Hike in the Canyon on the Osum River with a stop at Polican

Half-day excursion from Berat to discover the Grand Canyon of Albania

The grand canyon on the Osum River is one of those must-see attractions for all nature and adventure lovers. Certainly Albania is a land of water: rivers, lakes, streams and canyons follow one another from north to south, at the base of the major mountain ranges. But the Osum Grand Canyon has an extra edge. We are first of all talking about the beauty of the site on a naturalistic level. Along the way to get here you are overwhelmed by the deep green vegetation, then the canyon environment takes us into a unique atmosphere. Over millions of years, the flooding river water has carved out the rock walls millimeter by millimeter, creating an unrepeatable spectacle. Small caverns, underground passages, huge caves unexplored to date sprout all along the canyon's path.

First stop: meeting with guide visit to the "communist" town of Polican

We leave in the morning at 8:30 a.m. from Berat to travel in the cooler hours, captivated by the breathtaking views of the Osum River valley. After about half an hour of travel, we are ready for our first break. We stop along the way to have coffee and visit the town of Polican, a center created from nothing in the 1960s under the communist regime. At the time the Chinese had arrived there and built a mechanical production center, a factory intended for large-scale weapons production. Here all the curious and nostalgic will be fascinated to discover a near past that seems so distant to us today. The stylistic mark of this legacy is inscribed in Pelican's architecture. Here and there one can see many bunkers, built to defend the inhabitants from a hypothetical nuclear attack. Pelican's charm lies all here, in its mystery. In fact, for a long time it was a ghost town, about which not much was known, for obvious security reasons. Those were other times, and the Cold War had divided the world into two opposite poles; propaganda, phobias and paranoia of the leaders did the rest. 

Second stop: the village of Bogova

We set out again on our vehicles to reach the village of Bogova, a hamlet of Skrapar municipality. This small village is mainly famous for its waterfalls, but all lovers of genuine food and clean air also stop here. Fruits, vegetables, meat, bread and undergrowth products are the stars of the local cuisine, always accompanied by a good glass of wine or raki, which we will have a chance to taste.

Third stop: canyon visit

Arriving in the Canyon on the Osum River we will have the opportunity to take short walks with stops to take photographs and admire the most striking views along its 26 km extension. The rapids of the Osum River here are Class II, which means there is no great danger. Having safely stowed our bags, we proceed to explore the second part of the canyon, where we have the opportunity to swim or bathe inside natural pools and streams. Throughout the journey we have the opportunity to admire the canyon rim and its unique ecosystem. Along the sides of the canyon, Mediterranean shrubs and bushes thrive all year round. They dialogue with the distinctive rock formations that water and wind erosion has created over millions of years. The most peculiar rocks have been nicknamed, there is the Cathedral, the Eye or the mysterious one called the Demon's Gate.

•This tour is not suitable for clients in wheelchairs

•Need to bring sports shoes, a pair of changes, hat, sunglasses

•Due to the moderate amount of walking to reach the main sights it may be best to wear comfortable shoes and clothes