Transport, Accommodation & Meals

Transport Information

Bus

Accommodation notes

The Wild Brown Bear Centre's remote location makes it ideal for wildlife spotting and relaxing in the tranquil surroundings. The lodge is furnished in a simple style and the bedrooms are basic with some having shared bathroom facilities. There is a dining room area, auditorium and two saunas at the lodge.You will spend at least one night of your stay in the wildlife watching hides, which are positioned by a picturesque lake. There are 21 hides and the largest can accommodate up to 10 people. They are equipped with comfy chairs and beds in the back in case you need to take a snooze at any point during the night. They also have basic compost toilets (a simple hole in the ground but with a seat!) and we recommend taking hand sanitiser with you. Outdoor shoes aren't permitted to be warn inside the hides (in order to keep them clean and noise to a minimum), so you might want to wear soft slippers or thick socks when inside. It is also advisable to bring insect repellent with you, as the location beside the lake can attraction insects. Once we have entered the hides at around 18.00 we won't be able to leave until approximately 07.00 the next morning.There is no electricity in the hides so you will need to ensure your camera batteries are fully charged or take spares with you.

Optional activities

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for direct with the supplier and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.

Lentiira - Nature trek through the forest €50.00 for 3 to 4 hours (8 to 12km)

Canoeing - 1 to 2 hours canoeing on the lake at the lodge €50.00 (maximum of 6 people) - if you are interested in this activity, please email

Bear hides - An additional night can be purchased locally for €120.00

Moose safari - Go in search of Moose with a local expert, 2 to 3 hours trip for €80.00(maximum of 5 people) 

Clothing

You will need lots of layers. Although the evenings/nights can be cold, once in the hide in can often get quite warm. Bring a warm jacket/fleece as it can get cold at night and a raincoat.

All hides have a sleeping bag for you to use during the night - great if you are sleeping but also really useful to keep your legs warm when you are keeping still watching for bears.

Footwear

Comfortable walking shoes or wellington boots and trainers or sandals. A pair of slippers can be nice to wear in the hide as no outdoor shoes are allowed inside to keep noise to a minimum.

Luggage 20kg

Luggage: 

On tour

One main piece of baggage and a daypack for personal items.

Equipment

We also recommend taking a water bottle, torch, sun cream, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, binoculars and a camera. A telephoto lens will be useful for wildlife shots and a tripod may be useful but not essential - there are ledges in all of the hides where you can balance your camera whilst you take photos.

Tipping

Local crew

Local Representative - At your discretion you might also wish to consider tipping your local representative in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.