Indrica–Krāslava (15 km)
An easy difficulty boating route for one day. Explore the Upper Daugava up to the Daugava bends, the first bend, and leisurely explore Krāslava.
Boat rental & routes in the Daugava bends
Most popular routes of the Daugava bends
We offer boat rental and paddling routes through the Daugava bends near Krāslava, in Latgale. Several water-tourism routes start right at the “Adamova” camping — from a one-day Indrica–Krāslava trip to a multi-day journey through all the Daugava bends, all the way to Daugavpils. We rent canoes, kayaks and rowboats, and provide transport and a safety briefing. Choose the route that suits you best and book your boats today!
Daugava bends. Indrica–Slutišķi (40 km)
An easy difficulty boating route for two days, allowing you to explore the Upper Daugava and a large part of the Daugava bends, as well as visit the Slutišķi village.
Daugava bends. Krāslava–Slutišķi (25 km)
An easy difficulty boating route for one full day, allowing you to explore a large part of the Daugava bends and the Slutišķi village.
Daugava bends. Indrica–Daugavpils (75 km)
An easy to medium difficulty boating route for three days, allowing you to explore the Upper Daugava and all the Daugava bends.
Daugava bends. Krāslava–Daugavpils (60 km)
An easy to medium difficulty boating route for two or three days, allowing you to explore all the Daugava bends and their sightseeing spots.
Other routes
We also provide services for other boating routes in the Upper Daugava and the Daugava bends (e.g., from/to Skerskani, from Slutišķi, from/to Vasargelišķi, etc.), as well as boat trips on other rivers or lakes in Latgale.
What you will see in the Daugava bends
The Daugava bends are the only place in Latvia where the Daugava still flows in its natural, undammed bed. From Krāslava to Naujene, the river forms eight mighty bends — each 4–6 km long, but the straight-line distance between them is only 2–3 km. So as you paddle, you constantly feel as if you are turning back, and the landscape changes anew after every bend.
Right next to “Adamova” rises the Adamova Cliff — one of the longest (about 1.7 km) and highest (25–35 m) cliffs in the entire course of the Daugava. At its foot lie witnesses of the last ice age: a huge 11 m³ boulder, ancient oaks, and spring-fed ravines. Downstream, even more impressive views await you — the Ververu Cliff (36.5 m) with its panorama of the “Daugava Gates”, the Slutišķu Cliff (40.9 m) and the Vasargelišķi viewing tower (20 m), from which the bends open up as if in the palm of your hand.
The banks hold human stories too: the Slutišķi Old Believers’ village with its museum of traditional culture, the Veckaplava Orthodox Church (built in 1894–1895) and ancient hillforts. Along the way you will also pass Devonian sandstone outcrops tinted by iron compounds and sandy islets right in the middle of the river.
Tip: before you step into the boat, walk the roughly 1.6 km Adamova nature trail — it cannot be seen from the river, but from the car park at the trailhead a wide view opens onto Krāslava and the ancient Daugava valley.
Available boats
Canoes
Canoe TAKU 3, HDPE, 3 seats, 488 × 91 cm, 36 kg
Kayaks
Kayak FINDER, LDPE, 2 seats, 419 × 78 cm, 38 kg
Rowboats
Rowboat with motor space AMBER 430, 4 seats, 430 × 155 cm, 89 kg
Outboard motors
Boat motor MERCURY FOURSTROKE, 5 HP/3.7 kW
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to go boating in the Daugava Bends?
No. Our routes are easy to moderate in difficulty and are suitable for both beginners and families. Before the trip, we provide a safety briefing, and we also offer informative materials with tips for safe boating.
What boats are available for rent?
We rent canoes (TAKU 3, 3 seats), kayaks (FINDER, 2 seats), and rowboats (AMBER 430, 4 seats) that can also be fitted with a motor (Mercury Fourstroke, 5 HP).
How long are the shortest and longest routes?
The shortest is the one-day Indrica–Krāslava route (15 km), and the longest is the three-day Indrica–Daugavpils route (75 km) through all the Daugava Bends. In total, we offer five routes ranging from 15 to 75 km.
Do you provide transport to the start and end of the routes?
Yes. We provide transport to the start and from the end of the route, and we also help you choose the most suitable route based on your time and experience.
How do I book boats and a route?
Contact us in the “Contacts” section to book boats and choose a route. We also service other routes in the Augšdaugava and Daugava Bends, as well as trips on other rivers and lakes in Latgale.
What to bring
Most of the gear — life vests, paddles and waterproof bags — you will get from us. It is best to prepare the rest yourself:
- A life vest on your body, not in the bottom of the boat. On the Daugava, shallow spots quickly give way to deep ones, so wear the vest even when paddling close to shore.
- Waterproof bags or cases for your phone, map and camera.
- Strong sunscreen (SPF 30–50) and a hat — the sun “bites” harder out on the water.
- Warm clothing and a change of dry clothes — on a Latvian summer night the air by the river can cool to +8 °C.
- Drinking water — for a two-day trip, count on about 6 litres per person.
- For overnight stays: a good, waterproof tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad.