The 2025 rafting season on the Vjosa and Osumi is well underway and looking strong. Here is everything you need to know about what is new, what has changed, how the rivers are running, and how to book your rafting trip before the best dates fill up.
Book Your 2025 AdventureEvery season we review our routes based on the previous year's guest feedback, changes in water conditions, and new sections we have scouted during our off-season explorations. For 2025, the most significant addition is an extended Vjosa route that takes in a longer section of the river downstream from Permet, finishing at a new take-out point that gives guests access to a wider gravel bar with a natural swimming lagoon. This extension adds roughly four kilometres to the standard route and about an hour to the time on water, without significantly increasing the difficulty. It has become our most popular Vjosa option among guests who want a full day on the river rather than a half-day.
On the Osumi, we have introduced a stop at a previously overlooked section of the canyon where a natural spring emerges from the rock face at water level, creating a small waterfall into the river. The water temperature at this point is noticeably colder than the main river – useful information if you want to know where to plunge in for the most refreshing swim of the day. The spring has always been there; we simply formalised it as a scheduled stop in 2025 rather than an ad-hoc one.
We have also added an early-morning departure option for the Osumi Canyon this season. The canyon faces east and the light in the first two hours after sunrise hits the western wall in a way that produces extraordinary photography conditions. Guests who have taken the early slot consistently report it as one of the visual highlights of their entire Albania trip. Availability is limited – only two rafts per early departure – so this one needs to be booked ahead. Message us on WhatsApp to check availability for your dates.
We invest in new equipment every season and 2025 has seen the most significant kit refresh in several years. All of our self-bailing rafts have been replaced with new boats from a European manufacturer that we have been testing since 2023. The new boats are more responsive, drain faster after wave hits, and have improved bow and stern handles for swimmer rescue situations. Guests will not necessarily notice the technical differences, but our guides certainly do – they handle better in the pushy spring conditions on the Vjosa and are noticeably more comfortable for longer trips.
Our helmet stock has been fully renewed with models that provide better peripheral vision without sacrificing impact protection. This is a small but meaningful upgrade – the older helmets tended to sit lower on the forehead and partially obstruct the view of what was ahead, which is not ideal when your guide is pointing at the next rapid and asking you to read the water. The new models sit higher and use an adjustable retention system that fits more head shapes comfortably.
We have also upgraded our wetsuit inventory to include a better range of thicknesses for the shoulder seasons. In April and October, when air temperatures are mild but water is cold, a three-millimetre shorty wetsuit is often not quite enough but a five-millimetre full suit is more than needed. We now carry a mid-weight four-millimetre option that hits the sweet spot for those months. Guest comfort in the shoulder season has improved measurably as a result. All wetsuits are included in the €40 per person price – there is no additional hire charge.
First aid and emergency equipment has also been reviewed. Every raft now carries a sealed dry bag with an expanded first aid kit, a whistle, a signal mirror, and a waterproof phone pouch so the guide can carry a functioning phone at all times. Our throw bags – the flotation devices guides throw to swimmers in the water – have been replaced with newer ropes that are easier to repack quickly under pressure. These are the details that we hope you never need to know about, but they matter and we take them seriously.
Our core offering remains the same: single-day guided rafting on the Vjosa or Osumi at €40 per person, with all equipment, guide, and river transport included. But in 2025 we have added some new configurations in response to what guests have been asking for.
The Dual River Day is a new option for guests who want to experience both the Vjosa and Osumi in a single visit. This is a two-day package that combines a Vjosa morning on day one with an Osumi Canyon trip on day two. We help with accommodation recommendations between the two river bases and can suggest the best driving route between Permet and the Corovode/Berat area. It is not a package in the traditional sense – you book two separate days, and we coordinate them – but we make the logistics simple and the experience is outstanding for anyone who wants to see the two main faces of Albanian river adventure in a single short trip.
