From Szőny to Süttő along the Neszmely island group

The water entry site has a comfortably wide, flat, gravel shoreline with a concrete ramp and a swimming platform beside it, all free to use. To the left, looking upstream, the new Monostori Bridge in Komarom is visible in the distance, and on the Slovak side, there is the 1762 river km marker. After water entry, just 250 meters away, we reach the dock of the MOL refining plant at Almásfüzitő, which we safely bypass at a distance. For the first 4 km, the flood protection levee is still visible, underneath which the shoreline has denser or sparser vegetation. Approaching Almásfüzitő, this changes: from here we paddle along continuous, dense vegetation. We pass the former industrial loading dock of the fireclay factory, then comes the Prélost Island - although on the water it doesn’t feel like an island anymore, only by name. Here, under the dense trees, numerous atmospheric docking options are available.

After Prélost Island, in the dense greenery, we find a small inflow: this is the mouth of the Szőny-Füzitő channel, where it is worth paddling in for a few minutes: only about 50 meters, but it can be pleasant whether for shade or a few minutes’ atmospheric rest. Then we pass the entrance to the gravel pit bay, see the 1753 river km marker, and above it, the Almásfüzitő hills. Soon we can observe the well-renovated, standing Turkish-era Öregmalom (Old Mill) above the shore, next to it the mouth of the Által stream. From here, another 250 meters and we arrive at the Dunaalmás Dock Buffet, where besides, we find a narrow yet comfortable gravel docking place suitable for numerous boats. It’s only a one-minute walk from the buffet to the under-railway crossing, at the base of which the sulphurous Lilla Spring flows. Around the Reformed church there is a small shop, bakery, and restaurant. Those wishing for a longer land stop can walk back 300 meters west along road 10 and reach the cemetery above the Catholic church, where the grave of Mihály Csokonai Vitéz's Lily, Julianna Vajda, can be found.

Moving on, we paddle 2 km along similarly dense and vivid vegetation-lined shores, then arrive at the upper Neszmely Island, and the stone embankment connecting the island to the shore, which separates the Saint Helena Bay from the main branch of the Danube. From here, only 300 meters further right, we see another shorter stone embankment which is cut through and locally called the Cat’s Hole, allowing passage to the Inner Danube, that is the partly oxbow side branches of the Neszmely Islands. The passage may vary according to water level: at low water, boats must be carried over, at medium water no lifting is needed, and crossing is possible even with more or less strong current; at high water levels, you hardly notice passing through a cut. After paddling 250 meters, turning west, we spot the Neszmely Boat Museum in Saint Helena Bay, which can be circled in still water to view the steamboats named Zoltán and Neszmely and their companions in various conditions and restoration phases. If time allows, landing is also possible here.

Heading east from the Boat Museum, we reach the cross dam separating Saint Helena Bay from the side branch, crossing its passage to continue paddling on the Inner Danube toward the tip of Lower Island. We stay straight in the main branch since the side branch opening to the right that separates Lower Island from the shore has been closed at both ends, so it cannot be paddled through completely. To the right, the long stone embankment connecting Upper Island to Radványi Island soon comes into view; at its center is a passage intended to supply water to the side branch. The atmosphere and higher water levels make paddling close to the embankment worthwhile for a more adventurous experience. On the Slovak side, we see Dunaradvány.

Along the Radványi and Mocsi Islands on the branch reminiscent of the Old Danube, we continue along lush vegetated shores. To the right, at the eastern tip of Lower Island, we pass by the Eden camping site and arrive at the 1744 river km marker, reaching the main branch. From here we can already see the greener Süttő Island farther in the middle of the Danube, which, contrary to its name, belongs to Slovakia (just as the Slovak settlements Dunaradvány and Dunamocs giving their names to the Radványi and Mocsi Islands belong to Hungary). To find the unloading point, just watch the tower of the Saint Leopold Catholic Church in Süttő. Here there is a concrete ramp and comfortable gravel shoreline, and thanks to the under-railway crossing, it is possible to reach the shore by car to easily pack up.