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The Krutynia River Canoe Tour is one of the most beautiful canoeing routes not only in Poland, but also in Europe. Without a doubt, a very refreshing plan!
Krutynia on our route through Poland
What to keep in mind?
On your trip to Poland you must kayak down the Krutynia River. You will not forget it!
If you are looking to kayak in Poland this is the ideal place, more than 110 km of descent down an unforgettable river.
For us it was one of the activities that we liked the most of the whole trip. If today you ask my children what they liked the most about Poland, they will tell you 3 things and one of them is this descent down the Krutynia river in Poland by kayak, and that the day we did it, it rained on us and I sparkle for almost the entire route!
Without a doubt we love adventure!
What to see and do on the Krutynia river
Kayaking down the Krutynia River is quite an experience. The river constantly changes its character. The swift, shallow stream that runs through the Pisz Forest turns into a lovely, tranquil lowland river over time, snaking through thickets full of waterfowl.
Access and starting point of the descent of the Krutynia
The Krutynia River runs through the lake region in Poland. The point of ideal access to start this activity is the town of Krutyn, the first municipality after the source of the Krutynia that comes out of a large lake forming the Krutynia reserve and then flowing downward.
Krutyn you will see that it is a small town full of lodgings and kayak and canoe rental companies. That's where we come from.
In the picturesque lakes, and there are several of them, you can enjoy the wind and waves. It takes about 9 days to cover the entire 116-kilometer route of the Krutynia River. There are riverside hostels available (located approximately every 13 km, that is, at the end of each daily stage and relaxing from the canoe trip), holiday resorts, agritourism farms, guesthouses, even some hotels and plenty of great campervan sites. Also, if you go by motorhome or camper, don't worry, the same people who rent the kayak come to pick you up and take you to the starting point.
Rent a kayak in Krutynia
We park the motorhome in a parking lot on the main road of Krutynia and we rented two kayaks out of two at the Stanica Wodna PTTK bungalow hotel. This place was recommended to us by tourism, it is touching the river and has a restaurant bar with views that is super nice with swans and ducks and games for the children.
It is rented by kilometers what do you want to travel and When you finish the kilometers you must call them by phone and they come to pick you up in a van. The price It is from about 12 € uros the kayak of 2 to 3 km.
The ideal for a family day with children is 3 km or 6 km. After 6 km the river told us that it stops being so calm.
You should also know that after 3 km you will have to take the kayak out of the river, since there is a dam, and drag it 100 meters (or hire one of those who have carts there to take them for a small fee) to rejoin the river.
And eating right there ... in an idyllic place ...
In fact we liked the place so much that we ate there. We ate really excellent. The fish soup was exquisite (which is not at all how you can imagine it… nothing strong and brutal in goodness) and the deer burger that they served us (the deer we learned later) was very good. For the children breaded chicken with fries. And for the post… a brutal apple pie served hot and with ice cream that buff I still salivate for one just the same lol
The real place that is incredible to hang out and eat. We loved it, one of the best places we have eaten in Poland, with beautiful views of the river and its swans. The girl at the reception also speaks good English. To rent the kayaks and book in the restaurant go to the direct reception, that is where they will attend you.
The water! The stages of the descent down the Krutynia
The activity of kayak, canoe or little boat led by a boatman in the Krutynia is an offer of various types of canoeing (several hours, weekend, several days, etc.). Remember, regardless of the type of kayak you choose, you can choose the sections you want to navigate on this highly diversified route, it adapts to everyone. There are short routes of 3 kilometers and over calm waters up to more than 100 km.
We tell you that the Krutynia in its initial section, due to its safe and very quiet nature, is even ideal for beginner canoeists and kayaking with young children.
Krutynia is considered one of the most beautiful lowland routes in Europe. It is very interesting and diverse, it goes through the Pisz forest, and from J. Mokre also through the Masurian Landscape Park.
