Booking terms and conditions for RMK nature houses and rental huts

1. Booking terms and conditions

Estonian State Forests Management Centre (RMK) shall abide by the following terms and conditions for booking and cancelling the booking of nature houses and rental huts:

• Pre-sales invoice shall be paid by the due date as specified on the invoice.
• The customer shall have to cancel the booking, if he/she has decided not to use the nature house or rental hut.

In case the customer has not paid the invoice by the due date, RMK is entitled to cancel the booking.

2. Booking and payment

RMK nature houses and rental huts can be booked online www.bouk.io or by e-mail at puhkus@rmk.ee

Persons under the age of 18 are allowed to book and use the nature house and rental hut only together with an adult..

For each nature house and rental hut, the number of customers who can use the facility at the same time is limited and that number is specified in the description of the nature house and rental hut on RMK homepage. The number of users does not include children aged 1-3.

An advance booking can be made for a nature house and rental hut for up to seven days.
Within seven days from advance booking the booking has to be confirmed in writing, otherwise the booking will be void. If the customer wants to use extra services in addition to renting the nature house (nature programme, hiking, transport etc.), RMK shall make a respective offer.

After booking or confirming the advance booking, the customer shall receive a pre-sales invoice for the whole sum. If the booking is made earlier than 21 days before using the service, the customer shall receive a pre-sales invoice for the whole sum, which must be paid within 14 days after booking. If the booking is made later than 14 days before using the service, the customer shall receive a pre-sales invoice for the whole sum, which must be paid immediately.

The pre-sales invoice shall be paid by the due date shown on the invoice. After the payment of the invoice has been received, RMK shall issue a regular invoice to the customer, if requested, to confirm the booking.

With the pre-sales invoice the customer shall receive the contact information of the caretaker of the nature house/rental hut and information how the customer receives the keys to the nature house/rental hut. The customer him/herself shall agree with the caretaker about the time of arriving and leaving.
RMK reserves the right to change the quoted prices.

3. Cancellation and amendment

The customer can cancel a reservation for a nature or forest house made online in the BOUK self-service environment.
An email booking of a nature house or rental hut can be cancelled by email to puhkus@rmk.ee

Cancelling date is the date when RMK receives information about cancellation of the booking. If the customer proves that cancellation was sent in good time to be delivered by the intended time, RMK shall accept the cancellation, even if it is delivered later or is not delivered at all.  

If the booking of the rental hut is cancelled 7 days or more before using the service, the customer shall be refunded the advance payment less the service fee (2,00 EUR).

If the booking is cancelled later than 6 days but earlier than 73 hours before using the service, the customer shall be refunded 75 percent of the total sum.

If the booking is cancelled later than 72 hours before using the service, no refund shall be made to the customer.

If the booking is cancelled before starting to use the service due to the illness, involvement in an accident or death of the customer or a person close to the customer, the customer is entitled to full refund.
In this case the customer shall have to inform the RMK Nature Management Department immediately of cancelling the booking. Within two weeks at the latest certification (from the doctor, police etc) on the cause of cancelling the booking needs to be provided and sent to:
RMK Visitor Management Department, Sagadi Village, Haljala Municipality, 45403 Lääne-Viru County. If the booking is cancelled for the above-mentioned reasons during the time of using the service, no refund shall be made to the customer.

If the customer wants to change the time or place of using the service, it will be regarded as cancellation of the earlier booking and making a new booking.

4. RMK’s right to cancel a booking

RMK shall be entitled to cancel a booking due to force majeure (natural disaster, high risk of forest fire, strike etc.), in which case RMK shall inform the customer as soon as possible. In this case the customer is entitled to full refund of the payment. The customer shall not be compensated for possible additional costs incurred.

5. Return of the key

The customer shall return the key to the rental hut according to the instructions received.

6. Use of the house

The customer (person who has made reservation) ensures that all people who are using the house follow the house rules that are introduced while house was handed over for their use. The customer (person who has made reservation) ensures that all visitors follow the generally accepted quiet time (23.00 to 6.00) of RMK´s nature houses and rental huts.

