The Dunajec River Gorge is one of Central Europe's most breathtaking natural spectacles — a place where a wild river carves its way through towering limestone cliffs up to 300 metres high. Stretching for about 8 km through the Pieniny mountain range, it is best experienced from the water, on a traditional wooden raft steered by a local highlander ferryman.

The sheer white limestone walls, formed at the turn of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods some 145–120 million years ago, rise dramatically on both sides as the river winds through countless bends. Spring brings fresh greenery cascading down the cliffs, summer fills the gorge with warm light, and autumn turns the forested slopes into a tapestry of gold and red. Whatever the season, the atmosphere is one of wild grandeur — peaceful, yet awe-inspiring.

• Sromowce Wyżne (Kąty) — main Polish raft departure point; trip to Szczawnica approx. 2 h 30 min., to Krościenk approx. 2 h 45 min.; distance 15–18.5 km; easy, no hiking required
• Sromowce Niżne — alternative Polish embarkation point, opposite the Slovak Red Monastery
• Červený Kláštor (Slovakia) — starting point for Slovak raft operators, slightly shorter route
• Pieniny Road — a hiking and cycling trail along the right bank of the Dunajec from Szczawnica to Červený Kláštor, running almost entirely on the Slovak side

• Rafts are wooden boats joined together and steered by licensed Pieniny ferrymen dressed in traditional regional costume
• Self-guided trips are also possible using rented kayaks or inflatable rafts
• The gorge lies within Pieniny National Park — nature conservation rules apply
• Rafting season typically runs from early spring to late autumn

The tradition of floating the Dunajec Gorge dates back at least to 1589, when the journey was depicted in a polychrome painting in the old church in Krościenko. Since the 1830s it has drawn tourists from across Europe — and today it remains one of the most iconic river experiences on the continent.