Saint Andrew's Bay

What Saint Andrew's Bay Actually Is

Saint Andrew's Bay — Gjiri i Shën Andreut in Albanian, often anglicised as Saint Andreas, Shën Andre, or Sant Andreas — is a small, sealed-in bay tucked into the eastern flank of the Karaburun Peninsula, roughly halfway between Palasë and Grama Bay. The beach is barely 50 metres of white pebbles. Cliffs drop straight into the water on both sides. There is no village, no road, no kiosk — just rock, sea, and a small chapel that gave the bay its name.

Most visitors who reach it arrive on a speedboat from Himara as part of a Grama Bay full-day tour. Hiking access exists, but it is a serious half-day undertaking.

Getting There by Boat from Himara

Saint Andrew's Bay sits approximately 25 km north of Himara's mini-dock by sea (estimated — operators don't publish exact distances), along the open Ionian outside Karaburun's eastern shore. Speedboats run the route in 35–50 minutes depending on chop. Operators that include the bay on standard itineraries:

Shared seats start around €58 per person on Himara Water Taxi's Grama route. Private speedboat charters covering the same itinerary range from €250 to €450 depending on group size and operator.

Hiking In: Two Routes

If you want to reach the bay on foot, there are two trails. Neither is marked well — download the GPX track in advance.

Coastal route from Palasë (moderate)

• Distance: ~9.5 km one way (≈17 km round trip)
• Elevation: ~521 m gain
• Time: 4–5 hours each way
• Starts in Palasë village, follows the coast into the southern Karaburun foothills
• The most popular hiking access

Llogara National Park route (challenging)

• Distance: ~20 km round trip
• Elevation: 1,500–1,600 m total gain/loss
• Time: 8–10 hours including breaks
• Drops down through pine forest from the Llogara Pass
• Recommended only outside summer — the descent is exposed and brutally hot from June to August

Carry 3 litres of water per person on either route. There are no springs.

What You'll See and Do

The bay is small enough that a 30-minute swim stop covers it. The pebble beach is bright white, and the water clarity is exceptional — visibility is consistently rated as outstanding by operators and travellers in calm conditions. The sea floor drops off sharply within a few metres of shore, so weak swimmers should stay close to the boat.

Snorkelling is good along the southern cliff face, where rocky overhangs hold small schools of bream and damselfish. The chapel of Saint Andrew sits inland from the beach; many tours don't allow time to walk up to it, but if you're hiking in you'll pass it.

The bay faces east, so morning light is best for photography. By mid-afternoon the cliffs start casting long shadows across the water.

Sea Conditions and Timing

This stretch of coast is exposed to northwesterly winds (the Tramontana) that can build through the day. Operators consistently recommend morning departures: smoother water, better visibility through the surface, and a higher chance of completing the full Karaburun route before the afternoon chop forces a shortened return.

If a southerly Sirocco is blowing, Saint Andrew's Bay is one of the more sheltered swim stops on the route — the cliffs block most of the swell. If a northerly is up, the operator may skip it or shorten the stop.

Practical Tips

• Bring aqua shoes. The pebbles are large and the drop-off is steep.
• Pack a dry bag. Spray on the run from Palasë to Saint Andrew's is unavoidable.
• No food on most tours. Eat before boarding or bring snacks; only a few private charters include lunch.
• Cash for tips and incidentals. ATMs don't exist on the boat.
• Sun cover. The deck is exposed for the full crossing — long sleeves help more than sunscreen.

Saint Andrew's Bay vs. Grama Bay vs. Gjipe

All three are stops on the same long-haul Karaburun tour, and travellers regularly conflate them. Quick orientation:

Grama Bay is the marquee destination for the inscriptions carved into the cliffs — Saint Andrew's is the prettier swim. If you only have time for one, take the tour that does both.