Log Cabins & Bears of Finland - self drive

Arrive in Joensuu either with train or flight from Helsinki and pick-up your rental car.

Karelians are known for their hospitality, joy of life and music. Even unexpected guests are warmly welcomed with serving the best possible food and drink. Poem-singing used to be a way to retain and forward information for new generations. And the story goes on.

While in town, visit the Taitokortteli handicrafts quartier, Joensuu: workshops, cafe, arts, exhibitions, hand made local souvenirs.

After breakfast, head to the Koli mountain and National Park, for a guided half-day hike to explore the most photographed scenes in North Karelia. From the top of the fell, Finnish national scenery opens up in front of you over the lake Pielinen. These views have inspired artists and painters for decades. The viewing point is easy to reach from the parking place on the top and the hike can be adjusted to suit different skill levels.

Continue to Bomba Karelian Village in Nurmes and the Spa hotel where you will stay for the night. During the summer months, it may be possible to join a Karelian pasty workshop at the hotel, a Finnish delicacy enjoyed around the country.

Continue your journey via Kuhmo to the village of Lentiira for overnight Bear Watching Experience.

Kuhmo is a small village where you can see the Finnish national epic Kalevala reflected in the architecture, events, research, museums and the food. You can learn more about Kalevala and Karelian culture at the Kalevala Information Centre Juminkeko. For two July weeks Kuhmo is full of guests enjoying the annual Chamber Music Festival which is famous and appreciated throughout the world. Here you can also visit the Visitor Centre Petola, and get to know the Finnish large carnivores: brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. Here you can learn how they look and sound like, what their tracks look like and how they move.

The beautiful village of Lentiira is your next stop, and tonight you will stay at the Bear Centre viewing cabins. The probability to see a bear is high, 90-99 % depending on the month. Some evenings numerous bears come at once, and often some can be seen in close proximity to the Cabin, only a few meters away. The Bear season starts at the beginning of April with a white blanket of snow, continuing through the green summer, ending with the vibrant colours of autumn in October.

For the final leg of your journey, continue to the Arctic Giant Birdhouse hotel, where you can relax in style while enjoying all that the Finnish nature has on offer.

For a long time, there have been folk tales about giants and mythic formidable men in the Paltamo and Oulujärvi region. These stories are partly based in truth, and now this beautiful hotel stylish cabins, serves as a great base for a wide range of activities in the surrounding area.

The Kivesvaara surroundings feature a wide variety of nature trails of different lengths and challenges to suit everyone's taste. The trails vary between 2 to 15 kilometres in length. One of the nature trails leads to a place called Pahalouhos, where it is said that the giants once built their castle. You can also hop-on a fatbike to explore the trails of the giants, or try your luck at fishing. The area surrounding the Kivesvaara hill is home to several great fishing spots. You can choose between the rapids right next to a ridge, River Kongasjoki or Lake Kivesjärvi.

After breakfast, drop-off your rental car either at the Kajaani airport (60km) or Oulu airport or train station (130km), and continue onwards with your homebound journey.