Packrafts aren't just for lone adventurers disappearing into the wilderness somewhere up north—they're also perfect for families with kids and their classic summer outings.

A packraft for two or three people is a bit heavier and bulkier, but we’re still talking about a package weighing around 6–7 kilograms that fits (along with other items) into any backpack.

To the Vltava River below Koruna

Just to give you an idea, let’s take a look at what a two-day trip with kids might look like. Let’s head out to the infamous Vltava River one summer weekend. At a time when this place is supposed to be overrun with drunks chugging hectoliters of beer and spewing green slime into the river. As you’ll see, nothing could be further from the truth, and with a packraft, the kids can carve out a piece of the wilderness for themselves even in the wildest season.

We’re starting out with the guys from Ka-servis in Boršov, where we’re leaving our cars in the yard as a courtesy—and that’s where we’ll be heading. It’s a 5-minute walk to the train station from there. In any case, you can set off directly from České Budějovice on the Pošumavská local line, which runs all the way to the end of the world in Nové Údolí.

The group consists of three adults, four boys aged 5 to 11, and a dog.

We're bringing one packraft on today's trip Ultima Snape, two Torontos and one single Backpacker. One of the ships from Toronto is equipped with a Tizip, so it will be a cargo ship.

The Ultima Backpacker Packraft and an 11-Year-Old Paddler

The Ultima Snape Packraft and a Relaxing Trip on the Vltava River

Both Torontos in action, with the dog on the bow keeping watch…

The plan is simple: in about half an hour, we’ll take the train to the village of Plešovice, which is the last stop before Zlatá Koruna. From there, it’ll take us about twenty minutes to hike down to the water, and then we’ll set off toward Dívčí Kámen, where we’ll spend the night. The next day, we’ll paddle back to Boršov.

So take note of the first two advantages of packrafts. We carry the boats on our backs, along with everything else we need for the night—tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking gear, and so on. The kids each carry their own small backpack and a paddle, and Ruda, the oldest, carries his own boat in addition to the items mentioned above. The dog doesn’t carry anything.

We set out in the afternoon and steer clear of Zlatá Koruna, where most participants in this kayaking frenzy end their journey. Instead of a crowded rental shop, where battles rage over plastic Vydra kayaks reeking of burnt oil from fried cheese sandwiches, we inflate our boats on a beautiful, flower-filled meadow below Plešovice, witnessed by the now nearly empty, bubbling Vltava River. Those who want to head toward Boršov have long since set off. We are here alone.

Only a few small bags remain on board; for the night, all the packrafters head into the belly of one of the Torontos. This makes for a pretty heavy boat, but from the outside, you wouldn’t know that its tubes are hiding seven sleeping bags and sleeping pads, three tents, stoves, mess kits, food, and some extra clothing.

To Dívčák

The Vltava River below Koruna is the most beautiful, but few people know it. There are no roads, no villages, and no towns here. Just a few small campgrounds and Rohan’s classic pancakes. Combined with kids, this is a real money pit, because you just can’t pass up a sweet pancake. In my case, that means a savory one and a beer. Or two.

U Rohana

Ruda is on a single for the first time and handles the lightweight Backpacker with ease. The canoe version of the Snape is under the control of the seasoned duo Cvak and Válec. The cargo Toronto is piloted by the sole woman in the crew, accompanied by five-year-old Otík. She opted for a kayak paddle, as the coxswain’s skills aren’t quite reliable yet, and the double-bladed paddle comes in handy when a little extra paddling is needed. The second Toronto is manned, like the rest of the crew, by two men and a dog.

Toronto – a small hook sits on the roller and paddles gently – the helmsman has a kayak paddle and a comfortable seating position – everyone is happy

Our second stop is at Kelt’s around sunset (for photos, a beer, and a pancake). You can spend the night here, but we prefer to head all the way to the base of Dívčí Kámen. Malicious tongues claim that few people camp here because the locals don’t like people. I haven’t had that experience. On the contrary, the advantage is that the kiosk closes at nine, so you can’t party here until the crack of dawn. Plus, you can pitch your tent right by the river, and there’s a fire pit to boot.

At Kelta – you can pull out this lightweight packraft with just one hand

The kids are setting up tents, gathering firewood, and building stone pyramids in the river. My sister forgot her wallet at U Kelta, so she grabs her backpack and paddle, runs across the river bend to U Kelta, and an hour later comes paddling back, enchanted by the late-evening cruise down the Vltava, where beavers are already building dams.

And now for a bonus. It’s Saturday, the second weekend in August. And we’re all alone here. All day long, we saw only two boats, which were just leaving the coves. Otherwise, there was no one around. It was the most beautiful sight imaginable.

In the morning, the hardy kids go swimming in the Vltava River. We’re not going to the castle because we’ve already been there about eight times, but I recommend it to you. The view from the tower is spectacular.

To Boršov

We’re setting out early, so we’ll be on the river by ourselves again. It takes about three hours to get to Boršov at a leisurely pace with breaks. On other trips, we’ve even made it as far as the confluence of the Vltava and Malše rivers in České Budějovice—right into the city center. From Boršov, it’s about two hours of paddling, spiced up by a light-activated weir, but if we have the time, why not?

The naysayers claim that the stretch below Koruna is no good, that the current is weak, and so on. We’re happy to let them believe that. If you take our word for it, know this: it is precisely where the naysayers don’t go that the Vltava is at its most beautiful, wildest, and most secluded—and you may find yourself paddling all the way up to the weirs near Boršov.

In Boršov, everything fits easily into one car, and off we go home. Back to Třeboň, where Grandma is already cooking blueberry dumplings for lunch. The Lužnice River flows nearby. But more on that next time.

A packrafting expedition done right…