Albania · BLUE EYE TOURS
Syri i Kalter is a karst spring nobody has found the bottom of, and it is reached from two very different directions. These 15 compare the short runs out of Saranda with the long day from Tirana, priced, timed and clear about how much of each is minibus.
Travel by air-conditioned van from Tirana, Durres, or Golem to Saranda, Ksamil, and the Blue Eye spring. Expect Ionian views, beach time, optional boat rides, swimming, photo stops, and guides such as Beni, Ilmi, Ervin, and Aniled.
“It was a long day trip, but fun. The tour guide Ilmi was nice and interactive”
Travel from Saranda in a small Mercedes Vito group with English-speaking guide Ilir Shehu. Visit Lekursi Castle, Saint Nicholas Monastery, the Blue Eye, an Ottoman bridge, communist-era bunkers, and Gjirokaster, with free time for photos, food, and exploring.
“I would highly recommend this amazing tour. Out guide Ilir was so patient and thoughtful with answering all the questions we had on Albania, the southern geographical terrain, the food, culture, recent events, the history of the region. Being the front seat, we never missed any story or fact associated with each place. Ilir kept the trip alive with his great jokes and fun chatter throughout the trip. His restaurant recommendation were on point as he advised us where we would get an authentic Albanian cuisine. Add to that he was a great photographer and some of the best clicks were the outcome of us handing him the camera to…”
Join OpenTour Albania for a four-hour trip from central Sarande to the Blue Eye spring and Lekursi Castle. Guides such as Ledjon, Anna, and Ludjine provide local history, transport you in an air-conditioned van, and leave time for photos, a drink, and sunset views over Sarande, Ksamil, Corfu, and the Ionian Sea.
“Thoroughly enjoyed this trip, really well organised (including a WhatsApp message before confirming the time/location). A great way to see the blue eye and the incredible sunset! Go and book!!!”
Travel by comfortable Mercedes minivan with an English or Greek-speaking guide to four Albanian highlights. See the Blue Eye spring, visit St. Nicholas Monastery, explore Gjirokastër, and finish at Lëkurësi Castle. Expect guided visits, free time, mountain roads, and moderate walking.
“Illmi was our guide and he was great. Each location was more beautiful than the one before. I would highly recommend this tour”
Travel from Tirana, Durrës, or Golem to southern Albania with an English-speaking guide such as Orgest, Beni, or Ervin. Spend 2.5 hours around Ksamil, visit Saranda and the Water Cooled Hill, then walk to the Blue Eye for 40 minutes. Transport and entry fees are included.
“It was a very great experience. Please r tour guide Orgest was really friendly and organized. We get t to learn about the history of Albania. Lovely experience, I recommended. Be prepared for a long day (but lovely)”
Travel from Tirana, Durres, or Shkoder into Albania’s Accursed Mountains with guides such as Desi, Daniel, or Henri. Stop at Qafe Thore, hike to the Blue Eye, swim at Nderlysaj, and visit Theth’s church and blood-feud tower. It is a long, active day with excellent scenery and limited time.
“Absolutely amazing experience! Everything was super well organized, the adventure was incredible, and the mountains were just stunning — breathtaking views. Desi, our guide, was fantastic: so kind, attentive, and always making sure everyone was safe and having a good time. You simply can’t get lost ;) Highly recommend!”
Travel from Saranda with Klajdi Travel to Lekuresi Castle, the Blue Eye, Butrint, and Ksamil. English-speaking guides such as Elvis, Mara, Fedele, and Klajdi lead the day. Expect air-conditioned transport, guided walks, free time, and a possible swim, but bring snacks and allow extra time for beach stops.
“The local agent, Mara was fantastic from start to finish. In contact with us day before to make sure plans were still good for us. We got ferry from Corfu to Sarande. Mara met us from the port and straight to car - our driver Clyde was brilliant - very knowledgeable about the area. Blue Eye is amazing- definitely needs to be seen. Ksamil Island is beautiful.. nice beach, nice bars and nice cocktails !! Thoroughly recommend this trip if, like us, it’s the first time visiting Albania. (Sarandë and Ksamil a must). This area will be visited more when the airport nearby bus completed (within the next 2 years…”
Spend 14 hours exploring southern Albania by air-conditioned vehicle, with stops at Ksamil’s beaches, Saranda, Lekursi Castle, and the Blue Eye spring. An English-speaking guide such as Aurel, Klod, or Ervin leads the day, while hotel pickup keeps this far-reaching trip simple.
