Kayaks and canoes - Nemunas river trip

Kayak trips in Lithuania
The rivers of southern Lithuania are rightly considered extremely attractive routes for kayaking, mainly due to the diversity of the landscape, pristine, untouched nature (largely due to the very low population density) and the varied character of the rivers (we encounter sections with a lowland and mountainous character). Kayaking routes in Lithuania are moderately difficult, characterized by the occurrence of fast, often rapid currents with possible obstacles in the form of fallen trees and rocks protruding from the water. For this reason, we do not recommend them to beginners, but to people who have already paddled in kayaks or canoes. The areas where kayaking trips take place are quite remote, and in order to feel comfortable and fully utilize the possible attractions, you can rent a Polish-speaking experienced Lithuanian guide. Accompanying us throughout the entire kayaking trip, it facilitates the selection of the best places to launch kayaks and canoes, choose camping sites or stop to shop (in the very few shops, there is usually not enough of the necessary products) and knows where you can use the sauna (bath), because some of them are only for private use by the owners. All the routes described below are excellent proposals for kayaking trips. Routes can be combined and a kayaking trip can be diversified by introducing, for example, cycling trips as stages.

Practical information: Lithuania is in a different time zone (+ 2.00 GMT) and after crossing the border, you should move your clocks one hour forward.
In the Ula river area, it flows entirely through the Dzukija National Park (Dzukijos Nacionalinis Parkas). To paddle down the Ula river, you need to purchase a kayak trip ticket for 6 litas per person per trip (regardless of the number of days). You can buy them in two places in the town of Marcinkonys.
Kayaking trips in Lithuania, the number of camping sites is practically sufficient everywhere, so you can quite freely choose the length of individual sections. However, you should remember to camp only in designated places on the Ula river, which are well marked and equipped with basic tourist infrastructure. On all regular campsites, the cost of overnight stay is about 5 litas per tent. You can also spend the night on private meadows, but you need to agree with the owner. The inhabitants of these areas are very hospitable and willingly provide assistance. Very often you can communicate with them in Polish, or in Russian. On the routes, there is a possibility of using the sauna (bath) several times.

Due to the remote area, buying food is quite difficult. For example, on the Ula river kayaking route, there are only 3 towns with food stores, which have an unusual name for us - Pardoutuve. These towns are Dubičai, Rudnia, and Merkine. Sometimes you can come across mobile shops, but it's a matter of chance, and we don't recommend relying on proverbial "luck".

Ula - Mereczanka - Niemen (Ula - Merkys - Nemunas) - 111 km (60 km + 20 km + 31 km) - about 7 days.

First day of kayaking.

0.0 km - we start kayaking on the Ula river in the town of Dubičai. Behind the bridge on the left bank of the river, there is a convenient place to launch kayaks and canoes. In the village, there is a shop where you can replenish supplies. Initially, the Ula river flows through meadows, partially regulated by a high-bank channel.

2.9 km - we paddle under the bridge on the dirt road, on the right side we pass the Kaniavele river mouth. The Ula river enters the buffer zone of the Dzukija National Park and winds through meadows surrounded by forests. 10.3 km - the kayaking trip reaches the first bridge in the village of Krokšlys, after a while we pass another one; behind the village on the right bank, there is a convenient place for camping. The river becomes very picturesque, has high wooded banks, and on the left side, we pass the Lynupis river mouth.

17.1 km - we approach the Ula lake, where there is a designated camping site. We propose to stop here with kayaks and canoes and finish the first day of the trip, or 2 km further in front of the village on a meadow under a high escarpment.

Second day of kayaking.

20.0 km - kayaks and canoes reach the town of Rudnia, where there is a food store, after agreeing with its owner, you can camp on a tree-covered meadow on the opposite bank of the river. We approach the bridge, behind which there is a dam - portage is necessary. Behind the town, the Ula river meanders through meadows between high escarpments covered with forests, and the kayaking trip takes place on a very picturesque section.

27.9 km - we paddle under the wooden bridge in the village of Kašetos. On the right bank, there is a beach. The valley narrows, and the Ula river flows between high wooded banks. Sometimes kayaking is difficult due to fallen trees.

29.6 km - we approach the village of Pauosupe, where the Uosupis river flows in. On the right bank, a camping site is located, and in the village, there is also an agritourism farm. Additionally, you can visit the historic home of the Lithuanian writer A. Matutius.

32.6 km - we enter the Dzukija National Park - on the right bank, an information board is visible. From this place, it is necessary to have tickets for kayaking down the Ula river, and camping is only allowed in designated places.

