Taiga
Photo credit
Single.Earth
Valgesoo, Põlva County
,
Estonia

Taiga

Boreal Forest, Snow Forest, Subarctic Region

Inspiring you to tour the Taiga biome and embark on a journey of discovery through its breathtaking areas of natural beauty and diverse wildlife

Discover Tours

Found just south of the Arctic Circle and displaying similar characteristics to its closest northern neighbours, the taiga (sometimes known as the boreal forest) is a landscape of sweeping vistas, silent lakes, and remote, untouched beauty. Miles from the bustle of the city, the taiga is a mythical landscape that is home to reindeers, wild bears, Siberian tigers and moose - the most elusive and unexpected of the planet’s inhabitants.

Spreading for miles across the Earth’s northern hemisphere, these hardy creatures and the landscapes that they call home are built to withstand the coldest of weathers - from the open spaces of Canada, across northern Europe, to the vast mountain ranges of Asia and the distant climes of northern Russia.

Packed with coniferous forests and glacial lakes that are at the mercy of the Arctic air, the landscapes of the taiga are bracing, bright - and incredibly popular with those who want to disconnect from daily life and be truly awed by the power of nature.

Biome Map Image
Terpsichores, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons / modified from original

Taiga characteristics

  • Tall evergreen trees
  • Little precipitation
  • Cold weather
  • Shallow soil
  • Permafrost
  • Found between tundra and temperate forests
  • Acidic peat bogs
  • Lakes
  • Mountainous landscapes
  • Thick forest
  • Cold winters and short summers
  • Heavy snow
  • Cones and pines
  • Shallow roots
  • Boreal forest (in the southern taiga)
Quebec
Patrick_Lauzon
Quebec,
Canada

Taiga climate

Temperature High

32

°C

Temperature High (Avg)
Temperature Low

–67

°C

Temperature Low (Avg)
Precipitation

615

mm

Precipitation (Avg)

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Climate Change

Logging is the biggest threat to the taiga, with the worldwide need for paper and wood for construction projects causing soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. Climate change can also cause fewer trees to grow in the taiga: warming temperatures mean the melting of the permafrost, leading to increases in bogland. As the area is characterised by shallow tree roots, trees can lilt and become unstable when the permafrost melts into the soil. As boreal forests in the south of the taiga store most of the world’s carbon, threats to their continued existence are extremely concerning.

Animals are at risk as the taiga warms, as many of the biome’s native species are not adapted to survive in warmer climates. This means that non-native species may start to inhabit the area, upsetting the biome’s delicate ecosystem and causing plant life to diminish.

Top Taiga tours

The otherworldly landscapes created by the taiga often mean stunning vistas that can be far-removed from our own. Isolation and returning to nature are key for most visitors to the taiga, whether they’re in Canada, Scandinavia or northern Russia. Wild camping, snow-mobiling, hiking, cross-country skiing, dog-sledding and seeking out the Aurora Borealis are all popular activities. The numerous lakes that are found in the taiga mean activities like canoeing, kayaking and fishing are common.

Sustainable tourism, including wildlife tracking, also brings visitors to the taiga. The opportunity to spot elusive animals like bears, caribou and moose can provide memories that you’ll never forget. In the taiga of northern Canada, some intrepid explorers have even set out on the trail of the mythical Bigfoot. Feel free to join them… although we can’t guarantee that you’ll track him down.

Riisitunturi, Ruka,
Kertu_ee

Riisitunturi, Ruka, , 

Finland

Tours in the Taiga biome

Alaska Kenai & Denali Adventure
Alaska Kenai & Denali Adventure
Alaska Kenai & Denali Adventure
Location Icon
USA
Tour type
Tour Type
Adventure Tours
Activity level
Activiy Level
Alaska Kenai & Denali Adventure

8 days from

£2,149 / person

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Hiking in the Canadian Rockies
Hiking in the Canadian Rockies
Hiking in the Canadian Rockies
Location Icon
Canada
Tour type
Tour Type
Active
Activity level
Activiy Level
Hiking in the Canadian Rockies

8 days from

£1,750 / person

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Jewels of Alaska - Small Group
Jewels of Alaska - Small Group
Jewels of Alaska - Small Group
Location Icon
USA
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Jewels of Alaska - Small Group