6.1. Use of the rental hut
The estimated time of arrival of customers at the rental hut is 16.00, the estimated time of leaving is 12.00.
Rental huts have spartan furnishing only – a bench, a table and a fireplace. Customers have to bring sleeping gear and other necessary items with them. The user of a rental hut shall ensure that the hut and the furnishings of the hut remain in good order when he/she leaves.

7. Compensation for damage

7.1. The customer shall be liable to compensate to RMK for damage caused by negligent use or misuse of the nature house or rental hut..

7.2. At the request of RMK, the customer undertakes to pay a contractual penalty to the extent of double charge for using the rental hut, in case the actual number of users of the rental hut exceeds the permitted number of users established for the rental hut.

7.3. The customer undertakes to pay the contractual penalty in the sum 130,00 EUR at the request of RMK, in case  the actual number of users of the nature house exceeds the permitted number of users established for the nature house.

8. Complaints

Any complaints shall be filed to the caretaker of the nature house or rental hut immediately when a problem emerges. If it is impossible to find a satisfying solution to the problem on site, a complaint shall be sent in writing to RMK Visitor Management Department, Sagadi Village, Haljala Municipality, 45403 Lääne-Viru County within one week after using the service. RMK shall handle the complaint within one month.

9. Settlement of disputes

All disputes shall be settled by negotiation. If agreement cannot be reached by negotiations, the dispute shall be settled pursuant to the procedure prescribed by law.

10. Other notes

RMK shall not be liable to compensate damages or expenses resulting from natural conditions, such as e.g. mosquitoes, mice or unexpected weather changes.

11. Use and protection of customer data

RMK processes personal data in compliance with the European Union data protection regulation and accordingly to the valid Terms and Conditions of Data Protection in RMK.

A good spot for a lakeside summer family holiday where you can go swimming in the lake or walking in the forest, learn about Mustoja Landscape Protection Area with its largest and most prominent kames and eolian landforms with sand plains, Õrsava hiking trail and Seto Farm Museum.

On the Õrsava hiking trail.

• Furnished with a table, benches, refrigerators, a fireplace, a sauna, but no kitchen.
• There are campfire sites, a ball court, boat deck and dry toilets nearby.
• Guests must bring their own bedding. Drinking water from a natural freshwater spring.
• Firewood in shed 100 m from the hut. Water for the sauna must be brought from the lake.

The rental hut is not accessible by car, parking in the parking area for 5 cars about 100 m from the hut.

• Advance booking is required!
• Clean the rooms before leaving the rental hut.
• The object is equipped with firewood.
• Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

Persons under the age of 18 can book and use the rental hut only when accompanied by an adult. The hut is not available for use during winter.

Ilumetsa meteorite craters

Information cabin, boardwalk, parking area and dry toilet.

Parking for 4 to 5 cars.

Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

A view of the Meenikunno bog

Tower is on the Meenikunno hiking trail.

11 m high observation tower

Parking in Liipsaare parking area about 300 m from the tower.

Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

The observation tower is situated in the Meenikunno Nature Reserve. Further information can be obtained from the Environmental Board +372 662 5999, info@keskkonnaamet.ee

Väike and Suur Taevaskoda (outcrops), Ahja river, scenes of the film "The Last Relic", Võhandu river, Meenikunno bog, Mustoja Landscape Protection Area, Piusa caves.

Tent camping is possible at all the rest stops on this section, except for Liipsaare forest hut.

The trail is marked with signs and colour markings at turns, as well as with kilometer markers. The rest stops on the trail and distances:

• Kiidjärve Visitor centre-Sõnajala campfire site 0,5 km
• Sõnajala campfire site- Otteni campfire site 8 km
• Otteni campfire site-Peri campfire site 12 km
• Peri campfire site-Leevi campfire site 20 km
• Leevi campfire site-Liipsaare forest hut 14 km
• Liipsaare forest hut-Mustjärve campfire site 4,5 km
• Mustjärve campfire sit-Valgjärve campfire site 1,5 km
• Valgjärve campfire site-Rebasmäe forest hut 4,5 km
• Rebasmäe forest hut-Värska campfire site 20 km
• Värska campfire site-Poogandi campfire site 16 km
• Poogandi campfire site-Lõunalaagri campfire site 9 km
• Lõunalaagri campfire site-Piusa campfire site 15 km

In his section of the hiking route, non-potable water is not available near Liipsaare forest hut, and Lõunalaagri and Piusa campfire sites. Near Peri campfire site there is a small stream, which can be waterless in summer.

