{"id":26322,"date":"2026-10-15T13:02:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T13:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northalbaniaboat.com\/?p=26322"},"modified":"2026-10-15T13:59:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T13:59:15","slug":"boat-trips-albania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northalbaniaboat.com\/hi\/boat-trips-albania\/","title":{"rendered":"Which boat trip in Albania is right for you? An honest comparison from the Shala River crew"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want warm sea and swimming off the boat, take a boat trip on the south coast of Albania, from Ksamil, Sarande, Himare or Vlore. If you’d rather have mountains around you and a cold river swim, take the boat from Komani Lake to Shala River in the north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Sun
Komani Lake, where the boat trip to Shala River starts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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We run boat tours to Shala River, so keep in mind that we’re biased. For every trip that isn’t ours, we show where the price comes from and when we checked it. Boat trips in Albania split into two very different days out, and the right one depends on where you’re staying and what kind of water you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albania’s boat trips at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Route<\/th>Base<\/th>Season<\/th>Duration<\/th>Typical price<\/th>Best for<\/th>How to book<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Ksamil islands loop<\/td>Ksamil<\/td>June\u2013September; fewer boats in May and October<\/td>2\u20133 h<\/td>\u20ac10\u201315 per person (group)<\/td>A short, cheap first trip; small kids<\/td>Local operators; call ahead in May and October<\/td><\/tr>
Sarande coast<\/td>Sarande<\/td>June\u2013September; fewer boats in May and October<\/td>3\u20134 h (group)<\/td>\u20ac20\u201340 per person (speedboat, group); private \u20ac240\u2013880 per boat<\/td>Beaches you can’t reach by road; private groups<\/td>Local operators; ask if the price is per person or per boat<\/td><\/tr>
Himare coves (Pirate’s Cave, Gjipe, Grama Bay)<\/td>Himare<\/td>June\u2013September; fewer boats in May and October<\/td>2.5\u20136 h<\/td>About \u20ac30 per person (Pirate’s Cave); about \u20ac60 per person (Grama Bay full day); private Pirate’s Cave \u20ac150\u2013170 per boat, max 5 people<\/td>Swimming stops and snorkelling<\/td>Local operators; book a day ahead in July and August<\/td><\/tr>
Karaburun\u2013Sazan<\/td>Vlore<\/td>June\u2013September; fewer boats in May and October<\/td>4\u20136 h<\/td>\u20ac45\u201370 per person (group)<\/td>Caves and some history<\/td>Local operators<\/td><\/tr>
Komani Lake \u2192 Shala River (ours)<\/td>Koman, or by bus from Shkoder, Lezhe, Tirana, Durres<\/td>April\u2013October; second departure in July and August<\/td>About 6.5 h from Koman; 12\u201314 h from a city<\/td>\u20ac25 per person from Koman; \u20ac40\u201355 per person with the bus; private \u20ac250 for the whole boat, up to 8 people<\/td>Mountain scenery and a river swim; Tirana and Shkoder bases<\/td>Online on our site, pay by PayPal or cash on the day<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sea-trip prices and seasons come from<\/em> boat tour price guides<\/em>. They are ranges from a published guide, not quotes. Ask the operator for exact pricing list. Shala prices come from our own tour pages, checked October 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which boat trip in Albania suits you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You want warm sea and swimming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Go to Himare, or to Sarande and Ksamil. The Ksamil islands loop is the cheapest trip in the table at \u20ac10\u201315 per person for 2\u20133 hours. From Himare, group boats go to Pirate’s Cave for about \u20ac30 per person, or spend a full day around Grama Bay for about \u20ac60.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skip it if you’re travelling in October and haven’t called ahead. Many south-coast operators are closing by then, and quiet days can be cancelled or merged when there aren’t enough passengers (himara.net).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want caves and some history<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Go to Vlore for a Karaburun\u2013Sazan trip. The sea around Sazan island is the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park (himara.net). Group trips take 4\u20136 hours and cost \u20ac45\u201370 per person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skip it if you only have a morning. Group trips run 4\u20136 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want mountains, and you’re based in Tirana or Shkoder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Go to Shala. The boat runs up Komani Lake between steep limestone cliffs, and you get 4.5\u20135 hours at the river. From Shkoder, our bus leaves at 06:45 and has you back by about 17:00. From Tirana, it’s a 14-hour day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skip it if you want warm water. The river is 15\u201318 \u00b0C, even in summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelling with kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For small children, the Ksamil islands loop is the shortest trip in the table (2\u20133 hours). At Shala, children up to 5 ride free and every passenger gets a life jacket. From Koman the day runs 09:00\u201315:30. We cover snacks, swimming and timing in our guide to Shala River with kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skip Shala if your children won’t cope with a 12\u201314 hour day from a city. In that case, drive to Koman yourself and do the 09:00 boat only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staying in Durres? Your two real options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Durres is on the sea, but the boat trips covered in this guide start elsewhere. You have two realistic choices, and both make for a long day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Our Durres to Shala River day: \u20ac55 per person with bus transport. Check-in is at 05:00 near KFC, the bus leaves at 05:15, and you’re back in Durres at about 19:00. That’s 14 hours, about 4.5\u20135 of them at the river.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Head south to Vlore for a Karaburun\u2013Sazan group trip (4\u20136 hours on the boat, \u20ac45\u201370 per person), plus the drive south.