Ksamil is one of the few places on the Albanian coast where you can have a genuinely good day without ever getting on a boat. The islets are a 100-metre swim from the sand, and the water off the main beach is as clear as anything you will reach by sea. That is worth saying up front, because it changes which boat trips are actually worth your money here.
The ones that earn it are the trips that take you somewhere you physically cannot walk or swim to: the coves south of Saranda that have no road, the Corfu channel, and Butrint approached from the water. The ones that don't are the short hops to islands you can see from your sunbed. Here is the honest breakdown.
What runs from Ksamil, and what it costs
| Trip | Typical length | Rough price | Worth it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water taxi to the islets | 5-10 min each way | ~€5-7 return | Yes, if you'd rather not swim |
| Pedalo / SUP hire | By the hour | ~500-700 ALL/hour | Yes, cheap and fun |
| Half-day coastal cruise | 3-4 hours | ~€25-40 | Depends on the stops |
| Full-day cove tour (Krorez, Kakome) | 6-8 hours | ~€30-50 | The best boat day here |
| Private boat charter | Half or full day | From ~€150-300 | Yes, split between 4-6 |
| Corfu ferry (from Saranda) | 30-90 min crossing | Ferry ticket | A trip, not a tour |
Prices move with season and operator, and peak-August rates sit at the top of every range. Treat these as the shape of the market rather than quotes.
The islets: swim, pedalo, or water taxi
The small islands offshore are Ksamil's postcard, and there are three ways to reach them, in ascending order of cost and descending order of satisfaction.
Swim. The nearest islet sits roughly 100 metres off the main beach, with the further ones 200-400 m out depending which beach you start from. For a confident swimmer the near crossing is short and easy in water that runs 24-27°C from June through September. It costs nothing and it is the way most people should do it. Water shoes help. The islet shores are rocky rather than sandy.
Pedalo or SUP. Around 500-700 ALL per hour, available along the main beach. The best option with a bag, a towel and someone who doesn't want to swim. Expect waits at midday in July and August.
Water taxi. Roughly €5-7 return per person, running from about 09:00 in peak season. Worth it with small children, non-swimmers, or if you want to reach the further islets rather than the twins.
Our Ksamil islands guide covers which islet is which and where to land.
The trip that's actually worth booking: the southern coves
If you book one boat day from Ksamil, make it the full-day trip down the coast to Krorez and Kakome.
These are large, clear-water bays on the stretch of coast south of Saranda with no road access at all. That single fact is what makes them worth a day and €30-50: they are empty in a way that nothing reachable by bus can be in an Albanian August. You get swim stops in water as clear as Ksamil's with a fraction of the people, and lunch is usually included or available on board.
Most of these tours depart from Saranda harbour rather than Ksamil itself, so factor in the 15-20 minute bus each way, or arrange a pickup. Our Saranda boat tours guide covers operators and routes in detail, and departures are listed on GetYourGuide's Ksamil page and Saranda page.
Butrint from the water
A quieter option that suits anyone who has already done Butrint on foot. The Vivari channel connects the Butrint lagoon to the sea, and approaching the site by water, past the Ali Pasha fortress at the channel mouth, gives you the geography that the land route hides. You understand immediately why a city was built there.
Some coastal cruises include the channel; others stop at the mouth. Ask before booking if this is the part you care about, because the difference between "we sail past" and "we go in" is the whole trip.
Half-day cruises: read the stop list
The most common thing sold along the Ksamil beachfront is a three-to-four-hour coastal cruise at roughly €25-40. These range from excellent to pointless, and the difference is entirely in the itinerary.
Ask exactly where it stops before you pay. A trip whose stops are "the Ksamil islands" is selling you a boat ride to somewhere you could have swum for free. A trip that reaches the coves south of Saranda, or the caves along the coast, is selling you something genuinely inaccessible.
Other things worth confirming at the kiosk:
- How long anchored versus how long moving. Some tours are 80% transit.
- Whether lunch and drinks are included, and whether "included" means a sandwich.
- Group size. A 40-person boat and a 10-person boat at the same price are not the same product.
- Snorkelling gear, usually provided, occasionally not.
Private charters
For a group of four to six, a private boat is often better value than it sounds. Charters run from roughly €150-300 for a half or full day depending on the boat, which divides down to something comparable with a group tour while letting you set the route, the stops and the timing.
The real advantage is timing rather than money: you can be at the good coves at 09:00 or 17:00 instead of at noon with everyone else. In July and August that is worth paying for.
When to book
- Peak season (mid-July to late August): book a day or two ahead, especially for full-day cove tours and anything private. During the Ferragosto fortnight around 15 August, longer.
- June and September: day-of booking is usually fine midweek. September is arguably the best month on the water. The sea is still 24-25°C, the boats are half full, and the coves are empty.
- May and October: operators run reduced schedules and some trips only go with minimum numbers. Check the day before.
Nothing much runs from November to April.
Practical notes
- Bring cash. Beachfront kiosks and water taxis are cash-only more often than not; the nearest reliable ATMs are in Saranda.
- Sun exposure on a boat is worse than on a beach. There is no shade to retreat to and the water reflects. Long sleeves beat more sunscreen.
- Sea state matters more than forecast temperature. Afternoon wind picks up along this coast in summer; morning departures are consistently calmer, which matters if anyone gets seasick.
- Water shoes for rocky landings at the coves and islets.
- Check the return time against your bus. The last Ksamil bus from Saranda leaves around 20:00 in peak season and considerably earlier off-season.
FAQ
How much do boat tours from Ksamil cost?
A half-day coastal cruise runs roughly €25-40 and a full-day trip to the southern coves €30-50, with private charters from about €150-300 for a group. Water taxis to the islets are around €5-7 return, and pedalos or SUPs about 500-700 ALL per hour.
Do you need a boat to reach the Ksamil islands?
No. The nearest islet sits about 100 metres offshore and the swim is short and easy for a confident swimmer in 24-27°C summer water. Water taxis (~€5-7 return) and pedalos (~500-700 ALL/hour) exist for anyone who would rather not swim or is carrying belongings.
What is the best boat trip from Ksamil?
The full-day tour to Krorez and Kakome, the road-inaccessible coves south of Saranda. They are the only nearby beaches genuinely empty in peak season, which is what makes the €30-50 and the travel to Saranda harbour worth it.
Do Ksamil boat tours run in September and October?
September yes, at close to full frequency and with the year's emptiest boats. The sea is still 24-25°C. October drops to reduced schedules with some trips running only on minimum numbers, so check the day before. Very little operates November to April.
Should I book Ksamil boat tours in advance?
In mid-July and August, book a day or two ahead, and longer around 15 August. In June and September, walking up midweek is usually fine. Private charters should always be arranged in advance whatever the month.
The bottom line
Ksamil is unusual in that its headline attraction, the islets, needs no boat at all: swim it, or pay €5-7 rather than €30. Save the money for the full-day trip to Krorez and Kakome, where the boat is buying you something you genuinely cannot reach otherwise. Book ahead in August, go in the morning for calm water, and if there are four of you, price a private charter before you dismiss it.
