Wild Wolves of the Taiga Forest in Finland
- 15th September, 2025 - 22nd September, 2025
- Spaces Left: 2 (Maximum 6 Photographers)
WORKSHOP AT A GLANCE
This unique workshop in the northern region of Finland is for keen and passionate wildlife photographers who want to capture dramatic and powerful photographs of wild Wolves, Brown Bears, Wolverine and sub-Arctic bird species. Northern Finland is the best place in the world to photograph wild Wolves, Brown Bears and Wolverine from permanent hides set up near the border with Russia. We have a small group size and personal, one-on-one tuition for the duration of the workshop. There will also be landscape opportunities during this workshop, although our primary focus is Wolves, Brown Bears, Wolverines and sub-Arctic bird species.
- Dates: 15th September 2025 until 22nd September 2025 (Duration 7 Nights / 8 Days)
- Investment: $9,850 USD ($1,450 USD Single Supplement). Wild Nature Photo Travel Team members pay no single supplement.
- Deposit: Deposit to secure place $3,000 USD, with the balance due 120 days before the workshop commences.
- Participants: Maximum 6 Photographers plus leader
- Start and Finish: Kajanni Airport, Finland
- Trip Leaders: Joshua Holko Master Photog II
- Fitness Level: Easy
- Temperature: Moderate
- Experience Level: Beginner to Professional
ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
This unique workshop is dedicated to photographing the magnificent Wolves and Wolverines of Northern Finland in a stunning forest setting. After much research and highly successful on-site location testing, I am very excited to offer you the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent predators. On this workshop, you will have EXCLUSIVE LAND ACCESS, which means it’s only us and the wildlife. No other photographers or visitors are permitted.
We will photograph in late summer / early autumn conditions: We can expect everything from sunny days to clouds and fog. This variety of weather, landscape, and lighting conditions will provide you with the opportunity to create a diverse, creative and professional portfolio of these predators.
During this workshop, we will likely also encounter and photograph Brown Bears, White-tailed eagles, Golden Eagles, and other northern species that frequent this area. We will adapt to optimize photographic opportunities as they present themselves.
We will photograph almost exclusively from hides as these animals are extremely shy and elusive. Each hide has everything you need to spend hours (even overnight) in the field. We will have several different hides from which to choose, with various viewing angles.
This exclusive workshop is for a strictly limited number of just 6 participants plus a leader and is dedicated to photography of the Wolves and Wolverines of Finland.
Accommodation: For this workshop, we will stay in private cottages located deep inside the Finnish forest. Each cottage can accommodate up to four people, but single rooms are also available. The cabins includes a bathroom, toilet, and hot shower. Bunk-bed accommodation with duvets provided, a full kitchen (chef to prepare meals and clean), and Hydronic heating. There is power for laptops and camera battery charging, and a large sauna. There is good internet coverage available.
Wildlife: Grey Wolves are predominantly territorial animals that roam and patrol vast areas of the Taiga forest. We are, therefore, attempting to photograph some of the most elusive predators on the planet. Wolverine and Wolves in particular are extremely shy and there is no guarantee we will be successful in our efforts. They key is for us to spend as much time as possible in the hides to give ourselves the best possible opportunities. It is important to have patience and understand that we are working with Wild animals.
Dietary Requirements: If you have special dietary requirements, we will do our best to accommodate you. Please just be sure to let us know when you make your booking.
Travel: We will travel by private 4-wheel drive from our starting location in Kajaani, Finland, to our private cabins. Once on location, we will work from private hides located just a few kilometres from our accommodation. We will commute to the hides by 4-wheel drive. Typically, no walking over 200 metres is required from the car to the hides.
Equipment: Telephoto lenses from 500 mm to 600 mm are recommended and it can be useful to have an additional teleconverter. Zoom lenses generally provide more flexibility for fast-moving Wolves and bird life. A wide-angle lens and tripod are also recommended if you wish to take advantage of the stunning lakes and landscapes in the forest surrounding our accommodation.