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    We haven’t checked short boat trips from Durres beach itself, so we don’t list prices for them here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sea trips in the south: what to know before you book<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We don’t run boats on the coast, so this part is short and based on one published source: himara.net’s Albanian Riviera boat tour price guide<\/a> (published 23 February 2026, checked October 2026). Its booking advice by month is the most useful part. In May and early June, call ahead because not every operator has started. In July, book group trips a day ahead, and in August one to two days ahead. September is fine for walk-ups. October means calling ahead again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ksamil and Sarande<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The Ksamil trip is a 2\u20133 hour group loop around the small islands off the beach, at \u20ac10\u201315 per person. From Sarande you can join a group cruise boat (3\u20134 hours, \u20ac18\u201325 per person) or a speedboat (3\u20134 hours, \u20ac20\u201340 per person). Private boats there are priced for the whole boat: \u20ac240\u2013350 for 4\u20135 hours to Kakome, Krorez and Soldier Beach, and \u20ac500\u2013880 for a full day. The half-day boats take up to 6\u20138 people and the full-day boats up to 6\u201310.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Before you pay, ask whether snorkel gear is included and how many stops you’ll make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Himare and the Riviera coves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Himare has the most choice for swimming stops. Group trips to Pirate’s Cave take 2.5\u20134 hours and cost about \u20ac30 per person. A Gjipe trip is about \u20ac40 per person for 3\u20133.5 hours. A full day to Grama Bay is about \u20ac60 per person. Private boats from Himare take a maximum of 5 people. Pirate’s Cave costs \u20ac150 in low season and \u20ac170 in high season, for the whole boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Vlore, Karaburun and Sazan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    This is the trip for sea caves and Sazan island. Group trips run 4\u20136 hours at \u20ac45\u201370 per person. Some operators add extra cave stops, so ask what’s on the route. Ask how long you’ll spend swimming versus sailing, because on a 6-hour trip the answer varies a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Komani Lake to Shala River: the boat trip we run every day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This is the trip we know best. We’ve run it since 2023, with a daily departure from April to October. People sometimes search for it as a river cruise. In practice the boat ride is about 45 minutes out (09:30\u201310:15) and 30 minutes back (15:00\u201315:30), and you spend most of the day at Shala itself. For every option we offer from Koman, see our full guide to Komani Lake boat tours<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How the day works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    <\/th>Morning boat (April\u2013October)<\/th>Second boat (July\u2013August only)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Check-in at Koman<\/td>09:00<\/td>11:00<\/td><\/tr>
    Boat leaves Koman<\/td>09:30<\/td>11:30<\/td><\/tr>
    Arrive at Shala<\/td>10:15<\/td>12:15<\/td><\/tr>
    Leave Shala<\/td>15:00<\/td>17:00<\/td><\/tr>
    Back at Koman<\/td>15:30<\/td>17:30<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The first part of the ride is on the lake, between steep cliffs. We make scenic stops on the way where you can take photos and enjoy the scenery. At Shala you have 4.5\u20135 hours for swimming, photos and lunch at one of the small riverside restaurants. If you’re not sure where the lake ends and the river begins, read the difference between Shala River and Komani Lake<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Turquoise
    Turquoise water and forested slopes on the lake part of the ride.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    What it costs and what’s included<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The ticket is \u20ac25 per person from Koman, including the boat, fees and tax. Children aged 0\u20135 ride free. You can reserve for free and pay cash on the day, or pay online by PayPal and get a mobile ticket straight away. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ticket doesn’t cover getting to Koman, food and drinks, or the zipline, canoe and camping at Shala. If you drive, there’s parking near the Koman terminal, but the spots by the dock fill quickly in high season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The boat is a WaterMate LR9 safari boat for a maximum of 20 passengers. It has 180\u00b0 views, a fridge and power banks on board, and life jackets for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \"\u0936\u093e\u0902\u0924
    On board: open views from the bow, life jackets on.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    Packages if you don’t have a car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Each city package includes bus transport, the boat ticket, fees and tax. The tour page has the pickup details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u0938\u0947<\/th>Price per person<\/th>Check-in<\/th>Back in town<\/th>Length<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    \u0936\u0915\u094b\u0926\u0930<\/a><\/td>\u20ac40<\/td>06:30, near Sheshi Demokracia (Democracy Square)<\/td>about 17:00<\/td>12 h<\/td><\/tr>
    Lezhe<\/a><\/td>\u20ac45<\/td>06:15<\/td>about 17:30<\/td>12 h<\/td><\/tr>
    \u0924\u093f\u0930\u093e\u0928\u093e<\/a><\/td>\u20ac50<\/td>05:15, central meeting point<\/td>about 19:30<\/td>14 h<\/td><\/tr>
    \u0926\u0941\u0930\u094d\u0930\u0947\u0938<\/a><\/td>\u20ac55<\/td>05:00, near KFC<\/td>about 19:00<\/td>14 h<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Start from Koman, or pick your city in the table above.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBook the Shala River boat tour<\/strong><\/a>\n\n\n\n

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    Private boat tour on Shala River<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you’re a group, the private boat costs \u20ac250 for the whole boat, up to 8 people. Split between 8, that’s about \u20ac31 each. Check-in at Koman is at 11:00, the boat leaves at 11:30, and you’re back at Koman at 18:00. You get a bilingual guide, and you choose how to spend the time at the river. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBook a private boat for your group<\/strong><\/a>\n\n\n\n

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    \"Passengers
    The view from the open deck during the crossing of Komani Lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    The honest downsides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n