Active May weekend – 1-day kayaking trips

Grab a paddle and enjoy your May weekend in Augustów.

May weekend with paddle in your hand and full of joy

Wouldn’t you love to find a quiet oasis far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? Pack your suitcase and escape to Augustów to enjoy the mystery of wild and relaxing nature.

Feel the first sun’s rays and watch it come to life after a long and cold winter.
We invite you for a few hours of canoeing trips: Czarna Hańcza, Kanał Augustowski, Rospuda, Marycha, Biebrza. Jump in your kayak and let yourself be carried away by the current

As an organizer, we ensure that, out of concern for the safety of our guests, we’ve adapted to the principles aimed at minimizing the risk of coronavirus infection. We wish you Happy Boating, auspicious winds! We urge you to keep all necessary safety instructions.

After a long period of staying at home, we invite you to the most beautiful kayaking routes: Czarna Hańcza, Augustów Canal, Rospuda, Biebrza, Marycha.

Do not hesitate! Jump in a kayak and get carried away…

Life is simple, just add water 😉

Registration open every day, till 3 PM – you can book your kayaks even one day before the trip –  +48 601 146 703 or szot@szot.pl
Starting and ending point is at SZOT Base in Augustów, ul. Konwaliowa 2.
Before we start the tour, a short briefing will be provided (organizational and safety issues; kayaking instructions).

Parking lot during the kayaking tour – free.

Program

April 29th 2023 – Saturday

1. Czarna Hańcza – easy

Route: Wysoki Most – Frącki    /12 km

10.00 AM – meeting in SZOT Base in w Augustów; formality, short briefing

10.30 AM – departure to the start point – Wysoki Most

A charming and gentle section of the river, at the beginning with high, steep, forested banks. The current is deliberate, safe, the river in many places is shallow, crystal clear water. On the route there are frequent bends, bifurcations and backwaters overgrown with reeds. The river is moderately wide, covered with numerous lush water plants. We start the trip in the Wigry National Park, through which we kayak about 2,5 km. Then we pass a few small villages and Majorca on the Czarna Hańcza river with a small gastronomy. Beautiful views, convenient places to stop and swim in the river. On the route, you can meet locals selling delicious local blueberry buns on the river bank. You must try it, it tastes great on a kayak!

Duration: approx. 3 hours of kayaking.

03.00 PM – pickup from Frącki and return transport to Augustów.

April 30th 2023 – Sunday

May 1st 2023 – Monday

1. Marycha

Route: Zelwa – Stanowisko   /20 km

8.30 AM – meeting in SZOT Base in Augustów; formality, a short briefing.

9.00 AM – transportation to the kayaking starting point – Zelwa

Beautiful, wild and meandering river. It starts in the area of Kukle forest preserve, and then runs along the border area of Poland and Lithuania. On the route there are many natural obstacles in form of fallen trees. As an additional attraction, sometimes it is necessary to get out of the kayak and push or move it over the obstacle. The ending point is located 2 km from the place where three borders meet: Polish, Lithuanian, and Belorussian.

Duration of kayaking: approx. 5 hours

3.30 PM – pickup from Stanowisko and return transport to Augustów.

PRICE

112 PLN / person in 2- or 3-person polyethylene kayak

107 PLN / person in a tandem laminate kayak COMFORT

130 PLN / person in a single polyethylene kayak CAROLINA

95 PLN / child under the age of 12 in 2- or 3-person kayak

80 PLN /child under the age of approx. 4 as a third person in a tandem kayak VISTA on an add-in kids seat

May 2th 2022 – Tuesday

1. Rospuda – for adventure seekers

Route: Małe Raczki – Święte Miejsce /15 km

8.00 AM – meeting in SZOT Base in w Augustów; formality, short briefing

8.30 AM – departure to the start point – Małe Raczki

Along the river there are sections with sharp curves, fallen trees and large boulders, but there are also calmer ones, where the river is mild and free of obstacles. On the route there is a food bar “Chodorki”. On the route there are two unique spots to visit: the ruins of Pac Palace in Dowspuda, and Święte Miejsce nature reserve – cultural and religious site.

Duration: approx. 4 hours of kayaking.

02.30 PM – pickup from Święte Miejsce (Holy Place) and return transport to Augustów.

PRICE

87 PLN / person in 2- or 3-person polyethylene kayak 

105 PLN / person in a single polyethylene kayak CAROLINA

70 PLN / child under the age of 12 in 2- or 3-person kayak

55 PLN /child under the age of approx. 4 as a third person in a tandem kayak VISTA on an add-in kids seat

Attention: Rospuda in spring it is more difficult than in summer. We recommend the canoeing trip to more experienced canoeists. In summer, the trail is open to everyone. LOW WATER LEVEL.

2. Czarna Hańcza and Augustów Canal – long meanders

Route: Okółek – Mikaszówka /17 km

8.30 AM – meeting in SZOT Base in w Augustów; formality, short briefing

9.00 AM – departure to the start point – Okółek

At the very beginning of this route, the current is slow, and riverbanks are covered with tall reeds. Then, we reach “the heart” of Augustów Primeval Forest, where the Czarna Hańcza river runs through deep corners of forested swamplands. Then, the river narrows and strongly meanders. The last two kilometers we kayak through Augustów Canal regulated by historic, manually operated locks (must-see!). In Mikaszówka there is an old wooden church built in the traditional architectural style, a perfect match for the wilderness of old-growth forests.

