Kayaks and canoes - Mereczanka

First day of the kayak trip.

0.0 km - we start the trip on the Mereczanka river in the town of Tabariškes, kayaks and canoes are launched on the left bank of the river behind the bridge. After agreeing with the owner living nearby, you can spend the night on the meadow. The village has a wooden church from the 17th century and a grocery store. The kayak trip can also start a few hundred meters further at the ford, where you can also camp. Just behind it, we meet the first obstacle - a wooden footbridge (we pull kayaks or canoes up), a kilometer further, another one, this time concrete (we try to go under it).

3.3 km - we pass under the bridge in the town of Aukštasis Pamerkys, beware of the very fast current, paddling a kayak or canoe further on the right bank, we pass the town of Viktariškes and the left tributary Verža.

5.5 km - we reach the bridge near the town of Pamerkys, we paddle through a deciduous forest, further on the right bank, a convenient place to get out of kayaks or canoes and camp. The landscape is picturesque, the river has high, steep banks. On the kayak route, we pass several footbridges, under which we can sail, we also meet fallen trees and several places suitable for camping.

12.7 km - kayaks and canoes pass the village of Mikniškes, which has a small church and two camping sites.

13.9 km - we reach the road bridge in the town of Turgeliai, located on the right bank. It is worth visiting the church from the 20th century, made of hewn boulders, there are also several shops where you can replenish supplies. When passing under the bridge, beware of the fast current and stones, so as not to damage kayaks or canoes. Further on the left bank, there is a picturesque hillfort, a few hundred meters down, on the left, we pass a very high cliff.

19.2 km - kayaks and canoes pass another bridge, then we overcome the dam that accumulates water and pass under the bridge in the village of Merkine, the current accelerates, the banks are more wooded, on the right, there is a convenient camping site. The river flows through the Rudniki Forest area, the section is very fast with numerous obstacles, islands, and stones. On the route of the kayak trip, we pass several picturesque places. At one of them, we propose to finish the first day.

Second day of the kayak trip.

26.5 km - we pass under the bridge in the village of Merkio Vilkiškes, there are remains of an old weir - we carry kayaks or canoes. Further, we pass the villages of Viatiešiunai and Kačenai on the right bank. 30.8 km - road bridge, the Mereczanka river clearly widens, we pass several camping sites. The kayak trip route runs along the buildings of the village of Jašiunai.

37.6 km - road bridge on the international route Vilnius - Lida (A15), on the right bank, there is a church, in the village, there are also several shops and a bar, about 4 km downstream, another bridge, behind which, on the left bank, there is an abandoned palace located in a large park. We ferry kayaks and canoes across the next dam and reach the railway bridge.

45.1 km - we pass under the bridge near the village of SliŽiunai, there are camping sites on both the right and left banks. The river flows into the forest, narrows, and meanders more and more. We pass several camping sites (we can spend the night there and finish the second day of the trip), further on the right, there is a wooded, steep bank, behind which the river flows among marshy meadows.

Third day of the kayak trip.

52.5 km - kayaks and canoes pass under the bridge in the village of Salos, behind which there is a convenient place for camping, on the left, there is the confluence of the Upsese river and another bridge with a campsite.

59.7 km - bridge near the village of Rudninkai, which has a church and shops. Below the village, the Mereczanka river strongly meanders among meadows, on the right side, there are three camping sites. In the vicinity of the village of Baltoji Voke (there is a shop), the riverbed narrows, as most of the water flows through the Popio canal, we reach the weir, where we have to carry kayaks and canoes, further on, we can meet fallen trees.

68 km - the kayak trip leads under the road bridge in the village of Žagarine, the riverbed is further narrow and winding, we pass through a ford, near which there are camping sites. The riverbed is getting narrower, in many places, we push through trees or reeds.

73.5 km - the beginning of the 14-kilometer regulated riverbed, on both sides, there are camping sites. We propose to stop kayaks and canoes and spend the night after the third day of the kayak trip. Further, the river resembles a canal, after 1.5 km, on the left side, there is the confluence of the Špigule river, and after a short time, on the right, we pass the confluence of the Łukny river.

Fourth day of the kayak trip.

78.5 km - we reach the bridge on the A4 Warsaw - Vilnius route, behind the second bend, the kayak trip becomes more attractive, we pass several tilted trees and, in turn, the right tributary Onupis, a bridge on a dirt road, and the left tributary Pirčiupis.

88.3 km - we pass under the bridge in the village of Dargužiai, Mereczanka starts to meander again, kayaks and canoes pass a camping site on the right bank, the confluence of the Graužupis river, and another campsite.

