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Incentives in Finland: Nature activities

Credits: Anssi Tiusanen

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Here nature is always close.

With its abundant wildlife and stunning natural scenery – and all the activities that go with it, Finland is the perfect place for incentive travellers to explore the great outdoors.
Credits: Anssi Tiusanen

Wildlife watching

Finland’s pristine forests, fells, lakes and beaches provide idyllic habitats for a variety of creatures, including bears, wolves, eagles, elk and even the world’s rarest seal. Fortunately, there are many guided tours on offer – from bear-watching in northern Lakeland to seal-spotting in Lake Saimaa and bird-watching on the coast.

Animals like bears might be cute, but please remember to keep your distance.
Credits: Mikko Kiviniemi

Nordic walking

Nordic walking is a fantastic way to take in Finland's stunning nature.
Credits: Harri Tarvainen / North Karelia

Nordic walking is a fun and easy total-body workout: essentially, it’s just walking with poles. Whether newbie trekkers, expert hikers or somewhere in between, your guest are sure to find a trail that suits their needs. Check out this article for hiking tips and sample itineraries.

Horseback riding

Explore Europe’s last great wilderness on horseback. Guided rides are widely available throughout Finland, and the country’s many windswept beaches, vast grasslands and thick forests make it the perfect place for an equine trek – travellers might even see the Northern Lights!

Horseback riding tours are offered throughout the country.
Credits: Olli Oilinki

Biking

Hop on the saddle and explore Finland on two wheels. Whether downhill biking, mountain biking or fat-biking, travellers will find tons of trails and tours available to cyclists of all levels. A few worth mentioning are the Saimaa Archipelago Route, the Archipelago Trail and Iso-Syöte Bike Park. And don’t forget about Finnish cities – many offer free bike or e-bike rentals.

Take a guided tour on two wheels.
Credits : Juho Kuva
Finns ride bicycles all year - including fat-bikes, which popular for traversing snowy terrain.
Credits: Mikko Nikkinen

Golfing

Golf is widely available in Finland – in fact, there are almost 200 courses! The Helsinki region has the biggest concentration, but the Lakeland and Coast and Archipelago regions are also dotted with numerous spots to tee off, including some that offer winter hours or tournaments under the Midnight Sun. Many of the bigger ski resorts in Lakeland and Lapland also have their own 18-hole courses.

Finland has hundreds of golf courses; some are even open during winter.
Credits: Heidi Ikonen

Foraging and outdoor cooking

Fresh air, clean water and fertile soil make for delicious produce. And thanks to Finnish Everyman’s Rights, both visitors and locals alike are free to feast on it. One popular way to do so is by heading into the woods to forage. From juicy bilberries to tasty chantarelles, Finland’s bounty tastes best fresh off the bush, tree or root. The best part about foraging is eating, and the best way to do it is al fresco. In Finland, most of the country’s 40 national parks include designated campfire sites where visitors can whip up a meal over an open fire.

During the summer, bilberries are prevalent in Finnish forests. Make sure to try a slice of fresh bilberry pie!
Credits : Harri Tarvainen / North Karelia
Foraging is a tasty way to get your hands on delicious Finnish produce.
Credits: Elina Manninen / Keksit
Credits: Ilona Savola

ATV driving

Driving an ATV (or quad bike) is a fun, thrilling way to explore Finland’s varied terrain. Your group will see the wilderness in a whole new way as they navigate through fields and forests. Lapland is one popular spot to drive – especially underneath the Northern Lights or Midnight Sun – but many areas of Finland offer these exciting excursions.

Credits: Himoslomat

Fishing

From fly to ice, river to lake, Finland is a fisherman’s paradise. That’s because the country not only has the world’s largest archipelago, it’s also the land of thousand lakes and has plenty of crystal-clear rivers, creeks and streams full of species like trout, perch, pike and salmon. Guided and fully equipped fishing tours are widely available – travellers can simply grab a rod and cast away!

With more than 180,000 lakes, it's no wonder Finland is a beloved place to cast a line.
Credits: Julia Kivelä

Northern Lights hunting

Being so far north has its benefits: the Aurora Borealis is visible in Finnish Lapland roughly 200 nights a year. And while many associate nature’s most spectacular light show with winter, the most active seasons are actually autumn and spring – all that’s necessary are clear skies, the great outdoors and a bit of luck. Looking for something more luxurious? Book a glass hut so guests can watch the Northern Lights from bed.

Whether you hike into the wilderness or watch them from bed, the Northern Lights are truly nature's most spectacular light show.
Credits: Konsta Punkka