Summer Bear Cubs
Information and FAQ
The Wildlife
Everything you’ve seen in this brochure was taken during our very first safari to this incredible location — and we’re going back for one reason: the bears. This tour is all about photographing brown bears and, especially, their cubs. While other wildlife is occasionally seen, it’s likely your focus will be bears — and only bears. By July, the number of mothers with cubs increases, and the cubs become more playful, curious, and photogenic. With luck, you’ll have close-up views of newborn cubs from the previous winter, as well as some larger yearlings. Sightings can vary, as bears roam widely in search of food, but this is a location where encounters are frequent and intimate. At the lodge, bird feeders attract red squirrels and a lovely mix of finches and other species to enjoy between hide sessions.
The Hides and Environments
Our lodge provides access to three distinct environments, each offering its own photographic magic.
The open swamp is a classic summer scene, often filled with delicate cotton grass, creating beautifully soft foregrounds for your bear shots — if it’s blooming when we visit, it’s truly iconic.
The forest hides place you right among the trees, where shafts of light and shadow create an atmospheric setting. This is the best location for intimate close-ups, cub behaviour, and even tree-climbing antics.
Finally, the pond environment offers a wider perspective. This area is known for misty mornings, reflections, and dramatic light — perfect for moody landscapes with bears.
We have exclusive access to all hides, and you’ll be rotated through each location for variety. That is the beauty of this tour, we have reserved everything, so yes it’s extra cost BUT it offers the maximum in flexibility.
There are two types of hides: singles and doubles — but unless you request otherwise, you’ll always have a hide to yourself.
Single hides are compact and offer a low-angle shooting position, ideal for intimate wildlife portraits. You’ll lie down to shoot and sleep, with a foam mattress and sleeping bag provided.
Double hides are larger, with more space and shooting angles. They feature a bench and convertible mattress bed, offering more comfort for those who prefer to sit or stretch out.
The majority of hides are doubles with just a few singles. You will be allocated into hides at the start of a trip and if you want to experience a low angle single we will see what we can do at the time.
All hides are equipped with toilets, and each is stocked with a warm sleeping bag. Temperatures vary — it can be warm in the evening sun but drops after sunset, so layering is essential. You’ll typically spend around 14 hours in the hide (from early evening until around 6:30 am), but bear activity tends to quiet down by 10 pm, meaning you’ll get some proper sleep during your session.
You will be given a hot water thermos with tea / coffee / powdered milk and sandwiches / snacks for your stay in the hide. Enroute to the lodge we will also stop at a supermarket so you can purchase chocolate, biscuits and any additional snacks you need.
Clients on previous tours loved the peace and immersive experience of staying overnight in the wild — and we think you will too!
Toilet Facilities
Now the question that everyone wants to know is what are the toilet facilities… well as you can see from this picture, each hide is equipped with a camping toilet, disinfectant and toilet paper.
This is not a chemical toilet as such, more a simple lidded container. But crucially it has a proper toilet seat and a proper toilet lid, so ladies - no squatting required! In the morning it is simply a case of removing the bucket from the toilet structure and emptying it out when instructed to do so. Yes it is basic, but it is also more sophisticated, and much easier to use than a simple bucket!
Accommodation and Logistics
For this trip we have booked the lodge and hides exclusively. This means that we will get our pick of the hides each night, rather than having to share our allocation of the hides with other photography groups, this is a huge benefit as it gives us maximum flexibility and choice. Each room at the lodge is en suite, though you will really only be using it in the day for a nap. Each morning after you come out of the hides you will have a continental style breakfast, before having the rest of the day at leisure, until about 3 o’clock, when you will have a simple lunch / dinner (dinch?!) before heading to your allocated hide at around 4pm.
The hides themselves are a very short drive away from the lodge via a minibus and from there a short walk - exactly how far depends on the specific hide. All are within about a 1.5 km walk, but this can by along muddy undulating terrain and a boardwalk, and you must be able to carry all your own kit and of course your snacks for the night! In the Finnish summer it can be buggy, so you will equipped with a head net for this walk. Despite the bugs, we found them to be all buzz and no bite, but a good repellant is always recommended.
The Guide Team
For this trip, we are lucky enough to be using three experienced photo guides - spearheaded by Andy Rouse, we will also be joined by Suzie Rouse and either Kaisa or Jari Peltomaki.
Andy Rouse
Andy Rouse is one of the most successful wildlife photographers out there. Andy has won well over 30 major international awards, been a pro for nearly 25 years and has led photographic expeditions all over the world. He prides himself in only offering the very best destinations, and has built a reputation as one of the best photographic safari guides in the world. Andy’s safari’s are always packed with fantastic opportunities, expert guidance and a drive to get the very best for his clients, as well as being a lot of fun - you are on holiday after all!
