This is the exact route the DES Saranda boat tour runs, from 10:00 departure at Saranda harbour to ~15:00 drop-off — 5 hours on the water, 8 stops, with a 2-hour free-time break on Krorëz private beach in the middle. Every stop below has its own video, so you can see it before you book.
Keyword: Turtle Cave Saranda boat tour
Twenty minutes out of Saranda harbour we cut the engine at Turtle Cave — the Riviera's most photographed sea cave. Light shafts through a hole in the ceiling and turns the water underneath fluorescent turquoise. Ten minutes inside for photos and video from the boat before we cruise on.
Full Turtle Cave guide →Keyword: Anchor Cave Saranda boat trip
A short cruise south from Turtle brings us to Anchor Cave, the deeper cavern where the ancient anchor was once discovered. Ten minutes inside for photos and video — the cave is too narrow to swim safely, so we stay on the boat before the first swim at Kepi i Qefalit.
Full Anchor Cave guide →Keyword: Kepi i Qefalit swim stop Saranda
Kepi i Qefalit is the wild limestone cape between the caves and the open Riviera. The sea drops off fast, the water goes from turquoise to deep blue in metres, and there's zero road access — you only reach it by boat from Saranda. Snorkel gear and free life jackets out for the first proper swim of the day.
Full Kepi i Qefalit guide →Keyword: Kakome Bay Saranda
Kakome is the shot on every Albanian Riviera Instagram: a curved bay of white pebble beach, pine-covered hills, and water so clear the boat's shadow paints itself onto the seabed. We anchor in the middle of the bay for another swim and snorkel before the long stop at Krorëz.
Full Kakome Bay guide →Keyword: Krorez private beach Saranda boat tour
Krorëz is our stop. Your €30 ticket already covers free sunbath and free umbrella on the sand — no beach-club rental, no cooler charge. Two hours of free time to swim, snorkel, walk the beach, or eat grilled fish and cold beer at the taverna behind the sand. This is the anchor of every DES Saranda boat tour itinerary.
Full Krorëz private beach guide →Keyword: Gjiri i Ushtarit boat tour
After Krorëz we push back north for the afternoon leg. Gjiri i Ushtarit — the Soldier's Bay — is a Riviera classic: sheer cliffs, deep water right up against the rock face, and rocky ledges you can jump from if the sea's calm. Second swim and snorkel stop of the afternoon.
Full Gjiri i Ushtarit guide →Keyword: Rrojdhe cove boat tour Saranda
Rrojdhe is the stop the cheap harbour boats cut. It's a small cove without a name on Google Maps, deep water on one side, a strip of shingle on the other, and usually just our boat in it. Thirty minutes here for the clearest snorkeling of the day.
Full Rrojdhe guide →Keyword: Secret Beach Saranda boat tour
The final stop of the itinerary — a beach only reachable by boat, hidden behind a headland. Ten minutes for photos and video with drinks out on the deck, then a slow cruise back up the coast past Ksamil's islands and the Lëkurësi castle cliff, docking at Saranda harbour by ~15:00.
Full Secret Beach guide →About five hours on the water — depart Saranda harbour at 10:00, back by roughly 15:00.
Eight: Turtle Cave, Anchor Cave, Kepi i Qefalit swim stop, Kakome Bay, Krorëz private beach, Gjiri i Ushtarit, Rrojdhe cove, and Secret Beach on the way back.
Turtle Cave 10 min, Anchor Cave 10 min, Kepi i Qefalit 30 min, Kakome 20 min, Krorëz private beach 2 hours, Gjiri i Ushtarit 25 min, Rrojdhe 30 min, Secret Beach 10 min.
Only for weather. If wind closes a cave we swap it for an equal-value swim stop the captain picks on the day — the number of stops never drops.
Yes — consistency is the point. Every full-day Saranda boat tour follows this route unless the sea state forces a swap.
The default route is identical. On a private charter you can request more time at any single stop, skip a stop, or add a Ksamil island detour — message us on WhatsApp.
Lunch happens at Krorëz. Grilled fish and drinks from the beach taverna are cash on the day; free sunbath and free umbrella are already in your ticket price.
Free drinks on board, life jacket for every guest, and free umbrella at Krorëz private beach — plus all 8 stops on the itinerary.
Cross-links to every tour route, every stop guide, the top booking questions and the fastest way to reserve a seat.
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.
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.
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.
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.
€30 per person all-inclusive: 8-stop itinerary, private Krorëz beach, life jackets, free drinks and free sunbeds & umbrellas.
Our Sarandë boat tour runs 5 hours, a relaxed morning departure with early-afternoon return. Full itinerary and timing explained.
Departures from Sarandë harbour on Bulevardi Sarandë in the town centre — Bulevardi Hasan Tahsini (near Krahu i Shqiponjës monument), Sarandë.
Book online or via WhatsApp — no deposit required. Pay in cash (€ or Albanian lek) on the day of your Sarandë boat tour.
Kids and non-swimmers welcome: stable boat, life jackets for every guest, and shade under the bimini top while others swim.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Bad-weather cancellations are always free — safety comes first.
Message us on WhatsApp — most guests get a reply and a confirmed seat within minutes.
