About Rafting Vjosa Albania

Rafting Vjosa Albania (RVA) is a rafting and kayaking operator based on the Vjosa River in Përmet, southern Albania. We started rafting on the Vjosa in 2012, as the first rafting team on the river, and registered the company in 2014 as RAFTING-VJOSA-OUTDOOR SPORTS. Everything we run leaves from our own riverside centre, 1 km out of Përmet on the road to Korçë, with local guides who live here.

The short version

  • Where: Rruga Përmet–Korçë km 1, 6401 Përmet, on the Vjosa, inside Vjosa Wild River National Park and the UNESCO-designated Vjosa Valley Biosphere Reserve.
  • Since: 2012 on the river; company registered 2014.
  • What: a 9 km guided rafting trip from Kaludh to Përmet (Class II–III), and a self-paddled kayak option on the same section for experienced paddlers aged 14 and over.
  • Who comes: mostly families and couples, plus independent travellers and small groups; the raft takes children from age 3 in suitable summer conditions.
  • Price: €25 per person, adults and children, everything included.
  • Reviews: 5.0 on Google from 3,735 reviews (read them here).

How it started

In 2012 the Vjosa was not on many travel maps. That year we started running rafts on the section between Kaludh and Përmet — the first rafting team on the river — and the registered company followed in 2014. We have worked the same river, from the same town, every season since.

The river itself has changed status twice since then. In March 2023 it became Vjosa Wild River National Park, and on 27 September 2025 UNESCO designated the Vjosa Valley a Biosphere Reserve under its Man and the Biosphere Programme. Those are recognitions of the valley, not of us; but we were here before both, and we still run the same section every season.

The centre

The centre was purpose-built for rafting, directly beside the river. It has a reception and briefing area, changing rooms, showers and toilets, parking, storage for your things while you are on the water, the equipment store, and a terrace and balconies looking over the Vjosa and the mountains. Water and seasonal fruit are waiting when the van brings you back.

Rafting Vjosa Albania's riverside centre in Përmet with the yellow RAFTING CENTER sign
Rafting Vjosa Albania's riverside centre in Përmet with the yellow RAFTING CENTER sign
Rafting Vjosa Albania's riverside centre with wetsuits drying outside, Përmet
Rafting Vjosa Albania's riverside centre seen from the garden, Përmet
Rafting Vjosa Albania's riverside centre at sunset in Përmet
Terrace of Rafting Vjosa Albania's riverside centre overlooking the Vjosa at sunset

The team

Our guides are from Përmet and know the Vjosa closely. One guide is in every raft: the guide fits the gear, gives the briefing, calls the strokes and takes the photos from the boat. Guests write about them by name in their Google reviews. Meet the guides.

What a trip includes

  • Check-in at the centre 10–15 minutes before departure, safety briefing and equipment fitting: raft, paddle, helmet, life jacket and, when the water is cold, a wetsuit.
  • The 11–12 km shuttle to the put-in near Kaludh and the return from the take-out, about 2 km upstream of the centre.
  • About 9 km of river with a guide in the boat; swim stops and an optional jump from the rocks only where the water level and the group make them sensible.
  • Photos and video of your trip, free.
  • Water during the trip, seasonal local fruit at the end, free parking, changing rooms and showers.

Departures at 10:00, 13:30 and 15:30, March to November; the times follow the season and the daylight. The trip takes about 2–2.5 hours on spring water and 2.5–3 hours on low summer water.

The boats and the kit

Yellow rafts, yellow helmets, red life jackets and red paddles: that is what you will see on the water and in our photos. For the kayak option we run two double Koloa kayaks, one double STAR kayak, one single inflatable kayak and a triple Gumotex Baraka canoe.

The river is our responsibility too

We take part in river clean-ups with the Municipality of Përmet and the National Park authorities, and we run the trip within the park’s rules. Rather than write about being “eco-friendly”, we would rather you saw the river for yourself and judged how it is kept.

Where to find us

Rafting Vjosa Albania, Rruga Përmet–Korçë km 1, 6401 Përmet, Albania. WhatsApp and phone +355 68 302 8000, email info@raftingvjosa.al. Directions from Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Berat and Tirana are in how to get to Përmet; the contact page has the map.

Book the rafting tour · The kayak option · About the Vjosa Valley