This trip to Finland, and indeed our whole Nordic Road Trip is full of unique experiences – of things that we can’t do or see anywhere else. And one of those bucket list items for here in Finland is to try and see brown bears. We’ve seen bears in Alaska before, and in California, but here in Europe, never, and so this will be a fabulous experience. And so we planned a visit to the Brown Bear Center in eastern Finland – this is our brown bear Finland experience!
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The brown bear is Finland’s national animal, It has been both a revered and feared animal here in Finland for centuries and there are more than 200 different names for this bear, that is the largest predator in Europe. In the winter these magnificent animals go into hibernation, retreating to their dens sometime in September, and re-emerging usually between March and May. Brown bears can be found anywhere in Finland, apart from the Åland Islands, but the bear population is biggest in eastern Finland and Lapland so that’s the best place to come and do a little bear watching.
EASIEST WAY TO VISIT
Spend a night at the Bear House in Eastern Finland and try and spot Bears in the Wild. A truly once in a lifetime experience to get close to nature and these beautiful bears.
Taking a Bear Watching Finland Experience
The most up-to-date information on bears in Finland indicates that in 2020 there were around 2300 bears in the country. And although there are occasionally bear sightings in southern and western Finland, they’re mostly found in Lapland and Eastern Finland.
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Where to see Brown Bears in Finland
There are primarily two places in Finland to take a bear watching trip. The first is the Martinselkonen Wilds Centre, in Kainuu, Finland. The second is the Brown Bear Center in Kuhmo, Finland, less than 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) from the Russian border. You won’t stumble across either of these places by accident, you’ll need to make a specific trip to both of them. And while you can book a trip online you’ll need to get there under your own steam – we did so in the car we rented from Sweden for our Nordic road trip. (My guide to renting cars in Sweden is here.)
Male brown bears weigh up to 300 kilos (661 pounds) but are particularly agile. They feed on anything they can catch – meat, fish, mammals or berries.
Cost of Seeing Bears in Finland
You could spend a fortune and a lifetime following bears around to try and spot them. If you’re amateurs like us, and you simply want to see the bears in the wild, then there are several options to see them on your trip. Including a one-night stay. On our bear watching trip, we were by far the most amateur, most people who were staying at the bear center, were here for a week, and most of them were regular visitors.
When to see Bears in Finland
The best time to see bears in Finland is between April and October and also during the evening. It hardly gets dark at this time of year in Finland, especially during the months of high summer, and staying a night in either a hide or the specially constructed bear house is a fabulous way to see bears in safety.
Bears will venture out mostly in the evening hours. We were offered the option of a short – half-night trip from 17:00 until 22:00, but opted for a full night experience, thinking that if we didn’t see bears in the early evening, we’d kick ourselves. The bear that we spotted came at around midnight, so we were justified in our decision.
How likely are you to See Brown Bears in Finland?
Both of the locations that I’ve mentioned – the Brown Bear Center and the center at Martinselkonen lay bait near the hides, cabins, and bear house, and the bears visit the area regularly. You’re very likely to see bears in these areas, depending on the time of year you visit up to 99% likely.
Bear Watching Experiences at the Brown Bear Center in Finland
At the Brown Bear Center in Kuhmo Finland, there are a variety of different options for visiting and getting the chance to see bears in the wild. This is a professional outfit that primarily caters to professional photographers and folks who spend a lot of time exploring the natural world looking for bears. We, on the other hand, were here for just one night. This is a private conservation area and has been since 2016.
We arrived at the Bear Center Main Lodge, from our hiking at Koli National Park, we were spending one night here before we headed north, back to Sweden and the LKAB Mine Tour in Kiruna. From there we checked in and arranged the gear that we were going to take to the Bear House. We’d decided to stay in the bear house rather than hide as this was our first time bear watching like this and we weren’t absolutely sure what to expect – nor, was I ready to cope with mosquitoes like we’d had to deal with in the early evening in Koli National Park.
Dinner and Breakfast at the Brown Bear Center in Finland
We’d opted for the included dinner and breakfast option – and our salmon and vegetables was a great meal, with dessert provided and soft drinks too.
The following morning, we headed back to the Bear Center Lodge and had breakfast too before we headed out. Again it was buffet style with more than enough food to go around. And as we headed out to travel further north, towards our next stop – at Sweden’s Kiruna Mine – everyone else, all the professional (and keen amateur) photographers headed to bed to catch up on their sleep.
Accommodation at the Brown Bear Center in Finland
Bears are nocturnal, so that means if you want to see them, then you need to adopt their characteristics, stay awake at night, and catch up on your sleep during the day. You can spend the night in bear hides, or the bear house, and then stay at other accommodation near the lodge at the Brown Bear Center.
The center has a “bunk room” facility in the bear house, located out near the hides, there are also 5 luxury cabins in the same location, where you have private facilities. For those who wish to stay the night in a proper bear hide, then there are accommodation options back at the lodge, where you take meals. There are more details here.
Bear Hides and the Bear House at the Brown Bear Center in Finland
There are 29 different hides at the Brown Bear Center in Finland. They’re all about 500 meters to 900 meters from the main lodge where you take your meals.
It’s an easy walk to the hides, along boardwalks and well-made tracks. You can stay the night in the Bear House and watch for bears from the comfort of the house.
Bear Hides at the Brown Bear Center
In the bear hides you’ll find a chair, bed, mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, toilet pail, and paper. They also provide a heater for early-season visitors. So you can sleep in here if you want to, but it’s unlikely that you will, as you’ll be waiting to see the bears. The brown bear center provides accommodation back at the lodge for you to catch up on your sleep during the day. You can see the location of the hides here. All the hides here are set up with tripod screws for photography as well as simply observation.
The Bear House at the Brown Bear Center
Located about 400 meters from the main lodge, the Bear House is on a hill, providing great views over the valley.
There are bathrooms with running water here, beds, and bear watching areas on both levels of the house. In the colder weather, the bear house is heated and there is A/C in the hotter months.
Snacks and Drinks at the Bear Center
You are provided with a snack pack at the Bear House, that includes flasks of hot water, (tea and coffee are also provided), you can also take personal snacks and drinks. You’re not allowed to take alcohol to the bear house or any of the hides. It’s best if you’re spending the night in a hide to remove any snacks from any plastic wrapping to avoid noise while eating them, and potentially disturbing the bears.
Travel Tips for Finland
- Get Travel Insurance: Civitatis includes medical expenses, repatriation, theft, luggage delays. No deductibles or upfront payments. Get a quote here.
- Get online NOW with an eSIM for Finland
- Rent a car to explore Finland with Discover Cars
- Get your Finnish airport transfer here with Welcome Pickups.
- Book the best tours, attractions and guides on Get Your Guide and Viator
- Save money in Finland with a Wise debit card
- Book accommodation in Finland with Booking
Final Words on Taking a Bear Watching Finland Experience
Finland’s large population of wild brown bears is pretty spectacular and seeing them in the wild is an incredible experience. This is truly a unique thing to do in Finland, this area also sees wolverines and wolves, so do take the time to get out into Finland’s wilds and take in a little bear watching expedition.
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