You step out into the heart of the densest forest in Lofsdalen – where every step whispers of adventure. Here, among the scent of moss and spruce, the fairy tale unfolds in time with your breath. The sun's rays break through the trees, and you wander in the land of the bear – quiet, attentive and curious.

The hike doesn't start at a hiding place, but at your own curiosity. You follow the rhythm of nature, see the tracks in the ground and hear the birds that fall silent when something bigger moves in the forest. Here you are met with silence, wildness – and sometimes, if you're lucky, the mighty bear himself.

As you sit quietly in the forest and wait, pay attention to sounds, movements, and smells. Bears often move cautiously, but you can hear branches snapping, heavy footsteps in the vegetation. Your most important tool is patience – to be still, listen, and let nature come to you.

Did you know that bears can smell a human from several kilometers away – but still choose to stay nearby? 

* Sleeping bag – You can bring your own, or rent one in Lofsdalen. The most important thing is that you stay warm and cozy during the night in the cabin.

* Camera – Of course, many people want to capture the moment. It’s not every day that you have the chance to encounter a large wild predator out in the open. But remember – bears are shy creatures. They don’t like noise, fast movements or camera flashes in their faces.

* Appropriate clothing – boots for forest walks and comfortable clothes. Everything that will best enhance your stay in the wilderness

* Patience – This is perhaps the most important thing you bring with you. Bear safaris are not like a supermarket – you can’t just “order a bear”. Nature follows its own rhythm, and that’s what makes the experience so magical. Waiting in silence, listening to the forest and blending in – that’s where the encounter begins.

1. Long zoom (telephoto lens)

At least 200 mm focal length, preferably 300–400 mm or more

Allows you to photograph bears from a safe distance (at least 10 meters) and still get them clearly in the picture.

2. Good low-light performance

Bears often appear at dawn or dusk

The camera should be able to handle high ISO without much noise

Fast lens (aperture f/2.8–f/5.6) recommended

3. Image stabilization

Reduces blur from hand movements or small vibrations in the cabin

Especially important when using zoom and when shooting in low light

4.Video recording

For those who want to film bears in their natural environment

Go for Full HD or 4K with the option of an external microphone for the best sound.

The best time of day to see bears in Lofsdalen is late evening to early morning.
This is because bears are crepuscular and nocturnal – they move around most when it is cool and quiet, which reduces the risk of encountering humans.

Best months to see bears in Lofsdalen:

May – Bears wake up from hibernation and start moving more.

June – Activity increases, especially in the evenings and early mornings.

July – Still good chances, especially at dusk and dawn.

August – Bears are looking for food for autumn and are often active

Adapt to the bear's world – not the other way around

We humans have a tendency to want to control, smell good and make a lot of noise – but in the forest, among bears, different rules apply. Here you are not the one who sets the tone. You should blend in. Become one with the moss. A silent, odorless creature with a camera.

1. Smell, sound and low profile

Bears don't see very well, but their sense of smell is on a whole other level – we're talking superpowers. Therefore:

- No rustling chip bags.

- No scented perfumes, chewing gum or essential oils.

- Transfer the food to glass or plastic jars with tight-fitting lids.

- Do not wash clothes with fabric softener or perfume.

Your new perfume is called "Silent Forest" and smells absolutely nothing.

2. Upholstery

Practical. Lightweight. Unscented. It's the fashion code. Forget about bright colors and all artificial scents – including those you think smell like “natural lavender.” Bears disagree.

And bonus: those perfume bombs in laundry detergent? Not only unnecessary out here – they're pretty bad for your health, too. Thank the bears for that reminder.

Where there are bear cubs, there's a mother nearby. And she has zero sense of humor. All it takes is one wrong smell or a strange sound – and she goes full Terminator.

So: no "awww", no approaching. And never forget – it's not a Disney movie.

In the summer, there are other energies in the forest. The whole bear country is like… Tinder on four legs. The males are on the hunt – and not for you, but still perhaps not completely focused.

Tip from the coach: So it's not the right season to smell sweet and look vulnerable.
And yes – you can definitely think of summer bears as hairy, emotionally unavailable types with zero boundaries and testosterone at max. So keep your camera ready, but stay discreet.

Here you will learn facts about brown bears – the mighty creatures of the Swedish forests. Where they live, how they live, and how you can spot traces of them in the mountains. Perfect for those who love nature, mountain hiking and wildlife! Welcome to the world of bears.

In Lofsdalen there is someone who lives quieter than silence, leaving behind only mysterious tracks on the damp ground. It is the brown bear, the ancient ruler of the northern forests. He makes no fuss and demands no attention. He is a part of nature itself, dissolved in the moss and the rustle of the pines.

The bear spends half its life in its den, which can sometimes be encountered deep in the forest.

Here the bear is not just an animal. He is a symbol. A guardian. A living reminder of how wild and free the earth can be, if man learns to see, not with his eyes but with his heart.

