Wild Finland

• 5 nights at Basecamp Oulanka
• Travel by private minibus, on foot and by raft
• Group normally 4 to 14 with local leader. Min age 18 yrs
• No experience necessary

Lapland is characterised by an arctic/continental climate that varies greatly throughout the year. Many people expect Lapland to be cold all year round, but in fact, temperatures can soar in summer as a result of influences from the North Atlantic Current which bring warm air to the region. While winters are icy and cold, summers are much warmer and milder. The average temperature is a pleasant 15°C while highs can hit 21°C on the hottest days. With very low levels of wind, conditions can feel very balmy in Lapland at this time. Unlike the chilly winter months, temperatures hardly ever drop below 13°C. Midnight Sun: from the end of May to the beginning of August you will find daylight for much of the day as the sun barely sets below the horizon.

This trip has been graded 2 (Leisurely/Moderate) with a safari rating of 3. It has been designed for those who want to be completely surrounded by the Finnish wilderness, whilst having the comfort of cosy Basecamp Oulanka to return to each evening. Due to our location not far from the Arctic circle, in the summer months there are long daylight hours, which can mean between 18-22 hours of daylight with just a short twilight period. This is ideal for bear viewing. Please note that caution must be taken when walking to/from the bear hide and in the surrounding area. We will be accompanied by a bear guide and always walk in a group. It is important to follow the advice of your guide at all times. The age limit has been set to 18 because of this activity. Facilities in the hide are comfortable but relatively simple - for instance, there are only compost toilets in the bear hides. Basecamp provides all equipment needed for rafting such as over jackets/trousers, rubber boots and dry bags. No experience is necessary - all activities are suitable for beginners. The included walks all follow well marked trails but there are some steep sections in order to get the best views. Mosquito protection is recommended in Finland during the summer months. Baiting wildlife - an important issue in wildlife tourism Baiting is a useful practice in attracting wildlife to aid sightings of certain animals in many areas around the world. It is also an approach that leads to much debate about the ethics in feeding wild animals. In some circumstances we are strongly against baiting, for example camps in Africa placing carrion to attract leopards purely for tourist sightings. However in Finland, and this particular area, we believe it is a practice that can lead to conservation benefits. Our belief is that this will help in protecting the wildlife from hunting which is wide spread in parts of Finland. Tourism is helping create enclaves where hunting is prohibited, and that growing income will hopefully lead to more protection in the future. Tourism is more sustainable long term than hunting, and growing support locally to protect the wildlife is important in Exodus taking this stance.