Bear Kuusamo’s bear watching tour takes you to the protected northern taiga, where you can observe wild brown bears from the comfort and safety of a professional wildlife watching hide. We’re the northernmost bear-watching location in Finland – and closest to Finnish Lapland, Northern Sweden, and Norway. Come see the bears in the magical midnight sun!
With almost two decades of experience hosting wildlife enthusiasts and photographers from around the world, we provide ethical bear-watching tours that maximize sightings. There’s also the Original Bear Guarantee: if you don’t see a bear, you can have another chance for free.
Step into the heart of Kuusamo’s wild frontier and witness Europe’s most iconic predator in its natural habitat – the brown bear (Ursus Arctos).
Evening Bear Watching Tour – or Bears All Night Long?
The evening bear watching tour lasts 4 hours. Bear Kuusamo’s professional guides will be with you at the hides sheading light on the life of boreal brown bears, decoding their behavior and role in the taiga environment. Guides will also answer all your questions and escort you safely back to the meeting point after the bear watching tour.
The overnight bear watching tour starts with the evening tour and lasts until the following morning. You will spend the night in the bear-watching building independently, enjoying either more bear sightings or refreshing sleep. In the morning, you can depart from the hide on your own – or, if you wish, our guide can come to escort you back to the parking area.
You might also wonder what kinds of bear sightings you can expect during the evening and night, how to prepare for the bear watching tour, how the hides are equipped for overnighting, etc. Please check out the FAQ page for further info.
Any questions on bear tours? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, and let’s plan the best bear-watching experience for you!
What to Expect from a Bear Watching Tour?
Bear watching tour is a carefully planned, wholesome experience. The guide takes the group to the comfortable bear-watching buildings, and then you just wait for the bears! You can also observe birds, such as white-tailed sea eagles, in the magnificent taiga landscape, hearing their wings flapping as they fly past. You will feel part of the Finnish nature, quietly taking in the wilderness.
Our bear-watching buildings have large windows for viewing and are fully equipped for photographers. We call our bear hides premium because they’re like comfortable wilderness cabins. Modern log buildings also insulate human sounds and smells, minimizing our disturbance to the wildlife. There’s a toilet in a separate room, cozy chairs with cushions, and binoculars. Some bear-watching buildings have built-in beds, a fan, a gas heater, and there’s even a gas cooker in the biggest bear hide. You can check the hide page for pictures.
We never know what happens during the bear watching tour, as all animals are wild. But the bears come reliably almost every evening; this is their territory after all. Sometimes, especially in the spring, we can see a wolverine, too. Raven’s call hints to us when a bear is approaching, and the guide shares engaging stories of the Finnish wilderness and its inhabitants. Each evening is different and special here in the northern taiga.
How to Prepare for the Bear Watching Tour
- Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes, as it’s a 200-400 meters walk from the parking area to the bear watching buildings. The guide will walk you there and back.
- Take a camera and binoculars; we have some pairs of binoculars that you can borrow, too. You can also take pictures with a phone.
- Take some drinks and snacks with you (avoid smelly and noisy foods). Alcohol and smoking are not allowed during a bear watching tour.
- Please avoid mosquito repellent or any strong perfumes because bears have an excellent sense of smell.
Why Do Our Guests Love Bear Kuusamo’s Tours?
- An ethical bear watching place that prioritizes the well-being of wildlife, develops best practices for the entire industry, and collaborates with Finland’s Forest and Park Services, researchers, and the nearby national park. Read more on our responsible bear watching practices here.
- Northernmost bear watching place in Finland: ample light throughout the summer, and later sunsets in August and September. We’re the closest bear watching location to Finnish Lapland and Rovaniemi.
- Unique, unspoilt landscapes: marsh ponds and a clear forest pond, revived marshlands, old-growth forest, and views towards the majestic Kuntivaara fell. We fight erosion and let nature heal by switching between three different bear-watching locations.
- Well-equipped bear hides and plenty of space for groups of different sizes.
- Easy access: you can reach us by any car or fly to Kuusamo and book a transport to our hides (ask more, we can help with a taxi, rental, or accommodation if needed). Kuusamo is the shortest drive away from Northern Norway and Sweden for those touring Scandinavia and wanting to add a bear watching tour to their itinerary.
- Professional guides with deep knowledge of the brown bears and a passion to protect them.
- Every bear watching tour supports conservation. We’ve bought and protected forest and swamp for the wildly roaming brown bears, wolverines, and other taiga species, and we take part in the local conservation projects.
- Possibility to book a private bear watching tour for yourself, your family, or your group.