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Martinselkosen Erakeskus

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#1 of 1 guest house in Suomussalmi
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Free parking
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Non-smoking rooms

Location

Pirttivaarantie 131, Suomussalmi 89920 Finland
Name/address in local language
Martinselkosen Erakeskus
26Reviews1Q+A2Room tips

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Tapan B wrote a review Aug 2023
Colchester, United Kingdom100 contributions92 helpful votes
Very clean ,simple but comfortable, .tall pine trees all around ,bird feeder ,red squirrels woodpeckers blue tits finches house Martin ,all coming every few second to feed from feeder. Food healthy ,had wild salmon with splendid taste. Each our group members were friendly &helpful.In fact we got introduced to each other while waiting for Kijjan flight! Met many very welcoming friendly nice people, at the lodge —kitchen staffs, Yanas,Margo ( names sounded like this) , they were all guides also took us in lakes rowing near Russian border. Very serene and calm . Main reason to stay for two nights for bear watching from nearby bear hides. It was nice and happy experience to meet such nice people in such comfortable lodge in such remote place.
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Date of stay: August 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Kari Haajanen wrote a review May 2021
Kaarina, Finland11 contributions
Friendly staff, wonderfull bears and hot sauna in the middle of nowhere near Boarder of Russia. Not bad combination at all. It was pleasure to visit and stay there few days. Exellent work - all the best for you! We will meet again.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Giorgia P wrote a review Aug 2018
Treviso, Italy29 contributions6 helpful votes
I spent one day in this structure. It is new, warm, modern; the food delicious, both dinner and breakfast. Personnel is nice and kind, English speaking. Wifi available. I do recommend for a stay in the nature!
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Date of stay: August 2018Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Laura C wrote a review Jul 2017
Newhaven, United Kingdom36 contributions54 helpful votes
Superb experience. Well organised and just as described. We went on the evening bear watching rather than staying the night in the hide. We must have had 12 bears including cubs playing in front of us. Make sure you have lots of memory in your camera, the bears are so entertaining to watch! Best to wear long sleeves and trousers, the hide is hot but the Mosquitos are vicious so be prepared! We stayed at the lodge for one night, accommodation was clean and had everything you could need for a short stay, even a small communal kitchenette provided. Bear paradise, I hope if you go you'll be as lucky as us.
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Date of stay: July 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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globaltrotter1232015 wrote a review Jul 2016
London, United Kingdom8 contributions15 helpful votes
the trip to the bear hides was an experience .......i haven't had before.....the white summer night coupled with the delightful viewing of uninterrupted bears and their families was like a make believe world.....it was comfortable , though the dry loos start smelling foul after while , but all in all it was great. we had requested for vegetarian breakfast and we were amply provided with lavish spread of homemade potato gratin, milk, beer, bread jam etc . i would highly recommend it
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Date of stay: July 2016
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: we did not stay
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RocketRog wrote a review Jun 2016
Melbourne, Australia110 contributions57 helpful votes
If your holiday priorities are great food, luxury accommodation and every kind of service and entertainment, stop reading now, 'cos you won't like this place. On the other hand, if you like the idea of brown bears (actually lots of them) within a few metres, read on. The only reason to come here is to see bears (and other wildlife according to your interest) up close and personal. We stayed overnight in two different small 2 person hides (two nights) and had bears around us for hours. Great views and photo opportunities. Late May was good as plenty of light through the evening, sows were around with cubs, but the mosquitoes were not yet too bad. Binoculars not needed - bears too close. My wife and I were happy with zoom lenses (200 - 500 and 150 - 600 on Nikon FX) rather than primes as the action kept changing range. Be aware that the toilet arrangements are rudimentary, but really all you can expect for this kind of experience. I would recommend staying a bit longer and spacing out the overnight hide experiences so you are not so sleep deprived with consecutive nights in the hides. You can go to one of the hides and come back to the lodge about 23:00 which gives the best of the bear viewing plus a decent sleep.
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Date of stay: May 2016
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Lodge rooms are simple, clean, comfortable, but in the hides you won't get much sleep due to...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Lloyd G wrote a review Sept 2015
Christchurch, United Kingdom23 contributions5 helpful votes
Enjoyed staying here. The tour I booked on wasn't worth the time, best to just come here yourself and see the bears. The accommodation was clean and comfortable, the staff are friendly and the location is quiet, remote and relaxed. My kind of place. Only let down is the mosquitoes!
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Date of stay: July 2015
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Trip type: Travelled solo
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Petri P wrote a review Aug 2015
Tampere, Finland86 contributions63 helpful votes
This place is very good for bear watching. We saw more than 20 in 5 hours including 3 moms with cubs. Holidy could not have been any better. The stay is 100 % about bears. They have transformed an ex border guard station into a nice little hotel that serves food as well. Beds are OK and nobody really cares about WiFi and TV here. Martinselkonen is by the Russian border. It is very isolate, quiet and nice Place. It really is worth the money and drive. Remember to take mosquito protection with you.
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Date of stay: July 2015
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Andy Barton wrote a review Aug 2014
Liverpool, United Kingdom19 contributions11 helpful votes
Brilliant stay. Nice and comfortable location with simple local cuisine. This stay is all about the bears though. The hides are excellent and they come really close to the main hide. A second night in the swamp hides are highly recommended as these provide greater photography opportunities.
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Date of stay: July 2014
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Trip type: Travelled solo
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PossumAdelaideSA wrote a review Jul 2014
Adelaide SA185 contributions128 helpful votes
We stayed a night in the large bearhide and we were thrilled to see bears of all ages and sizes come and go from 6pm to 11pm. We counted 15 at the one time, including a mother and 3 six month old cubs! There were 9 of us in the hide including our guide who spoke excellent English and was happy to answer any questions we asked. Our other companions were all Finnish and very serious photographers intent on the best shot. No one spoke over a whisper but the experience was so magical we were happy to just look. The hide was rough but comfortable with bunk beds, a drop toilet and sandwiches and coffee to sustain until breakfast the next day. We stayed at the lodge the night before the night in the hide which was a mistake for us as we had to vacate the room by 12 and the expedition to the hide did not go until 4 in the afternoon. The lodge is isolated and doesn't have a sitting room so we were at a loose end while we waited to go to the hide. It was too cold to walk around or sit outside and we had to wait in the dining room. We thought the meals were very basic. Looking back we should have organised our time so that we arrived just in time for the expedition to the hide and stayed the one night there. However the bear watching experience was one we will never forget and absolutely the best.
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Date of stay: June 2014
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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LOCATION
FinlandKainuuWild TaigaSuomussalmi
NUMBER OF ROOMS
14
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MARTINSELKOSEN ERAKESKUS - UPDATED 2023 Guesthouse Reviews (Suomussalmi, Finland) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Martinselkosen Erakeskus
Which popular attractions are close to Martinselkosen Erakeskus?
Nearby attractions include Martinselkonen Wilds Centre (0.01 km).
Is parking available at Martinselkosen Erakeskus?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.