Duration: approx. 5 hours of kayaking.

04.30 PM – pickup from Mikaszówka and return transport to Augustów.

PRICE

87 PLN / person in 2- or 3-person polyethylene kayak

82 PLN / person in a tandem laminate kayak COMFORT

105 PLN / person in a single polyethylene kayak CAROLINA

70 PLN / child under the age of 12 in 2- or 3-person kayak

55 PLN /child under the age of approx. 4 as a third person in a tandem kayak VISTA on an add-in kids seat

May 3th 2023 – Wednesday

1. Czarna Hańcza – easy

Route: Wysoki Most – Frącki    /12 km

10.00 AM – meeting in SZOT Base in w Augustów; formality, short briefing

10.30 AM – departure to the start point – Wysoki Most

A charming and gentle section of the river, at the beginning with high, steep, forested banks. The current is deliberate, safe, the river in many places is shallow, crystal clear water. On the route there are frequent bends, bifurcations and backwaters overgrown with reeds. The river is moderately wide, covered with numerous lush water plants. We start the trip in the Wigry National Park, through which we kayak about 2,5 km. Then we pass a few small villages and Majorca on the Czarna Hańcza river with a small gastronomy. Beautiful views, convenient places to stop and swim in the river. On the route, you can meet locals selling delicious local blueberry buns on the river bank. You must try it, it tastes great on a kayak!

Duration: approx. 3 hours of kayaking.

03.00 PM – pickup from Frącki and return transport to Augustów.

PRICE

87 PLN / person in 2- or 3-person polyethylene kayak

82 PLN / person in a tandem laminate kayak COMFORT

105 PLN / person in a single polyethylene kayak CAROLINA

70 PLN / child under the age of 12 in 2- or 3-person kayak

55 PLN /child under the age of approx. 4 as a third person in a tandem kayak VISTA on an add-in kids seat

Price includes

• seat in a kayak with paddling gear: Dr Kayak paddle, life vest, soft seat
• transportation of people and kayaks from SZOT Base to the starting place
• return transport from the end point (in accordance with the program) to SZOT Base
• short briefing before kayaking

Place at the parking area in SZOT Base in Augustów (availability limited) – for free.

Paid separately

• locks on Augustów Canal (1 on the route) – 4,70 PLN/per kayak/per lock
• dog’s / cat’s transportation fee – 20 PLN or in the case of a large pet requiring more space on the car floor – 45 PLN. Some buses do not have a lot of space between the seats. One has to have regard to other passengers’ comfort traveling in one transport. We DO NOT TRANSPORT dogs and cats in car seats. We DO NOT RENT life vests and seats for pets. Pets CANNOT kayak in polyethylene kayaks on soft seats.
• accident insurance (sum insured PLN 20,000) – 2 PLN / person / day. It is possible to buy insurance no later than 1 day before the trip.
• renting a waterproof bag (55l) or barrel (3,5l, 10,4l) – 7 PLN /trip (+deposit of 50 PLN)
• renting a sprayskirt – 3 PLN /trip (only for kayaks: CRUISER II, HORIZON, CAROLINA)
• available to purchase in the SZOT office: maps, waterproof phone cases, sun hats and raincoats

You are welcomed after the kayaking trip to the Villa Skomanda restaurant for lunch with a kayaker discount!

Additional information

• Registration open every day, till 3 PM – you can book your kayaks even one day before the trip – +48 601 146 703 or szot@szot.pl
• Before starting the tour, a short briefing will be provided, organizational and safety issues; kayaking instructions.
• Attention! Participation in a one-day kayaking trip takes place at the participants’ own risk, in accordance with the regulations of one-day kayaking trips. Trip members must be in an appropriate state of health, which allows to participate in a kayaking trip. Kids and teenagers can take part in a kayaking trip only under supervision of their parents or legal age guardians.
• During the summer season, one-day kayaking trips take place every day. The number of places is limited. In the out of season, depending on interest. We organize kayaking trips all year round.
• For families with children up to 9, we offer 3-person kayaks CRUISER III
• For 3 adults, we offer 3-person FAMILY or TERCET kayaks
• For beginners and those who haven’t kayaked yet, we recommend easy and short routes, eg. Czarna Hańcza – easy (Wysoki Most – Frącki).
• We also offer individual organization of a one-day kayaking trip or organized option – with the guidance of a kayaking instructor or  lifeguard. Please contact us by phone or email.
• We suggest you to take:
  • drinks and lunch box for the road, there are bars or shops not everywhere,
  • sun hat,
  • lighweight hiking shoes,
  • swimsuit for lovers of splashing in the water and a change of clothes is necessary. ATTENTION! dry clothes are required for transport by bus / coach!
  • fingerless gloves (e.g. cycling gloves), if you want to squeeze the paddle bar too tight,
  • a jacket or raincoat with a hood,
  • and of course, a GOOD MOOD! 😉

We are a licenced touroperator listed in the Central Register of Tourism Organizers No. 17/00/04 issued by the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship and the Insurance Guarantee of the Insurance and Reinsurance Company UNIQA.

We invite you to an active holiday and a one-day kayaking trip in May!😉