Maleček

Who they are

Maleček is a company from Český Krumlov that has been on the Vltava for 34 years and boasts more than 50,000 customers. It hires two-seater canoes and inflatable rafts for two to three and for four to seven people to go down the river without a guide or a licence, and runs trips on traditional wooden rafts, replicas of the river's historic rafts, with a raftsman who tells the history and legends of the town. Its main office is at Kaplická 27 and it has another at Rooseveltova 28, next to Horní Brána.

How the trips work

You start and finish in the centre: they take you by vehicle upriver to the start point and you paddle down to their base. The price, per person, includes the boat, paddles, certified life jackets for adults and children, dry bags and transport. There are stretches for everyone: under an hour within the town; one or two hours from Barevná skála; three or four from Pískárna or to the Zlatá Koruna monastery; six to nine from Rožmberk, and seven to ten from Vyšší Brod. Boats are returned before 18:00, unless they tell you otherwise. Children under 12 get a discount; the company does not publish a minimum age.

Wooden rafts

The historic trip lasts 50 minutes, from May to September, with departures at 11:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00. It goes round the castle, passes two rapids with experienced raftsmen and ends at the Krumlov brewery. It costs 580 CZK per person; the private raft, from 4,190 CZK per group, also at sunset. Rain does not suspend it nor give a right to cancel. The commentary is in Czech, English or German, depending on the language each raftsman speaks: they are not qualified guides. Dogs can come on board with a muzzle and, depending on their size, pay.

Booking, payment and cancellation

You book on their website by paying a deposit by card; the rest is paid at the office, in cash only, in crowns or euros. You must arrive 15 minutes early. For individuals, cancelling more than ten days ahead costs only a 2.5% fee (minimum 50 CZK); between ten and two days, 50%, and on the last day, 100%. For groups of 15 or more the deadlines are 30 and 10 days. If the water is very low or very high or there is a storm, the company may suspend the departure. They do not rent to anyone who arrives drunk. For parking, use the municipal car parks P1, P2 or P5, five or ten minutes' walk away. The website is in English, German and Czech.