“This trip was amazing and definitely worth doing in Albania! There’s so much to see and the scenery is absolutely stunning. We went during the off-season while some places were closed, it was actually great to have fewer crowds and enjoy some spots all to ourselves. Aurel, our tour guide, was superb, excellent English, very knowledgeable about history, and had a great sense of humor. Big thumbs up to Aurel!”
Join Ledjon from OpenTour Albania for a half-day outing from Saranda to Lekursi Castle and the Blue Eye. You will kayak for about 80 minutes, enjoy free time by the spring, and learn about Albanian history. Bring sturdy shoes, swimwear, cash, and a waterproof bag.
“Great experience and Ledjon was a lovely guide! Kayaking around the blue eye lake was definitely preferred compared to only going down to see the spring. Ticket for the train inside the blue eye park was also included. Would recommend!”
Travel from Tirana, Durres, Golem, or Shkoder in a small group with an English-speaking guide such as Kledis, Jeffry, Ardit, or Engjell. Expect mountain views, a moderate 90-minute Blue Eye walk, Theth’s historic tower, local food, and a short Shkoder stop.
“Our guide Dori was amazing! We have been backpacking around the balkans for the past two weeks and doing multiple day trips and Dori was the best guide that we have had so far. She is very knowledgeable about her history of Albania and had answers to all my questions. She is incredibly kind and I would highly recommend a tour with her. The drive is far and the car is a little small if you are on the taller side, but it was very worth it. The views in the Alps are beautiful and there is enough time to swim in the Blue Eye. I wish we had a…”
Travel from Sarandë by air-conditioned van with an English or Greek-speaking guide. Jona is often the guide, bringing history and humor to Gjirokaster, the Blue Eye spring, and Lekursi Castle. Expect about 7.5 to 8 hours, mountain roads, walking, free time, and hotel or port pickup.
“Jona was a great guide, very informative and both driver and guide were very friendly and helpful. Great day out.”
Travel from Saranda with a guide such as Marsia, Marisa, or Sunny to explore Gjirokastër Castle, the bazaar, Skenduli House, and the Cold War Tunnel before visiting the Blue Eye. Hotel pickup, transport, WiFi, and entrance fees are included, but the Blue Eye train costs €6.
“The castle is not that interesting. The Blue Eye was a let down. The most interesting part of the tour was going inside the Cold War bunker. Also we were jammed into 3 mini vans for the tour and everyone was very uncomfortable.”
Ride an open-top Land Rover from Saranda with an English-speaking guide and professional driver. Visit Lekuresi Castle, Porto Palermo, Qeparo, Piqeras, a 4x4-only beach, and the Blue Eye. Hotel or port pickup is available, with optional family lunch and train transport at the spring.
“The tour was amazing! Albania is so welcoming and coming from America we didn’t expect to love Albania so much. The staff was so kind and picked/drop off at the perfect location. My favorite part was probably the off road jeep experience which was a lot of fun! We all stayed together in a large group with 6 jeeps total. The Albanian family style lunch was very good and it was all homemade. We passed by and stopped at multiple places where it is important to go see. It is a very long day but it’s filled with a lot of fun! When I come back I will be doing…”
Travel by air-conditioned van with an English-speaking guide such as Beni, Orgest, Artol, or Sonila. Spend time at Ksamil, take an optional island boat ride, then walk to the Blue Eye spring. Bottled water, Wi-Fi, pickup, and Blue Eye entry are included.
“I was very satisfied with the tour! The guide Artol, was excellent - full of humor and very knowledgeable about the country. I loved his storytelling and his ability to speak about Albanian history. Artol was also very service-minded and always helpful when we had questions. We chose to go on the boat tour in Ksamil (a personal choice) but it was overrated. We wanted to swim but the small beach (with rocks) where we stopped was crowded with people in bikinis who were more interested in taking pictures than enjoying the experience. I recommend staying inland in Ksamil and enjoying the beautiful beaches there instead. I would recommend this…”
Ledjon and Ana of OpenTour Albania take you by air-conditioned van from Saranda or Ksamil to Lekursi Castle, the Blue Eye, Gjirokaster Castle, and the old bazaar. Expect clear explanations, scenic drives, free time, and a fair $45 price, with Gjirokaster Castle admission extra.
“I loved this day trip, the blue eye was especially worth it. It would have been nicer to spend longer in gjirokastra, I think we only got an hour and a half there and they included having lunch. He recommended us a good place to eat though. The guide was very nice and knowledgeable about albania and the places we visited. I had a fantastic day! I would have said it was worth the money until my friend went on a similar longer tour for 35 euros.”
Pick a harbour, a spring or a mountain road.
