While most Lithuanian students mark their high school graduation with fireworks, parties, or countryside trips, six graduates from Vilnius Simonas Daukantas High School chose a more adventurous path. Right after finishing final exams, they set off on a rafting journey down the Neris River, towards the Curonian Lagoon.
Alanas, Liudvikas, Paulius, Jokūbas, Benas and Neidas spent months building their own raft before setting off. Despite the ambitious project, they say it did not interfere with their exam preparations.
One of the masterminds behind the idea, Alanas Azikejevas, told LRT that this wasn't the group’s first rodeo. A couple of years ago, they took on a 200 km bike ride in just one day.
“In the autumn, we thought it would be nice to mark the end of school in a special way,” Alanas recalled. “Jokūbas jokingly suggested we build a raft and sail across Lithuania – last year’s graduates went by canoe. We laughed, but the next morning the jokes stopped, and we started working seriously on the idea.”
The project – named The Last Lesson – began in November, and took roughly eight months of planning, constructing, and seeking sponsorship.
The raft is made from wood and supported by 18 plastic barrels (each with a 200-litre capacity), measuring about 24 square metres – 6 metres wide and 4 metres long. The six boys did everything themselves: designing, drawing, assembling, drilling, and sawing – in true Huckleberry Finn fashion, though this time with power tools and a structural plan.
Did the serious commitment affect their studies?
When asked if the project impacted their studies, Alanas was clear: “We had plenty of time. We planned to complete 85% of the work before the exam period so we could focus, then finish the rest afterwards. There was one tough night, though – we stayed up working from 7 PM to 5 AM before a test sail. But the raft turned out too heavy for the six of us to carry. We adjusted the plan, got help, and the next week we were floating on a lake!”
The group plans to camp ashore most nights but will occasionally sleep aboard the raft in shifts, with some paddling while others rest. They did exactly that on their first night, as they made their way through Vilnius and its outskirts.
For the approximately two-week journey, they prepared nearly 170 kilograms of food, costing around €500, based on a carefully planned list.
How did their families react?
“Honestly, everyone was supportive. Sure, mums were a bit worried about safety, but they were very encouraging. Dads gave us tips on how to make the raft sturdy,” said Alanas.
And why go on such a journey?
“To all of us, it marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another – a personal challenge. For some, it's a break from daily life, a mental reset. For others, it's about enjoying nature. But for all of us, it’s about celebrating the end of school by doing something truly memorable.”
Their adventure began on July 3, in Ožkiniai, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Vilnius by the Neris River. Their destination is the town of Rusnė, near the border with the Kaliningrad region of Russia, which they hope to reach in about two weeks. While they initially considered continuing all the way to the Curonian Lagoon – a large coastal lagoon shared by Lithuania and Russia – they judged the risks too high.
On the evening of July 6, Lithuania’s Statehood Day, the group planned to sing the national anthem on the raft, likely somewhere amidst the forests along the river.
You can learn more about the raft journey on the LRT TV programme “Labas rytas, Lietuva” (Good Morning, Lithuania).
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
