Hey there, culinary explorers and adventure enthusiasts! Today we’re diving into a flavorful and adrenaline-packed journey in the wonderful land of Albania. Together, we’re going to uncover local culinary traditions, explore breathtaking canyons and make unforgettable memories with the little ones, on a family-friendly adventure, all expertly organized by Albania Rafting Group. Yep, we’re doing this alongside the young explorers, who are always up for our escapades.

Table of contents:

1. Who are Albania Rafting Group
2. What do Albania Rafting Group have to offer
3. Rafting in the Osumi Canyon
4. Cooking class for traditional Albanian food
5. About Castle Park Hotel in Berat
6. What the little explorers think

Who are Albania Rafting Group

Albania Rafting Group is the very first tourism and sports organization in Albania, the founder of the Albanian Rafting Federation, and a full-fledged member of the International Rafting Federation. Their love for nature and sports has evolved into a mission to uplift Albania’s development through rafting and more, upholding international standards while fully committing to nature, respecting the environment and protecting it.

To get to know them better, here are some of the accomplishments of Albania Rafting Group over the past 15 years:

• They received the 2020 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award: Albania Rafting Group was recognized as a top global attraction, ranking among the top 10 worldwide attractions and securing the first place in the Tours category in Berat.
• They participated in the “Albanian Eagle U23” national team at the 2018 World Rafting Championship in Ivrea, Italy: Members of Albania Rafting Group successfully represented Albania in the World Rafting Championship, showcasing their level of skill and preparation in this sport.
• They received the Albanian Tourism and Ecology Award in 2012, presented by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports.
• They were recognized by National Geographic as supporters of geotourism principles through the international initiative “Western Balkans – Land of Discovery”.
• The agency was selected as a “Success Story” by USAID for sustainable rafting in Albania.

These are just a few of their achievements, highlighting their dedication to Albania’s development through every action they take.

What do Albania Rafting Group have to offer

From the description and name, it might seem like Albania Rafting Group focuses solely on rafting, right? That’s what we thought at first glance too. However, once we checked out their website, we realized how mistaken we were. Basically, there’s no adventure activity they don’t offer. Of course, they’re specialized in rafting, the activity that kickstarted them. But beyond that, they have expert guides for hiking, kayaking, canoeing, canyoning, riverboarding, off-road trips, paragliding, and pretty much everything related to adventure tourism. On top of all that, at their hotel, they offer cooking classes for traditional Albanian food, a unique activity we haven’t come across before 🙂

Among their most acclaimed tours are rafting on the Osumi and Vjosa rivers, hiking through canyons, around waterfalls, or up Mount Tomorri, and the jeep safari to the peak of Tomorri mountain.

Rafting in the Osumi Canyon

You know how they say that the family that rafts together stays together? Well, if you’re on the hunt for a thrilling adventure for the whole family, then rafting through Albania’s Osumi Canyon is the perfect choice! For us, it was a pending item from our previous trip to Albania when we didn’t have the time, so this time we planned our vacation around it.

Let me start by saying that it’s not a cheap activity for a family with two kids, but it’s definitely something worth trying at least once in a lifetime. We’ve done rafting in Romania, on the Crișul Repede river before, so it wasn’t our first experience. But it was definitely exceptional. The river flows through a narrow canyon with many interesting formations, which Iken, our super friendly and kid-savvy rafting guide, told us all about. The canyon is so narrow that at one point the boat got stuck between the steep walls, and we had to use our feet against the rocks to push it forward. A treat for the kids 😀 Besides that, we were able to admire not less than 5 waterfalls that can only be reached through the canyon. At the largest one, we stopped for a swim, and we all bravely jumped in. It was an amazing sensation, the kids couldn’t get enough of it.

I know it might sound a bit risky to take the kids on such an adventure, but don’t worry! There are specialized guides who will lead you through the entire route and make sure the whole family feels safe. This way, you can spend precious time together, creating unforgettable memories! 😍

Good to know:

• The route takes about four hours, from when you leave the agency headquarters to when you return.
• They provide full equipment: helmet, neoprene suit, life jacket, and footwear. However, it’s recommended to have water shoes for kids, as they might not have their size.
• The experience costs 60 euros per adult for rafting only, 80 euros per adult for rafting + transport from Berat + traditional lunch in Skrapar, or 140 euros per adult for rafting + transport from Berat + traditional lunch + accommodation in Berat with breakfast and dinner. Children get a 20% discount off the adult price.
• I recommend the experience for children aged 4 and up.

Cooking class for traditional Albanian food

If you want to impress your family and turn your kids into little adventurous chefs, a cooking class for traditional Albanian food is just what you need! Where? At Castle Park Hotel in Berat, in a proper restaurant kitchen! We believe that for a complete experience in a foreign country, you should taste traditional food at least once, so this course caught our attention. Especially knowing how much Mihai loves cooking 🙂

We cooked three traditional recipes: kulaci (homemade bread), japrak (stuffed peppers), and Berati Vejnez (a kind of stuffed schnitzel, a Berat specialty). The kids did a fantastic job – they got involved, were curious, asked questions, and the chefs answered, guided, and assisted them throughout, from kneading the bread to cutting the vegetables, stuffing the peppers, and pounding the meat.

Of course, the icing on the cake was the meal itself. I won’t even tell you how proud and thrilled they were to have cooked their own meal from scratch, with their own little hands. ❤️ Cooking is such a wonderful activity for the whole family!

About Castle Park Hotel in Berat

Castle Park Hotel served as our base in Berat during the adventurous week we experienced here. It’s one of the most beautiful hotels in Berat, with great accommodation options for families. Established in 2002, it has been providing tourists with complete experiences in the heart of Albania, from staying in rooms that seem to be taken right out of fairy tales, to unforgettable experiences and adventures.

We also have a separate article about this hotel, which you can read here.

What the little explorers think

Wherever we go and whatever we do, the kids’ opinions are extremely important to us, and we take them into account when choosing routes and activities. And every evening, on our way back to accommodation, it’s our tradition for each of them to share what they liked the most from that day. So, we asked them about these two experiences as well, and here’s what they said.

Mihai: “I liked rafting because I sat in the middle of the boat and felt like a ‘commandanter’ (😂). I also liked the waterfalls and that towards the end, I got to paddle too. In cooking, I liked making the dough myself and cutting the carrots, stuffing the peppers with a spoon, and the really tasty food we made.”

Alex: “During rafting, I was impressed by the canyon walls, they were really high, and I enjoyed paddling and the feeling when I went under the waterfall. While cooking, I liked mixing the dough with my hands, cutting the stem of the peppers, preparing them, and then stuffing the peppers. It was interesting to pound the meat with the hammer. I also liked that we ate on the terrace, and the food was really good.”

So, fellow adventurers, if you’re seeking an escapade filled with flavor and adrenaline, Albania is your destination! From stirring pots in traditional kitchens to riding the waves on the flowing rivers, you’ll find it all here. Step out of your comfort zone, grab a piece of kulaci and a life jacket, and prepare for an adventure that will awaken all your senses. With TripAdvisor awards and recognition from National Geographic and USAID in their pocket, Albania Rafting Group is waiting for you to join their clan of fearless explorers. Enjoy delicious dishes and conquer wild rivers on a journey you won’t forget anytime soon. Adventure is calling, and Albania is waiting for you!

*This article was created in collaboration with Hotel Castle Park Berat and Albania Rafting Group*

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Happy exploring!