If you are excited about travelling to the far north of Finland with a small group of dedicated photographers to photograph some of the least photographed species in Scandinavia, now is the time to secure your place. Places are very limited, and once they are spoken for, that’s it.
WORKSHOP ITINERARY
We officially begin our workshop on your arrival at Kajanni Airport in Finland on September 15th, 2025. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our private cabins. The drive from the airport to base camp is approximately three hours.
We will be based in our cabins for the next seven nights. Once we are situated at our base camp, we will have the next eight days to photograph Grey Wolves in the spectacular Autumn landscape of Finland's Taiga forest.
A typical day will see us rise for breakfast around 8:00 am before we head out into the field to our private hides. We will utilise our 4-wheel drive vehicles to navigate between the cabin and hides. We conclude each day with dinner at camp.
Wolverine, Wolves and Bears are generally most active in the late afternoon and early evening. As such we will plan our days around spending time in the hides from early afternoon until well after dark. If conditions are favorable and the animals are particularly active we may overnight in the hides in the hope of more chances at sunrise.
We will transfer back to Kajanni airport on the 22nd of September, 2025 and conclude our workshop.
Weather in Finland: The average temperature in this northern part of Finland in September is around 5ºCelsius. However, temperatures can drop below 0º Celsius, and with wind chill, it can feel even colder, so it is important to be prepared with warm clothing. We will be photographing from rustic hides for hours at a time, and although we will have the shelter of our hides, it is important to dress appropriately.
Flights to Finland: Flights to Helsinki, Finland, can be booked with multiple carriers, and there are direct flights from many worldwide hubs. Flights to Kajaani from Helsinki can be booked online with FinnAir.
INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
Inclusions
- Transportation: All in-tour land transportation and guide services will be provided from our starting location at Kajaani airport in Finland for the duration of the workshop.
- Accommodation: Accommodation for seven nights in shared rooms at our private cabins in the Finland forest. Private rooms are available.
- Food and Beverages: Includes breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (excluding alcohol) for the duration of the workshop
- Tuition: Expert one-on-one Photographic tuition and guiding services
Exclusions
- Transportation: Any travel required to arrive at the workshop starting location in Kajaani, Finland.
- Duties and Taxes: Any taxes, levies, insurances, Immigration, duty, and visa fees where applicable.
- Personal Items: Any personal items, including alcoholic beverages, souvenirs and travel insurance. Tipping is not required.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A deposit of $3,000 USD must be paid at the time of booking to secure your place, with the balance due 120 DAYS before the workshop commencement date. Deposit Methods Accepted: Credit card Visa/Master (+3%) or Direct Deposit / Wire Transfer.
Refunds and Cancellations: Our standard workshop policy requires an initial non-refundable deposit for the reservation of your space and your payment balance in full 120 days before the commencement of the workshop date unless otherwise noted. If we do not receive the balance on or before the due date, and we are unable to get in contact with you via the contact details you have provided, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. At our discretion, we may apply your deposit to be used for another workshop within one year. Please note that price increases may apply in this instance.
If the workshop is cancelled for any reason, your deposit will be refunded in full. Wild Nature Photo Travel Pty Ltd., trading as Joshua Holko Photography and Joshua Holko, is not responsible for any financial commitments that registered attendees have with third parties such as airlines or other travel services.
READ FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Travel Insurance: You must purchase travel and evacuation insurance in the event of illness or any other emergency that delays or otherwise prevents you from travelling on the trip. Wild Nature Photo Travel partners with and recommends Global Rescue for Evacuation and Medical insurance.
REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP
If you are excited about photographing one of Nature's apex predators - the Grey Wolf - in a stunning Autumn setting with a small group of like-minded, passionate photographers, now is the time to register your interest. Places are extremely limited, and once spoken for, that's it.