RAFTING CZECH REPUBLIC: A two-day canoeing and camping adventure down the Vltava river
Banter, beer and beauty on an epic two-day rafting, canoeing and camping trip down South Bohemia's mother river, the Vltava. Read the full story at:
Or let us set the scene a little...
The campfire snaps, firing up bursts of orange into the night sky, throwing shadows across the dark outline of our teepee and the woods behind. A short distance to my right, through a curtain of trees, I can hear the white noise of the beer-brown river flowing downstream. From somewhere there is the sound of a guitar being strummed.
“Rafting is strange, isn’t it?” Says Martin, an English student from Prague as he pours himself a drink and stares into the flames. “My muscles hurt because I’m not used to the movement, but on the other hand I’m totally calm. I’m exhausted physically, but relaxed psychologically. Do you know what I mean?”
I reach for another beer and nod. I know exactly what he means. We’re in Kamp Branna, halfway along a journey down the Vltava river. Despite only being on the water for a day, there’s already a feeling of being in a totally different gear, tuned to the river’s speed. Little wonder that rafting or canoeing down this, the Czech Republic’s iconic ‘mother’ river, is regarded as something far bigger than a holiday.
As I’ve already been told numerous times by fellow rafters, a trip down the Vltava is more like a rite of passage, one that draws legions of paddlers every summer keen to experience its unique river culture, history and jaw-dropping natural splendour.
It hadn’t taken long to see its appeal. Arriving earlier in the day at the pretty Renaissance town of Český Krumlov, perched above a series of the river’s winding bends, my co-rafter and I had been met by Honza from raft hire company ‘Rafting Krumlov’.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” He’d said immediately, gesturing towards the South Bohemian town’s chocolate box skyline, framed by a bright October sky. “When I was young we came on a boat here every year. Twice sometimes. It was a traditional family trip. Whenever possible we all came rafting or canoeing.”
As directed, we climbed into the back of a battered van with a large red and black inflatable raft strapped to the top. Pulling out of town, we were soon heading upstream towards our place of embarkation.
It turns out that deciding exactly which stretch of the river to raft is down to the skill of the paddlers. The Vltava is enormous; it runs, roars and meanders 430km from the Šumava National Park in the west of South Bohemia to the mouth of the Elbe beyond Prague, giving it a reputation as a river of many personalities. Fortunately there’s one to suit any level. While more serious paddlers might frequent the higher and more challenging white water reaches found in Šumava, others – like us – plump for a more well-paddled path: the two-day trip from the village of Vyšší Brod downstream to Český Krumlov.
After swerving along country roads for half an hour, gaps in the thick woodland began to reveal an impressive spire and tumble of quaint orange roofs. Vyšší Brod may now be a somewhat forgotten spot, but the spire forms part of what was once a large Cistercian monastery built by South Bohemia’s powerful and influential Rosenberg family, and it dates back to the thirteenth-century. Following a tumultuous history that saw it requisitioned for a loot store by the Nazis and its monks being turfed out during communism, it’s now a monastery again, exuding a stately feeling of serenity. With the river looking similarly gentle, Honza pulled in and released the raft from its moorings, sending up a cloud of dust.
Loading it with our kit – paddles, sleeping bags, sun hats, food, water, cameras packed in waterproof bags and a slab of Budweiser Budvar – Honza gave us a scratch lesson in tackling the river’s many weirs. “Look for the arrows pointing you to one side or the other, and do what they say. Then point the raft down the channel and go for it. Don’t go over the main weirs or you will capsize.” Then, with promises to call him to organise a rendezvous as we approach Český Krumlov, he put his foot on the raft’s stern, gave us a hefty shove, and we were adrift.
I say adrift. The first weir was only a few paddle strokes away meaning that we were soon being pulled into its current, approaching the surging channel of white water stern first. Being seated at the back, I took evasive action and turned us around using a paddle against the bank just as the raft’s prow disappeared down the slide of water ahead. A strong drag, down, and we were pulled through to jolt back up into the river’s heart, arms aloft, whooping with joy...
Read on at:
Kayaking in Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic)
Renting a kayak from our hostel (Hostel 99) gave us a chance to see Cesky Krumlov in a whole new way. We loved the city on foot, but we loved it even more once we were able to see it from the water!
The unique layout of the meandering Vltava River means you can hop in the water to the south and hop out just north of the downtown area without having to take any kind of car or bus to the drop-off or pick-up points.
I highly recommend getting out on the water when you visit this beautiful little town!
Best places of the Czech Republic - Resort, Lipno Reservoir - Part 2
Finally, we made the second and final part of the story about the largest reservoir of the Czech Republic called Lipno. Here we talk about entertainment and places that are associated with the land of this resort. We hope you enjoy it and the information provided will be interesting and useful. Immediately we apologize that practically all links are in Czech, we don’t know why the site creators are too lazy to translate it at least into English.
