Gjirokastër is the closest of the big stops on the Albania tourist route to the Vjosa, and the rafting works as a half day. This is the plan most of our Gjirokastër guests follow.
The distance
About 60 km, 1 h 20 by car, on the SH75 through Këlcyrë. The road follows the Vjosa for the last half hour, so you see the river you are about to raft. Our centre is 1 km past Përmet on the road to Korçë, on the right, with free parking.
The half-day plan (10:00 departure)
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| 08:15 | Leave Gjirokastër old town |
| 09:45 | Check in at the centre, change, get wetsuit, helmet and life jacket |
| 10:00 | Van to the put-in at Kaludh, safety briefing |
| 10:30 – 12:15 | 9 km on the river: Class II–III rapids, swim stops |
| 12:30 | Back at the centre; change, collect photos |
| 13:00 | Lunch in Përmet, or drive 13 km to the Benja thermal baths for the afternoon |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | Back in Gjirokastër |
The afternoon plan (13:30 departure)
If you want the morning in Gjirokastër’s bazaar and castle, leave at 11:45, check in at 13:15 and you are off the water by about 16:00. Benja is then a sunset swim, and you are back in Gjirokastër for a late dinner. In July and August the afternoon trip is warmer on the water; in May and June the morning has more water in the rapids.
Without a car
Minibuses (furgons) run from Gjirokastër to Përmet in the morning; the departure point moves, so ask your guesthouse the evening before. Allow about 1 h 30. From Përmet town our centre is a few minutes by taxi, or a 15-minute walk along the Korçë road. Check the return times before you commit; if they do not work, a taxi for the day from Gjirokastër is the usual solution for groups of three or four.
What to bring from Gjirokastër
Swimwear, shoes that can get wet, a towel and dry clothes. Everything else, including wetsuits and photos, is provided. Leave luggage and valuables locked in the car or at the centre.
Booking
Departures at 10:00, 13:30 and 15:30 from March to November; children from age 3 in summer. In July and August book two or three days ahead. Book the rafting tour, or WhatsApp +355 68 302 8000 with the date and the number of people.
