Vjosa Day Trip
2–3 hoursAge 14+April–October
Steer your own two-person inflatable kayak through moving water and small rapids, from the launch upstream back towards Përmet.
Vjosa Day Trips
The Vjosa
River
Europe's first Wild River National Park: free-flowing water from the Pindus mountains to the Adriatic, through gorges, gravel banks and quiet valleys.
Europe's last truly wild river
Albania's
Wild River
Most of Europe's rivers are dammed. The Vjosa still runs free for its whole course: about 272 km, the last 192 km of them in Albania. In March 2023 the river and four of its tributaries became the Vjosa Wild River National Park (12,727 ha), the first national park in Europe created to protect a wild river.
River facts
LengthAbout 272 km
(192 km in Albania)
(192 km in Albania)
ProtectedNational park
since March 2023
since March 2023
Park area12,727 ha with
4 tributaries
4 tributaries
SeasonApril – October
(kayak season)
(kayak season)
Gateway town
Përmet
A small town on the Vjosa with family-run guesthouses, good local food and launches into the national park.
Visiting Përmet
Vjosa Wild River National Park
Protected, Wild and Free-Flowing
After ten years of work by conservationists, scientists and local communities, Albania's Council of Ministers declared the Vjosa Wild River National Park on 13 March 2023. It protects the whole flow of the Vjosa in Albania and four of its tributaries, the Drino, Kardhiq, Bënça and Shushica, as an IUCN Category II national park: the first of its kind in Europe.
Free-flowing rivers have become rare. Since 1970, Europe's migratory fish populations have fallen by 94%, and dams and barriers are a major reason. On the Vjosa, the river itself still shapes its gravel islands, braided channels and canyons.
Sources: Vjosa Wild River National Park; WWF Living Planet Index.
12,727hectares protected
4tributaries included
1,100+animal species
15globally threatened species (13 animals, 2 plants)
2023Europe's first wild river national park
~192 kmof free-flowing river in Albania
Ways to paddle the Vjosa
A Few Hours or a Few Days
Multi-Day Expeditions
2, 3 or 5 daysClass II–III+Wild camping
Follow the river for days: open upper valleys, the Përmet valley and the Këlcyrë Gorge, with riverside camps, meals on the river and full support.
Vjosa ExpeditionsFrom the mountains to the sea
The River, Section by Section
- Part1
The upper Vjosa
The river enters Albania from Greece, where it is called the Aoös, and runs through a wide, open valley of gravel braids and clear water.
- Part2
The Përmet valley
The most paddled stretch. Rafting and kayak trips run here, from the put-in at Kaludh down to just above Përmet: about 9 km of Class II–III water.
- Part3
The Këlcyrë Gorge
Below Këlcyrë the river cuts between steep mountain walls. This is the most dramatic part of multi-day trips.
- Part4
Tepelenë and the Drino
Near Tepelenë the Drino joins from Gjirokastër and the valley opens up again into long, quieter stretches.
- Part5
The lower Vjosa
The river spreads into wide, braided channels across the plain and reaches the Adriatic near the Narta lagoon, north of Vlorë.
Which section is paddled depends on water levels and the trip.
Month by month
The Vjosa Through the Season
Snowmelt
Fuller, colder water and Class III on the rafting stretch. Wetsuits on. Until the end of June the kayak trip needs experience on moving water.
Warming up
The valley is at its greenest. Water levels start to drop and the river warms day by day.
Warm & busy
Warm water and mostly Class II. The easiest time for families and first-timers on a raft.
Golden
Still warm, with fewer people and steady water. A favourite month for multi-day trips.
Quiet river
Autumn colours and a calm valley. The last month of the kayak season; rafting runs into November.
Around the river
Make a Few Days of It
Bënjë Thermal Baths
Warm sulphur pools beside an old Ottoman bridge, a short drive from Përmet. The perfect end to a day on the water.
Lengarica Canyon
A narrow side canyon of the Vjosa near Bënjë, good for walking and swimming in the summer months.
Përmet Town
The "City of Roses", with family-run guesthouses, the old City Stone above the river and a slow, friendly pace.
Taste of the Valley
Try pashaqofte, qahi and oshaf, Përmet's famous gliko fruit preserves, and the valley's own wine and raki.
Gjirokastër
The UNESCO-listed stone town of southern Albania, 1 h 20 down the valley. An easy half-day before or after the river.
Bredhi i Hotovës
A national park of old fir forest in the mountains above Përmet, with walking trails and cool air in summer.
Getting to the Vjosa
How to Reach Përmet
From Gjirokastër60 km · 1 h 20
East on the SH75 through Këlcyrë.
From Sarandë115 km · 2 h 30
Via Gjirokastër, then the SH75.
From Tirana240 km · 4–5 h
Motorway to Fier, then the SH4 through Tepelenë to the Këlcyrë junction.
From Berat130 km · 3–4 h
Over the mountains via Çorovodë and the Osum Canyon, or 190 km on the main road via Fier and Tepelenë.
From Ioannina (Greece)about 3 h
Through the Kakavijë border crossing and Gjirokastër.
By busTirana · 5–6 h
Three buses a day from Tirana's South Terminal (Terminali i Jugut). Take the morning bus to make an afternoon trip. Minibuses also run from Gjirokastër in the morning.
Visiting Përmet
A Base for the Vjosa
- Where
- Gjirokastër County, southern Albania, on the Vjosa
- Getting here
- About 240 km and 4–5 hours by road from Tirana; 1 h 20 from Gjirokastër
- In town
- Family-run guesthouses, small hotels and local restaurants
- Nearby
- Bënjë thermal springs and the Lengarica canyon
Vjosa
Questions
Where is the Vjosa River?
In southern Albania. It rises in Greece's Pindus mountains, where it is called the Aoös, and runs about 192 km through Albania, past Përmet, Këlcyrë and Tepelenë, to the Adriatic north of Vlorë.
Can beginners paddle the Vjosa?
Complete beginners should start with a guided rafting trip on the same stretch. Self-paddled kayak trips need some paddling experience, and from April to June experience on moving water.
When is the best time to kayak the Vjosa?
Kayak trips run from April to October. July to September has the warmest water and the easiest conditions; April to June is fuller, colder and more exciting.
Why is the Vjosa a national park?
Because it is one of the last large rivers in Europe without dams along its course. Since March 2023 the whole river in Albania and four tributaries are protected as the Vjosa Wild River National Park.
How far is Përmet from Tirana?
About 240 km, 4 to 5 hours by car. Buses leave Tirana's South Terminal three times a day and take 5 to 6 hours.
Where can I stay?
Përmet has family-run guesthouses and small hotels, and there are guesthouses in the villages along the river.
More Rivers,
Lakes & Coast
The Vjosa is one of many places to paddle in Albania. Discover the Osum Canyon, Lake Koman, Lake Shkodra, Lake Ohrid and the Albanian Riviera.
All Destinations