While we were visiting Austria’s beautiful small town Marchegg and its surroundings early this year, we bumped into the March/Morava River floodplains, which flag the border between Austria and Slovakia. Once we wandered and cycled around the area, we thought paddling the March should definitely be on our to-do list. After doing some research, we realized we could make the water journey even longer, joining the March River from the Thaya River. That’s how the idea of kayaking the Thaya & March/Morava, from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT), came out, and it turned out to be a great weekend getaway.
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Things to know before kayaking the Thaya & March
Both Thaya and March are the only lowland rivers in Austria with various floodplain landscapes and beautiful loops, providing the perfect habitat for wildlife.
Thaya/Dyje River
Thaya has two source rivers that merge at Raabs/Thaya, Austria. The source river, named German Thaya, originates near the village of Schweiggers in Upper Waldviertel, Austria. In contrast, the Moravian Thaya, the second large source river, flows from the Czech Republic to Austria.
Before Hohenau an der March (Austria), the 280km river converts into the March/Morava river’s tributary. On the left-hand side, you’ll see the Chech Republic; on the right-hand side Austria and in front of you, you’ll notice Slovakia.
March/Morava River
The March/Morava river is 355 kilometers long and originates in the Czech Republic. It flows from the north to the south, through the Moravia region (therefore the name), and runs into Slovakia until it reaches Austria. The river continues between Slovakia and Austria for another 80 kilometers until it touches the Danube river.
Summary of our kayaking the Thaya & March from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT) trip
Our Gumotex Twist performed really well on our weekend, kayaking the Thaya & March/Morava from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT) for 77km!
In July, we chose a chilly weekend with air temperatures of no more than 23 degrees, just perfect to complete this lovely kayak trip. The only BIG downside was the vast number of mosquitos! Luckily we brought mosquito repellent for skin and clothes: I can not imagine what would have been without it.
Kayaking the Thaya & March/Morava from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT):
Total distance: 77km Hours: 11h30′ Days: 2
Day 1. Kayaking the Thaya & March from Breclav to Dürnkrut
Distance:47 km
Hours: 7 hours
Gear: Gumotex Twist 2
Difficulty: 1 – for beginners
Water Temperature: 21 degrees
Water Level: 160 cm on the Thaya River
Average Speed: 7km/h
COSTS for two persons: 121,6€
- train tickets from Dürnkrut to Breclav: 15,60€
- packed meals: 12€
- dinner at Gasthaus Jana: 34€
- accommodation near Dürnkrut: 60€
We arrived early morning in the small town of Dürnkrut, where we left the car at the train station and traveled by train to Breclav (Czech Republic). From here, we paddled down the river until we reached Dürnkrut. The train station in Dürnkrut is only 800 meters away from the riverbank, so it’s easy to get. We chose to spend the night in the area, and after so much paddling, we slept like babies.
Day 2. Kayaking the Thaya & March from Dürnkrut to Marchegg
Distance: 30 km
Hours: 4h30′
Gear: Gumotex Twist 2
Difficulty: 1 – for beginners
Water Temperature: 21 degrees
Water Level: 190 cm on the March River
Average Speed: 7km/h
COSTS for two persons: 44,8€
- packed meals: 13€
- coffee and cake at Angern: 13€
- one hour trip by bus from Marchegg to Gänsendorf & by train from Gänsendorf to Dürnkrut: 16,80€.
- bike rental: 2€ (1€/hour for a bike)
We left the car at the train station in Dürnkrut once again and walked the 800 meters to reach the riverbank, so we started the kayak journey from the same place we ended it the day before. The day was shorter but beautiful, and once we arrived in Marchegg, we rented two bikes to travel back to the train station, which is almost 3km from the river.
Kayaking the Thaya & March/Morava from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT)
Dürnkrut to Breclav, 40 KM, 29′ by train
At 8:45 am on a Saturday, we were at the train station in Dürnkrutt. We left our car in the parking lot, and by 9:06 am, we were already on the train departing to Breclav in the Czech Republic.
It seemed like we were the only one traveling in this direction at this hour, and in no more than 29 minutes, the train reached the town of Breclav.
Breclav to Hohenau an der March – 24 KM, 3H41′
The starting point in Breclav
From the train station, we made our way to the riverbank, which is only 800 meters away from the train station, near a pedestrian and a train bridge. We checked the area: everything was clean, the entrance into the water smooth, so we began to unpack. A few people came and surveyed us, curious about our trip.
By 10:12 am, we were leaving the shiny town of Breclav, paddling down the Thaya river and waiving the few people greeting us from the left-hand side quay. The water level is regulated for the first two kilometers, so the current is not strong here, but the floating is still very pleasant.
