"People have been traveling along rivers for centuries. They naturally marked communication routes, and their changeability taught respect for the power of nature." This is how we described the first bikepacking ultramarathon in Poland, but this is only part of the truth about the journey, because after all: "rivers are flowing roads, and boats are the travelers of these roads, neither man nor god can see themselves twice in the same water."
Now we invite you to the VISTULA 1200 bikerafting route to feel the power of its current, immerse yourself in its story and understand even more how important it is in our lives and in the life of all nature.
From the sources under Barania Góra to the mouth in Gdańsk, we have selected the best routes for you, which show all its power and beauty. Five packraft sections and six bicycle sections.
The route leads through roads, paths, rubbles and dikes. Riding along busy roads is limited to absolute minimum, to provide safety and comfort of being in touch with the nature and history, which you will not find in any other place in Europe. On your way, you will pass broad old river-beds and flowage’s full of wild birds, sand dunes and sand bars, climatic villages where time seems to have stopped. RMW1200 is not only Krakow, Warsaw, Torun and Gdansk. We will amaze you with beauty and peculiarity of Janowiec, Sandomierz, Zawichost, Plock, Dobrzyn, Chełmno, Swiecie, Grudziac and Gniew and between them- cyclists strive and overcoming your own weaknesses.
Packraft sections are the quintessence of the power and beauty of the Queen of Polish Rivers
Along the way, vast oxbow lakes and backwaters full of wild birds, dunes, sandbanks and atmospheric towns where time seems to have stopped. WISŁA 1200 Bikerafting is not only Krakow, Warsaw, Toruń and Gdańsk. We will delight you with the beauty and uniqueness of Kazimierz Dolny, Sandomierz, Zawichost, Płock, Dobrzyń, Chełmno, Świecie, Grudziądz and Gniew, this time also seen from a completely new perspective - from the river. And between them, arduous cycling and rowing effort and overcoming your own weaknesses without external support.
Race Rules
WISŁA 1200 BIKERAFTING is a self-sufficient ultramarathon, in which the route, marked along and along the Vistula, must be covered with a bike and packraft. The event is addressed to advanced and experienced cyclists who feel equally confident on the water*. The WISŁA 1200 Bikerafting route recreates the trail that has been used for centuries to cross the whole of Poland on barges full of salt, grain, wood or leather, or to reach the sea window of the Republic of Poland - Gdańsk. This route was covered by merchants and travelers, but always in accordance with the rhythm of the river, marked by the changeability of the seasons.
The rules of Vistula 1200 Bikerafting race are simple:
1. You must complete the entire VISTULA 1200 Bikerafting race Route on your bicycle and packraft using your own muscle power in accordance with these Rules.
2. The route is divided into 6 bicycle sections and 5 packraft sections.
3. You must have a bike and a packraft with you on the entire route, according to the principle: “packraft on the bike, bike on the packraft”
4. The entire Vistula 1200 Bikerafting race route must be completed without external support (self-sufficiency). This means, among other things, that from the start to the finish, you must have a bike, a packraft and luggage with you to cover the route. This rule applies to all aspects of completing the Amber Road Route, including eating, drinking, sleeping, and servicing equipment.
5. Everyone must have equal opportunities. It is unacceptable to use any third-party support on the route that is not available to everyone on equal terms. You relatives and other persons close to you are also third parties within the meaning of these Rules.
6. It is unacceptable to use any support arranged before the start, including making reservations for accommodation on the route before the start.
7. Support between race participants is in accordance with these Rules. It is the duty and privilege of each of you and will be an expression of the correct understanding of the idea of this event;
8. All bicycle sections must be completed in accordance with their route provided by the organizer as GPX files, respecting the remaining Vistula 1200 Bikerafting race Rules and the law (private property, nature protection, road traffic law, state borders).
9. Cycling sections can be completed on any muscle-powered bike. The route runs mostly on tarmac and gravel roads, which can be covered by a gravel bike. There are also forest and farm roads whose passability may depend on the weather.
10. Participants, throughout the entire distance, are required to have and use a helmet and appropriate lighting on the front and rear of the bike during the cycling sections.
