If you are in Sarandë take a day trip to Ksamil, a sparkling jewel of the Albanian rivera. Known for its crystal clear waters, olive and citrus production, Ksamil is worth the short bus trip or cab ride from Sarandë. The bus runs throughout the day for 150 leks and takes a half hour, but as we had just missed the hourly ride we decided a cab was the way to go. If leaving from Sarandë expect to pay a bit more being a tourist town, but our driver doubled as a tour guide, pointing out sights along the way; including the stunning lake Butrint, where the mussels of the region are grown. Unfortunately during our stay we didn’t make it to Butrint National Archeological Park, but you can walk there from Ksamil in about an hour (4km). In the park are numerous sites to explore including two castles, a basilica, and a roman theatre all connected by trails. Many artifacts from the Iron to the Middle Ages have been excavated, making the park one of the most important archaeological sites in the country.

Our driver dropped us off at a winding stone pathway a half and hours walk to the beach so we could take in the views approaching the small town. He even provided his number in case we couldn’t find a taxi back to Sarandë. The weather was perfect and the sky mimicked the glittering water below. There are a few small beaches, mostly sand, which in Albania is a rarity. The Ksamil Islands are only 150 meters from the mainland and you can easily swim to in low tide. If you don’t feel like swimming, there are boats that will drive you to the islands as well. During summer there are pop up bars and umbrella rentals on the small Islands so you can make a day there if you wish to.

The beach was full of young adults who had just graduated from pre university, enjoying a much deserved break from school. Stacks of pizzas and sodas were in constant tow to the beach and were shared with friends. We stopped for a light lunch of qofte and salad at a small bistro named Korali, there are also dozens of seafood places along the main beach. After lunch we stopped at Africana Beach Club for a mojito. They have a sprawling patio with comfortable lounges, swings, and high tops overlooking the water. The reggae was a nice vibe, even though the songs were all remixes of modern pop music. It seems like a theme in Albania, they love American pop, but all the songs are covered by unknown artists in every genre imaginable. In our time here we have heard edm Lincoln Park, jazz Depeche Mode, disco Scorpions and reggae Madonna…. the list goes on. It was a perfect day but I can’t imagine spending more than an afternoon here. Next time we will definitely visit Butrint Archeological Park.