From Tirana/Durres/Golem: Saranda, Ksamil and Blue Eye Day Trip
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Tirana, Albania
- 12 to 15 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Overview
What's Included
- Pick up and drop-off from Tirana City / Durres / Golem
- Air Conditioned transportation to the destination locations
- English-speaking guide throughout the entire tour
- Digital tour booklet in your selected language
- Road fees
- Sunbeds
- Boat trip to Ksamil islands
- Train to the Blue Eye
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
The tour guide will send the photo of the Van and also the live location to make it easier to see when the tour guide is closer to your location
Itinerary
1
Tirana
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Ksamil Beach
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Sarande
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
The Blue Eye
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Tirana (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Kindly note that this tour is not suitable for children under 4 years old
- Not recommended for travelers with knee problems.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 52 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 269 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Rattana_G, Jul 2026
Trip was long but worth it. Driver did amazing job, and the guide was awesome, very impressive that he remembered everyone names from the first meet and greet. Enough and plenty of times for all 3 locations to enjoy. Ksamil is very beautiful. This tour gave highlights to area I probably won’t go on my own.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're glad you enjoyed the tour, the beautiful locations, and the care from our guide and driver. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again for more Albanian adventures! 😊
Francisco_N, Jul 2026
If you enjoy the beach, then this tour is a perfect day trip from Tirana. While it was a long day, the coach bus had great ac, and we
made stops along the way for bathroom breaks. Paola was a terrific guide showing us around the various stops we made on this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your kind review! We're glad you enjoyed the beach day trip and appreciated the comfortable transportation and Paola's guidance. We'll share your kind words with her! 😊
Onyi_O, Jun 2026
The day started off ok... The bus arrived 10 minutes late but communication was good. Unfortunately, one of the stops (Gjirokaster) was removed from the itinerary less than 24 hours before the trip, which was disappointing. The experience started to go down hill when 2 families were left behind at Blue Eye Mountain as they were not at the meeting point on time. There was no previous warning that this could happen; this affected the vibe for me. Annoyingly, the bus was late to pick us up at other stops, and all we could do was wait. No apologies were made for this.
Saranda was beautiful but unfortunately, we were given the least time here (40 mins). Ksamil beach was disappointing - long queue to get photo with hand of Ksamil, group boat tours were not available, the whole beach area was occupied so one couldn't get a spot to stay without hiring a sunbed, and the water was not clean. Unfortunately, we were given the most time here (2hrs 30mins).
The experience gave me mixed feelings...the areas visited were lovely and the guide was knowledge about the history but I didn't feel the hours spent on the travel were worth it. It would have been better if we had more time at Saranda and if our tour guide was kinder.
Tushar_P, Jun 2026
If you have just a day and no access to a car then this tour is for you. But be prepared for a very long day. We were picked up outside our hotel at 6 am and only reached back by 11.30 pm. The bus is very comfortable and Denis was a great guide who provided a lot of information on the way of each town and its history.
There are two comfort stops on the way for 20 mins each to grab some food or go to the toilets. By the time we reached Ksamil it was noon. We had 2.5 hours at a beach after which we head to Sarande for a 45 mins walk on the promenade. Quite frankly this step could be skipped with more time provided at Ksamil or at Blue Eye. After Sarande we were driven to Blue Eye where 1 hour 50 mins were provided.
We left Blue Eye just after 6 and with a brief stop for dinner / refreshments we reached Tirana back just before midnight.
All in all a good way to see the other sights within Albania for the price.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your detailed feedback 😊 We're glad you enjoyed the tour with Denis and appreciated the chance to see many highlights of Albania in one day. We also value your suggestions regarding the itinerary and timing, and we will take them into consideration to improve the experience for future guests.
Suzette_S, Jun 2026
I have tried to contact the company but failed . I need to get back the money I paid for the trip.
I booked this trip , money paid and went through and taken from my account . My family waited for more than 2 hours to contact me , the receptionist kindly helped me to contact the tour provider but failed , no answer form the contact number provided . How can I get the refund £266.11??
Is there any contact number I can speak to the tour company.
UK contact number? We are about to go back to UK.
anjila_s, Jun 2026
The tour was very well organised and communication was spot on through out the tour. We had Denis as our guide and he was great with information, super friendly and funny. There was a change to the tour and we went to Blue Eye instead of Sarande. Which for us was actually great as I wanted to see Blue Eye. It is a long day and a lot of travelling on the coach but it’s unavoidable from Tirana to South anyway! I would say the stop at Gjirokaster should be shorter only need 30mins there and give people more time at Ksamil beach.
Remember to be on time or at your pick up point 10mins before as the tour doesn’t wait for late customers!
Gracious_L, Jun 2026
Very bad experience with this tour, but shout out to the Viator team 🫶 for investigating and providing a full refund.
I specifically booked this tour because pickup from my accommodation was included. The pickup arrangement was changed at short notice, forcing me to pay for transportation to an alternative location. After arriving at the instructed pickup point, I was still refused participation in the tour and told to request a refund.
My sister and I were left stranded in an unfamiliar area despite following the instructions provided. The entire experience was stressful, disappointing, and far below what was advertised.
Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this tour operator
Leslie_W, Jun 2026
Guide was excellent communicator. Came to my aid immediately when I got lost via the WhatsApp group.
Very helpful, informative and kind.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind feedback 😊 We’re glad the guide was able to assist you and that you enjoyed the experience!
bpook1960, Jun 2026
The trip was really great. We enjoyed our day with Paola. She was an excellent guide. Very funny and knowledgeable about the different places we visited. Ksamil was awesome and was my favorite. I think they could exclude Saranda and spend that time there because there wasn’t anything to do there.
Now this has nothing to do with the tour guide but the company itself. There are a few things they need to address. One they should not say they offer hotel pickup and drop off. We were 2 miles from downtown and that was a plus for us . The fine print stated they may ask you to walk 10 mins but we had to do 45 mins. We are walkers so not a big deal but what if there are others with mobility problems?
Then there was the time when the notifications are sent out for pickup time and the meeting points. I was very tired from a long day and I couldn’t wait up after 10 pm for that information which I needed for us to plan our day. It came it after 11:00pm with us having to meet at 6:15am. It was a long day. We left our hotel at 5:15 am and got back to Tirana at 10:00 pm and to our hotel after 10:30pm.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your detailed feedback! 😊 We're glad you enjoyed the tour and Paola’s guidance, and we’re sorry for the inconvenience regarding pickup and timing information. We will review these points to improve our service. 😊
Krithika_B, May 2026
It is a good one-day trip if you are short on time. However, visiting Gjirokastër, Sarandë, and Ksamil separately and spending at least one or two days in each place would provide a much better experience.
That said, this tour is a great option to see the highlights in a limited time. We enjoyed the beautiful coastline, the islands, and a refreshing swim in the sea while simply relaxing and enjoying the day.
Our guide, Klod, shared a lot of interesting history and managed the tour very well. The only downside was that there was always a bit of a time crunch to keep the schedule on track.
Overall, I would recommend this tour for travelers who are in a hurry but still want to experience these beautiful places in one day.
Ahmed_E, May 2026
Thanks miss Bailey (The Tour guide/driver),
She is very kind, helpful and friendly.
I Recommend it the most.
My advise to everyone must swim.
Raima_L, May 2026
We had an amazing tour experience with our guide Ghazi. He explained every place so well, was extremely friendly, funny, and made the whole journey enjoyable from start to finish. The air-conditioned car and small group of only 8 people made the trip very comfortable and relaxing.
He covered all the places perfectly, was very flexible throughout the tour, and even stopped at beautiful viewpoints and coffee spots so we could enjoy the scenery and take amazing pictures. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a fun and memorable tour experience!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback 😊 We’re glad you enjoyed the tour with Gazi.
Yamini_K, May 2026
It was a very long drive but worth every mile for how beautiful it is. The Ionian sea is like an emerald crystal lake at Ksamil. This is my second tour with the guide Denis. He us so cheerful, friendly and patient. Exactly the kind of guide you want on long day trips.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your feedback 😊 We’re glad you enjoyed the tour with Denis.
Marion_D, May 2026
It is a very long day. Frequent comfort stops, 2 hours in 2 destinations 30mins in Saranda. The mini bus wasn’t very comfortable the seats were narrow with hardly any leg room. However the guide, Khaljdi was very good and knowledgeable, and interacted with everyone.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you! We’re glad you appreciated Khaljdi’s knowledge and interaction 😊 We also take note of your comments regarding comfort and seating.
Brian_M, Apr 2026
Had an awesome day today with Gazi seeing a beautiful historic town as well as the great beaches in the south. Highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you! We’re really happy you had an awesome day and enjoyed the tour 😊
Sean_T, Apr 2026
What a day!
Astriti was a wonderful driver and guide.
He was a great mix of professional, fun and engaging and really made the day one to remember.
Knowledgable and able to keep the whole group engaged for a very long day - I wish all tour guides could be more like him!
The locations - it’s a long day due to the distance covered but it’s absolutely worth it!
Beautiful locations, great scenery and a nice mix of locations - I must give this trip and Astriti 5/5!
Thanks again.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you! We’re really happy you enjoyed the experience, the beautiful locations, and Astriti’s guiding. It means a lot that the long day felt worth it and memorable for you. 😊
Neehar_V, Apr 2026
Had a fun time, great trip, the guide Klajdi was exceptional in receiving and showing us all the places.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you! We're so glad you had a fun time and enjoyed Klajdi’s guidance. Hope to see you again soon! 😊
DrPreet_S, Mar 2026
Trip booked for 6.15 am, but started at 5.55 am. Bledjan (our drive and guide) was very lively and was adept at time management. He took us to Gjirokaster first, then a brief stop at Ksamil and then some more time at Sarande. The ascent to the Gjirokaster castle (400 ALL entry ticket) was worth it, and the views from there are good as well. From Ksamil, one can view Korfu island. Sarande beach was lively (fortunately not overcrowded as this is the off-season period). The vehicle was comfortable. Albeit most of the time was spent travelling from one place to another, the south of Albania is very beautiful. Perhaps a bit more guidance (rather than verbal instructions) about the local places in Gjirokaster would have helped. Something for the tour company to ponder upon. Bledjan ensured we were back to Tirana on time. A long day with an early start, but definitely worth it. Would suggest a good night's sleep before you take this trip and some good walking shoes.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you! We’re happy you enjoyed the beautiful south of Albania and Bledjan’s lively and well-organized guidance. We hope to see you on another tour soon 😊
Suzette_L, Mar 2026
It was longer than about 8 hours of drive total, but the transportation vehicle was old. The engine was noisy. Besides, the middle sliding door was not open from inside. We had to wait until our driver/guide opened the door every time when we need to get out of the car. The car was dirty outside, so the photos we took came out not good since the windows dirty. The driver/guide said many things but hardly hear what he said since his voice was low. A microphone should be needed or he should speak louder. We didn't really have a pleasant day trip due to these two things.
