Brown bear photo-tour

BEARS IN MATING

Summary

Bears in mating

In May the mating season starts and therefore the best time to come across the older, larger bears. Whilst they are normally loners, May is the time when the bears search for compatible partners in the lush woods of late spring.

The best opportunity to view Brown Bears in Europe
Superb photographic opportunities
High Density of Bears
Escorted by a local Slovenian naturalist guide

Slovenianbears offers ideal sighting options, however, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Nature follows its own set of rules.

Food

Two main meals per day, plus snacks.

Accomodations

Comfortable wilderness guesthouse offers its guests 5 comfortable rooms overlooking the idyllic landscape. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, TV and toilet

Reviews

“Thanks to Miha Mlakar and his crew our assignment in Slovenia for Dutch National Geographic Traveler was a great success! We saw a mother brown bear and two cubs from up close. What a great experience!” Menno Boermans, Netherlands.

“It was the first time I saw bears in real life. It was absolutely amazing. Thanks to Miha and his crew.” Mike Weiwers, Luxemburg.

“Gli orsi nel loro habitat naturale sono meravigliosi. .anzi..sono sempre meravigliosi come la natura che li circonda” Marina Assunta Temelacchi, Italy

Technical support on our tours is provided by licensed tour operator TUR SERVIS d.o.o. Cesta 4. maja 50 SI-1380 Cerknica

Programme

PROGRAMME

Day 1

Arrival at Guest house in the midday

Afternoon: Check-in, Bear photography in hides

Meals: lunch, dinner

Day 2,3

Morning: After a hearty breakfast guests are free to explore the local area, making sure to arrive back at the guesthouse for lunch at 12PM or use our “water-station hide” for Bird photography (supplement 60€/person/day).

Afternoon: Bear photography in hides

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4

Check-out, Departure after breakfast.

Meals: breakfast

Technical info

Accommodation: Mlakar Inn or Ars Palada appartments.

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

Group size: 2 – 8 guests

The price includes: full board in a double bed, snacks, escort by a nature guide, photo hides fee

The price does not include: transport from the airport to the hotel, drinks.

Equipment needed: hiking boots, waterproof jacket, water bottle, torch, camouflage clothing.

Recommended photo equipment: telephoto lens, wide-angle lens, tripod, flash, beanbag, tripod head

Transportation to bear hides: we are asking you to follow us with your own vehicles to the bear hide locations.

About the guides

Miha Mlakar is the founder of the Slovenianbears.com network of bear photo hides and has a broad knowledge of wildlife.
He organises photo tours and workshops, cooperating with renowned European nature photographers, such as Dionys Moser (CH), Christine Sonvilla (AT), Marc Graf (AT), Chavi Nandes (ES), and Joachim Griesinger (DE).

Gallery

Dates & prices

Dates	Price in double room	Price in single room	Available spaces
*May*
4 – 7 May 2023	*890€/person*	*990€/person*	8
11 – 14 May 2023	*890€/person*	*990€/person*	FULL
14 – 17 May 2023	*890€/person*	*990€/person*	4
18 – 21 May 2023	*890€/person*	*990€/person*	4
21 – 24 May 2023	*890€/person*	*990€/person*	FULL

Private arrangements possible on request.

Reviews

About

Slovenianbears offers the best options in Central Europe for bear watching and photography. For this, we have a network of 8 hides that can either be booked separately or visited within the scope of a photo tour.

We are an officially labelled bear friendly company. That means we aim at providing memorable experiences with brown bears whilst ensuring highest ecotourism standards.

Our visitors have high chances of seeing and photographing wild brown bears since our hides are located in an area that holds one of the world’s richest densities of brown bears. Moreover the hides are selected carefully regarding location and light availability.

Whilst offering our visitors best watching and photographing opportunities we strive to keep pressure on brown bears minimal. We do so by not constantly using all hides, by briefing our guests thoroughly, by providing only limited amounts of food at hide locations and by thinking ahead: The number of hides in our network shall remain at the current level to keep the experience special and sustainable.

Why do we feed? Slovenia as many other European countries have a long-lasting history of providing food for wildlife in specifically assigned hunting locations. Our hide-network has been set up in cooperation with local hunters, we use the same locations and place limited amounts of food, respectively corn. The quantities are defined by official institutions and are strictly controlled per year and site.

Slovenianbears also cooperates with a number of local companies, guides and employees.

Thereby, revenues stay in the region and create a positive feedback loop. Locals make a living of their natural resources, visitors appreciate the experience of nature and wildlife and thefore brown bears, which are an integral part of our rich natural heritage, have greater chances of long-term survival.