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vjmehra · 11-03-2013, 13:37

Has anyone ever tried navigating the Vistula river in Poland (in particular Krakow to the source)?

I know you can get pretty far inland, unless I'm very much mistaken, at least as far down as Krakow, but can you go much further?

Also, some of the scenery in the mountains looks amazing, are any of the tributaries navigable at all?

Richard_W · 11-03-2013, 13:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjmehra

I know you can get pretty far inland, unless I'm very much mistaken, at least as far down as Krakow, but can you go much further?

I don't think much more ... the Tatra Mountains (part of Carpathian Mountains) are just south of Krakow ... unless you are after white water rafting up the creek ...

vjmehra · 11-03-2013, 13:47

Actually, you say that....

Dunajec (rafting facilities)

It does look pretty cool!

Infact I may well try it next time I'm over in May...

But longer term I'd love to do some river cruising around the area if possible...

Richard_W · 11-03-2013, 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjmehra

Actually, you say that....

Dunajec (rafting facilities)

It does look pretty cool!

Infact I may well try it next time I'm over in May...

If you do, take a ride on a traditional wooden raft ... they are operated by local mountain people, a bit of time gone by.

Don't miss "oscypek", a traditional smoked lamb cheese ... goes well with beer (see pic above).

vjmehra · 11-03-2013, 14:01

Ah yes found the website I was looking for earlier, these are the guys you mean I think:

http://vimeo.com/4525299

The scenery looks amazing!

Richard_W · 11-03-2013, 14:04

Yup, that is it ...

Here you will find some more places you can visit while in Krakow:
http://www.staypoland.com/krakow_tours.htm

and Zakopane which means "buried" (in the mountains):
http://www.staypoland.com/zakopaneto...c-niedzica.asp

barnakiel · 11-03-2013, 14:06

My good man, Tatra mountains are pretty far from Cracov. Vistula is abut a brook there. Already in Cracov it looks shallow.

I think navigation-wise, Oder is the bigger road.

I do not know about navigating Vistula unless you are traveling in a barge - there are some fixed bridges, some dams, etc.. You can go some way up from Gdansk for sure but it is all plains there - definitely not what most see as a spectacular landscape. Indifferent people and outstanding beers.

If you are into fresh waters I will suggest Gota Canal or the Caledonian. Both well worth a visit. If you go for Gota, stock up with beer in Gdansk, if you go for the Caledonian, you do not need to BYO.

;-)
b.

barnakiel · 11-03-2013, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard_W

If you do, take a ride on a traditional wooden raft ... they are operated by local mountain people, a bit of time gone by.

Don't miss "oscypek", a traditional smoked lamb cheese ... goes well with beer (see pic above).

Lamb???

It is sheep's milk with some amt. of cow's milk. Smoked, as you said.

And all you said about their delicious beers is correct too.

Again, Dunajec, rafts and oscypeks are worlds apart. You can see the Tatras from the Pieniny on a clear day sure.

The idea with the raft will work though - it must be motorized if you want usable upstream performance. But an oar will do if all you want is to 'sail' from the Tatras to the Baltic. I would start in a kayak and build the raft only beyond Cracov.

Cheers,
b.

vjmehra · 11-03-2013, 14:15

The whole idea behind Krakow was friends and family based, there is loads to explore (boating wise) in Poland, tons of lakes etc, so plenty to do, but geography sort of influences where I'm likely to be spending most of my time!

That said, if I find more time on my hands, I'd love to do a full tour, ideally from source (or as close as possible) to mouth, of either/both main rivers!

I found this site:

http://www.kzgw.gov.pl/en/Srodladowe-drogi-wodne-w-Polsce.html

Which sort of helps, it suggests that the lowest bridge is 3.72m if I remember rightly on the Oder, which means fly bridges are out, but sports cruisers may be okay!

Still struggling to find more info on the Vistula though!

Richard_W · 11-03-2013, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I think navigation-wise, Oder is the bigger road.

That is true, Odra (Oder in German) is more of a navigational channel upstream than Wisla is. From cities and sites to visit, Wisla is in the center of it all ... Gdansk, Warsaw, Krakow ... a lot of history there.

vjmehra · 11-03-2013, 14:22

Yep, going from Krakow to the coast would be very cool (and I'm pretty sure someone posted a blog about it, but the site doesn't seem to exist anymore)...

Richard_W · 11-03-2013, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Lamb??? It is sheep's milk with some amt. of cow's milk. Smoked, as you said

Translation error ... close enough ...

Oscypek is made in all the mountain regions where sheep is ... Pieniny, Tatry, and surrounding area that you can visit just in a few days, or spend a few weeks if want to get to see more.

Richard_W · 11-03-2013, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjmehra

Still struggling to find more info on the Vistula though!

I was looking at the site you have linked above, and there is additional detailed piloting info in polish language. One thing I was able to read is that the 1,000 tonne barges can still navigate upstream from Krakow.