KM 3 – The Bridge with No Trespassing Sign
Thirty minutes after departure, we approached a bridge with a big sign of no trespassing. We read somewhere that the platform is poorly maintained, and it might fall. Funny thing, we saw many bicycles crossing it and just before the bridge, we saw a big canoe group preparing for departure. We found out later that it might be something like a cord or wire running through the water, so this might be the reason for no trespassing. Well, who knows?
Shortly we reached a floodplain area, ideal for bird’s nests. We saw plenty of white storks and herons, some bunnies, and a few dears. At some point, a heron was flying from one riverbank to another while a white stork baby was trying to land near us.
KM 7, turning right at the Junction
At 11:22 am, we reached a junction where we turned right. Do not worry about it; there are signs everywhere, so you can’t get lost. The loop is quite long but beautiful until it reaches the main course again.
We planned on taking a short break at km 10, but we couldn’t find a proper place to park our kayak as the ground was very insecure, so instead of having lunch on the riverbank, we served it on the kayak. Fishes were continually jumping out of the water, and judging by the noise, they were pretty huge.
KM 12, turning left at the Junction
Almost 50 minutes later, we bumped into another junction; we had to turn left this time. A dear came out from the bushes and ran away while we got scared, not knowing what that sound was.
Soon we noticed many fishing huts on the Austrian shore, typical for this region. Some are relatively modern, while others are still modest. We hadn’t seen anything similar before, making the journey even more enjoyable. Luckily, we didn’t see many anglers on this kayaking the Thaya & March/Morava from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT) journey. Considering the number of huts, it might be challenging to paddle through the wires and fishing nests.
KM 15, an old Bunker
At 12:48 pm, we faced some trees dropped into the water, then a Cross on the left-hand side shore, and soon after that, we reached an old bunker fallen into the water.
We saw two men fishing on the Austrian side, so we decided to avoid them on the left side. Shortly they started shouting, so we realized the fishing threads were in front of us -back on the right side, and we managed to evade them.
KM 21, where the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria meet
At km 20, we passed by a functional water mill on the Austrian side. From here, we paddled around one kilometer, and here it was: we entered the March/Morava river. The Thaya river is now a tributary of the March/Morava river. On the left-hand side, we had the Czech Republic, Austria on the right-hand side, and Slovakia in front of us.
KM 24, arriving at Hohenau an der March
At 01:53 pm, we noticed a blue bridge between Austria and Slovakia, and we knew we had arrived in Hohenau an der March. We chose to stop, have a break, and decide whether to paddle further or end the day.
NOTE: You can land the kayak on the right-hand side, on the Austrian side: the stairs make the parking easy, or you can land the kayak on the left-hand side, on the Slovakian side: the parking is much easier on a sandbank. Or you can choose to finish your kayaking the Thaya & March trip here and paddle down to Marchegg on a different day. It is up to you!
Hohenau an der March – Taking a Rest
We planned to take a break at Hohenau an der March and decide whether to stop here or paddle further depending on our energy level. We didn’t know if kayaking the Thaya & March from Breclav (the Czech Republic) to Dürnkrut (Austria) was possible for us in only one day. However, as we had enough time and our energy was still very high, we decided to paddle down the March/Morava river for another 23 kilometers.
We found a place to enjoy our packed meals and to stretch our legs, and then we hit the road again, followed by beautiful blue Dragonflies.
NOTE. If you choose to end your kayak journey at Hohenau an der March, you will have to walk 3km to reach the train station!
We bumped into a group of young people having fun on a cruise party on the Thaya River.
Hohenau an der March to Dürnkrut – 23 KM, 3H30′
At 02:00 pm, we left Hohenau an der March, eager to achieve the last part of the trip. From Hohenau an der March to Dürnkrut, the journey down the river is smooth, with no other dead arms or junctions. The current is not so strong as the Thaya river but still satisfying.
The typical fishermen’s houses are now on both Austrian and Slovakian shores, so we greeted the few men fishing with “Dobrý deň” on the left-hand side and with “Grüß Gott” on the right-hand side.
The arms began to tire, so we couldn’t wait to approach the final destination. The exit from the water is also smooth at Dürnkrut, on a stairway. After packing our stuff, we walked around 600 meters to the train station, where we left our car.
Dürnkrut – from the riverbank to the train station – 650 meters on foot.
Dürnkrut and its Surroundings – Spending the Night over
Our car was waiting for us at the train station, so we left all our belongings, changed our clothes, and headed to Gasthaus Jana, right on the corner. We wanted to pamper ourselves with a delicious traditional meal; what a feast after 7 hours spent on the water on our first-day kayaking trip!
On our quick stroll through the sleepy town of Dürnkrut, we bumped into the guarded Dürnkrut Castle and some small pastry shops.
We drove further to Andre Heuriger, in Gross Inzersdorf, where we bought some local wine to take back home.
We spent the night in the area, in a private house, and we slept like babies: happy but eager for the next kayaking day. You can check both Booking.com and Airbnb.com to find proper accommodation in the area.
