Pine Side Camp is one of the cheapest seaside "bed under a roof" options in Himara that isn't a hostel dorm — but calling it a "camp" undersells what it actually is, and calling it "glamping" oversells it. The truth is in between, and it matters because both wrong expectations send the wrong guests here. This guide is for travellers who've already decided that budget pricing and a few steps to the sea matter more than en-suite bathrooms and king beds — and want to know whether the trade-offs are the right ones before they pay the deposit. The property runs a 9.2/10 Booking score across 953 reviews, so the experience is well-documented; the question is whether it's documented for you.
Who This Is Right For (Two-Minute Test)
| You should book Pine Side Camp if you... | You should book somewhere else if you... |
|---|---|
| Want to fall asleep to the sea, not to traffic | Need an en-suite bathroom |
| Travel light and don't need a kitchen | Are bringing more than a daypack of luggage |
| Are happy in a luxury tent with shared facilities | Need a wooden cabin or air-conditioned room |
| Are road-tripping and want one cheap stop on the coast | Are basing a week here with small children |
| Are coming in June, July, August, or early September | Are arriving outside the summer season (the camp closes off-season) |
Check Pine Side Camp rates on Booking.com → — summer-only operation, peak weeks (mid-July to mid-August) book out months ahead.
Quick Take
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Type | Seaside camp — luxury tents only |
| Location | Beachfront on SH8, ~700m from Himara town centre |
| Coordinates | 40.0990, 19.7397 |
| Distance to beach | Direct beachfront — steps from the tents |
| Distance to Himara centre | ~10 minutes on foot |
| Price range | Budget (varies sharply by season — confirm at booking) |
| Booking rating | 9.2/10 across 953 reviews |
| TripAdvisor | 4/5, ranked #12 of 77 specialty lodging in Himare |
| Payment | Cash only |
| Season | Summer only — typically late spring to early autumn; confirm before travel |
| Best for | Solo travellers, road-trippers, couples without baggage |
| Skip if | You need en-suite, AC, or family privacy |
What Pine Side Camp Actually Is
Luxury tents arranged under mature pine trees directly on a rocky stretch of seafront. Each tent has a real bed (not a sleeping pad), bedding, towels, a table with two chairs, sun loungers, and a power cable to charge devices. Bathrooms and showers are shared in a central block. There's a coffee bar at reception, a small kitchen area for guests, an outdoor fireplace, picnic spots, a sun terrace, and direct steps into the sea. Owners Keldi and Belo run the property themselves, which is why guest reviews so often single out the hosting by name.
This is the format Western European campers know well; American visitors often imagine "KOA" and arrive with the wrong expectations. It is closer to a Croatian or Greek seaside camp than a US private-cabin resort. There are no cabins or bungalows — just tents, despite what some third-party listings imply.
What Works
The location is genuinely good
Tents are a few metres from the water, with private steps into the sea built into the rocky shoreline. The pine canopy provides real shade through midday — not a token tree, actual cover — which matters in July and August when open beach becomes unbearable from noon. For broader beach context, see the best beaches in Himara guide.
Price is the headline
Pine Side Camp sits inside hostel-pricing territory while giving you private (not dorm) sleeping space directly on the sea. For solo travellers and couples on a budget, the value math is hard to argue with — reviewers consistently call out the price-to-location ratio as the property's defining strength.
Atmosphere skews social without forcing it
The bar at reception and beach-side common area mean you'll meet other guests if you want to. Tents are spaced enough that you can also disappear — it's not a dorm-energy hostel vibe. The 9.7/10 couple score on Booking suggests it works for two-person trips, not only backpacker scenes.
Clean facilities and warm hosting
The single most common positive across the 953 Booking reviews: bathrooms are kept clean, the tents come fully kitted (mattress, blankets, pillows, towels), and the hosts Keldi and Belo are mentioned by name across review after review for their hospitality. By camping standards on the Albanian coast in 2026, this is well above average — many wild-camping locations on Borsh and elsewhere have neither.
Easy walk to town
Roughly 700m to the town centre — a 10-minute flat walk to restaurants, ATMs, supermarkets, and the Spile Beach promenade. You don't need a car for daily life if you base yourself here.
On-site breakfast, cheaply
Breakfast isn't included in the room rate, but it's available on-site for around 5€ — bruschetta, omelettes, homemade yogurt, cappuccinos. For a property without a full restaurant, that's a useful extra rather than a forced walk into town every morning.
What Doesn't
Shared bathrooms
Predictable but worth saying clearly: you walk to the bathroom in flip-flops at 03:00. If that is a deal-breaker, this is not your stay. Book a private-bathroom guesthouse like Amphora instead.
