Multiday Nemunas Adventure. All inclusive canoe tour.

TRANQUILITY & JOY OF SOLITUDE

Welcome to the Lithuanian wilderness, a veritable blend of wildlife, ancient forests, and magnificent landscapes. Our multi-day canoeing holiday showcases the best our regional parks have to offer, and let you explore Lithuania in a truly amazing way.

UNDISTURBED

We take you on a journey through one of the less populated areas. We call this "river therapy", a way to clear your mind and gain fresh perspectives.

SUSTAINABLE

We are very mindful of our impact on the environment, and respect the land we visit. This is a truly unique ecotourism adventure.

ALL-INCLUSIVE

Rest your mind as we provide top of the line equipment, coordinate your gear list and take care of the menu, so you’ll just need to bring yourself.

TOUR OVERVIEW

A slow adventure at an easy pace

he Nemunas starts in Belarus and ends in the Baltic sea, with a total length of 914km. Don’t be alarmed though! We’ll only cover 100km, which works out to only 20km a day. Not to worry, we’re going to be paddling at a leisurely pace.
Your time is all yours

Other than paddling that 20km a day, the itinerary is in your hands. Choose to photograph nature, birdwatch, cook, or even relax and enjoy a good book. We’ll provide reliable equipment, wholesome food, and be as present as you want us to be - how much guidance or freedom you like is up to you.
Where the wild things are

Tick off as many as you can on our birdwatching list of more than thirty species: Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Black and White Stork, Sand Martin, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Osprey, White-tailed Eagle and others. If birds aren’t your thing, don’t forget that the river supports a great ecosystem of fish and waterfowl too. Fish species include perch, pike, zander, roach, tench, bream, rudd, ruffe, bleak, and many more.
Dine in nature’s beauty

Indulge in our specially created menu to complement your river adventure. You don’t need to pack any cooking equipment, we’ll provide the tools, and cook together over a toasty fire.
Nemunas’ unique stories

The section of the Nemunas that we’ll paddle follows a winding path. The bends are not conventional river meanders, instead they follow underlying tectonic structures and the faults are the source of the mineral springs in the area. The area is also historically and culturally significant; its castles served as the first line of defense against attacks by the Teutonic knights.

LOCATION

Day by day itinerary

Day 1 - Heading - south.

We begin our canoeing trip at the southern tip of the country in Druskininkai – a resort town built around mineral springs.
You’ll find the air here crisp and fresh, thanks in part to the pine forests surrounding the town.

Before we set off, your guide will brief you on your equipment, and you'll have a chance to get used to your gear. We will also do a safety and paddling demonstration, then it’s time to depart for our unforgettable river adventure.

After a leisurely paddle, we’ll pull onto shore to set up our first camp and cook a delicious dinner – the first of many! If you like, it’ll also be a great time to hop into the river for an evening swim, or you can relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Day 2 - Beaver trails and White tailed eagles

The day begins with us in the middle of Dzukija national park, the largest protected area in Lithuania.
The early morning is when we’ll have our highest chance of spotting beavers, otters or even Canadian mink - all of them are found in abundance here.

Today’s paddling will require some effort for us to reach the small town of Merkinė, one of the oldest settlements in Lithuania. Here, we stop to ascend the landmark 26m structure, built with multiple observation decks for a unique, panoramic view of the landscape from various heights. To commemorate this beautiful moment, your guide will call on his trusty drone for some gorgeous aerial photography.

Once we’re back on the ground, we continue our journey east to find a suitable shore to set up camp – and when we do so, we’ll cook our evening meal, enjoy the company, and exchange stories.

Day 3 - Dissolving in mighty waters

By now, we’re completely submerged in the area.

At the mid-point of our adventure, we’ll be deep in the forest, with trees as far as the eye can see. This area is known to have a large wolf population, but don’t worry, they’re more afraid of you than you are of them.

The remoteness however, will work in our favour, giving us the greatest chance of bird-spotting. The forest’s feathered inhabitants are sensitive to human disturbance, so be alert and keep your eyes peeled. Chances are, you’ll meet some white-tailed eagles and Grey Herons, and if you’re lucky we may come across some Ospreys and Kingfishers too.

Towards the day’s end we find ourselves at Druskelė spring - a natural spring with uniquely mineralised water that was first documented in XVIII. Our camp site is only a couple of miles after that, where we’ll also try our hand at fishing. Let’s hope we catch a fish big enough for our dinner!

Day 4 - Alytus area

A delicious breakfast of eggplant will be served along with your coffee this morning, providing additional fuel for a busy day.

Our journey today takes us past the city of Alytus along the way to the bends of the Nemunas, while hoping to spot the Kingfisher, Black Terns, Great White Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagles. Weather permitting, the ancient forest of Punios Šilas will be our last pitstop before the campsite, with the songs of the Common Cranes in the nearby swamps guiding us on the home stretch.

