Blue Eye, Ksamil, Butrint & Lekursi Castle Day Trip from Saranda

Four stops in one afternoon: from a spring to ruins to a castle overlooking the sea.

A small group day trip from Saranda combines four of southern Albania's main attractions (Lekursi Castle, the Blue Eye spring, Butrint National Park and Ksamil's coastline) in a single six-hour loop with a live guide in English or German, private transport, air-conditioned vehicle and entry to the Blue Eye included. The pace is relaxed and the group stays small, so you spend real time at each stop instead of rushing through. Entrance to Butrint National Park is an optional add-on at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore southern Albania highlights

• Visit Lekursi Castle for views
• Discover the Blue Eye natural spring
• Walk through Butrint National Park ruins
• Relax and enjoy Ksamil coastline

The experience

You start with pickup from your hotel in Saranda and head up to Lekursi Castle first, a hilltop fortress with views across the town, the sea and the Greek island of Corfu. It's a natural opening to the day: a place to settle in, take photos and get your bearings before moving on. From there the tour drops down to the Blue Eye, one of southern Albania's most photographed natural sites: a spring-fed pool so clear and intensely blue that it looks unreal. You walk around the site at your own pace, take as many photos as you want, and soak in the quiet of the place.

The route then moves to Butrint National Park, where a guide walks you through the ruins (the theater, the basilica, the city walls), and explains what you're standing in front of. This is one of Albania's most significant historical sites, layered with Greek, Roman and Venetian history. After Butrint, the tour ends at Ksamil, a small coastal village with clear water and views of tiny islands just offshore. You have time to relax here, swim if you want, or simply sit by the sea before heading back to Saranda. The whole day runs six hours, which gives each stop real breathing room instead of the usual fifteen-minute dash.

Transport is private and air-conditioned, with WiFi on board. Your guide speaks English or German and stays with the group throughout. Entry to the Blue Eye is included. Entry to Butrint is optional and added at checkout if you want it.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport from your Saranda hotel.
• a live guide in English or German.
• WiFi on board.
• entry to the Blue Eye spring.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 11.46

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Joel Travel

Is this one for you?Small group tours work best if you want to move at a comfortable pace and actually talk to your guide instead of being herded through stops. This one keeps numbers low so the group doesn't feel crowded, and the six-hour span means you're not racing between four very different places: a spring, ruins, a castle and a beach all deserve time to breathe.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Lekursi Castle and why start the day there?

Lekursi Castle sits on a hill directly above Saranda and gives you panoramic views of the town, the sea and Corfu island. It's a natural first stop: high enough to see the landscape you're about to explore, and a good place to take photos and adjust to the pace of the day.

Can I swim at the Blue Eye or Ksamil?

The Blue Eye is a natural spring you walk around and photograph. Swimming is not the focus there. Ksamil, the final stop, has a beach and clear water where you can swim if you want to, and the tour leaves time for that if you choose it.

What do I see at Butrint National Park?

Butrint holds the ruins of an ancient city with a theater, basilica and defensive walls built across Greek, Roman and Venetian periods. Your guide walks you through the site and explains what each structure was, so you understand what you're looking at instead of just wandering.

Is the entrance fee to Butrint included in the tour price?

Entry to the Blue Eye is included, but entry to Butrint National Park is optional and you choose it at checkout. If you add it, the fee is separate from the tour price.

How much time do I spend at each stop?

The tour is designed around a relaxed pace with real time at each site instead of quick photo stops. Lekursi Castle, the Blue Eye, Butrint and Ksamil each get meaningful time to explore and enjoy, which is why the full day runs six hours.