Saranda:Lekursi Castle, Blue Eye, Gjirokaster & More Tour
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Saranda, Albania
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Overview
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicleNew Brad Luxury Mercedes Vito Tourer fully insured - In return drop off at your hotel
- Professional driver-guide
- Visit to Gjirokaster, Blue Eye, Lekuresi Castle, Mesopotam Monastery, Ottoman Bridge, Bunkers.
- Food
- Blue Eye ticket€0.50 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Titania Hotel, SarandeRruga Jonianet 15, Saranda, Albania
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.8:50 am
Itinerary
1
Lëkurësi Castle
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Monastery of Saint Michael
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
The Blue Eye
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
4
Kordhoce
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Gjirokaster
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 29 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
An excellent day trip yesterday, Lekursi castle with a great view on Saranda, the charming old town Gjirokaster with its colorful, picturesque bazar, tasty traditional food and historic castel, the fascinating Blue Eye park. A special thank you to our wonderful tourguide Ilir, who made the trip even more enjoyable, integrated the group from the very begining, attentive, charismatic, passionate, friendly , he shared interesting stories and useful info for our itinerary and to dos in Albania. Confortable minivans, AC. Highly recommended!
We had an excellent tour, and Ilir was absolutely wonderful! He was incredibly dedicated, attentive, patient, and very knowledgeable. He explained everything clearly and gave us great tips about places to visit, things to do, and areas we could enjoy.
He was always checking on us and making sure we were comfortable. Every time we got off the vehicle, he reminded us that if we needed anything at all, we could contact him
I truly enjoyed the tour and really appreciated Irvi’s professionalism, kindness, and attention to detail. I highly recommend him and would definitely choose his tour again!
The tour was very good. But the best thing , honestly was our guide ilir. He was the best . Very friendly , fun and happy . Thank you team
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fantastic experience – our guide made the trip!
We absolutely loved this experience. Our guide was genuinely the highlight – incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about Albania. It was so much more than simply being driven from place to place; he gave us a real insight into Albanian history, culture and everyday life, and we came away feeling like we understood the country so much better.
He was brilliant company throughout and made the whole experience interesting, relaxed and enjoyable. Having such a knowledgeable local guide added so much to our trip and was one of the highlights of our time in Albania.
Would absolutely recommend – especially if you want to see the country while also really learning about it. Thank you for such a memorable experience!
Great tour guide and great value for the price! Very informative and nice, Ilir didnt just drive us around but explained and made sure everyone felt heard and welcomed
Great experience with this group and Ilir. He grave a great tour, knowledgeable and interesting. The tour was well paced with a good amount of time at each stop to explore on your own after the tour information.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I highly recommend this day tour to anyone visiting South Albania! It was an amazing experience, taking us to some of the country’s most beautiful and historic destinations, including the breathtaking Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), the magnificent Lëkurësi Castle, the UNESCO-listed city of Gjirokastër, the peaceful St. Michael’s Monastery, and the picturesque Ottoman Bridge.
Every stop had something unique to offer. The crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Blue Eye were absolutely mesmerizing, while the magnificent panoramic views from Lëkurësi Castle overlooking Sarandë, the Ionian Sea, and Corfu were simply unforgettable. Gjirokastër captivated us with its rich history, well-preserved Ottoman architecture, and charming cobblestone streets. The peaceful atmosphere at St. Michael’s Monastery and the historic Ottoman Bridge added even more depth and beauty to the journey.
The itinerary was very well planned, giving us enough time to enjoy each destination without feeling rushed.
A special thanks to our wonderful tour guide, Ilir (whose name means “freedom” in Albanian). He was friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing the history, culture, and interesting stories behind every place we visited. His explanations made the trip even more enjoyable and meaningful.
Although it was a large group, everything was very well organized. We were divided into four comfortable vehicles, making the journey relaxing and enjoyable. Our driver was also incredibly kind, professional, and accommodating. As a thoughtful gesture, he even dropped us off near our hotel after the tour, which we truly appreciated.
Overall, this was an unforgettable experience with spectacular scenery, fascinating history, excellent organization, and outstanding service. If you’re looking for a full-day adventure that showcases the natural beauty, magnificent viewpoints, and cultural heritage of southern Albania, this tour is definitely worth booking!
A brilliantly well organised trip. You see so much in a day, but it isn't rushed. The guide Ilir was a great guy.
Great trip! Our guide was funny and informative. The stops were beautiful, and we had such a great day. Highly recommend.
And absolutely amazing a day, our best day so far in Albania. Our guide Ilir was very knowledgeable, funny and helpful. He made our day so bright and beautiful. We had the best time and would highly recommend this tour to everyone!
