Nature

Nature in Northern Europe

Northern Nature Project: http://www.oulu.fi/northnature/Northnature.html

Bear watching excursions and nature photographing (also guided safaris)

Arola Bear: http://www.arolabear.com/

Bear Cabin Karhutupa: http://www.karhutupa.fi/english/index.html

Boreal Wildlife Centre Viiksimo: http://www.borealwildlifecentre.fi/ and http://www.viiksimo.fi/index.php/home

Erä-Eero: http://www.eraeero.com/?lang=en

Karhu-Kuusamo: http://www.karhukuusamo.com/

Kontiki: http://www.kontikifinland.com/holidays

Martinselkonen Wildlife Centre: http://www.martinselkonen.fi/index.php?id=1&la=en

Pictoure: http://www.pictoure.fi/

Wild Brown Bear: http://wildbrownbear.fi/

Wildlife Safaris Finland (Artic Media Lassi Rautiainen): http://www.wildfinland.org/

Wild Taiga: http://www.wildtaiga.fi/en/

Visit Finland - Encounter with a bear: http://www.visitfinland.com/article/encounter-with-a-bear/

Other nature activities in Finland

Adventure in Finnish national scenery (Punkaharju, near the city of Savonlinna, remember to visit ridge/esker area, Forest Museum Lusto with a very nice "The Room of Silence" audiovisual nature show, Retretti Art Centre in the Finnish primary rock and Aqvatar glass-bottom boat): http://www.lusto.fi , http://www.retretti.fi

Aikhituvat Hakoapaja - Snag Village (buildings made of old logs which are found from the bottom of a lake, also a very nice sightseeing cafeteria, cottages for rent, in Rantasalmi): http://www.porosalmi.net/hakoapaja

Arctic SnowHotel (also a snow chapel for weddings and a snow sauna, in Sinettä, Rovaniemi): http://www.arcticsnowhotel.fi

Arola Farm & Wilderness Holidays (bear safaris, fishing, dog sleigh rides etc. in Hossa/Suomussalmi): http://www.arolabear.com/

Ballooning (hot-air balloon flights over a peaceful countryside) http://www.aerohot.fi and http://www.linnanpallo.fi/index.php/en/

Botanical Gardens: http://www.luomus.fi/english/exhibitions/botanicgarden/index.htm, http://www.luomus.fi/english/kumpula/index.htm, http://www.gardenia-helsinki.fi, http://www.botania.fi/, http://www.oulu.fi/biodiversityunit/node/10506/, http://www.visitturku.fi/en/botanical-garden

Canoeing in Finland: http://www.wildcanoe.com , http://members.a1.net/doblhofer/e-main.htm

Countryside holidays in Finland: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/countryside

Devils's Nest - Pirunpesä (Europe's largest kettle, nature-made hole in a primary rock, 14 meters wide, 23 meters deep, in the municipality of Jalasjärvi): http://web.jalasjarvi.fi/matkailu/pirunpesa/default.htm, http://www.netikka.net/epnuorisoseura/yvdef/hiidenki.htm, http://web.jalasjarvi.fi/matkailu/Esitteet/Jalasj%C3%A4rvi_English_2011.pdf and http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=e6b02c6b-52c3-482e-9b4a-3daa8e64e78e

ECEAT Finland (Finnish Centre for Ecological and Agricultural Tourism, ecological farms for accommodation etc.): http://www.eceat.fi/en/index.html

Ecotourism in Kainuu: http://www.ecotravel.fi/en/

Erä-Eero (guided nature tours near Lieksa, Eastern Finland): http://www.eraeero.com

Erämatkailu Piirainen - Wilds Piira (rapids swimming or riverfloating, wildlife watching and canoeing in Kuhmo, near the city of Kajaani): http://www.erapiira.fi/english.html

Erämatkat (Welcome to Usmi's wilderness, Lapland in miniature, in Hyvinkää, Southern Finland): http://www.eramatkat.com

Eräpaimen (wild animal watch, fishing, elk & bear hunting): http://www.erapaimen.fi/eng/

Excursion Map (hiking, fishing, hunting): http://www.retkikartta.fi/retkikartta.php?lang=en, http://www.excursionmap.fi

Excursion & Program Service "The Gnome's Mug and Paddle": http://www.mukijamela.fi/

Feel The Nature Treks (Helsinki & Lapland): http://feelthenature.fi/en/

Finnish Lakes and Forest by TourExpert (a taste of Finnish lake and forest landscape in Nuuksio/Noux National Park, short walk along forest paths, guidance in English, departure point Esplanade Park of Helsinki, 4 hours): http://www.helsinkiexpert.com/

Finnish Museum of Natural History (Helsinki): http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi

