Every stop a Himara skipper might point at — sea caves, hidden bays, white-pebble beaches, and 2,500-year-old sailor inscriptions.
A Himara boat tour costs €30-60 per person for a group speedboat trip, ranging from half-day outings to full-day cruises along the Albanian Riviera. The standard Pirate's Cave half-day runs about 3 hours from around €30 per person, visiting sea caves and swim stops near town. The Grama Bay full-day takes about 5 to 5.5 hours from around €58, reaching the remote bay with its ancient sailor inscriptions, usually via Gjipe and the Blue Cave. A Porto Palermo half-day from around €20 heads south to Ali Pasha's castle, the Cold-War submarine tunnel and quiet coves like Filikuri. Most tours leave Himara harbour in the morning, include swim stops, and can be booked as shared group trips or private charters.
The sea caves and hidden bays that make the Himara coast worth a boat in the first place — most tours are built around a handful of these.
Each Himara operator offers a handful of standard routes. Here's what's on each one — pick the tour, see every named stop.
| Tour | Duration | Price | Key stops | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirate's Cave Half-DayThe standard short tour | ~3 hours | from ~€30/person | Livadhi Beach · Akuarium Beach · Jale Beach · Crystal Beach (Couple's Bay) | Book → |
| Grama Bay Full-DayThe marquee long-haul | ~5–5.5 hours | from ~€58/person | Livadhi Beach · Akuarium Beach · Jale Beach · Crystal Beach (Couple's Bay) | Book → |
| Porto Palermo Half-DayThe all-conditions southbound | ~3–4 hours | from ~€20/person | Filikuri Beach · Llamani Beach · Vasiliqi Beach · Porto Palermo Bay | Book → |
| Extended Long-Haul ToursFor Karaburun completionists | ~6+ hours | from ~€80/person | English Bay · Krorez Beach | Book → |
The standard short tour
The most-booked Himara boat tour. Hits the headline sea caves and a couple of swim stops along the Dhërmi cliffs without committing to a full day.
The marquee long-haul
Builds on the half-day route by continuing past Dhërmi into the Karaburun Peninsula — the only way to reach Saint Andrew's Bay, Grama Bay's ancient inscriptions, and the Blue Cave on Albania's largest sea cave system.
The all-conditions southbound
Sheltered by the bay's geometry, this southbound tour runs even when northern routes get blown out. Combines Ali Pasha's castle, a Cold War submarine tunnel, and a swim stop in the bay's clearest water.
For Karaburun completionists
Beyond the standard Grama Bay route. Krorez Bay sits past Porto Palermo on the southern run; English Bay sits past Grama on the northern run. Both add ~1 hour and require stable sea conditions.
All 34 destinations grouped by what they are — bays, sea caves, beaches, canyons, landmarks.
Secluded coves accessible only by boat — water-taxi drop-offs along the Ionian coast.
Bear's Bay (Bristani Bay) is a green-cliffed cove on the far-north Karaburun Peninsula, reached only by boat from Himara. A sheltered turquoise inlet on the long-haul Grama Bay route, it's a calm-water swim and photo stop on full-day cruises.
Butterfly Cove is a secluded limestone inlet on the outer coast north of Himara — a narrow, cliff-walled pool of exceptionally clear turquoise water reached only by boat, and a quiet swim stop on longer northern-route trips.
Crystal Beach — also known as Couple's Bay — is a small, sheltered cove on the Himara coastline near Gjipe, a 15-minute swim stop on Himara boat tours, popular for its privacy and calm, clear water.
English Bay (Englishman Bay) is the deepest reach of the Karaburun long-haul tour from Himara — past Grama Bay, into territory only reached by 6–6.5 hour boat itineraries. Named for its WWII connection to British Special Operations Executive operations along the Albanian coast.
Grama Bay — the marquee Karaburun stop on long-haul Himara boat tours. ~1,500 ancient inscriptions span 18 centuries, the bay sits inside Albania's first marine park, and the Mediterranean monk seal still occasionally surfaces here.
Porto Palermo Bay is the deeply sheltered inlet south of Himara, hosting Ali Pasha's triangular castle, a 650-metre Cold War submarine tunnel, and five inner private coves. The destination of the half-day southbound boat tour and the calm-water fallback when northern routes are off.
Saint Andrew's Bay (Gjiri i Shën Andreut) is the white-pebble crown jewel of the Karaburun coast — sea-only access, a small bay sealed in by jagged cliffs, and a half-hour swim stop on every long-haul Grama Bay tour from Himara.
Sea caves you enter by small boat or swim into — light, echo, and corsair lore.
A sea cave on the Karaburun peninsula where boats slip inside for photos — one of the cluster of caves reached on the long-haul Grama Bay full-day tour from Himara.
A karst sea cave on Albania's Karaburun peninsula that glows luminous blue — a swim stop on long-haul Grama Bay boat tours from Himara.
Blue Gem Cave is a small sea cave on the Karaburun Peninsula, reached only by long-haul boat tour from Himara. Its interior glows turquoise where sunlight refracts up through the clear Ionian water — a brief photo-and-swim stop on the far-north Grama Bay route.
Haxhi Ali Cave on Karaburun's western flank — a vast karst sea cave named after a 17th-century pirate, and the farthest reach of a long-haul Grama Bay boat tour from Himara.
Pigeon's Cave (Shpella e Pëllumbave) is the smaller, quieter sister to Pirate's Cave on the Himara coastline — a 20-minute swim stop where wild rock pigeons nest in the cliff hollows above the entrance.
Pirate's Cave is the karst sea cave on the cliffs south of Dhërmi — actually two caves 200 m and 800 m off the southern end of Dhërmi Beach, lit by refracted blue-green light and famous from Petro Marko's 1955 children's novel. The centrepiece of every short boat tour from Himara.