Once we have pitched camp, it’s time to cook our Grand Finale dinner, and enjoy our last night in this peaceful forest. Listen out for the flutter of bat wings that will be a lullaby for your sleep.

Day 5 - You'll feel it, Nemunas!

You’ll open your eyes to our last sunrise in the woods, and enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting off for the last leg of our adventure.

We head north, following a large, almost 360° loop that the river makes around the forest, protecting it in its gentle embrace. On our journey we’ll spot Partisan’s bunker, a stronghold used in the 50s and 60s by anti-Soviet resistance groups living in the forest. Next, we’ll pass Punios Hillfort, once a fortress, today a reminder of great history.

By the time we reach Siponių outcrop, signs of civilization will become more apparent, signaling the end of our journey along the river. We hope that the Nemunas leaves you recharged and full of great memories!

Pricing and options

We also offer a full refund if you decide to cancel your adventure 2 weeks prior start date.
This tour is booked as a private tour only.
Group size: 11 pax. plus guides
Minimal participant age: 16 y.o.
Difficulty: medium
Requirements: Adventurous mood and ability to swim. Max. weight - 120kg.
Transfer: modern 9-seated minibus (Ford Transit Custom).
Accomodation:
Tents for sleeping; River for showering.
Meals throughout the expedition:
Breakfast and dinner ingridients and included (self service). Alcoholic beverages are not included.
Paddling distance: average of 20 km per day (5-6 hours).

Your guide

Janis Žekanis - passionate canoe builder, outdoor guide, and paddling enthusiast - Janis studied in Canada, Russia, travelled the world land and sea and has years and years of outdoor experience. Founder of Wet Weim adventure company, he just wanted to build one canoe for himself and it all ended up with award winning canoe tours all across Lithuania.
Janis builds he's canoes himself, works as a outdoors guide, paddling instructor and travel industry educator.
State certified guide license (Nr.15452)

What's included?

Inventory

Two seated canoe
Paddle
PFD - support vest
First aid kit
Hermetic bag
Hermetic barrel 60L
Saw (shared)
Bottle
Shovel (shared)

Cooler bag (shared)
Water tanks
Burner + gas
Frying pan and pots (2pcs.)
Cutting board
Kitchen utensils
Tableware
Dishwashing kit
Knife
Rope
Hygiene kit

Meals

Fully arranged menu for the entire trip. Breakfast and dinners as well as hot drinks are included. Alcohol drinks are available on-request, alternatively you can bring your own. Vegetarian menu is available on request.

Service

Pickup in Klaipeda,
Transfer with minibus (Ford Transit Custom)
Canoe paddling instruction
Guidance
Route planning
Guide will take photos during the trip
Drone photography

What to bring?

Waterproof jacket and pants
Set of spare clothes for couple of days
Shoes for water & land
Towel & swimwear
Travel (active rest) insurance
Sunglasses, sun cap, sun screen & toiletries
Camera
Tent, sleeping bag, mat
Headlamp

A true gastronomic adventure

During the trip, perishable products are stored in a mobile refrigerator. Cool bags with cold batteries are used.

Each canoe carries and prepares its own, separately packaged meals. You are the chef!

Good wine is good for good food *, but please choose and drink alcohol responsibly **

Spices, oils and herbs are used from a shared "spice basket" for convenience. The menu can be adjusted individually by changing ingredients, recipes, and more.

First day

Lunch
Your are on your own
Dinner
Coconut chicken curry with Basmati rice

Second day

Breakfast
Morning buffet
Ingredients: bread, cheese, ham, eggs, yogurt, muesli, jam. Coffee, tea
Lunch
Your are on your own
Dinner
Moroccan sweet potato and chickpea stew

Third day

Breakfast
“Musli la grande" - with apples, cranberries and nuts. Coffee, tea.
Lunch
Your are on your own
Dinner
Traditional Swedish Hash - “Pytt i panna”

Fourth day

Breakfast
"Shakshuka" - scrambled eggs with lightly roasted tomatoes. Coffee, tea.
Dinner
Your on your own

*It is strictly prohibited to consume alcoholic beverages while paddling a canoe **Alcoholic beverages are not included.

Ready to paddle? Book your adventure now.

+370 66 238 238

Still doubts or questions? Refer to our FAQ section for answers.

Most important questions

Is it safe? I have never paddled a canoe before.

You don’t need any experience or paddling skills for this tour, just a little caution and common sense. Our canoes, almost five meters long, are incredibly stable and perfect for beginners. You will be accompanied by an experienced guide throughout the expedition, and each participant will be trained before the start. Your safety is our highest and uncompromising priority.

How physically fit should I be?

You don’t have to be an athlete to paddle. The canoe has a very small draft, so it slides incredibly easily in the water without much effort. Our route is arranged according to the pace of recreational paddling, ie - without rushing. However, if we paddle against strong winds, more effort will be needed. Most often, this can be avoided but not always. However, if necessary, we will learn several tricks of "avoiding" the wind.