Vjosa River
The Vjosa is one of the last large wild rivers in Europe. It rises in the Pindus mountains in Greece, where it is called the Aoös, enters Albania at Çarshovë and flows north-west past Përmet and Tepelenë to the Adriatic, without a dam along its Albanian course. On 15 March 2023 Albania made it Europe's first Wild River National Park, covering 12,727 hectares of the river and its main tributaries. Around Përmet the Vjosa runs in a wide gravel bed between mountains, and this is where most people raft it, swim in it and ride along it.
Vjosa River
- Beach · Boat trip · Culture
- Private tour
- Difficulty: easy
- Beach · Culture · Food
- Private tour
- Difficulty: moderate
- Beach · Food · Nature
- Group or Private tour
- Nature
- Private tour
- Beach · Nature
- Private tour
- Beach · Boat trip · Culture
- Private tour
- Difficulty: easy
- Albanian Traditions · Food · Gastronomy
- Private tour
- Difficulty: moderate
About Vjosa River
Where it is
Southern Albania: from the Greek border at Çarshovë past Përmet and Tepelenë to the Adriatic coast north of Vlorë. Part of Përmet.
How to get there
Përmet is the base for the river and a long drive from Tirana. Our Vjosa rafting day trip picks up in Tirana, Durrës or Golem at 07:00 and is thirteen to fourteen hours door to door. Our 8-day horseback riding tour rides along the river from Petran to Çarshovë.
Best time to visit
Swimming in the Vjosa is best in July and August, when the water is warmest. Our horseback riding tour runs from April to November.
Things to do
- Rafting near Përmet with an instructor and all equipment
- Riding along the river on horseback between Petran and Çarshovë
- Swimming from the gravel banks in summer
- The Benja thermal baths and the Langarica Canyon nearby
Experiences here
Beach · Boat trip · Culture · Food · Hot springs · Nature · Rafting · Sightseeing · Albanian Traditions · Gastronomy · Horseback Riding · Mule trekking · Sustainable Tourism · Swimming · Wine Tasting
Part of
Photos of Vjosa River
Questions travelers ask
Is the Vjosa really a wild river?
Yes. It flows without a dam through the whole of Albania, and in March 2023 it became Europe's first Wild River National Park.
Do I need experience to raft the Vjosa?
No. On our rafting day trip there is a safety briefing, an instructor in the raft and all equipment is provided.
Where is the best base for the Vjosa?
Përmet, on the river in the south, close to the Benja thermal baths and the Langarica Canyon.
Source: IUCN (Vjosa Wild River National Park, 2023); AKT natural monuments; Përmet tourism office; GT tours · verified 2026-10-23
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