From Tirana: Holtes Canyon Guided Tour w/ Hiking & Swimming! – Tirana, Albania

EXPERIENCE

Holta’s Canyon is one of those rare hidden gems that is a must see while you are in Albania! The canyon was formed by the erosion of the river Holte and karst phenomena. The canyon is 3km long, and is 350 meters high and near its exit it narrows to roughly 10 meters. There are plenty of unexplored karst caves that are suitable for adventurous explorations on the canyon slopes. The tour will begin with your tour guide picking you up from your hotel/accommodation in Tirana and then driving south towards Holtas Canyon. The drive will be approximately 1.5 hours, where we will make a brief stop at Lake Banjes to enjoy the beautiful view of this incredible lake that the Holtes River flows directly into. After the short stop, it is only a short 30 minute drive along the coast of the lake to the entrance of Holta’s Canyon. This area of Albania is extremely beautiful due to the fact that much of the surrounding area has been left untouched. Upon reaching Holta’s Canyon, we will disembark the car, and we will head straight into Holta’s Canyon, where you will be dressed in your swimsuit and sandals. During the hike, there will be times that you will be walking in water that could reach as high as your knees, but most of the hike will be walking on the rocks (please refer to the pictures to get a better idea of how the hike will be). Within a couple of minutes of entering the canyon, you will see to your left the beautiful sulfur pool, which is roughly 10 degrees centigrade warmer than the water that flows through the canyon itself. This sulfur pool will be our “base camp”, where we will sit and relax and enjoy the healing properties of this pool after our trek through the canyon. Do not be surprised to see a variety of wild-life while we make our way through the canyon. The hike through the canyon can feel surreal at times, especially when you are relaxing inside the sulfur pool as you feel your muscles relax. After spending approximately 3 hours of walking and exploring and enjoying the sulfur pool at Holtes Canyon, we will then head back to the vehicle where you will be driven back to your hotel/accommodation in Tirana.

HIGHLIGHTS

Explore the wonders of holtes canyon by trekking straight through the canyon
Relax and enjoy the sulfur pool while you can lay out and soak in the sun
Enjoy the beautiful car ride to Holta’s Canyon and enjoy the view of Lake Banjes

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