The Ultimate Journey:
Vilnius – Kaunas via Kernavė
Unforgettable thrills for the adventurous
The Ultimate Expedition: Kayaking the Neris
Many of us dream of a multi-day kayak expedition filled with adventure and a great company of friends. The taste of morning coffee by the river, the scent of campfire smoke, long conversations with friends and yourself, sun-kissed cheeks, a pleasant ache in your shoulders, and the wind in your hair… A total sense of freedom! This is exactly what a Neris River Expedition offers—the perfect way to turn your wildest dreams into reality.
165 km. That is the distance you would cover paddling from Vilnius to Kaunas. Is it a lot or a little? On average, a kayak travels at about 5–6 km/h. By paddling 10 hours a day, you can easily reach Kaunas with just two overnight stays.
Looking for something shorter? If you want a briefer journey, you can choose the route to the Paneriai Bridge (approx. 55 km). Still not enough?
Choose your expedition distance: Kernavė: ~75 km (can be reached in one very determined day). Čiobiškis: ~90 km. Jonava: ~120 km. Karmėlava: ~140 km.
Pushing the limits? Perhaps your dreams don’t end at Kaunas. Once you reach the Nemunas River, you can keep going: Vilkija: 200 km., Seredžius: 210 km., Veliuona / Raudonė: 230 km., Jurbarkas: ~250 km.
Is Jurbarkas still not the limit? Challenge accepted! Let’s keep paddling! Important note: If you decide to go further toward the Curonian Lagoon (Kuršių marios), you will cover about 380 km. This route borders the Kaliningrad region, so additional formalities and a permit from the State Border Guard Service are required. These formalities take about 10 working days, but don’t let paperwork stop your adventure!
Don’t worry about the logistics. Once your journey ends, there’s no need to hitchhike home! We will take care of everything. We’ll pick up your tired bodies, all the gear, and your belongings from your finish line and drive you back to the agreed location in our minibus.
Available: Year-round.
Skill level: Beginner friendly. (ZW/WW 1 (1+))
The Neris, also known as the Vilija (Belarusian: Вiлiя), flows through Lithuania and Belarus and is the largest right-bank tributary of the Nemunas. It has a total length of 510 km (235 km in Lithuania) and a basin area of 24,933 km2 (13,972 km2 in Lithuania), making it the second-largest river in Lithuania.
The river crosses into Lithuania near Buivydžiai. In its uppermost reaches, the river is only a few meters wide, but it expands significantly as it flows: Near Vileika: over 30 m wide. Near the mouth of the Uša: 60–80 m wide. Near the mouth of the Žeimena: approx. 75 m wide. Near Vilnius: 90 m wide. Near Jonava: approx. 100 m wide. Near its mouth (confluence with Nemunas): up to 240 m wide. In certain areas, such as Paneriai in Vilnius, the river can widen up to 300–350 m.
The riverbed is rocky and features several notable rapids, particularly in the sections between Karveliškės–Verkiai, Vokė–Dūkšta, Kaspariškės–Padaigai, and Turžėnai–Karmėlava. Many of these rapids have historical names, with the largest being Avinas, Saidžiai, and Druskinė. These stretches range from 350 to 800 m in length, with depths of 0.8–1.3 m and a current flow speed of 1.5–1.9 m/s.
For your safety, participants must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Prices
- Transportation ~€50 (€0.50/km)
- Lifejacket - free
- Skirt - free
- Drybag - €3/pcs.
- Carbon paddle - €5/pcs.
- Transportation ~€70 (€0.50/km)
- Lifejacket - free
- Skirt - free
- Drybag - €4/pcs.
- Carbon paddle - €8/pcs.
- Transportation ~€105 (€0.50/km)
- Lifejacket - free
- Skirt - free
- Drybag - €5/pcs.
- Carbon paddle - €10/pcs.
- 2 days €55 / day €27.5
- 3 days €75 / day €25
- 4 days €95 / day €23.75
- 5 days €115 / day €23
- 6 days €135
- 7 days €150
- 8 days €165
Tour Itinerary
Book your trip – by phone, email, or via the contact form.
For trips starting from Vilnius: We meet at the starting point of the route. For custom itineraries: Details will be coordinated individually by phone.
We provide all the necessary kayaking gear: kayaks, paddles, spray decks (skirts), and buoyancy aids (life jackets). Waterproof dry bags are also available upon request (subject to availability).
We provide detailed information about the river and the equipment. We’ll walk you through exactly what to expect on your journey.
Paddle downstream, enjoy the scenery, splash around, share laughs, take a swim, empty the water from your kayak, and keep on going!
As you approach the end of your trip, simply give us a call. We’ll be there to meet you, hear all about your adventure, and drive you back to the meeting point. Then, it’s a warm goodbye until next time!
