Overview
From €280 total for your group · 15 hours · departs from Tirana or Durrës or Golem
Explore southern Albania in one day, visiting the stunning Blue Eye, the coastal city of Saranda, and the beautiful beaches of Ksamil. Enjoy a mix of nature, crystal-clear waters, seaside views, and free time to experience some of the highlights of the Albanian Riviera.
Tour facts
Highlights
- The Blue Eye at Muzinë, where 18,400 litres a second rise out of the karst
- A karst shaft dived to fifty metres without the bottom being found
- A natural monument since 1996, and the head of the 25 km Bistricë
- Three and a half hours at Ksamil, inside Butrint National Park, with the islands offshore
- Free time on Saranda's promenade, with Corfu thirty minutes away by ferry
This is the long day south: pickup in Tirana, Durrës or Golem, the road down the coast, and the three places people come to this corner of Albania for. Saranda comes first, a town on a bay facing Corfu, with free time on the promenade. Then Ksamil, inside Butrint National Park, with three and a half hours for the beaches and the small islands just offshore. The last stop is the Blue Eye at Muzinë, a karst spring where some 18,400 litres a second rise out of a shaft that divers have followed to fifty metres without finding the bottom; a short walk through the forest reaches the viewing platform over the pool.
It is a private tour with an English-speaking guide, in an air-conditioned vehicle, with the entry tickets to the visited sites included. Count on about fifteen hours door to door, a good part of it on the road: Saranda is around four and a half hours from Tirana. Bring swimwear for Ksamil; the Blue Eye is for looking, its water stays cold all year.
The route
Your day starts with comfortable pickup from Tirana, Durres or Golem.
Short refreshment stop with beautiful views as we head south.
Free time to walk, have lunch, and enjoy the Ionian seaside atmosphere.
Relax, swim, or enjoy the turquoise waters of Ksamil islands.
Walk through the forest path to reach the famous crystal spring. Time for photos and exploration.
Return to start locations
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tirana, Golem, or Durrës
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entry tickets
- Guide
Not included
- Drinks or meals
Good to know
Photos from this tour
Questions travelers ask
In what order are the stops?
Saranda first, with free time on the promenade , then Ksamil for about three and a half hours, then the Blue Eye on the way back, before the drive north to Tirana, Durrës or Golem.
How much of the day is driving?
A good part of it. Saranda is about four and a half hours from Tirana each way, which is why the tour runs to around fifteen hours. There is a coffee stop on the road south.
Can I swim at the Blue Eye?
The Blue Eye is a viewing site over the spring, and the water comes out of the karst cold all year. Swimming is for Ksamil, where the tour allows three and a half hours.
Are the entry tickets included?
Yes. The tickets to the visited sites are in the price, together with the English-speaking guide and the air-conditioned vehicle. Drinks are not included.
Where does the tour start?
Pickup in Tirana, Durrës or Golem; the pickup place is agreed when you book.
Is this the same Blue Eye as the one in Theth?
No. This is the spring near Saranda, between Saranda and Gjirokastër in the south. The Blue Eye of Theth is a pool in the Albanian Alps, a different place about six hours away.
Photo credits
- Ksamil Albania - panoramio (3) by czernik.jerzy · CC BY 3.0
- Blue eye Albania 2018 3 by Karelj · CC BY-SA 4.0
