Services in Rahja

Customer Service and Guidance

  • There are information boards that present the natural features of the area on the beaching sites.
    • Konikarvo Fishing Harbour boasts an information shelter that provides a wide range of information on the natural features and history of the area, as well as on the outdoor recreational opportunities in the area.
    • There are information boards and maps in the boat harbours of the village of Mansikka, Kekolahti and Himankakylä in Himanka, as well as in the boat harbours of Puojiniemi and Keskuskari in Kalajoki.

Services Offered by Enterprises and Other Organisations in the Rahja Archipelago

Metsähallitus’ partners provide services in the area covered by the Rahja Archipelago. These partners have signed a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus and follow the principles of sustainable nature-based tourism in their operations in the area covered by the shore conservation programme.

Meals, Where to Buy and Prepare

Stores, Kiosks and Restaurants

Metsähallitus maintains the Alajoenkari and Kuusimällä lean-to shelters, as well as the Koivukari Open Wildernness Hut and Venekari Day Hut. You must bring firewood to the other lean-to shelters and campfire sites.

  • Alajoenkari Eastern shore, campfire site. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 22.6" lon: 23° 39' 56.2" ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7122386 E: 338070.
  • Alajoenkarin Western shore, lean-to shelter. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 4.8" lon: 23° 39' 40.3" ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7121847 E: 337827.
  • Iso-Putkikari, campfire site. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 53.7" lon: 23° 37' 31.1" ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7123451 E: 336165.
  • Kuusimällä, lean-to shelter. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 4.9'' lon: 23° 41' 2.6'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7123647, E: 339033.
  • Kuulamankarvot, campfire site. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 21.2'' lon: 23° 39' 32.5'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7124215, E: 337846.
  • Pikku-Putkikari, lean-to shelter. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 53.9'' lon: 23° 37' 31.1'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7123457, E: 336166.
  • Venekari Day Hut yard, campfire site. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 17.9'' lon: 23° 40' 1.5'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7124092, E: 338231.
  • Koivukari Open Wilderness yard, campfire site. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 26.1'' lon: 23° 38' 26.1'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7124414, E: 336959.

When a wildfire warning is in effect, the lighting of campfires is forbidden, even at the campfire sites.

Drinking water

You must bring drinking water with you.

Waste Management

There are no waste bins in the area, so visitors must take their litter away with them. Put biodegradable waste in a dry toilet or a composter, and you can use small amounts of clean paper and cardboard as kindling. You must take away all other waste with you. Read more about litter-free hiking.

Overnight Stays

Camping in Tents and Lean-to Shelters

Camping is allowed under everyman’s rights, except for the areas where landing is prohibited from 15 April to 31 July.

  • There is a lean-to shelter on Kuusimällä Island in the inner archipelago. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 4.9'' lon: 23° 41' 2.6'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7123647, E: 339033.
  • There are two lean-to shelters in the outer archipelago: at Pikku-Putkikari and on the western shore of Alajoenkari. Coordinates (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 53.9'' lon: 23° 37' 31.1'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7123457, E: 336166) ja (Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 4.8" lon: 23° 39' 40.3" ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7121847 E: 337827).

Lodging in the Surrounding Area

A large variety of accommodation is offered in Kalajoki. The closest accommodation services are available in the area of Kalajoki Sand Dunes (Kalajoen Hiekkasärkät): a number of hotels, a camping ground, a hostel, as well as enterprises that provide farm accommodation and rent out cabins. Further information is available on the Visit Kalajoki (visitkalajoki.fi).

Services for Boaters

Fareways

  • A marked small boat route runs in the Rahja archipelago. Its draught is one metre.
    • Along the route, you will find beaching sites with a campfire site, a firewood shed, a dry toilet and an information board.
  • There is an official route to the Konikarvo harbour, the draught of which is 3 metres.
  • In the Rahja archipelago, the easiest way to move around is by motorboat, rowboat and canoe.

Beaching Sites

  • The eastern shore of Alajoenkari, Laajakallio. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 22.6" lon: 23° 39' 56.2" ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7122386 E: 338070.
  • The western shore of Alajoenkari. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 4.8" lon: 23° 39' 40.3" ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7121847 E: 337827.
  • Iso Putkikari. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 53.7" lon: 23° 37' 31.1" ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7123451 E: 336165.
  • Pikku Putkikari. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 11' 53.9'' lon: 23° 37' 31.1'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7123457, E: 336166.
  • Kuusimällä. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 4.9'' lon: 23° 41' 2.6'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7123647, E: 339033.
  • Kuulamankarvot. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 21.2'' lon: 23° 39' 32.5'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7124215, E: 337846.
  • Venekari. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 17.9'' lon: 23° 40' 1.5'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7124092, E: 338231.
  • Koivukari. Coordinates Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 64° 12' 26.1'' lon: 23° 38' 26.1'' ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7124414, E: 336959.

Boat Harbours

The closest boat harbours are located at Puojiniemi (Kalajoki), at Konikarvo Fishing Harbour, at Keskuskari (close to the Sand Dunes), at Kitinkari Fishing Harbour (Himanka) and Keskikarvo (Vatunki).

In addition, there are many fishing harbours close to the area, along the coast.

Visitor Berths

  • Kalajoki Maakalla, 2,5 m fareway
  • Kalajoki Keskuskari (Hiekkasärkät Area), 2,5 m fareway
  • Himanka Pikku-Mansikka, 2,5 - 3 m fareway
  • Himanka Vatunki, 0,6 m fareway

Boat Ramps

  • Konikarvo Fishing Harbour
  • Keskuskari in Kalajoki Hiekkasärkät Area

Fuel Distribution

The closest points where boaters can buy fuel are located in the Ulkofantti service harbour in Raahe, as well as in the guest harbours of Ykspihlaja and Mustakari in Kokkola.

The closest service station on the mainland is ABC Hiekkasärkät, along Road no. 8 in Kalajoki.

Other Services in the Surrounding Area

The closest services provided by a municipal centre are available in the centre of Kalajoki (kalajoki.fi), at a distance of 12 km.

Information on the services provided by Kalajoki and on the local events is available on the Visit Kalajoki (visitkalajoki.fi).