Travelling on water can be pleasant and exciting form of tourism and discovering natural and cultural beauties of the country. Sailing on Czech rivers flows along beautiful natural sceneries, landscapes, which are rich in cultural and historical sights. Some of the sights are located on the rivers or nearby. The Czech railways operate boat transportation by special wagons during the summer season. The so-called “Vltavské linky” transport sports equipment from many places of the country to the area of the Lipno dam reservoir and the Lužnice River. During the summer holidays special steam train called “Posázavské linky” transports boats from Prague to the Posázaví area. Recommended www.cdrail.cz.
Popular routes
Vltava
Lenora – Nová Pec, Vyšší Brod – České Budějovice
The Vltava River offers an easy sail due to its water level. Boating men can enjoy the sail from the beautiful virgin landscape of Šumava to the region of the Třeboň fish-pond plain, one of the UNESCO biosphere reserves. In the neighbourhood of the lakes is situated the Cistercian Monastery Zlatá Koruna, the ruin of the Dívčí Kámen Castle, the Orlík and Zvíkov Castles.
Lužnice
Suchdol – Veselí nad Lužnicí, Tábor – Bechyně
Sailing down the typical lowland river with wooded sides, floating through the peaceful colourful landscape of the southern Bohemia.
Otava
Sušice-Písek
The most demanding romantic route leads through the deep wooded valley cut into the Táborská pahorkatina (Táborská Highland). On the banks of once gold-bearing river traces of gold washing are still noticeable.
Ohře
Loket – Stráž nad Ohří
Boating marks follow the river; from Karlovy Vary it is marked as rough water. The most popular part for boating men starts near Kynšperk nad Ohří.
Berounka
Plzeň – Karlštejn
The Berounka river flows energetically through rock wooded areas of protected landscapes of Křivoklátsko and Český kras. It becomes calmer in the Prague Basin before its confluence with the Vltava river.
Sázava
Vilémovice – Pikovice
Almost the whole stream of the Sázava River flows trough romantic narrow curves alternating with widely open valleys. It all offers colourful and dramatic experiences.
Morava
Hanušovice – Olomouc
The Morava river with its numerous tributaries meanders in the forests with variety of typical flora and fauna, mainly the water birds. The most charming part from Mohelnice to Olomouc flows through the protected landscape area Litovelské Pomoraví. The new route on the Morava River is Baťův kanál (Bata’s channel), partly leading along the river, partly along an artificial river bed. The ecological tourist attraction in the Slovácko region offers pleasant sail, combined with visits of many cultural sights, walking tours or trips by bicycle to the beautiful nature of Bílé Karpaty (White Carpathians) or going for wine-tasting of good-quality Moravian wines.
In spring, when water is rough, on the rivers Otava, Jizera and Kamenice one can go in for rafting.
