The Arachthos River, which flows through the Municipality of North Tzoumerka, is renowned as the most beautiful rafting route in Greece. With graded difficulty levels, it is ideal for both beginners and experienced rafters. Vertical cliffs, waterfalls, underground rivers, and caves with nests of wild birds create a mesmerizing journey in the heart of the Tzoumerka National Park.

The most popular route starts from Politsa Bridge in Ambelochori and ends at Plaka Bridge, crossing the third in a series of navigable sections of the Arachthos, arguably  the most beautiful in Greece. In the middle of the route, there is a stop for swimming below the Klifki waterfall. The entrance to the narrow Arachthos gorge is imposing, with vertical cliffs rising 700 meters. Along the rafting route, there are springs gushing from rock clefts, waterfalls flowing from above into the river, and rare bird species nesting on the remote cliffs of the gorge. At the exit of the gorge, you will find the spot dominated by the largest single-arch bridge in the Balkans and the third largest in Europe, the Plaka Bridge, which had collapsed in February 2015 due to heavy rainfall but was fully restored by December 2019. This relatively easy 10-kilometer route with a difficulty rating of III and a duration of approximately 2 hours is ideal for beginners, offering continuous waves, sharp turns, and grade 2 and 3 passages.

A similarly challenging but longer route extends from Politsa Bridge to Tsari Bridge in the Arta Region. From Plaka Bridge to the end of this route, boats face significant waves. The route is graded III, and it takes about 4 hours to cover approximately 22 kilometers.

The Kalarritikos River, one of the main tributaries of the Arachthos, also offers opportunities for rafting. The route starts from Gogos Bridge and has a higher difficulty level, as the river’s slope is noticeable. In the narrow gorge, boats encounter continuous strong waves and interesting grade 3 and 4 passages. The most challenging passages of the river are at the beginning of this route, known as the Symplegades (Clashing Rocks), as the rocks in the middle of the river make the descent an adventure for the daring. The route unfolds in the canyon below the Tsouka Monastery and the wire bridge of “Lysias,” which connects the two riverbanks. It is a place of wild beauty in an alpine landscape, with crystal-clear waters flowing to meet the Arachthos River after 18 kilometers and about 3 to 3½ hours at Plakas Bridge. This is the ultimate extreme rafting route in the Tzoumerka region, offering an adrenaline rush with its demands for strength and precision maneuvers.

A fourth option, suitable for experienced rafters, is the route from Krapsi Bridge to Tsimovo Bridge. This is a challenging route (grade 4) with strong waves and an imposing gorge in the middle. The Lakmos mountain range on the left bank, the small but beautiful gorge, and, of course, the stone bridge of “Papastathis” are among the strong points of natural beauty that complement the exhilarating descent, along with the challenging passages of the Arachthos. The duration of the route is approximately 2 hours, and the total length is 10 kilometers.