For long-term parking it is convenient to use the parking area at Kiidjärve Visitor Centre. In addition, parking is available in most campfire sites on this section of the hiking route.

Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

This section of the hiking route is in the territory of several protected areas, so visitors should have general knowledge of their protection rules. On the hiking route one should not forget that camping and making a fire is allowed only at places designated for those purposes.

The hiking route goes through the Ahja river valley, Lake Kuulmajärv, Meenikunno and Mustoja Landscape Protection Areas and the Piusa Caves Nature Reserve. Further information about restrictions can be obtained from the Environmental Board info@keskkonnaamet.ee, +372 662 5999.

Mustoja kame area, varied massive forests.

Tents can be used on the Värska, Lõunalaagri and Poogandi campfire sites.

43 km circular trail, with directing signs. There are 12 information boards on the trail, introducing the military history and the objects of cultural heritage in the area.

Parking area for 10 cars at Värska or Lõunalaagri campfire sites.

• The first part of the trail from Värska to Lõunalaagri campfire site is quite easy, while the second part back to Värska is more hilly and definitely requires a mountain bike.
• NB! Please have your ID document with you. This is a border zone.
• Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

The trail passes the Mustoja Landscape Protection Area. Further information can be obtained from the Environmental Board +372 662 5999, info@keskkonnaamet.ee

The campfire site is on the Lõunalaagri hiking trail, nearby Laskevälja cycling trail and RMK Peraküla-Aegviidu-Ähijärve Hiking Route.

Maximum number of tents (for 4) allowed is 4.

Fire ring with grill, firewood shelter, benches, dry toilet, table and benches with shelter.

Parking area for up to 30 cars by Matsuri-Sesniki Road.

Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

Badger area, pine forests, eskers, heath forests, traces of beaver activity.

Information boards and direction signs on the study trail.

At Ilumetsa rental hut for max 4 cars.

Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

The giant trees that stand quite close to one another are more than 200 years old. As of the beginning of the year 2016, the pine-tree is the tallest Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in the world. There are more than one hundred different pine species in the world. The Scots pine grows in Europe. In Estonia, the Scots pine is the only natural pine species and also the most frequently found tree in our forests. According to RMK forest specialists and researchers from the University of Life Sciences, one reason why so many record-high trees grow in one place in Põlva County is that the trees are on a hollow surface, partly on the slope, partly in the depression. This guarantees natural protection against strong wind and storms, and accumulation of rainwater and nutrients in the bottom of the hollow, so the trees have sufficient water and nutrient supply. Naturalist Hendrik Relve has named the trees in this area the Giants of Ootsipalu Valley.

The trees are marked with information boards.

Next to the road.

Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

Mustoja kame area, varied massive forests

The campfire site is on the Laskevälja cycling trail and RMK Peraküla-Aegviidu-Ähijärve Hiking Route.

Maximum number of tents (for 4) allowed is 4.

Fire ring with grill, firewood shelter, table and benches, dry toilet, information board

Water can be taken from the lake.

Parking for 2 cars.

Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct

The campfire site is situated in the Mustoja Landscape Protection Area. Further information can be obtained from the Environmental Board +372 662 5999, info@keskkonnaamet.ee

Piusa Cave Museum

The campfire site is on the RMK Peraküla-Aegviidu-Ähijärve Hiking Route.

Maximum number of tents (for 4) allowed is 4.

Outdoor fireplace, table and benches, firewood shelter, dry toilet.

No water available.

Parking area of Piusa Cave Museum.

Before going on a nature walk please read the rules of conduct