Fishing in Finland: http://sites.google.com/site/finlandtravelclub/fishing

Forest and Park Service: http://www.metsa.fi/sivustot/metsa/en/Sivut/Home.aspx

Green Hearts - Park Walks in Helsinki: http://www.vihreatsylit.fi/en/

Hawkhill Nature - Cottages and hiking by the beautiful Nuuksio National Park (Espoo, a 45 minute drive from Helsinki): http://www.hawkhill.fi/en

Hirvikartano - Have you ever kissed a moose? http://www.hirvikartano.fi/

Hotel Nuuksio (formerly Hotel Siikaranta, Nuuksio national park, Espoo): http://www.hotellisiikaranta.fi and http://www.hotellisiikaranta.fi/?page_id=180

Kaikuva (outdoor activities in the capital region of Finland): http://www.kaikuva.fi

Kaunis Karjala Fishing & Hunting Trips: http://www.kauniskarjala.com/?lang=en

Keuruu Ecovillage: http://www.keuruunekokyla.fi/en/index

Kimito Islands (Archipelago National Park, ancient graves, limestone quarry, Bengtskär Lighthouse etc.): http://www.visitkimitoon.fi/en/

Koli (one of the national heritage landscapes of Finland): http://www.koli.fi/In-English/Frontpage

Korkeakoski Rapids, Maaninka (Photo: JariJK)

Korkeakoski (Finland's highest rapids in Maaninka, near the cities of Siilinjärvi and Kuopio): http://www.360cities.net/image/korkeakoski-maaninka-finland

Koskentila (the Nykälä Rapids and the Koskentila Estate, fishing etc.): http://www.koskentila.com

Koskikellujat (riverfloating, floating on ice, a sauna boat and Segways in Lempäälä, near the city of Tampere): http://www.koskikellujat.fi/in-english/

Kvarken Archipelago (the World Natural Heritage Site on the UNESCO World Heritage List): http://www.kvarken.fi and http://www.visitfinland.com/article/finland-rising-in-kvarken-archipelago/

Lake Oulujärvi: http://www.oulujarvi.fi/en/frontpage/

Lapland: http://sites.google.com/site/laplandclub/

Lempäälä (hiking, fishing & canoeing): http://www.lempaalankehitys.fi/in-english/

Let's explore nature in Helsinki: http://www.hel2.fi/ymk/julkaisut/oppaat/Lets_explore/index.htm

Lieksan Matkakaverit (river rafting, swimming in the Ruunaa rapids and other activities in Lieksa, Eastern Finland): http://www.ruunaa.eu/

Liminka Bay Nature Centre & Hailuoto birdwatching: http://www.hailuoto.net/

Maretarium Aquarium (in Kotka, almost all Finnish fish species): http://www.maretarium.fi/mare/index_uk.php

Martinselkonen Wilds Centre (a possibility for photographing bears and other wild animals, hunting, fishing, hiking etc.): http://www.martinselkonen.fi/index.php?id=1&la=en

Metsäkartano Original Adventure: http://www.metsakartano.com

Mustila Arboretum (Elimäki): http://www.mustila.com

National Parks: http://www.outdoors.fi

Nauvo (enjoy the archipelago): http://www.nauvo.net and http://www.nagu.net

Nellim Wilderness Hotel with Aurora Bubble & Sarmi Aurora Lodge (an adventure based ecotourism company in Northern Lapland, in new Aurora Bubbles you can fall asleep looking up at the star-lit sky from your cozy bed): http://www.nellim.fi/

Norppa Team (Kolovesi National Park region): http://www.norppateam.com/index.cfm?lang=en

North Karelia - the hiker's paradise: http://www.vaellus.info

Northern Countryside: http://www.kemijokiholiday.com

Orinoro Gorge - one of the Seven Savonian Marvels, an exciting hiking and outing destination for the whole family on the Soisalo island in Mustinmäki, walk the marked nature path into a deep gorge carved out by the last Ice Age, the Orinoro Gorge is 100 meters long and nearby 20 meters deep (Leppävirta): http://www.leppavirta.fi/sights/orinoro-gorge

Paddling in Kolovesi National Park: http://www.kolovesi.eu/, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsaX5kYex7c, http://www.kanoweb.nl/finland/saimaa-merengebied-oost/kolovesi-noord-op-zoek-naar-de-zeehond/, http://www.norppateam.com, http://www.outdoors.fi/kolovesi, http://www.sealtrail.com/

Pahkaparatiisi - The Gnarl Paradise - Knorrenparadis (the collection of gnarled wood, over 4000 gnarls in Huittinen): http://www.pahkaparatiisi.fi, http://www.pahkaparatiisi.fi/panoraama.html (the panorama), http://www.pahkaparatiisi.fi/galleria/index.htm (the photo gallery)