Main features:

* Height: 1.2–1.5 meters at the shoulders

* Weight: 150–700 kg (males), 120–300 kg (females)

You may never see a bear in person – but it can see you. The signs it leaves behind are like letters from the forest:

- Traces of paws – five toes, claws and a wide heel: the size can be up to 20 cm in width.

- Scratch marks on trees – marks left to mark their territory for other bears.

- Conversely, rocks and excavated soil – it searches for roots, anthills and insects.

- Moss mounds - the bear makes a "pillow" to lie down and rest in its den.

In nature's own rhythm, a bear can live for 20 to 30 years.

If you listen really closely – not with your ears, but with your heart – you might sense the presence of someone who has walked these lands for decades.

The bear — a real gourmand on a plant-based diet. Yes, it is a predator, but only by classification.

Despite its intimidating appearance, the brown bear in the mountains is actually a vegetarian at heart. It is, of course, an omnivore, and its diet varies depending on the season and the availability of resources. But when we talk about what bears eat in Sweden, it is usually about plant-based food.

For most of the year, the bear prefers mainly plant-based food, especially during summer and autumn when it prepares for hibernation. What does a bear eat? Well, its diet consists mainly of berries, herbs, roots, mushrooms and moss. It especially loves blueberries, lingonberries, strawberries and digs up juicy shoots, as well as munch on dandelions and clover.

Fish is one of the bears' favorite sources of protein, especially if they live near bodies of water like rivers and lakes. During the summer and fall, when fish are actively spawning, the bear may catch fish, including salmon, trout, or other local aquatic animals. The fish provides the bear with the necessary amount of fat, which helps it store energy for hibernation.

Despite this, the bear does not hunt prey as often as other predators, such as wolves or foxes. In most cases, its diet consists of berries, roots, mushrooms and insects, and fish appears on its menu more as a treat or an important part of the diet during certain seasons.

If a bear finds an anthill, it becomes a real delicacy. It digs up the hill with its paws and happily licks up the ant eggs like a true connoisseur. And honey? It is the bear's golden treasure. For honey, the bear is willing to climb a tree and risk the beeping of bees to get a taste.

The bear uses his "herbal pharmacy" after a fight

Sure, bears may not have their own pharmacy, but they know exactly which plants to use after a tough fight. They chew on specific herbs and apply them to their wounds – such as sorrel or wormwood. These plants help disinfect bites or lacerations. Their knowledge of plants has been passed down through generations, almost like an instinctive “art of healing.”

Bears love meditation

Yes, you heard that right. It's not uncommon to see a bear in complete stillness, sitting like a Buddha by a lake or in a meadow. Scientists have dubbed this "behavioral rest." They can sit still for up to 20 minutes, staring off into the distance and seeming to be in a trance-like state. Perhaps the bear is an early example of mindfulness?

The bear can "talk" to the trees

It may sound strange, but bears have a special ability to communicate with trees. When they scratch or rub against tree trunks, it's not just about marking their territory. The trees "read" the chemicals in their fur and sweat and transmit information through the so-called microforest - a network between the trees. This is actually the forest's own "internet", where all organisms are interconnected and share information.

When we admire bears in Lofsdalen during our bear safaris, we not only see these magnificent animals in their natural environment – ​​we also get a glimpse of one of nature's greatest mysteries: their winter hibernation.

Observing the bears in the forests of Lofsdalen, especially when you know about these physiological secrets, makes the experience of a bear safari even more magical. Nature shows us paths that we humans are still trying to understand and use.

Scientific studies show that the unique physiological state of bears during hibernation is controlled by a hormone produced in the hypothalamus. Through radioactive tracer analyses, scientists have discovered that bears, despite months of fasting, wake up in the spring without having lost their powerful muscle mass. And even more impressive: for the first two weeks after waking up, they don't even feel hungry!

Moreover, even when the temperature outside drops to minus 8 degrees Celsius, the bears' bodies stay warm – around +35°C, even in the oral cavity.

It is these incredible biological characteristics that make bears such an interesting object of study – both for nature lovers who follow them on bear safaris and for researchers who hope to use their secrets to treat chronic diseases such as kidney failure, insomnia and obesity.

Scientists believe that if we can identify the hormone or substance that regulates bear hibernation, we could open new doors for medical innovation and even improve human survival during long space journeys.

Nature still holds countless mysteries, and bears are among the most fascinating. The wilderness offers us something very special – a chance to reconnect with ourselves, find peace, open new horizons and add extra color to everyday life. It even has the power to strengthen our health and well-being.

En plats där allt detta möts är Lofsdalen – en gömd pärla i hjärtat av Sverige. Ge dig själv gåvan av självkärlek. Besök Lofsdalen Home, hitta din perfekta tillflyktsort och låt äventyret börja!