Bear Trail Fairy Tales
A Journey Through Valama's Primeval Forest
Immerse yourselves in a true natural fairy tale and leave everyday life behind! On this unique hike, we’ll take you to a landscape that looks like it came straight out of a picture book.
Discover a world where forest floors thickly covered with moss invite you to marvel, and where it seems as though every rock and every tree trunk has been transformed into a small work of art created by nature.
Let yourself be enchanted by the serene beauty and unspoiled character of the North Karelian wilderness.
What to expect:
- A Fairytale-Like Natural Landscape: Immerse yourself in a world of moss-covered forests, sparkling lakes, and babbling streams.
- Hiking on the Bear Trail: Experience a section of the famous Karhunpolku and discover the unspoiled wilderness of the Valama primeval forest.
- Searching for Bear Tracks: Keep an eye out for fascinating traces of local wildlife in a protected primeval forest area.
- Authentic Wilderness Lunch: Enjoy a delicious meal, freshly prepared over an open fire, in a cozy wilderness cabin.
- Relax and unwind: Leave your everyday life behind and recharge your batteries amid the tranquility of North Karelia’s natural surroundings.
Tour Description
Your adventure begins
After a short, relaxing drive to the picturesque Änäkäinen Lakes, we begin our breathtaking adventure on the famous Karhunpolku (Bear Trail). The first 6 kilometers wind along sparkling lakes and over gentle, forested moraine hills. At the idyllic Laklaniemi campfire site, we’ll have our first opportunity to take a short break if needed—perfect for enjoying our first impressions of this special landscape.
Deep into the jungle
We continue northward, often with the peacefully babbling river in sight. Our four-legged companions are surely looking forward to a refreshing dip in the clear water! Then we’ll dive into the heart of the tour: the Valama protected primeval forest area. Here, where nature is still untouched and wild, we’ll keep an eye out for fresh bear tracks —a true sign of Finland’s unspoiled wilderness.
After about 12 kilometers, we reach the cozy Valama Wilderness Cabin, which gives the trail its name. Here, we take a well-deserved, extended break and refuel with a late, delicious lunch cooked right over an open fire —an authentic wilderness experience that warms both body and soul.
From there, the last kilometer back to the road is just a “stone’s throw.” Our car is already waiting for us there for the leisurely drive back to Eräkeskus, filled with unique memories.
Tour details
- Duration: About 5–7 hours (including transportation and lunch).
- Distance: approx. 19 km.
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate hike on natural trails.
- Highlights: Änäkäinen Lakes, Karhunpolku (Bear Trail), Laklaniemi Campfire Site, Valama Primeval Forest, Valama Wilderness Cabin.
- 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!
Prices
Our prices are per person and include all services listed.
- Price per person: 110 €
- Children up to age 14: 70 €
- Minimum number of participants: 2
- Solo travellers can join for an additional 50% exclusive-use supplement.
- Groups of 5 or more: on request
Services
Included:
- Experienced German- and English-speaking guide: Your guide will lead you safely through the wilderness, share fascinating facts about the flora and fauna, and ensure you have an unforgettable experience.
- All Transfers: Convenient round-trip transportation from/to Eräkeskus to the start and end points of the hike.
- Authentic Wilderness Lunch: A freshly prepared, delicious lunch cooked right over an open fire at the cozy wilderness cabin. Let yourself be enchanted by the unique atmosphere!
- Unique moments and plenty of fresh air!
What to bring & requirements
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.
- Small daypack: For personal items and a water bottle.
- Optional: camera, binoculars, insect repellent (depending on the season).
Physical Requirements: This hike is suitable for anyone with a normal level of basic fitness who enjoys spending time outdoors. You should be able to hike 19 km over terrain that is sometimes uneven. No special prior experience is required.
Cancellation terms for day tours
- 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:
- Our General Terms and Conditions apply.
Why you should choose us
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.