KAYAK – POLAND For a week you glide over the tranquil Krutynia and the lakes that it connects. You spend the night in simple hostels, where your luggage will be waiting.
This tour brings you into close contact with Masuria, “the land of 1000 lakes” in northeastern Poland that was once part of Prussia. In the primeval forests live wisents (European bison), moose, wolves and other large mammals. Around 350 bird species have been observed in this sparsely populated area.
The 100-kilometer-long Krutynia is considered one of the most beautiful rivers that you can explore in Europe with a kayak. The local company Kayaki offers multi-day trips, including a one-week trip in the months of June, July and August. You paddle about 15 kilometers a day. The first day you get a short training, and the rest of the week there is an instructor and guide nearby. Along the way you can visit interesting places. You stay in hostels on the waterfront. Sometimes these are rustic cottages with outdoor toilets. Sometimes you sleep with 4 in a room. You can also opt for a tent.
Kajaki.pl (PL) rents kayaks on most rivers and lakes in northern Poland. Mariusz Panek and Tomasz Plitnik started on a small scale 30 years ago. Today their organization owns more than 300 kayaks and they organize trips. Website in Polish, German and English.
Prices 2019: check website. The price in 2018 was 1060 zlotys per person. That corresponded to around 260 euros or 230 pounds sterling.
Included: luggage transport to the next accommodation, the use of a 2-person kayak, accommodation in hostels, all meals, advice and assistance by a guide, return by minibus to the start
When: June July, August
Website: Krutynia the lux 2018-8 days – Sorkwity – Nowy Most
Access
Sorkwity, the starting place, can be reached by bus and train. The town is located 220 kilometers north of Warsaw and 660 kilometers east of Berlin. You can leave your car in a secure parking.
Map [Sorkwity 53.840701, 21.143062]
Photo: JolEnka