It is not uncommon to find a white-tailed eagle or a golden eagle on the road. It is worth paying attention to the sponges and red algae that form on the stones. Surely you have not seen anything like it!
The banks of the trail are covered with magnificent oaks and tall pines, from which the masts of sailboats were once made. Kayaking trips on the Krutynia River usually start in Sorkwity. Navigating Sorkwity, the Evangelical church built around 1470 and the Von Mirbach family's Neo-Gothic palace built in 1850 are worth seeing.
The first stage
The first stage of the canoe trip on the Krutynia River passes through J.Lampackie, J.Lampasz and the shallow and very quiet section of Krutynia called Sobiepanka to the Stanica water located on Lake Białe in Bieńki.
This stage is only 3 km long, ideal for beginners or if you go with small children like us. It ends up in a dam, so the river does not continue and everyone has to get their kayak out of the water whether or not it continues. If you want to continue you have to drag it about 200 meters. If you go with children this can be complicated, but luckily there are people right there with some cars that for a small price will take you the kayaks those 100 meters.
The next stages
The next sections of Krutynia allow you to enjoy the surrounding nature and give you the opportunity to live an experience as a survivor, since there is the possibility of spending the night on a desert island.
Also, during your trip to Krutynia, you can admire the Royal Pine Reserve with the Karol Małłek oak, about 500 years old, and the Masurian pine, the oldest tree of this species in the Lake District.
Ah! Adam Szubsk's Farmi is an incredible attraction in Zgon, where life-size sculptures are very colorful, even variegated, await you along the way. It is an image of animated people with their daily activities.
Remember that the Zakręt reserve deserves attention, with lakes and Floating Islands. The J.Krutyńskie - Ukta - section is considered the most beautiful on the Krutynia river route, as evidenced by the numerous trips of foreign tourists that pass through the section.
On the way from Krutynia to Ukta, you can visit the Filipon Monastery in Wojnowo, where you can see icons and crosses. In the city of Ukta you will find other attractions: the possibility of excursions on foot or by bicycle to the Wild Animal Park in Kadziłłów (more than 30 species of animals, among them: elk, bison, beaver, lynx, wolves) or to the forest lodge Pranie.
Did you know that everyone who has traveled the canoe trail on the Krutynia River says that the lowland crossing is one of the most beautiful and interesting in Europe?
Not to be missed!
Where to park and spend the night in Krutyn by motorhome: let's go to the best campsite in Poland
In Krutyn to rent and do the Kayak activity you can park in the parking lot that you will find shared by different kayak companies to the right of the main entrance street of Krutyn.
For the night we prefer to go to one of the best campsites in Poland, which we saw was not far away and on the way to the skansen that we wanted to go to see the next day. The campground had a private beach on a lake and lots of activities for the kids, we thought it was great. The price did not reach 25 euros per night for the 4, the motorhome and the dog and has prizes as the best camping in Poland.
Camping Tumiany, the best in Poland according to the federation of campsites of Poland
It's called camping Tumiany. The truth is that it was great especially for children with a circuit of tricycles, boats, there are also kayaks to rent for 5 euros and pedal boats, the beach of the lake where we bathe...
A paradise that was more like the Spanish coastal campsites than the ones we were used to in Poland, always more familiar and peaceful. The kids loved it.
To access the campsite you have to do it by a 3 km dirt road and better ignore the GPS. When exiting the highway at the roundabout, pay attention to the sign that says Camping 3 km away, pull over there.
Plan and organize your trip to Poland by motorhome in 6 clicks
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- Find and book activities at destination
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- Buy what is necessary and useful for this trip by motorhome or camper: list of 50 useful things that we carry in our motorhome
To finish ... Useful travel guide to Poland by motorhome
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I wonder if sailing on the river from KRUTYN is only by KAYAK of maybe we can rend a boat and someone who can lead us in the river
Hi Amnon, just Kayak 🙂