A trip for those who want to see and photograph bears up close with the safety and comfort that our hideouts offer.
We offer the possibility of spending several unforgettable nights in the brown bearhides and observing fauna.
The hides are situated in an area covered mainly by western taiga forests and vast swamps in NE Estonia, home to approximately 500 bears, 50% of the country’s total bear population.
The hides have windows on both sides:
Northen windows overlook a taiga forest and the most common mammals to see would be raccoon dogs and brown bears.
Woodpeckers, red squirrels, nuthatches, finches, tits and jays visit the feeders from time to time.
Southern windows offer a view of a stream and a flooded meadow. Sometimes moose, wild boar and roe deer come to feed in the meadow and occasionally European beavers or otters may swim. During the summer months, the creek can almost dry up.
The Ural owl and the red foxcome to hunt mice, and sometimes the goshawk, sparrow hawk, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle and bustards also come to look for prey.
As rare visitors, but that are seen on occasion, we have the wolves, the lynx, mink and the badger.
There is also a very sensitive microphone outside the hideout. It captures the soundscape of the environment and you can hear it through speakers installed inside the hides. You can hear birds singing in the spring, branches rustling under the feet of bears, or animals wading through the water. Our guests have also heard elk mating calls, wolf howls, and raccoon dogs fighting each other. This makes the whole experience even more immediate and powerful.
Estonia is a country with large forest stands, many of them ending on the Baltic Sea coast. It occupies a small territory, but enough to show us a great variety of landscapes. Tallinn is its capital, and walking through the old town is like traveling back in time, you are automatically transported to an ancient time.
As you leave civilization behind, everything is green and the vast majority of buildings are wooden cabin-style but with a special charm, we usually hire this type of accommodation when there is availability, and experience has shown us that with luck, we can see from the same window, the surrounding fauna, elks, birds, bears, among others.
A place with enormous potential for wildlife and landscape photography. And where in addition, the mind disconnects completely.
The diferents hides that have been built to see the bears offer the possibility of spending the night, which makes this trip a very special experience. Staying overnight and keeping watch at the hideout will increase your chances of seeing the bears, as we’ll be there ready when the busiest time comes, during the early and late hours of the day.
They are also very comfortable, they have chairs, beds and toilets, as well as positions prepared for photographers.
Generally the entrance to the hide is in the afternoon and the exit is in the morning. It is the moment that we will take advantage of to go to the accommodation, eat, visit other very interesting places in the area to take photos or try to see other animals, it is also a good time to buy thinking about the next session inside the hiding places or simply rest.
The first and the last night we will sleep in very comfortable accommodation, whether rural hotels, full rental houses or typical accommodation in the area with all the services, depending on availability we have several options.
The important thing is that the rest of the nights, as this is a trip to photograph bears, we will sleep in the hides, which have, as we have said before, single beds.
Meals are not included We will go to the restaurants and bars in the area at noon and we will also buy to be able to cook at home. For the hide sessions, each one can take the snacks and drinks they want, we will go to the supermarket every day and we will be able to buy.
In order to carry out the trips there must be a minimum of 4 participants and they will be filled in order of reservation. In case of being less or a private group, contact us directly.
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