COMBO TOUR
The River & Honey Combo is a 5-6 hour, full-day adventure in Përmet, Albania (€60/person) that pairs a morning Class II-III rafting descent of the Vjosa River with an afternoon visit to a traditional bee park for organic honey tasting. A hearty riverside lunch is included between the two activities. Suitable for families with children aged 6 and up, and requiring no prior rafting experience, this combo balances adrenaline with relaxed cultural immersion — and pairs naturally with a stop at the nearby Gliko Tasting workshop for those craving even more local flavor.
Why choose between adrenaline and relaxation? This combo perfectly balances the raw thrill of Europe's last wild river with the rich, soothing cultural heritage of the Albanian mountains.
Start the morning navigating the Vjosa rapids. After a traditional riverside lunch, we transport you to a local Bee Park for an educational tour and organic honey tasting.
Hit the wild Vjosa River for a thrilling half-day ride.
Enjoy a traditional meal by the riverbank.
Head to the apiary for a tour and honey tasting.
Drop off in Përmet center.
The River & Honey Combo departs from our base camp in Përmet town center, an easy walk from any hotel or guesthouse in town. Përmet sits on the SH75 highway within the Vjosa Wild River National Park, about 25 km north of the Këlcyra Gorge. After a morning meet-and-greet, our team transfers the group about 30 minutes up the Vjosa Valley to the rafting put-in point, then collects everyone again after lunch for the short drive to the bee park in the foothills above town. Round-trip transport for both halves of the day is included — no personal vehicle is needed.
This combo runs from April through October, when both halves of the day are at their best. Spring (April-May) brings the highest water levels for an exciting rafting descent, while the bee park's hives are just becoming active for the season. Summer (June-August) offers warmer rafting conditions and the richest honey harvest, plus the chance to combine your day with a relaxing soak at the Bënja Thermal Baths on a future visit. September and October bring milder water levels and a quieter, golden-hued countryside. We pause this combo in winter, when low water levels make rafting unsuitable and the bees are dormant.
Pack as you would for a rafting trip, since the morning sets the tone for the day: a swimsuit under quick-dry clothing, a complete change of dry clothes, and a towel for after the river. We provide the neoprene wetsuit, booties, helmet, and life jacket for rafting, and full protective suits for the bee park visit, so no specialist gear is needed for either activity. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses with a strap for the scenic transfers between the river and the apiary, plus a reusable water bottle and a camera to capture both the Vjosa rapids and the honey tasting in the afternoon.
After this full day, the Bënja Thermal Baths are a popular addition for a future visit, offering natural hot springs fed by the Lengarica River to soothe muscles after rafting. The Lengarica Canyon, a narrow limestone gorge a few minutes from the thermal baths, makes for a rewarding short hike. For more local flavor beyond the honey tasting, the Gliko Tasting workshop introduces traditional Albanian fruit preserves made by families in the Përmet area. All three sites are easily combined into additional day trips from Përmet.
The afternoon is very relaxing, making it a perfectly balanced day.
Yes, a hearty traditional meal.
Absolutely, great for ages 6+.
No experience is needed. The morning rafting section is Class II-III, suitable for beginners, and our guides cover all the paddling basics before launch.
Yes — both halves of this combo are also available individually as the Vjosa Rafting (Half-Day) tour and the Bee Park Experience, if you'd prefer a shorter day.
Both halves of the day depart from our base camp in Përmet town center. Round-trip transport to the rafting put-in in the morning and to the bee park in the afternoon is included — no personal vehicle is needed.
April through October is best, when both the Vjosa River's water levels and the bee park's hive activity are at their peak. Spring offers the most exciting rapids, while summer brings the richest honey harvest.
Bring a swimsuit, dry clothes, a towel, sunscreen, and a hat — we provide the wetsuit, helmet, and life jacket for rafting plus protective suits for the bee park, so no specialist gear is needed for either activity.
Yes — the Bënja Thermal Baths and Gliko Tasting workshop are both close to Përmet and make great additions on a separate day of your trip, alongside this combo.
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