From Vlora: Albanian Riviera, Blue Eye & Gjirokaster Day Trip
Description
This full-day journey from Vlora offers a perfect combination of natural wonders and cultural discovery. Start your adventure with a peaceful stop at Uji i Ftohtë in Tepelenë, where you’ll enjoy the refreshing alpine spring waters and stunning mountain scenery. Continue to Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Stone City," where charming cobblestone streets, traditional Ottoman-era houses, and a vibrant bazaar await. End your day with a visit to the breathtaking Blue Eye (Syri i Kaltër), one of Albania’s most enchanting natural springs, with its crystal-clear, deep turquoise waters surrounded by lush forest. This carefully curated itinerary provides a rich, immersive taste of Albania’s natural beauty, history, and authentic culture — all in one day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Natural Beauty of Uji i Ftohtë – Tepelenë’s Crystal Spring Discover one of southern Albania’s most refreshing natural spots — Uji i Ftohtë (The Cold Water) in Tepelenë. Famous for its icy spring water that flows straight from the mountains, this experience offers a perfect break in nature surrounded by fresh air, green hills, and stunning landscapes. This is a peaceful spot, perfect for cooling off on a warm day, taking photos, and enjoying a picnic or a break in nature
Discover the charm of Gjirokastra, Albania’s UNESCO-listed "Stone City." Stroll through narrow cobbled streets lined with traditional Ottoman-style houses, and experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Old Bazaar full of local crafts, colorful shops, souvenirs, and authentic Albanian charm. 1.5-Hour Guided Tour: Your journey begins in the heart of the old town, where a local guide will lead you through Gjirokastër’s historic streets, and includes as well visiting Gjirokastra castle, the Cold War Tunnel etc -1 Hour of Free Time: After the guided tour, enjoy time on your own to explore the colorful Old Bazaar, try local delicacies, visit artisan workshops, or simply relax with a coffee and admire the unique surrounding
"Discover the mesmerizing beauty of the Blue Eye, one of Albania’s most famous natural attractions. This stunning spring, with its deep sapphire and turquoise colors, bubbles up from unknown depths, surrounded by lush green forests. Take your time to walk around the viewing platforms, capture unforgettable photos, and enjoy the peaceful, refreshing atmosphere of this magical place. After exploring the spring, you’ll have ample free time to sit by the water, take more photos, or enjoy a refreshing drink at the nearby café while soaking in the serene surroundings Entrance to the Blue Eye Park is not included (0,5 euro) in the tour price and is payable at the entrance. Swimming is not allowed to protect the site. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(9)
Gjirokastër, the Blue Eye lagoon and the natural spring were all very beautiful and interesting. Klaudio from Vlora Daily Trips was our guide/driver, he was very friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable about the places we visited. He adapted well to different personalities and situations and was very honest and relaxed. A bit more general information about Albania itself (culture, language, non-political or historical facts etc.) would have made it even better. We took a point off for this and because the van broke down, which meant we had to wait two hours and finished later than planned. Klaudio and the group handled it well overall, which helped. The company communicated well, we were picked up from/dropped off at our hotel and were well looked after throughout. Highly recommend
My friend and I had a great experience with Claudio. He went out of his way to make us comfortable and was always willing to make an emergency bathroom and/or raki stop. We are also big history people and Claudio answered all of our questions about Albanian history from the Illyrian times to present day. He was very knowledgeable and obviously excited to share about his lovely country. We loved our day with Claudio and would highly recommend this trip to anyone!
There weren’t enough people to do a full tour, so they set us up with our own driver. He took us to several beautiful roadside outlooks as well as to the main stops on the tour. We opted out of one part, so he took us to an alternate place instead. Super kind and very informative. We learned so much about the history of Albania. AMAZING 😁
Experience cancelled by the claimant on October 13. A little too bad. As a single person in Vlora, I understand that we are at the end of the tourist season while there are still quite a few boating experiences (made in 2024), what I had planned on my stay in Vlora outside the city has been cancelled. Just an experiment by myself. So 8 days just in apartment not being able to find visiting solutions. This is my third year in Albania for information.
Despite everything our guide showed us some very nice spots for beautiful pictures.. Excursion taken for the blue eyes lagoon that we have not seen...
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. When we began the trip, the Blue Eye Lagoon was open, but due to a fire later in the day, the authorities had to close access for safety reasons. While this was beyond our control, our guide wanted to make sure you still had a memorable day, so we included some hidden gems of Albania that are not part of the usual itinerary - like Porto Palermo, stunning beaches perfect for swimming, and other scenic spots for photos. Many guests find these places to be among the highlights of their trip, and we’re glad you had the chance to discover them. We truly appreciate your flexibility and hope these unique stops made your excursion special.
We had a great day. From the booking to the execution everything is simply top. We drove with Klaudio who explained everything about the country and people and knows the top places of his country perfectly and shows you. From us the absolute recommendation to book this tour. Thanks to the team.
Great trip lovely safe driver Claudio! Longer review written and lost in Tripadvisor somewhere so this one short and to the point.
One of our favorite days in Albania 🇦🇱❤️ Gjirokastër is full of charm and the Blue Eye was amazing. Crystal clear water, beautiful nature. Definitely worth it if you’re near Vlorë!
Wonderful day tour! The guide was excellent, and both Gjirokastër and the Blue Eye were breathtaking. Highly recommended for anyone staying in Vlorë!
