Canoeing and rafting nearby the campground
If you want your relaxation time to also include a bit of adventure, rafting is the right choice for you. We’d be happy to give you any pointers and help prepare everything you need. In and around Český Krumlov, you’ll find a number of river rafting options.
The easiest and most accessible is rafting in the Vltava River. Most people start in Vyšší Brod, where you can rent a fully-equipped canoe or raft for one or more trips. The rafts hold 2-12 people, the canoes hold only 2. You can split up the given section of water however you like and sleep in the adjacent campgrounds. The Vltava is perfect for beginners as well as families with children.
If you don’t have enough time or are unsure of your water-handling abilities, we recommend the 1.5 hour trip down the Vltava with an instructor through Český Krumlov at night. You can also enjoy seeing Český Krumlov’s sights illuminated at night with significantly fewer tourists. And, of course, you’ll be given all the necessary equipment, such as vests, watertight barrels for storing your personal belongings, as well as paddles.
For more demanding and, more importantly, experienced paddlers, a ride down the Vydra River is for you. The Vydra is one of Šumava’s most beautiful rivers, as it rambles through the so-called Povydří Nature Reserve. It’s riddled with numerous cascades and rapids. The section permitted for canoers is 4.8 km long from the village of Modrava to Antýgl, where you’ll paddle through a deeply-forested valley with a large gradient.
If you’re even more experienced, you can enjoy an adrenaline rush on the slalom course in České Vrbné, located about 40 minutes by car from Chvalšiny. The experienced instructors will be happy to spend some time with you and rent out everything you’ll need.
Apart from rafting, you can also enjoy some other free-time activities at Offpark, i.e., an outdoor park in Šumava where you can paddle down the Otava River, among other things. By car, you can drive about 1.5 hours from Chvalšiny to the city of Sušice. It’s definitely worth making the trip, especially as the entire family can enjoy the children’s climbing rope park, a hot-air balloon ride, rent scooters, ride down the aforementioned Otava, go paintballing, and even try your hand at the survival course.