Pan Parks: http://www.panparks.org

Paradise Island: http://www.aijalanrusti.fi

Jalasjärvi giant's cauldron named Pirunpesä, Devil's Nest (Photo: JariJK)

Pirunpesä in Jalasjärvi (the biggest giant's kettle in Europe, nature-made hole in a primary rock, 14 meters wide, 23 meters deep, in the municipality of Jalasjärvi): http://web.jalasjarvi.fi/matkailu/pirunpesa/default.htm, http://www.netikka.net/epnuorisoseura/yvdef/hiidenki.htm, http://web.jalasjarvi.fi/matkailu/Esitteet/Jalasj%C3%A4rvi_English_2011.pdf and http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=e6b02c6b-52c3-482e-9b4a-3daa8e64e78e

Pursiala giant's cauldron (Photo: JariJK)

Pursiala giant's cauldron in the city of Mikkeli (the cauldron was formed about 9000 years ago, it is 8 meters deep and the 4th biggest cauldron in Finland): http://www.lahtitravel.fi

Rent a hut in a Finnish national park: http://www.outdoors.fi/en/ikolanahorentalhut

Repovesi National Park, Kouvola (Photo: JariJK)

Repovesikeskus - Repovesi National Park tours, activities and accommodation (online booking): http://booking.repovesikeskus.fi/index-en.htm

Repovesi National Park in Kouvola (panorama photos): http://www.visitrepovesi.fi/

Retket.fi (outdoor and nature activities in Northern Finland): https://www.retket.fi/drupal/en/kh_page_main

River Kiiminkijoki (fishing, canoeing): http://www.kiiminkijoki.fi

Rock And Lake Accommodation & Activities (in the Finnnish Lakeland, north of Mikkeli): http://www.rockandlake.com/en/

Rock Planetarium in Jyväskylä (the world's only planetarium in a primary rock, also saunas for rent): http://www.kallioplanetaario.fi

Ruunaa Rapids (7 rapids on the way of 16 kilometers) and hiking area in Lieksa, Eastern Finland (many different rapid activities, also wedding ceremonies): http://www.ruunaa.fi/en/front+page/, http://www.ruunaanmatkailu.fi/frontpage.html, http://www.outdoors.fi/destinations/nationalhikingareas/ruunaa/Pages/Default.aspx, http://www.lieksanmatkakaverit.fi/, http://www.ruunaa.eu/

Saimaa - the largest lake district in Europe: http://www.saimaa.fi , http://www.saimaancharmantit.fi , http://www.gosaimaa.fi , http://www.saimaaholiday.net/ , http://www.sealtrail.com

Seal Trail (one of the best and longest canoeing routes in Finland, 541 kilometers Heinävesi - Enonkoski - Savonranta - Kerimäki in Eastern Finland, also two rapids, the Seal Trail is named according to the Saimaa seal, the most rare seal in the world): http://www.sealtrail.com

See Finland (guaranteed nature trips from Helsinki in small groups with expert guides): http://www.seefinland.com

Silentia Finland - Silence of nature: http://www.silentia.net

Tahko Safaris: http://www.tahkosafarit.fi/en/

Tahko Tours: http://www.tahkotours.ru/

The Midnight Sun Ashtanga Yoga Retreat (Kadermo Island, Hanko): http://www.yogaartsmagic.net/

The Monastery Hike (Luostarivaellus in Finnish, the hiking route between the orthodox monasteries of Valamo and Lintula in Heinävesi, Eastern Finland, 25 kilometers, in the future they will build a pilgrim hiking route of 150-300 kilometers along old pilgrim routes Imatra-Punkaharju-Enonkoski-Valamo-Joensuu - an alternative to Pilgrim Hiking in Santiago de Compostela): http://www.infokartta.fi/psavo/?kieli=englanti (choose Hiking trails > Monastery Hike/Luostarivaellus, Tuusniemi)

TOP Natural Attractions in Finland: http://www.outdoors.fi/destinations/topattractions/Pages/Default.aspx

Trail maps of North Savo (Pohjois-Savo, Eastern Finland): http://www.pohjois-savo.fi/trailmaps

Upitrek (a company specialized in unmotorised treks and other nature based program services in Eastern Finland): http://www.upitrek.com

Vuonis villages in Lieksa: http://www.vuonis.net

Wild Brown Bear Nature Adventures: http://www.wildbrownbear.fi

Wild North Wilderness Cabins: http://www.villipohjola.fi/In-English

Wild Taiga: mammal watching (wild brown bears, wolverines, deer, lynx etc.), bird watching, photo tours, fishing, hunting, hiking, cycling: http://www.wildtaiga.fi