K létu voda prostě patří! Popadněte pramici, kajak nebo raft a vyrazte za nezapomenutelnými zážitky. Každý vodák potvrdí, že není krásnějšího pohledu. A právě Ohře je zcela právem mezi vodáky jednou z našich nejpopulárnějších řek. Nejen že skýtá plavbu na čisté a proudící vodě, ale navíc protéká historickými městy a míjí bezpočet hradních zřícenin a vyhlídek. Tak sbalte plavky, vestu a hlavně nezapomeňte pádla!

From Šabina to Loket

You can float the Ohře River from Cheb. For the first day of paddling we recommend choosing the section from Šabina to Loket, about 20 kilometres long. You can start on the nice sandy beach of the boating camp and soon the river will carry you towards Loket.

At the first weir at Černý Mlýn we welcome the boating culvert, which will save carrying this formerly dreaded weir. Although you will be sailing through a rather industrial landscape on this section, passing, for example, the Tisová power plant, you will at most see the top of the chimney from the river. Otherwise, it is a naturally beautiful stretch up to Sokolov without any major boating pitfalls.

Below Sokolov, you can stop at the Královský Poříčí campground, where you can not only have a great meal, but also enjoy a short lunch siesta. From here to Loket, the river flows through a deep forested valley, where only the high arch of a motorway bridge reminds you of the presence of civilisation. The first boulders appear here and there in the sandy bottom, foreshadowing the much wilder character of the Ohře that awaits you in the days to come.

When Loket appears in front of you, we are convinced that you will be absolutely captivated. Because Loket is located in a meander of the Ohře River, you can circumnavigate the town. We definitely recommend staying here and going to see the castle and other local attractions. Before sunset, you can visit the nearby rock lookouts, from where you will have the town in the palm of your hand. Loket is a real pearl of the region and is definitely worth a multi-day stop.

From Loket through Svatošské skály to Karlovy Vary

This section is probably one of the most popular among day trippers. It is logical, about fifteen kilometres of paddling connects the two most interesting towns on the Ohře. The best place to start is the Loket paddling camp on the left bank of the Ohře River. No big rapids await you yet, but the river flows briskly and carries your boats to Karlovy Vary. The riverbed is full of boulders, which you have to avoid here and there, but from the boating point of view the river does not want you to do much else. The deep wooded valley creates lots of bends, ducks with their chicks paddle along the banks, and the flowering thimble stalks lean over the water.

The first obvious stop is Svatošské skály. No wonder they became a National Natural Monument in 1933. Don’t be fooled and stop after the footbridge right under the rocks. The beautiful granite rocks (legend has it that they are a petrified wedding procession) are a delight to the eye of the paddler and a challenge to the climber, which you can observe directly from the restaurant terrace.

After a few kilometres from the rocks, the valley opens up, the first houses begin to appear and then you can see the famous Karlovy Vary in the distance. On the left bank, 300 metres before the road bridge, you will find the Karlovy Vary shipyard. There is also a hostel and a camping site, so eat well and have enough strength for your next adventure. After paddling, a walk will certainly come in handy, replenish your fluids at the mineral springs and recharge your energy with spa wafers before climbing Diana.

From Karlovy Vary to Kyselka

But if you have decided to continue on, watch out! You are definitely well prepared for the most demanding stretch of the Ohře River after the break. About half a kilometre after the shipyard you will come across a dangerous weir. It is perpendicular, with rocks under the water, so go down it on the left or carry the boat along the right bank. You will meet another weir about two kilometres later, and in high water it forms a dangerous roll. It is recommended to portage the boat again at higher river levels. You deserve a short break after a challenging stretch, don’t you think? At the 20th kilometer, on the left bank, you will find the large Hubertus camping area with a refreshment kiosk, dry toilets, a practice climbing wall and a practice rapids.

If you follow the fast flowing stream, the Dubina restaurant will appear in front of you. From here, it’s a double paddle to Kyselka, so after a couple of bends, you’ll get a glimpse of ruined spa houses. There is currently a fight to save them, so hopefully their former glory will be restored in the near future.

Be sure to visit the nice viewpoint at St. Anne’s Chapel here, then Mattoni’s waterfall where you can refill your mineral water, and then climb past the Mattoni Museum to the Bučina lookout tower. It’s 220 metres above the river and sixty steps up, but the view is worth it! You will see the ridge of the Krušné hory with the dominant Klínovec, the valley of the Ohře below you and the deep forests of the inaccessible Doupovské hory to your right. If you have more time, you can follow the yellow trail to an interesting geological phenomenon called Skalky skřítků (the Rocks of Elves).

For complete information on the Ohře Water Trail, click here or check out some tips in our video Ahóóój, watermen! Hopefully you won’t get soaked to the bone and enjoy an unforgettable summer on the Ohře!