Brown Bears and Cubs in the Finnish Taiga

7 Days | 25 June – 1 July 2026
7 Days | 25 June – 1 July 2027
7 Days | 1 July – 7 July 2027

Finland is one of Europe’s last true wildernesses. With over 75% of the country covered in dense coniferous taiga and nearly 188,000 lakes, it provides a pristine habitat for some of the continent’s most iconic wildlife, including brown bear, elk, reindeer, grey wolves, wolverines, Eurasian lynx, capercaillie, eagle owls and white-tailed eagles.

On this bear photography tour, we’ll be based in a remote region of eastern Finland near the Russian border. Our focus is on photographing brown bears and their playful cubs from specialist forest hides, each offering unique photographic opportunities. Award-winning wildlife photographer Louis Guillot will guide the trip, sharing his expertise and creative insight throughout.

If you want to experience the true Finnish taiga and photograph brown bears, their cubs, and a wealth of other wildlife, join Nature Talks on this unforgettable photography tour.

Incredible Wildlife Encounters in the Finnish Taiga

One of the first things you’ll notice on arrival is just how wild this place feels. The forests are vast, the air is clean, and the whole area has a true sense of remoteness. This is the heart of the Finnish taiga, a place where you might even hear howling wolves.

This special area has long been known as an excellent location for bear photography in Finland, with many litters of cubs born here over the years. Brown bears and cubs will be our main focus, but while waiting quietly in the hides, there is always the chance of other wildlife too, including golden eagles, elk, reindeer, beavers, and occasionally even wolves or wolverines.

Specialist Bear Photography Hides

During this trip, we will use a range of specialist photo hides, each offering a variety of perspectives for photographing brown bears.

Some hides are located beside lakes, offering beautiful opportunities for reflections, waterside behaviour, and atmospheric habitat shots. Others are set within the forest, providing clean, natural backgrounds, while marshland hides can create more open scenes with a distinct sense of place. Every hide has its own character, and all are thoughtfully positioned to maximise both wildlife encounters and strong photographic compositions.

Each hide accommodates a maximum of two photographers, ensuring space, comfort, and excellent shooting angles. We will rotate between hides throughout the trip, giving everyone the chance to work in different environments and capture a variety of images.

Brown Bear Cubs – Full of Character

Seeing any wild bear is special, but watching and photographing cubs is on another level. They are full of energy and personality: play-fighting, standing upright, mock-charging one another, climbing trees and constantly testing their mother’s patience. As entertaining as this is, these moments also show cubs learning important life skills.

From a photography point of view, this makes them endlessly rewarding subjects. Bring plenty of memory cards — and if you enjoy filming, a video camera is well worth packing too.

Suitable for Beginners and Experienced Photographers

This wildlife photography tour in Finland is suitable for both beginners and more experienced photographers. Louis Guillot will be on hand to share techniques, settings advice, fieldcraft and creative guidance throughout.

Louis is approachable, encouraging and always happy to help, whether you want support with the basics or want to refine your wildlife photography further. Depending on the group’s wishes, we can hold photography reviews at various intervals to ask specific questions. Whatever your current level, this trip gives you the chance to improve your skills while photographing one of Europe’s most exciting mammals.

You will undoubtedly return home with a wealth of stunning photos.

The Longest Golden Hour You’ll Ever Experience

At this northern latitude in summer, darkness barely arrives. Instead of a short sunset, the night becomes one long stretch of soft, golden light — ideal for brown bear photography. This is also when the animals are most active, so our hide sessions will take place at night timed to make the most of this extended golden hour and wildlife activity.

The hides include beds so you can take short naps if needed. Some have restroom facilities, while others are more basic. Most are heated, though not all, but at this time of year suitable clothing should provide enough warmth.

During the day, we return to the lodge to sleep and recharge. If you are happy with less rest, you can also spend time exploring the area around the lodge, where there are opportunities for landscapes, birds, and other wildlife photography.

Join Nature Talks for an Unforgettable Bear Photography Experience

If you’ve ever dreamed of photographing wild brown bears in Finland, this tour offers one of the best opportunities in Europe. With expert guidance, exceptional hide locations, and incredible wildlife encounters, this is a truly immersive bear photography tour in the Finnish wilderness.

Meet your Guide

Louis Guillot is a wildlife photojournalist and zoologist based in London, UK. A member of the International League of Conservation Photographers, his work has been published in Forbes, BBC Wildlife Magazine, and Terre Sauvage, and recognised in competitions including Nature Photographer of the Year, MontPhoto, and the British Wildlife Photography Awards. When asked about his favourite animals, Louis says: “I can’t pick one thing, I love everything from ants to hummingbirds to larger mammals and parasitic wasps. I tend to focus on one subject for ages, then move on before eventually coming back again.”

More about Louis.

What We Offer You

• Five nights of photographing from a diverse range of photo hides (2 people max/hide)
• Photo hides by the marsh, lake, and in the forest.
• Opportunity to photograph not only big bears but also young bear cubs.
• Pure nature experience in the Finnish wilderness.
• An experienced nature photographer as the organiser and guide.
• A small group.
• Several moments for discussing the photo results.
• Participants meeting before the trip.
• Option to extend the trip by a few days.

Is This Trip for You

• Your heart races at the thought of photographing bears, their playful cubs, and potentially other animal species from a photo hide.
• You don’t have to be an experienced photographer. The hides offer abundant opportunities to practice and capture beautiful images, with the experienced guide ready to assist you if desired.
• You desire coaching from our tour leader to get the most out of your photography.
• For the advanced photographer, we ensure you will revel in all the photography opportunities this trip offers.
• You are comfortable with reversing your day and night rhythm for a few days.
• You understand that you will spend several hours at a stretch in a photo hide, sometimes as long as 12 to 14 hours.
• You enjoy photographing with a small group of like-minded individuals.
• The booking is based on a shared 2-person room, but you can book a single room for a small additional fee.
• For an extra fee, it is also possible to have exclusive use of a photo hide.