Water activities in Szarvas - summer on the Körös, right on the waterfront
There is something special about spending most of the day in the water rather than on the beach. In Szarvas, it's only natural: here, the Körös is not just a sight to behold, it's an experience you can literally immerse yourself in for a few days.
This is exactly one of the biggest advantages of Palov's Guesthouse: it is located on the banks of the Körös, with its own dock, so everything you can do on the water in Sarva - be it swimming, kayaking, canoeing, SUP, motorboating or even fishing - practically starts from the garden. There's no need to travel, organise or find a special programme: the water experiences in Sarvas really are a natural part of relaxation here, and much of it is already on offer. accommodation also given as part of.
Swimming in the Körös - natural relaxation
Mornings often start with a quiet splash. The water is still smooth, almost like a mirror, and if you like to swim it's hard to resist a longer, leisurely lap. It's not a „beachy” swim, but rather the kind of floating where you switch off completely and only the sound of the water rumbles as you pace your hands in the water.
Many local people do the same on a daily basis. Everyone has their own tried and tested route, usually swimming from the arboretum bend near Palov's Guesthouse to the bridge over the Horn.
Matting on the Dead Sea
After 9am, but before 11am, when the sun is already rising, you can take out the mattresses for a sunbath. One of the best things to do is to simply lie out on the water and let the lagoon rock you. There's no rush - it's all about not having an agenda, yet something is happening. In the afternoon, when the sun is not so dangerous, it's also worth a splash with a mat, at which point you can even go for a mat swim and go even further.
Tip - if you just want to sunbathe, it's worth tying up to the jetty, because it's true that it's a dead end, the A circle can flow beautifully and peacefully in either direction.
Kayaks and canoes on the water in Szarvas
If you're looking for something a little more active, the Dead Ring is perfect for that too. Among the water activities on offer in Sarva, kayaking or canoeing gives you a completely different perspective, and is also a great sport. These water sports give you more freedom than swimming, and you can visit parts of the water that would go unnoticed from your own pontoon.
There are several places to rent a kayak or canoe, including online.
Water biking on the Dead River - easy movement and freedom on the water
A water bike is the perfect choice if you want to get some exercise, but you don't want to give up relaxing. There are several places to hire a bicycle on the Dead Sea, and after just a few minutes on the water you can feel how liberating it is. No special routine or experience is needed, but it gives you more freedom than a swim: you can easily go for longer stretches. And if you get tired, you can simply stop and sunbathe while you're swaying on the water.
SUP on the Körös - balance and fun
SUP - Stand Up Paddle - might seem challenging at first, but you get the hang of it very quickly and it's hard to stop afterwards.
This sport has only become really popular in Hungary in the last few years, even though it exercises every muscle in the body, while giving an almost meditative experience as we move forward standing on the water. And if you get tired, you can simply lie down on the board and paddle by hand. A in the evening in Szarvas Getting on a SUP is a truly unforgettable experience.
The good news is that from the 2026 season, you can rent a paddle board with us, so the easiest way to holiday home from its own brick you can start your aquatic voyage of discovery.
Small boat hire in Sarva - free exploration on the Körös
For even more freedom, rent a smaller speedboat. This gives you a different experience: you not only go on the water, but you decide where to start, where to stop and how long to spend on each stretch. The calm, winding stretches of the Dead Ring are ideal for this kind of exploration, and you can hire a mini-boat for several hours or half a day. This way, the water becomes not just a backdrop, but a real space to roam freely. As the Körös is a holiday resort, you don't need to imagine a speedboat, just a small boat that roars along quietly.
Fishing in Szarvas - calm waterside weather
Many people (also) come to Szarvas to fish - and for good reason. The Körös is calm and predictable on this stretch, and just sitting on the bank or on the jetty and watching the water is an experience in itself. Fishing here is not necessarily about the catch, but about the slow, patient time that is hard to find elsewhere. We wrote more about it in the About fishing in Szarvas, which tells you everything from how to buy a licence to local fish species.
Relationship between holidaymakers and anglers - what to look out for as a holidaymaker!
On the beach:
- Respect the silence - loud music and shouting can disturb anglers
- Leave no litter behind and avoid polluting the water
- If there's a fisherman around, give him some quiet space
On water:
- Avoid throwing ropes - you can easily get caught in them
- Don't get too close to anglers, especially in front of their tackle
- Avoid big splashes and waves near fishing spots.
- When you're moving forward and you see a fisherman, it's a good idea to tell him you're on the right track.
+ 1 - Water activities in Szarvas: cruise with the Katalin II
...And of course there is the „slower” side of the water. Active for 40 years Catherine II cruise boat during the day, it quietly cruises up and down the Dead Sea, which you can see from our own pier, or you can take the boat for a spin. You can board the Katalin II from the arboretum or from the harbour opposite. A programmes in Sarov This cruise from Sarva is a very different experience from an ordinary cruise: uncle Pista Demeter (as he is known locally) gives a very interesting, entertaining and interactive tour based on information and experiences gathered over decades.
If you listen carefully, you can also find out about the cottage's dike some interesting facts about Szarvas🙂
When water is not a programme, but part of the day
Perhaps the best thing about it all is that the water activities in Sarva are not a series of separate experiences, but a continuous pastime. A little swim, a little float, a little paddle, and then the quiet of the waterfront in the evening. At Palov's Guesthouse, the water is not just one of many possibilities - it is part of everyday life.
