From your hosts: This is one of our personal recommendations for guests staying at Panoramic View House. We know this place well and we are happy to give you more details or help you get there.
The Vjosa is something extraordinary — a 272-kilometer river flowing freely from the mountains of Greece to the Adriatic Sea in Albania, completely untouched by dams. In 2023, it became Europe’s first Wild River National Park, and Tepelenë sits right on its banks.
While nearly every major river in Europe has been dammed, channeled, or straightened, the Vjosa flows wild and free. Its turquoise waters wind through gorges, spread across braided gravel beds, and support over 1,100 species of wildlife.
From Panoramic View House, it is a 15-minute walk to Ali Pasha’s Bridge where you can swim in the crystal-clear river during summer. The water is refreshingly cold and stunningly clear.
For adventure seekers, rafting trips on the Vjosa are available from Përmet (about 45 minutes from Tepelenë). Operators offer Class II-III rapids through dramatic canyon scenery.
On March 15, 2023, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stood at the Ali Pasha Castle in Tepelenë and officially declared the Vjosa Wild River National Park — the first of its kind in Europe. The park protects the entire river system from dams, mining, and extraction.
Staying at Panoramic View House, you wake up to views of this remarkable river every morning.
Ask us about this place when you arrive — we can give you directions, recommend the best time to visit, and even arrange transport or a guided walk with Avni. Just let us know at breakfast or send a WhatsApp message anytime.
Stay at Panoramic View House — our family guesthouse overlooking the Vjosa River in Tepelenë. From €20/night with homemade breakfast.