The Exotic Canyons of the 8 Waterfalls "Rafting in Albania"

Osumi CanyonsOsumi Canyons are 26 km long, and 450m above the sea level. It is believed that they have been formed 2-3 million years ago due to water erosion dipping in to the earth. Through all of their straits, a lot of underground passages and unexplored caves can be found.

It is generally believed that these canyons have substituted ancient passages over Corovoda’s river, given that through time the ceilings of these passages were destroyed and gave way to the various shapes of the nowadays canyons. Osumi Canyons are the largest in Albania, and, according to many prestigious geographical studies, among the largest in Europe. The canyons have a marvelous ecosystem that can preserve itself very well. We can mention Mediterranean bushes like heath, briar and different kinds of fish as permanent features of this ecosystem. In the slopes of the canyons, erosive activity has created a rock chain, one of the rarest found in Albania.

In Osumi Canyons are 6 straits with the canyons width ranging from 1.5m wide in its riverbed up to35m wide up in the slopes. Within the canyons you will find beautiful spots that have exotic names like “The Cathedral”, “The Eye”, and “Demon’s Gate”. The erosion through years has given to the canyons, the appearance of an edifice of a natural cult, which can give you a magic impression since the first glance.

The view they offer when you see the canyons from above is really breathtaking but the experience when you’re actually having a walk or rafting is even better.

Albanian whitewater experience Although a small country, Albania is home to a large number of impressive rivers. The network of inland Albanian waters consists of eleven major rivers and their 150 tributaries. Measuring 285 km, the Black Drini River is the longest and it flows from Lake Ohrid to the Adriatic Sea. The Buna River played over several centuries a crucial role for the economic development of Albania’s north and the port of Shkodra at Lake Shkodra. Other large rivers include the Shkumbini, Vjosa, Osumi and Devolli. Some valleys, canyons and waterfalls created by these ancient flows offer tremendous natural beauty. Among these are the Valbona and Shala Valleys in the Albanian Alps with the Grunas Waterfall in Thethi, the Tomorica Valley and Osumi Canyons near the Museum’s City Berat, and the Këlcyra Outfall on the Vjosa River near Permet in the southern Albania. Albania Rafting Group organizes rafting trips in Albania through sustainable tourism principles and activities to protect biodiversity and nature. Difficulty levels of the rafting tracks are classified Wild Water II and III (running water with small waves) and are feasible by people with normal physical conditions and some sense of adventure. Come to experience our rafting trips and find marvelous places in Albania you could not discover otherwise!

Rafting in the Osumi Canyons This trip will provide magnificent scenery as you float by the Canyon walls and will certainly make for a memorable experience. Eight waterfalls, a cathedral, the unspoiled nature, and the soothing sounds of running water combine to create a truly unique trip. A packaged lunch is prepared in advance and will be served under the blue waterfall. The river trip lasts about 2.5—4 hours, and depends largely on the water level. Difficulty level class III. Period February – June.

Raftingin Vjosa This trip will provide a great adrenaline as you float by the crystal river and will certainly make it an unforgettable experience. Vjosa River has enough stream all year round and sections with different levels of difficulty depending on the water level.The river trip lasts about 2—4 hours, which depends largely on the water level. Difficulty level class III. Period March – November.

Rafting for Everyone Have you ever thought to try the unique experience of rafting even if you are a beginner and you feel a bit unsafe? Here’s what will happen if you will trust us in this setup the upcoming RAFTING FOR EVERYONE. All are actively involved in rafting sport using the power paddling, following and applying the correct instruction and commands of the professional guide. Take advantage of this offer and gift to your children an experience for the whole family to be remembered for all their life. Difficulty level class II. Period April – November.

Exploration of the OsumiCanyons The canyons have a unique ecosystem that you should not miss. This experience can be exercised during the summer and autumn months, when a refreshing swim in the river’s water pools is most welcomed and floating on the waves isn’t dangerous due to low water levels. The canyon exploration lasts from 3 to 5 hours, depending on the pace and on the experience of the group. The group accompanied of professional guides experience different adventures such as water hiking along the river bed between the slopes of the canyon; swimming in the natural pools of Osumi River; climbing on some of the canyon trails etc. Period July – September.

Instructions Each visitor should wear:• bath suit• old sneakers or sandals• sport’s wear (T-shirt, sportive trousers)

You should take with yourself• towel• warm clothes to be changed• old sneakers or sandals to change at the end of the trip

About Albania Rafting GroupAlbania Rafting Group provides the rafting equipments under CE norms for a capacity of 45 tourists and the Professional Guide licensed from Albanian Rafting Federation.

Albania Rafting Group is founder of Albanian Rafting Federation, which has presented Albania in the streams of a new passion in the World Rafting Championship 2012

Albania Rafting Group acquired Albanian Tourism Award 2012/Ecology for the successful achievements in the development of sustainable rafting tourism in Albania.

Albania Rafting Group is evaluated from USAID a success story for the realization of the project “Albania Rafting Center”.

Area: 28.748 km²

Capital city: Tirana

Population: 3,150,886 habitants

Language: Albanian

Highest Mountain Peak: Mount Korabi (Dibra district),

which towers 2,751 m above sea level.

Largest Lake: Shkodra Lake 319 km²

Time zone: GMT +1

Currency: Lek

International Airport: “Mother Teresa” - Rinas

Climate: Albania has a mild Mediterranean

climate. On average, Albanians enjoy a

great deal of sunshine, second only to

Spain in average annual sunny days.

The overall climate is pleasant and

favors outdoor activities.

