Go TourAlbaniaBook Now

Ksamil 5 Islands Boat Trip

5.063 Google reviewsDeparts from Ksamil

From the sand at Ksamil you can see three islands and swim to the nearest one. There are more around the headland, and the only way to reach them is a boat. This is a four-hour circuit of the lot, with the engine off and the ladder down for most of it.

Itinerary

For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.

  1. 09:30

    Board at Ksamil

    Meet at the jetty. Life jackets, snorkels fitted, and out past the near islands within ten minutes.

  2. 10:00

    The Twin Islands

    Anchor off the pair closest to shore. First swim, and the clearest water of the morning before any wind gets up.

  3. 11:00

    South towards the Butrint channel

    Along the coast past the bays with no road, with a stop wherever the skipper likes the look of the water.

  4. 12:00

    The outer islands

    Around the far group. Longest stop of the trip: snorkel, swim, or sit on the bow.

  5. 13:15

    Back to Ksamil

    Alongside by about 13:30, with the afternoon on the beach ahead of you.

Experience & Highlights

  • The Twin Islands and the outer Ksamil group
  • Four or five swim and snorkel stops
  • Water clear enough to see the bottom from the deck
  • Small boat, small group, no sound system
  • Free drinks and snorkelling gear on board

Full Description

The route runs south past the Twin Islands towards the Butrint channel and back north around the outer group, stopping wherever the water is clearest that day. Snorkels are on board. The seabed here is pale sand and rock rather than weed, so visibility is unusually good and you can see straight down over the side.

It is a small boat and a small group, which matters here, because the alternative in Ksamil is a hundred-seat party catamaran with a sound system. If that is what you want, we can point you at one.

What's included

  • Four-hour boat trip with skipper and guide
  • Snorkelling masks and life jackets
  • Soft drinks and water on board
  • Fresh fruit

Not included

  • Hotel pickup (the jetty is central in Ksamil)
  • Lunch
  • Alcoholic drinks

Good to know

  • Maximum twelve passengers. This is a small boat, not a party catamaran.
  • Runs May through October, twice daily in July and August at 09:30 and 14:30.
  • Cancelled in rough seas, with a full refund or a transfer to another day, your choice.
  • There is shade over part of the deck but not all of it. Bring a hat and sunscreen.

Good questions, honest answers

Can you swim to the Ksamil islands from the beach?

To the nearest one, yes, it is about 100 metres and plenty of people do it. The outer islands and the bays towards the Butrint channel are too far and there is boat traffic in between, which is what this trip is for.

Is the water clear enough for snorkelling at Ksamil?

Unusually so. The seabed is pale sand and rock rather than weed, so you get good visibility even on a busy day. Masks are on board and the skipper picks the stops based on where the water is clearest that morning.

How many people are on the boat?

Twelve at most. Ksamil has a lot of large catamarans with music and bars, and this is deliberately not one of them. If you want that kind of day we will happily tell you where to find it.

Plan the rest of your trip

You might also like

Kakome, Krorëz & Turtle Cave Boat TourBoat Tour

Departs from Saranda port

Kakome, Krorëz & Turtle Cave Boat Tour

Three places instead of seven, on a boat that takes fourteen people. Longer in the water, shorter on the engine, and back in time for a late lunch ashore.

Half day
From€32
Saranda Luxury Yacht Tour: Secret BaysBoat Tour

Departs from Saranda marina

Saranda Luxury Yacht Tour: Secret Bays

The same coast as the group boats, on a yacht with a sun deck, a swim platform and sixteen people instead of sixty. Lunch and drinks on board.

Full day
From€59
Gjirokastër & Blue Eye Spring Day TripDay Trip

Day trip from Saranda or Ksamil

Gjirokastër & Blue Eye Spring Day Trip

Two southern icons in one day: the stone city of Gjirokastër with its hilltop fortress, and the Blue Eye, a 50-metre-deep spring of vivid blue water.

Full day
From€42

€25 / person

5.0 (63)

Check Availability
Chat with us