Raft, Kayak and Hike in Albania
Dive into spectacular natural scenery on an active adventure through untamed rivers, mythical mountains and epic canyons
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with local, expert, English-speaking guidesHotel
4 nights in hotels, 1 night in a guesthouseMeals
5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinnersTransfers
To and from the airport and everything in betweenEquipment
Everything you need for kayaking, rafting and river hike (seasonal)Small ‘Like-minded’ Groups
Solo-friendly by design, our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Kayak and raft along the mighty Vjosa, the last truly wild river in Europe – a unique and richly biodiverse ecosystem
Venture deep into the sacred Tomorr Mountains on remote trails, featuring incredible vistas and welcoming villages
Explore the verdant natural wonder that is Osumi Canyon, swimming in natural pools and waterfalls along the way
Want to round off your adventure with some coastal hikes to pristine beaches? See our Canyons to Coast Adventure in Albania, which finishes up on the Albanian Riviera
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to Albania!
Driving
Your host will pick you up either at Tirana Airport or in central Tirana, then drive south for about an hour and a half to reach the ancient, fortified city of Berat – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the old castle here and get to know your travel companions this evening over a traditional Albanian meal.
Day 2
Explore the sacred Tomorr Mountains
Hiking
Driving
Head out in off-road vehicles to explore the remote mountains of Albania. At the heart of Albanian folklore, they have deep spiritual significance in the country. Hike through one of the last wild wolf and bear sanctuaries left in Europe, stopping for lunch in a small village. Enjoy the views of Mount Tomori, one of the country’s most magnificent mountains, then unwind with wine tasting in a local winery.
Day 3
Osumi Canyon
Hiking
Driving
Enter Osumi Canyon – one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Europe. You’ll either river hike or raft along the River Osum (this depends on the time of year and corresponding water level; please read the FAQ below for more information). There will be plenty of chances to wild swim whilst surrounded by the canyon’s unique ecosystem, which stays lush and green all year round. After lunch in Corovoda, you’ll drive back to Berat.
Day 4
Kayaking the Vjosa River
Kayaking
Driving
Take another scenic road journey through the remote interior of Albania to Këlcyrë Gorge, for a truly memorable kayaking adventure on Europe’s last wild river. Have lunch in Tepelena before paddling a beautiful and calm stretch of the Vjosa's turquoise waters. Hop back into the minibus to head to the town of Permet to check in to your hotel, and then relax at the thermal baths in Benja.
Day 5
Rafting the Vjosa River
Rafting
Driving
Experience more of the incredible Vjosa River today, newly established as a protected National Park, on a morning rafting adventure – you'll tackle Class 3 rapids through spectacular mountain scenery. You'll head back to Berat for your final evening.
Day 6
The Cave of Pellumbas
Hiking
Driving
Depart beautiful Berat, and begin the journey back to Tirana. En route, you'll stop off to hike a short, steep and scenic trail which will lead you to the mysterious cave of Pellumbas, filled with huge stalagmites and dripping stalactites (be sure to watch out for low-flying bats!). After lunch in one of the local villages, you’ll return to Tirana for your journey home.
Day 1
Day 2 – Day 3
Day 4 – Day 5
Day 6
What is the food like?
Albanian food consists of hearty and healthy dishes of 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 of the local vineyards.
Please let us know of any dietary requirements in advance by requesting this on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Berat
You'll spend four nights in Berat, staying in twin-share rooms at Hotel Castle Park. Set in a scenic area of woodland, it's located around 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Berat town.
Permet
You'll spend one night in a hotel in the small southern town of Permet, next to the banks of the Vjosa river. Rooms will be on a twin-share basis.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Tirana International Airport (TIA)
Arrive any time on Day 1
Ends
Tirana International Airport (TIA)
17:30 on Day 6
Transfers
Arrive at any time on Day 1 and your host will arrange a transfer from Tirana Airport to the hotel in Berat. The transfer time is approx 1.5 hours and if travellers are on flights arriving at similar times, then there may be a short wait in order to group the transfers together.
Pickups can also be made from a location in central Tirana for anyone who has arrived earlier and is staying in the capital - this is usually the Dinamo Stadium near the Grand Park of Tirana. Your host will confirm the pickup time and location with you in advance.
