Kayaking trips in the Podkarpackie region

The borders of the Podkarpackie region are delineated by rivers and mountains. The Vistula in the north-west, passing by Baranów Sandomierski and Tarnobrzeg, separates the Podkarpackie and Świętokrzyskie provinces. The San, the second largest tributary of the Vistula, flows along the border between Poland and Ukraine, and then goes meandering through the Carpathian Foothills towards the Sandomierz Basin to join the Vistula. Kayaking and rafting trips are organised on these rivers and on their tributaries - the Osława, Wisłok, Wisłoka and many others. On the Internet you will find lots of options. The agencies organizing such events usually provide kayaks and transport so that participants can easily return to the starting point, where they have left their bicycle or car. This is an excellent leisure time activity for families, children and adults, so it is not surprising that more and more people choose to take kayaking trips. This way they can admire the varied landscapes of the Podkarpackie region.   

Especially the beautiful San river attracts many enthusiasts of water sports. You can start your kayaking trip in Zwierzyń, Sanok or Dynów and, after crossing the picturesque Przemyskie Foothills, you will reach the Przemyśl Fortress, then you can follow towards Jarosław and Leżajsk. Many years ago the San and Wisłok rivers marked the border between the Byzantine and the Roman cultures; this is where the East and the West met. Along the river, on both sides, you can see old tserkvas and castles, relics of wartime bunkers as well as the Museum of Rural Architecture in Sanok - the largest ethnographic exposition in Poland. One of the most popular kayaking routes begins on the San, near the open-air museum. From here trips are organized, e.g. to Dębno (ending with a picnic where you can try regional delicacies). A longer route will take you to Dynów, and along the way you can admire the beautiful scenery and catch a glimpse of black storks and grey herons. If you are lucky you may see roe deer crossing the river.

On the San, which is more than 450 km long, you can travel along the river sections with different levels of difficulty. On the mountainous fragments, there are rapids where the gradient of the riverbed is greater and the water flows faster, so the trip is more challenging. Kayakers must cope with the changing pace of the current all the way to Przemyśl; further downstream the river runs slowly towards the Vistula, passing by the town of Ulanów. This is the Polish capital of rafting. For several centuries, before railway transport took over, the rafters from Ulanów would float timber and potash northward to Gdańsk. The rafting traditions have been inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage, and they are preserved by the Rafting Brotherhood which organizes various attractions, such as trips by galar, a traditional Polish flat-bottomed boat. It is in Ulanów that the Tanew River flows into the San at the end of its westbound journey through beautiful areas along the edge of large forests. Those travelling on the Tanew can take a break at the camping sites in Łazory, Harasiuki and Sieraków.

Mountainous scenery can also be seen from the Wisłok, the left tributary of the San, 220 km long. The river starts in the Low Beskids, flows through the Bukowskie Foothills and the Sandomierz Basin, and joins the San in Głogowiec near Tryńcza, where a viewing platform has been built at the junction of the rivers. The most popular kayaking route goes from Krosno to Frysztak and further to Markuszowa, Strzyżów, Babica and Rzeszów. Tourists follow different routes, and there are some nice surprises, such as a free kayak rental in Wojkówka near Odrzykoń.

Many kayakers wait for the time when the water rises and set off towards the Wisłok Ravine near Rudawka Rymanowska, one of the most beautiful river gorges in the Polish Carpathians. The narrow, rocky riverbed is surrounded by cliffs and slopes, some 60 metres tall. Admiring them from the level of the river is a unique experience. Similarly, a trip along the Osława will be unforgettable - this beautiful mountain river, which flows into the San near Zagórz, is a real challenge for canoeists because of the natural rapids and the Kasandra cascade near Smolnik. Throughout its length, the river is accompanied by picturesque scenery and forests descending towards the water surface. With the right water level, kayaking along the Osława is a real pleasure.

Another river, the Wisłoka flows through the Low Beskids, the Jasło and Strzyżów Foothills, and the Sandomierz Basin towards the Vistula. Along its upper section, as far as Jasło, there are many small islands, rock walls and rocky beaches, but it is accessible to kayaks only for part of the year. For this reason, the route from Jasło to the artificial lake in Mokrzec near Pilzno is more popular. There are also easy routes, good for one day trips, between the towns of Pilzno, Dębica, Przecław, Mielec, and Gawłuszowice. From Gawłuszowice, the kayaking route leads all the way to the Vistula River, and reaches Baranów Sandomierski where you can see a beautiful castle.

Which rivers in the Podkarpackie should you choose to start your kayaking adventure? You can begin with the largest event on the San. Every year, the Podkarpackie Regional Tourist Organization holds the Canoeing Rally ‘Błękitny San’ along the most beautiful sections of the river. Hundreds of colourful kayaks have already travelled the route from Lesko to Temeszów, as well as from Temeszów to Krasiczyn and Przemyśl. The unforgettable adventure included the night at the foot of the hill with the Kmita Castle in Lesko, feasting in Temeszów, as well as the morning concerts of the bluebells and orioles with a view towards the Subcarpathian hills.