Maricha on a SUP? Of course!
The Marycha River is much less well-known than the Czarna Hańcza or Rospuda. Kayaks are rare here, and my iGo Zen 11'2" Starboard was perhaps my first SUP on this river. I chose the iGo ZEN 11'2" board for this trip for a reason. Its excellent maneuverability at a relatively long waterline and short fin allowed me to efficiently navigate the Marycha's numerous curves and navigate over the numerous submerged trees.
The rafting trip begins in Zelwa. The hospitable company www.marycha.com.pl provides river logistics and accommodation in Zelwa. I arranged my return trip by leaving the bus at the end of the route, about 2 km after the village of Stanowisko. I cycled back to Zelwa to the starting point (about 7 km). For the first few kilometers, the river flows very calmly and is quite deep. The crystal-clear, cool water encourages swimming. On a hot summer day, it's a perfect refreshment. Further along, the river begins to meander more, and fallen trees appear. Most of it is cut through, but the rafting requires more concentration. For less experienced rafting enthusiasts, I recommend kneeling. The river flows along the Polish-Lithuanian border, mostly through beautiful tall forest. After passing the village of Budwieć for about 11 km (where a shorter version of the rafting trip can end), there's another 5 km of much shallower river, continuing along the border, until you reach the end of the route. This is the last chance to reach the Polish coast. About 2 km away is the tripoint of the Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarusian borders. And Belarus, you know, is a problem…
The entire Zelwa-Zestsko route is approximately 16 km. It takes about 5 hours. You should allocate a full day for this trip. It's also a perfect respite from everyday worries, as cell phone reception along the route is very poor, or nonexistent. In short, it's a complete wilderness 300 km from the Palace of Culture and Science.
I highly recommend it!
Paweł Jędrzejewski
