Ksamil - The days of hiking in and around the Vikos Gorge and the experiences at the Bourazani Wildlife Park were coming to an end, and so it was time to find a suitable route for the journey to Albania, 

which would first take us to Ksamil and then to Saranda.

From Bourazani to Ksamil – Corfu within reach

From our location at the hotel and camper stop at Bourazani, we set off early in the morning toward the E0 Kosannis – Ioanniron expressway, initially always on the narrow country road. A journey with the caravan became an adventure, with so many bottlenecks and switchbacks. Although it was only 103 kilometres to the destination, it was certainly a challenge. Although we initially made good progress by turning onto the E 853 to the border crossing into Albania at Kakavija, we soon reached the Syri i Kaltër nature reserve, where we once again had to negotiate countless switchbacks through, admittedly, beautiful scenery. During a stopover, we followed the signs to a pool with the crystal-clear water of a natural spring, which was apparently over 50 meters deep. We had reached the so-called Blue Eye of Albania. A small viewing platform prompted us to extend our stay a little longer.

Continuing along the SH 99, we left the mountains near Mesopotam, and the landscape increasingly transformed into fields and arable land, with more agriculture on vast fields. And slowly, the scent of the sea could already be detected.

Ksamil on the Corfu Road

Ksamil, now more of a seaside resort, lies on a peninsula between Lake Butrint to the east and the sea, just about 15 kilometres south of Saranda. As almost the southernmost point in Albania, our exploration of Albania in the south of the country should begin from here. The peninsula, which is very narrow up to Ksamil, widens south of the town, forming an attractive coastline with numerous bays with sandy beaches and several small islands. From Ksamil, which lies at the narrowest point of the Strait of Corfu, it is less than four kilometres to the Greek island of Corfu.

Four kilometres further south, at the very end of the peninsula, are the ruins of the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A further article on this will follow shortly. Butrint National Park, established in 2000, begins right at the southern edge of the town and encompasses the southeastern end of the peninsula with the 232 m above sea level Mount Sotira, as well as wetlands south of the Vivar Canal.

Swimming in Ksamil Bay

Since 2000, Ksamil has rapidly developed into a summer resort, initially attracting primarily Albanian tourists from home and abroad. The small community has grown significantly as a result. Many small hotels and restaurants have sprung up, and many locals rent rooms or entire houses. Since 2009, there has also been a campsite in Ksamil, which we also used. And as is unfortunately the case almost everywhere in tourist areas: the once largely untouched beauty of the area has suffered greatly from haphazard construction.

The town has an ancient name: Heksamilion. However, Ksamil dates back to a re-establishment in the 1960s. At that time, large parts of the peninsula were terraced, and citrus orchards and olive groves were planted. Ksamil was established as a residential area for the workers of the state farm. Previously, the peninsula was barren, overgrown with thorn bushes, serving only as pasture for goats and sheep. A road to Butrint was built in 1959 for the visit of Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, thus opening up the Ksamil peninsula.

Some notable points for the beaches

Sun loungers and umbrellas at the adjacent tavernas
Beaches with pebbles, sand, and stones
Three small islands accessible by swimming or boat
Seafood such as mussels are always fresh on the plate
Italian influences in the food are evident
No large hotels (yet).

Please also read:

Ortakent - crystal-clear, calm sea near Bodrum

Slavic Castle - Groß Raden Open-Air Museum on Lake Sternberg