Boat Rental Dhërmi — 2027 Guide: Gjipe, Grama Bay and the Sea Caves of the Albanian Riviera

Dhërmi is a village on the Albanian Riviera, set on a hillside below the Llogara Pass, with a long beach of white pebbles and very clear water. To the north the beach continues into Drymades and Palasë, and beyond them begins the uninhabited Karaburun peninsula. To the south a string of coves runs all the way to Jalë and the small town of Himarë. Many of the most beautiful coves on this stretch of coast have no road, or only a footpath, so a boat is the simplest way to see them in a single day. This guide explains where boats in Dhërmi depart from, where to go from Dhërmi, what our listings cost and when the sea is calmest.

Where boats depart from

The boats and trips we offer depart from the wharf in the central part of Dhërmi beach. Dhërmi has no marina: you board directly from the wharf, a few steps from the beach. The nearest marina is in Orikum, on the other side of the Llogara Pass, which makes Dhërmi a practical starting point for the southern part of the Riviera and for the south-western coast of Karaburun.

South: Gjipe, Jalë, Himarë and Porto Palermo

• Gjipe (about 2 NM): a pebble beach at the mouth of a narrow canyon, enclosed by tall cliffs on both sides. From the road you walk down to it on a footpath, while by boat from Dhërmi it takes about ten minutes.
• Jalë (about 3 NM): a small sheltered cove with a pebble beach south of Gjipe.
• Himarë (about 6 NM): a small town with a harbour and the Spile and Livadhi beaches, above which the old town with its castle sits on a hill.
• Porto Palermo (about 9 NM): an enclosed bay with the fortress of Ali Pasha of Tepelena on a small peninsula.

North: Palasë, Grama Bay and Karaburun

• Drymades and Palasë (about 1–2.5 NM): long beaches north of Dhërmi below the steep slopes of Llogara.
• Grama Bay (about 9–10 NM): a remote cove on the south-western coast of Karaburun, with no road and not a single building, reachable only by sea. On the rocks above the beach are inscriptions that sailors have carved since antiquity. By fast boat the trip from Dhërmi takes roughly half an hour to 40 minutes.
• Karaburun and Sazan Island (about 20–25 NM): without a single settlement, the peninsula stretches north-west to Cape Gjuhëz, and beyond it lies Sazan Island. The sea along Karaburun and around Sazan is protected as the Karaburun–Sazan National Marine Park, the first marine park in Albania. From Dhërmi it is a long run across open sea; for Sazan and the Haxhi Ali cave from the northern side, read our guide to boat rental in Vlorë.

Our offer in Dhërmi

All boats and trips in Dhërmi on Crystalium Booker come with a licensed local captain, so you do not need a boating licence.

• Pirates' Caves Exploration: a two-hour trip along the cliffs near Dhërmi to the Pirates' Cave and other karst caves, with a stop for swimming and snorkelling in a quiet cove. A group ticket costs €30 per person (the group price applies from five people), and a private trip for up to five people €180.
• Gramma Bay Odyssey: a 3.5-hour trip to Grama Bay, with free time for swimming and a possible stop at another cove on the way back. A group ticket costs €60 per person (from eight people), and a private trip for up to five people €460.
• 9.8 m RIB: a Joker Boat Clubman 26 with twin 250 HP Suzuki engines, for up to 18 guests and speeds of up to 18 knots, with a Bluetooth sound system, a cool box and a shaded deck area. A private two-hour charter for up to five people costs €180.
• 7.5 m Sport Speedboat: a 300 HP Yamaha engine and speeds of up to 24 knots, for up to eight guests, with a bimini top, a shower and a sound system. A private two-hour charter for up to five people costs €180.

The trip price includes the captain, fuel and life jackets.

Booking works like this: you send us an enquiry with your date and number of people, we check availability with the owner, you pay the reservation through us, and you pay the rest to the owner on the day of the trip.

Wind and season

• The season runs from June to September. In August the sea reaches around 25–26 °C, but Dhërmi beach and the boat trips are also at their busiest then. June and September bring warm water and fewer people.
• Mornings in summer are usually calm. In the afternoon a north-westerly wind picks up and the open coast of Karaburun quickly gets choppy, so the trip to Grama Bay is best planned for the morning hours.
• The jugo (sirocco) from the south-east, more common in spring and autumn, raises waves along the whole Riviera.

Boat rental in Dhërmi with Crystalium Booker

See all boats and trips on the boats in Dhërmi page or send us your date and number of people through the contact page, and we will suggest a boat or trip. Do you rent out a boat in Dhërmi, Himarë or elsewhere on the Albanian Riviera? List it with us.