Explore the wild side of the Danube on a full-day, guided kayak tour around Vardim Island near Svishtov. You paddle in a group with an experienced guide, using provided equipment, and follow a route through the island’s most beautiful stretches.

What makes Vardim Island special
The island includes the protected area “Stariyat Dăb” (Old Oak), home to rare plants and wildlife. It’s a quiet, genuinely wild place where the soundtrack is water, paddles and birds. The area is also known as the realm of beavers—you’ll see where they live and, with some luck, spot them in their natural habitat.

How the tour runs
You meet in the morning at the boat dock in Vardim village and soon head out on the water. First, you paddle up-current close to the bank to find your rhythm. At the island’s tip, you take a short break, then follow the current down the island’s northern side—one of the route’s most scenic sections. When the river is high, you enter the flooded forest and weave between trees like in a natural water maze. When it’s low, you reach the long sandbars known as the “Vardim Maldives.” Farther on, you pass the narrow channel that splits the island into Small and Big Vardim, with overhanging branches, fallen trees and dappled light on the water. Finally, you return to the starting point against the current, keeping tight to the island and seeking slack water.

What you’ll see along the way

• The island’s northern side with open Danube panoramas.
• Flooded forests at high water—paddling between trees.
• The long sandbars nicknamed the “Vardim Maldives” at low water.
• The narrow channel between Small and Big Vardim with a jungle-like feel.
• Tracks of deer, wild boar, jackals and otters; an area famed for beavers.

Who it’s for
Active paddlers ready for sustained effort in current. Difficulty: 4 out of 5.

What’s included

• Participation in a guided kayak tour around Vardim Island for the number of participants selected.
• All gear: kayak, paddle, life jacket.
• Safety briefing and an experienced group guide.

Ready to feel the Danube up close? Choose a voucher and join the tour.