Ilir was also very helpful for anything you wanted or might need outside the tour. He sent us resources even after the tour to help us with the rest of our trip. 100/10 experience. Thank you Ilir 🙏
We had an absolutely wonderful holiday in Saranda. This tour to the Blue Eye and Gjirokaster was well organized with lots of interesting information about every stop and it's history. The guide Ilir is very friendly, helpful and serviceminded. He does his best to make the tour enjoyable and unforgettable. Nice cars, driven by experienced drivers. We would highly recommend this tour to everyone travelling to Saranda, you will not be disappointed!
Thank you Ilir for the great experience! 🙏
This was a packed day visiting lots of sites, for views, history, nature and cultural towns. What makes this tour special is the guide, Ilir, who has a great manner, personality and passion for his country.
This is a packed day, ticking off the best sights so be prepared for a long day, bring water, hat and sunglasses.
We opted to walk to and from the blue eye which took 20 mins each way. The path is paved but there is little shade so can be tiring in the heat. Alternatively you could take the tourist train both ways (300 Lek each way).
Similarly, you can do as much or as little walking around Gjirokaster as you want. It is hilly and the castle is at the top! It costs 400 Lek each for the castle, we spent about 1hr there and thought it was worth it.
Amazing day trip with our knowledgeable guide Ilir. The guide told us about Albania in a very passionate way. He explained everything along the way and on the stops we made in an interesting way. Enough time on each stop to walk around. The minivan was comfortable and it was easy to find one of the pickup points. On the way back he dropped us off at our accommodations. The best tour if you wish to see the Blue Eye, Gjirokaster and other places around Saranda I recommend everyone to make this tour! Thank you Ilir
This a perfect tour to discover Albania in a comfortable way. Luxury mini vand with aircondition and an interested and knowledgeable English speaking Albanian guide. Thank you Ilir for a day in paradise!
A very warm man who was happy to share what his country offers with tourists. He is able to blend historic, facts and current affairs, even when some are heavy. His restaurant recommendation in Gjirocastër was 10/10. Make sure you try "oshaf" (if you not are allergic to dairy, nuts or figs). It was delicious!!!
Faleminderit nga zembra, Ilir!
Best tour we have ever done in Albania so far because the tour guide (Ilir) was excellent! He is so knowledgeable about the places, gave us great food recommendations, and is fun to be around. I would definitely recommend this tour!
We had a wonderful day with Ilir, who drove us around while sharing the history of the country and his personal experiences. What made the tour truly special was how kind, patient, and caring he was throughout the day. He really put effort into making everyone feel comfortable and looked after, and every question was answered with warmth and enthusiasm.
The vans were also spacious and comfortable. Highly recommend!
I had a great experience on this tour. Everything was well organized and ran smoothly from start to finish. The guide was friendly, professional, and shared a lot of interesting information. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and felt well taken care of throughout the whole trip. I would definitely recommend this tour and would book again!
This is a must do trip in Albania with lots of sites to explore and information about the country
Driving on your own is very difficult and dangerous sometimes based on the infrastructure and the way the locals drive so using this company makes everything so much easier and relaxed
They are so professional and friendly ready to help you with anything you need even after the tour is finished which was very helpful for me to find the way around and eat decent food in the restaurants recommended by this company
I really appreciate what they did for me and I wish them all the best for the future
100% recommended
Trip organisers were extremely well informed and attentive to all travellers who travelled and participated in the trip.
They were able to explain the fascinating history of Albania, its monuments we saw, had great tips on where to eat and how to click photographs as well
The organisers are new to Viator which explains why there are a few reviews right now, but rest assured they were extremely professional.
I’m someone who normally doesn’t do tours or post reviews but I decided to do a tour here with Ilir and I’m so glad I did. It was a great value and he is a great and passionate tour operator who made sure that everyone had a good time. Would recommend.
I’m the first one to leave the review for this trip on Viator!
The day was great, our driver & guide is so friendly and fun to introduce many things on every viewing spots and the view of Blue Eye and Gjirokaster are gorgeous!
Definitely I will recommend this trip to my Chinese friends and actually I already did!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hello my good friend, It was pleasure to meet you. You are the first tourist booked me on Viator. I will always remember because people like you make me better. All the best to you.
Greetings from Saranda 🙏
Great tour guide, very good and relaxed atmosphere, great price-performance ratio. Good brief impression of Albania as a country. Clear recommendation.😊
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This experience includes several different parts of different character and gives a good insight into Albania's nature and history. English speaking guide who cares about the participants, comfortable minibuses with air conditioning. Highly recommended!
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Likely to Sell Out
From $36.65
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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