Day Trip to Saranda & Butrint National Park (Optional) from Corfu
Description
Our single-day cruise to the fascinating country of Albania is aimed at adventurous travellers seeking something out of the ordinary. From the Port of Corfu, we follow the Albanian coast to the city port of Saranda. A 20 km guided coach tour of the south coast’s virgin shores and scattered islands is available. We pass small picturesque villages and endless fertile plains that lead to a great lake. The highlight of your day will be a visit to Butrint – an UNESCO World Heritage site. Over the centuries, the ancient town had disappeared under layers of silt and vegetation. In recent years, however, archaeologists have uncovered some of the finest working town remains in the Mediterranean. The Venetian Tower near the entrance, the ancient theatre, the Temple of Asclepius, the ancient gymnasium, the Roman Baths, the Roman Baptistery with its priceless mosaic floor, the Lion gate and the enormous Cyclopean walls will transport you back in time from 2500 years till the 3rd century.(OPTIONAL)
Tour Options
Itinerary
Admire the scenery of the Old Town of Corfu
Arrival at the main Port of Albania (Saranda). Passport control and coach boarding
Short coffee break in Saranda City
Arrival at the archaeological area of Butrint. Tour lasts between 90-110 minutes depending on age. The tour for elderly or disabled guests will include 70% of the archaeological area (with a separate guide when necessary). There is a small bar/ kiosk at the entrance to the site. Public bathroom facilities are available at the end of the tour in the Venetian Castle on the Acropolis hill.
Lunch at a sea view restaurant in Saranda Guided walking tour of Saranda and free time
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please be aware that due to the limited passport & customs control facilities and due to the lack of personnel for passport control, there might be a delay in the control process at the port of Corfu, from 30 to 90 minutes upon arrival or departure for all the summer itineraries. Our company provides coach transfers to and from the hotel and the main Port of Corfu. The duration of coach transfer depends on your hotel location (from 20' to 120', approximately). Please be at the meeting point at least 5 minutes in advance and look for the bus with an Ionian Cruises sign. The Corfu Cruises Customer Service phone number is available for the morning coach transfer. Please note that our company provides transfer from San George-Pagi (North) every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Departure from the port at 08:45. Boarding from 07:40 until 08:20. Terminal gate closes at 08:30. Please be at the port at least 40 minutes before the scheduled boat departure time if you have not booked a pick-up. The departure time is subject to slight change according to local traffic conditions.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(7)
Knowledgeable guides (available in multiple languages), well-planned itinerary, the lunch is a bit light on protein for non meat eaters but I still left full :) Saranda isn't too interesting but Butrinti was excellent, totally worth it!
I really enjoyed all the information and looking at the ruins. Although disapointed not to see the big mosaics advertised in the description of the trip and my main purpose in going. The lunch was a buffet style and Although it was good I expected something traditional. As for the time left to look around Sarandra, we found it to be pointless unless you want more food and drink we saw two shops selling junk items, and we did walk up and down the tiered streets as recommended. Would not do again unfortunately.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your review and for sharing your experience with our future guests. We truly appreciate your feedback. We would like to add a few small details that we believe are important for future visitors. First, we're very glad to hear that you enjoyed the ruins, the guided tour, and the schedule. Albania is a beautiful country that deserves more attention, and at the same time, it is still developing. Visiting Albania offers a unique experience—a perfect blend of modern and traditional elements. Butrint National Park is well preserved, and the authorities are doing an excellent job maintaining its cultural heritage. Regarding the free time in Saranda City, we would like to mention that while the city is not very large, it is continuously growing. This gives our guests enough time to explore and enjoy it at a relaxed pace. We are truly pleased that you had a positive experience on the tour and that you appreciated our service and organization. Warm regards, Alexandra
A fantastic day of Antiquity, and a very very enjoyable buffet. Great guide and driver, also relaxing cruise there and back.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful appreciation. Beyond the well-planned schedule and organization of our tours, we would also like to highlight that Albania is a country truly worth exploring—from south to north. It offers beautiful beaches, breathtaking landscapes, and a rich history that come together to create a unique and unforgettable experience. We cannot thank you enough for your warm feedback, and we sincerely hope to welcome you again on one of our future tours. Warm regards, Alexandra
Very nice day with our myra guide who spoke French very well. Beautiful argeological site to see absolutely. I recommend this excursion.
