Rafting on the Arachthos River is one of the more accessible outdoor activities in the Tzoumerka region, offering a scenic route through one of Greece’s lesser-traveled mountain landscapes. The river flows from the Pindus mountains and carves its way through deep gorges, dense forests, and limestone cliffs, with several sections suitable for beginner to intermediate rafters, depending on the season. The most popular stretch for rafting lies between the Politsa Bridge and the Plaka Bridge, which includes mild rapids, natural springs, and views of waterfalls cascading directly into the river. The highlight for many is passing under the reconstructed Plaka Bridge, a 19th-century stone arch that collapsed in 2015 and was rebuilt using traditional methods. Rafting here is usually offered from spring to early autumn, with local guides providing gear and safety instructions. Water levels can vary, so conditions are typically calmer in late summer and more intense in spring.
While visiting Ioannina and Tzoumerka in August 2025—although aware it wasn’t the ideal season for it—we couldn’t resist a taste of the experience.
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We learned that the upper, more interesting section between Politsa and Plaka wasn’t operational at the time. The only available option was the lower stretch from Plaka to Platanoussa, which ran twice daily, in the morning and in the afternoon. We booked the afternoon tour with these guys.
Despite it being low season, there were enough participants to fill four boats. Aside from us and one Greek family, the rest were Israelis. The staff handed out gear to everyone—helmets, life vests, and oars—gave a briefing on the basic commands and safety protocol, and then led us down to the shore.
The two of us were assigned to a raft by ourselves, along with our guide and an apprentice. We all boarded and began flowing, slooooowly…
Save for two short, gentle rapids, our pace never exceeded swimming speed. The whole thing felt more like a family-friendly joyride than anything resembling an action sport. Did I regret it? Not really—it was a pleasant introduction to something I’d never tried before. Would I repeat it in the same season? Absolutely not.
I’m definitely eager to come back in the right season and try the real thing. Our guide mentioned that the same stretch, which now took us two hours to cover, takes barely ten minutes in autumn. Now that sounds fun.
Although the ride itself wasn’t particularly exhilarating, I still enjoyed the views and the close contact with nature. More than that, our guide and his apprentice were genuinely kind and excellent company—enough to make the trip worthwhile, more so than the river stream.
After a couple of refreshing dips, we finally disembarked just below the village of Platanoussa. From there, we piled into the company’s vans, and about thirty minutes later, we were back at the starting point—rewarded with a piece of baklava.
Instead of taking the same long route back to my friend’s place in Elliniko, our guide told us about a brand-new, quicker road that hadn’t yet made its way onto Google Maps. On the drive, he also recommended a restaurant where we enjoyed a toothsome meal with a fantastic view over the Arachthos River.
Accommodation & Activities in Tzoumerka
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Photos
View (and feel free to use) all my photographs from the Arachthos River in higher resolution.
