Saranda 7 Hidden Beaches and Caves Speedboat Tour with Snorkelling

Cape Qefali, the first snorkelling stop

Cape Qefali (Kepi i Qefalit) is the rocky headland that closes the north side of Saranda's coastline, about twenty minutes by speedboat from the harbour. The cliffs drop straight into deep, transparent water, and because the seabed is rock and pebble rather than sand, visibility is excellent: you can see the bottom several metres down and watch small fish moving along the ledges. There is no beach here, so the captain anchors in a sheltered pocket and you swim straight off the boat.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes and is the best place on the route to try the snorkel set, before the busier beaches later in the day. The Albanian coast has no coral and marine life cannot be guaranteed, but the rock formations, sea grass and shoals of small fish make it a rewarding first swim. Life jackets are on board for anyone who prefers to float rather than swim.

Kakome Bay, the beach that can only be reached by sea

Kakome Bay is one of the most searched-for places on the Albanian Riviera, and for a reason: a long curve of white pebbles enclosed by steep green hills, with no road access and no buildings on the shore. For decades the area was a closed military zone, which is why it stayed untouched, and today the only practical way to get to Kakome Bay is a boat trip from Saranda. The water shades from pale turquoise at the shore to deep blue a few metres out.

The boat anchors close to the beach for about 30 minutes so you can swim, snorkel along the rocky sides of the cove or simply float and photograph the hills. There are no facilities here, so this is a stop for the sea rather than for lunch; the captain explains the history of the place and points out the old military traces on the slopes.

Heeg Beach and Soldiers Beach

Between Kakome and Krorez the coast breaks into a series of small coves. Heeg Beach is a narrow pocket of pebbles beneath the cliffs where the boat stops for another 30-minute swim; the water is shallow near the shore and deepens quickly, which makes it good for both cautious swimmers and snorkellers. Because few boats stop here, you often have the cove to yourselves.

Soldiers Beach (Plazhi i Ushtarit) takes its name from the small military post that once guarded this stretch of the Ionian Sea. It is a photo stop of about five minutes rather than a swimming stop: the captain brings the boat in close so you can see the beach, the ruins of the old post and the cliffs around it, then continues along the coast. These short stops are where the speedboat format pays off, as a larger boat could not come in this close.

Krorez Beach, the main stop with sunbeds included

Krorez Beach is the highlight of the day and the reason most people search for a Krorez Beach boat trip from Saranda. It is a wide, remote beach of white pebbles and clear water roughly halfway between Saranda and Lukovë, with no road down to it, so it is reached only by boat or a long hike. From May to the end of September a couple of simple beach restaurants open here, serving grilled fish, salads and cold drinks; they accept cash only, so bring some with you.

The captain drops you here for about 2.5 hours and a sunbed and umbrella are included for each passenger, so this is where you settle in, swim, read and eat. Take everything you need off the boat, as it leaves the beach while you are there and returns at the agreed time. For many travellers this is the best beach in the Saranda area, and the long stop lets you enjoy it properly rather than in a rushed half hour.

Turtle Cave and Anchor Cave, the sea caves on the way back

On the return towards Saranda the boat passes two sea caves cut into the limestone by the waves. Turtle Cave (Shpella e Breshkës) takes its name from the shape of the rock above the entrance, which looks like a turtle's head and shell from the water; Anchor Cave is named for the anchor-shaped opening in its roof and for the old mooring stories the captains tell about it. Both are photo stops of around five minutes, with the boat idling at the mouth so you can see inside.

The light inside the caves is at its best in the early afternoon, when the sun is high and the water glows blue-green against the dark rock. These are the last stops before the harbour, so keep your camera ready; the whole return leg from Krorez to Saranda takes about 25 minutes and gives a final view of the coast with Corfu across the strait.