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Osumi Canyon Rafting & River Tubing

Would rather walk and swim than paddle? See the Bogovë waterfall version →

5.063 Google reviewsDay trip from Berat or Çorovodë

The Osum has cut a canyon 26 kilometres long and in places 150 metres deep into the limestone south of Berat, and for most of that length there is no way in or out except the river itself. You are between walls, in the shade, for hours.

Itinerary

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

  1. 08:30

    Pickup in Berat

    Collected from your accommodation and south towards Çorovodë, about an hour and a half.

  2. 10:00

    Kit and briefing

    Wetsuit, helmet and buoyancy aid at the base. Paddle commands and safety, then a practice on the flat.

  3. 10:45

    Into the canyon

    The main descent. Three hours between the walls, with the light coming down in a strip overhead.

  4. 13:30

    Lunch on the gravel

    Pulled out mid-canyon. Bread, cheese, grilled meat, tomatoes and fruit.

  5. 14:45

    The lower canyon

    The last stretch, past the side waterfalls and the deepest section of wall.

  6. 16:30

    Back to Berat

    Changed and dry, dropped at your accommodation around 17:30.

Experience & Highlights

  • 26 km of canyon, walls up to 150 metres
  • Rafting in spring, tubing in high summer
  • Waterfalls coming straight off the canyon walls
  • Shade all day, which matters in August
  • Lunch on a gravel bar inside the canyon

Full Description

Which boat you get depends on the month. April through June the flow is up and it is a proper raft run, grade 2 to 3 with a guide in each boat. July and August the water drops and it becomes a tubing day instead: single rings, a slower float, more swimming, more scrambling over rocks between pools. Both are good and neither is frightening.

Either way you finish wet, and either way the waterfalls coming off the canyon walls partway down are the part people photograph. Lunch is on a gravel bar in the middle of it.

What's included

  • Raft or tube, helmet, buoyancy aid and wetsuit
  • Qualified river guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Berat
  • Lunch in the canyon
  • Safety briefing and practice

Not included

  • Photos from the guides (€10)
  • Towels and swimwear
  • Alcoholic drinks

Good to know

  • April to June is the rafting season. July and August the water drops and the trip runs as tubing instead, which is gentler and better for families.
  • You need to be able to swim. Minimum age 10 for rafting, 8 for tubing.
  • It is cold and shaded in the canyon even in August. The wetsuit is not optional.
  • Bring a full change of clothes and shoes you do not mind soaking.

Good questions, honest answers

When is the best time to raft Osumi Canyon?

April to June, when snowmelt keeps the flow up and the run is grade 2 to 3. From July the water drops too far to raft and the same canyon runs as a tubing trip, which is slower, involves more swimming and works better with children.

How deep is Osumi Canyon?

Up to about 150 metres at the deepest section, over a length of 26 kilometres. For most of that there is no road, path or exit, which is why the only practical way to see it is from the water.

Is Osumi Canyon rafting suitable for beginners?

Yes. Grade 2 to 3 with a guide in every boat, a full briefing and a practice session on flat water first. The requirement is being able to swim, not having paddled before.

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