Kayaking in the Biebrza

Photo: Julian Nyča · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

~3 days

Why go

The Biebrza winds for a hundred and forty kilometres through untouched marshland, from narrow upper meanders full of beaver dams to the wide lower basin where marsh stretches to the horizon on both banks. High water in spring brings the birds and the best paddling.

When

In season: Apr–Jun · Peak: May

Who it’s for

Skill

Intermediate–Advanced

Effort

Moderate

Suitable from

12+ · Teen+

Crowds

Empty

Cost

Kayaking specifics

Tour length: 6 h
Experience: River experience for multi-day trips
Water temp: 16 °C

What to expect

Slow, winding river with long distances between villages, beaver dams on the upper river and open marsh below. The full descent takes about a week and needs good self-sufficiency.

Routes

What the difficulty bands mean

moderate: Sustained effort or some exposure; comfort on the terrain expected.
hard: Long, technical or serious — experience and the right conditions required.

Goniądz to Wizna
moderate
Through the lower basin at high water, marsh on both sides
Lipsk to Sztabin
moderate
Narrow upper river with meanders and beaver dams
Full descent, Lipsk to the Narew
hard
A hundred and forty kilometres over a week

How to start

Hire a kayak with transport in Lipsk or Goniądz. Paddle Goniądz to Wizna at spring high water, try the upper river from Lipsk to Sztabin, and plan the full descent over a week.

Who runs this

PT Szot · Augustów — Organising kayak trips out of Augustów since 1996, on the Czarna Hańcza, Rospuda, Biebrza and the Augustów Canal, with its own fleet of kayaks and canoes.
Biebrza Safari · Dolistowo — Kayak and raft trips from Dolistowo with its own equipment, plus guided walks in the Biebrza National Park with a licensed guide.
Dolina Biebrzy · Wroceń — A riverside base near Goniądz running kayak trips and multi-day trips on traditional Biebrza rafts that it builds itself.

Listed because they’re local and run this themselves. We take no commission.