price
2,100 EUR
≈ $2,390 USD
per person
Normally 2,220 EUR
Save 120 EUR
Valid until 10 December 2026
Shared double room
Booking & peace of mind
Booking deposit
500 EUR
Travel guarantee included
Small group with personal guidance
Planned for the right light, place and pace
You’ll get confirmation and next steps by email.
Photo gallery
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at the accommodation in the late afternoon. After a bite to eat, a short briefing. Then out to the hides. We photograph or wait all night and bring something to eat and drink. We sleep a little in the beds but someone always keeps watch.
Days 2–3-4-5
During these days we do photography until a while into the morning. Then back to the accommodation for breakfast/brunch and rest. After further food we then head out to the hides again in the late afternoon.
Day 6
This night too we do photography until a while into the morning. Then back to the accommodation for breakfast. After breakfast we travel homewards.
Included in the price
- Share in double room
- Breakfast and lunch/lunch/dinner and food package for the hide. Coffee and mealtime drink.
- Guiding and photo advice by Lasse Lindahl
Not included
- Travel to and from the accommodation, insurance and items of a personal nature.
- Pickup at the nearest airport round trip costs 900 per guest, must be coordinated in advance with FocusRAW
Finland
About Finland
Photograph brown bears, wolves and wolverines from hides at the Finnish-Russian border under the midnight sun.
Highlights
brown bear, wolf, wolverine, midnight sun
Best time
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Difficulty
latt
Practical information
Camera equipment
Both fast telephoto lenses and telephoto zooms are very useful. A zoom of 80/100-400 mm or 100-500/600 is excellent. A 70-200 mm zoom is also good.To increase the focal length, in some situations you can use a teleconverter. When it is darker, fast long telephoto lenses 300mm or 400 mm are worth their weight in gold.
A standard zoom equivalent to 24 or 28 mm on the wide-angle side is good to have for photographing landscapes among other things.
Clothing
Good boots and other rain protection are good to have. Then warm clothes are needed; in early June it can still be chilly, not least at night. A hat and gloves are also not a bad idea to bring.
Availability
Often we only walk shorter distances. It requires a normal ability to walk.
Accommodation
We sleep in bedrooms at the accommodation and in sleeping bags in the hide respectively. There is a kitchen at the accommodation but we are also served both breakfast and hot food.
Travel
The workshop begins and ends at the accommodation. Swedish citizens need a passport or national ID card.
Pickup
at the nearest airport can be arranged for a certain fee.
Payment terms
The payment terms differ from our general travel conditions.
The booking deposit is 500 €. The booking deposit is paid in connection with registration. The remaining amount is paid no later than 30 days before the workshop. In case of cancellation up to 30 days before the start of the workshop, nothing more than the booking deposit is charged, but FocusRAW keeps that. In case of cancellation later than 30 days before the workshop, the full price is charged.
Good to know
Popular signature expedition
This is one of our most requested tours among wildlife photographers.
See current availability and prices in the booking form above