Kayakers on the Hornád River, eastern Slovakia. (source: Košice Region Tourism)
An exceptional tourism attraction has opened in Košice Region, with no parallel in Slovakia to date. It's a system of self-service kayak rental on the River Hornád, and is intended not only for skilled boaters but also for anyone interested in a new experience who has not yet found a suitable way to try boating.
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There are a total of 5 entry and/or exit points with "intelligent containers" and one "drop-off point" on the Slovak course of the Hornád. The containers are located downstream in Veľká Lodina and in Kysak, and then in Košice there is a space for contactless handover of ships in the area of the Splavujeme.sk shipyard. Below Košice, it is possible to start rafting again in Ždaňa, and another container is located in Trstené pri Hornáde. The last container on the Slovak side is located in Milhosť. However, boaters can continue into Hungary, where automated containers are located in the villages of Hidasnémeti, Pere and Hernádkércs.
The system operates during the summer months, from June 1 to September 30. Boats can be rented from 8:00 to 18:00. All rafting must finish before dark.
For beginners, it is recommended to take a kayaking course before rafting, or raft under the supervision of an instructor. These options are provided by the operator of the self-service system, Splavujeme.sk.
All Slovak municipalities that are partners of the project, and where smart containers are located, have also implemented several additional activities within the project and built visitor infrastructure.
Trailers for transporting boats and bicycles were also purchased as part of the project, as were bicycles and e-bikes, children's kayaks, paddleboards, rafts, archery equipment and other equipment for the service and maintenance of the boats and the self-service containers.
Visitors can register and make a reservation and find more information about possible rafting routes on the website www.kajak.app (available also in English).
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