Canoe & kayak tours in Hungary
I. RIVER DANUBE AND ITS BRANCHES
A. SZIGETKÖZ
Paradise for canoeing and kayaking among dozens of islands of the River Danube
The area lying between the Moson-Branch and the Old Branch of the River Danube is one of the most beautiful geographical and natural units of Hungary. The water has played the most important role to create and shape the area for thousands of years. The slow river has dumped its stream deposit creating hundreds of shallows, islands, islets and inner lakes. Unique flora and fauna has evolved here with numerous protected flowers, insects, butterflies and birds.
The temporary lack of water caused by the power plant built at Bős/Gabcikovo, Slovakia had serious consequences in early nineties, however, efforts made to retrieve water in the spring of 1995 were successful. Since then Szigetköz is again a water paradise serving the refreshment of people who love the beauty of nature. The complicated system of river branches offers many excellent possibilities for excursions. In this vast, 13000 hectares area 67 plant communities were described. Innumerable number of birds are around both at the water and at the dense woods at the flood-plains. There are more then 200 species of birds which either breed or migrate here.
The best way to enjoy the richness of this area is to visit it by canoe. With our canoe tours you can reach the most beautiful places, the most hidden backwaters by the help of our professional guides with excellent knowledge of the area.
Those who are interested in to discover this region can choose from
4 types of excursions:
1. Upper-Szigetköz
4 days:
During this 4-day-long tour you can get acquainted with the branch systems lying between Dunakiliti and Dunasziget, starting from our own camping site each morning.
2. Discover The Entire Szigetköz
7 days:
Within a week you will have a chance to criss-cross all the best parts of the Szigetköz Region from Doborgazsziget to Asvanyraro where the gold content of the river was high enough to sustain the old tradition of extracting it.
3. Lower Szigetköz and the Great River Danube
8 days:
During this eight-day-long tour starting from Asvanyraro you will paddle through the Lower Szigetköz, spend there 4 days first and then reach the largest river in Europe, River Danube. There are other systems of tiny islands waiting for us to discover during the second part of the tour at Neszmély and Tát on the main branch of the river. We will finish our tour at the historical city of Esztergom, "Religious Capital of Hungary" with a monumental Basilica and amazing collection of the treasury.
4. Weekend at Szigetköz
2 days:
This offer is a kind of "appetizer" for a quick visit to get to know the area. We are sure that after a weekend escape to this area you really want to spend at least a week here.
B. MOSONI DANUBE REGION, RAJKA-GYŐR
7 days:
The Mosoni-Danube is a large meandering branch of the River Danube. It slowly flows among tiny villages and dense woods. The calm and clear river is equally enjoyable for beginners and regular visitors.
We start from Rajka, close to the Austrian-Slovakian-Hungarian border just 6 mile away from Bratislava, capital of Slovakia and finish our tour in Győr, "City of Rivers".
C. DANUBE: KOMÁROM-BUDAPEST SECTION
7 days:
We start this tour from Komárom, a little town which has 2 parts: one in Slovakia and another in Hungary. We continue our way downstream on the River Danube to East alongside the invisible borderline most of the time. There are a few systems of tiny islands waiting for us at Neszmély and Tát on the main branch of the river.
Later we arrive to the historical city of Esztergom, "Religious Capital of Hungary" with a monumental Basilica and amazing collection of the treasury.
There are plenty of Herons, Egrets, Cormorants and different ducks where the River Ipoly joins to the Danube. No wonder that this region belongs to the Danube-Ipoly National Park.
Finally we reach other parts of the famous Danube Bend Region where the river cuts through attractive volcanic hills and creates a large island from the deposits. "Pearls of the Danube Bend Region", medieval towns of Visegrád and Szentendre can easily be visited. After a sharp turn as we leave the Szentendre Island behind us we arrive to our last stop Budapest, the always charming capital of Hungary.
D. DANUBE: ÉRD-MOHÁCS SECTION
7 days:
This tour starts from Érd, a little town just South of Budapest. For a while we go alongside the huge Csepel Island. At Rácalmás we visit much smaller islets with special flora and fauna. Later at Dunafoldvar and Paks we can admire the thickest loess layers in Europe with nests of Sand Martins and Bee-eaters.
On another day we approach the border of the Danube-Drau National Park with dense forests on the both sides of the river. This tour takes you to the Gemenc Forest which is world famous for its Red Deer trophies. But there is much more to see in this wood which is the largest and widest flood plain in Hungary. A canoe trip into the intact world of oxbow lakes of the River Danube is just unforgettable: abundant birdlife among willows and poplars; oak-ash-elm hardwood gallery forests with Snowdrop, Snow-flake, Blue-bell, Convallaria at spring and Snow-flake, Berries, Siberian Iris at summer. The flora and fauna of this area are very diverse. There is a chance to see Red Deer, Wild Boar, Saker, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Herons, Black Stork, Egrets, Waterfowl, White-tailed Eagle and many more species from our canoe.
