Rafting along Dunajec and the castle in Niedzica.       

The gorge of Dunajec River flowing through the calcareous range called Pieniny is the most interesting and the best known river gorge in Europe. Rafting has been organized here for the host of years. The journey is made on the rafts that are steered by raftsmen from Sromowce up to the harbour in Szczawnica. The route has got 15 kilometers and the difference in levels is 36 meters. The rafting, depending on the weather, lasts about 3 hours. This part of Dunajec River includes a few loops and the mountain walls are about 300 meters high.

Who is a raftsman (flisak)? He is a member of the group that in the remote times took care of transporting goods along the rivers. They were usually countrymen living in the villages located at the river shore and floating was and additional occupation for them. In the course of time they have created their own customs and vocabulary. In the XVIIth century they established their own organization which worked like a craftsmen guild. The beginning of rafting people has got its roots in the first part on XIXth century.

During the rafting you may admire among many others: Marcelowa Mountain being a sanctuary, an island about 2 km long (here the Dunajec is divided into two beds), Aksamitki Mountains with their caves in which Janosik was being hidden (Janosik was a famous brigand that used to rob the rich and give to the poor), Red Monastery, view over Trzy Korony (Three Crowns which is the highest peak of Pieniny) and Seven Monks (seven rocks shaped like a monk’s hoods).

Just after rafting we get to the castle in Niedzica which was built in the early XIV century by Hungarian colonist Rykolf Berzevicz. At first it was called "Dunajec" and was the Hungarian watchtower on the Polish board. Since 1948 the castle has been restored and partly rebuilt. In some of the rooms a house of creative work for the Association of Historians of Art was created and others were available for tourists with its museum of interiors and the history of the region. In 1960 the tower was destined to the station of seismology of the Institute of Geophysics PAN.

One of the greatest mysteries of the castle is "Kipu" of Inca - type of putting down information in specific kind of script, which was found just after the Second World War and may contain information about a hidden treasure.

Incredible experiences guaranteed!!

Departure from Cracow: 8:00 a.m.

Return to Cracow: about 4:00 p.m.

Price: 420 PLN       

Additional information: costs of the journey, enty fee to the castle, rafting, insurence and a guide included in the price. Lunch not included.

Bringing customers from and back to the hotel. (Refers to the hotels in Cracow)