Gjirokastra, Blue Eye & Lekurësi Castle Day Tour

This tour covers three of the best things to see in southern Albania in a single day — and it's one of the most popular day trips from Sarandë for good reason. The pace is relaxed, the group is small (max 20 people), and everything is included so you don't need to think about logistics.

The first stop is Gjirokastra — a UNESCO World Heritage city that has been continuously inhabited for over 2,500 years. The old town is built on a steep hillside and defined by massive stone houses with slate roofs, winding limestone streets, and a castle that dominates the skyline. Albania's most celebrated author, Ismail Kadare, was born here and wrote about the city in his novel Chronicle in Stone — you'll understand why the moment you walk through it. You'll have 2 hours to explore, visit the castle if you want (optional, €4 extra), walk the old bazaar, and soak up one of the most atmospheric cities in the Balkans.

The second stop is the Blue Eye — a natural spring where ice-cold water pushes up from an unknown depth through a perfectly circular pool of vivid blue and turquoise. It's surrounded by dense forest, palm trees, and 18 other natural springs, all feeding into the Bistrica River. You'll have 90 minutes here — enough time to walk the trail, get close to the spring, and decide whether you're brave enough for a swim.

The last stop before heading back is Lekurësi Castle — a hilltop Ottoman fortress with one of the best views in the area over Sarandë, the Ionian Sea, and the Ksamil Islands. Entry is free and you'll have 30 minutes to walk the walls and take it all in. The tour runs in an air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from Sarandë, Ksamil, or the port. Ages 0–79 welcome. Not suitable for wheelchair users.