From the right shoes to what goes under your wetsuit, here is everything you need to know about dressing for a rafting day on the Vjosa or Osumi — written by the guides who run these trips every week.
Book Your Trip NowThe single most important thing to understand before you start packing is this: everything you wear on the raft is going to get wet. Every single item. The Vjosa and the Osumi are real rivers, not lazy canoe channels, and even on the calmest summer day you will be splashed, dripped on, and almost certainly swimming at least once if you choose to. So the entire clothing strategy is built around one question: how does this fabric behave when it is soaked?
Synthetic fabrics win every time. Polyester, nylon, lycra, spandex — all of these materials wick moisture, dry fast, and do not add significant weight when wet. A polyester rash guard, board shorts, or a thin synthetic t-shirt will go from completely drenched to almost dry in twenty minutes of Albanian sunshine. Cotton does the opposite. A cotton t-shirt holds water, clings to your skin, and takes hours to dry. Worse, wet cotton actively pulls heat away from your body, which matters in spring when the water is cold.
For the base layer, a swimsuit or board shorts is perfect in summer. In spring and early autumn, add a thin long-sleeved rash guard or a lightweight synthetic thermal underneath your wetsuit. We provide the wetsuit — a 3mm full-length neoprene suit for cold conditions and a thinner shorty for warmer days — but what you wear underneath affects your comfort significantly. A rash guard prevents the neoprene from chafing your neck and wrists, and adds a little extra warmth when the Vjosa valley wind picks up in the afternoon.
Avoid jeans, thick fleeces, or any kind of waterproof shell jacket. Jeans are heavy, take forever to dry, and restrict your movement in the water. Shells trap water inside them rather than letting it drain. The only exception is if you are coming in October or November, in which case a thin windproof layer worn over your wetsuit for the bus journey is fine — just leave it on the raft when you get moving.
Footwear is where people make the most mistakes, and it is worth getting right because the wrong shoes on a rocky Albanian riverbank can ruin your day. The ideal rafting shoe has four characteristics: it stays on your foot, drains water quickly, has grip on wet rock, and is something you do not mind destroying.
Water shoes — the thin neoprene-soled shoes you can find at any sports shop for around ten euros — are genuinely perfect for this. They drain instantly, grip wet rock well, and dry fast. Old sports sandals with a proper ankle strap (not flip-flops) are the second-best option. If you do not have either and you are coming in summer, old trainers work fine as long as you accept they will be soaked for the entire trip.
What you must not bring is flip-flops. We are very clear about this with every group before we launch. Flip-flops come off in the current — sometimes instantly, sometimes at the worst possible moment. You end up barefoot on a rocky riverbed or, in the case of the Osumi Canyon, walking across boulders for twenty kilometres without shoes. This actually happened to a guest two seasons ago and it was not a pleasant afternoon for anyone involved. Leave the flip-flops at the hotel.
Neoprene booties are another good option if you are coming in spring when the water is cold. We can provide these on request at both our Vjosa (Permet) and Osumi launching points, just let us know when you book. For summer, the water temperature is warm enough that bare feet inside thin water shoes is completely comfortable.
Just as important as knowing what to bring is knowing what to leave behind. The following items cause problems every season and we have learned to mention them explicitly in our booking confirmations.
Leave behind any jewellery that is either valuable or sharp-edged. Rings with raised settings can catch on ropes. Necklaces can snag on equipment. Earrings — particularly large hoops — can be a safety hazard if you end up swimming in fast water. We are not saying leave your wedding ring at home, just be aware that the river environment is not kind to delicate things.
Do not wear contact lenses if you can help it. The Osumi and Vjosa are clean rivers, but getting river water in your eyes while wearing contacts is uncomfortable, and losing a lens during a swim is very likely. If you wear glasses, a sports strap to keep them on your face is essential — we have seen too many pairs disappear into Albanian riverbeds.
Avoid white or very light-coloured clothing if you care about it. The Osumi Canyon in particular has reddish clay sediment in places, and the limestone dust from the canyon walls can stain light fabrics. It comes out in the wash eventually, but not always completely.
Do not bring a large backpack onto the raft. We have one small dry bag per boat for valuables and small items. Anything larger needs to stay at the put-in point or on the support vehicle. If you are doing the Vjosa trip and need more storage, ask us about the day-pack arrangement when you book — we can carry a larger bag on the safety kayak.
We want to make this as simple as possible, so here is the clear breakdown of exactly what we supply and exactly what you need to show up with.
Full wetsuit (seasonal), life jacket (PFD), helmet, paddle, raft, guide, safety kayak, first aid kit, dry bag for valuables, safety briefing, and hot tea at the end in cooler months.
