Ksamil is the most photographed corner of the Albanian Riviera — three small islands in turquoise water just south of Saranda. The town itself gets crowded in summer and parking can be a nightmare, but the islands themselves are pure boat territory. This is how to get from Saranda to Ksamil by boat in 2026, what you'll see, what it costs, and which Ksamil boat tour is the right one for your trip.
How long is the boat ride from Saranda to Ksamil?
Roughly 15 to 20 minutes by speed boat. The two ports are about 10 km apart along the coast. We leave directly from Saranda port, hug the cliffs south, and the Three Islands appear on the right as you round the headland.
A traditional gulet or slower cruise boat would take 45 minutes to an hour for the same trip. The advantage of a fast RIB like ours is that you spend the day swimming, not transiting.
What you actually see on a Saranda to Ksamil boat trip
The Three Ksamil Islands
Three small islands sit just offshore from Ksamil town. The two closer islands are joined to the shore by a sandbar that's walkable in calm conditions — but the real experience is anchoring in the channel between them and swimming around. The water is three to five metres deep, with a white pebble seabed that gives the famous turquoise colour.
Pasqyrat (Mirror) Beach
A small white-pebble cove just past Ksamil, named for the mirror-like late-afternoon water. Inaccessible by road in any practical way. We covered it in detail in our guide to hidden beaches.
Shpella e Pellumbave (Pigeon Cave)
A sea cave just south of Ksamil where the light reflects off the water and onto the cave roof. The boat can ease right inside on calm days.
Pulebardha Beach
The longer, easier beach south of Ksamil. We stop here for a longer swim and a snack. There's a small beach bar if you want a cold drink.
How much does a boat trip from Saranda to Ksamil cost?
Two reasonable options:
- Hidden Coves Group Tour — €30 per person — full-day group tour that includes a Ksamil swim stop plus five other hidden beaches. The best value way to combine Ksamil with the wilder coast south of it.
- Private Ksamil Tour — €200 for the whole boat (up to 10 guests, so as little as €20 per person for a full group). Customised route, no other guests, set your own swim times.
Group tour vs private charter — which one for Ksamil?
The honest answer: if your group has 4+ people, a private charter is usually cheaper per person AND gives you the entire boat. The Private Ksamil Tour at €200 works out to €50/person for four, €33/person for six, €25/person for eight. You also pick the route — start with the Three Islands, then Pasqyrat, then a long lunch swim at Pulebardha if you like.
The group tour shines when you're a couple or solo traveller and you also want to see the wilder hidden coves south of Ksamil (Kakome, Krorez, Gremina) — covering all of that alone privately would cost much more.
Best time of day to leave Saranda for Ksamil
Morning. The water is calmest before noon and the Three Islands are noticeably less crowded between 09:00 and 11:00. By 12:30 the day-trip boats from Corfu start arriving and Ksamil gets busy until late afternoon.
For sunset photographs, we recommend a different tour entirely — the Private Sunset Cruise heads in the opposite direction along the cliffs south of Saranda.
Where to meet the boat in Saranda
All Nemo Boat tours depart from Saranda port. We share the exact meeting pin via WhatsApp when your booking is confirmed. Walking distance from the main Saranda waterfront is five to ten minutes; parking near the port is easy in the morning.
Booking the trip
You can browse and book any of our Saranda boat tours online — pick a date, confirm your details, and we'll send the meeting point via WhatsApp. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Questions before booking? Message us on WhatsApp — we reply within minutes during the day.
