Chartering the Elblag Canal: a cruise over water and over grass
A charter on the Elblag Canal crosses five inclined planes, where the boat travels over grass. See the route, the right boats and how to plan a week.
The Elblag Canal is one of a kind in Poland: for most of the trip the boat travels normally on the water, but on five stretches it travels on rails, on a trolley, across a meadow. It is one of only two places in the world where that kind of cruise is even possible, and the whole route, with its branches, runs to roughly 150 kilometres. Below we show what a cruise on the canal looks like, which boat to choose and how much time to plan for the route.
What the Elblag Canal is and why it is unique
The canal connects Lake Druzno near Elblag with Lake Jeziorak and the surrounding lakes in the Ilawa Lake District, covering a difference in water levels along the way that would need over a dozen locks on an ordinary canal. Instead, five inclined planes were built: rail tracks on which a trolley carrying the boat is pulled out of the water and moved over dry land to the next stretch of canal. In polls for the seven wonders of Poland, the Elblag Canal regularly makes the shortlist, and it is not hard to see why: nowhere else in the country will you see a boat travelling across a meadow.
The inclined planes: how a boat travels over grass
| Inclined plane | Character |
|---|---|
| Caluny | First one, coming from Lake Druzno |
| Jelenie | A middle stretch of the route |
| Olesnica | One of the longer tracks |
| Katy | Close to the Jeziorak area |
| Buczyniec | The last inclined plane on the route |
The whole route also has two locks alongside the five inclined planes, so the cruise alternates between stretches of water, grass and passing through a lock in the usual way. The sight of a boat riding rails across a field is unusual enough to be an attraction in its own right, not just a way of dealing with the change in water level.
Which boat suits these waters
Not every boat is suited to crossing an inclined plane. Boats that operate on the canal have special supports under the hull, or extra side keels, that let the hull sit safely on the plane's trolley without tipping. Typical boats for these waters are houseboats and motorboats with a flat bottom or three keels, built with this specific route in mind, rather than a classic sailing yacht with a deep ballast keel.
Before booking, ask the operator directly whether a given boat is set up to cross the inclined planes. Not every motorboat available in the region is suited to the full Elblag Canal route.
The route and how long it takes
A full crossing of the whole route with the inclined planes is usually a plan for several days, not one afternoon: the planes themselves, depending on the queue and staffing, can take longer than the distance alone would suggest. A sensible week's charter lets you cover the route one way with stops overnight in smaller towns along the way, instead of rushing from one inclined plane to the next. You can start the trip from either end: from Elblag, where the canal begins close to Lake Druzno, or from Ostroda, which is closer to Jeziorak and the planes further along the route. Which direction to pick mostly comes down to where it is easier for you to leave the car for the trip.
Along the way the canal runs through mostly untouched terrain: reed beds, wet meadows and stretches of forest, where you regularly spot waterfowl. That is a different kind of scenery from the open routes of the Great Masurian Lakes, closer to a slow river trip than classic sailing with the wind in the sails. If you are looking for other routes with a similarly unusual character, we have collected them in our article on the most beautiful sailing routes in Poland. We cover the neighbouring Lake Jeziorak, the longest lake in Poland, separately in our article on chartering Lake Jeziorak.
Paperwork and choosing a boat
Many motorboats on the Elblag Canal fall within the limits that allow chartering without a licence, as long as they meet the conditions on engine power, speed and length. We cover the exact thresholds and required documents in our article on chartering without a licence. A cruise through inclined planes, locks and narrow stretches also calls for a basic understanding of water safety, which we cover in our guide to safety on the water.
You will find operators with live availability and online booking on this and other waters on Portivo.
Frequently asked questions
How many inclined planes does the Elblag Canal have?
Five: Caluny, Jelenie, Olesnica, Katy and Buczyniec, plus two locks along the whole route.
Can any boat cross an inclined plane?
No. You need a boat with the right supports under the hull or extra side keels that stabilise the hull on the plane's trolley. A classic sailing yacht with a deep ballast keel is not suited to it.
How long does a full Elblag Canal cruise take?
Usually several days, if you want to cover the whole route with the inclined planes and stop overnight along the way, rather than just crossing one stretch.
Can you sail the Elblag Canal without a licence?
Many of the motorboats offered on these waters fall within the limits that allow chartering without a licence, but the specific boat always decides.
