Tour Gjirokaster,Blue Eye & Lekursi Castle

Gjirokaster’s stone-roofed houses, the Blue Eye’s startling turquoise water, and Lekursi Castle’s broad view over Saranda make this a strong way to see inland Albania in one outing. You get three very different stops, not just another beach day.

I like the small-vehicle approach, which can be far more comfortable on Albania’s winding roads, and I like the flexible guiding style reported with Jona, who shared the key history and then let people explore. The $41.94 price also covers transport and Blue Eye entry.

The catch is simple: this is a long road day. The advertised five to six hours can stretch to eight, and some departures have taken most of the day. The Blue Eye walk is also hilly, while Gjirokaster and the mountain roads can be tiring.

Key points before you book

• Three major stops in one day: Gjirokaster, the Blue Eye, and Lekursi Castle give you culture, nature, and a view over Saranda.
• Expect plenty of driving: The attractions are spread out, and mountain roads include sharp curves.
• Jona and Orlando are named guides: Guide quality can shape the day, with Jona praised for clear explanations and flexibility.
• The Blue Eye walk matters: The path from the parking area may feel strenuous, and the optional train costs €6.
• Gjirokaster Castle costs extra: Entry is optional and costs €4 per person.
• Return to Saranda is included: Pickup is offered in Saranda, and the tour ends back at the starting point.

Why this Saranda day trip works

From Saranda, it is easy to spend your whole visit beside the water. This tour gives you a useful change of pace. In one day, you see an Ottoman-era hill town, a cold natural spring, and a castle viewpoint above the coast.

That variety is the main reason to book it. Gjirokaster feels old and substantial. The Blue Eye is a short nature stop with a striking color. Lekursi Castle is brief, but it gives you the broadest view of the day.

The price is reasonable for a shared excursion at $41.94 per person. You are paying for an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup in Saranda, Blue Eye admission, and a guide or driver. You still need to budget €4 for optional entry to Gjirokaster Castle and €6 for the Blue Eye train if you do not want to walk the full route.

The wording around duration deserves attention. A five to six hour estimate is possible in light traffic and with efficient stops, but actual timing can reach eight hours. One port pickup ran from about 9:00 in the morning to 3:15 in the afternoon, while another departure finished around 5:30. Do not book a late activity in Saranda unless you have plenty of room in your schedule.

Gjirokaster’s stone lanes and slate roofs

Gjirokaster is the cultural heart of this outing. The old town climbs a hillside, with chunky limestone paving, heavy stone houses, and slate roofs that give the place its distinctive look. From higher points, you can look toward the Drina Valley.

The town has been settled for about 2,500 years, but the buildings that catch your eye today are mainly the roughly 600 protected Ottoman-era houses. They are not delicate museum pieces. Their thick stone construction gives Gjirokaster a stern, fortress-like character, and the steep streets make the town feel built for defense as much as daily life.

You get about two hours here. That is enough to walk through the old town, take photographs, browse the lanes, and decide if you want to pay for the castle. It is not enough for an unhurried visit to every corner, so use your time well.

Gjirokaster Castle is optional and costs €4 per person. The admission is not included, and you pay on the spot. If you are interested in Albania’s past, the extra fee is likely worthwhile. If steep walks are difficult for you, the castle approach may be daunting, and you can instead spend your time in the old town.

The town is also linked to Enver Hoxha, Albania’s former dictator, who was born here. He is not memorialized in the town, but that connection helps explain why Gjirokaster was kept in relatively good condition during his rule. The town is also closely tied to Ismail Kadare, Albania’s best-known author, whose novel Chronicle in Stone captures its atmosphere.

You should expect uneven stone streets and some uphill walking. Wear shoes with a firm sole, and do not treat the two-hour stop as a passive sightseeing break. It is a place you experience on foot.

The Blue Eye and its cold turquoise spring

The Blue Eye, or Syri i kaltër, is the most unusual natural stop. Water rises from a deep spring beneath a small metal viewing platform, forming a light turquoise river that flows through dense woodland.

The color is the attraction, but the setting gives it more force. After the dry, stony feel of Gjirokaster, the Blue Eye feels cool and shaded. You can walk along the path, look down into the spring, and follow the water as it moves away through the trees.

The included admission covers entry to the Blue Eye site. The optional train costs €6 per person. This matters because the walking distance can be more demanding than the short stop description suggests. One account describes roughly 1.5 kilometers from the parking area, while another warns that the full route can feel like several kilometers when you include the walk around the site.

The path is hilly, so this is not ideal if you have walking problems. You can use the train instead of walking, but that is an added cost. Ask about the train early in the stop so you do not lose time deciding after the group has moved on.

Swimming is prohibited by signs, though people still jump into the ice-cold water. I would not count on swimming as part of the experience. The better use of the stop is to enjoy the color, the trees, and the unusual spring from the viewing area.

The approach includes winding roads, and this is where motion sickness can become a real issue. If mountain curves affect you, bring medication such as Dramamine if it is suitable for you, and sit where you usually feel best in a vehicle. The road is part of the practical cost of reaching the spring.

Lekursi Castle and the final view

Lekursi Castle is the shortest stop, usually about 30 minutes. It sits above Saranda and gives you panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and coast.

The visit works as a final viewpoint rather than a long castle tour. You get out, take in the scene, and photograph Saranda from above. After several hours on the road, that short break can be welcome.

If you want a drink or a slower finish, plan your expectations carefully. The stop may be brief, and you might not have time for a relaxed cocktail unless the group agrees to linger. Arriving early can help if you want a table to watch the sunset, since the site can become busy.

