4-Day Albanian Riviera Tour with Butrint, Blue Eye and Gjirokastër

Travel along the coast to visit Dhërmi, Gjipe, and Porto Palermo Castle.

All these places remain notable for their deep waters, navigability, and rocky terrain.

Overnight in Qeparo.

Visit Çika Mountain and Llogara - Vlorë.

Take a stop at the first beach along the route, Dhraleos in Palasë, which stretches for 1.5 km. This is one of the most exotic and tranquil beaches of the Albanian coastal zone, with rich blue waters. It is popular for water sports and is sometimes even the destination for parachutes launching from Llogara Pass.

Stop for a break at Dhërmi. Located a little further south, Dhërmi is one of the most frequented and important tourist destinations along the Albanian coast. Its crystal-clear waters, isolated beaches, water sports, and diving make it a preferred beach for the younger generation.

Explore the beach of Gjipe, which is part of Dhërmi and has a beautiful shape. Beyond this beach, a stream has carved a canyon with walls rising 70 meters high. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring, walking around, and swimming.

After enjoying a nice swim and a hot cup of coffee at the café, start driving to Qeparo and the small tectonic gulf of Porto Palermo, where Pasha Castle is located.

Visit Ali Pasha Castle and have lunch in Qeparo.

After lunch, proceed to see the Old Village of Qeparo, built during the 17th century. The terrain is rocky here, and this old village gives the impression of a castle on a hill. This type of structure was constructed for protection from enemies. The houses stand close to each other, all built with stone, and they remain largely untouched since the time they were made.

Take a stroll through the village and grab the chance to meet a few locals, most of them elderly. It feels as if life stopped here 200 years ago. The views from the hill are peaceful, surrounded by high mountains, the old houses of the village, and amazing panoramas of the Ionian Sea and Corfu Island. This is the perfect place to enjoy an unforgettable sunset.

Dinner in the new town.

Visit Borsh, one of the longest beach areas of the Albanian Riviera, protected by massive Mediterranean vegetation, primarily citrus and olive plantations. Family tourism has also become very popular in this area. Between here and the city of Saranda, you can find the beaches of Bunec, Kakome, and Krokey. Their collective length runs about three km, and each one is famous for beautiful, crystal-clear water.

Start early in the morning. We suggest going for a swim before breakfast, as it is not so cold in this area.

Qeparo to Borsh is just a 10-minute drive.

Explore the ruins of Borsh Castle, built during the 15th century on the highest hill, with your Albanian tour guide.

Start hiking to the castle, where you will have another spectacular view.

After the castle visit, explore all the gulfs of Borsh: Bunec, Kakome, and Krokey.

Go swimming in the crystal waters - a heaven of the Albanian coast.

Join a kayak tour organized by our local friends.

Overnight in Borsh. Enjoy beer around a bonfire amidst the white sand beaches of the Ionian Sea.

Sarandë is the most populous urban area on the Albanian Riviera. The city is beautifully located on the coast and lies only 9 km from the Greek island of Corfu. It will be a short and lovely drive from Borsh to Sarandë. While thousands of tourists frequent Sarandë, we will visit some nicer and quieter places nearby.

First, go on a short walk along the Saranda Promenade, where you will find hundreds of artisans selling their crafts.

Take a short drive to Ksamil with your Albanian tour guide. The Guardian rated it as one of the top beaches in Europe, with a perfect view of the Ionian Sea.

Visit Ksamil, which is famous for its islands. Just a few meters from Ksamil Beach are four small islands covered by Mediterranean vegetation, with a land surface spanning 8.9 ha. The islands can be reached in just two minutes by swimming.

After Ksamil, go on a short cultural tour of Butrint, one of the best ancient cities in Albania, built on a hill between the Ionian Sea and Butrint Lake. The top of the hill is where the acropolis once stood. There is now a castle here, housing an informative museum.

Enjoy the views from the museum's courtyard, which give you a good idea of the city's layout, and see the Vivari Channel connecting Lake Butrint to the Straits of Corfu. There are also community-run stalls inside the gates where you can buy locally produced souvenirs.

Lunch near Butrint National Park.

Stop at Blue Eye, one of the most famous springs in Albania. Situated inside one of the country's greatest parks, the area is called Blue Eye because of its crystal-clear water. It is especially intriguing because the water comes from an underground cave that divers have yet to fully explore. Surrounded by thousands of trees and a wonderful river flowing from the mountain, this is a refreshing place to jump into the cold waters for a relaxing swim.

Visit Gjirokastër, known as the Stone City. Here, everything was built with stone.

See the unique architecture of the old houses in this town, which is also known as the birthplace of Enver Hoxha, the dictator. A short visit to his house is recommended.

Get the chance to enjoy the famous local cuisine of Gjirokastër. Lunch will be served here and will include special Albanian dishes.

On the way back to Tirana, take several stops to view some natural attractions.