Vjosa Wild River National Park explained

The Vjosa rises in the Pindus mountains in Greece, flows about 272 km and reaches the Adriatic Sea just north of Vlorë, and about 192 km of it lie in Albania. It is one of the last large rivers in Europe that still runs freely. In March 2023 the Albanian government declared it, with four tributaries, Vjosa Wild River National Park, the first national park in Europe created to protect a wild river. In 2025 UNESCO added the Vjosa Valley to its network of biosphere reserves. This guide explains what that means and how it came about.

What is a wild river?

A wild river is one that flows freely and is not controlled by large dams or heavy engineering. The park's official site describes its aim as protecting an "untamed river system" and its ecosystems. Where a river is free, it keeps changing: it splits into several channels, builds and moves gravel bars and floods its banks, which creates habitats for plants, fish, insects and birds. UNESCO describes the Vjosa valley's braided channels, gravel bars, riparian forests, wetlands and coastal lagoons as its main habitats.

Timeline

When	What happened
December 2020	The Vjosa receives the status of a managed nature reserve
March 2023	The Albanian government declares Vjosa Wild River National Park, covering 12,727 hectares and recognised as IUCN Protected Area Category II
2025	UNESCO designates the Vjosa Valley a Man and the Biosphere Reserve, covering 330,986 hectares, with more than 1,600 species recorded

Sources give 13 or 15 March 2023 for the decision and announcement of the national park, so the table uses the month.

Who made it happen

The park was created through collaboration between the Albanian government, local and international experts, environmental organisations from the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign, the IUCN and the outdoor clothing company Patagonia. The national park protects the river in Albania as one system, together with four of its tributaries.

What the park protects

The Vjosa in Albania and four tributaries: the Drino, Kardhiq, Bënçë and Shushicë.
Wildlife: more than 1,100 animal species recorded, with 13 animal and 2 plant species assessed as globally threatened by the IUCN. Otters and the endangered Egyptian vulture are among them.
The designation itself: it is meant to prevent dams, gravel extraction and other damaging activities in the park.

The river in numbers

Length	About 272 km, roughly 80 km in Greece (where it is called the Aoös) and about 192 km in Albania
Source	The Pindus mountains in Epirus, Greece, near the village of Vovousa
Mouth	The Adriatic Sea, just north of Vlorë
Drainage basin	6,706 km²
Average flow	About 195 cubic metres per second
Main tributaries	The Voidomatis, Sarantaporos, Drino and Shushicë
Albanian towns on its banks	Çarshovë, Përmet, Këlcyrë, Tepelenë, Memaliaj, Selenicë and Novoselë

Why it matters to visitors

The Vjosa is both a place to raft, kayak, swim and watch wildlife and a living example of what a free river looks like. UNESCO notes that local livelihoods along the river, including floodplain farming, fishing and grazing, follow its seasonal cycles, and that nature-based tourism around rafting, birdwatching and cultural heritage is growing. How people visit matters: choose operators who work with care for the river, take your rubbish with you and follow your guide's advice.

Protection still needs work

A national park designation protects a river on paper, and conservation groups say it needs enforcement and monitoring to protect it in practice. On the park's third anniversary, EuroNatur, a conservation group involved in the Vjosa campaign, wrote that the gap between the park's symbolic power and its reality on the ground is stark. Visitors who treat the river with respect are part of the answer.

Visit the Vjosa

Read the Vjosa Wild River National Park page for facts and a FAQ.
Read the rafting guide for the season, difficulty and what to bring.
Plan a trip with things to do in Përmet.

Questions and answers

What is a Wild River National Park?

A national park created to protect a free-flowing river system and its ecosystems. The Vjosa is described as the first Wild River National Park in Europe.

When did the Vjosa become a national park?

In March 2023, when the Albanian government declared the Vjosa Wild River National Park. It covers 12,727 hectares and is recognised as IUCN Protected Area Category II.

Why is the Vjosa called one of Europe's last wild rivers?

Because it is a large river that still flows freely, with natural channels, gravel bars and floodplain habitats. Many other European rivers have been dammed or altered.

Is the Vjosa a UNESCO site?

UNESCO designated the Vjosa Valley a Man and the Biosphere Reserve in 2025. That is different from World Heritage status.

Who protected the Vjosa?

The park was created through collaboration between the Albanian government, experts, environmental organisations from the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign, the IUCN and Patagonia.

How can I visit the Vjosa responsibly?

Choose an operator that provides safety equipment and a trained guide, take all rubbish with you, keep to existing paths and gravel banks, and follow your guide's advice about water levels.