Boat Rental Sarandë — 2027 Guide: Kakome and Krorezë Bays, Ksamil, Butrint and Corfu Across the Channel

Sarandë is the southernmost sizeable town on the Albanian Riviera, set in a bay on the Ionian Sea opposite the Greek island of Corfu. It takes its name from the Monastery of the Forty Saints, and the remains of ancient Onchesmos survive in the town centre. Lëkurësi Castle stands above the town, looking out over the bay and the channel towards Corfu. South of Sarandë lie Ksamil with its islets and ancient Butrint, while to the north the coast rises in steep slopes with pebble coves that are easier to reach by sea than by road. This guide explains where boats depart from, where you can sail from Sarandë, what the trip in our listings costs and when the sea is calmest.

Where boats depart from

Excursion boats leave from the town port by the seafront promenade (Lungomare), which is also where ferries and fast boats run to Corfu Town. The trip in our listings departs from this port at 9:00.

North: Kakome, Krorezë and the beaches towards Lukovë

North of Sarandë the coast is steep and sparsely populated, and a string of small coves with white pebbles and very clear water lies between the rocks.

• Kakome and Krorezë (about 5 NM): two neighbouring coves enclosed by rocks, with white pebbles and turquoise water. Krorezë Beach is the last and longest stop of our group tour.
• Lukovë (about 8 NM): a village on the hillside above the sea, with several pebble beaches and smaller coves below it.
• Borsh (about 13 NM): one of the longest beaches on the Albanian Riviera, with olive groves on the slopes behind it. See the boats in Borsh page.

For the coast further north, from Himarë and Dhërmi to Karaburun and Sazan Island, read our guides to boat rental in Dhërmi and boat rental in Vlorë.

South: Ksamil and Butrint

• Ksamil (about 6–7 NM by sea, about 15 km by road): a village with small beaches and several islets just off the shore, with shallow turquoise water between them. In summer it is the busiest part of the southern coast. See the boats in Ksamil page.
• Butrint: an ancient city protected by UNESCO, on a peninsula by Lake Butrint, a few kilometres south of Ksamil. The lake is connected to the sea by the Vivari Channel. From Sarandë, Butrint is most often visited by road, about 20 km.

Corfu across the channel

Corfu Town is about 25–30 km across the channel, and the ferry from Corfu is a common way of arriving in Sarandë. Corfu is in Greece, a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, while Albania is not, so sailing to Corfu means crossing a national border: you travel with a valid travel document, and passengers and boat go through border control. The trip in our listings sails along the Albanian coast.

Our offer in Sarandë

• Group tour to 7 destinations: a full-day trip from 9:00 to around 16:00 along the coast towards the Kakome and Krorezë bays. It stops at seven places: Turtle Cave and Secret Beach (10 minutes each), Soldier's Bay, Rrojdha Bay, the Gremina cliffs and Kakome Bay (30 minutes each) and Krorezë Beach, where you stay three hours to swim and relax. The trip costs €20 per person, and the price includes the captain, fuel, snorkeling gear, life jackets and music on board.
• Ajla: a traditional covered excursion boat for up to 12 guests, with an experienced local captain, shaded seating, a sunshade and Bluetooth music. The group tour runs on this boat.

Booking works like this: you send us an enquiry with the date and number of people, we check the slot 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 Ksamil and the beaches around Sarandë are busiest then. June and September bring warm water and fewer people.
• Shelter of Corfu. Corfu shields the coast from Sarandë towards Ksamil and Butrint from open-sea swell on the west. Further north, towards Lukovë and Borsh, the coast is more exposed.
• Mornings are usually calm in summer. In the afternoon a northwesterly wind picks up and the sea gets choppier, especially on the open coast north of Sarandë.
• The jugo, a southeasterly wind more common in spring and autumn, brings waves into the bay and along the whole coast.

Boat rental in Sarandë with Crystalium Booker

See the boat and the trip on the boats in Sarandë page, or send us the date and number of people through the contact page and we will suggest a trip. Do you rent out a boat in Sarandë, Ksamil or elsewhere in southern Albania? List it with us.