Rafting

The beginnings of rafting on the longest Slovak river date back to the 11th century. The Váh was the only convenient and safe route when northern Slovakia was becoming populated.

For the rafters, the Strečno valley represented an adventure and many unusual experiences.

The valley, with its numerous meanders, invented or real obstacles, two castles, and the untouched nature of Malá Fatra, was a stretch of the river that they looked forward to but also respected.

The rafts used to leave from Liptov and, after having passed the two rocks Margita and Besná, navigation went smoothly until the Danube and, afterwards, as far as the Black Sea. In the past, wooden rafts were the most important means for both goods and personal transport, but at the end of the 19^th century and at the beginning of the 20^th century they began slowly to be replaced by cheaper railway transport. Therefore, the thirties are considered to be the end of rafting on the Váh.

The landscapes in the area have obviously retained their beauty and magic, and since 1999 Prvá pltnícka a raftingová spoločnosť has been realizing the idea of making the most of the potential of the landscape to present it as a tourist attraction. The revival of traditional transport allows visitors to get to know the extraordinary number of cultural, historical, natural and technical curiosities that are all concentrated on this 7 km long stretch of the river. The rafters, dressed in traditional costumes, provide a professional commentary. In order to make its offer more attractive and to render the stay in this part of Slovakia even more pleasant, Prvá pltnícka a raftingová spoločnosť offers an interesting complementary program.