Tour Gjirokaster,Blue Eye & Lekursi Castle

The best part of this Saranda day trip is the variety: an Ottoman hillside town, an icy blue spring, and a hilltop castle all fit into one outing. Gjirokaster gives you Albania’s stone-built past, while the Blue Eye delivers a sharp change of scenery, with turquoise water rising from a forested spring.

I like the small-vehicle approach, since the roads to Gjirokaster and the Blue Eye are much easier in a van or car than on a large coach. I also like the freedom built into the stops. Guides such as Jona have been praised for giving useful history, then letting you wander and take photographs at your own pace.

The catch is simple: this is a lot of road for one day. Although the advertised duration is about five to six hours, some departures have lasted eight hours or more, and the winding mountain roads can be tiring if you suffer from motion sickness.

Key points to know before booking

• Three very different stops: Gjirokaster’s old town, the Blue Eye spring, and Lekursi Castle each offer a distinct reason to go.
• Expect a full day: The schedule may run well beyond five or six hours, especially with port pickup and road delays.
• The Blue Eye involves walking: The path from the parking area is about 1.5 kilometers and includes hills.
• Extra costs apply: Gjirokaster Castle costs €4, and the Blue Eye train costs about €6 per person.
• The mountain roads twist: Bring motion-sickness medication if winding roads bother you.
• Lekursi is brief but scenic: The final stop gives you broad views over Saranda and the surrounding countryside.

Three Albanian sights in one long day

At $41.94 per person, this tour is priced as an efficient way to reach places that are awkward to combine without your own car. You get an air-conditioned vehicle, Blue Eye admission, a booster seat, and pickup in Saranda when arranged in advance.

The value depends on what you want. If you are staying in Saranda and do not want to rent a car, this trip saves you the trouble of arranging transport to inland Albania. You also avoid the work of planning three separate stops.

If you expect a polished, fully guided sightseeing program from the first mile to the last, keep your expectations in check. The guide service can vary. Jona received particularly warm praise for being considerate and informative, while another departure felt closer to a private taxi ride, with little explanation during the drives.

The group size is listed at up to 20 people, but the operator may split the group among several vehicles. That can be a good thing on narrow roads. One departure used smaller vans and a car instead of forcing everyone into a large bus, which made the ride more comfortable and practical.

Gjirokaster, Albania’s stone-built hill town

Gjirokaster is the strongest cultural stop of the day. The old town climbs a hillside above the Drina Valley, with chunky limestone paving, slate-roofed houses, and tall Ottoman-era homes built into the slope.

You get about two hours here. That is enough to walk through the old town, see the stone architecture, browse small shops, and take in the views. It is not enough to study every corner at a slow pace, so you will want to choose your priorities before wandering off.

The town has been settled for about 2,500 years, but its most recognizable buildings come from the Ottoman period. Around 600 houses are classed as monumental buildings, which explains why Gjirokaster feels so different from the coastal towns around Saranda.

The city is also tied to Enver Hoxha, Albania’s former dictator, who was born here. You will not find a large memorial to him in the old town. That absence is worth noting because Gjirokaster’s modern political past is part of its story, even though the town’s appeal today comes mainly from its architecture and setting.

Should you pay for Gjirokaster Castle?

Castle admission is optional and costs €4 per person. The tour includes time in Gjirokaster, but the castle entrance is not included in the main price.

I think the castle is worth considering if you enjoy fortifications, wide views, and unusual museum displays. If steep walking is difficult, you may prefer to stay in the old town. One person found the climb too daunting, and the town itself already involves sloping streets and uneven stone paving.

Ask your guide how much time is available before paying. The tour allows only about two hours in Gjirokaster, so entering the castle will reduce time for the streets and houses. Jona’s approach, according to the information provided, was to explain the main points and then let the group explore. That style suits you if you prefer short history talks rather than a nonstop lecture.

The Blue Eye and its cold turquoise water

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, then flows away as a striking light turquoise river.

The color is the main attraction, but the setting adds to it. Dense woodland surrounds the spring, and the path leads through a quiet natural area before opening onto the water. Swimming is prohibited by signs, though people still jump into the extremely cold spring. You should treat the signs seriously and stay on the safe side of the rules.

Admission to the Blue Eye is included. The train is not. The optional train costs about €6 per person, while walking is free. The route from the parking area to the spring is roughly 1.5 kilometers, with hills along the way. One account described the total walk as close to a couple of miles, so do not treat this as a quick step from the vehicle.

This detail matters more than the word nature stop might suggest. If you have walking problems, ask about the train before setting out. The train is useful, but it adds to the cost and may not suit everyone’s timing. Wear shoes with a firm sole, since the path and surrounding ground can be uneven.

The road to the Blue Eye is another major part of the experience. You will travel through winding mountain sections with repeated S-curves. Drivers were praised for being safe and careful, but even a good driver cannot remove the motion of the road.

If you are prone to nausea, take your usual motion-sickness medicine before departure. Sit where you normally feel best in a vehicle, keep water nearby, and avoid treating the journey as a minor transfer. The road is part of the day.

Lekursi Castle and the final view over Saranda

Lekursi Castle is the shortest stop, with about 30 minutes planned. The castle itself is less important here than the position. From the hill, you can look across Saranda and the surrounding countryside.

The stop works well as a final pause after the longer drives and walking. You get a clear sense of how the coastal town fits into the wider area, and it gives you a chance to take photographs without another long museum visit.

