A travel-loving family from Romania recently visited us at Hotel Castle Park in Berat, and also joined us in the Osumi Canyons for a unique rafting adventure!
Together, the family uncovered the local culinary traditions of Albania with our traditional cooking class, explored breathtaking canyons and made unforgettable memories with their little ones – Mihai, aged 7, and Alex, aged 10.
Keep reading to find out more about how this family spent their time in Berat, what their favourite parts were, and why they’d recommend that you come and visit us too!
Rafting in the Osumi Canyons with Albania Adventure Group
“It’s definitely something worth trying at least once in a lifetime. We’ve done rafting in Romania, on the Crișul Repede river before, so it wasn’t our first experience. But it was definitely exceptional. The river flows through a narrow canyon with many interesting formations, which Iken, our super friendly and kid-savvy rafting guide, told us all about. The canyon is so narrow that at one point the boat got stuck between the steep walls, and we had to use our feet against the rocks to push it forward. A treat for the kids!
Besides that, we were able to admire not less than 5 waterfalls that can only be reached through the canyon. At the largest one, we stopped for a swim, and we all bravely jumped in. It was an amazing sensation, the kids couldn’t get enough of it.
I know it might sound a bit risky to take the kids on such an adventure, but don’t worry! There are specialized guides who will lead you through the entire route and make sure the whole family feels safe. This way, you can spend precious time together, creating unforgettable memories!”
Traditional Albanian Cooking Class
“If you want to impress your family and turn your kids into little adventurous chefs, a cooking class for traditional Albanian food is just what you need! Where? At Castle Park Hotel in Berat, in a proper restaurant kitchen! We believe that for a complete experience in a foreign country, you should taste traditional food at least once, so this course caught our attention. Especially knowing how much Mihai loves cooking.
We cooked three traditional recipes: kulaci (homemade bread), japrak (stuffed peppers), and Berati Vejnez (a kind of stuffed schnitzel, a Berat specialty). The kids did a fantastic job – they got involved, were curious, asked questions, and the chefs answered, guided, and assisted them throughout, from kneading the bread to cutting the vegetables, stuffing the peppers, and pounding the meat.
Of course, the icing on the cake was the meal itself. I won’t even tell you how proud and thrilled they were to have cooked their own meal from scratch, with their own little hands. Cooking is such a wonderful activity for the whole family!”
Castle Park Hotel served as our base in Berat during the adventurous week we experienced here. It’s one of the most beautiful hotels in Berat, with great accommodation options for families. Established in 2002, it has been providing tourists with complete experiences in the heart of Albania, from staying in rooms that seem to be taken right out of fairy tales, to unforgettable experiences and adventures.
Wherever we go and whatever we do, the kids’ opinions are extremely important to us, and we take them into account when choosing routes and activities. And every evening, on our way back to accommodation, it’s our tradition for each of them to share what they liked the most from that day. So, we asked them about these two experiences as well, and here’s what they said.
Mihai: “I liked rafting because I sat in the middle of the boat and felt like a ‘commandanter’. I also liked the waterfalls and that towards the end, I got to paddle too. In cooking, I liked making the dough myself and cutting the carrots, stuffing the peppers with a spoon, and the really tasty food we made.”
Alex: “During rafting, I was impressed by the canyon walls, they were really high, and I enjoyed paddling and the feeling when I went under the waterfall. While cooking, I liked mixing the dough with my hands, cutting the stem of the peppers, preparing them, and then stuffing the peppers. It was interesting to pound the meat with the hammer. I also liked that we ate on the terrace, and the food was really good.”
So, fellow adventurers, if you’re seeking an escapade filled with flavor and adrenaline, Albania is your destination! From stirring pots in traditional kitchens to riding the waves on the flowing rivers, you’ll find it all here. Step out of your comfort zone, grab a piece of kulaci and a life jacket, and prepare for an adventure that will awaken all your senses. With TripAdvisor awards and recognition from National Geographic and USAID in their pocket, Albania Rafting Group is waiting for you to join their clan of fearless explorers. Enjoy delicious dishes and conquer wild rivers on a journey you won’t forget anytime soon. Adventure is calling, and Albania is waiting for you!
