Albania · Best Beaches

The best beaches in Albania — and the one boat tour that covers them all.

Albania's best beaches are almost all on the Ionian Riviera between Sarandë and the Greek border — turquoise water, limestone cliffs, and coves the road doesn't reach. This is our shortlist, ranked by the people who cruise past them every day. Half are only reachable by boat, which is why our full-day tour from Sarandë covers them in a single relaxed day.

Book on WhatsApp · €30 Sarandë boat tours

1 · Krorëz Beach — the private lunch stop

A crescent of pale pebbles wedged between two cliffs south of Sarandë. Deep turquoise water, no road access, and the reason DES built our own private beach setup here — sunbeds and umbrellas ready when the boat pulls in. It's the lunch stop on every full-day tour and, for most guests, the highlight of the day.

2 · Kakome Bay — the long swim

A wide, sheltered horseshoe bay with some of the clearest water on the Riviera. Gentle drop-off, easy snorkeling, and 30-40 minutes of proper swim time on the tour. Reachable by road but the beach club is expensive and busy; from the boat you swim off the back into empty water.

3 · Ksamil islands & beaches

The four Ksamil islets and their shallow turquoise channel are Albania's most photographed spot. Beaches like Pasqyra, Bora Bora and Pulëbardha are pretty but crowded and sunbed-only in July/August. On the boat tour you cruise the channel, swim between the islands, and skip the beach-club queue entirely. Full guide on the /ksamil-beaches page.

4 · Secret Beach (Plazhi i Fshehtë)

A tiny cliff-locked cove near Lukovë that lives up to the name — no road, no signs, no crowd. Water so clear the boat casts a shadow on the sand five metres down. A quick photo-and-swim stop on the tour.

5 · Gjipe Beach

A wilder pebble beach further north where the Gjipe Canyon meets the sea. Reachable by boat or a 30-min hike from the road. Not on the standard DES tour but bookable as a private charter — ask us.

6 · Dhërmi & Drymades

Long stretches of white pebbles on the northern Riviera. More developed, easier to reach, and beautiful — but a 90-minute drive from Sarandë. Best combined with a night up the coast.

7 · Himara beaches (Livadhi, Filikuri)

Livadhi is family-friendly and easy to reach; Filikuri is a hidden cliff-locked cove reachable only by boat — the sort of beach we swing by on private charters.

8 · Ksamil-to-Sarandë stops most people miss

Turtle Cave, Anchor Cave and Kepi i Qefalit aren't beaches — they're sea caves and snorkel reefs — but they're on the same day as Krorëz and Ksamil. This is what makes the boat tour good value: you get the beaches AND the coves in one trip.

See them all in one day · €30 all-in

Our full-day boat tour from Sarandë harbour hits Turtle Cave, Anchor Cave, Kepi i Qefalit, Kakome Bay, Krorëz beach for lunch, and passes the Ksamil islands on the way home. €30 per person covers the boat, English-speaking local captain, snorkel gear, life jackets, unlimited drinks on board, and sunbeds and umbrellas at Krorëz. WhatsApp booking, no deposit, pay cash on the day.

What's included

✓Krorëz — private beach lunch stop
✓Kakome Bay — long swim & snorkel
✓All 4 Ksamil islands from the water
✓Secret Beach — hidden cliff cove
✓Turtle Cave & Anchor Cave included
✓Sunbeds, umbrellas & drinks on us
✓€30 per person all-in
✓WhatsApp booking · no deposit

Frequently asked

What is the best beach in Albania?

For most travellers who've done the coast: Krorëz Beach, south of Sarandë. Turquoise water, no road access, and small enough to feel private. It's the lunch stop on our full-day boat tour and the most-mentioned beach in our reviews.

Where are the best beaches in Albania?

On the Ionian Riviera — the strip of coast between Vlorë and the Greek border. The southern half (Sarandë → Ksamil → Krorëz) has the clearest water and the most cliff-locked coves; the northern half (Dhërmi, Himara) has longer, more developed pebble beaches.

Are the best Albanian beaches reachable by car?

Some are (Ksamil, Livadhi, Drymades). The really special ones — Krorëz, Secret Beach, Kakome from the water — either have no road or the road ends at a paid beach club. A boat tour is the only way to see them in one day.

Which Albanian beach has the clearest water?

Ksamil and Krorëz are usually cited as the clearest. On calm days the visibility in both is 10-15 metres. Secret Beach can match them but is harder to reach.

Is Albania better than Greece for beaches?

Different, not better. Albania's Riviera has similar water quality and scenery to the Ionian Greek islands with a fraction of the crowds and prices. Fewer white-sand beaches, more turquoise pebble coves.

When is the best time to visit Albanian beaches?

Late June and September. Warm sea (24-26°C), long days, and none of the July-August crush. May and October are quieter but the sea is cooler for long swims.

How do I book the DES boat tour to the best Albanian beaches?

Message DES Boat Tours on WhatsApp with your date and group size. €30 per person all-in, no deposit, free cancellation up to 24h before. Departs Sarandë harbour at 10:00am, back around 3:00pm.

Related tours, stops and booking answers

Every DES Boat Tour from Sarandë shares the same all-inclusive €30 price and the same friendly captain — the differences are the angle and the stops. Pick a related tour, dive into a stop guide or read the top booking questions.

Related tours

Other Sarandë boat tours

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Related stops

Neighbouring stops on the route

See the full 8-stop itinerary →

Answers before you book

Everything about boat tours in Sarandë & the Albanian Riviera

Sarandë boat tours

The highest-rated Sarandë boat tour on the Albanian coast

Looking for the best boat tour in Sarandë or searching Google for Saranda boat tours? DES Boat Tours departs daily from Sarandë harbour and covers the wildest stretch of the Ionian coast, sea caves, hidden coves, and our own private beach at Krorëz. Small groups, expert local captain, everything included for €30.

Guests consistently rate us the #1 boat trip in Sarandë because we skip the crowded ferry routes and take you to spots most operators don't know about, including Secret Beach, only reachable by boat.

Sarandë boat tours →Book a Sarandë boat tour →

Albania boat tours

Why the Albanian Riviera beats Croatia, Greece & Ksamil ferries

The Albanian Riviera is the last unspoiled coastline in the Mediterranean. Water clarity rivals the Maldives, prices are a fraction of Croatia or Greece, and the coves stay quiet even in high season. DES Boat Tours is proudly local, an Albania boat tour run by Sarandë captains who grew up on these waters.

Compared to a packed Ksamil ferry, you get a small-group experience, real free time at Kakome Bay and Gjiri i Ushtarit, and a captain who actually pauses for photos.

About DES Boat Tours →See Riviera photos & videos →

Private boat itinerary

Private boat tours & custom itineraries from Sarandë

Prefer a private boat tour in Sarandë? We run private charters for families, couples and small groups, same 8 stops or a fully custom itinerary. Sunset cruises, wedding proposals, half-day snorkeling loops, or a Ksamil detour on request.

Every private itinerary still includes free drinks on board, life jackets, snorkeling gear, and access to Krorëz private beach with reserved sunbeds and umbrellas.

Request a private charter →Private tour FAQ →

Best 5-star guides

Local captains rated 5★ by travellers from 20+ countries

DES Boat Tours is run by 5-star rated local guides based in Sarandë. Every captain grew up on the Ionian, speaks English fluently, and knows every cove, cave and reef between Sarandë and the Greek border by name. That's why we consistently rank as the top-rated boat tour guide in Albania.

Read guest reviews on the home page, browse the full Riviera itinerary, or send a message on WhatsApp, we usually reply within minutes.

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