Benja Thermal Baths

The Benja thermal baths are tucked into the Lengarica canyon about 10 kilometres from Përmet, and the approach is half the experience: the road winds through increasingly dramatic rock scenery before dropping to the gorge floor. The thermal springs emerge at natural pools alongside the cold Lengarica river — you can move between warm and cold water, which locals swear by for circulation. The setting, with cliffs rising steeply on both sides and forest above, is striking.

The area draws Albanian families and a growing number of travellers year-round, with summer the busiest time. The Ottoman bridge nearby is one of the best-preserved examples in the region. There are a few simple guest houses and restaurants in the canyon that serve grilled lamb and fresh trout from the river. From Përmet, taxis or a hired car make the most sense — the canyon road is not suited to walking.

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The hot springs at Benja sit beside the Lengarica river in a narrow gorge flanked by vertical limestone cliffs. The water emerges at around 29–33°C from fissures in the rock and flows into stone-rimmed pools right at the river's edge. A 15th-century Ottoman bridge, the Ura e Kadiut, arches over the gorge just upstream — and in summer, locals use it as a diving platform.