Press release
With the start of
the active water tourism season, more and more residents of Vilnius, Kaunas,
Alytus, Marijampolė, and Prienai municipalities, when choosing routes for
canoeing, prefer the Dzūkija rivers.
Among the most
popular are Verknė, Ūla, Grūda, and Merkys, and the greatest interest is
received by Verknė, which is distinguished by its picturesque cliffs, faster
sections, extremely convenient transportation, and the ability to choose both
one-day and two-day or even longer routes.
There are also
noticeable trends that more and more people are interested in the opportunities
to sail mountain rivers in foreign countries, the press release says. According
to Povilas Pelanis, the head of the company “Upių labirintas”, which has been organizing
water tourism trips in Lithuania and abroad for 22 years, several trends are
already evident this season: larger companies, longer routes and a greater need
for comfort. “More and more often, swimming is booked by groups of 10–18 people
– company teams, groups of friends or families. Two-day routes with an
overnight stay are often chosen. Verknė is especially popular – it is
convenient to arrive from both Vilnius and Kaunas, Marijampolė, Prienai or
Alytus, and the variety of routes allows you to adapt to people of different
levels of fitness,” says P. Pelanis.
According to him,
after the pandemic, there is still a need to spend more time in nature and
communicate live. “We could call this season a return to nature with family,
friends and colleagues. People are choosing not only short trips, but also
longer trips with overnight stays and additional activities at campsites.
What is unique
about the Verknė River? “When planning a swim, we usually receive very similar
questions – both from families with small children and from different age or
experience groups. People are looking for a river that would not lack water
even in the driest period, would not have to drag kayaks through shallows,
would be somewhat challenging, but would remain safe at the same time. In such
cases, I boldly recommend Verknė,” says Povilas Pelanis, the head of “Upių
labirintas”. The Verknė River begins in the Trakai district and, after covering
77 kilometers, flows into the Nemunas – the route can be conveniently completed
near Birštonas. In this section, you can choose from one to four-day hikes with
overnight stays at a renovated campsite.
“Although the
origin of the river’s name is associated with the words “to cry” or “to howl,”
it seems to me that if anything makes you sad, it’s only the beauty of its
landscape,” the interviewee smiles. The river valley is characterized by
diversity – here cliffs and more open plains alternate, deciduous forests
prevail, in places pine forests, and swimming is accompanied by the voices of
birds, especially when approaching the Nemunas. At the confluence of the Verknė
and Narupė rivers, the Babroniai hillfort stands, and on the opposite side of
the Narupė estuary, a wide Verknė valley opens up from a high cliff. At the
mouth, on the right bank, you can also see the famous Ožkų pečiai – a rare
pebble conglomerate rock in Lithuania. “Sometimes we hear concerns about
swimming upstream on the Nemunas, but it’s really not difficult – the river is
wide here, the current is not strong, so the end of the journey at the
Birštonas piers becomes calm and even romantic.
We always try to
tell you about the "character" of each river, choose the most
suitable section or offer an alternative. I have swum on many Lithuanian rivers
and every year I go to mountain rivers abroad, but I can say that Verkne is one
of the most versatile in our country. In it you can feel the spirit of Ūla, the
rocky rapids of Minija, the loops of Visinčia, even a little bit of Siesartis
or Virinta's bends,” says P. Pelanis.
Investments in
comfort – paid off
According to the
kayak rental company, the ongoing investments in the campsite in Pikelionys,
located on the banks of the Verknė, are today yielding results. Special cabins,
gazebos, fireplaces, recreation and sports areas, an outdoor kitchen, and
showers have been installed here. All this allows you to combine active and
more peaceful leisure time, in a sufficiently comfortable environment, as much
as possible under natural conditions. “We notice that swimming routes are
getting longer, and after them people are willing to spend time at the campsite
– playing basketball, volleyball, football or simply relaxing by the campfire.
Our goal is to balance different needs so that both active and peace-seeking
clients feel comfortable,” says the manager of Upių labirintas.
Looking for
routes abroad
Mr. Pelanis
notices that more and more people and even corporate groups are interested in
the opportunity to raft not only in Lithuania, but also abroad. Organized water
trips on mountain rivers in Austria, as well as in Greece or Norway, are
becoming more popular. “People are looking for exceptional experiences and
challenges that would allow them to experience more adrenaline. Mountain rivers
provide a completely different feeling than Lithuanian routes, but preparation
and skills are necessary for this. We start with not very difficult mountain
rivers, usually in Austria, and continue all over the world, and as the routes
become more complex, the line between a client and a friend, a close companion,
almost always blurs,” he says.
However,
according to to the interviewee, Lithuania remains a very favorable country for
water tourism – there are many rivers here that are not damaged by dams,
characterized by a variety of nature and different levels of complexity.
The most
important thing is safety and preparation
An experienced
water tourism organizer emphasizes that regardless of the length of the chosen
river or route, safety remains the most important thing. Especially after heavy
rains or floods, when additional obstacles appear in the rivers. “After the
exceptional flood in Verkne, we specially sailed the routes and cleaned the
most dangerous bends. We want to make sailing interesting and safe – both for
families with children and those looking for more technical challenges,” says
P. Pelanis.
Recommended items
for kayaking
“River Labyrinth”
reminds us that proper preparation ensures a smooth and safe trip. It is
recommended to have: · Sunscreen and lip balm · First aid kit · Sunglasses ·
Hat or sun hat · Swimsuit · Water and light snacks · Raincoat · Special shoes
suitable for wading in water · Spare set of clothes · Mosquito, tick and other
insect repellent · Knife, matches or lighter · Garbage bags
It is also
recommended to take a mobile phone, camera or other devices - it is important
to take care of waterproof bags and cases in advance.“
To compete with these advertisers, it is worth purchasing
at least three kayaks. Two, or even just one, can be used by people who want to
relax together and get to know each other better, and another one could be used
by a guide to ensure the safety of the trip. Kayaking in a first-grade class sized
group is suitable for many, but not for everyone.
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