The rivers of Eastern Lithuania – Aiseta, Kiauna, and Žeimena – are for those who are not inclined to spend much time paddling through lakes or visiting mounds and other well-known sites. Kiauna will appeal to those seeking more extreme experiences – it is one of the most winding rivers in Eastern Aukštaitija, stretching through the Labanoras forests and marshes. The two-day canoe trip starts at a campsite located at the end of Lake Aiseta, known for its pleasant landscapes.

First day’s route

From Lake Juodieji Lakajai, via the Kiauna River to Lake Sekluočio. (~15 km, ~5 hours) Lake Aiseta is the second largest in the list of the longest lakes in Lithuania. When you’re ready to travel, get into the canoes and paddle along the left bank of Aiseta. You will paddle 145 m to the source of the Aiseta River.

After paddling less than half a kilometer from the source of the Aiseta River, you will pass under a wooden bridge belonging to the village of Paaisetė. Later, you will pass by a few homesteads, navigate a few bends of Aiseta, and after ~0.6 km, the riverbed will become straighter for ~1.3 km. You will recognize this section by the reeds growing on the banks of Aiseta. After this exotic section, the riverbed will become more winding until the Utena – Švenčionėliai railway bridge. After passing under this bridge, you will see the remains of the old railway tracks. The Kiaunas Lake is already nearby, but you will still have to overcome a 260 m section of Aiseta’s natural obstacles, “strewn” with wooden barricades. After overcoming all this, you will enter Lake Kiaunas.

In Lake Kiaunas, direct the canoes along the right bank. You will recognize it by the lush pine forest growing on the banks, where the echo of vacationers resonates perfectly.

After paddling almost 2 km in Lake Kiaunas, always keeping to the right bank line, you will find the source of the Kiauna River. After paddling ~100 m from the source, you will see a small island overgrown with reeds.

Kiauna is a winding and fun river for water tourists, where we wish you pleasant adventures!

After paddling about 0.4 km on the Kiauna River, you will pass the village of Pakiaunys on the left. It has an ancient wooden manor homestead built between 1900 and 1903. The homestead is ~150 m away from the river.

Continuing the journey at the end of the village of Pakiaunys, you will pass under a bridge and immediately enter the Kiauna Landscape Reserve. You will encounter the nature of the reserve as you paddle further along the Kiauna River: the shores will delight you with rich vegetation, forests feeding the river, and you will pass marshes, which are an integral part of our nature. In spring, you will see dams built by beavers from branches, other terrestrial vegetation, mud, water grasses, and other materials these “builders” find in nature. After admiring the beavers’ “architecture,” you will pass many villages: Stirnines, Briedines, Jakutiškis, Vasiuliškės village, and further on – Žvirbliškė, Kūrinių village, recognizable by the road bridge.

From the aforementioned Vasiuliškės village, the more thrilling experiences begin: you’ll pass fallen trees, swift bends, and stone “obstacles.” Maybe you’ll get lucky and take a dip in the swift Kiauna current! The more adventure-filled stretch of the trip will continue until the Kūrinių village bridge.

When you paddle under the Kūrinių village road bridge, connecting the Molėtai-Ignalina road, you’ll paddle the winding Kiauna for about 2 km, with trees that have grown there for a long time leaning along the shores. The riverbed will gradually become straighter, adorned with a pleasant tree alley, leading you into Lake Gilūtas.

With the help of the current, paddle to Gilūta, direct the canoes to the left – east direction and paddle ~0.6 km to the lake’s channel. The length of the lake’s channel is ~800 m. Continuing along it, you would reach Lake Sekluočio.

On the right side of the channel, you will see a cozy sandy shore. Here you can take the opportunity to wade, swim. In this rest area, you can settle for the night to gather strength to complete the remaining part of the route.

The next day, before leaving, check if you have left any trash at the campsite!

Second day’s route

From Lake Sekluočio Along the Žeimena River to Lake Telio (~14 km, 4.7 hours)

After passing the channel and entering Sekluotis, you’ll likely be greeted by elegant swans. Paddle along Sekluotis—eastward. This lake isn’t very deep, so the canoe bottoms will be brushed by tall water grasses. Now you probably understand why the lake got its name J. After paddling about 0.75 km, as you approach the shore, direct the canoes to the right—southward. Then paddle all the way to the river flowing out of Sekluotis.

This small stream is part of the Kiauna River but is sometimes called Kernauja. You will soon see the village of Kukliai, embracing the riverbanks. In Kukliai, before reaching the concrete bridge, you will find a convenient shore for disembarking on the right side, in a meadow where you can rest.

Continuing towards the Žeimena River, the banks of Kiauna will be lined with pine forests. After paddling about 2 km from the village of Kukliai, the current will slow down, gradually carrying you to the mouth of the Kiauna River. Kiauna is the first right tributary of the Žeimena River.

You’ll enter the Žeimena River at the confluence of Kiauna and Žeimena, located in the village of Šakališkės. At the confluence, you need to turn left, so that after 400 m. you can disembark on the shore of Šakališkės village or, a bit further (3 km from the confluence) in the town of Kaltanėnai. Here you can visit the Kaltanėnai church built from red clay bricks, notable for its 20th-century architecture. neo-Gothic style. The church was built between 1903 and 1909.

After passing the tributary and rowing ~1.7 km, you’ll pass another small village – Naujoji Brasta. After ~3 km, you’ll find Lukna village, where the second right tributary of Žeimena – Luknelė flows. Although this river is short (~15 km), it’s very extreme: full of tree barriers, difficult to pass, so we don’t create routes on this river. After paddling ~5 km from the Luknelė tributary, on the right side of your paddling direction, you’ll see Jusiai village. Next to this village is the third right tributary of Žeimena – the Sirgėla River, with its mouth overgrown with reeds. This river is short, characterized by a weak current flowing from the Sirgelis lake.

At the mouth of the Sirgėla River, the territory of the Aukštaitija National Park ends, and the Žeimena ichthyological reserve begins. It extends to the confluence of the Žeimena and Neris rivers. The purpose of the ichthyological reserve is to protect spawning grounds for salmon, sea trout, and brown trout.

FINISH:

From the mouth of the Sirgėla River, paddle ~1 km and navigate two sharper bends of Žeimena, you’ll pass the left tributary of Žeimena – the short Šventelė River, which flows from Lake Telio. Turn left onto the Šventelė River to enter Lake Telio. In Lake Telio, keep to the right shoreline and after passing more than half of the lake’s perimeter, you’ll find a campsite beyond the peninsula where you can disembark.