Trip Report - Magic in the Forests of Finland (June 2026)

In June 2026, the time had finally come again: We packed our cameras and set off for the beautiful wilderness of Finland. And what can we say? The far north didn't disappoint!

With a small group, we set off from Oulu and headed further and further east—into the Finnish wilderness, where more trees than people—and probably more mosquitoes than trees—awaited us. After a short break at our lodge, picturesquely situated on one of the countless lakes, it was soon time to head into the hide!

And our first night turned out to be a real highlight right off the bat. After just 20 minutes, the first bear actually appeared among the trees! He strolled leisurely toward the small lake where our hide was located, looking for something to eat. It couldn’t have started any better.
Over the next two hours, several bears made an appearance. The cameras were working overtime, and we quickly got our first truly amazing shots.

Then there was a brief moment of calm—or so we thought. Because suddenly, the next visitor appeared: a wolverine! And as if he’d rehearsed his entrance beforehand, he strolled slowly along the lake in perfect light. Wolverines had been quite scarce in our area over the past few months. That made it all the more delightful that we not only got to see him, but were also able to observe him in fantastic light.

But the evening was far from over. About an hour later, the next highlight followed: a whole pack of wolves!
The light was still excellent, so we were able to enjoy the entire sighting to the fullest. The three younger wolves, in particular, provided plenty of entertainment. They were extremely playful and at times came surprisingly close to our hides.

By now, at the very latest, it was clear: This first night would be hard to top. But the nights that followed also had a lot to offer. We spotted bears several times every night, and the wolves stopped by once or twice as well. Once, they even showed up at the same time as the bears—wildlife photography at its finest!

Another highlight was a mother bear with her two cubs. The three of them were clearly more cautious and shy than their relatives, but we were still lucky enough to spot them twice. Encounters like that definitely stick in your memory.

Unfortunately, there was just one thing missing from our wish list: owls. This year, we unfortunately had no opportunity to observe the various owl species in our area. Spring in Finland arrived about six weeks earlier than usual, which meant that the breeding season for many owls also ended significantly earlier. Especially in the far north, the effects of the climate crisis are becoming increasingly evident—and we’re also noticing these changes more and more on our wildlife tours.

Still, we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. Bears, wolves, a wolverine, fantastic light, and plenty of unforgettable moments—so we didn’t mind missing a few owls for once. In the end, we headed back home with full memory cards, tired eyes, and big grins on our faces.