7 days from

£5,438 / person

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Annapurna Base Camp
Annapurna Base Camp
Annapurna Base Camp
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Nepal
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Annapurna Base Camp

15 days from

£2,460 / person

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Manaslu Circuit
Manaslu Circuit
Manaslu Circuit
Location Icon
Nepal
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Manaslu Circuit

15 days from

£2,495 / person

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Stok Kangri
Stok Kangri
Stok Kangri
Location Icon
India
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Stok Kangri

14 days from

TBC / person

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Natural Wonders of Alaska
Natural Wonders of Alaska
Natural Wonders of Alaska
Location Icon
USA
Tour type
Tour Type
Active
Activity level
Activiy Level
Natural Wonders of Alaska

13 days from

£4,495 / person

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Expedition Skills Course
Expedition Skills Course
Expedition Skills Course
Location Icon
France
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Expedition Skills Course

7 days from

£1,030 / person

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Alaska Hike, Bike & Kayak
Alaska Hike, Bike & Kayak
Alaska Hike, Bike & Kayak
Location Icon
USA
Tour type
Tour Type
Active
Activity level
Activiy Level
Alaska Hike, Bike & Kayak

6 days from

£2,599 / person

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Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp
Location Icon
Nepal
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Everest Base Camp

19 days from

£2,545 / person

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Western Canada Discovery
Western Canada Discovery
Western Canada Discovery
Location Icon
Canada
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Western Canada Discovery

9 days from

£1,138 / person

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The Ultimate Alaska Grand Adventure
The Ultimate Alaska Grand Adventure
The Ultimate Alaska Grand Adventure
Location Icon
USA
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
The Ultimate Alaska Grand Adventure

8 days from

£2,319 / person

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Best of Alaska
Best of Alaska
Best of Alaska
Location Icon
USA
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Best of Alaska

10 days from

£4,485 / person

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Discovering the Wilderness: Alaska's National Parks
Discovering the Wilderness: Alaska's National Parks
Discovering the Wilderness: Alaska's National Parks
Location Icon
USA
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Discovering the Wilderness: Alaska's National Parks

8 days from

£2,553 / person

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Mera Peak
Mera Peak
Mera Peak
Location Icon
Nepal
Tour type
Tour Type
Small Group
Activity level
Activiy Level
Mera Peak

22 days from

£3,645 / person

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Big Cats
Big Cats
Big Cats
Birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching
Canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing
Canyoning
Canyoning
Canyoning
Cruise
Cruise
Cruise
Culture
Culture
Culture
Cycling
Cycling
Cycling
Festivals
Festivals
Festivals
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Hiking
Hiking
Hiking
Kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking
Mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering
Natural Wonders
Natural Wonders
Natural Wonders
Photography
Photography
Photography
Polar
Polar
Polar
Primates
Primates
Primates
Rafting
Rafting
Rafting
Rail
Rail
Rail
Safari
Safari
Safari
Sailing
Sailing
Sailing
Skiing
Skiing
Skiing
Snorkelling
Snorkelling
Snorkelling
Whale Watching
Whale Watching
Whale Watching
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Winter Sports
Winter Sports
Winter Sports
Zip Lining
Zip Lining
Zip Lining

Taiga areas of natural beauty

The largest taiga in the world is in Russia, where it stretches from the Ural Mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The lakes found here are popular with visitors, whilst in Scandinavia, the taiga is a great location from which to experience the Aurora Borealis. Eastern Finland is also a great spot for wildlife spotting.

Wildlife

Taiga animals

Despite the harsh conditions, various species have adapted to survive in the taiga. Mammals including lynx, Siberian tigers, wolves, wolverines, hares, bears and moose can be seen stalking between the trees, whilst small rodents such as mice can be found on the forest floor. Migratory birds that call the taiga home in the summer months fly south in the winter.

Taiga plants

Spruce, fir, larch, cedar and pine are some of the most common examples of evergreen trees found in the taiga, whilst the biome may also contain shrubs, moss and various types of mushroom.

Taiga countries

Taiga is found directly below the Arctic circle, with Canada, northern Scandinavia (parts of Sweden, Norway and Finland), northern Russia and the US state of Alaska all being home to this habitat.

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