Albania 2024 - „Coming back to Albania?“

Describing our Albania whitewater tour is not that easy - it's totally different every time. In 2024, we actually had no broken paddles - and no lost luggage. In this year, no brown flood awaited us with steadily rising water levels. The Vjosa was nevertheless powerful, sometimes even with higher waves in places we had never seen before. Even at low water, the Osum was an absolute dream - where else can you find such a canyon "like a cathedral" that is relatively easy to navigate in terms of whitewater difficulties?

That's why we had planned to enjoy our time in this landscape highlight even more and, above all, for even longer in 2024! This brought further changes: after the two days of paddling on the vibrant Vjosa, we quickly made our way up the mountains without the large backpack, where the midday heat on the summit was easy to bear during a long break. The rest of the route downhill to our "snack stop" in Sevran i Madh, where our luggage was already waiting, was then easy to manage - allowing us to spend the night there for the first time and really enjoy this culinary highlight. "An absolute upgrade" and "What a wonderful place to stay" were the comments. After a sumptuous breakfast, we headed down to the river the next morning. Thanks to the shortened daily route, we were able to set up our boats there at lunchtime and paddle into this indescribable canyon that same day - and also spend the night in the middle of the canyon for the first time!

This gave us even more time the following day for the remaining ten kilometers of the gorge. Time for lots of spectacular photos and drone shots. Time to drive under waterfalls and glide through narrow sections. Time to simply enjoy. Although the pictures of the tour are - as we were told - "awesome", they can only partially express this feeling. You have to experience it live. The nature in this country is simply very, very impressive!

But what impresses us most of all are the people with their friendliness, helpfulness and warmth. Arni, the driver of the shuttle bus, who doesn't push, but simply parks his bus and takes us shopping in Permet at a time when all the stores are actually closed. Dona, who greets us with little lambs and, as always, whirls around the place without any brakes. Zengjine, who barely speaks English, overwhelms everyone with her warmth, creates the most amazing food and is proud that everything really does come from her own garden: "Nix supermarket!" Hotem, who insists on torturing his jeep through the deepest mud so that our luggage is really right next to the stream. Lukas, who, after a full year and many explanations in my email, simply replies within 20 seconds: "Of course - how are you?" and reserves the best table for us. And of course Beni, who brings us ice-cold beer to our overnight campsites by the river on the first few evenings, chills with us around the campfire and even stays with us on the gravel bank the night before the mountain hike. Friendships have developed!

And when we say goodbye, the same question comes up again and again: "Coming back to Albania next year?" Of course - we will travel to this fantastic country with its great people again next year!

I can hardly wait! Andi