Culture and Wildlife Tour
Guided hiking and biking tour from Syöte National park to Wild Taiga is a great way to learn about Finnish nature and culture! The day routes follow sandy forest roads and lead us through the taiga forests, wilderness lake shores and tiny villages. Take a tour of wild nature, feel the fresh summer of Finland and explore the cultural sites in the Kainuu area with the local expert. Wildlife, strong nature and warm hospitality of the people is an experience never to forget. Luggage will be transported always by car to the next accommodation which may vary from log cabins to luxurious apartments. During the trip, breaks will be held in beautiful locations and picnic lunch is served usually outdoors. Sauna, swimming in the lake and midnight sun are pure Finnish experiences!
On request 1.6.–30.9. Duration: 7 days, 6 nights Number of participants: Min 4, max 12 persons
Price: 1290 €/person when 4–8 persons, 1180 €/person when 9–12 persons
Price includes: Guide services, accommodation, sauna/ shower every evening, good quality bike, helmet, return transport from Oulu airport, luggage transportation between accommodations and below-mentioned meals on the tour. Price doesn’t include flights.
Meals: Full board. Breakfast, lunch package and dinner are included in the price.
Accommodation: Cabins and apartments
Equipment: Participants have their own outdoor clothing due to the weather. Please ask the whole list of equipment by booking. Equipment included in the price: Good quality mountain bike with fat tires, helmet.
By an additional cost: Accommodation in single room
Language: English
Tour level: Intermediate. Participants are required to have a good basic fitness. Previous biking experience is obligatory. Insurance: We require participants to have their own insurance for outdoor activities in Finland and in variable weather conditions.
Itinerary
First day: Arrival to Oulu airport , where your guide is waiting for you.
Approx. two-hour transport to Syöte National Park. Meeting the group and accommodation in nice double rooms. Welcoming dinner, short briefing, introduction of Syöte National Park, maps, and the program. Safety issues and discussion about sustainable tourism and how we put it into practice during our trip. Hot sauna and sweet dreams in a peaceful and quiet cabin.
Second day: Tour begins from Syöte after a complete Finnish breakfast with many local delicacies! Short transprt to Syöte National Park Visitor Center to hear stories about the Ice age and the special features of the area. After the exhibition, we start to explore the nature around with nice and easy mountain fat-bikes. The route goes on beautiful hills and through the old pine forests. The terrain is very varied; the route goes up and down in a few square kilometers area. Lovely picnic lunch at a wooden shelter by a beautiful lake. The circle route takes us back to start. Transport back to the accommodation, dinner together, hot sauna with special wild herb treatment, and a refreshing swim in crystal clear water. Day’s biking distance is approximately 20 km. Third day: After breakfast, it is time to explore Finnish nature and its special features with your local guide by foot! After a few minutes of transport, we’ll visit interesting Teerivaara which gives you a learning experience about the Finnish geology and history of the local area. The trail goes on in quite an easy terrain, mostly small forest paths. Visit Teerivaara wilderness hut which is a nice natural site in the Syöte area because of its beautiful views from the small balcony. A short hiking trip to the highest point of the hill with a view to bright wilderness lakes and wetlands. For the picnic lunch, tasty salmon soup and a reindeer meat sandwich in old spruce forest. After lunch walk back to the Visitor Centre. Local food dinner, sauna experience, and accommodation in twin rooms. Today’s distance is approximately 10 km.
Forth day: Soon after refreshing and tasty breakfast transport to Ukonvaara and start the cultural day by hiking in beautiful pine forest scenery. It is said that here is the most cleanest air in the world. Tour continues to Rytivaara circular trail. Picnic lunch during the route. Tour continues to footsteps of Finnish tenant farmers, slash-and-burn agriculture and old wilderness traditions. Coffee break with a tasty local forest berry pie. A bit more hiking and transport to accommodation place. Day’s hiking distance is approximately 10 km in 4 hours.
Fifth day: After a tasty breakfast transport to Hossa National Park for mountain biking day. Hossa is our newest National Park near the Russian border and really a pearl amongst Finnish National Parks. Hossa is an excellent destination for hikers and bikers. The crystal-clear lakes are perfect for canoeing and fishing enthusiasts. Rock paintings of biggest canyon lake in Finland called Julma-Ölkky and famous cliffs of Värikalliot depict stories of shamanism from thousands of years ago. Picnic lunch is enjoyed during the day. Dinner and accommodation in wooden cabin in Hossa. Day’s cycling distance is approximately 20 km in 5 hours.
Sixth day: After breakfast its time to start the most exciting day by travelling by car to east, close to the Russian border. Approximately 1 hour drive to Arola Farm. Short hiking to rapids and the old water mill, snack by the river. In the evening you have an unique opportunity to participate once in a lifetime experience, bear and wildlife observing trip! It’s more than usual that you meet magnificent brown bears, king of the forest in its own territory. After visiting the hides it is time to enjoy a celebration wild food dinner, accommodation in shared rooms. Sauna available. Day’s hiking distance approx. 5 km.
Seventh day: Departure day. After a nice and nutritious breakfast transfer by car to the airport.
We reserve all the rights to change the order of the activities or the content of the program if necessary due to the weather
