From Horka to Kácov
Set sail from the very border of Middle Earth, actually the Central Bohemian region, on the most stylish trip in our country. Even a complete beginner can manage this 20-kilometre route. There are few weirs and the water doesn’t flow much, so for a first look around this is ideal. Plus, you don’t have to worry about dumping your kids in rapids or on a wild weir. Find out about the navigability of the weirs in the boating navigation.
You’d be hard pressed to find a themed trip. The Sázava, a paddling classic, is almost untouched by human dwellings between Horka nad Sázavou and Kácov. In Zruč, get off the boat and go to the château, where they have an original Paddler Museum, and at the end of the boat trip you can dock in the taproom of the Kácov brewery. In addition, the start and finish are connected by the same train line, which only enhances the overall paddling experience. If it’s your first time on the water, then don’t forget the novice paddler baptism, because after this trip you deserve it.
A packed cruise right from the start
Start under the weir at the camp in Horka nad Sázavou, where Samba will rent you a boat. Its height is life-threatening, but if you are confident and have some experience, you can swing down through the culvert on the right. Otherwise, we recommend towing. It is only 3.5 kilometres to the first stop in Zruč nad Sázavou, but since there is not much water flowing here, the untrained will get a good workout.
In Zruč you will find a pier where you will disembark with the crew and pull the boat onto the land. Take your purse with you and let’s go to the château. We recommend to sail in advance and arrive here on the opening day, because there is a lot to see at the château. In addition to the classic château tours, there are also interactive exhibitions for children and adults, including the aforementioned Boating Museum. Here you will find everything you need to know about this Czech pastime. The Bisport boat rental has its boathouse in Zruč nad Sázavou. So you can start here. First by visiting the château and then going to pick up your yellow boat at the Rákosí camp site.
Don’t look for a hot dog in a wild landscape
In Zruč you also have the last chance to have a really good breakfast and buy some snacks to take with you, because from now on you will only be sailing through a landscape almost untouched by people. You’ll catch your first energy boost and something for your stomach at the Omaha camping ground after another 13 kilometres of paddling. Before that, however, there is the confluence with the Želivka River, which you can see from the top of the smaller rock above it.
From Omaha it is only 4 kilometres to Kácov, which you can split with a short stop at Popeye the Sailor’s refreshments. You may be surprised by the cars in the river below the Kácov weir. Don’t worry, nobody‘s going to drown. That’s just a ford of concrete panels hiding under the water. With a Samba boat you will end your cruise at the Hubertus Brewery. Before you get on the train or into your driver’s car, go for a drink in Šalanda or take a tour of the brewery to see the secrets of the golden drink’s production. But there are more options. You can have another meal at the U kouzelníka camp site or in the restaurant of the Kácov Hotel, which is just a short walk from the Small Museum of Technology. Did you rent the yellow boat from Bisport? Sail about another 1.5 kilometres from the brewery to their own camp ground, where you can get a pizza or burger in addition to a dewy glass of beer.
