Walks in and Around Ksamil

October 31, 2026

Ksamil is a flat beach village with no named walking trail. Walking here means a stroll along the waterfront, the shaded paths at Butrint, a short climb above Saranda and the approach path at the Blue Eye. Each is easy to do on your own. Prices are in Albanian lek (ALL).

Stroll through the village and waterfront

The waterfront in Ksamil is flat and short, so a stroll takes under an hour at an easy pace. There is no named trail. Walk west toward Lori Beach, about 700 m from the centre, for the sheltered bay, and then continue to Paradise Beach, which is near it. Go early in the morning or toward sunset in summer, when the heat has eased.

Butrint trails

The park stands on a wooded peninsula, and its shaded paths include boardwalk sections with views over the channel. The route is included in the park ticket, which is 1,000 ALL for adults. From 1 April to 31 October the last entry is 18:00. From 1 November to 31 March it is 15:00, and the park closes at 17:30.

The park is about 4 km south of the village, and a bus or taxi takes roughly 10 minutes. See the himara.net Butrint guide for tickets and hours.

Cable-ferry crossing

A short cable-ferry hop beside the Butrint entrance leads to the Triangular Castle side of the channel, and you can walk back along the water. The raft is private and carries cars, so check the fare at the slip.

Lekuresi hill above Saranda

The walk up to Lekuresi Castle from central Saranda is steep and takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The castle is an Ottoman fortress of the 16th century, traditionally dated to 1537. The grounds are free, and the terrace restaurant in the walls keeps its own hours. Saranda is about 45 minutes from Ksamil by bus. Wear shoes with good grip, and carry water in summer.

Blue Eye approach path

From the car park at the Blue Eye spring, a paved path of about 2 km leads to the water, about 20 minutes on foot. An electric mini-train also runs for about 300 ALL. Entry is 50 ALL per adult, in cash at the gate. Swimming is not allowed, and the water stays at about 10 C. The path can be muddy after rain in winter. The spring is about 40 km from Ksamil, so allow about an hour each way by road.

What to bring

Water shoes help on the rocky shoreline, and a hat is useful because the ruins are unshaded in places. Carry cash for tickets and the cable ferry, and check that kiosks are open if you walk outside summer. Guided walks of Butrint are listed on GetYourGuide if you prefer company.