E. "TOTAL DANUBE": FROM THE AUSTRIAN-SLOVAKIAN TO THE SERBIAN BORDER RAJKA-MOHÁCS
8 days:
This is a complete tour from Rajka at the Austrian-Slovakian border to Mohács at the Serbian border. During this tour you have a chance to see all the best parts what the Danube can offer in Hungary:
- part of the charming Szigetköz Region
- Danube-Ipoly National Park
- "Pearls of the famous Danube Bend Region"
- Budapest
- Danube-Drau National Park & Gemenc Forest with intact world of oxbow lakes
- Plenty of other islets & islands
F. WEEKEND AT THE FAMOUS DANUBE BEND REGION
If you are looking for a weekend escape from the always busy capital, Budapest this tour is for you!
There are plenty of attractive natural and cultural sights on both sides of the river. We can start with the historical city of Esztergom, "Religious Capital of Hungary". It is famous for the monumental Basilica and an amazing collection of the treasury in it. The medieval royal castle used to be the palace of the Archbishop.
There are plenty of Herons, Egrets, Cormorants and different ducks where the River Ipoly joins to the Danube. No wonder that this region belongs to the Danube-Ipoly National Park.
Later we reach other parts of the famous Danube Bend Region where the river cuts through attractive volcanic hills and creates a large island from the deposits. "Pearls of the Danube Bend Region", medieval towns of Visegrád and Szentendre can easily be visited.
Birds of prey from the nearby ranges are often seen above the former Royal Castle of Visegrád. It's hard to forget the breathtaking view of the Danube Valley among the hills. Szentendre is a lively centre of art and folklore.
After a sharp turn as we leave the Szentendre Island behind us we arrive to our last stop Budapest, the always charming capital of Hungary.
G. "CANOEING MARATHON" ON THE RIVER DANUBE
This is a challenging once-in-a-year 400-km-long tour on the River Danube for the most enthusiastic paddlers.
II. RIVER TISZA & ITS BRANCHES
River Tisza is the most important branch of the River Danube in the Central European Carpathian Basin. The total length of the River Tisza is close to 1000 kilometers; most of it meanders through Hungary with hundreds of turns. There are innumerable ox-bow lakes, pristine gallery forests, most of them are protected areas due to the richness in different rare plant and animal species. River Tisza is an excellent fishing area as well offering dozens of different species for anglers.
We offer several tours to discover this amazing region of Hungary:
A. UPPER TISZA REGION
7 days:
This is the most distant part of Hungary far away from large cities and towns. The River Tisza originates from the Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine. It runs quite fast and clear when it enters to Hungary at Tiszabecs. We start our tour from here, the Szatmár-Bereg Region famous for its unique wooden churches and bell-towers, special landscape with patches of woods and pastures characterized by unique flora and fauna.
We finish our tour at the foot of the volcanic cone of Tokaj Hill where you can quench your thirst in a wine-cellar, tasting the excellent, world-famous Tokaj wines.
B. MIDDLE TISZA REGION AND LAKE TISZA
7 days:
This tour concentrates on the Lake Tisza Region at Tiszafüred. It's a huge area with different parts. Parts of it belongs to a strictly protected area of Hortobágy National Park with heronries and thousands of different waders and water-fowl, while others are recreational areas with plenty of possibilities to have fun.
C. LOWER TISZA REGION
The Lower Tisza Region characterized by the slowly running River Tisza bordered by harsh green woods belong to the Tisza Landscape Protection Area. River Kőrös is the most important still less visited and discovered tributary of the River Tisza, so it's one of the most intact areas with plenty of opportunities for nature observations.
1. Szolnok-Csongrád - (4 days)
2. Csongrád-Szeged - (3 days)
3.Szolnok-Szeged - (7 days)
4.River Kőrös - (7 days)
5. River Kőrös + Lower Tisza (4+2) - (8 days)
D. "TOTAL TISZA": FROM THE UKRAINIAN TO THE SERBIAN BORDER
We start our tour from the Ukrainian border and finish it close to the Serbian border. During the days we transect the Great Hungarian Plain stopping at the best parts of it. This is a real adventure!
This is a short list of highlights the River Tisza and its tributaries can offer in Hungary:
- Part of the charming Szatmár-Bereg Region
- Tokaj Hill with 500 years old wine cellars full with world famous wines
- Parts of Hortobagy National Park
- Lake Tisza with Bird Sanctuary and recreational areas
- Tisza Landscape Protection Area with dense gallery forests
- Intact world of oxbow lakes
- Plenty of other islets & islands
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF THE CANOE TOURS:
All of our tours -except the "Canoeing Marathon"- are offered for beginners and regular paddlers alike. We are ready to offer tailor-made programs for small groups, families or companies. Most of our tours offer nomadic conditions: sleeping in your own tent, eat what you cook, but if you ask for different conditions and full service we can arrange it at most of the sites.
The prices of the tours are include:
- Professional guide
- Rental fees of the canoes & all the necessary equipment
- Kitchenware for cook-outs
- Water barrels and bottles
- First aid kits
- Trip materials, brochures, maps about the region if available
The prices of the tours are not include:
- Rental price of tents
- Transfer to the starting point and from the final destination of the tours
- Cost of meals and drinks
- Any camping site fees (however we generally use our own property for which we do not charge any extra or we stop at free sites)
Please ask for more details if you would like us to arrange any of the above mentioned services which are not included in the price!