This is also the stop where the tour’s schedule can feel tight. The castle is close to Saranda, but an earlier delay at Gjirokaster or the Blue Eye may reduce your time here. Think of Lekursi as a scenic conclusion, not the main event.

Transport, group size, and road time

Pickup is offered from your location in Saranda, and the stated meeting point is Leka Tours & Rent a Car Sarandë on Rruga Mitat Hoxha. The tour returns there at the end. If you are arriving by ship, confirm the pickup arrangement and allow extra time for port traffic.

The maximum group size is listed as 20 people, but vehicle arrangements can vary. On some departures, the company has used several smaller vehicles instead of one large bus. That can be a sensible choice on narrow or twisting roads, and a private van with six people is considerably more comfortable than a full coach.

The tradeoff is that a split group may not always have the same guide in every vehicle. Some people have received useful commentary from drivers about Albania and the places along the way. On other departures, the driver offered little information during the road sections and functioned more like a taxi service.

That difference is important. If you book mainly for transportation, the tour should meet your needs well. If you expect continuous guided commentary, ask the company who will guide your vehicle. Jona has been praised for being considerate, offering useful historical points, and asking the group how much time they wanted in the village. Orlando has also been singled out for answering questions and making the day more engaging.

Do not assume every vehicle will provide the same level of narration. The experience depends partly on the guide assigned to you and partly on how the group is organized.

What the $41.94 price really covers

At $41.94 per person, the tour offers good value if you want to combine these destinations without arranging a car. Albania’s inland roads and scattered sights make independent transport less simple than a map suggests. A shared vehicle removes the need to manage directions, parking, and the return drive.

The included air-conditioning matters during a long summer road day. A booster seat is also included, which helps families who need one. Blue Eye admission is covered, but the two common extras are easy to miss:

• Gjirokaster Castle: €4 per person, optional
• Blue Eye train: €6 per person, optional

The bigger cost is your time. If the trip runs eight hours, you are giving up most of a day. That is fair for a three-stop inland route, but it makes the tour less attractive if you have only a short stay in Saranda or a fixed evening booking.

I would compare this tour with the cost and stress of hiring a private taxi or rental car. The tour gives you structure and pickup, but it does not guarantee a fully guided experience in every vehicle. For a solo visitor or couple, the shared price can be sensible. For a larger family, check whether the vehicle setup and included booster seat fit your needs.

Who will enjoy this route most

You will probably like this tour if you want to see more than Saranda’s waterfront and prefer a ready-made route. It suits people who enjoy old towns, short nature walks, viewpoints, and a full day with several changes of scene.

It is also a good match if you are comfortable letting the guide manage the timing. Jona’s style, when available, includes short explanations followed by free time, which works well if you do not want someone talking continuously while you take photographs.

You should think twice if you dislike long drives or motion sickness. The mountain roads include sharp S-curves, and the three destinations are not close together. People with walking difficulties may find the slopes in Gjirokaster and the Blue Eye path hard, though the Blue Eye train offers an alternative for an extra fee.

This is not the best choice if your ideal tour is a slow, in-depth visit to one place. It is a highlights day. You see a lot, but you do not linger everywhere.

Practical ways to make the day better

Bring water, comfortable shoes, and a light layer for the Blue Eye, where the wooded spring area may feel cooler than Saranda. Keep some cash available for Gjirokaster Castle and the optional train.

If you are prone to motion sickness, prepare before departure rather than waiting for the first mountain road. Choose a seat that normally works for you and avoid a heavy meal immediately before the drive.

Treat the published timing as an estimate. Keep your evening free, especially if you are staying on a cruise ship or have a restaurant reservation. One departure reached the ship around 3:15, while another finished close to 5:30.

At Gjirokaster, decide early whether you want the castle. At the Blue Eye, decide early whether you will walk or pay for the train. These small choices prevent the stops from feeling rushed.

If you want a sunset drink at Lekursi Castle, tell the guide at the start of the day. The usual 30-minute stop may not allow much time, but the schedule can sometimes be adjusted to suit the group.

Should you book the Gjirokaster, Blue Eye, and Lekursi Castle tour?

Book it if you want three of southern Albania’s key sights in one organized day and you accept that the roads will take time. The price is fair for transport, pickup, Blue Eye entry, and a route that would require more planning by car.

I would especially recommend it for visitors staying in Saranda who have no rental car and want a practical inland excursion. The strongest version of the day comes with a guide such as Jona or Orlando, a small vehicle, and a flexible group.

Skip it if you need a strict five-hour schedule, dislike winding roads, or want detailed commentary from start to finish. Also allow extra money for Gjirokaster Castle and the Blue Eye train. With those points clear, this is a worthwhile, busy Albanian day out rather than a restful half-day trip.

FAQ

How long does the tour take?

The stated duration is approximately five to six hours, but the day can last longer. Departures described in the tour information have taken about six and a quarter hours to eight hours, so you should keep your evening free.

Where does the tour start and end?

The listed meeting point is Leka Tours & Rent a Car Sarandë on Rruga Mitat Hoxha in Saranda. The activity ends back at the meeting point. Pickup is offered from locations in Saranda.

Is entry to Gjirokaster Castle included?

No. Gjirokaster Castle entry is optional and costs €4 per person. The tour includes time in Gjirokaster’s old town, but you pay the castle admission separately.

Is the Blue Eye train included?

No. Blue Eye admission is included, but the optional train costs €6 per person. You can choose to walk instead, though the path is hilly and may be tiring.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum listed capacity of 20 people. Depending on the number booked and the roads, the company may use smaller vans or several vehicles.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, and poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size may result in another date or a full refund.