Skrapar, the Destination of Majestic Canyons over the Osum River

Skrapar, a region of fairytale beauty among the most unique in Europe, is located in the northeastern part of the Southern Mountainous Region of Albania. The city of Skrapar has been inhabited since 600 BCE, as evidenced by archaeological findings in cave dwellings.

Skrapar is the district of majestic canyons, home to two large natural monuments, including the Osum Canyon, the largest in Albania. Located in the Çorovodë – Hambull area of the Osum valley, the canyon is about 13 km long, 4 to 35 meters wide, and up to 70-80 meters deep, with vertical cliffs and the Osum River flowing through.

The exceptional tourist potential that the Skrapar area offers includes the Osum canyons, Mount Tomor, the Pirogoshi Cave, which remain the most visited attractions by both local and foreign visitors.

Skrapar and the Osum Canyons are synonymous, thanks to the sport of rafting, which for over a decade has become a magnet attracting numerous tourists to this region.

The vertical canyons with various shapes, up to 150 meters deep in the Çorovodë area, and eight waterfalls, giving it a “Albanian Colorado” appearance, are where both foreign and local tourists practice rafting. Rafting is a favorite sport for various age groups.

Another tourist attraction in the area is the National Park, located near Mount Tomor, rich in diverse flora and fauna.

Skrapar has become a favored destination for over 10 types of activities, such as exploring canyons on foot and swimming; rappelling down waterfalls, hiking in the Skrapar castle, exploring the Pirogoshi cave, hiking through the 13 tunnels of Pirogoshi along with a visit to the interesting Kasabashi bridge, hiking and caravan with donkeys on the sacred Mount Tomor, etc.

The villages of Skrapar, such as Therepeli, Prishta, Bogova, Blezëncka, Spathara, Kulmaku, are also beautiful attractions showcasing the area’s tradition.

Discovering the traditions of this city is also a journey through the typical flavors and aromas of the area, where local produce combined with meat, mainly lamb, forms the basis of traditional cuisine. A typical dish is roasted meat, a common tradition in much of Albania, but in this area, it’s the tradition of oven-roasted lamb and lamb liver.

Other specialties include chicken përshesh, vegetable tava, lakror, desserts like baklava and pandispanja, as well as pekmez and trahana. And finally, the traditional drink of the area, Skrapar raki, is part of the inherited tradition across generations, due to the centuries-old mastery of its extraction and processing during the autumn season, known in Skrapar city as the raki season.