23 May 2025 - 04 Jun 2025 (13 days)
EUR6,295 - 4 Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour Leader: Nigel Redman
Tour price (Per person): EUR6,295 * USD6,585 * GBP5,201 * AUD10,357
Single Supplement: EUR695 * USD727 * GBP574 * AUD1,143
Can be linked with: Finland & Norway - Wolverine & Brown Bear Extension 2025
26 May 2026 - 07 Jun 2026 (13 days)
EUR6,395 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Local Leader
Tour Leader: Robert Williams
Tour price (Per person): EUR6,395 * USD6,690 * GBP5,283 * AUD10,521
Single Supplement: EUR760 * USD795 * GBP628 * AUD1,250
Can be linked with: Iceland - Land of Fire and Ice 2026
This cracking tour will take us through Siberian taiga forests of central Finland through to the northern coasts of Norway. We begin our birding in Oulu, where we will search for numerous breeding owls such as Great Grey, Ural, Northern Hawk, Boreal, Eurasian Pygmy and Short-eared Owls. Moving northeast, we will visit Kuusamo where we can expect a veritable feast of specialities, including Hazel Grouse, Western Capercaillie, Willow Ptarmigan, Red-necked Grebe, Little Gull, Black and Eurasian Three-toed Woodpeckers, Siberian Jay, Bohemian Waxwing, Siberian Tit (Grey-headed Chickadee), breeding Red-flanked Bluetail, Parrot Crossbill, and Little and Rustic Buntings.
Then it is northwards to cross the border into Norway, birding the scenically superb, bird rich Varanger Peninsula. At such a northerly latitude, this really is the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’. Amongst the numerous specialities we can expect to see are such sought-after species as Rock Ptarmigan, Red-throated, Black-throated and Yellow-billed Loons, Common Merganser, Glaucous Gull, Common and Brunnich’s Guillemots (Common and Thick-billed Murres), Razorbill, Atlantic Puffin, Bluethroat, Red-throated Pipit, Arctic Redpoll and Lapland Longspur.
Comfortable accommodation and long summer days, surrounded by spectacular landscapes and birds, ensures that Lapland and the Arctic Circle are one of Europe’s classic birding destinations.
Great Grey, Ural, Northern Hawk-, Boreal, Eurasian Pygmy & Short-eared Owls; Siberian Jay; Grey-headed Chickadee; Parrot Crossbill; Red-flanked Bluetail; Little & Rustic Buntings; Bohemian Waxwing; Black & Eurasian Three-toed Woodpeckers; Western Capercaillie; Hazel & Black Grouse; Willow Ptarmigan; Red-necked & Horned Grebes; Little Gull; Common, Black-throated & Yellow-billed Loons; Common Merganser; Glaucous Gull; Common & Thick-billed Murre; Razorbill; Atlantic Puffin; Rock Ptarmigan; Lapland Longspur, Ruff (entering breeding plumage); Long-tailed Duck; Temminck's Stint'; Red-necked Phalarope; Long-tailed Jaegar; Eurasian Dotterel.
Lakes, forests, meadows, rivers and wetlands
Moderate with some colder mornings especially along the coasts. Weather is variable, shifting quickly from mild to cold, or very cold due to wind chill.
12 with 1 Rockjumper leader & 1 local birding leaders
Suitable for all birding / wildlife interest levels. Some very long days with very early mornings.
Comfortable
Moderate to undemanding. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions.
120+
Good to very good.
I consider myself very lucky to have had Nigel Redman as our tour guide. His knowledge of the birds, as well as their habitats, and ability to spot them made for a completely satisfying birding experience. He also ensured we were all made comfortable in regards to travelling, meals, and lodging. We also lucked out having Taru as our local Finnature guide. I really cannot express how much I appreciated them both. Thank you for a great birding tour.
I got most of the high-value targets that I wanted. The local guide Taru was excellent; she was fantastic at knowing the sites, and knowing what might be there, and in identifying the birds. And she was excellent by being in contact with other members of Finnature, and in looking up the local sightings pages to look for sites for specific species. Nigel Redman is a very nice guy. I like him and we got on well. I would be happy to go with Nigel again on a cruise (e.g. Antarctica, Spitzbergen, etc). It was a very good trip.