Kayak trip
The Bug: from Niemirów to Drohiczyn
Two days on one of the last wild rivers of Europe. Sandy beaches, escarpments and a night near Mielnik.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Route lines are based on OSM data; on the ground, follow the trail markings.
The Bug is wide, lazy and unregulated. Nobody has straightened it or shut it between concrete banks, so it flows as it likes: in meanders, around islands, along sandy bars where tents are pitched in the evening. On the right bank rise the chalk slopes of Mielnik, on the left stretch riverside alluvial forests. On the second day Drohiczyn appears on the horizon on its escarpment, with church towers above the river.
The route step by step
Niemirów
Start at the place where the Bug stops being a border river.
Near Mielnik
Overnight at a campsite or an agritourism farm. In the evening, climb Castle Hill.
Meanders and beaches
The second day brings the wildest stretches of the river. Watch out for sunken trunks.
Drohiczyn
The finish below the escarpment. Climb Castle Hill and look at the river you have paddled.
Practicalities
Surface
large lowland river, eddies and shallows
Best time
June–September
Start / Finish
Niemirów → Drohiczyn
Frequently asked questions
Do you need documents on the Bug?
Yes, always carry your ID card. Above Niemirów the Bug is the border with Belarus, and special rules apply there.
The guide on your phone
Add the guide to your home screen. It works like an app: maps, routes and descriptions even without signal.
On iPhone: in Safari tap “Share” and choose “Add to Home Screen”.
Your base: Klejniki
Every route in this guide starts within an hour of our house. After a day out, a tiled stove, a kitchen with a wood-fired range and silence are waiting for you.