Knowledge base
Everything worth knowing before you push off from the bank. Reliable guides for kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders – on gear, safety, planning trips and other things that matter.
Poland has beautiful kayaking routes in every region: from the lakes of Masuria and the Suwałki region, through the forests of Pomerania, to the mountain rivers of the Carpathians. Below is a guide to the regions, with route descriptions and links to the map.
Read →On a SUP board you paddle standing up, propelling yourself with a single long paddle. You can of course also sit or kneel on it for comfort. The board fits in a rucksack, once inflated it carries an adult, and you pick up the first strokes in a quarter of an hour. Below is everything to get started – what gear to choose, how to stand and paddle, how to paddle safely and where in Poland the conditions are best.
Read →A trip of several days takes thorough preparation. There is somewhere to sleep, food for several days and luggage that has to be packed so it survives on the water, plus rules it is better to know in advance: where you are allowed to camp and light a fire, and where to get drinking water.
Read →A first kayak trip is not difficult, but it takes some preparation before you set off: matching the route to your group's skills or your own, clothing suited to the water temperature, and basic gear. On a calm, lowland river you will learn the basics of paddling in a few minutes.
Read →The best route is the one matched to your fitness and your needs. We point out what to pay particular attention to, so the trip goes well.
Read →Food on a trip needs to keep well, be full of energy and packed so it survives heat and a soaking. Drinking water is a separate matter – you don't just drink from a river or lake.
Read →On a kayak you dress for the water temperature, not the air – because if something goes wrong, the day is decided by how cold the water is, not how warm the sun is.
Read →A double moves faster than a single, but only when both people know what they are doing. Who steers, who sets the pace and how not to fall out on the water – one thing at a time.
Read →“Water level” sounds technical, but it reads more simply than you'd think – and it can save a trip from disappointment or trouble.
Read →A well-packed kayak has everything you need to hand and dry, with no needless ballast. Here is a list that works on most Polish rivers.
Read →A kayak is one of the gentler ways to be close to nature – provided you take the water seriously. A few rules worth knowing before you set off.
Read →A packraft is a light, foldable boat that fits in a rucksack – and a bikeraft is the same idea paired with a bike. They give access to water no ordinary trip can reach.
Read →A kayak is one of the cleanest ways to travel – no fumes, no noise. But even it leaves a trace if we're not careful. A few habits that let you leave the river as you found it.
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