Augustów Canal · NE Poland

A floating cabin
aboard Tom Cat

Slow travel through the lakes and forests of north-eastern Poland. A self-drive houseboat for up to 6 guests, no boating license required, solar-powered — available April through October.

Check availability Watch the film
No license
Solar-powered
Sleeps 6
Augustów
4.9 / 5
Tom Cat moored at sunset by a forested lake shore
Tom Cat · Augustów
The Boat

Classic flybridge,
modern comfort

Tom Cat is a cosy houseboat with an upper steering deck, solar panels and a wood-paneled interior. Perfect for a romantic weekend or a slow-travel week along the Augustów Canal.

  • Length8 m
  • Beam2.8 m
  • Day capacity8 guests
  • Berths6 guests
Routes

Four tried-and-tested itineraries

Four routes from our guide — from a lazy no-locks day to a full expedition to the canal's far end. Distances are one-way at a cruising speed of about 5 km/h; detailed maps and the guide are provided before departure.

📅 1–2 days 🚤 1–3 km 🚪 no locks

Netta → Necko → Rospuda

A lazy start with no locks — a swim at the Goła Zośka headland and a night moored wild by Lovers' Island. The perfect first cruise.

📅 2–3 days 🚤 11 km 🚪 1 lock

Cicha Rzeczka & Lake Studzieniczne

Europe's shortest navigable river, your first lock passage at Przewięź and the lakeside sanctuary of Studzieniczna.

📅 4–5 days 🚤 30 km 🚪 5 locks

Deep into the Forest — Lake Mikaszewo

Five locks — including Paniewo, the only two-chamber one — forest canals and the turquoise water of Lake Mikaszewo.

📅 7–10 days 🚤 42 km 🚪 8 locks

All the Way to Tartak

The full expedition to the wildest, forested reaches of the canal — eight locks and a week of slow travel with time to spare for weather.

Pricing

Transparent rates,
no hidden costs

Rates apply throughout the season (April–October). All prices in EUR, VAT included.

Day

2-day minimum

from165 EUR / day
  • All utilities
  • Linens and towels
  • Skipper briefing
  • Life jackets
Most popular

Weekend

Fri 3pm – Sun 6pm

from450 EUR / weekend
  • Everything from "Day"
  • Welcome bottle of wine
  • Curated route map
  • 24/7 chat support

Week

7 nights, Sat → Sat

from990 EUR / week
  • Everything from "Weekend"
  • Final cleaning included
  • 10% off long stays
  • Tailored itinerary
Save 10% on stays of 3+ days · 15% in May and September (off-peak).

Season: April – October · Check availability via message or chat below

Booking

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Reviews

What guests say

★★★★★

"Tom Cat exceeded our expectations. Three days, three sunsets, zero phone signal — exactly what we needed."

Anna & Paweł Weekend · August 2024
★★★★★

"Beautiful boat, attentive owner, exactly as advertised. The kids didn't want to come back."

The Kowalski family One week · July 2024
★★★★★

"Perfect for a slow-style stag weekend. Wood-paneled cabin, locks, lakeside campfire — we'll be back."

Michał Weekend · June 2024
FAQ

Common questions

No. Tom Cat is small and slow enough that any adult can operate it. I run a short briefing before you cast off.
Once dates are confirmed, a 20% deposit secures your booking (bank transfer or card). The balance plus a 300 EUR refundable security is collected on departure day.
Level-2 storm warnings let us reschedule at no cost. Otherwise, the boat is comfortable in light rain — wood interior, full kitchen, plenty of throw blankets.
Absolutely. We provide child-sized life jackets. Dogs are welcome at no extra charge — just let us know in advance.
The marina is in Augustów; the exact address goes out with your booking confirmation. Free parking during your rental. Ten minutes by taxi from the train station.
Renting Tom Cat on the Augustów Canal starts at €165 per day (2-day minimum), €450 for a weekend (Friday 3pm – Sunday 6pm) and €990 for a full week (Saturday → Saturday). Every rental includes utilities, linens, towels, life jackets and a hands-on skipper briefing. A 15% off-peak discount applies in May and September.
Tom Cat is a classic flybridge motor cruiser (8 × 2.8 m) with the steering position on the upper deck. The boat carries its own solar power, which means quiet evenings and independence from shore hook-ups. The rental is owner-operated, so the handover, briefing and on-route support are personal rather than agency-driven. The hull size and engine power sit under the threshold that would require a Polish boating license, so any adult can drive it.
The cruising season on the Augustów Canal runs April through October. June, July and August are peak — warmest weather but busiest locks. May and September are our favourite months: warm, quiet, long days, and a 15% off-peak discount. April and October suit travellers who want solitude — landscapes are spectacular, but expect colder nights.
Our longest route runs from Augustów to the Tartak lock — about 42 km and 8 locks one way. At a comfortable slow-travel pace (about 5 km/h) the round trip takes 7–10 days. The Augustów Canal itself is about 101 km long with 18 locks and is a listed Monument of History. A detailed itinerary tailored to the weather and your preferences is included in our guide.
Yes — Tom Cat is a fully equipped houseboat with 6 berths, a kitchen, a bathroom and a saloon. You can moor at marinas and waterside hostels (stanice wodne) (Augustów-Borki, Studzieniczna, Swoboda, Płaska) or wild-moor along the forested banks of the Augustów Canal and the lakes of Necko, Białe and Studzieniczne. Sleeping on the water is often cheaper and quieter than a hotel in high season — and you wake up with a view of the lake.