A large selection of kayak routes that offers Polish landscape encourages you to go on a canoeing. Below you will find the most beautiful routes that you will meet in Malopolska.
The Dunajec River with a length of 247 km is a mountain river which while we flowing by it, we can see the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Dunajec is flowing, among others, through the picturesque Pieniny and Beskid Sądecki, so that’s why it is an ideal option to start your adventure with kayaking.
Kayaking on the Dunajec it isn’t only attraction for the body, but also for the eye. Sailing on the river, we can admire the charms of the so-called Pieniński Limestone, surrounding the Three Crowns massifs that cut across the Dunajec River, and rich flora and fauna of the gorge.
Kayaking down the Pieniński National Park takes place along a 14 km route from Sromowce Nizne to Szczawnica. It’s a picturesque route with a length of 14 km with a difficulty of 1 WW (easy) on a 6-point scale (WW6), which can be overcome in 2.5 – 4 hours.
The first few kilometers the river flows slowly, the riverbed is wide and easy to cross. After about 4 km we arrive to the country Kąty, thennce traditional rafting boat are starting. They are not able to make a quick turn, so we must be careful and stay away from the boat – this is a priority. The route itself is not demanding. Remember to always swim in the main current of river, and in the rapids where the water flows is faster then you have to paddle and hold the kayak’s bow, we never stand sideways to the wave.
But this isn’t the end, we can flow further.
The route beyond Szczawnica cannot be compared with the view in George. However, it make your heart beat faster more than once. In terms of intensity, this roure may appeal to more than one amateur of stronger sensations.
After a few kilometers in Krościenko on the Dunajec, the first rapids are waiting for us (canoe track – we will recognize it by the suspended gates). Here, if someone has less experience or if someone are floating on an open kayak without a cockpit with low sides, this may cause overturn the kayak. This place can be crossed on the right side of the river. After another 200 meters, we have another rapids that must be beaten through the middle. Another few kilometers the river flows along the steep slopes of the Beskid Sądecki, by so-called Tylmanowa’s Gorge. On the way we are passing several islets and buildings.
About 2 km before the end, we are dealing with other rapids that are not difficult. Just before the end on the left side of the river we will see a small sluice, and this is a sign that we have reached the end of the kayak track. You have to be very careful and not to reach the airlock. You can also swim on the right side of the river, where it is quite rocky with a length of about 200 meters. After passing it, you get off on the left side in Camping Wietrznice. The route is 17 km long, the journey takes about 3 hours.
Are you interested in what impressions you will experience flowing further ?
The section stretching among the Beskid Sądecki range is a beautiful culmination of the route from Sromowce Niżne to Stary Sącz.
This is the one of the best when it comes to difficulty. It is a 25 km recreation trail that can be covered in 3-4 hours. If you are looking for a stronger experience, this is the perfect solution for you. At some moments you can meet the rapids in the WWII scale of difficulty! There are also places where you should stop and carefully analyzing the flow route.
Rafting on the Dunajec isn’t extreme, but this picturesque route it proposes is an ideal idea for spending free time. It’s an ideal place for amateurs who start their adventure with canoeing. I think that once you get into a kayak and grab a paddle … it will be difficult for you to get out of it 🙂 For sure you will come back with more memories of these beautiful landscapes that you will pass by flowing from Sromowce Niżnych to Stary Sącz.
If you’re still wondering where to go kayaking – it’s worth going on the Dunajec River!
Our rentals: Dunajec kayaks rental and Dunajec rafting.