Take a boat trip in Bohemian Switzerland

I’m an avid kayaker who has already paddled down the most famous rivers in the Czech Republic. But I’ve never been to the Elbe, which is just an hour’s train ride from Prague. So I decided to change that and planned a trip for myself and my girlfriend—complete with a surprise at the end.

I found Active Point online, on Google—they had good reviews. I was drawn to their website, which was modern and easy to navigate, and they had a nice selection of one-day and multi-day trips. Plus, in addition to the kayaking experience, you can rent a bike or bring your own, and they’ll transport it to your destination so you can ride back on your bike after paddling. We decided not to take advantage of that this time, but maybe next time. There are really many options, and I’ll share my experience with you.

I booked a canoe for my girlfriend and me on the website. I chose the route from Děčín to Schmilka. I figured that 2–3 hours on the water would be the perfect experience (and it was, but more on that at the end :-)). The website guided me smoothly through the online payment process. After successfully completing the payment, I received an email confirming the time, the pickup location, and what to bring with me.

The next day, my girlfriend and I arrived at 9 a.m. at the campsite in Děčín under the New Bridge, where the pickup point is located. A young man immediately took us under his wing and led us to the boats and equipment. I was pleased that we only had to show the QR code for our reservation and payment on our phones and didn’t have to print anything out. A truly innovative approach—thumbs up. He briefly and humorously went over the instructions on what we should and shouldn’t do while paddling to stay safe on the water, where we were supposed to go, how to hold the paddle correctly, how to fasten the life jacket, and even threw in a few paddling jokes to keep the mood light. Everything went pretty quickly, and after about 15 minutes we were all geared up and studying the map we’d been given for the trip, which marked the various landing spots.

We were given a great yellow canoe that looked stable and unsinkable. Then the young man asked us if we knew where everyone should sit and how to steer the canoe. So we wouldn’t have to lug the plastic boat around, we were given small wheels to roll it to the Elbe. That was really great—the boat weighed next to nothing, and we didn’t have to work ourselves to the bone. Once we got to the water, he helped us get in, and with a cheerful “AHOOOOJ,” he sent us off down the river.

And a whole new view of Děčín opened up before us. It was the first time I’d seen Tyrš Bridge from below. Even the castle looked more imposing than usual, and the view of the Pastýřská Wall across the river was truly breathtaking. After a while, we left “civilization” behind, and a magnificent view of the sandstone canyon and the surrounding nature unfolded before us. While our eyes couldn’t take it all in—all that beauty and the abundance of wild birds—our ears got a lovely break from the city noise, thanks in part to the water lapping against the boat’s sides. After an hour and a half, we stopped for a quick snack in Dolní Grund (a restaurant in Dolní Žleb).

Refreshed, we hopped back into the canoe and paddled across the German border to Schmilka. On the right, I spotted a building with a sign that read CAFÉ RICHTER, which was a sign that our trip was nearing its end. Right below the café was a dock, where we disembarked. As agreed, we pulled the boat onto a small clearing so it wouldn’t drift away and get in the way of other paddlers. We completed the trip in just over two hours and didn’t break a sweat at all.

That was a real plus, since I had a surprise planned for my girlfriend. But first, we had coffee at a café with an amazing view of the river and the rocks. Yeah, it’s awesome here. We didn’t return from Schmilka by train or by bike—which Active Point had offered us for the trip back—but instead we set out on foot for the 8 km hike to Pravčická brána. It was a great trip, and I highly recommend Active Point.

Who are we? We’re a Děčín-based leisure company driven by the idea of offering active entertainment and unique experiences in Bohemian Switzerland, a region we love. Come see for yourself just how much we have to offer.

Book your experiences at www.active-point.cz