Voidomatis River

The Voidomatis is often called the cleanest river in Europe, and whatever the precise ranking, the water is startling: it rises from springs at the foot of the Vikos gorge already filtered through limestone, runs at around four to five degrees Celsius year-round, and is so transparent that boats appear to float on air. The classic rafting run starts near Aristi and finishes at the Klidonia bridge, about five kilometres of gentle grade two water with a few livelier chutes, suitable for beginners and families and run by several operators in season. Walkers use the riverside path from the old bridge at Kleidonia, and the arched stone bridge of Aristi and the monastery of Agia Paraskevi stand along the banks. The river is a Natura 2000 site inside the Vikos-Aoos national park.

What you actually see

• The clear water - visibility that makes boats look suspended.
• The rafting run - five kilometres of easy water from Aristi to Klidonia.
• The stone bridges - old arches at Aristi and Klidonia over the river.
• The riverside path - shaded walking along the banks below the gorge.

When to go

May to September for rafting, when flows are manageable; spring melt raises the level and the difficulty. The water is cold in every season, so wetsuits are standard even in August.

Honest expectations

The water temperature is genuinely shocking, and swimming is brief for most people. Rafting is gentle rather than thrilling, which suits families but disappoints thrill-seekers. Operators cluster at Aristi and book out on summer weekends.

Nearby

Papingo and the Vikos gorge lie upstream; Konitsa and the Aoos are north.