Discovering Vokė:
An Unexplored Kayaking Route

Kayaking: The Vokė – The Perfect Local Escape

 Have you already kayaked the Žeimena, Merkys, Dubysa, or Vilnelė a hundred times? Does the idea of another trip down the Neris feel a bit too familiar? Are you looking for a fun time with friends but don’t want to drive dozens or hundreds of kilometers away from Vilnius just for a few hours of paddling?

 We have the IDEAL route for you: The Vokė.

 Thanks to the Žagarinė dam, which diverted most of the upper Merkys flow through a canal into Lake Papys, the upper Merkys has artificially become the headwaters of the Vokė. The river flows from Lake Papys toward the northeast, turns northwest near Juodšiliai, and eventually joins the Neris in Grigiškės.

 Already a „hidden gem” for many locals, the Vokė is located just 15 minutes by car from the city center. You can easily reach our meeting point by car, taxi, public transport, or even with a lift from your mother-in-law!

Why choose the Vokė?

 Our routes are straightforward and perfect for first-timers or families with small children.

 If you think this is a „Netflix and chill” kind of float where you’ll just be sunbathing, think again! Depending on your start, you might need to carry your kayak around the Vaidotai water mill.

 As you pass under the Vilnius–Trakai highway bridge, the rushing water often greets paddlers with a playful wave. Fallen trees and low-hanging footbridges will definitely keep you engaged and awake.

 Flowing through sandy and peaty terrain, the river remains deep enough to ensure smooth paddling even during the hottest summer days, without getting stuck on shallows.

 The Extra Mile: For those seeking more, passing a couple more dams and navigating an artificial extreme paddling course allows you to flow right into the Neris.

 With its winding turns and playful bends, the Vokė matches—and sometimes even surpasses—the thrill of the Vilnelė.