Ksamil
A village of the Albanian Riviera in the far south, small islands just offshore, the ancient city of Butrint down the road, and Corfu across the strait.
- Arrival
- Corfu Ioannis Kapodistrias · CFU
- To the village
- About 30 minutes by sea to Sarandë
- Private jets
- Corfu, then across the strait
- Best time
- May to September
The city
Islands off the shore, ruins inland.
Ksamil was laid out only in 1966, on the coast road between Sarandë and Butrint, and today it lies within the national park that protects the ancient city. Its draw is the cluster of small islands just off the beaches. Sarandë, the harbour town of the south, is about twelve kilometres north.
The swimming season is short and bright: from June to August the rain all but stops, the afternoons reach 27 to 31 °C, and the sea warms to 25 °C. From October the weather turns, and the winter rains on this coast are heavy.
- The Ksamil Islands The small islands off the village beaches, the reason most visitors come.
- Butrint The ancient city at the end of the coast road, within the same national park as the village.
- Sarandë The harbour town to the north, where the boats from Corfu come in.
Arriving
Corfu, and a short crossing.
The quickest way in is through Corfu. The Greek island lies across a narrow strait, and in season a boat crosses from Corfu to Sarandë in about half an hour; Ksamil is a short drive south. Albania's new airport at Vlorë has not opened to scheduled flights, and Tirana is a long drive north.
- Rome 1 h 15
- Vienna 1 h 35
- Baku 3 h 40
- Addis Ababa 5 h 20
- Toronto 10 h 15 long-range jet
When to go
May to September.
Figures for Sarandë, the nearest station, twelve kilometres up the coast. The swimming months run from May to September; high summer reaches 31 °C and the Ionian 24 to 25 °C. From October to March the rain is heavy, above 250 mm in November and December.
- 10° J 201 15°
- 12° F 185 14°
- 14° M 137 14°
- 18° A 96 16°
- 23° M 64 19°
- 27° J 30 22°
- 31° J 18 24°
- 31° A 29 25°
- 27° S 78 24°
- 21° O 167 22°
- 16° N 255 19°
- 12° D 268 17°
Where to stay
In Sarandë, twelve kilometres north.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
-
Santa Quaranta Premium Resort On the beach along Rruga Butrinti, with a private beach and a pool.
- Hotel Saranda Butrinti, Affiliated by Meliá Near the town beach, with suites of 45 square metres and a spa.
-
Bougainville Bay Hotel Duplex suites, indoor and outdoor pools and a private beach, within a walk of the town.
- Monun Hotel A four-star hotel in the village itself.
Elsewhere in Albania
More reasons to come.
- Tirana A capital of painted façades, and a Cold War bunker turned museum.
- Berat The town of a thousand windows, along the Osum river.
- Gjirokastër The city of stone, its slate-roofed houses below the citadel.
- Sarandë The southern port, across the strait from Corfu.
- Butrint Greek, Roman and Venetian ruins beside a lagoon, listed by UNESCO.
Flying to Ksamil?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.