Every summer thousands of Lithuanians rent canoes and head off on river trips. But if you paddle more than once a season, your own kayak not only pays for itself, it also gives you the freedom to choose your route, timing and pace with no restrictions. Here is a practical guide to planning a multi day kayak trip on Lithuanian rivers.<\/p>\n\n
Read also:<\/strong> Where to kayak in Lithuania<\/a>, How to choose a kayak<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rental points offer simplicity: you turn up, get a canoe and hand it back at the end. But there are a few serious drawbacks. First, rental canoes are usually old, heavy and uncomfortable. Second, you are tied to specific routes and times. Third, a day's rental costs 30 to 50 EUR, which adds up to 150 to 300 EUR or more over a season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A recreational kayak costs from 250 EUR and lasts for years. That means your kayak pays for itself by the second season. And the difference in quality between a rental canoe and your own kayak is huge: a more comfortable seat, a more stable hull and less weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do not have a kayak yet and want one for touring, see our recreational kayaks category<\/a> or guide to choosing your first kayak<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lithuania has dozens of rivers suitable for kayak touring. When choosing a route, pay attention to three things: the strength of the current, the distance and whether there are campsites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For beginners (first overnight trip):<\/strong> The \u017deimena or the \u0160ventoji. Gentle current, easy to navigate, with campsites along the banks. A route of 15 to 25 km a day is a comfortable pace. You will find more spots in our guide Where to kayak in Lithuania<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Intermediate (you have some experience):<\/strong> The Minija, the Neris from Vilnius, the J\u016bra. These rivers are longer and more varied. In some places you may have to portage kayak<\/a> around a dam or a fallen tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For experienced anglers:<\/strong> The Dubysa, the Neris to Kaunas (100+ km), the \u016ala in Dz\u016bkija. These need boat handling skills and experience of camping in the wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any kayak will do for a day paddle. But for an overnight trip you need to think about storage capacity, comfort and efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A hardshell touring kayak<\/strong> is the best choice for long trips. A longer hull (380 to 450 cm) tracks better, and sealed hatches let you carry your gear safely. The Wilderness Systems TSUNAMI series<\/a> is one of the best touring kayaks in this segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sit-on-top kayak<\/strong> also work if they have gear attachment points. Galaxy Kayaks<\/a> models with storage compartments are a popular choice, as they are stable and easy to get out of when you make camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inflatable kayak<\/strong> is a great option if you do not want to carry a hardshell kayak on the roof. NRS Akamai 125<\/a> or the larger 145 model has enough space for an overnight trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Packraft<\/strong> is the lightest option if you are planning a combined hiking and paddling trip. Packrafts<\/a> weighs from 3 kg and fits in a backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An overnight trip needs more than just a kayak and a paddle. Here is the basic list:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Essential:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommended:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For more on accessories<\/a> and accessories, read our accessories guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest logistical challenge on a multi day trip is that you finish somewhere other than where you started. There are a few solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kayak touring in Lithuania is safe, but a few rules are a must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more on safety and choosing life saving equipment, read our safety gear comparison<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n For touring we recommend the Galaxy Kayaks Cruz Ultra<\/a> (from 599 EUR) or the lighter option, the Galaxy Kayaks Force<\/a>. When planning longer trips, do not forget dry bags<\/a> to keep your things protected.<\/p>\n\n If you have your own kayak, the cost of a trip is the campsite fee (0 to 10 EUR a night, depending on the place) and food. If you rent, a day's canoe rental costs 30 to 50 EUR, plus another 20 to 50 EUR for transport back. Your own kayak pays for itself after just 2 to 3 trips a season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most Lithuanian rivers are freely accessible. However, restrictions may apply in national parks: paddling on some rivers is banned at certain times of year (during the bird nesting season). Before paddling in a national park, check the park rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The easiest option is an inflatable kayak that fits in the boot. A hardshell kayak needs a roof rack with kayak carriers or foam pads. Shorter kayaks (up to 300 cm) fit more easily on the roof of a smaller car. If transport is your main concern, consider an inflatable kayak<\/a> or packraft<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kiekvien\u0105 vasar\u0105 t\u016bkstan\u010diai lietuvi\u0173 nuomojasi baidares ir leid\u017eiasi \u012f upi\u0173 keliones. Bet jei plaukiojate daugiau nei kart\u0105 per sezon\u0105, savas kajakas ne tik atsiperka finansi\u0161kai, bet ir suteikia laisv\u0119 rinktis mar\u0161rut\u0105, laik\u0105 ir temp\u0105 be joki\u0173 apribojim\u0173. \u010cia rasite praktin\u012f gid\u0105, kaip suplanuoti daugiodien\u0119 kajako kelion\u0119 Lietuvos up\u0117mis. Skaitykite taip pat: Kur plaukioti kajaku Lietuvoje, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2103,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[500,638],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-260420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kajakai","category-marsrutai-keliones"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWhy your own kayak and not a rental?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you choose a route?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What kind of kayak do you need for a trip?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What gear should you take?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How do you organise transport?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Safety rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Recommended kayaks for touring<\/h2>\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How much does a kayak trip on a Lithuanian river cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can you paddle on all Lithuanian rivers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Which kayak is easiest to carry on a car roof?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n