Government: Parliamentary Democracy

Flag: Black double-headed eagle

on red background

International telephone prefix: 00 355

AlbaniaOverview

11 things that you should know about Albania1. The Karavasta Lagoon is one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean Sea and is home to the Dalmatian Pelican, as well as over 250 bird, mammal, and amphibian species. Five percent of the world’s Dalmatian Pelican population is found in this lagoon.

2. Did you know that the first printing press in the Balkans was established in 1720 in Voskopoja, in eastern Albania? This printing press produced a total of nineteen books, mainly Services to the Saints but also the Introduction of Grammar by a local scholar. Moreover the city had an orphanage for children, known as Orphanodioiketerion, possibly the first in the post- Byzantine Orthodox world, a hospital and a total of 24 churches.

3. Mother Teresa, whose given name was Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, was an ethnic Albanian. Mother Teresa’s work has inspired commemorations throughout Albania, including the name of Albania’s international airport: the Tirana International Airport“Nënë Tereza”.

4. The second largest Roman Amphitheater in the Balkans, is located in Albania’s port-city of Durrës. Built in the 2nd century AD, the theater could hold 20,000 spectators, about onesixth of the current population of Durrës.

5. Two of the seven “purple codices,” written between the sixth and eighteenth centuries are preserved in the UNESCO city of Berat in Albania. The two Albanian codices are very important to international scholars and the study of ancient biblical, liturgical and hagiographical literature.

6. The 16th century Albanian iconographer, Onufri, was the first iconographer to introduce realism and individuality into facial expressions in religious iconography. Many of his works depicted scenes of Albanian landscapes, towns, peasants, shepherds and especially knights. A characteristic feature of Onufri’s paintings is the so-called “Onufrian red” which is admired to this day.

7. Did you know that the first Emperor of the Roman Empire, Augustus, studied in Apollonia, near the city of Fier, in 44BC?

8. The main legacy of the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg, was to stop the expansion of the Ottoman Empire in Western Europe. His contribution is commemorated in monuments, statues, and squares named after him in Rome (Italy), Vienna (Austria), Geneva (Switzerland), Michigan (USA), Skopje (Macedonia), Pristina (Kosovo), Paris (France), Spezzano (Italy) and Brussels (Belgium).

9. Albania is rich in natural water sources including rivers, lakes, and a long maritime coastline. Two of the most significant ecosystems are the lakes of Shkodra and Ohrid, recognized by the RAMSAR Convention and UNESCO. Lake Shkodër, also called Lake Scutari and Lake Skadar, shares a border with Montenegro and is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. It is named after the city of Shkodra in northern Albania. It is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in Europe, with 270 bird species, among which are some of the last pelicans in Europe. Lake Ohrid connects the mountainous border between eastern Albania and Macedonia. As Europe’s oldest lake and the deepest in the Balkans, Lake Ohrid preserves a unique aquatic ecosystem with more than 200 species.

10. Did you know that the origins of iso-poliphony, one of the world’s most ancient acapella singing traditions, can be traced to the Illyrians, the ancestors of modern Albanians? The term “iso” refers to the drone, which accompanies the iso-polyphonic singing and is related to the “ison” of Byzantine church music, where the drone group accompanies the song. This unique musical tradition was recognized by UNESCO in 2005 when it was added to the list of “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”

11. The Albanian language is a stand-alone branch of the Indo- European language family and is now spoken by close to eight million people around the world. In addition to a large diaspora, over 80,000 Arbëresh speak Albanian in Southern Italy. The estimated 260,000 Arbëresh are direct descendants of Skanderbeg following a mass migration after his death in the late 15th century.

RecommendingAlbania • NationalGeographicTravellerMagazine: Butrint, a World Heritage site that Roman poet

Virgil called a “Troy in miniature.”Across the Strait of Otranto east of Italy’s boot heal, Albania offers a rewind of the classic Mediterranean holiday.The Ionian Sea laps at its sun-baked southern coast, where rolling hills covered in olive groves meet a “crystal clear” sea.

• HuffingtonPostarticle:10 Reasons 2013 Is The Time To Visit Albania

• WorldTravelandTourismCouncilhas announced the Peak’s of the Balkans as one of the nominees for the tourism Awards for Tomorrow. Albania is part of the initiative.

• Albania is one of the Guardian readers holiday list for 2013.

• Albania was selected as one of the three top destinations to visit in 2013 by five travel bloggers. The popularity of Albania and its Adriatic coast is increasing as Southeastern Europe’s profile as a tourist destination continues to rise. Situated between tourist favorites Italy and Greece, Albania has all the advantages of the southern climate for more reasonable prices.

• Albania was promoted in National Geographic Western Balkans Geotourism website, Osumi River and Canyons is one of the nominations:

“The Osumi River canyon is one of the most spectacular natural attractions of Albania. During the spring, high water from melting snow make it possible to explore all 26 km (16 mi) of the canyon from the river. Spring is also the best time to view the many waterfalls in the canyons, which thunder from above as explorers pass below on boats. The rapids are Class-III, so one does not need prior white water experience to join the fun. At the end of the summer, when the water is lower, boating the full length of the canyon is not possible, but there are many wonderful hikes with opportunities for swimming in various pools and streams.The edges of the canyon are notable for its unique ecosystem that preserves the greenery on both sides of canyon year-round. Mediterranean bushes like heath and briar flourish along with a rich and lively world of flora and fauna. On the slopes of the canyon, erosive activity has created pockmarked cavern walls, with small caves to explore as well. Some of the rock formations in the canyon have fanciful names such as the Cathedral, the Eye, and the Demon’s Door.”

National Geographic Western Balkans Geotourism

© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.

Albania Rafting GroupRr. Abdyl Frashëri nr.31 Pll. “Hekla 2000”

Tiranë - AlbaniaCel.: + 355 67 200 66 21

[email protected]