Ksamil Islands & Saranda Beach Tour

The Albanian Riviera between Saranda and Ksamil is sometimes called the Maldives of Europe — a description that overstates the case but captures something real about the colour of the water in the small bays north of the Greek border, where shallow sandy bottoms turn the sea pale turquoise even at midday. This day tour combines the southernmost beaches at Ksamil with a walking tour of Saranda's seafront and old harbour. The morning is spent on the Ksamil islets — three uninhabited rocks 100 to 200 metres offshore, reachable on rented kayaks or paddleboards from the main beach. The water inside the gap between the islets is sheltered enough for swimming children and clear enough that snorkelling reveals seagrass meadows and small reef fish without diving deep. The middle of the day moves to a lunch stop at a beachside taverna for the local catch — usually grilled sea bream or pasta with mussels — and then continues to Saranda's curving promenade. The afternoon walk passes the synagogue ruins, a fifth-century Jewish prayer house with surviving floor mosaics, before ending at the small fortified Ottoman-era square in the upper town. Bring swimwear, reef shoes for rocky approaches, and a refillable water bottle; many beach restaurants offer free refills with a meal. The high season runs late June through early September; May, June, and September are noticeably quieter.