90.3 km - we pass under the road bridge on the route to Vilnius, 2 kilometers downstream, kayaks and canoes enter the forest, where there are several nice camping sites.

95.8 km - the kayak trip reaches the bridge in the village of Valkininkai, there is a church, shops, and a bar. Behind the village, on both sides of the Mereczanka, there are several camping sites.

98.8 km - the right tributary of the Šalčia river, the river clearly widens. We pass several campsites, on one of them, we stop, leave kayaks or canoes, and choose one of them for overnight stay and finish the fourth day of the trip, because later, for several kilometers, there will be no such possibility. After a few kilometers, Mereczanka flows into the forest, this is one of its most beautiful sections (about 7 km).

Fifth day of the kayak trip.

105.2 km - kayaks and canoes pass the village of Kukiškes, located on a high bank, further, the river flows again among meadows, on the left side, we pass the confluence of the Verseka river.

116.1 km - the kayak trip reaches the village of Pomerkiai, behind which there is a railway bridge on the Vilnius - Grodno route. We pass the village of Biekšios on the right, behind which there is a camping site, then Barteliai, and on the left, Moliai. The river has high, wooded banks, and then flows into the boulder reserve area (at the end, a small campsite), behind it, the river flows through forests, meadows, and fields. At one of the campsites, we plan to finish the fifth day and spend the night.

Sixth day of the kayak trip.

133.4 km - we enter the forest again with kayaks and canoes, the high, steep banks begin, Mereczanka again has the character of a mountain river. On the right bank, and after a few kilometers also on the left, there are camping sites.

139 km - we reach the village of Varena, on the left, there is the confluence of the Beržupis river, on the right, there is a camping site. We pass the bridge, behind which the Varena river flows. Behind the bridge, on the right, there is another camping site. We propose to stop here with kayaks and canoes and finish the sixth day of the trip, further, the river flows through the forest.

Seventh day of the kayak trip.

148.1 km - kayaks and canoes pass the left tributary of the Derežnyčia river, the buildings of the village of Salovarte on the right bank and Moliadungnis on the left bank, and then the confluence of the Vardaunia river, the current becomes clearly faster.

154.8 km - bridge in the village of Perjola, behind the village, there is a campsite on the right bank. Further, we meet the confluence of two more rivers and the buildings of the village of Miliponiške, on the left, there is the confluence of the Lavysas river. The kayak trip leads further through the Dzukija National Park (Dzukijos Nacionalinis Parkas).

166.2 km - we pass the confluence of the Ula river, behind which, on the left bank, a camping site is marked. We propose to stop kayaks or canoes and finish the seventh day of the trip here. Further, the river has a variable current, we meet rapids. Paddling, we pass the buildings of Mardasayas.

Eighth day of the kayak trip.

173.3 km - kayaks and canoes reach the confluence of the Gruda river, in front of which, on the right side, there is a camping site. We pass the village of Pulvočiai, located on the left bank. Beware of the wire stretched across the river! Below the village, there is another marked camping site, further on, there is the left tributary Skrobulus, and also several fields for camping.

185.3 km - we pass the road bridge on the A4 Druskienniki - Vilnius route, in front of which there is a marked camping site.

188.3 km - Mereczanka flows into the Niemen near the town of Merkine, where there are shops, a church, and bars. We can finish the kayak trip at the bridge or continue it.

188.5 km - we pass kayaks or canoes under the road bridge, behind which there is a river widening with several islands. On the left bank, there is a camping site where we can, for example, finish the eighth day of the trip.

Ninth day of the kayak trip.

196.3 km - the kayak trip route runs along another camping site located on the left bank of the river, just behind it, on the right, there is the confluence of the Apsinge river, where there are several camping sites and a charming beach. 2 km further, there is the confluence of the Netiesca river, near which there are two camping sites on the right bank, and a little further, another one.

205.6 km - kayaks and canoes reach the island on the Niemen, behind which, after about 3 km, near the border of the Dzukija National Park, there is another camping site. The river widens, the current is variable, we meet shallows and sandy spits. You should pay attention to the picturesque cliff on the right bank.

214.3 km - we pass the boulder Klebono uola, located in the riverbed, on the left bank, there is a nature reserve.

219.2 km - we reach the village of Nemunaitis, where we finish the trip on the left side, near the hotel visible on the high bank. If we want to spend more time in a kayak or canoe, we can also paddle to the city of Alytus, about 20 km further.