On Day 6 you'll be dropped off at the airport in time to catch any flight leaving after 19:00.
If you are arriving or departing outside those days your host can arrange private airport transfers for an extra cost. See Optional Extras for details.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Tirana from major airports across the UK and Europe.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
- All kayaking and rafting equipment
- Wetsuits, lifejackets and helmets for river hike
What do I need to bring?
- Small backpack with rain cover
- Suitable walking shoes for hiking
- An additional pair of trainers that can get wet (for use when rafting, kayaking and if doing the river hike)
- Breathable, light-weight, waterproof clothing
- Swimwear
- Plenty of spare underwear and clothes for getting wet
- Quick drying travel towel
- Wind-stopper jacket
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses
- Suncream
- Refillable water bottle
- Mosquito repellent
- Head torch
- Car sickness tablets (optional)
Optional Private Room Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room Upgrade
… Per Person
Pre/post trip accommodation in Berat (Double / Twin)
Payable Before Departure
Pre/post trip accommodation in Berat (Double / Twin)
… Per Night
Pre/post trip accommodation in Berat (Single)
Payable Before Departure
Pre/post trip accommodation in Berat (Single)
… Per Night
Pre/post trip accommodation in Tirana (Single)
Payable Before Departure
Pre/post trip accommodation in Tirana (Single)
… Per Night
Pre/post trip accommodation in Tirana (Double / Twin)
Payable Before Departure
Pre/post trip accommodation in Tirana (Double / Twin)
… Per Night
Berat to Tirana Airport
Payable Before Departure
Berat to Tirana Airport
…
Between Tirana Airport and the city
Payable Before Departure
Between Tirana Airport and the city
…
Fantastic trip
This trip was a fantastic introduction to Albania! Over the course of this trip we got to explore the mountains and canyons as well as forest and caves. As part of this, we had many local tour guides which really allowed us to get a good sense of the culture and the area. The guides (especially Arti) were extremely helpful and allowed us to have a great time rafting! There is alot of driving involved but there are so many scenic stops along the way making it worth it.
Thanks for a great trip!
Amazing Experience
Had the most amazing time in Albania. The country is absolutely stunning and the activities were so much fun. Our guide Arti was brilliant and made sure everyone was OK/well looked after throughout the trip.
Alma and the team at Castle Park were also so lovely and helpful and couldn't have done more for us. Would 100% recommend this trip to anyone thinking of coming to Albania.
Albania full of fun and actions
This was exactly everything that I needed. A back to back activities from hiking, wine tasting, rocky ride to the mountains in a 4x4 jeep to rafting and kayaking. The biggest surprise was that we got to stay in a castle hotel with a view of the mountain and Berat castle. The host and the staff went out of their way to keep us happy. Mixing with people who all have similar interests in activities and wanted to do it together as a group and we enjoyed every minute of it. This is the exact holiday I have in mind.
My only tips are get some LEK monies as soon as you get to the airport as you may visit some remote shops.
Albanian adventures
Absolutely loved everything and more
Alma, Arti, Ali and the whole team were brilliant
The food was exceptional. Alma is president of the slow food association of Albania and the food was some of tastiest meats, cheese and vegetables tasted. Each meal was a gastronomic feast.
The itinerary was jam packed and fun with lots of wonderful rafting, kayaking and hiking that was off the beaten track and in stunning locations. Wonderful adventures and experiences.
The group gelled super well and all lovely, many have kept in touch.
If Albania isn’t on your radar it should be and this is a special way to do it.
A big thank you to MBA, Alma, Arti, Ali and the whole team for looking after us and all the memories ❤️🦅❤️
Great introduction to Albania!
The water activities were well organised and a lot of fun, especially the rafting, and we felt particularly safe knowing that we had the captain of the Albanian world champion rafting team as our leaders. The guides were lovely and really well informed. Food in hotel in Berat was amazing! There was a lot of travel in mini bus between destinations, up to 2.5 hrs at times which was probably unavoidable, and though a bit of a drag, the benefit was getting to see a lot of the beautiful Albanian countryside. Hikes were very easy distances so personally i’d book for a little more challenging next time. Overall aa brilliant experience with a great bunch of people, wonderful welcoming hosts and guides, gourmet food and memories to treasure.
