Explore a tranquil pine forest with tall trees and vibrant green undergrowth bathed in daylight.

2 Days on the Karhunpolku:

Slowing Down in the Wilderness

Escape everyday life and immerse yourselves in a two-day nature experience on the famous Karhunpolku! This hike is perfect for nature lovers who want to slow down consciously and enjoy the peaceful silence of the Finnish wilderness – without chasing records. Let the beauty of North Karelia enchant you and experience a deep connection with nature, accompanied by our friendly dogs.

This tour is ideal as part of a longer stay at Eräkeskus, or as a special two-day break during your round trip through Finland.

What to expect:

  • Historic Trenches: Immerse yourself in Finnish history as you visit restored trenches from the Winter War.
  • Hiking on the Bear’s Trail: Enjoy two days on soft forest paths and gentle moraine ridges shaped by the Ice Age.
  • Scenic Wilderness Overnight Stay: Spend a night under the starry sky in a traditional lean-to shelter or in a tent by the lakeshore.
  • Authentic Wilderness Meals: Refuel with hearty lunches and dinners prepared directly over the open fire.
  • Diverse Landscapes: Discover mire landscapes, lakes, typical Finnish coniferous forests and the Hovivaara ridge.
  • Rushing Rapids: End your hike by the impressive Naarakoski River and its rapids.
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Day 1: Following the Tracks of History to Lake Suuri Piilonen (approx. 16 km)

Your arrival at Eräkeskus should be no later than 10:00 in the morning. A short transfer by car will take us to the Änäkäinen lakes, about 7 km away. First, we visit the recently restored trenches from the Winter War of 1939/40, a place connected to an important chapter of Finnish history. Afterwards, your hike begins as you follow the Bear’s Trail southwards. The route first leads along soft forest paths before climbing onto the impressive moraine ridges shaped by the Ice Age.

We will take our lunch break at the cosy Jynkkälampi campfire site. After a typical Finnish grilled sausage with tasty side dishes, we continue hiking southwards. The trail leads mostly through the light-filled forests of North Karelia and along the long, gentle moraine ridges that shape the landscape here so distinctively.
After a total of 14 km, you reach your destination for the day at Lake Suuri Piilonen. There, you can enjoy the view over the completely untouched lakeshore by the campfire, prepare your dinner over the open fire, and spend the night in a lean-to shelter or in a tent.

Day 2: Through Mire and Forest to the Naarakoski Rapids (approx. 14 km)

After a hearty breakfast, we pack our backpacks again and continue hiking southwards. Today, you cross fascinating mire landscapes, walk along a remote wilderness lake and through typical Finnish coniferous forests before crossing the Hovivaara ridge.
Your destination for the day, the Naarakoski rapids, is 14 km away and can already be heard from a distance. The descent from Hovivaara down to the river is short and not steep. The final stretch of the tour leads directly along the rushing rapids.
After a well-deserved late lunch by the open fire, you will be picked up and brought back to Eräkeskus, where you can continue your journey or spend a few relaxing days at the lodge.

  • Duration: 2 days / 1 night.
  • Distance: ca. 30 km (1 x ca. 16, 1 x ca. 14 km per day).
  • Character: Comfortable to moderately challenging hike for nature lovers seeking peace and quiet.
  • Highlights: Winter War trenches, moraine ridges, wilderness overnight stay (lean-to shelter/tent), mire landscapes, Hovivaara, Naarakoski rapids, accompanying dogs (optional).
  • Meeting point: Eräkeskus, at the lodge.
  • Guide: German, English, Finnish speaking guides.
  • Group size: Experience the tour as an exclusive private tour or in small, personal groups for an intensive experience.
  • Dates: from May 1 – September 30 Depending on the weather, later dates in autumn can also be booked.
  • Booking: Exclusively on request. Contact us for your individual tour planning!

Our prices are per person and include all services mentioned.

  • Price per person: 290 €
  • Children up to 14 years: 220 €
  • Minimum number of participants: 2
  • Individual participants are welcome to join the tour with a 50% exclusivity surcharge.
  • Groups of 5 or more: on request

Included:

  • 1 Overnight Stay: In a traditional lean-to shelter (with a campfire site) or in a tent.
  • Full Board During the Tour: Lunch & dinner on day 1, breakfast & lunch on day 2 – all freshly prepared over the open fire.
  • 2 Days with a German-/English-speaking Guide: Your experienced guide accompanies you through the wilderness, shares their knowledge and ensures your safety.
  • Equipment: Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and cooking utensils.
  • All Transfers: Comfortable transfer to the start and end point of the hike.
  • Begleitende Hunde: Unsere freundlichen Hunde sind deine treuen Begleiter auf dieser Tour.

What to Bring: For the best hiking experience, we recommend bringing the following:

  • Good, broken-in hiking boots: Absolutely essential for secure footing and comfort on the natural trails.
  • Weather-appropriate clothing (layering): Layers are ideal for adapting to changing temperatures.
  • Trekking or hiking backpack (ca. 30-45 litres): It should be large enough to carry all your personal belongings, your sleeping mat and your sleeping bag. The necessary shared equipment (e.g. cooking utensils, parts of the food supplies) will be fairly divided among all participants.
  • Water bottle.
  • At will: Camera, binoculars, mosquito repellent.

Physical Requirements:

This 2-day hike is suitable for nature lovers with a normal basic level of fitness who enjoy being active and are comfortable with spending a night in the wilderness. You should be able to hike ca. 14-16 km on two consecutive days with moderate ascents. Previous experience with camping or overnight stays in a lean-to shelter is not strictly required, as your guide will support you.

  • Cancellations must be made in writing (by e-mail to office@eraekeskus.com). In the case of declarations received on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the next working day shall be decisive.
  • Cancellation up to 7 days before the start of the tour is free of charge.
  • If you cancel 7 days or less before the date of the event, we will charge a cancellation fee of 100% of the booking price.

Tips:

  • We recommend that you take out cancellation insurance.

General Terms and Conditions:

Eräkeskus stands for authentic experiences in the untouched wilderness of Finland – far away from mass tourism and in a family-like atmosphere. You can expect real adventures, a deep connection to nature, and a truly relaxing slowdown.

  • Family atmosphere: With us, you are not just guests, but part of a small, family-like community. You can look forward to personal service, a warm atmosphere and very small groups of guests for an intensive experience.
  • Untouched Wilderness Instead of Mass Tourism: North Karelia is one of the quietest regions in Europe. Here, you can truly feel the untouched nature, the silence of the old-growth forest and the deep peace of the wilderness.
  • Authentic Experiences: We offer unique tours that bring you closer to the Finnish wilderness in a very special way – whether through lunch by the open fire or spotting bear tracks in the untouched forest.
  • Gentle tourism & respect for nature: We focus on sustainable experiences with minimal impact on the environment. With us, you can experience adventures in harmony with nature in order to preserve its beauty for future generations.
  • Quite simply, because we want to give you unforgettable moments in one of the most breathtaking landscapes in Europe. With us, you will experience pure nature – in a way that you are guaranteed to remember.

As we plan each tour individually and adapt it to the current conditions, we ask you to send us a request. This way we can guarantee you the best possible experience! We will check your request immediately and get back to you as soon as possible (usually within 24 hours) with all the details!Advance reservations for day activities – ideally a few days in advance – are essential. Unfortunately, we cannot always fulfill spontaneous requests directly on site.

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