Canoeing in Ukraine

Prypiat River

A canoeing expedition to Ukraine is an unusual exciting experience. Kayak tourism is very rare and in unknown places, so it is out of the question to run into a crowded route. The only people one can come across are the fishermen from neighbouring villages who fish using old, traditional nets or the locals mowing meadows or grazing cattle. Hay stacks and old fishing nets laid in crystal clear waters are a common sight in the landscape. Canoeing in Ukraine is a real “back to the past” - experience. One can have the impression that time stopped there 50 years ago, mainly because of the total lack of any industrial and touristic infrastructure. Sparse locals live modestly and in agreement with nature. Wattled fences, blue shutters and thatched roofs in villages make the surroundings full of charm. Although the canoeing trails of northern Ukraine are safe because of low stream power, it is complicated to find the right way in the maze of channels of the Stokhid and Prypiat river. Therefore it is strongly recommended to paddle, as we offer, with a company or guide, who precisely knows the area, facilitates camping places and secures food delivery for participants.

Prypiat – Stokhid Landscape Park is established in 1995 and in 2007 it was designated as a national park. It is located in the north-western part of Ukraine in the northern parts of Volyn and Rivne province and with an area of 40958 ha it forms a unique nook of Ukrainian Polisia. Marshy forest areas lie in the valleys of the Prypiat and Stokhid river. Sandy-banked lakes, big complexes of oak-pine forests, large wetlands and marshes as well as multi-channel river system are situated here.

The area of open waters is 2507 ha (5,6% of the total park area). Beside the rivers there are a few lakes: Lubiaz (519 ha), Nobel (499 ha), Skorin (179 ha), Omyt (57 ha) and Nigovystsche (24 ha). The aim of establishing the landscape park in 1995 was the assurance of protection of two plain-rivers valleys with their characteristic landscape. The name “Stokhid” particularly expresses the rivers nature for it means the river of a hundred ways. Dozens of river beds, old river beds and abandoned arms form a complicated maze among numerous islands. The islands are sometimes sandy and elevated a few meters above the river valley, sometimes marshy and almost equal with the water level.

The edges of the river valleys, 5-7 km in width, are overgrown with oak-pine mixed forests (dry, and sandy zones), in the wet areas mainly with alder.

Over 550 species of vascular plants (also known as tracheophytes or higher plants) were affirmed here. Among these plants are rare ones as Lady's Slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus), Spoonleaf sundew (Drosera intermedia), Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris), Northern firmoss (Huperzia selago), Huperzia annotinum and Daphne cneorum.

The diversity of the flora in the area is caused by the existence of sandy elevations among marshy surroundings, where, on a relatively small area, fast changes of plants communities are observed.

Over 219 animal species inhabit the park. 19 fish species, for example European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and burbot (Lota lota). 14 amphibian and reptile species are found, for example European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), Smooth Newt (Triturus vulgaris), European tree frog (Hyla arborea). 26 mammal species live in the area among which European beaver (Castor fiber), elk (Alces alces), European Mink (Mustela lutreola), European Otter (Lutra lutra) and grey wolf (Canis lupus).

Probably most special for the Prypiat-Stokhid National Park are birds. Among swamps, meadows and overgrowing reservoirs, during the breeding season, among common widespread species also Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Great White Heron (Egretta alba), Little Egret, (Egretta garzetta), Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), Red-necked Grebe, (Podiceps grisegena), Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus), Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola), Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Eurasian Curlew, (Numenius arquata), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) and Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) are often observed.

Bird watchers are impressed by bird migrations. It is possible to observe up to 150000 breeding birds during migration time.

The area is rich with historical towns and villages. In Lubieshiv for example, where the Stokhid-Prypiat National Park head office is located, is the town where the Polish national hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko lived and learned in the 18th century. It is worth mentioning, that Volyn and Rivne oblasts were situated in Poland until the Second World War. Thanks to that we can still observe many traces of the Polish past and many people, particularly old, speak or understand Polish.

Useful information:

• Ukraine lies in + 2.00 GMT time zone. (1 hour later than in Poland). Please do not forget to switch your watch after crossing the border.
• To cross the border between Poland and Ukraine a valid passport is necessary.
• Most of the prices at shops, compared to Western Europe, are relatively low. Fuel, cigarettes and alcohol are extremely cheap.
• For individual canoeing trips there are plenty camping sites to be found along any daily length of individual paddling distances. Limitations for camping are caused by the possibility to access the sites by road during guided trips for and luggage transport between camping sites.
• Because of the very complicated multi-channel river system canoeing with experienced guide is necessary to prevent from getting lost.
• Locals are very hospitable and helpful, but communication with them without basic skills of Ukrainian, Russian or sometimes Polish might be difficult.
• The area is remote but buying food shouldn’t be a problem. Grocery shops with basic products are situated in almost every village.

Costs of canoeing trip in Ukraine (minimal number of participants – 14 people)
Route and duration	Place of beginning and ending of the trip	Price
Stokhid (7 days)	Guliwka - Swalowitsche	790 PLN/person
Prypiat (7 days)	Ratno - Swalowitsche	790 PLN/person

Attention! For self-organized groups with a minimum of 14 people we can freely fix a trip date.

For small groups and individual participants there is the opportunity to take part in a guided canoeing trip on the following dates:

• July 2nd 2012 - July 8th 2012 (Prypiat)
• July 30th 2012 - August 5th 2012 (Stokhid)

The organization reserves the right to cancel the trip until a week before the beginning date due to an insufficient number of participants.

The price for the trip includes the following service:

• place in a 2-person kayak or canoe (paddles, life-jackets included),
• transfer to Ukraine to the start of the tour and back to Poland,
• laminated maps of route (one set for each kayak),
• admission fees to Prypiat-Stokhid National Park,
• guide,
• luggage transport between camping sites,
• accident insurance.

Attention! For a low additional charge there is a possibility to order regional Ukrainian dishes (prepared on the spot by Ukrainians) or/and live performance of folk music and songs.