Super friendly family run business
Super friendly family run business that went all out to mKe this trip spectacular
Raft and hike were the highlights
Arti was a very attentive guide, always making sure everyone in the group was happy. Very knowledgeable about anything you asked him and took the time to explain it to you. Beautiful hike up Tomorri mountain. Rafting was good fun too, although I would have liked bigger rapids. I went end of March and water was quite flat. Great guides again for the rafting. Kayaking is in double inflatables, so slower than a hard shelled kayak. Tons of food at every meal, you won't go hungry.
Beautiful country, great fun, great food!
Very happy with my trip to Albania!
The country has unspoiled natural beauty - the snow-capped mountains are epic and the river gorges complete with waterfalls are beautiful.
Our guides were very helpful and patient and they had a laugh with us as well, adding to the experience. The activities were great fun! NB - head torch and shoes with good grip strongly recommended for the bat cave on the final day!
Finally... the food! Fresh, rustic, healthy and flavoursome. Cheese, meats, salad, fruit, bread, wine and beer! The local guys at Castle Park did a great job :)
Absolutely incredible. This country and its people deserve the tourism boom they’re currently in. Unbelievable scenery straight out of a movie, great activities and very nice people all throughout the trip. Really took us outside of our comfort zone while keeping it safe. Will be coming back!
This was the most AMAZING trip!! Albania is so beautiful, made perfect by our time spent with Arti and the Rafting Company. Alma and her family are incredible hosts, the kayaking and rafting was more beautiful than the pictures let on. I want to do it all again!
An exceptional Albanian experience with a great mix of activity and leisure. The passionate hosts are experienced and well-resourced and showcased their country with pride. Highly recommended.
The trip was incredibly varied with some great activities and a jam-packed agenda. The activity level should be easy as other than some steep climbs, there isn’t anything particularly physical.
The hosts were brilliant at taking lots of photos of everyone, which was brilliant and meant people didn’t need to worry themselves about it.
The food was good - traditional so a little tricky for fussy eaters or non-meat eaters.
Slightly more relaxation time would’ve been nice, but the agenda was very well thought through.
A lot of driving time - I’m not sure if there are other hotels that could be slightly better placed? Felt like a lot of time was spent in cars - often longer than the activity itself.
Everyone was helpful and welcoming. We were lucky in having a really good group.
The wine tour was an unexpected delight and the river hiking was by far the best experience.
This is a fantastic trip to a wonderful country. Scenery is breathtaking and the range of activities is perfect. Our group was amazing and we all gelled incredibly well. So much thanks to our leader, Arti, and all his local hosts. Albania is a beautiful place of natural wonder with hospitality, welcome and food to match. Great trip!
This was an amazing experience. I had no idea that this part of Albania was going to be so scenic and the water activities so much fun. Many thanks to Arti, Elfa, and the crew for making it possible.
The perfect trip for anyone keen to experience the rural wonders of Albania alongside the country's most experienced rafting guides. The weather in October was blissful and there were too many itinerary highlights to name: the mountain picnic, the off-roading, swimming in turquoise rivers... The group and the guides were so much fun, with lots of late nights sipping raki. A really well organised tour. Completely fell in love with the place.
Public review
Excellent trip, I felt I certainly "got my moneys worth".
A good variety of activities, with a stunning backdrop of mountains, valleys and rivers. The trip was well organised from start to finish, our group guide Arti was knowledgeable and relaxed, ensuring we had the best possible experience. The accommodation was good and food was plentiful. I travelled solo, but was fortunate to meet an excellent group of people to share the trip with. I highly recommend this trip and look forward to booking my next Much Better Adventures experience soon.
Really enjoyed this trip! It was awesome. Arti and the crew were very good, kept us safe at all points. I’d bring a small water bottle with you at all times with a carabiner so you can keep yourself hydrated during the water activities. The river hike is more like coasteering so don’t be put off if you’re all hiked out or worried about the heat. We were there in July and it was very warm. All the hotels are lovely, air conditioned and comfortable . Especially the one you’re in for the penultimate night. Albania is a beautiful country and we had so much fun.