Chere Cliente, Nous vous remercions sincèrement pour votre avis et pour avoir partagé votre expérience avec nos futurs clients. Vos aimables commentaires nous touchent beaucoup et nous sommes ravis d’apprendre que nos services ont été si appréciés. Nous serions ravis de vous accueillir de nouveau à bord très prochainement. Cordialement, Alexandra
The day was very well organised. We opted for the pick up which was prompt, professional and comfortable. When we arrived at the port, we were clearly directed as to where we should be and what to do, there were plenty of staff to assist. The boat was comfortable and the journey to Sarandë took about 1 hr 15 minutes, it was very smooth for most of it, around 10 minutes on the approach to Sarande was a little choppy. Once we arrived, we were professionally guided to the correct coach by language and greeted by our guide who stayed with us for the remainder of the day. He gave us great information as we toured the site of Butrint which was amazing. If you are unsteady in your feet the paths here can be a little difficult, there were some people with strollers on our tour and I think it was very hard for them. The included lunch was really good and in a nice location, we then returned to Sarande for around an hour of free time before heading back to Corfú. We were are party of 3 - couple of 55 and one 70+ year old - and we all had a great day and thought it to be exceptionally good value.
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your review with us and with future travelers. It is always a pleasure to hear that our guests had an enjoyable experience with our company, and we truly appreciate your kind recognition of our efforts. The daily cruise to Albania is indeed a tour that deserves attention, as the country offers a wealth of sights and experiences to explore. We are committed to providing excellent service and creating lasting memories for our guests. We are sincerely grateful for your kind words and hope to welcome you back again in the future. Warm regards, Alexandra
From our hotel in Messonghi, 50 minutes by coach to reach the city of Corfu departure from the boat. Then 50 minutes by boat to Albania where we discover the city of Saranda: concrete and buildings. The guide offers us from the arrival a break in a bar-restaurant (10 minutes by bus) to rest 30 minutes 🙄... And we leave by coach to the site of Butrint (35 minutes by bus), although classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but where visitors are free to walk anywhere, no limits or protection!? The site is of little interest to us... ruins, mosaics that are on the guides but not visible because covered with sand to protect them. Then back to the restaurant included in the price of the exit (35mn bus), a simple buffet with apple for dessert 🥴. Re-bus (20 minutes) towards the castle Lekuresi where we are offered a 15 minutes stop for the view + photo, we take the bus (20 minutes) for a free time in Saranda 50 minutes but not much to see, new constructions, bars, restaurants and few shops... Finally: Back, it's gone for 1 hour boat to Corfu and 50 minutes bus to the hotel... balance 5h30 transport..😕 It may be worth visiting Butrint if you are already in Albania, but the excursion from Corfu is disappointing...
Cher(e) Client(e), Merci d’avoir pris le temps de partager votre avis. Après avoir lu attentivement vos commentaires, nous pensons que vous n’avez pas participé à notre excursion officielle en Albanie avec Ionian Cruises – Ionian Seaways. Nous souhaitons clarifier quelques points importants afin d’aider nos futurs clients à comprendre que l’excursion que vous décrivez ne correspond pas à celle proposée par notre compagnie. Tout d’abord, notre programme ne prévoit pas de pause-café à l’arrivée à Saranda. Ensuite, nous ne visitons pas le château de Lekursi dans le cadre de notre itinéraire. Enfin, la visite du parc national de Butrint avec notre compagnie est toujours guidée : nos clients sont accompagnés par un guide local certifié pendant toute la durée de la visite. Nous sommes sincèrement désolés que votre expérience en Albanie avec une autre compagnie n’ait pas été à la hauteur de vos attentes. Ce pays offre pourtant de nombreux sites historiques, musées, villages traditionnels et lieux propices à la détente et à la découverte. Nous espérons avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir lors d’une prochaine excursion. Nous vous garantissons une expérience que vous ne regretterez pas. Cordialement, Alexandra
Pretty organized and a well planned day to Sarande and Butrint. So many of the ruins are still standing and in decent shape. Bus driver managed to navigate a difficult detour due to construction. Lunch was delicious and included in my package.
Dear Guest, We would like to thank you for taking the time in sharing your experience with our future guests and us as well. We are glad that you enjoyed your time with us in Albania which is a country that deserves to be discovered. We thank you for your appreciation.
