Tour Gjirokaster,Blue Eye & Lekursi Castle
Description
The fascinating old centre of Gjirokaster is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Largely medieval, with some lovely architecture to admire, reflecting the town’s wealthy past, it is built on a hill overlooking a valley and mountains. This interesting museum will give a good impression of the way of living in Albania during the Ottoman period. On our way back to Saranda, we will pass from the national park Syri I Kalter. In this peaceful forest, we will walk (15 min) to the crystal clear spring called Blue Eye, where 900 m3 water per minute is coming from deep down the earth. If time permits, there will be a short coffee break at the restaurant next to the fast streaming river in the park, before heading back to the port of Saranda.
Tour Options
Itinerary
First stop is in Gjirokaster (Old Town) Defined by its castle, roads paved with chunky limestone and shale, imposing slate-roofed houses and views out to the Drina Valley, Gjirokastra is a magical hillside town described beautifully by Albania's most famous author, Ismail Kadare (b 1936), in Chronicle in Stone. There has been a settlement here for 2500 years, though these days it's the 600 'monumental' Ottoman-era houses in town that attract visitors. For Albanians, the town is also synonymous with former dictator Enver Hoxha, who was born here and ensured the town was relatively well preserved under his rule, though he is not memorialised in any way here today.
Second Stop: Blue Eye. Albania’s famous Blue Eye (Syri i kaltër) is a water spring and natural phenomenon that each visitor should witness. A popular tourist attraction, the beautiful light turquoise river stuns with its beauty. Located near Muzinë in Albania’s Vlorë County, you’ll want to rent a car to get to the famous Blue Eye. After following the signs and crossing the bridge (where you’ll pay a small fee), you’ll come across a parking spot and a footpath that leads to the Blue Eye. You’ll first be enchanted by the surrounding dense forest and the beautiful light blue river that flows through this natural paradise. The Blue Eye is located beneath a small metal balcony that was built so you can get a closer look. Even though swimming has been prohibited via signs, it doesn’t really prevent people from jumping right into the ice-cold water.
Third stop: Lekuresi castle Finally, explore Lekuresi Castle, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If the customers are located in Sarande we can pick them up at their location.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(111)
The tour was very well organized. Our guide and chauffeur were very reliable and all meet-ups were on time which is something I value a lot. Our guide Jona knew a lot not just about history but of the Albanian society and the nation’s livelihood in general. It was a pleasure listening to her and she also offered some valuable insights into what the new (post-Communist) generation of Albanians are like and what they think about society and politics. The itinerary was as had been chosen by us (three stops) but by the time we got to Lekuresi castle, our family (two adults and two under aged children), was exhausted. The weather was very warm that day so that played a major role. I can warmly recommend this tour!
Everything perfect with this tour, Jona's kindness and his clarity in explaining every detail of everything we were seeing, beautiful places and adequate time for everything, excellent everything
It was really a top experience! Both the tour guide and the bus driver were incredibly friendly and helpful. They took their time for everyone, were very patient and gave clear explanations. The atmosphere in the group was super cozy, partly thanks to our tour guide Jonah, who really made it something special. Everything was well organized and you immediately felt welcome. This tour is definitely recommended. If you are in Sarandë, you really can't miss this! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nice combination of activities. Great transport with AC. Tourguide Jonah does this every day, but still remains enthusiastic. The time in Gjirokaster is a bit short if you want to go to the fortress and quite long if you don't.
The tour was great. Jona was a very knowledgeable and engaging tour guide and made the experience very interesting. There was a good amount of free time to explore the sites within the overall itinerary, and we managed to fit a lot into the day.
Very nice tour , well worth way to spend the day a must
If you are in Sarande I would recommend Leka Tours. They took me to Gjirokaster, Blue Eye, and Lekursi castle. The tour guide was very friendly and welcoming. She is extremely knowledgeable. I learnt a lot about the history, geography and culture of Albania from her. The tour was educational and informative. Also the customer service is very good. I made the booking last minute, Leka Tours responded quick and was able to give me a tour the next day. Thank you Leka Tours for making this trip memorable. Also a special big thank you to the lovely Tour Guide for showing me the beauty of Albania. I will always remember this trip and remember your great hospitality.
The duration of the tour is 7 hours or more not 5 to 6 as advertised. This makes it difficult to use as a shore expedition unless your ship is staying very late. The tour itself is fine but the van rides are quite long and the tour guide says little during these. The stops are enjoyable but far from outstanding. Our tour guide was friendly and helpful when we needed special arrangements for drop off.
Super nice day with beautiful views, plenty of time and great guiding 🙏 The tour took about 7 hours and we had time for both city, nature and castle.
We had an amazing day on the Gjirokastra, Blue Eye and Lekursi Castle tour. Our guide, Jona, was incredibly kind, friendly and knowledgeable. She shared a lot of interesting information throughout the day and made sure everyone felt comfortable and enjoyed the experience. Gjirokastra is absolutely beautiful and definitely worth visiting. The Blue Eye is a must-see, with its stunning crystal-clear water, and the panoramic view from Lekursi Castle is truly unforgettable. Everything was well organized, and the whole day was a lot of fun. Thank you, Jona, for making this tour such a special experience. We highly recommend it!