Dürnkrut to Angern an der March – 13 KM, 2H
Early morning, after a good night’s sleep, we got back to the river in Dürnkrut after leaving the car at the train station once again. It rained for a while, but nothing serious. The morning was still and peaceful, and the air was fresh and revitalizing. We inflated our kayak and started our Sunday adventure. This paddling day was beautiful, also with low temperatures but with more clouds in the sky. A tailwind was helping us to paddle faster than the previous day.
Again we spotted some wildlife on the shores while herons flew from one side to another, wondering what we were doing here.
We stopped at Angern an der March, in Austria, just before the ferry station. The exit was pretty smooth, so we didn’t get our feet wet. We left our kayak near the coffee house “Das Leben ist Schön” and decided to have a coffee with a view. While we were drinking our coffee, a few cars came, expecting to embark on the ferry to Slovakia. It looks like this ferry runs between the Austrian and Slovakian shores using the current only.
Angern an der March to Marchegg – 17 KM, 2H30′
After our short break, we jumped into the water and paddled away to our final goal: Marchegg. The current was more substantial than the day before, so we paddled faster the last 17 km to Marchegg.
Not far away from Angern an der March lies Zwensdorf, another small provincial town of Austria. The area between Zwerndorf and Marchegg is a nature reserve, home to diverse wildlife, so we got the chance to see many white storks and herons flying or fishing. Unfortunately, no dear or rabbit came out of the bushes, but the Dragonflies accompanied us on this day too.
The fisher huts on the Austrian side are so beautiful and well maintained on this part. Although we noticed a lot the day before, we kept examining them, deciding which one we loved the most.
Taking a Rest at Vysoka pri Morave, Slovakia
One hour after our departure from Angern an der March, we took another break at Vysoká pri Morave, this time on the Slovakian side, simply to enjoy the silence and the beauty of the place. No mosquitos around us, but maybe the insect repellent does merely work.
Reaching Marchegg
Look for the monument; that’s the embankment in Marchegg.
The final stretch to Marchegg: no arm tiredness, no sun to upset us, no mosquitos, no fishermen, no one paddling! We were starting to feel sorry as our journey was coming to an end.
The exit in Marchegg was effortless and smooth. We could easily recognize the spot near the firemen’s boats and the eagle monument. We landed safely, glad that kayaking the Thaya & March/Morava from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT) was possible in two days.
Marchegg Waterfront to Marchegg Train Station
After packing everything, we headed to the city center, near Marchegg Castle and the police station, only 650 meters away from the riverbank. We already knew the area, as we’ve been here before.
Next to the police station is a NextBike stand with a few bikes to rent. So we rented two of them and headed to the train station, another 3 kilometers from here: not an easy task for my husband as he had to carry the kayak backpack.
Marchegg to Dürnkrut, by Bus & Train
From Marchegg to Gänserndorf, we traveled by bus, and from Gänserndorf to Dürnkrut, we traveled by train: the trip lasted only one hour! Price: 16,80€ for the two of us.
You can find out more on the Austrian railway website.
Other things to check out in the area
Kayaking from Marchegg to the Danube River, another 31,8 KM
We couldn’t complete the Danube river trip due to lack of time, but we will return sometime in the future. You can paddle until the Danube river or way further. It’s up to you how you plan your route.
Visiting the white stork town of Marchegg
If your time allows you, a visit to this beautiful white stork town should be on your list. Marchegg is a lovely small town with enough things to do and see in one day. The city is home to the most significant white stork colony breeding in trees in Europe, so that’s the main reason why many tourists travel to Marchegg. Besides spotting the white storks, you can explore the Castles in the area and discover the old city walls. Or you can take a pleasant walk through the Au Reservation to witness flora and fauna and enjoy a delicious traditional meal.
RELATED POST: ONE DAY TRIP TO THE STORK TOWN OF MARCHEGG, AUSTRIA
Conclusions to kayaking the Thaya & March from Breclav to Marchegg trip
Kayaking the Thaya & March Rivers from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT) was definitely a great outdoor activity, and we would do it again anytime! Not a single weir lies on this route, so paddling the Thaya and the March Rivers is ideal for beginners and families.
You can paddle the Thaya and the March River between June and October only, but navigating the side arms is forbidden all the time. Do not worry about the few junctions; there are signs everywhere, so you can’t get lost.
Kayaking the Thaya & March/Morava from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT) can be done in more than two laps; it is up to you how you organize your journey. Never underestimate your strength and energy level; paddle a few kilometers for maximum satisfaction.
Wear a sun hat, glasses, and long sleeves since the sun can burn during midday hours. Also, don’t forget to bring insect repellent for the body and clothes.
Interactive Map of kayaking the Thaya & March/Morava from Breclav (CZ) to Marchegg (AT) for 77 kilometers
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