We have also formalised our private guide option for 2025. Previously, private guiding was available on request but not clearly presented. This year it has its own WhatsApp booking flow. A private guide means the raft is yours alone – no sharing with other guests – and the guide can tailor the route, pace, and stops to your group's preferences. It is particularly popular with photography-focused travellers who want to take their time at scenic spots, and with groups that include young children who benefit from a more flexible approach. Contact us for pricing on private guide options.
The season opened in late March and by mid-April we had already taken out several international groups who had booked months in advance. Here is a flavour of what guests have been telling us so far this season.
A group of eight from the Netherlands who rafted the Vjosa in April described it as "the most beautiful day we spent in Albania, and we spent two weeks here." They particularly mentioned the clarity of the water and the moment when their guide pointed out a large eagle circling directly above the raft. A British couple on a spring trip said the Osumi Canyon exceeded every expectation they had set based on photos they had seen online – a comment we hear regularly, because the canyon really does need to be seen in person to understand its scale.
A recurring theme in early 2025 feedback is appreciation for the guide briefings. Several guests have noted that our pre-trip safety briefing is thorough without being frightening – it gives people the information they actually need rather than a liability-driven list of warnings. That is something we work on continuously. The briefing should make you feel prepared and excited, not nervous and unsure whether you should have come.
We have also had positive comments about the new route extension on the Vjosa, with multiple guests calling the swimming lagoon at the new take-out point the highlight of the day – not the rapids, not the eagle, but an hour floating in a calm backwater in the afternoon sun with the mountains reflected in the water around them. We will take that as a successful route addition. Full guest reviews are available on our reviews page.
Every year we say this and every year some guests miss their preferred date because they waited too long. The summer months – particularly July and August – fill quickly, especially on weekends. The new early-morning Osumi Canyon slots are already getting booked weeks in advance. If you have fixed travel dates, the safest thing you can do is message us now and secure your spot. We hold reservations with a simple WhatsApp confirmation and sort out payment details closer to the date.
Spring is still relatively open – April, May, and early June have good availability for most dates as we write this. But May in particular tends to fill faster than people expect because word has spread that it is the best month for whitewater on both rivers. If May is your target, do not wait. September and October are also increasingly popular as travellers discover that autumn in southern Albania is spectacularly beautiful and considerably quieter than summer.
For groups of ten or more, we recommend booking at least six to eight weeks ahead regardless of the month. Coordinating multiple rafts and guides takes planning and the best guide pairings go to groups who book first. Our group rafting page has more detail on how we handle larger bookings. See also our packages page and our main Vjosa and Osumi Canyon pages for full route and pricing information.
We opened the 2025 season around 20 March and have been running daily trips since early April. The season runs through to late October or early November depending on autumn weather. Spring has been excellent so far with strong snowmelt flows on both the Vjosa and Osumi.
Our standard guided rafting trip is €40 per person, all equipment and guide included. Life jacket, helmet, wetsuit where needed, certified guide, and river transport are all covered. No hidden extras. Private tours and group bookings have their own pricing – contact us via WhatsApp for a tailored quote.
We are running on the Vjosa River near Permet and the Osumi Canyon near Corovode, accessible from Berat and Tirana. These remain our two focus rivers because they offer the best combination of scenery, accessible difficulty, and reliable water for guided commercial rafting. Both are running well in 2025.
For July and August, book at least three to four weeks ahead for weekends, two weeks for midweek. Spring and autumn trips are easier to arrange with shorter notice. The new early-morning Osumi Canyon slot is already booking up – if that interests you, contact us as soon as you have a date. Groups of ten or more should book six to eight weeks ahead regardless of the month.
Yes. The 2025 winter brought strong snowfall to the ranges that feed both rivers, and spring has seen excellent flows through April and May. Summer levels will naturally drop from July onwards, which is normal and still produces great rafting and swimming. We are optimistic about a strong full season from April through October.
The best dates go first. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates and group size and we will hold your spot while you confirm the details. We respond within the hour, usually faster.
Book Your 2025 Rafting TripAlso read: Best season guide, Packages & prices, Vjosa River, Osumi Canyon.