Dunajec Wooden Rafting Tour
Top 10 information you need to know about Dunajec Wooden Rafting Tour
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Rafting on the Dunajec – 10 most important information
Dunajec Wooden Rafting Tour Price, Dunajec Wooden Rafting Tickets, Traditional Rafting on the Dunajec Route, Traditional Wooden Rafting on the Dunajec From where? Traditional Rafting where to leave the car? Queues on Traditional rafting how to avoid?You will learn all this and more from our article…
When you’re in the Pieniny, you must try Dunajec Wooden Rafting! This is the region’s biggest attraction, which is used by thousands of tourists every year. You just can’t miss it! The Dunajec gorge is beautiful landscapes, rich fauna and relaxing noise of the river… Does that sound good?? Therefore we’ve prepared 10 key most important information, that will definitely will be useful when you’re going traditional wooden rafting
Wooden Rafting on the Dunajec – 200 years of tradition
(Organized by the Polish Association of Pieniny Raftsmen)
Wooden rafting on the Dunajec is more than two hundred years of tradition, which attracts tourists from all over the world. The raftsman was the first pioneer of rafting on the Dunajec, farmers who dealt with with river transport . Farmers mainly transported trees, thanks to which the greatest attraction of the Pieniny developed. The first tourist rafting on the Dunajec River began in 1831, and their precursor was Józef Szalay, the creator of the Szczawnica health resort. Rafting on the Dunajec was organized from Sromowce Niżne and Czerwony Klasztor.
The tourist attraction consisted of horse-drawn carriage, a trip to the summit of the Three Crowns, then going to Wąwóz Szopczański and then to Sromowce Niżne and rafting on the Dunajec to Szczawnica. On the wooden rafts were cannons from which they were shot and could be heard very loudly at the Dunajec Gorge . In 1934, to avoid the conflict and disputes of the raftsman about tourists staying at the health resort, the Polish Association of Pieniński Rafters was created on the river Dunajec. It has contributed to a better organization of rafting and continues to this day.
The first wooden boats they were hollow from the trunk of the poplar, then joined into two, three and more stable four. Today, rafting boats are made of spruce boards with five elements connected by ropes. After each rafting, the wooden raft is disconnected, because then as it is easier to load it on trucks. When the cars reach the starting place, these elements are combined again. The whole process is quite fast. There are three rows on the raft, where 12 people and two raftman sit. At the front of the boat are spruce branches, which in addition to beautifying values are also a breakwater, so the waves don’t get on the boat. The raftman steers the raft using three-meter-long stiks poles, the so-called “sprysek”. Each the raft has its own number.
The number of rafts today allows rafting up to 5,000. tourists in one day!
Traditional rafting on the Dunajec wooden rafts and safety?
Traditional rafting on the Dunajec it’s absolutely safely. Until today there was no fatal accident since 1960r. The wooden raft is designed so that if 1 or 2 elements are pierced, the boat can still flow and don’t sink. In addition, 5 independent elements between which water flows affect the very high stability of the boat. The practice of raftmans also affects the safety of participants.
When Wooden Rafting on the Dunajec river season strarts?
Season of rafting on the Dunajec begin 1 of April and ends 31 of October.
Only for these few months we can go for trip trough the Dunajec Gorge, because it is later closed. Rafters go every day, and the free days are only on the first day of Easter and Corpus Christi.
Plan a trip to the mountains so that you don’t miss this attraction!
Wooden Rafting in Pieniny from where to where?
The first route on the Dunajec River:
Rafting start – Rafting on the Dunajec River Sromowce Kąty
End of Rafting on the Dunajec River – Szczawnica ul. Pienińska
Route length approx. 18 km, duration of rafting approx 2 hours 15min
Second route on the Dunajec:
Sromowce Kąty – Krościenko nad Dunajcem
Route length approx. 23 km, duration of rafting approx. 2 hours 45 min
(this route is less chosen)
We recommend option one because if you get wet during a tide, you can get straight into your car and take away. Otherwise, you have to take your clothes for disguise, which can be embarrassing, because there isn’t much space on the boat or, unfortunately, be aware of the fact that we will have to get to the car by bus in wet clothes.
Wooden Rafting on the Dunajec river in winter?
Rafting on the Dunajec river in winter isn’t organized, for reasons of nature protection. The Pieniny National Park prohibits rafting on the section of the Dunajec Gorge from November 1 to the end of March.
Traditional Dunajec River Rafting – queues?
Often, in the summer season or during a sunny weekend, the number of tourists wanting to go to the traditional rafting on the Dunajec is so large. Therefore that tourists queues get to stand from 1 to a few hours! We suggest choosing dates less popular by tourists during the week. For instance in spring or autumn. Above all in this way we will avoid nerves and we will be able to enjoy nature and silence.
Traditional Rafting and Children
There is no age limit for children. If your child is one or two years old and will sit for 2 hours staring at the landscape, you can easily go with him! And if you’re afraid for the safety of your toddler, you can always ask the raftsman for a waistcoat. Both traditional rafting on the Dunajec River and rafting with pontoons are safe, each participant is equipped with a waistcoat.
Rafting on the Dunajec and the weather?
Weather as we know it’s changing, above all especially in the mountains, where conditions change faster. Above all on summer days there will be quite noisy thunderstorms ? However relax, because in such weather Raftsman stops. When a finished the storm, we will keep going. It is important to dress adequately to the weather conditions. For instance, on warm and sunny days: light clothing, hat, sunglasses, sunblock, bottle of water. Similarly, on cold or rainy days, take with you: a rain jacket or a cape, warm clothing. We’ll be sitting for over 2 hours, so it’s better to wear more than enough.
Other Dunajec Rafting – Alternatives for the Active
If you are looking for physical activity in addition to natural and traditional values, be sure to consider the options: Kayaking on the Dunajec and Rafting on the Dunajec in the poontoon. You can buy a gift voucher for these attractions. Our kayak rental in Szczawnica has professional kayaks and pontoons as well as experienced staff of kayaking and rafting instructors.
The prices include the Entry Card to the Pieniny National Park.
Interesting facts about rafting on the Dunajec – do you know?
Who is the rafter?
Rafters, or helmsmen are associated primarily with typical highlanders, and the knowledge they have gained isn’t an easy way. First of all, not everyone is a rafter, because he must come from one of five Pieniński villages: Szczawnicy, Krościenka nad Dunajcem, Czorsztyna, Sromowiec Niżnych i Sromowiec Wyżnych. In addition, you need to complete a three-year internship with a rafting master. In addition he must pass the exam and go through all 3 years of apprenticeship. After that all to be he can to apply for the title of rafting master.
What about the Dunajec Rafting? Szczawnica!
And after the rafting we have a lot of attractions that Szczawnica offers us. From bikes, chairlift to Palenica, to walks on one of the longest promenades in Poland! Delicious dishes in local restaurants, traditional ice cream, and a huge green park in the heart of the city. In addition long walks in the historical places of the health resort. Certainly nobody will be bored!
