The Vjosa is a free-flowing river, so the water you raft on depends on what fell on the Pindus and Nemërçkë mountains in the weeks before. We run the same 9 km section from Kaludh to Përmet from March to November, but a trip in April and a trip in August are different days out. This is what each month is like on the water, from the guides who are on it every day.
Month by month
| Month | Water | Rapids | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | High and cold; snowmelt starting | Class III waves, fast run | Adults who want the biggest water; wetsuit essential |
| April | Highest of the year | Class III, continuous | Experienced groups, adrenaline; not the month for small children |
| May | High, dropping | Class II–III | Everyone who wants proper rapids without the cold |
| June | Medium, warming | Class II–III | The best mix of rapids and swimming; families with older kids |
| July | Low, warm | Class II | Families, first-timers, long swim stops |
| August | Lowest, warmest | Class II | Families; book two or three days ahead, it is our busiest month |
| September | Low, still warm | Class II | Couples and groups who want a quieter river |
| October | Low to medium after the first rains | Class II | Autumn colour in the gorge, few other boats |
| November | Rising with rain; cooler | Class II–III depending on the week | Adults; check with us for the week’s level |
Spring: March to June
Snowmelt from the mountains on the Greek border pushes the Vjosa up through April and May. The rapids join up, the waves are bigger and the swim stops are shorter because the water is cold. Everyone wears a full neoprene wetsuit, and the guide chooses lines that keep the raft out of the strongest current. This is the season for people who came for the rapids. It is also the season we most often move or cancel a departure: if the river rises above the level we run at, we call you the evening before and you choose another day or a refund.
Summer: July to September
By July the river has dropped and warmed. The rapids are Class II, splashy rather than serious, and between them there are long pools where the guide lets everyone out to swim. This is when most families come and when children from age 3 can join with an adult. The morning departures are the coolest; the last one of the day has the softest light for photos. August is our busiest month; in July and August book two or three days ahead.
Autumn: October and November
October is the quiet month: warm afternoons, cold mornings, the gorge turning yellow, and often no other boats on the water. The first autumn rains bring the level back up a little. By November the water is cooler and the level changes week to week, so message us before booking and we will tell you what the river is doing.
Kayaking has its own season
The self-paddled kayak trip runs April to October, alongside the rafting departure. From April to late June the current is strong enough that we ask for previous moving-water kayaking experience; from July, basic previous paddling experience is enough. Minimum age 14.
What we cancel for
Rain on its own does not stop a trip; you are wet anyway. We cancel or move departures for a river level above our limit, thunderstorms, or anything else the guides judge unsafe on the morning. If we cancel, you choose a refund or another date. Details are on the cancellation and refund policy page.
Whatever the month
The trip takes 2 to 3 hours from check-in at the centre to the van back. Wetsuit, helmet, life jacket, the van to Kaludh and your photos are always included, and the price is the same in every month.
