Kayak to Ali Pasha Castle
4.3

Raft, Kayak and Hike Albania

Explore Albania and help save the Vjosa - Europe’s last wild, free-flowing river - whilst rafting it with local activists

What's Included?

  • Small Like-minded Groups

    Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 16 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From
excluding flights

What's it like?

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Experience first-hand an adventure destination steeped in history and biodiversity

Raft the Vjosa, the last wild and free-flowing river left in Europe and now under threat by plans to build a hydroelectric dam

Kayak to breathtaking beaches, snorkel in crystal clear waters and hike through Albania's historic cities and villages

Helen(June 2019)

The rafting was great! Totally awesome - loved it. Also, the hike as felt pushed, homestay with sheep and mountain mini hike.

Rebecca(April 2019)
Getting out in unspoilt nature on land and...
Getting out in unspoilt nature on land and...

Getting out in unspoilt nature on land and water was great.

Rosie(April 2019)

Everything was great! The whole trip and activities were well organised. The hosts were great and very professional. I would like to especially mention Linkest who was incredibly attentive and made sure we were all well looked after. I hadn’t done water sports before as I’m not a swimmer and I’m a little afraid of heights he made sure I felt safe and comfortable during all the activities which meant I was able to enjoy them to the fullest. He was also full of passion about his country and its people and was full of knowledge about its history which made it also a very interesting trip as well as fun.

Guy(September 2018)

Homestay, hospitality, food and the guide were great.

Rachel(August 2018)

The people, activities and the hosts were great.

Dominique(June 2018)

A fantastic opportunity to really explore an unspoilt country that is off the beaten track. Good mix of activities to make the most of a short trip.

Dominique(June 2018)

Exploring a completely unspoilt country. Although a short trip, you cover so much ground so get a real feel for the natural beauty of the country. Very active - so ideal for proper adventurers!

Kathryn(June 2018)

I thought the overall trip was fantastic and Albania is such a beautiful country. The stops that we did were in incredibly beautiful locations, the activities were a good mix and this is a great itinerary and varied trip. The homestay was gorgeous, the rafting was amazing fun and the lunch at a local house on the third day was incredible.

James(May 2018)
Great mix of culture and adventure. 
...
Great mix of culture and adventure. ...

Great mix of culture and adventure.

Finlay(March 2018)

I've travelled much of Europe, but Albania was the first time I'd felt like I was off the beaten track. Other than my friendly fellow travellers, I encountered no other tourists meaning that the spoils of this gem of a country could be enjoyed to myself - of which there were many. From kicking back in thermal springs in the shadow of the Nemeckes mountains to enjoying unbelievably kind hospitality in Peshtan, this trip isn't one I will forget in a hurry.

Robert(March 2018)

The hosting was particularly good; all of the staff were particularly friendly and a pleasure to get to know. They always ensured we had everything we needed and seemed passionate about both explaining and involving us in Albanian culture. Our homestay was a particular high point as it really thrust us into Albanian culture... and involved copious amounts of alcohol. Drinking Raki ( a somewhat potent local drink) and Scotch together whilst snacking on roasted walnuts sure helped create a real sense of camaraderie for the group.

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Butrint to Ali Pasha Castle

    Hiking
    3hr
    Kayaking
    1hr
    Swimming
    1hr
    Apartment
    Twin share
    Lunch and dinner included
    Show Day 1 detail

    Meet your host at Saranda harbour and then kayak along the Ionian coast from the Butrint amphitheatre to the historic Ali Pasha Castle - both UNESCO world heritage sites. Head to Lukove, a small, traditional village and hike to one of the most beautiful beaches in the area, Krorez Bay where you can swim in the crystal clear water and get up close to its inhabitants - don’t forget your snorkel and underwater camera.

  2. Day 2

    Raft the Vjosa

    Hiking
    3hrs
    Rafting
    2.5hrs
    Homestay
    Twin share
    All meals included
    Show Day 2 detail

    Head to the small town of Permet, the staging point for your expedition onto the Vjosa and tackle Europe’s last free-flowing river. Its entire 270km course is wild, untamed and adorned with beautiful canyons, braided river sections, islands and oxbows as well as class III rapids - prepare for waves of up to four feet and narrow passages that can send the boat shimmying and water gushing over the sides. Wind down in the thermal baths of Benja and then hike to the Canyon of Lengarica where you can relax and enjoy a swim before heading to a local homestay and a barbecue of local food eaten to the sound of traditional music.

  3. Day 3

    Gjirokastra

    Hiking
    4.5hrs
    Breakfast and lunch included
    Show Day 3 detail

    Hike around the beautiful and culturally rich city of Gjirokastra, including the archaeological park of Antigonea, Saraqinisht village and the Spille Monastery. After lunch, it’s time to say goodbye, head back to the seaport and cross the water to Corfu airport. You can decide whether you're going to spend your last hours at the beach of Saranda or in Corfu before flying back home. (Ferry departs at 16:00)

Getting There

Nearest airport
Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport (CFU)
Pick up
Saranda Seaport
9:45
Drop off
Saranda Seaport
16:00

What is and isn't included?

What's included

Professional and certified English-speaking guides

1 night in an apartment and 1 night in a homestay

Munch on tasty food throughout

All transfers, including pick-up from Saranda harbour

All your rafting, kayaking and snorkelling equipment

All taxes and licenses

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GOT A GROUP OF 6 OR MORE?

Book the whole trip privately. We sort the details, you split the cost. Pure adventure, zero faff.

FAQs

Generally, yes. Crime and violence does occur in some areas, but is not typically targeted at foreigners.

Scientific knowledge of the river is still extremely limited and we know more about the eco-systems of waterways in South America and Asia than we do the Vjosa. Many endangered species, like the European eel and the greater flamingo, depend on the free-flowing waters of the Vjosa for their livelihood, however, the Albanian government is currently planning to build a series of hydroelectric dams upstream, which would threaten both the local wildlife and the livelihood of the river-bank's residents. By supporting the Vjosa's local businesses, we can help them continue their fight against the proposed plans to destroy this wild and beautiful place.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

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