Osum Canyon & Bogove Waterfall from Berat: Hiking & Swimming

Canyon Hike & Waterfall Swim Near Berat

You hike to a waterfall, swim in its pool, and explore either inside Osum Canyon (summer, with 1.5 hours of wading and swimming) or along its rim (other seasons, with viewpoints and geology talk). Lunch and private transport are included, and your guide covers the communist-era history of Poliçan along the way. Plan for a full day out of Berat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Osum Canyon and Bogove Waterfall

• Meet at office in the morning
• Drive towards Osum Canyon
• Stop in Poliçan and learn history
• Hike to Bogove Waterfall through forest
• Swim in Bogove Waterfall (optional)
• Explore Osum Canyon by hiking and swimming (summer)
• Or hike along canyon rim and visit viewpoints (other seasons)

What’s included

• Your day includes private transportation from Berat, a professional guide, picnic lunch, and all entry fees and taxes.
• In summer months (July–September), the 1.5-hour canyon exploration with hiking and swimming is included.
• In other seasons, the rim hike with viewpoints replaces the canyon floor walk.
• Bogove Waterfall swimming is optional at both times of year.

Times

• Every day 09:15

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Before you book

Group Up to 17 1 private ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 3 with pickup ›

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (14 and older) · Child (6 to 13 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Not recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Berat City Tours

Prices and times updated yesterday

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Traveler reviews

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The experience

The morning starts at the office in Berat, and then you're driving toward Osum Canyon with your guide. First stop is Poliçan, a small town built during communist times as a weapons production center: your guide walks you through the factories visible from a distance and explains what that era meant for this place. It's the kind of detail that makes the landscape make sense, you know? Then you head into Bogove National Park for a hike through the forest to reach Bogove Waterfall. The stream runs alongside the path, trees shade most of it, and when you arrive at the waterfall itself, you can swim in the cold water if you want to. Most people do.

The second part depends on when you go. From July through September, when water levels drop, you actually enter Osum Canyon itself. This is the 1.5-hour section where hiking and swimming happen together. Your guide leads you through the canyon floor, past narrow rock passages and clear pools, and you move at a pace that lets you take it in. The water is cold and the rock formations are the whole point. Outside those months (spring, autumn, winter), the water runs too high and fast to safely walk the canyon floor, so instead you hike along the rim, stopping at several viewpoints. Your guide still covers the geology and history, and the photo angles are just as good from above. You're just not getting wet in the canyon itself. Either way, you're out there for the full day with lunch included.

The tour wraps around late afternoon, and you head back to Berat. If you're thinking about this one, know that it's a real hike, not extreme, but you're moving for hours and there's water involved, so bring shoes that grip and a change of clothes. Pregnant travelers should skip it. Everyone else, regardless of fitness level, can do it. Your guide sets the pace.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 13 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can you swim in Bogove Waterfall?

Yes, the waterfall has a pool and swimming is optional. The water is cold.

Do you actually go inside Osum Canyon?

Only from July to September, when water levels are lower. The 1.5-hour canyon walk includes hiking and swimming. Other months, you hike the rim and visit viewpoints instead.

What is included in the tour?

Private transportation, guide, picnic lunch, and all fees and taxes.

How long is the full day?

The itinerary spans a full day, with the canyon or rim section taking 1.5–2 hours depending on season.

Is this suitable for beginners?

Yes, it's suitable for all fitness levels, but it involves hiking and water, so reasonable fitness helps. Not recommended for pregnant travelers.

What should I bring?

Water shoes or hiking shoes with grip, a change of clothes, and a towel if you plan to swim.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

No, but you should be comfortable in water since swimming is part of the experience.

What is Poliçan?

A town built during the communist period as a weapons production center. Your guide explains its history during a stop on the way to the canyon.