The 15 Best Tours in Gjirokastër

1.Amazing Horse Riding Experience at Vjosa National Park in Permet

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 199 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $96Our pick

Ride with Avenir, Avi, and Lilly through the hills around Permet and Fir of Hotova National Park. Your small-group route may include Leuse Church, old villages, springs, ruins, and Lengarica Canyon. Beginners receive guidance, while confident riders may trot or canter. Snacks, fruit, drinks, helmets, and transport are included.

“Beautiful countryside. Best way to see the terrain - horses well looked after, great hosts and delicious snacks. Great value.”

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2.Rafting Vjosa River Gjirokastër Albania ARG

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 199 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $54

This 3 to 4-hour rafting trip follows the Vjosa near Përmet, with a route shaped by river levels and weather. You’ll pass Langarica canyon, paddle through gentle rapids, stop for swimming or a rock jump, and use supplied rafting gear, wetsuit, thermal jacket, and life jacket. Guides such as Kevin, Aldo, and Julio have earned warm praise for safety and humor.

“It’s a beautiful river, we were very pleased with our guide Kevin whom was very knowledgeable with excellent language skills.”

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3.Rafting Tour in Vjosa Wild River National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 100 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $52

Join Irma, Gjeni, and the Vjosa Explorer team for a 3.5-hour rafting outing on the Vjosa near Përmet. Expect changing river scenery, the Badlonjë rapid, swimming, optional cliff jumps, safety gear, transport, local refreshments, and free photos. The group is limited to eight people.

“This is a great experience. The instructors are top professionals and capture the fun along the way. I recommend it if you’re travelling or away with friends, partners etc.”

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4.Amazing Rafting Experience at Last Wild Vjosa River of Europe in Permet, Albania

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $48

Join Funky Adventures in Përmet for a three-hour rafting trip on the Vjosa, Europe’s last wild river. You’ll receive a helmet, swimsuit, life jacket, transport, and river instruction. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, then paddle through clear water, easy rapids, narrow passages, and swimming spots with guides including Irma and Avenir.

“The best Day ever! Just go, it is absolutely amazing👍 Beautiful view, beautiful swimming and top class instructors🙏❤️”

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5.Guided Rafting Tour – Vjosa River National Park – Permet, Albania

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $45

Meet Enjoy Vjosa Rafting near Përmet for a three-hour Vjosa River trip with English or Italian guides, safety gear, photos, and a swim stop. Emil and Ari are named guides praised for enthusiasm and care. Expect easy opening rapids, stronger action later, a snack break, and a calm finish.

“Had a really great experience on Rafting with Emil as our host. Best time to experience are in the morning and evening. Thanks a lot !!”

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6.Walking Tour Baazar – The Argjiro Castle – Zekate house

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $16Best value

Walk through Gjirokaster’s old bazaar, visit its hilltop castle, and enter the Zekate House with a local English-speaking guide. Guides such as Blerim Topuli and Arli bring strong local ties and can answer questions beyond the standard route. The $16.82 price excludes both admission fees.

“Arli is a great and knowledgeable guide. He took care of us and made the tour a very good experience. Thanks!”

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7.Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $54

Meet Edua.gjirokaster in Gjirokaster’s medieval bazaar for a private, roughly two-hour class focused on qifqi, lamb OSA pasta, and hasude dessert. You’ll learn family cooking methods, mountain spices, and local food customs, then eat what you make. English support is available, though the cook may rely on a family translator.

“It was a nice and unique experience. I enjoyed every moment with them. And thank them for the lessons and the technics.”

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8.Vegetarian Cooking Class @Teta Marjeta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $56

Meet your English-speaking guide at Cerciz Topulli Square, walk into Gjirokaster’s old bazaar quarter, and cook with Teta Marjeta in her home. With translator Klarissa helping along, you’ll prepare qofte bobollaqe, qifqi, and hasude, then sit down for dinner, drinks, conversation, and a view.

“The highlight of the experience was Marieta – she was definitely a character: joyful, cheeky, and so much fun! We were welcomed by a friendly translator who stayed with us throughout, which added to the experience. They answered all of our questions, and additional dishes accompanied what we made.”