Swimsuit or board shorts, synthetic t-shirt or rash guard, water shoes or old trainers, sunscreen (water-resistant), sunglasses with a strap, water bottle, small snack, change of dry clothes for after, towel, and cash for tips if you want to.
GoPro or action camera, waterproof phone case, hat with a chin strap for sunny days, lip balm with SPF (the reflection off the water burns lips fast), and a light windproof layer for autumn trips.
A few things worth expanding on. Sunscreen is not optional in summer — it is genuinely one of the most important things you bring. The UV index in southern Albania in July and August is extremely high, and the water surface reflects and amplifies the sun. People who think they only need sunscreen at the beach come off the river looking like lobsters. Use a water-resistant formula, apply it before getting in the wetsuit, and reapply on your face and neck during any long floating sections. We usually stop for a swimming break halfway through most tours, and that is a good moment to top up.
A water bottle matters more than people expect. The rafting itself is an aerobic activity, the sun is strong, and you are often moving through a canyon where there is no shade. Bring at least a litre and a half for a half-day trip, more for a full day on the Vjosa.
The clothing strategy changes quite significantly between seasons, and it is worth thinking about this if your trip date is in a shoulder month like April, late May, early June, or October.
In summer (mid-June through September), the water temperature on the Vjosa sits between sixteen and twenty-two degrees. The air temperature is often thirty or more. In these conditions, you do not need a thick wetsuit — we use a shorty (short arms and legs) or let experienced swimmers skip the wetsuit entirely if they prefer. Your base layer can be a simple swimsuit. Bring sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, and a hat. The main enemies in summer are sun and dehydration, not cold.
In spring (March through late May), the picture is different. Snowmelt from the Gramoz and Pindus mountains keeps the Vjosa cold — we regularly measure six to eleven degrees Celsius on spring mornings. The air feels warm on the bank, but get into the water and you feel the difference immediately. In these conditions, we put everyone in a full-length 3mm wetsuit, and we recommend a long-sleeved rash guard or thin thermal underneath. If you feel the cold easily, mention it when you book — we can adjust the wetsuit thickness and keep your time in the water shorter during the safety swim.
October is its own category. The water has cooled back down from summer, and the mornings are genuinely chilly in the canyon. Full wetsuits, neoprene booties, and gloves for the most cold-sensitive guests. But the upside of October clothing is that you barely need sunscreen — the sun angle is lower and the canyon walls provide shade for most of the morning run.
For full details on how the season affects your experience, read our seasonal guide to rafting in Albania. And if you are a complete newcomer, our beginners guide walks you through what to expect on the water.
No. We provide full wetsuits, life jackets, and helmets for all guests. In spring and early autumn when water temperatures are lower, wetsuits are mandatory and we put everyone in them automatically. In summer (June to August) the water warms up enough that some guests prefer to skip the wetsuit, and we let you decide on the day based on how you feel. What you do not need to bring is any of the safety equipment — we have all of it at the put-in point.
You can, but we do not recommend it. Trainers hold water, become heavy, and can slip on wet rocks. Old sports sandals with a back strap, water shoes, or even old trainers you do not mind getting soaked are all fine. What you must avoid is flip-flops — they come off in the current and leave you barefoot in a rocky riverbed, which on the Osumi Canyon is a very long walk home.
In spring or cool weather, a thin long-sleeved thermal or a rash guard works well under a wetsuit to add warmth and prevent chafing. In summer, a swimsuit or board shorts under the wetsuit is perfectly fine. Avoid thick cotton layers — they hold water and do not dry, which makes you colder rather than warmer. Synthetic fabrics only under a wetsuit.
Absolutely, and this is probably the most important thing people forget. Even in summer you will be wet after the trip, and the bus or car ride home in wet clothes is uncomfortable. Pack dry clothes, a towel, and dry shoes in a bag you leave on the bus or at the meeting point. We have a changing area at both the Vjosa (Permet) and Osumi put-in points so you can switch before heading back.
Yes, but only in a waterproof case or dry bag. We carry a small dry bag on each raft for valuables, but the bags are not guaranteed 100% waterproof in heavy rapids. If you have an action camera like a GoPro, we can mount it on the raft or your helmet. Regular phones should go in a sealed waterproof pouch — you can find these cheaply online before you travel and they are worth every cent for peace of mind on the river.
Now that you know exactly what to wear and what to pack, all that is left is picking your date. Message us on WhatsApp and we will get you sorted within the hour.
Book Your Rafting Tour NowRead more: Best time to raft, Beginners guide, Safety guide, or our complete Albania rafting guide.