Visit Osum Canyon - Things to do in Berat

Located in Southern Albania, near the town of Çorovoda 65 km from Berat.The Osum Canyon is perhaps Albania’s best-known canyon, popular with local and foreign visitors alike. The river Osum passes through the city of Berat, a World Heritage Site, and flows through the canyon. The canyon features many underground passages and unexplored caves that are perfect for rafting.

In the spring, once the snow has melted, the rising level of the river waters enable visitors to explore the whole length of the canyon from the river itself. The rapids in this canyon are Class II, so visitors do not need prior white-water experience to navigate them. At the end of the summer, when the water level is lower, it is impossible to navigate the full length of the canyon. However, you can still hike around the canyon and go for a swim in various pools and streams.

The borders of the canyon have an atypical ecosystem that ensure an evergreen flora throughout the year, with Mediterranean bushes like heath and briar flourishing along with other lush plants and a diverse fauna. Small caves dot the slopes of the canyon, their walls pockmarked by erosion. Experts think that in the past, the river flowed underground, but over time the rock above the river eroded away, giving the canyon its current shape.

The canyons are 26 km (16 miles) long and have an altitude of 450 m. They are thought to have been formed 2-3 million years ago by water erosion. The canyon includes six narrow sections ranging from 1.5 m wide in the riverbed, up to 35 m wide further up the sides of the canyon.

Locals have been particularly creative in naming the many rock formations that surround the canyon, including names such as the Cathedral, the Eye, and the Demon’s Door. There is a mystical power to the canyon that has also inspired many interesting legends around it.

The other canyons of Osum are located 3 km south from the town of Çorovoda. They total 15 km in length and are magnificent natural objects. It is in this area that visitors can go canoeing, rafting, and kayaking. The area also offers several small beaches, such as Varishta. Here you will find a holy site for the Bektashi – a sufi branch of Islam . The site is known as the footprint of Abass ibn Ali – In a rock is visible a sign of a shoe and locals believe : ”When Abass ibn Ali step was on the rock ,the rock became very soft for him so he left the foot print”

If you proceed in the south you will find another site who is famous for a Legend – In the rock you will se a big hole who is known as the Brides Hole

Transport – There are no busses to the canyon

There are some busses from Berat to Corovoda –

Then you will need to take a taxi from Corovoda to the Best view points of the canyon

We suggest taking a return transfer from Berat to Canyon and opposite which will cost around 6500 Leke

There are some hiking options inside of the canyon – From July to September

There is no Hiking trial above the canyons so the only opportunity to experience the canyon is hiking inside of the canyon. You can do the whole length of the canyon and it will take about 4 h

Suggested to make 2 h exploration.

A camping site located in the view point of the canyon – 2 locals are running the camping spot and they offer food ,water ,bathroom and some other facilities