The sea cave on the rocky shoreline of Porto Palermo Bay, near Ali Pasha's castle and the Cold War-era submarine tunnel. A standard photo stop on southbound boat tours from Himara.
Saint Theodore's Cave (Shpella e Shën Todhrit) is the sea cave directly beneath the cliff-top Saint Theodore Monastery north of Dhërmi — viewed from the boat with the monastery towering above. A standard photo stop on Pirate's Cave and Grama Bay tours.
Secret Blue Cave is a small, hard-to-reach sea cave on the Karaburun Peninsula north of Himara. Boat-only and tucked into the cliffs, it's a short photo-and-swim stop folded into long-haul Grama Bay cruises when the sea is calm enough to approach.
A hidden sea cave on the cliffs near Gjipe, reached only by boat — a narrow inlet of clear turquoise water tucked beneath dramatic karst rock. A quiet photo-and-swim stop away from the busier caves on the Himara boat-tour route.
Thunder Cave (also called Thunder Canyon) is the acoustic standout on the Himara to Grama Bay long-haul tour — waves crashing inside the cliff create thundering echoes that give the cave its name. Brief 10-minute photo and listening stop.
Pebble beaches that double as boat-tour swim stops between Himara and Karaburun.
Akuarium Beach is the tiny social-media-famous cove between Livadhi and Jale — crystal-clear blue-turquoise water that resembles a small aquarium. A standard 20-minute snorkel stop on Himara coastline tours.
Drymades Beach is the white-pebble beach north of Dhërmi — long, picturesque, increasingly developed. A standard photo and brief swim stop on Grama Bay long-haul tours from Himara.
Filikuri Beach is the hidden cove between Himara and Llamani — boat-only or via a 20-30 min hike. A standard secluded swim stop on southbound coastline tours, with excellent snorkeling and dramatic cliff descent.
Gjipe Beach is the headline pebble-and-sand swim stop at the mouth of Gjipe Canyon — the longest, most photographed swim on every Himara boat tour, with the dramatic limestone canyon rising directly behind the shoreline.
Jale Beach is the lively pebble-and-mixed beach 12 km north of Himara — a standard mid-morning swim stop on coastline tours, with beach clubs, parties, and turquoise water visible directly from the boat.
Krorez Beach is the boat-only beach south of Porto Palermo — clear water, no road access, and the destination of Himara's quietest southbound boat tour. A dedicated half-day route or a stop on extended coastline charters.
Livadhi Beach is the first major swim stop heading north from Himara — a 1.5 km pebble crescent enclosed by rocky headlands. Standard 20–30 minute swim stop on every short coastline tour.
Llamani Beach is the secluded rocky-bottom bay 3.5 km south of Himara — deep water with large stones, dramatic cliff geometry, and a quiet 20-minute swim stop on southbound coastline tours.
Palasa Beach is the northernmost beach of the Albanian Riviera — pebble shoreline tucked between cliffs at the foot of Llogara Pass. A standard pass-through stop on Grama Bay long-haul boat tours from Himara.
Porto Palermo Beach is the mixed sand-and-pebble beach at the south end of Porto Palermo Bay — bluer water than most of the area, very few crowds, and a standard swim stop on the Porto Palermo half-day boat tour from Himara.
Vasiliqi Beach is the quiet pebble cove between Filikuri and Porto Palermo on the southbound boat tour from Himara — crystal-clear water, no road access for most of its shoreline, and a short swim stop on coastline tours.
Dramatic gorges meeting the sea — best photographed from the water.
Gjipe Canyon is the dramatic limestone gorge that meets the sea between Dhërmi and Vuno — best photographed from a boat looking up. The cliffside backdrop to Gjipe Beach and the most theatrical stop on every Himara coastline tour.
Smuggler's Canyon is a narrow cliff cleft on the Karaburun Peninsula north of Himara, where a slot of turquoise water cuts between towering rock walls. Boat-only and far north, it's a dramatic photo-and-swim stop on long-haul Grama Bay cruises.
Castles, tunnels, and military relics visible from the bay.
Ali Pasha's triangular fortress sits on the central peninsula of Porto Palermo Bay — three round bastions, dark vaulted galleries, and a rooftop view over the Cold War submarine tunnel. The headline landmark of every southbound Himara boat tour.
The 650-metre Cold War submarine tunnel at the northern end of Porto Palermo Bay — built between 1969 and 1988 to house Whiskey-class submarines, sealed since 1998. Viewed from the boat as part of every southbound Himara tour.
Wild headlands forming the northern edge of every long-haul tour.
Group speedboat tours start at about 30€ per person for the Pirate's Cave half-day. The Grama Bay full-day runs about 58€ per person, and the Porto Palermo half-day from around 20€. Private boats cost 150€ to 500€ for the whole boat.
Yes. Life jackets are provided for all ages and the Pirate's Cave half-day is gentle enough for families. Shallow swim stops suit children well. The speedboat can be bumpy in afternoon chop, so morning departures are best for young kids.
In July and August, book at least a day ahead — popular morning departures fill first. In June and September, walking up to the booths on Spile Beach usually works. Online booking guarantees your seat and a fixed price.
Tours cancel in high winds or storms, and operators offer a reschedule or refund. Northern routes get blown out first; the sheltered Porto Palermo half-day often still runs. Rainy mornings frequently clear by the afternoon.
Take the Pirate's Cave half-day if you have a morning. Take the Grama Bay full-day if you have a full day — it reaches the Riviera's most unspoiled bay and the Blue Cave. On windy days, the sheltered Porto Palermo route is the safe bet.