11. If the designated route is impassable, find a detour and return to the trail in a safe place.
12. Leaving the Route is always permitted, regardless of the reason, as long as you return to the Route in the same place
13. The water sections must be covered using a packraft, kayaking together with your bike and luggage.
14. Water sections run along Vistula river and its tributaries used for kayaking tourism. These are water bodies with natural and artificial obstacles and hydro-technical facilities that are impossible to overcome with a packraft. Participants themselves determine how to avoid obstacles (portage). It is necessary to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the water sections and the obstacles located there before the event.
15. The state of safety on water often depends on the state (height) of the water. High water levels may cause additional technical difficulties and always require increased attention and caution. Your safety depends on your prudence and humility.
16. Mandatory equipment for the entire distance is a buoyancy vest, adjusted to the participant’s size, worn and secured in accordance with its instructions for the entire duration of crossing the water sections. Violation of this provision of the Rules will result in immediate disqualification.
17. Water section gpx files are schematic and are used only to determine the starting and ending points of a water section.
18. It is not allowed to use gpx files of water sections as a track marking a detailed route on the water.
19. Participants are the organizers of their own trip and rafting and are responsible for the route of the packraft rafting, including the selection of exit points and launching points in the event of portages, the method of avoiding obstacles and the selection of a detailed route on the water.
20. Water is an element whose power exceeds the capabilities of every human, and swimming in a packraft carries the risk of accidents that may result in the loss of equipment, health or life. Remember that you are the organizer of your trip and your caution and humility towards the elements will constitute the basis for your safety, and the organizer will not be able or obliged to provide or provide you with assistance during the trip and rafting.
21. The travel time is counted non-stop from the start to the check-in at the finish line.
22. Individual classification will be conducted separately for women and men. The order will be determined by the time taken to complete the Route in accordance with the Vistula 1200 bikerafting race Rules. The maximum time limit for classification is 200 hours. Someone has to win, but no one will lose.
23. Confirmation of completing the Vistula 1200 bikrafting race route will be its recording in the GPX format, made by the participant while traveling.
24. There is a strict ban on kayaking from dusk to dawn. It is deadly dangerous and illegal. Dusk occurs 40 minutes after sunset and dawn 40 minutes before sunrise, which will be assessed individually for a specific day and the actual location of each participant. For example, the time from dusk to dawn in Krakow on 12/13.07.2025 will be from 21:28 to 4:07, and on 15/16.07.2025 in Zakroczym from 21:33 to 3:57, and on 18/19.07.2025 in Gdańsk from 21:47 to 3:59. Participants are required to plan their water sections in such a way as to strictly comply with this rule. Cases of violating the above prohibition will result in absolute disqualification.
25. The organizers advise against cycling at night or in other conditions that limit visibility and safety. However, if you decide to do so, you must be equipped with front and rear lights to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Remember that in conditions of limited visibility and prolonged fatigue, your ability to realistically assess threats is limited.
26. Your struggles along the route will be visible thanks to trackers that must remain constantly turned on during the event. The Participant is responsible for ensuring that the tracker is charged. Traveling with the tracker turned off may be grounds for disqualification. The tracker is not intended for navigation!!!!! it only records your position and sends this data to the ®Dot Maker system, thanks to which you can cheer and “dotwatch” in front of computers and smartphones around the world.
27. Participants must ensure that the tracker, their electronic devices and power sources are adequately protected against the effects of the aquatic environment and moisture using waterproof covers.
28. We reserve the right to introduce additions and explanations to these Regulations and the right to interpret them in accordance with the spirit of the idea of self-sufficiency and in order to maintain your safety.
* Only adults who guarantee that they will complete the Route without any damage to their health can take part in Vistula 1200 Bikerafting Race. You cannot take part in Vistula 1200 Bikerafting Race without proper preparation of your fitness, equipment and techniques for long-distance cycling and long-distance swimming in watercraft powered by your own muscles, as well as without first testing your abilities in cycling and broadly understood kayaking. You start at your own risk and you have to decide for yourself whether to take up this epic challenge.