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Enjoy a dip in the warming natural waters of the Benja Thermal Pools, surrounded by some of Albania’s most scenic natural beauty – a must for outdoor types!
The gods must have been truly inspired when they conceived the town of Përmet, blessing it with a timeless picturesque landscape. Here, the mountains, hills, rivers, and forests play a truly breathtaking game of hide-and-seek! Përmet has gradually become one of Albania’s most visited destinations for outdoor adventure. Whether it’s rafting across the Vjosa River, or healthy recreation in its natural thermal baths. The Benja Thermal Pools are highly-recommended by doctors for their health benefits, but are also wonderful to immerse yourself in for no other reason than pure pleasure!
The Vjosa River flows across the entire valley, and eventually branches out into the Langarica River – the latter stretching across a canyon of the same name. The caves within the Langarica Canyon are really a sight to behold! Warm waters join Langarica’s stream, which despite the naturally cold temperature of the river, keep it at a warming 29-30 degrees celsius all year-round. These are the thermal baths of Bënja, or llixha as they are called in Albanian. They are located only 13 km from the centre of the beautiful Përmet. People flock here to seek recovery from rheumatism, skin, and kidney ailmentsn to name but a few of the symptoms known to be relieved here. They say in fact, that each thermal pool, rich in minerals, serves a particular healing purpose!
The Benja Thermal Pools are smooth and clear, and also contain a high content of sulphur. The stone baths are the most authentic, and as such, attract a large amount of visitors all year-round. The winter, when the temperature in Përmet falls below 0 degrees celsius is the best time to immerse yourself in these hot baths. Enjoy that satisfying contrast between the air and water! Remember though, 20-25 minutes in the pool usually suffices! More time in the highly sulphuric waters can be quite overwhelming, and not necessarily that good for you.
Don’t be surprised if you notice people here covered entirely in black mud! These muddy deposits of the thermal waters contain regenerative properties for the skin. The waters flow from the deep chasms of the cliffs surrounding the Langarica Canyon. They have been well-known for their health purposes since antiquity. You can find two of the largest and most popular baths at the foot of the Bridge of Katiu (the Judge’s Bridge). These are known for being particularly beneficial for curing gastric and rheumatic diseases. A visit to these natural baths provides you with wonderfully natural health benefits, whilst taking in the spectacular scenic landscape of Përmet.
The beautiful Ottoman bridge is another popular attraction in an area highly-regarded for its archaeological value. The earliest objects found in the cave settlements here belong to the Neolithic (7000-3000 BC) and the Eneolithic (3000-2000 BC) periods.