Albania is a fantastic country, well worth exploring, with this trip offering a fantastic blend of hiking, a city tour in Berat, kayaking, rafting, river hiking (which we likened to easy canyoning) and a winery visit. I would however advise you to consider what time of year you visit - our trip was mid-July and it was nearing 40 degrees, which makes the water activities incredibly welcome, but the hikes in the middle part of the day much more challenging due to the heat.
This was a fantastic adventure, this was my first solo trip and we were so well looked after and I felt very safe and well-informed throughout. It was an incredibly active holiday, with very little time to stop but I loved that, any spare moments we had the option to do extra activities and this meant we could experience much more of Albania. There was also free time after dinner each evening to spend time socialising with the group over a few drinks if you wanted. The actual activities were overall well organised and very fun. The river hiking was a new experience - similar to coasteering except down a river, not so much a hike but this was very refreshing. I’d go on this holiday again in a heartbeat.
Great tour guide and overall very well planned itinerary. Definitely what you would expect and more. Albania is a beautiful country worth visiting.
This was out of this world! I cannot wait for the next adventure. Have made memories for life. Thank you, everyone.
It was a very nice trip. The crew and specially our guide Arti where excellent. The trips were cool and well organized. Good job as well for the selected restaurants. The local food and scenery was amazing. The small farm restaurant up the hills was something special 😁 This is a trip I can recommend!
A fantastic tour. Albania as a country exceeded my expectations in every way. I was consistently blown away by the scenery. Arti, our tour lead, was excellent and nothing was too much. Lots of fun! Great group of fellow travellers. I would fully recommend this trip!
Amazing time. Beautiful scenery. Rafting was great fun. Alma and Endri were fabulous hosts and guides.
Raw and beautiful place. Excellent food and warm welcoming people.
Our trip to Albania was absolutely AMAZING. It is a country we never would have thought to go to if it wasn’t for this experience and adventure tour. But now we have been, Albania has so much to offer from the food, weather, culture, landscape and adventure! Arte and Endri our tour guides were absolutely great and had lots of historical knowledge on the area. The passion they have for the country and what they do is evident. Zamos’ inspiring story around rafting and tourism shows the ethos of their team. The accommodation is some of the best (super comfy beds) and the food really portrays the traditional Albanian cuisine! On one of the dinners in Berat during your free time, be sure to go to the Friendly House restaurant! Thank you so much for a truly amazing package!
From the moment I started the tour I fell in love with Albania and the people. The daily activities were incredible, and it seemed like each day Alma and Zamo planned a little more to surprise us and exceed our expectations. Everything was planned so thoughtfully, with the focus of making sure we had the best experience in Albania. I can’t recommend this tour enough.
Brilliant experience rafting and hiking in the Albanian mountains. Extremely friendly and knowledgable locals.
This trip was everything it was advertised to be! It is 6 action packed days of hiking, kayaking and eating some of the best food I have tried! I would like to specifically thank Alma and Arti for leading this wonderful trip. Alma reached out to me before the trip to provide information on the trip, which was extremely helpful. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the team took excellent care of us. The hikes were fantastic and the kayaking experience was spectacular. The highlight will definitely be Alma organising a last minute cooking class for us. Alma went out of her way to ensure this was the best trip and for that I am truly grateful. I would definitely rebook this trip!
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.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 135kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. 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, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
No previous experience is needed, however a moderate level of fitness is required along with the ability to swim.
Sure can! Over 70% 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.
For departures between the months of March to June, you'll go rafting within the canyon as the typical water levels at this time of year allow a safe environment in which to use rafts. For departures between the months of July to October, you'll go river hiking. This involves hiking along the river bed within the canyon, jumping into pools along the way. A wetsuit, helmet and lifejacket are provided for this activity, but you'll need your own pair of trainers with a good grip – ones that you don't mind getting soaked through!
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
We recommend checking out the country-specific information [here] (https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/) and also talking to a travel nurse.
For current advice about travelling in Albania, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.
Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
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 (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
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.
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.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.
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Connect before you go
You'll be invited to join a WhatsApp group to get to know each other before your big adventure together. Full details