Wine Tasting Tour with Blue Eye and Lekursi Castle Sunset
Description
Experience the best of southern Albania in one unforgettable day. This tour combines the natural beauty of the Blue Eye Spring, the charm of local wine tasting, and the magic of a sunset at Lekursi Castle overlooking the Ionian Sea. 1-Begin your journey with a visit to the legendary Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër). Marvel at the vivid blue waters bubbling from the earth in a lush forest setting. Learn about the spring’s mysterious depth and enjoy a peaceful walk through nature. 2-Wine Tasting Experience at Kantina Isak Discover Albania’s ancient wine-making heritage while sampling a selection of local wines and raki, paired with cheese, olives, and other regional delights. Meet the winemakers and learn about native grape varieties and rural traditions. 3-The last destination ,is Lekursi Castle, perched high above Saranda. Take in breathtaking views of the town, Ionian coastline, and Corfu Island as the sun sets in spectacular colors.
Tour Options
Itinerary
What makes the Blue Eye so fascinating is that divers have attempted to descend into its turquoise waters to calculate its depth several times without succeeding. Thus, it remains a mystery how deep the Blue Eye is, but the deepest point the divers have reached is 50 m (164 ft) deep. Syri I Kalter (which is Albanian for “Blue Eye”) is a unique place that you should definitely add to your Albanian itinerary.
Kantina e Verës ISAK offers an incredible experience of Albanian hospitality with a quaint and charming vineyard setting. Visitors are treated to a tour of the wine production, and olive oil before tasting raki, fresh vegetables, cheeses etc
Amidst stone ruins there often exists lurid tales of times long past. The Lëkurësi Castle in Albania is just one of those ruins. Also known as Kalaja e Lëkurësit in Albanian, this historical castle has an interesting history.Located on a steep hill that strategically overlooks the town of Saranda, the castle was built in 1537 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Suleiman was a powerful Sultan who, under his administration, ruled over at least 25 million people. During his monarchy, he led Ottoman armies in their attempts to conquer Christian strongholds throughout Europe. The building of the castle of Lëkurës on such a steep hill certainly would have been a strategic decision.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(20)
Lici Tours organised an amazing half-day tour of the Blue Eye, local family winery and sunset from Lekursi castle. It was a great way to see the sights near Sarandë. The highlight was the stop at the local vineyard to try traditional Albanian wine and raki with cheese and olives. The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area, timing the stops perfectly for the sunset view from the castle. This trip is a must-do in Sarandë for nature, local wine and great views!
It was not private, but with a small group. But we had a lot of fun with the other guests. The guide was funny and knew the right spots in short we had a really good time
I loved the whole experience offered by Lici Tours visiting a local winery, the Blue Eye, and Lekursi Castle. We started at the winery, where we got to see the horses that live on the property, learn about the process of wine and olive oil production, and walk through the vineyards. Then came the wine tasting itself, and it was amazing! There was plenty of delicious food, wine, and of course, raki too. 😊 I was traveling solo, but the other guests immediately made me feel welcome at their table, which made the experience even more special. After enjoying some wonderful Albanian hospitality, we continued to the Blue Eye. The whole trip was guided, well organized, and the pickups were right on time. Our guide, Klajdi, was friendly, funny, and attentive. I kept marveling at how beautiful the nature surrounding us was. Our final stop was Lekursi Castle, and for me, this place was pure magic. There is something very special about the atmosphere up there, and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the day. We spent around 40 minutes taking pictures, enjoying the views, and simply soaking it all in. I would absolutely recommend this tour, especially if you want to experience several different sides of Albania in one day — its wine and food, incredible nature, hospitality, and beautiful views. It was a memorable day and a wonderful experience!
Had a lovely tour guide who was very accommodating, however we were all very surprised about having to pay £15 extra on top of the £50 for the tour for the wine tasting when it was advertised as a wine tasting tour, although it did mention alcohol not included the title of the tour was misleading and overall not sure why we paid £50 each to get driven to two places.
Hello, Thank you for your feedback and for joining our tour. We are very sorry to hear that your experience did not fully meet your expectations, especially because during the tour we did our best to accommodate all requests and ensure everyone had a pleasant day. Regarding the wine tasting, we would kindly like to clarify that the wine tasting menu was clearly marked as not included in the tour price, both in the activity description and in your reservation details. We also personally explained this again on the day of the tour before arriving at the winery to avoid any misunderstanding. Additionally, the amount mentioned in the review is not fully accurate, as the final tour price depends on the number of participants through tier pricing. The actual rate per person for your booking was significantly lower than stated. We were especially surprised by this review because we waited more than 3 extra hours at the winery to accommodate the group and make sure everyone could fully enjoy the experience without feeling rushed. Of course, we respect all feedback and always try to improve, but we genuinely feel that this review does not fully reflect the overall experience and the effort made during the tour.
Vey nice trip begining with blue eye after the wine tour and in the end with sunset from the castle Thats all you need❤️
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“Lekursi and winery were incredible and full of stories. The Blue Eye was crystal clear even in January.”
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“A great mix of nature and local flavors. The Blue Eye was breathtaking and the wine tasting was fantastic.”
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A must-visit place for sunset lovers. The castle views combined with the wine at winery and the sunset create a truly romantic and peaceful moment.
The wine tasting was a real highlight of the day, offering a great chance to enjoy local flavors in a beautiful setting. Ending the tour at Lekursi Castle was the perfect way to wrap up the experience, with stunning views and a wonderful atmosphere.
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This is an ideal experience for couples and anyone who wants to see a mix of nature, food wine , and breathtaking landscapes. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Saranda!
Thankyou We're glad you had a great experience with us