Zev_E, Mar 2026
Very good trip. Well-organized and worth the money. Driver/guide kept things going and got us home before seven. Highly recommend.
Reza_R, Feb 2026
Rather longish drive however it was beautiful and Bledi is one of the best guides ever. Very knowledgeable and a good sense of humour. He made us try the best Burek in Albania. The monastery enroute was peaceful and beautiful.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your feedback! 😊 We’re happy you enjoyed the journey, the peaceful stops, and Bledi’s guidance. Hope to see you again! 🌿✨
MarianneIves_S, Feb 2026
Our tour to Ardenica Monastery and the UNESCO city of Gjirokastra was excellent! We learned so much while laughing the entire time. Bledjan showed us Albania in a completely different light with his deep knowledge of the culture and history. To top it all off, he even shared his talent for rapping on our way back to Tirana! What a truly lovely and memorable day.
My husband and I highly recommend this tour and Bledjan as your tour guide.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your fantastic review! 😊 We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tour, Bledjan’s knowledge, and his fun personality (rap included 😄). So glad it was a memorable day for you both! 🌟
Elisa_G, Dec 2025
Today we visited the Ardenica monastery and the UNESCO town Gjirokastra with this tour. It was wonderful. From Tirana to Gjirokastra we enjoyed the Albanian landscape and our guide told us interesting facts about the places, about the Ardenica Monastery and about Gjirokastra. In Gjirokastra we also saw the bazar, the castle and we had some private time, we decided to taste some local food. It is really a trip that I recommend, thanks Bledjan for the great tour!
Joseph_M, Dec 2025
Gjirokastër is absolutely worth the long drive from Tirana, absolutely gorgeous historical city! Unfortunately I don’t feel there’s enough time in the city, but that can’t really be helped if you’re coming from Tirana due to the distance. Bledi was a fantastic guide too, he was knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour and brought an interesting local perspective to the stories of the region we travelled through!
Maxine_W, Dec 2025
Good day out.. Noel was our tour guide. Full of knowledge about the country. Nothing was too much trouble and he was nice and polite. Its a long day but some nice views on the journey.
Elise_D, Nov 2025
A long drive from Tirana but very worthwhile. I'm so pleased that I did this trip during my stay in Albania. Gjirokaster town and castle were beautiful and very interesting to visit and the mountains of southern Albania were very impressive too. I also enjoyed the stops at Ardenica Monastery and the river in the mountains. Ervin was a great guide! I feel like I saw a lot on this trip. A fantastic day!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted you enjoyed Gjirokaster, the mountains, and the stops along the way. Ervin is thrilled to hear your kind words! 🏰🏞️
Michael_L, Nov 2025
SmartTourAlbania is a great tour company, I’ve booked them for two tours now and they’ve been wonderful with pickup and transportation. I really enjoyed that the bus was big and had AC (which is great after much walking). I didn’t know what to expect, but the city and castle were an amazing experience. You could almost feel the spirit and energy of the Albanian people while you’re on the castle overlooking the city. The views were breathtaking and felt simply magical. The castle and city have a unique energy to it that you can feel. You won’t regret this if you come to Albania.
Bledi our tour guide also kept us entertained throughout the whole 13 hour day. He always had a smile on his face and made sure we were attended to. I am very happy with the trip and the experience provided by the tour company, and it was extremely affordable compared to other tours!
Deena_H, Oct 2025
Such a great experience. Our tour guide Klajdi was very knowledgeable and shared very interesting facts about Albania’s history and culture throughout the drive and walk in detail. Girokäster was beautiful to explore and the Blue Eye was truly spectacular. I highly recommend this experience and thank you for making it so enjoyable!
Dale_D, Oct 2025
This is a 14 hour tour, door to door, so be prepared for four stops, two for food and restroom, and two for the sights. Most of the day is on a bus.
However, the bus is extremely comfortable, the driving safe, the guide Bailey friendly and informative.
The places we stopped to visit were great. 2.5 hours at gjirokastra, and 1 hour at blue eye.
I enjoyed my day and recommend the trip.
Anil_K, Oct 2025
Excellent trip. Gjirokaster castle is unique. If travelling to Albania must see this castle. Tour organisers are good.
From $52.51
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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