Programme description

Wildlife and nature photography trips are made in the winter, as well, even though the busiest season is when the ground is unfrozen. The hard, carrying snow is nice to ski or snow shoe walk on, and the busier can take snow mobiles to the wintry sights and the wildlife. The wintry nature with its trees under snow loads and blue moments of dusk create magnificent surroundings for photography.

As the different species of animal all have different habits according the time of the day and seasons, and also the snow conditions variate during the winter, it is essential for these programs to be run by experienced wilderness and photography guides. This gives visitors the best chance to see the wild animals and find the most attractive sceneries.

This expedition combines visits to the photography sites of Golden Eagles and winter landscapes and eagles in Kuusamo. Oulanka National Park with magnificent frozen canyon sceneries and special photography hides for Golden Eagle, Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Raven and Woodpecker. Also the winter landscapes at high mountains in Riisitunturi National Park are worth a visit and if you’re lucky and the weather conditions allows, the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, are the highlight of the tour.

A special photography hide is a safe place to watch the wildlife up close while they eat and play by carcasses which have been laid out for them. Large windows give clear viewing and there are specially adapted camera holes in the walls of the hides. Full-service photography packages include guiding, use of photography hides, accommodation, local transfers and meals. During the tour you will download the images taken and go through them with the professional wildlife photographer guide to get ideas how to improve your photography skills and also try those advice in practice. The programs are tailor made to meet the needs and interests of the clients, in 2 – 5 persons groups.

The silence and peace of the forests, the quiet sound of the sleigh on the crust of snow, the trees snapping in the frost and unspoilt night skies with no light pollution are an unforgettable experience!

Programme information

November-March

4 days. Please ask for longer / shorter tour

2-6

Kuusamo, Finland

Start at 1200 € / person. Negotiable for groups

Hide. guiding.

Detailed programme

Itinerary proposal which can be tailormade:

Day 1
Arrival to Kuusamo Airport, where your guide meets you, and transfer to your cottage accommodation and dinner. Having a look on the sky whether the Northern Lights appear on the first night.

Day 2
After breakfast departure to Oulanka to the bird watching hides: Golden Eagle, Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, Raven, Woodpecker. Return to cottage and dinner. At night looking for the Northern Lights again.

Day 3
After breakfast car trip: winter landscapes at high mountains in Riisitunturi National Park. Dinner, sauna, downloading pictures and checking out the night sky.

Day 4
After breakfast car trip to winter landscapes in the Oulanka National Park with nice canyon river. Return to cottage for sauna and dinner, last evening for the Aurora Borealis.

Day 5
After breakfast check out and departure to Kuusamo airport and flight to Helsinki.

Please notice that as all animals are wild, there is no guarantee that all the mentioned species can be spotted during the tour. For the Northern Lights there needs to be a cloudless sky, and the activity of the Aurora Borealis depends on the Geomagnetic storms that ignite auroras to happen. Order of the daily activities can be modified according weather conditions.

Good to know

You need for the tour thermal winter clothing and shoes, warm sleeping bags ( to the hides ), camera bags and tripods.