Authentic canoeing experience on the majestic Vltava river in the southern part of Czechia
The Vltava has been one of the most beautiful rivers for canoeing in Central Europe for decades. This makes the route from Lake Lipno to České Budějovice (Budweis) via the romantic Unesco city of Český Krumlov the most navigated route in Europe. And rightly so! A canoe trip on the Vltava offers, in addition to quiet, pleasant routes, also nice rapids and exciting weirs, which are navigated or transferred depending on the water level. For nature and culture lovers, there is a lot to do on this route.
The multi-day tours start in Vyšší Brod (or Rožmberk). Daily departure possible from Vyšší Brod to Český Krumlov, Zlatá Koruna or Boršov nad Vltavou.
See three most popular choices:
Below is a detailed program of the three-day self guided tour starting in Vyšší Brod and ending in Boršov nad Vltavou (69.3 km - 3-4 days). This is the most popular choice.
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Detailed map of the tour
Tour itinerary
Day 1: From Vyšší Brod to Na Pískárně campsite
Arrival in the town of Vyšší Brod (long version) or Rožmberk (short version). In the town of Vyšší Brod you can see a beautiful Gothic monastery from the 13th century before the canoe trip starts. Full of impressions of the medieval splendor, you will paddle on gently flowing water without many gears. Rožmberk Castle rises on a steep slope on the wooded route. On the way you can stop in the old village of Zátoň. A short walk through this village is worthwhile. Remains of the city wall have been preserved since the 13th century. Back on the water, you paddle for a few more hours to the Na Pískárně campsite. There you will moor. In the evening you can visit the town of Český Krumlov. It is an 8 km walk to the center.
- Overnight: camping Na Pískárně
- Distance: Long route: 21.32 km
- Distance: Short route: 13.4 km (from Rožmberk)
Day 2: From Český Krumlov to Zlatá Koruna
After a night’s sleep at the cozy campsite, you go back on the water. Today you will go to Český Krumlov again, but this time with your canoe. You now see all those buildings from a different perspective. You first paddle through many meanders in the wooded landscape. Don’t forget to greet the other canoeists! AHOI! A considerable distance further you arrive at a village that is also dominated by robust buildings: Zlatá Koruna. It is a village with a 13th century Cistercian monastery. You will have enough time to experience the atmosphere of this village, because you will spend the night at the campsite Zlatá Koruna.
- Overnight: camping in Zlatá Koruna
- Distance: 20.85 km
Day 3: From Zlatá Koruna to Boršov
Today you sail all day through the peaceful nature reserve Blanský les (Blanský forest), a sloping promontory of the Bohemian Forest. One of the most beautiful sights of this day, is the 14th century castle ruin Dívčí kámen. Not far from here is also a Celtic oppidum. On the site of a Celtic residence, only remnants of the stone walls can now be found. A few kilometers further up, there is another castle called Maškovec, but it is hardly visible anymore. The remains of this castle do offer a magnificent view of the river. You will moor at the campsite in the village of Boršov nad Vltavou.
- Overnight: none
- Distance: 16.75 km
We organize multi-day self guided canoe trips on the majestic Vltava!
What's included and excluded?
- Rental of the canoe and associated materials (paddles, waterproof tons / bag)
- Children younger than 15 years old will be supplied with life vest (obligatory)
- Digital Info package
- Insurance against damage is included in the rental price (insurance does not apply to theft, loss and damage involving intent such as an open fire, for example)
- Transport of the equipment back to the starting point (the rented material must be returned at the endpoints indicated by us)
- Emergency hotline
- Overnight stays: there are nice campsites located directly on the river. These campsites usually have standard facilities and a restaurant / cafeteria. There is also the possibility to rent a tent with a sleeping mat from us.
- Additional materials such as water shoes, neoprene suit, pump
- Full colour river guide with all necessary details on weirs, rapids and campsites
- There is the possibility to book luggage transport and the transfer of participants back to the starting point
- Car parking fee
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Accommodations
General travel information
travel information in preparation
A landscape of forests and fishponds with beautiful countryside, fairytale chateaux and rural farms.
South Bohemia is a dream paradise for holidays whether you decide to spend time sightseeing or relaxing. The countryside here offers endless possibilities for visiting places of natural beauty, but also has lots of historical monuments and great conditions for cycling and water sports. Include some charming historical cities into your programme, the most charming of which are Český Krumlov and the village of Holašovice; both places have been listed as UNESCO monuments! A great tip for romance is the neo-Gothic Hluboká Chateau, fans of sports and active holidaying are catered for at the Lipno Reservoir.