Useful links:
1) Bike park:
2) Bike rent, but unfortunately all in the Czech language. We think it will be better to find the rent offices at the place:
nad Vltavou&utm_campaign=firmy.cz-12728889
3) Lanovy Park:
4) Bobova draha or bobsleigh tracks:
5) Trail on treetops (Stezka korunami stromů):
6) Forest Kingdom (Království lesa):
7) Disco Golf Park:
Czech republic from the Air
Ptačí pohled na naši malou, ale přesto nesmírně zajímavou a krásnou zemičku. Popisky k jednotlivým místům ve videu jsou, stačí si zapnout titulky! :)
Dojít k moři - Long distance hiking trip from Czech Republic to Italian coastline
In 2012 set out to our on foot journey from Vyssi Brod (Czech Rep.) to Grado (Italy)... During 25 days we walked 550km with 12km elevation difference. See more at:
V roce 2012 jsme se pesky vydali z Vyssiho Brodu k mori do Italie... Cesta nam trvala 25 dni, usli jsme 550km s prevysenim asi 12km. Vice na:
Canoe trip to Cesky Krumlov (CZ)
Canoé trip on Vltava river from Rozmberk nad vltavou to Cesky Krumlov, 27 km!!
Great live images from Lipno nad Vltavou from The Czech Republic
Enjoy watching this great images of Lipno nad Vltavou from the Czech Republic.
Lipno nad Vltavou (German Lippen) is a municipality that belongs to the region of South Bohemia and is located on the shore of the Vltava river.
The municipality is situated on the bank of Lipnostausees lake, built between 1952-1959, which dammed the river Vltava, near the natural parks and nature reserves Vyšebrodsko's rock (Devil's Wall) and Luč (Kienberg, 933 m). It is one of Czech Republic's most visited area.
Czech Republic: CD Class 754 'Goggle' locos seen at the remote Bezdekov u Klatov station
CD Class 754 'Goggle' locos seen at the remote Bezdekov u Klatov station, all clips recorded 11th February 2019.
Clip 1 - 754 078 departs Bezdekov u Klatov on the 1415 Praha hln to Zelezna Ruda Alzbetin
Clip 2 (1:15) - 754 029 arrives at Bezdekov u Klatov whilst working train R775, the 1608 Zelezna Ruda Alzbetin to Praha hln
Clip 3 (1:54) - 754 029 is removed from the coaching stock (change for electric locomotive) having arrived at Klatovy on train R775, the 1608 Zelezna Ruda Alzbetin to Praha hln.
T 478.4 is a class of diesel locomotives designed, manufactured and used in the former Czechoslovakia and now used in the Czech republic (ČD Class 754) and Slovak republic (ŽSR Class 754). Their distinctive cab design has led to the nickname goggles.
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České dráhy (ČD) or Czech Railways is the main railway operator in the Czech Republic. In 2010 its consolidated revenues reached CZK 41.0 billion (€1.6bn, $2.1bn). Revenues from passenger transport amounted to CZK 18.7 billion (65% transfer payments from the government, 25% intra-state transport, 10% international transport), revenues from freight transport operated by subsidiary ČD Cargo amounted to CZK 11.8 billion, revenues from traffic control invoiced to state-owned railway infrastructure operator SŽDC amounted to CZK 5.2 billion. With thirty-eight thousand employees ČD Group is the largest Czech company by the number of employees.
The company was established in 1993, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia as a successor of the Czechoslovak State Railways. It is a member of the International Railway Union (UIC Country Code for Czech Republic is 54), Community of European Railways and the Organization for Railways Cooperation (Asia and Europe).
Until 1 July 2008, České dráhy was the biggest employer in the Czech Republic. After experiencing regular losses and requiring government subsidies, the railway reported its first ever profit in 2007 although it receives government subsidies. Attempts to make it more efficient are currently ongoing and a recent plan to move passenger transport to an independent subsidiary was approved by the Czech government in January 2008.
ČD operates trains; fixed infrastructure (such as tracks) is managed by SŽDC. In December 2010, the Czech government proposed bringing SŽDC and ČD together in a single holding company. The government has also changed the subsidies available to ČD and SŽDC.
ČD Cargo, the cargo subsidiary, mainly transports raw materials, intermediate goods and containers. As of 2009, it is ranked in the top five largest railway cargo operators in Europe.
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Bezděkov is a village and municipality (obec) in Klatovy District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic.
The municipality covers an area of 14.91 square kilometres (5.76 sq mi).
Bezděkov lies approximately 5 kilometres (3 mi) south-west of Klatovy, 43 km (27 mi) south of Plzeň, and 117 km (73 mi) south-west of Prague.
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Klatovy (German: Klattau) is a town in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic, it is the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence and Municipality with Commissioned Local Authority.
Klatovy was founded during 1260–1263 by Přemysl Otakar II. There are several historic buildings in the town such as the Black Tower, the Baroque Pharmacy, the Jesuit church with catacombs and the Archdeacon's church. The town's significant German population was expelled from their home in 1945.
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