37.7 km - we approach the bridge in the village of Zervynos. The village is characterized by wooden buildings, it's worth seeing the cemetery with wooden tombstones. Behind the village on the right bank, there is a designated camping site. We propose to leave kayaks and canoes here and finish the second day of the trip.

Third day of kayaking.

37.6 km - we paddle under the railway bridge on the Vilnius - Grodno route, beware of the fast current, for the next 5 km the Ula river has a mountainous character, it is very picturesque, and kayaking is very attractive here. The nearest camping site is located on the left bank of the river, 1 km before the road bridge.

43.4 km - we approach the village of Mančiagire, the current slows down in some places, but accelerates in others. We paddle under another bridge - a footbridge (a suspended plate with the inscription Ulos akis). It's worth stopping here with kayaks or canoes and climbing the steep stairs to the observation deck. 50.3 km - the kayaking trip takes us under the bridge in the village of Žiurai. To do some shopping, you can take a 3 km trip to the beautiful Lavysas lake, where there is a cafe and a shop.

52.0 km - we approach the village of Trakiškiai, where there is an agritourism farm and a large camping site. We propose to stop here with kayaks and canoes and spend the night after the third day of kayaking.

Fourth day of kayaking.

55.8 km - our kayaks and canoes pass by the single buildings of the village of Pauliai located on the right bank of the river. The valley becomes narrow, and the banks are very high.

57.8 km - the kayaking trip approaches the mouth of the Ula river to the Mereczanka river.

57.9 km - we paddle to the designated camping site located on the left bank of the river. Further, the river has a variable current, we encounter rapids. Paddling, we pass by the buildings of Mardasayas.

65.0 km - we approach the mouth of the Gruda river, in front of it on the right side, there is a camping site. We pass by the village of Pulvočiai located on the left bank. Beware of the wire stretched across the river! Below the village, there is another designated camping site, and further down, there is a left tributary - Skrobulus; there are also several camping sites. On one of them, we propose to leave kayaks and canoes and finish the fourth day of the trip.

Fifth day of kayaking.

77.0 km - the kayaking route takes us under the road bridge on the A4 Druskienniki - Vilnius route, in front of it, there is a designated camping site.

80.0 km - the Mereczanka river flows into the Niemen river near the town of Merkine, where there are shops, a church, and bars. It's worth resting here, leaving kayaks and canoes, and taking a trip to the town. On the right bank, there is a castle hill - an excellent viewpoint. If we have allocated less time for kayaking, we can finish it here, if not, we continue our trip down the Niemen river. 80.2 km - we paddle under the road bridge, behind which there is a river expansion with several islands. On the left bank, there is a camping site where we can finish the fifth day of kayaking.

Sixth day of kayaking.

88.0 km - our kayaks and canoes reach the camping site located on the left bank of the river, just behind it on the right side, there is the Apsinge river mouth. On the route, we pass by several camping sites and a picturesque beach. 2 km further, there is another tributary - Netiesca, near which there are two camping sites on the right bank, and a bit further, there is another one.

97.3 km - we approach the island on the Niemen river, behind which, after about 3 km, near the border of the Dzukija National Park, there is another camping site. We can stop here with kayaks and canoes and spend the night after the sixth day of kayaking. The river expands, the current is variable, we encounter shallows and sandy shoals. It is necessary to pay attention to the picturesque cliff on the right bank.

Seventh day of kayaking.

106 km - our kayaks and canoes pass by the erratic boulder Klebono uola located in the riverbed, on the left bank, there is a nature reserve.

110.9 km - we approach the village of Nemunaitis, where we plan to finish the kayaking trip. On the right side, there is a shop, a church, and a bar. We pull out kayaks or canoes on the left bank. There is a hotel here, and in it, a restaurant, unfortunately with quite high prices. At the hotel, after obtaining permission, you can camp. If you want, you can continue kayaking and finish it in the town of Alytus, located 20 km further.

Kayaks and canoes on the Mereczanka - Niemen (Merkys - Nemunas) route, 219 km (188 + 31) - about 9 days.

First day of kayaking.

0.0 km - we start kayaking 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. In the village, there is a wooden church from the 17th century and a food store. Kayaking can also start a few hundred meters further at the ford, where you can also camp. Immediately after it, we encounter the first obstacle - a wooden footbridge (we pull kayaks or canoes up), 1 km further, another one, this time concrete (we try to pass under it).

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

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

12.7 km - kayaks and canoes pass by the village of Mikniškes located on a hill, where there is a small church and two camping sites.