Andy shoots with the Sony A1 Mark II, and away from work he is a proud husband, Dad and West Ham fan!
Suzie Rouse
Suzie Rouse is an experienced wildlife photographer and birdwatcher, having travelled all over the world adding to her birding life list and capturing images of some iconic species. Away from the travel Suzie is a University lecturer; specialising in teaching students all about forensic imaging and photography, so she is all to familiar with teaching people how to get the best from their cameras. Suzie processes all her images using Adobe Lightroom, so she is able to complement Andy’s Photoshop tutorials during safaris.
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This is a fairly easy trip. There will be some walking involved and the terrain can be undulating and muddy. There are some sections that involve walking along a boardwalk - the total distance is about 1.5 km. It is important that you are able to carry your own kit over this terrain and for this distance.
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Comprehensive pre departure information will be provided 3 months before departure. This will cover photo kit, clothing, and anything else you need to know.
Lens wise flexibility will be the key here so a couple of zoom lenses will be ideal upto a reach of 500mm. You will need a good, reliable tripod head for this trip which you can screw directly into mounts within the hide.
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Absolutely not. This wildlife is very timid and one sight of a human will make anything disappear into the forest. So once you are inside the hides you must stay there until we come to get you at the end.
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Absolutely not! We will book the lodge and all the hides exclusively so there will be plenty of choice and enough hides for everyone to go on their own - regardless of the hide size. Of course couples may wish to stick together and that is also fine.
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Each hide features a portable, chemical free camping toilet as shown within the image above. This has a proper seat and a lid and is about as close as you can get to the real thing! In the morning you can empty and disinfect your own toilet - it is all very easy!
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We appreciate that for a lot of you, you have your own frequent flyer memberships and preferences. So, as we do for all our safaris, once you book we will tell you when and where you need to be and give you some flight recommendations.
We will then arrange pickup's etc to the team hotel if necessary, or transfers at the airport if you are coming direct. This is now standard policy for all of our expeditions.
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We are always very honest with all our clients and when you come on a tour with us you will always know everything, warts and all!
It’s important that you understand that whilst we guarantee that everyone will do their very best to get you the very best in photographic opportunities we cannot guarantee photographable sightings. As stated this tour has a very high success rate, but nature and wildlife can be unpredictable.
All his clients know that Andy and his guide team try their absolute best to get everyone the best photographic opportunities possible, but of course this can be out of our control as the wildlife has other ideas!!! So whilst we look for everything we can, we absolutely cannot guarantee in anyway shape or form that you will see any of these. It can rain. It can be cloudy. The wildlife can be elusive. You must come with this realistic expectations, we do not make false promises. What we can promise is that the team will work 150% to give you the best chances and best experiences possible. That is GUARANTEED!
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Rest assured that this safari is backed by the Travel Trust Association (TTA). The TTA is an independent trade organisation of tour operators that we are proud members of. The TTA provides guarantees for your booking with us in two forms.
The first is that all monies are deposited to a trustee managed trust bank account and any payments to / from them have to be authorised at several levels.
Secondly your booking is protected by the TTA Safe Seat Plan and Supplier Failure Cover, both of which are insurance policies to protect your money from fraud and supplier failure.
We include the costs of these policies automatically in your booking fee, so that you can have total financial confidence in us, and your booking with us, as a trusted and reputable tour operator.
Further details of our TTA membership can be found by clicking here
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The tour is open to both photographers and non photographers. This is a very laid back and relaxed trip, but it is hide focussed - this means that it can be a long time spent waiting and watching with not a lot going on. This generally suits photographers more than non-photographers but it also depends on the individual too.
Our tours are inclusive, anyone is welcome irrespective of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. We just ask that you come with a smile and a love of wildlife.
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Of course we cannot predict this as the world is changing. But Finland in Summer should be fairly warm in terms of temperature and dry. We of course hope for sunny days with good light at the end but we cannot guarantee this so you should come expecting anything.
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Vegetarian and vegan are simple and the food at the lodge is simple but tasty.
We can usually cater for most dietary requirements so please get in touch with any questions and we will be happy to help.
Travel Trust Association
Now we know that there are a lot of people out there offering photographic tours, however rest assured that this safari is backed by the Travel Trust Association (TTA). The TTA is an independent trade organisation of tour operators that we are proud members of. The TTA provides guarantees for your booking with us in two forms.
The first is that all monies are deposited to a trustee managed trust bank account and any payments to / from them have to be authorised at several levels.
Secondly your booking is protected by the TTA Safe Seat Plan and Supplier Failure
Cover, both of which are insurance policies to protect your money from fraud and
supplier failure.
We include the costs of these policies automatically in your booking fee,
so that you can have total financial confidence in us, and your booking with
us, as a trusted and reputable tour operator.
Further details of our TTA membership can be found by clicking here.