Hot water is not always hot
A subset of reviews mentions cold showers — common at small seaside camps where solar heating depends on the day's sun. Manageable in July-August, less fun in May or late September.
Cash only
Pine Side Camp accepts cash only. There are ATMs in Himara town (10 minutes' walk away), but plan a withdrawal before you arrive — you do not want to be settling the bill and then hiking to a cash machine in flip-flops.
Wi-Fi is limited
Wi-Fi exists but is restricted to the bar area, not piped to the tents. Fine for a holiday, frustrating if you planned to work remotely.
Tent comfort in August heat
July-August nights inside the tents can be warm even with cross-breeze. There's no air conditioning. If you're sensitive to overnight temperature and travelling in peak summer, factor it into your packing.
No real soundproofing
Pine forest plus open-air tent construction equals: you hear the camp. If neighbours come back late from a Spile Beach club, you'll know. This is rarely a problem mid-week or in shoulder weeks of the open season.
Wind matters
Coastal exposure means strong northerly winds can make tent stays less pleasant. Reviews from windy weeks complain; calmer weeks praise. Check the forecast before you commit to early or late dates in the operating season.
What It Costs
Pine Side Camp doesn't publish a static rate card — prices move with Booking.com supply and demand, and a peak-week luxury tent can land well above a shoulder-week one. The 2025 listings showed a wide spread across the summer season, with the cheapest weeks comfortably in budget-camping territory and peak August weeks several times that. The honest answer: check Booking.com for your dates rather than relying on a number from a review article.
Breakfast (~5€ on site) is a paid add-on; the property is cash only, so plan a town ATM run before check-in. Most guests walk into town for additional meals — see best breakfast in Himara and best restaurants in Himara.
Where Pine Side Camp Sits on the Riviera Camping Map
| Property | Type | Walkable to town? |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Side Camp | Luxury tents on the seafront, shared facilities | Yes (~10 min) |
| Himara Camping | Tent pitches in olive grove, above Livadhi | No (above the beach) |
| Camping Kranea | Pitches across from Livadhi + on-site taverna | No (in Livadhi area) |
| Wild camp on south end of Borsh Beach | Tent only, no facilities | No (25 min from Himara by car) |
Pine Side Camp is the only commercial option that combines seaside location, walkability to Himara town, and actual built infrastructure. The others trade one of those three for a different upside.
For broader camping context on the Riviera, see the camping Albanian Riviera guide.
Best Time to Visit
The camp is a summer-only operation. June and early September tend to balance warm sea, manageable overnight temperatures, and lower booking pressure. July and mid-August are peak — book months ahead, expect higher rates, and accept that the camp is at capacity. Shoulder dates (late May, late September) can work but check directly with the property before booking — early-season opening and late-season closing dates shift year to year with the weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Pine Side Camp cost?
Prices move with Booking.com supply and demand and vary sharply between shoulder and peak weeks. Pine Side Camp sits at the budget end of Himara's accommodation map — generally hostel-adjacent pricing — but peak August can land well above that. Breakfast (~5€) is a paid add-on. The property is cash only, so withdraw from a Himara ATM before check-in. Check Booking.com for your specific dates.
Does Pine Side Camp have private bathrooms?
No. All bathrooms and showers are shared in a central block. Facilities are kept clean — that's a recurring positive across the 953 Booking reviews — but cold showers have been reported. If private en-suite is essential, book Amphora Guesthouse or a hotel instead.
Are there cabins at Pine Side Camp?
No. Despite some third-party listings implying otherwise, Pine Side Camp offers luxury tents only. Tents come with real beds (not sleeping pads), bedding, towels, a table with two chairs, sun loungers, and a power cable. If you want a wooden cabin, this is not the property.
Can you walk to Himara town from Pine Side Camp?
Yes — about 10 minutes' flat walk along the coast (~700m) to the town centre, Spile Beach promenade, restaurants, ATMs, and supermarkets. No car needed for daily life here. Bring a flashlight if you're returning after midnight.
Is Pine Side Camp good for families?
Marginal. The shared bathrooms, tent-only accommodation, and open-camp layout work poorly with small children. School-age kids who like camping handle it fine. For family-with-kitchen needs, look at Magic Ionian Apartments on Potam Beach or Dimitri Hotel on Livadhi instead.
When does Pine Side Camp open and close for the season?
Pine Side Camp operates seasonally during the summer months and closes in the colder part of the year — multiple listings note "summer season only". Exact opening and closing dates shift year to year; if you're booking on the edges of the season (May or October), confirm directly with the property by email or Facebook before booking flights.
For broader Himara accommodation planning, see where to stay in Himara and the full camping guide for the Albanian Riviera.