13.9 km - we approach the road bridge in the town of Turgeliai located on the right bank. It's worth seeing the church from the 20th century made of hewn stones, there are several shops where you can replenish supplies. Paddling 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, several hundred meters down on the left, we pass by a very high cliff.

19.2 km - kayaks and canoes pass by another bridge, then we overcome the dam that raises the water level and paddle under the bridge in the village of Merkine, the current accelerates, the banks are more wooded, on the right side, there is a convenient place for camping. The river flows through the surroundings of the Rudniki Forest, this section is very fast with numerous obstacles, islands, and stones. On the kayaking route, we pass by several picturesque places. On one of them, we propose to finish the first day.

Second day of kayaking.

26.5 km - we paddle under the bridge in the village of Merkio Vilkiškes, there are remains of an old dam - we portage kayaks or canoes. Further, we pass by the villages of Viatiešiunai and Kačenai located on the right bank.

30.8 km - road bridge, the Mereczanka river clearly expands, we pass by several camping sites. The kayaking route takes us 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 (baras), about 4 km down the river, there is another bridge, behind it 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 by the bridge in the area of 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 by several camping sites (we can spend the night there and finish the second day of kayaking), further on the right side, there is a wooded steep bank, behind which the river flows through swampy meadows.

Third day of kayaking.

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

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

68 km - the kayaking trip takes us under the road bridge in the village of Žagarine, the riverbed is narrow and winding, we paddle through a ford, near which there are camping sites. The riverbed is getting narrower, in many places, we have to squeeze under trees or through reeds.

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

Fourth day of kayaking.

78.5 km - we approach the bridge on the A4 Warsaw - Vilnius route, behind the second turn, kayaking becomes more attractive, we pass by several tilted trees and then the right tributary Onupis, a bridge on a dirt road, and the left tributary Pirčiupis.

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

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

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

98.8 km - right tributary of the Šalčia river, the river clearly expands. We pass by 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 kayaking, because later, for several kilometers, there will be no such possibility. After a few kilometers, the Mereczanka river flows into the forest, this is one of its most beautiful sections (about 7 km).

Fifth day of kayaking.

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

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

Sixth day of kayaking.

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

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

Seventh day of kayaking.

148.1 km - kayaks and canoes pass by 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 Vardaunia river mouth, the current becomes noticeably faster.

154.8 km - bridge in the village of Perjola, behind the village, there is a campsite on the right bank. Further, there are mouths of two more rivers and buildings of the village of Miliponiške, on the left side, there is the Lavysas river mouth. The kayaking trip continues through the Dzukija National Park (Dzukijos Nacionalinis Parkas).

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

Eighth day of kayaking.

173.3 km - kayaks and canoes approach the mouth of the Gruda river, in front of it on the right side, there is a camping site. We pass by the village of Pulvočiai located on the left bank. Beware of the wire stretched across the river! Below the village, there is another designated camping site, further down, there is a left tributary - Skrobulus; there are also several camping sites.

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

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

188.5 km - we paddle under the road bridge, behind which there is a river expansion with several islands. On the left bank, there is a camping site where we can finish the eighth day of kayaking.

Ninth day of kayaking.

196.3 km - the kayaking route takes us along another camping site located on the left bank of the river, just behind it on the right side, there is the Apsinge river mouth, and there are several camping sites and a picturesque beach. 2 km further, there is the Netiesca river mouth, near which there are two camping sites on the right bank, and a bit further, there is another one.

205.6 km - kayaks and canoes approach the island on the Niemen river, behind which, after about 3 km, near the border of the Dzukija National Park, there is another camping site. The river expands, the current is variable, we encounter shallows and sandy shoals. It is necessary to pay attention to the picturesque cliff on the right bank.

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

219.2 km - we approach the village of Nemunaitis, where we finish the kayaking 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 town of Alytus, about 20 km further.

Kayaks and canoes on the Salcia - Mereczanka - Niemen (Šalčia - Merkys - Nemunas) route, 164 km (44 + 89 + 31) - about 8 days.

A very picturesque, wild, but quite easy route for kayaking. The banks are easily accessible, so there are many camping sites (unregulated) where we can stop with kayaks and canoes and spend the night or rest. By starting the trip on the Šalčia river, which flows through the Rudniki Forest, we bypass the approximately 14-kilometer regulated section of the Mereczanka river. In this region, many people of Polish origin live, so communication is not a problem. The description of the Šalčia river will appear on our website soon. The rest of the route is according to the description above.