CANOEING THE DRAWA RIVER

Amongst the characteristic scenic features of Poland's northern plains are long meandring rivers, countless lakes and enormous wetlands, many of them of international wildlife significance. It is marvellous country to drift through paddling a canoe and this tour presents you with an opportunity to explore the Drawa River, one of the most beautiful in all Poland. The Drawa is in the north-west of the country around one hundred kilometres east of the historic border city of Szczecin. We aim to follow its complete course as it flows south from Lake Drawsko to its confluece with the River Notec at Krzyz. En route we will visit sites of cultural and wildlife interest, including one of Poland's recently established national parks, Drawienski. Canoes and associated equipment are provided, and plenty of time is set aside at the beginning of the tour for familiarisation. While canoeing experience is not essential it will be advantageous, and you will need to be reasonable.

ITINERARY

DAY ONE
Arrival in Szczecin or Poznan. Transfer to hotel for a welcome supper.

DAY TWO
We continue, by rail or bus, to Czaplinek, a small town at the south end of Lake Drawsko. We will collect our canoes and have time for introductory paddling on the lake, the second deepest in Poland (83 m). It is also the largest (18.6 sq.kms) of the fifty or so lakes in the Drawsko Landscape Park, supporting 120 species of bird, many more species of fish and a population of otter.

DAYS THREE AND FOUR
These will continue our activities based on Czaplinek, with further sessions in the canoes intermingled with visits to sites of interest in the Drawsko Lake District.

DAYS FIVE, SIX, SEVEN AND EIGHT
We leave Czaplinek and cross Lake Drawsko on the first section of our expedition down the Drawa, paddling to overnight camping stops and due to arrive in the town of Drawno, 110 kilometres downstream, on the afternoon of Day Eight.

DAYS NINE AND TEN
Refreshed from an overnight stop in a hostel in Drawno we resume our journey and canoe through the superb scenery of Drawienski National Park. This section of the Drawa, 37 kilometres long, flows through a ravine twenty to thirty meters deep and takes on the characteristics of a mountain river. It provides you with two days of more demanding but inspiring canoeing in this beautiful locality. The National Park protects this, the most valuable stretch of the Drawa, together with the River Plociczno and several lakes. On the riverbanks ancient forests are protected as 'strict reserves' and there are narrow gorges, springs, rare plants and other wildlife. The rivers teem with fish and amongst the many water plants is the exceptionally rare Hildebrandia rivularis, which is a good indicator of clean water.

DAY ELEVEN
A temporary diversion from progress down the Drawa to spend a day on the Plociczno and on Lake Ostrowiec.

DAYS TWELVE AND THIRTEEN
Canoeing the final section of the Drawa to land at the town of Krzyz, where we will stay overnight.

DAY FOURTEEN
Transfer by rail or bus to Szczecin where there will be time to do some shopping and sightseeing. Overnight stay in a hotel.

DAY FIFTEEN
Departure after breakfast.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

ACCOMMODATION
We will spend the first and last night at a comfortable hotel in Szczecin and the eighth night at a hostel/lodge in Drawno. The remaining nights will be spent under canvas, in tents pitched by the group at camping places along the route.

MEALS
All food and meals are provided, from arrival on Day One until breakfast on Day Fifteen. Whilst camping, meals will be prepared by the group from ingredients supplied by the tour leaders.

GROUP SIZE and STAFF
Maximum twenty, accompanied by experienced canoe-guide and technical assistant.

PHOTO GALLERY