Much Better Adventures

Adventures / Adventure Tapas

Kayak, Snorkel and Hike the Canyons of Albania

Kayak on protected waters, wild swim in natural pools and trek into the spectacular, permanently green ecosystem of the Osumi canyon

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Trip Ref #9614

Adventures / Adventure Tapas

Kayak, Snorkel and Hike the Canyons of Albania

Kayak on protected waters, wild swim in natural pools and trek into the spectacular, permanently green ecosystem of the Osumi canyon

DURATION

5 nights

LOCATION

Albania

ANNUAL LEAVE

4 days off work

SEASON

Mar—Oct

GROUP SIZE

Up to 16 people

MEETING POINT

Tirana International Airport, Albania

ACCOMMODATION

Guesthouse · Hotel

DIFFICULTY

Moderate

No previous experience is needed but you should be in relatively good shape and a confident swimmer.

Trek the rugged Tomorr Mountains and summit Mount Tomori (2416m) - possibly the best view in the whole of Albania

Kayak the clear waters of the protected Ulza National Park and stop for a traditional Albanian lunch at Tina and Artan’s house

Raft the green waters of the unspoilt Osumi Canyon - one of Europe's most spectacular natural attractions - and wild swim in natural pools along the way

Included

Guides

Local, expert, English-speaking guides

Accommodation

4 nights in small local guesthouses and hotels

Meals

Munch on traditional local cuisine throughout

Transfers

To and from the airport and everything in between

Equipment

Everything you need for kayaking, rafting and snorkelling

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Personal expenses

Some meals as described

Travel insurance

The Area

Logistics

Starts

Tirana International Airport (TIA)

12:00 or 21:30 on Day 1

Ends

Tirana International Airport (TIA)

18:00 on Day 6

Transfers

On Day 1 - there are two options for included transfers between the airport and your hotel. On Day 6 you'll be dropped off in time to catch any flight leaving after 20:00. If you are unable to make the fixed group transfers on Day 1, or if you would like to extend your stay at the end, your host can arrange private airport transfers for an extra cost.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Tirana from major airports across the UK and Europe.

What about all the carbon?

We mitigate 4x the carbon generated by all our customer flights annually through our partnership with Cool Earth.

Day 1

Guesthouse · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3 – Day 4

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 6

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Albanian food is hearty and healthy, usually based around meat and vegetables, much of which is seasonal and sourced locally. Popular dishes include turkey, lamb or goat Pershesh, served with a local bread known as Kulac, a meat and leek pie made with thin pastry called Byrek and freshly caught fish served in a Mediterranean style. Fish dishes are often flavoured with white vinegar and olive oil grown in Southern Albania and many dishes are served with wine from one the local vineyards.

Please let us know of any dietary requirements in advance.

What is the accommodation like?

Tirana

On night one you'll stay at the Artistic Tirana Guesthouse, a newly refurbished building in the heart of the city.

Vlore

On nights two and three you’ll stay at Hotel Nika in Vlore, located just 150 metres from the nearby beach.

Berat

On nights four and five you’ll stay at Hotel Castle Park, set in a quiet area of woodland around 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Berat town.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).

Day 1

Discover Tirana

Head for Albania's colourful capital city of Tirana, home to a thriving café culture and check into your guesthouse in the heart of town. Get to know your travelling companions over a night of traditional Albanian food at one of the best restaurants in town.

Day 2

Kayak beautiful Lake Ulza

Kayaking

2hrs

Paddle the clear, clean waters of the Ulza National Park and enjoy the fresh air and gorgeous scenery of this protected nature reserve. After a couple of hours of world-class kayaking, head to Tina and Artan’s house for a delicious meal made from home grown, organic ingredients picked right there on the farm. After lunch, head to the historic city of Vlora on the Adriatic coast, founded by the Ancient Greeks in 600BC and check into a locally owned hotel for the night.

Day 3

Protected waters, mysterious caves

Snorkeling

2hrs

Swimming

2hrs

Explore the beautiful Karaburun Peninsula by speedboat and then snorkel in the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park – the only reserve of its kind in the country. If you’re lucky you might see seals, turtles and dolphins. Visit the mysterious cave at Haxhi Aliu, used by traders and smugglers for millennia, then sunbathe on an untouched beach and have a picnic lunch on the sand. In the afternoon, return to Vlore and enjoy a delicious dinner of locally caught fish and seafood.

Day 4

Enter the Osumi Canyon

Hiking

2hrs

Swimming

2hrs

Rafting

2hrs

Visit the ancient, fortified city of Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and then enter the Osumi Canyon - one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Europe. You’ll swim in a natural pool, raft or river hike (depending on the water level) along the River Osum, explore local landmarks like the Crocodile Head, Love Waterfall and Devils Gate, surrounded by the canyon’s unique, ecosystem that stays lush and green all year round.

From there you’ll return to Berat and check into your guesthouse, after which you’re free to explore the town and eat in any of the local restaurants.

Day 5

Hike the Tomorr Mountains

Hiking

4hrs · 12km

Trek through the Tomorr Mountains, one of the last wild sanctuaries for wolves and bears left in Europe and a spiritual place for the Albanian people. Enjoy the views from Tomori, one of country’s most magnificent mountains, then unwind in the Nurellari winery and taste some of the local wine, cheese and olives. On the subject of food, save room for dinner at the Castle Park Hotel - one of the best restaurants in the Berati area.

Day 6

Return to Tirana

Hiking

1.5hrs

Descend into the mysterious Cave of Pellumbas (360 metres) and check out the huge stalagmites and stalactites (be sure to watch out for low flying bats). After lunch in one of the local villages, you’ll return to Tirana for a guided tour around the city centre before heading back to the airport and home.

Please Note

All our adventures take place in wild places. Things can go wrong in wild places. Your perfectly planned itinerary may change a bit (or a lot) if the weather turns, someone gets hurt, or a volcano erupts. Usually though, changes make it all the better.

15% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 15% discount on us to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, Runner's Need, and Cycle Surgery.

What's included?

All kayaking and snorkelling equipment

What do I need to bring?

  • Small backpack with rain coverage
  • Breathable, light-weight waterproof clothing
  • Wind-stopper jacket
  • Cap or hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Torch or headlamp
  • Hiking poles
  • Sunblock
  • Water bottle
  • Camera

No previous experience is needed, however a moderate level of fitness is required along with the ability to swim.

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

The best months for hiking in Albania are February to June, and September to November, when the weather is warm and sunny, reaching temperatures of around 30 degrees. July and August can be hotter, however, this is usually broken up by cool coastal breezes.

We’ve teamed up with the guys at World Nomads to offer insurance designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. To get yours sorted, click here.

We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book the trip, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

All of our group adventures are especially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded.

"I cannot recommend this highly enough! The people on the trip were amazing. Easily the best trip I've ever been on!" Charlotte, 2019, Trustpilot.

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.

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Transferrable Deposits

Cancel up to 31 days before departure and we'll transfer your deposit into credit for a future booking.

Free Date Changes

Free date changes up to 31 days before departure.

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