Source: https://www.visitczechrepublic.com/en-US/Destinations/South-Bohemia
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FAQ's
Welcome to the guide and map of organic producers – meaning organic farmers and organic food producers who sell their products directly to us, the end consumers. You will also find farms that offer agritourism, excursions and educational programs for schools.
The guide only lists registered organic entrepreneurs – farms, family farms, fruit growers, beekeepers, farm processors and producers who have an BIO certificate for their production and voluntarily pass an annual inspection so that we can assure customers that they are really farming and producing according to the rules of organic farming.
The directory has been compiled and managed by PRO-BIO LIGA with the aim of making it easier for you to buy organic quality home products directly from the yard or from the manufacturer throughout the Czech Republic.
This is certainly possible :-).
In the Czech Republic it is mandatory to have a muzzle with you for your dog and in some places it is mandatory that the dog actually has the muzzle on, such as in public transport. There is no extra charge for the dog in the canoe.
Any additional costs for the dog must be paid on site at the campsites.
No, in the Czech Republic they use the European type C and E, unlike here in the UK where they use type G. You will need to purchase a travel plug.
https://www.worldstandards.eu/nl/elektriciteit/soorten-stekkers/e/
Yes, this package is covered by the SGR guarantee.
As of February 1, 2021, SGR participants will charge a contribution of €5 per person per booking. Because you as a traveler undoubtedly want more information about this, we have prepared a number of frequently asked questions. All questions are answered on the SGR website.
More information about the SGR contribution: see the website of SGR
Trips put together with care and attention
You can compare booking a trip with a small-scale travel organization to buying a sandwich at a traditional bakery. You can bake a nice sandwich yourself, but that takes a lot of work and also a lot of time. And we don’t always have the time or inclination for that. You can also go to the supermarket and buy a nice sandwich. It is tasty, but not very special since it is mass produced. The supermarket also buys the ingredients in bulk, paying particular attention to price and less to sustainability and working conditions at the farmers who make the ingredients. To save time and get a really tasty sandwich, you can also go to a traditional bakery. This one specializes in sandwiches and will assure you of a special sandwich without it costing you a lot of work or time. The baker buys his ingredients locally and sustainably. That’s exactly how it is with one of VvKR’s travel specialists!
Unique travel
A travel organization that is a member of VvKR guarantees a personal approach and focuses on small-scale tourism. This makes all trips unique. In addition, the travel organizations have direct contact with the providers at the destination; hard-working accommodation owners, drivers, cooks and other locals who ensure a fantastic trip. Travel specialists affiliated with VvKR aim to make travel more sustainable. If they sell package tours, they are participants in a guarantee scheme that assures you as a consumer that you will receive a full refund of the prepaid travel money if the tour operator unexpectedly goes bankrupt. In addition, all travel organizations also have compulsory business liability insurance. This means that if something happens during the trip, you are not at risk. This allows you to enjoy your holiday completely carefree!
Tailor-made trips
Small-scale travel organizations are distinguished by their involvement and expertise and stand for a personal approach. Each trip can be completely customized. A big advantage of a nice and good contact with your travel specialist is that they immediately know who you are and you are not a number among many other customers, which makes your trip even more special!
Since a small-scale travel organization stands for one-on-one contact with both the customer and the suppliers on site, the service is also of high quality. If something goes wrong during your trip, the lines are short and your travel specialist will help you immediately.
A dream trip to special places
The biggest advantage of a small-scale travel organization is that they can offer those special places that you can’t get to at larger travel organizations. Small-scale travel organizations are born out of a great passion for that type of holiday or country. This of course ensures that they organize your dream trip with great pleasure, passion and specialization.
In short: the Czech Republic has a temperate continental climate. Compared to the summers in the UK, the summers in the Czech Republic are warmer and more stable.
Climate Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has a temperate continental climate. The temperate is mainly in the summers. They are warm, but not extreme. In the capital Prague, the average temperature in the middle of summer is 23°C. In winter it is cold. In January, the coldest month, the mercury rarely rises above zero. Because the ocean is fairly close, there is plenty of winter fun to be had in winter due to the moist, cold air. There are more than enough winter sports options in the Bohemian Forest and the Giant Mountains.
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/u2fkbqee7#?date=2023-02-13
In the Czech Republic there are about 200 charging points of Prazká Energetika A.S. (CEZ)
A handy app: https://chargemap.com/map
CEZ has a fairly extensive charging station network: https://www.elektromobilita.
You need the app to pay for CEZ: https://www.