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Sazan Island & Karaburun Speedboat Tour from Durrës

Departing from Vlora instead? See the shorter half-day version →

5.063 Google reviewsHotel pickup in Durrës & Golem

This is the long version of the best boat day in Albania, run all the way from Durrës so you don't have to move hotels to get it. We collect you in the morning from Durrës or Golem, drive down the coast to Vlora, and swap the van for a speedboat into the Ionian.

Itinerary

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

  1. 1 hour

    Pickup in Durrës

    We collect you from your hotel in Durrës or Golem and head south by bus along the coast road.

  2. 20 minutes

    Coffee stop

    A short break at a local bar to stretch your legs and get a coffee before the last leg to Vlora.

  3. 30 minutes

    On to Vlora Port

    The final stretch of the drive, ending at the port where the speedboat is waiting.

  4. 1 hour

    Admiral beach, Sazan Island

    Speedboat across the bay to Albania's largest island, once a restricted military zone. Free time to swim or walk the remains of the old base.

  5. 15 minutes

    Haxhi Ali Cave

    We follow the Karaburun cliffs and take the boat inside the great sea cave, named after the pirate who sheltered here in the 17th century.

  6. 3 hours

    Karaburun Peninsula

    The long stop of the day. Swim in clear water, sunbathe on the pebbles, or have lunch at a seaside restaurant before the boat turns back to Vlora.

  7. 1.5 hours

    Return to Durrës

    Bus back up the coast, with hotel drop-off in Durrës and Golem in the evening.

Experience & Highlights

  • Visit Sazan Island and explore its hidden Cold War history
  • Enter the legendary Haxhi Ali Cave by speedboat
  • Relax and swim at the crystal-clear beaches of Karaburun
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Durrës and Golem
  • Guided in English and Albanian all day

Full Description

The drive south takes about an hour and a half with a coffee stop on the way, and your guide fills it in with the history of the coast you're crossing. At Vlora Port you board the speedboat and head straight out across the bay.

First stop is Sazan, Albania's largest island and a closed military zone for most of the last century. There's free time to swim off Admiral beach or walk up through what's left of the base while the guide explains its Cold War life. From there we run along the cliffs of the Karaburun Peninsula to the Haxhi Ali Cave and take the boat inside, where the story of the 17th-century pirate who used it belongs.

The last and longest stop is Karaburun itself: three hours to swim in clear water, lie on the pebbles or eat lunch at a beach restaurant. Late afternoon we cruise back to Vlora and drive north, dropping you at your hotel in the evening.

What's included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off from Durrës and Golem
  • Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
  • Speedboat trip to Sazan Island, Karaburun Peninsula and Haxhi Ali Cave
  • Professional English-speaking tour guide
  • Boat entrance to Haxhi Ali Cave
  • Free time at Sazan Island and Karaburun Beach
  • Full-day organised and supervised tour

Not included

  • Food and drinks
  • Lunch at Karaburun Beach
  • Personal expenses
  • Snorkelling equipment

Good to know

  • Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a sun hat and flip-flops; there's plenty of swimming and sun exposure during the day.
  • Comfortable shoes are recommended for the uneven, rocky ground at Karaburun and on Sazan.
  • Food and drinks aren't included. Bring your own or buy lunch at Karaburun Beach.
  • The tour is weather-dependent. If the sea turns or we cancel for any reason, you get a full refund.
  • The itinerary may be adjusted or the tour rescheduled for weather or safety reasons.
  • Not recommended for travellers with serious mobility issues, or for guests over 70.
  • Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
  • Please be at the pickup point at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
  • Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on the tour.
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now, pay later.

Good questions, honest answers

Can you visit Sazan Island and Karaburun from Durrës in one day?

Yes, and this trip is built for exactly that. It's about a 1.5-hour drive each way between Durrës and Vlora Port, where the speedboat leaves from, so the day runs around nine hours door to door. You still get the full boat programme: Sazan, the Haxhi Ali Cave and roughly three hours at Karaburun.

Can you go inside the Haxhi Ali Cave?

You go in by boat. The cave mouth on the Karaburun cliffs is big enough for the speedboat to enter, so you sail into it rather than swim. It's named after a 17th-century pirate said to have hidden here, and the guide tells the story on the way in.

Is lunch included on the Sazan and Karaburun tour?

No. Food and drinks aren't included, and there's a long stop at Karaburun where you can either eat at a seaside restaurant or bring your own. There's also a coffee break on the drive down, but that's on you as well.

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