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9.Wood Crafting Experience in Gjirokastra

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Meet your English-speaking host at Çerçiz Topulli Square, then walk three minutes to Master Nurce Workshop. With guidance from Viktor and a translator, learn about local wood, sketch a design, carve a small sign or other wood piece, and take home your handmade souvenir.

“Absolutely lovely experience! Our translator was the nicest and Viktor, the wood carving instructor, was the sweetest and most knowledgeable person. I would def recommend this to everyone! Best experience in Gjiro”

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10.Walking Tour “The Old Bazaar, Cfake, Dunavat, Ali Pasha Bridge”

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $18

Spend about three hours walking from Cerciz Topulli Square through Gjirokaster’s old neighborhoods to the Ali Pasha Bridge. English-speaking guides such as Arli, Viki, Marco, and Mario share local history and everyday life. Expect cobbles, hills, old stone houses, and uneven ground, so wear sturdy sneakers.

“What made this tour so awesome was our guide, Arli. He was so knowledgeable and willing to share as we walked through the streets of Gjirokastra. In particular, we wanted to see the Ali Pasha Bridge. He was quick to explain that the terrain was difficult getting to the actual bridge so he took us through neighborhoods that led to a spectacular view of the bridge. He carefully explained the historical significance of all of the neighborhoods and the “bridge”. If you get the right tour guide, these tours are excellent!! We certainly did!!”

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11.Prepare Osa with Teta Marjeta

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66

Meet your host near Cerciz Topulli Square, then walk to Marjeta’s home for a hands-on Gjirokaster cooking class. With local translator Besi helping the group, you’ll prepare qifqi, osa with chicken, and hasude, then eat with wine, raki, or a soft drink. Recipes are included.

“Super fun cooking class at Marieta house. Cooked three local dishes with wine and on a cute veranda with local ingredients. Everyone including our translator Besi were amazing and so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend for an overall awesome experience of food, culture and a good time.”

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12.2-Hours Guided Drino’s Valley Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $70

Set out at 9:00 am from Caravan Horse Riding Albania for a two-hour, 10 km ride through rural Drino Valley. You will pass cultivated fields, old irrigation works, Cold War bunkers, village history, and Cini Lake. The ride is for experienced riders only, with English service, small groups of up to 10, and a photo stop beside the lake.

“Great ride with Kristina. We have been riding for a long time and she offered us a nice ride at our level. No problem. A pleasure to gallop in the mountain in front of gjirokaster. Feeling of total freedom as if we were in the steppes of Mongolia. Lovely horses.Auto-translated”

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13.Multi Day Kayaking In Vjosa River ,Camping -6 Days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $1,838

Spend six days kayaking the Vjosa River and its branches with guides including Alma, Zamo, Era, and Endri. Paddle Class II to III+ rapids, visit Benja thermal baths, camp along the route, and explore the Bënça and Drinos rivers. Equipment, transport, lunch, water, and a professional guide are included.

“Without a doubt the best experience in Kakome! Alma , Zamo & Era are an incredible guide- funny, easy to get along with, knowledgable and incredibly easy going! They taught us so much about Kayak, Stand up paddle & Alma with her sRead more”

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14.Gjirokaster walking Tour The Old Baazar, Cfake, Dunavat, Ali Pasha Bridge

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $18

Start at Çerçiz Topulli Square and walk beyond Gjirokaster’s castle through the Old Bazaar, Cfake, Dunavat, and past the Zerzebili Bridge to Ali Pasha Bridge. Guide Besi may lead the route, sharing local history and culture along the way. The tour costs $18.08 per person, requires at least two people, and returns to the meeting point.

“My husband and I had a wonderful experience walking through the streets and historic sites with a local tour guide. There is nothing compared to having a guide from the city provide a local perspective. Our guide was very knowledgeable, pleasant, entertaining, and flexible. We had a great time, learned a lot, and highly recommend.”

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15.The Stone City of UNESCO, Private Tour from Tirana

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 11 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $183

Travel from Tirana to Gjirokaster in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a professional English-speaking guide. Visit the Old Bazaar, Skenduli House, the Weapons Museum, and Gjirokaster Castle, then enjoy lunch in a traditional restaurant. The day lasts about 11 to 12 hours, with hotel pickup and drop-off.

“Highly recommended this visit. Pretty town, with some very interesting traditional Ottoman houses. Clean and quite tidy.Auto-translated”

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