Rafting, canoe excursion in the Grand Canyon of Albania with lunch

Canyon excursion and rafting on the Osum river

Before talking about this tour, first of all you will want to reassure all those who have never done rafting Albania. The rapids of the Osum River are classified as level 2, which assure us about the low level of danger. In addition, this excursion is organized in late spring or autumn, always taking into account the actual flow of the river, based on the melting of the snow or the rain of previous days.

Although taking place in complete safety, the excursion of the grand canyon of Osum and the descent on the river are not activities for the faint of heart. We are certainly not taking you to extreme water sports, but it is still an adventure that adrenaline lovers will appreciate best.

The formation of the Grand Canyon of Osum

Sometimes, the time with which nature transforms things are very short, other times infinitely long. This is the case of Albanian Colorado or the Grand Canyon of Albania, dug by the waters of the Osum River over at least 2-3 million years. According to geologists many years ago the Osum was an underground river. Over millennia, the rock above the river has disappeared, bringing its bed out into the open. Today there are 6 narrow sections of the canyon, which together form a path nearly 30 km long. In some places the gorge is really narrow: the river divides into rivulets and the walls of the canyon are placed at a minimum distance, just 1.5-2 meters wide. In other areas the scenario is radically different, the river has carved the canyon up to 35 meters wide and the walls are very high. For this reason, it is wonderful to explore the river bed on foot, admiring the walls carved by water and wind up close. The real spectacle of an excursion in these parts is precisely that created by the different rock formations, there are rocks in the shape of men and animals that the locals have christened with colorful names.

Rafting Albania: the Colorado water sports

Arriving near Corovoda, in the district of Skrapar, you will make a small stop in the Tyrbe, the mausoleum sacred to the Bektashi. You get in our canoes in an area where the riverbed is wider, easily entering the water. You are well connected on canoes, with life jackets and helmets, in the hands of expert helmsmen. This part of the canyon extends for almost 15 km and the waters reach a depth of over 70 meters. The emotions grow minute by minute and reach the climax when you pass under the falls of the canyon. After 1 hour and 45 minutes of an intense river rafting adventure, you will arrive in Corovoda for the end of the tour. Here you will get back to work with lunch in a restaurant based on typical local products.

•This tour is not suitable for customers in wheelchair. 

•Due the moderate amount of walking to reach the main attraction sites could be better to wear comfortable shoes and clothes

•Do not do this tour if you suffer from heart, blood pressure, and panic attacks