Thirty minutes is enough for a quick look, but not enough for a leisurely meal or a long drink. If you want to sit at the castle restaurant or watch sunset, you may need to stay after the formal tour finishes. Arriving early can help you find a table, since the place can become busy.

One useful point from the experience is that the tour may finish at Lekursi rather than rushing you away immediately. Ask your guide about the return plan if you want extra time there. A cocktail with the view sounds appealing, but it may not fit the planned schedule.

Transport, pickup, and the real timetable

The listed start time is 9:15 a.m. at Leka Tours & Rent a Car Sarandë on Rruga Mitat Hoxha. Pickup can be arranged from your Saranda hotel or location, and the tour returns to the meeting point.

Port pickup is especially useful if you are visiting Saranda from a cruise ship, but allow a generous margin before your ship’s departure. One outing ran from around 9 a.m. until 3:15 p.m., while another lasted until about 5:30 p.m. The advertised five to six hours should be treated as an estimate, not a firm promise.

That difference comes from the distances between the stops, pickup arrangements, group changes, and time spent walking. The attractions are not clustered together. You spend a substantial part of the day in the vehicle, especially on the routes inland and through the mountains.

The operator may gather people at a central point, then place them in smaller vehicles according to numbers. This can improve comfort and handling on narrow roads, but it can also mean that not everyone rides with the main guide.

The best departures appear to be those where the driver gives some local information along the way and the guide gathers the group at the main stops. Orlando was praised for answering questions and making the trip more engaging. Jona was praised for good organization, kindness, and allowing the group some say in how long to stay.

Still, guide coverage is not guaranteed to feel identical on every date. If a guide is not in your vehicle, you may receive little commentary during the road sections.

Walking, fitness, and comfort

You should be comfortable with hills, uneven stone streets, and a fairly long day out. The route through Gjirokaster is not flat, and the Blue Eye requires a walk from the parking area unless you pay for the train.

This is not a specialist hiking trip, but it is not a sit-down sightseeing tour either. The combination of steep streets, a spring path, castle access, and long vehicle time can wear you down.

A booster seat is included, which helps families who need one. Service animals are allowed, and the operator states that most people can participate. Even so, the specific walking demands matter more than the general participation statement.

If you have limited mobility, ask in advance about the Gjirokaster castle climb and the Blue Eye train. You may be able to enjoy the old town and the viewing area without doing every uphill section, but the tour does not promise a fully accessible route.

What your guide may add to the day

The guide can make the difference between a useful day and an expensive transfer. The best version of this trip gives you enough history to understand Gjirokaster, practical help at the Blue Eye, and a little local context during the drives.

Jona is specifically associated with an informative and considerate style. She adjusted to group preferences and gave people time to explore rather than filling every minute with commentary. Orlando was also singled out for being friendly, answering questions, and adding company to the long day.

You should not assume that every departure will include the same level of English-language guiding. At busy times, the company may have difficulty placing an English-speaking guide in every vehicle. One experience felt more like a taxi service because the driver spoke limited English and offered little information.

That is not necessarily a problem if your priority is transport. It is a real drawback if you are booking for history and storytelling. Before departure, confirm whether your vehicle will have a guide and whether the guide will accompany you between stops.

Cancellation and practical booking details

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded.

The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather or low enrollment cancels the trip, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Booking about four weeks ahead is common, so reserve early if your Saranda dates are fixed. This matters most during busy periods, when the company may need several vehicles and English-speaking guide availability may be limited.

Who should book this Saranda day trip?

I would choose this tour if you want to see inland Albania without renting a car, and you like the idea of combining culture, nature, and a view point in one day. It is also a practical choice for a first visit when you want the major nearby sights without building your own route.

You will likely enjoy it most if you:

• Can handle winding mountain roads
• Are happy with a long day that may reach eight hours
• Can walk hills and uneven paths
• Want free time at the stops instead of constant narration
• Prefer a smaller vehicle to a large coach
• Accept that guide quality may vary by departure

I would hesitate if you have a tight cruise schedule, dislike long drives, or need a flat and highly predictable route. I would also avoid booking it solely for a guided history lesson unless you confirm that an English-speaking guide will be with your vehicle.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if convenience matters more than a perfectly paced schedule. For $41.94, the combination of transport, Blue Eye admission, and three worthwhile stops is fair, especially if you are not comfortable driving Albania’s mountain roads yourself.

Go in prepared for a full day, not a quick five-hour outing. Bring motion-sickness medication, budget €4 for Gjirokaster Castle if you want to enter, and keep about €6 available for the Blue Eye train if the walk proves too much.

The strongest version of the tour includes a guide such as Jona or Orlando, a small comfortable vehicle, and enough freedom to explore. The weaker version is mainly transport with limited commentary. If you can accept that uncertainty, this is a useful way to connect Saranda with two of southern Albania’s most memorable sights.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Leka Tours & Rent a Car Sarandë on Rruga Mitat Hoxha, Saranda 9701, Albania. Pickup is available from locations in Saranda.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 9:15 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is about five to six hours, but some departures have lasted around eight hours or more because of the long drives and time at the stops.

Is Gjirokaster Castle included?

No. Entry to Gjirokaster Castle is optional and costs €4 per person.

Is transportation to the Blue Eye included?

Transport to the Blue Eye and admission are included. The optional train from the parking area costs about €6 per person. Walking to the spring is free.

How far is the Blue Eye walk?

The walk from the parking area to the Blue Eye is about 1.5 kilometers and includes hilly sections.

Does the tour return to Saranda?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point in Saranda.