Experience the unspoilt wilderness of Finland and photograph fascinating Northern Lights and wildlife!
On this 8-day / 7-night trip, an unforgettable adventure awaits you in the eastern part of Finland. Discover the secrets of nature, follow the tracks of wolves and watch the impressive Aurora Borealis!
Wolves & Auroras - an exciting combination for your holidays.
Your stay at Kuikka Base Camp offers you the perfect backdrop for exciting activities and impressive nature experiences. From guided hikes and ice fishing to nighttime photo tours focussing on the Northern Lights, this trip is full of unique experiences. You also have the opportunity to spend the night in a photography hide to observe the wildlife up close. Enjoy the clear, cold air and the tranquillity of the snow-covered landscape of Eastern Finland and immerse yourself in the world of the Arctic wilderness. Arctic Wolves and Northern Lights: the itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
After your arrival at Oulu Airport, you will be met by your guide and taken to the village of Lentiira, near Kuhmo. The journey takes about four hours, with coffee breaks in between. At your destination, you will be amazed by the fascinating world of astronomy and the Northern Lights. Rob Johnstone, a professional astronomer and recognized astronomy aducator worldwide, will guide you through an interesting workshop that will give you an understanding of the Northern Lights. In good conditions, you can even take your own photos! After a delicious dinner, you will continue to the Kalevala Hotel in Kuhmo, where you will spend the night in comfortable hotel rooms.
Day 2: Welcome to the wilderness
Your day begins with a hearty breakfast at the Kalevala Hotel before you discuss the programme together so that everyone is well-prepared for the adventures ahead. You will learn all about the right clothing, accommodation and get safety instructions for the week. You will then go on a hike on the frozen lake near the hotel. Later, after a short shopping trip in Kuhmo, you will travel to Kuikka Base Camp, a cosy old log cabin that will serve as your home for the next few days. In the evening, dinner is served in the dining room, followed by an overnight stay in bunk bedrooms. If you want to relax first, a sauna session is a good way to do so. How about a refreshing dip in the ice hole in the frozen lake afterwards? If that's too cold for you, you can use the hot tub on the shore instead.
All pictures of this partner Day 3: Ice fishing and photography
After a hearty breakfast and an introduction to the surroundings, you set off on a snowshoe tour. You will hike to a wild lake - the perfect location for ice fishing! In the peaceful atmosphere of nature, you will soon leave the stress of everyday life behind you. You then continue your hike, stopping en route for a picnic lunch by the campfire. Back at the base camp, you can sit back with a hot drink until it's time for the next adventure. Meet the famous nature photographer Lassi Rautiainen and listen to his exciting stories. You will then head outside to take pictures of the mystical Northern Lights that are hopefully waiting for you in the night sky. Dinner and sauna round off this eventful day. Alternatively, for an extra charge, you can spend the night in a photography hide for once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities of wolves and wolverines in the morning light.
Day 4: Adventure in the Elimyssalo Natur Reserve
Strap on your wide backcountry skis after breakfast and set off in a tour to the Elimyssalo Nature Reserve, the largest and most remote wilderness area in the Wild Taiga. Finland's four largest carnivores live here. You will look for tracks of wolves, wild reindeer, moose and wolverines and may be lucky enough to spot the rare tracks of a lynx. Skiing through ancient forests and over frozen moors is an impressive experience. You eat lunch by an open fire in a shelter before returning to Kuikka Base Camp. In the evening, you go on a photo tour to observe the Northern Lights on the frozen lake. The day ends in a cosy atmosphere with dinner and sauna.
Day 5 & 6: Wildlife viewing and photo moments
As usual, you start the day with breakfast. Today, you will prepare a picnic, which you will take with you on your excursion. You will be transferred to the photography hide where you can observe and photograph wild animals. Maybe wolves, wolverines or eagles will walk (or fly) in front of your camera lens. Tonight, you will sleep in the photography hide. Snuggle up in your winter sleeping bag and look forward to great wildlife moments the next morning.
Day 7: Presentation of the photos
Today, you get to present your best shots of the week! Share the wonderful memories together, edit the pictures on the computer and create a presentation of them. During the day, you will have a light lunch before ending the evening with a farewell dinner and a final sauna. You will spend the night in your room at base camp.
Day 8: Departure
On the last day of your trip, you will enjoy breakfast and then join the transfer back to Oulu Airport. It's sadly time to say goodbye to Finland. The special moments of this week are sure to stay with you for a long time.
Accommodation:
Kuikka Base Camp is a small log cabin located in the middle of unspoilt nature and right next to a lake - the ideal place for observing and photographing wild animals. It has nine simple but comfortable bedrooms with shared facilities including four showers, three toilets and a sauna. Each bedroom sleeps two to six guests in bunk or twin beds. You will also find free Wi-Fi, a washing machine and a tumble dryer there. In the neighboothood are several hides (some of them heated with gas), where you will spend a night in winter sleeping bags. These are small and simple cabins without running water or electricity. The toilets are behind the hides under a covered area.
On the first night you will be accommodated in a hotel room at the Kalevala Hotel in Kuhmo.
Would you like to stay one more night in Oulu or arrive a day earlier? An extra night is possible for an additional charge. Please feel free to contact us!
Northern Lights enthusiasts can also add a Northern Lights hunt by car to their stay (for an extra charge).
Important information:
A good level of fitness is required for this trip. No previous skiing or trekking experience is required.
Winter clothing for low temperatures can be rented for a fee (see "Equipment"). Please let us know if you are interested.
All participants should take out their own insurance for skiing and other outdoor activities in Finland and in arctic weather conditions.
Additional Information:
The order of tours and activities within this itinerary may vary due to weather conditions and other contributing factors that must be taken into account by the guides when planning your tour. You will receive the exact order of activities once you arrive on site. The far north can have fluctuating and unpredictable weather with very strong temperature differences. The safety of guests and animals comes first, and for this reason, we reserve the right to change the itinerary and intensity of activities if and when needed. This involves both adjustments due to insufficient snow (meaning we cannot drive the sleds) or too much snow (snowstorms and extreme cold can cause accidents and various other problems). The required adjustments and fallback options in rare cases are based on the day-to-day conditions and can be compensated by shorter or longer daily stages, alternative accommodations, or even single day trips. In extremely rare cases we may organise alternative transport (ie. cars, quad bikes, etc). Feel free to contact us if you would like a more detailed assessment of this tour and travel period.
These videos contain snapshots of our local partners to provide a brilliant first impression. Please note that selected tour may not correspond precisely to these recordings.
These pictures provide a general impression of our local partner and the surrounding area. Please note that selected tour may differ from these pictures.
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Arctic Wolves and Northern Lights
Required and included in the travel price, can be borrowed on site or must be brought along.
Clothing and equipment will be provided on the day of arrival and can be used outside of scheduled activities throughout the entire journey.
All prices per person in double or multi-bed category. Single room surcharges, childrens discounts etc. on request. Fixed travel dates, not extendable.
Good booking opportunities. No real-time updating.
Limited spaces, less than 4 places reported! No real-time updating.
Optional date. Minimum group size required. Exact travel date may vary.
Fully booked.
Particularly favorable in the price, comfortably in the journey with the rare direct flights or only simply extraordinarily beautifully: Our special highlights