Summary
These terms are binding on both parties once the customer has confirmed the booking by paying for the trip. Failure to comply with these terms may lead to the booking being cancelled. All prices include value added tax (13.5%). The prices and delivery terms applying to a booking made by the customer on the Suomen Retkimelonta website are in force from the moment of booking.
Booking
The contract is formed when the customer pays for the event.
Liability
- IMPORTANT NOTICE -
By paying for the trip you accept the following terms:
Suomen Retkimelonta is not liable for injuries, personal injury or damage to property occurring in connection with our trips, for breaches of rules, disturbances, harassment, annoyance, illness, delays, or for costs or damage arising from strikes, theft, force majeure, the failure of transport to arrive or depart on schedule, government restrictions or orders, or other problems outside our control.
The customer is not entitled to demand changes to the price after the booking has been made. Exceptions include, for example, a substantial shortening of the trip due to dangerous water conditions, wind, forest fires, road closures, natural conditions and/or other unexpected events not caused by the customer. If we are unable to offer a replacement trip or an altered route and have to cancel the departure entirely, you will be refunded the full price you paid for the trip. Refunds are limited to the amount actually paid to Suomen Retkimelonta.
Suomen Retkimelonta does, however, hold a valid liability insurance policy.
Responsibilities of the participant
A participant on a kayaking trip is responsible for choosing a trip that matches their abilities and interests. We are happy to discuss the trip and your options with you if you have any questions or concerns.
The participant is responsible for being in sufficiently good condition to complete the trip they have booked. The participant is also responsible for reading and being aware of the information about the trip that is sent to them before participation, for bringing appropriate clothing and equipment as described in the instructions, and for acting in a considerate and respectful manner towards other participants, including the guides. The participant is responsible for taking part in the safety briefing and paddling instruction given at the start of the trip and for listening to the instructions carefully.
The use of alcohol and drugs is strictly forbidden before and during trips.
A participant who has diabetes, is asthmatic, is severely allergic, takes daily prescription medication, or has other serious illnesses must inform their guide of this when making the booking. Participants must also inform their guide of any medical history that could become a problem while paddling on the trip. Persons who have had heart problems or other potentially serious illnesses, or who are pregnant, must consult a doctor before setting out on a kayaking trip. Persons who suffer from severe epilepsy or severe heart disease, or from another serious illness, cannot take part in a kayaking trip.
The participant must be able to get into and out of the kayak independently. The participant should take their physical limitations into account; the foot room and seat width of a kayak are limited. The kayaks are, however, suitable and adjustable even for people of small stature, such as children.
Damage and conduct
If you cause damage or vandalism to the property of Suomen Retkimelonta or of others during the trip, you are financially liable for compensating the damage you have caused. You must behave responsibly in nature; littering (including cigarette butts), causing damage, vandalism and disturbing the peace of nature, such as disturbing nesting birds, are strictly forbidden. We are committed to following the principles of sustainable nature tourism set out by Metsähallitus (the state forestry enterprise). We take this into account in everything we do. We guide our customers to act with respect for nature. Read more about outdoor etiquette.
We require participants to listen carefully to the safety instructions and to take other paddlers, marine traffic and wildlife into account while paddling. We aim to keep our group together and we expect appropriate behaviour from every participant that does not endanger themselves or others. We hope that everyone behaves properly and respectfully, giving all participants the chance to enjoy a pleasant and relaxing trip.
We have a 0 % policy on intoxication from drugs and alcohol. The use of any kind of alcoholic drink or drugs is strictly forbidden before or during a kayaking trip! Participants who are already under the influence of alcohol or drugs may not take part in the trip and will be removed from the group. Please also note that the use of intoxicants at sea may endanger not only the user but also the other people in the group, and make the trip unpleasant for the others. Read more on the Viisaasti Vesillä website.
Safety and insurance
Sea kayaking always involves risk factors, and we strongly recommend that participants take out personal accident insurance. Suomen Retkimelonta is not liable for compensating costs arising from accidents.
Weather
Weather conditions; kayaking trips are only run in suitable weather. A kayaking trip is cancelled if the wind exceeds 6 m/s. In strong winds or heavy rain we move the trip to another time. If we have to cancel the trip entirely, you will receive a full refund of the trip you paid for. Cancellations are announced immediately by email and text message, once they are certain on the basis of the weather forecasts.
Changes made by us
Unfortunately we sometimes have to make changes, usually due to circumstances beyond our control. If this happens, we will offer those who booked the trip an alternative date. If we have to cancel the trip entirely, or if none of the dates we propose suits the person who booked the trip, we will pay a full refund of the trip you paid for. We will inform participants immediately by email and text message.
Changes made by the participant
A trip may be cancelled without cancellation fees 48 hours before the agreed date. In the event of cancellation we will refund your trip in full, 100 %. We charge 60 € if you wish to change the date or the type of trip. Please note that you may not necessarily obtain a new booking, depending on how full the trips are and on the schedules.
Cancelling a booking
A cancellation of a booking can only be accepted if it has been received by email. Please note that when you have booked a trip with us, it means that we have reserved time in our schedule for you. If you cancel the booking less than 48 hours before its scheduled starting time, you will be charged a cancellation fee of 50 % of the price of the trip. To avoid the cancellation fee, give notice of cancellation at least 48 hours before the booked time. Cancellations sent to info@retkimelonta.fi earlier than 48 hours before the booked time are processed without cancellation costs. If the trip is cancelled less than 24 hours before the trip, the payment is not refunded.
Feedback
If you encounter problems during your trip, we ask you to raise the matter with the guide immediately during the trip, so that they can resolve any problems straight away. If the matter cannot be resolved during the trip, we ask you to contact us by email at info@retkimelonta.fi within 7 days of the end of the trip. We will investigate the matter in order to resolve the problem. Please be patient and allow us a week for this; we are usually much faster than that! We want to hear what you thought of our trip, so you can also leave feedback directly on our site using the feedback form on the Contact tab.
Photography
We respect the privacy of the participants and of our guides. Participants who have decided to bring a camera may publish pictures of the guides and of other participants only with their consent. We ourselves publish photographs and videos for commercial purposes only with the permission of those appearing in the videos and photographs. We do not recommend bringing a drone on the trip for safety reasons. Read more about drones.
Other information
All information you give us is private and remains so. Please note that the participant is responsible for being aware of these terms.
If you have any questions, please contact us.