Let's paddle around Lake Velence!

The start point is at the southwest end of the Agárd free beach, at a wooden plank ramp next to the boat harbor entrance, but in season you can also choose the stairs installed into the water – if you start early enough, otherwise you have to compete with swimmers. The direction is immediately towards the reed island opposite, then we start circling it on the left. At the end of the island, we turn right and go straight into the reeds. This is also the Agárd-Pákozd boat route, so proceed carefully and give way if a boat approaches. Following a slight left bend, we follow the reed on the right side, then turning off the boat route, we enter the bay called Császárvíz wide to the right. It is not worth entering the Szúnyog Island harbor, as it is a dead end and you cannot dock at the high walls. It is sometimes worth looking at the navigation during the journey, but getting lost is not a tragedy: a bit of winding in the reeds is the spice of paddling in Lake Velence.

Heading north, we cut through the reed groves, and turning left, the two posts already mark Szúnyog Island, where if you want, you can land on trodden grassy disembarkation points. It is worth checking in advance the opening hours of the inn located here.

Continuing east, we paddle along the northern shore, to the left on the hilltop the memorial of the 1848 Pákozd battle is nicely visible. We pass the gate of the Sukoró harbor, then arrive at the Sukoró free beach. You can stop here for a rest or swim in summer but there is no infrastructure. Continuing still following the shore, passing some reed patches, after 250 meters crossing between worn concrete pillars marking the southern boundary, we arrive at the lower end of the Lake Velence rowing racecourse. On the 2000-meter course, we can try paddling straight, focusing only on our movement, rhythm, and stroke count, or if you feel like it, hold your own time trial measuring your ability over 2000 meters. Meanwhile, occasionally glance to the upper left: you can recognize the peak of the Velence Hills, Meleg Hill, then the modern lookout tower of Bence Hill.

At the height of the modern race center tower at the upper end of the course, we turn right and cut across Velence Island, which from closer looks can be recognized by the trees on it. To the left above the reeds, the tower of the Velence St. Stephen Church rises. We circle Velence Island from left to right, then head parallel to the shore towards Gárdony. Crossing a more open water surface straight and passing through the reed gate on the far side, we arrive at the long breakwater of the Gárdony harbor. Depending on the wind direction, we can paddle further either on the inner or outer side. At the far end, we cross another more open water surface, then again some reeds at the end, and finally get out to the open lake, and with about 2 km of paddling, we return to the starting point.