Services in Punkaharju Nature Reserve

Customer Service and Guidance

• More information on hiking possibilities and nature in the area is available in
Oskari - Linnansaari Visitor Centre in Rantasalmi.
• versatile information on hiking and guided tours of the visitor centre.
• sale of maps.
• In Savonlinna visitors can come to
Nestori Customer Service Point, which is housed at the Savonlinna Provincial Museum.
• Boards in the terrain have text in Finnish and English. The central information boards have basic information additionally in Swedish, German and Russian.
• Information boards are situation in Laukansaari in the research park’s parking area, at the parking area located north end of the esker top road, at Lusto railroad station, at Harjutie kiosk at Kruunupuisto Rehabilitation Centre and at Kaarnaniemi boat pier.

Services Offered by Enterprises and Organisations in the Nature Reserve

• Enterprises and organisations offering services in the nature reserve
  • They have a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus and they follow the principles of sustainable nature tourism when operating in the nature reserve.

Meals, Where to Buy and Prepare

Cafés, Restaurants and Kiosk

Several enterprises and organisations Metsähallitus works in cooperation with offer cafe, kiosk and restaurant services near the nature reserve.

Shops

During summer the closest shop is located at Harjun Portti on the west shore of Tuunaansalmi Sound in the village of Tuunaansaari. There are several shops in the municipal centre of Punkaharju which is about 5 km from the esker area.

Campfire Site

Karjalankallio campfire site is situated on the north shore of Laukansaari. Larger groups (over 10 persons) should make a reservation in advance (www.harjureitit.net, in Finnish), before using the campfire site, but otherwise the spot is in public use. Lighting fires is forbidden in any other part of the nature reserve.

Drinking Water

• Surface waters, the water in lakes, rivers and streams, should to boiled for several minutes before drinking, as the quality of water can vary depending in the place and air temperature.
• Look at the tips for outdoors drinking water in Hiking in Finland -pages.

Waste Management

• There are no waste bins at the nature reserve’s service structures and visitors must bring their own waste out of the area and take it to waste or recycling points.
• Read more about hiking without littering.

Toilets

• There is a public toilet at the kiosk at Harjutie road.
• There is a dry toilet at the Karjalankallio campfire site.

Overnight stays

• Camping in Punkaharju Esker Nature Reserve is forbidden.

Lodging in the Surrounding Area

• There are numerous lodging options available in the surrounding area. See the cooperation partners. For more information contact the municipality of Punkaharju (www.punkaharju.fi, in Finnish) or the Savonlinna Travel (www.savonlinna.travel.fi).

Services for the Disabled

• Trails in the nature reserve which can be travelled by wheelchair, with the help of an assistant, are Montelli Trail and the Tree Species Trail.
• There is a toilet equipped with a wheelchair ramp at the kiosk at Harjutie road.

Services for Boaters

• There are two boat piers at Punkaharju, both at Tuunaansalmi Sound. The Hotel Valtionhotelli pier is on the east side of the sound and the Tuunaansaari pier is on its west side.
• There are guest boat spaces and a fuelling point in Harjun Portti at Tuunaansalmi Sound, see
cooperation partners.
• There is a boat pier at Cape Mustaniemi.

Other Services in the Surrounding Area

• More information on Punkaharju (www.punkaharju.fi, in Finnish).