The Pieniny raftsmen wear traditional folk costumes featuring embroidered vests and hats decorated with sea shells.
The rafting route forms part of the natural border between Poland and Slovakia, with the riverbank switching jurisdiction periodically.
The Three Crowns (Trzy Korony) peak is visible from the water, rising approximately 500 meters above the riverbed.
During the journey, raftsmen share local folklore and legends about Janosik, a legendary mountain bandit.
The wooden rafts have no mechanical propulsion and rely entirely on the river current and the pilot's navigation.
Spływ Dunajcem is a traditional wooden raft expedition through the Pieniny Gorge along the border of Poland and Slovakia. The journey originates at the Kąty wharf in Sromowce Wyżne and terminates in Szczawnica or Kroscienko. Rafts are operated by Pieniny highlanders, known as flisacy, who use long poles to navigate the shallow, winding river. The route covers approximately 15 to 18 kilometers of river scenery passing through limestone rock formations. The rafts are constructed from five joined wooden canoes. This mode of transport has been organized as a tourist attraction since the mid-19th century.
The segment of the river where the raft passes beneath the towering limestone walls of the Pieniny Gorge.
Bring a light jacket or windbreaker, as temperatures on the river are lower than on land.
Wear comfortable, flat-soled shoes suitable for boarding and disembarking from uneven wooden rafts.
Sun protection is essential as there is no shade on the open rafts.
Do not wait until the afternoon during peak summer months, as queues for tickets can be significant.
Operates daily from April through October; closed during the winter season.
Remain seated while the raft is in motion and refrain from standing up for photographs unless the guide signals it is safe.
