What’s so special about Holta Canyon?
Holta is a narrow canyon with a river running through it, where you sometimes have to walk (wade) through water up to your chest.
We really enjoyed it, and it was a completely different experience from the one we had while river tubing in Osumi Canyon, since the canyon is much narrower.
It’s one of the less-visited places in the country, and one of our favorite experiences on our two-week Albania trip.
Walking through the canyon
The whole idea of visiting Holta Canyon revolves around the way you explore it – by walking (wading) through water, sometimes up to your chest.
- Looking for an organized day trip? You can book a Holta Canyon tour from Tirana and Durres.
Rock formations
The rock formations in the canyon are pretty impressive, and it was fun observing the various ones as we walked through.
Going for a swim
In the last part (50 meters), you need to swim to reach the so-called “end”. We only went forward after a brave French family (a mother and her daughter) tried it first. 😅
It’s worth going for a short swim, but if you don’t want to, there’s no need. After the big rock, there’s not much there.
Planning an active trip?
Don't risk it without travel insurance
We never travel outside our home countries before getting travel insurance. And sure, we don’t count on anything happening. But it can when you least expect it! 🤕
For example, Arijana twisted her ankle just because she took a wrong step when going down completely normal stairs. 🤦♀️
In those situations (and hopefully nothing worse), travel insurance comes in handy so you don’t have to pay the medical costs.
Plus, since it costs about 3 USD/EUR per day, it’s not a crazy expense, and definitely not something to ignore. 😷
Reaching the end
Matej got to the point where the only way to move forward was by swimming for quite a while in a 1-meter narrow slit between the rocks. We had too much stuff with us to attempt that. 😀
But the French family did give it a go, and the mother swam from this point for another 10 meters and said it’s definitely all swimming from there.
Heads up
Bring a swimsuit you don’t mind getting dirty, as it’s likely to smell a lot from the sulfur in the water. As soon as you enter the canyon, you will smell sulfur, similar to a rotten egg.
Also, having quick-dry water shoes is a great idea – we both wore our sports sandals, which were perfect.
How long does it take to see the canyon?
It’s a fun little experience, as it doesn’t take long to reach the end of the canyon, maybe about 30 minutes. But it depends entirely on the time of year you visit, since the water level can be lower at times, so you’ll walk the canyon faster.
On our visit in late October, the water level was likely lower than usual, but still not too low, so it was still a good time to visit. At other times of the year, we imagine it takes a bit longer, but it’s likely also a bit more challenging and fun. 😀
Our favorite Albania eSIM
Fast Speed and Reliable Signal
Ever since we got phones that support eSIMs, we have been hooked and never looked back. 📶
We always get the best value-for-money eSIM we can, based on reliable signal, fast internet speeds, and coverage across the country. 🌐
Now that eSIM plan prices are more than reasonable compared to regular phone plans (which are more of a hassle to get), we really see no reason not to get one for each trip.
How to get to Holta Canyon (Kanioni i Holtes)
Before heading to Holta Canyon, make sure to set your navigation to the Restaurant at the canyon entrance, as you might end up in the wrong location otherwise. That’s also the best spot to park your car.
It takes about 1.5 hours to drive to Holta Canyon from Berat, and about 1.5 to 2 hours from Tirana, depending on traffic when you leave.
We visited Holta Canyon with our rented car, but you can also see it on an organized day tour from Tirana (or Durres).
On the way to the canyon, you will also pass by this cool-looking blue lake (Liqeni i Banjës).
There’s not much to do at the lake itself, but we saw this cool restaurant with fantastic views where you can stop for some food. It’s also a well-reviewed hotel where you can stay if you want to spend a bit more time in the Gramsh area.
If you’re exploring Albania by car, Holta Canyon is an ideal spot to stop on the way. Essentially, you can visit it on the way to or from Berat. Otherwise, it can be quite out of the way. But a day trip to it from Tirana is more than possible.
- Read next: Two Week Albania Itinerary (detailed day-by-day)
Final thoughts and what else to see in the area
We personally didn’t have enough time to explore places near Holta Canyon, but there is definitely more to do in the Gramsh area!
If you continue on the road and pass the entire Banja Lake, you will arrive in Gramsh, the starting point for visiting the Sotire Waterfall, another of Albania’s less-popular places.
With an off-road vehicle, you can continue from Sotire on the road around Tomorr Mountain, an area that’s becoming popular for great hiking and off-road drives with jeeps and dirt bikes.
The road connecting Gramsh and Berat will likely be asphalted soon, making this area more accessible to everyone. But for now, you can book an off-road tour to explore this area from Berat if you’re interested.
With an off-road vehicle, you can take the road towards Dardhë from Berat (around Tomorr Mountain), visit a beautiful lake on the way, then Sotire Waterfall, before ending up at Holta.
Planning to drive this route? We recommend staying at Dardha Guesthouse, a fantastic base to explore Tomorr Mountain National Park from – it’s right on the way. We’d love to stay there next time!
We were planning to visit this whole area, but in the end, due to some changes to our Albania itinerary, we didn’t manage it – hopefully, next time, when we rent an off-road vehicle.
- Read next: What Not To Miss in Berat and Osumi Canyon River Tubing
