Grama Bay & Karaburun Marine Park tour from Vlore: 8 stops

Eight bays and caves along the Karaburun coast in one day

A full-day guided tour from Vlore explores the backside of Karaburun Marine Park, stopping at eight destinations along the coast including caves, bays and military ruins. The route includes snorkeling equipment, meals, drinks and snacks. A live guide leads in English or Italian, and the itinerary builds time at each stop so you move at a pace that lets the views settle in.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour to Grama Bay

• Visit large cave and snorkel
• Eat food at Dafina Bay and Cave
• Swim and explore military buildings
• Explore hidden cave in canyon
• Swim, eat fruits, and explore
• Explore cave and socialize with drinks
• Hike and relax at famous bay

The experience

The tour departs Vlore and traces the southern Albanian coast, moving through Karaburun Marine Park one bay at a time. The first stop is one of Europe's largest sea caves, where the water runs clear enough to snorkel and the guide brings drinks to the water's edge. From there the route moves to Dafina Bay and its matching cave, where a meal breaks the morning. Each subsequent stop (a military bay with ruins to explore, a hidden canyon with its own cave, a fruit-growing settlement, a social cove) gives you time to swim, snorkel or simply sit with the water and the rock. The guide controls the pace. You decide how long to stay in the water or on the rocks.

Grama Bay, the final and longest stop, sits at the end of the day. It holds ancient writings carved into the rock and a reputation as the most famous bay in the south. A restaurant there serves traditional Albanian food. The return journey to Vlore runs through the deep-orange sunset, and the guide watches for dolphins in the deeper water. Travel time between stops is built into the eight-hour total, so the day moves without rushing.

The tour includes snorkeling gear, all food and non-alcoholic drinks, plus beer and wine at stops along the way. A live guide in English or Italian narrates the history and points out the caves, ruins and rock formations as you approach them. Children from age two are welcome on the boat.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment for all passengers.
• bottled water and soda at each stop.
• snacks throughout the day.
• full lunch at the restaurant in Grama Bay.
• beer and wine at designated stops.
• a live guide in English or Italian.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (8 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 7 years)

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Trips2Joy

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to visit eight separate coves and caves in one day with a guide who explains the geology and history at each stop. You'll cover far more ground than swimming from a single beach.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 7 years).

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 exactly is Grama Bay and why does the tour spend so much time there?

Grama Bay is the most famous bay in southern Albania, known for its ancient rock writings and the sheer beauty of the coastline. The tour saves it for the final stop and gives you an extended period there so you can hike to a higher vantage point, swim, explore the rocks at your own pace, or simply rest before the return journey.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear or is it provided?

Snorkeling equipment is included in the tour. The guide brings masks, fins and snorkels for all passengers, so you only need to bring a swimsuit and a towel.

How much time do you actually spend in the water versus traveling between stops?

The eight-hour duration includes all travel time between the eight destinations. At each stop you have time to swim, snorkel and explore. The guide does not rush you through, though the exact time at each bay depends on the group's pace and interests.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food does the restaurant serve?

Yes, lunch is included at a restaurant in Grama Bay that serves traditional Albanian food. Snacks and drinks are provided at other stops along the way, and both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are part of the tour.

What is there to see and do at the military bay mentioned in the itinerary?

One of the stops is a bay that held military significance in the past. Military buildings and ruins still stand nearby. You can explore the structures, swim in the bay and snorkel in the clear water while the guide explains the site's history.

Will we actually see dolphins on the way back to Vlore?

The tour notes that dolphins may appear in the deeper water during the return journey, particularly in the deep-orange sunset light. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the guide watches for them and will point them out if they appear.