Day trip from Vlore to Sazan Island and Karaburun Peninsula

Visit Sazan island: the military remains and stop on the beach

Declared a protected natural reserve, the island has been part of the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park since 2010. The charm of this place is all in the strong contrasts that are created between the beauty of nature, unspoiled and wild, and reinforced concrete military buildings left by the army over decades of the Cold War. Sazan was the first Albanian outpost in the eastern part of the Strait of Otranto. During the Cold War period, enemies from the western block, from Italy, would arrive here.

Once in the eastern part of the Albania island, you will meet the Gulf of Shenkoll, with the military docking. Thanks to your expert guide, you will have the opportunity to visit the buildings and fortifications erected by the communist government. Here at the time, several groups of soldiers lived together with their families. After the tour of the military Sazan, you will spend time admiring the crystal clear and transparent waters of Admiral beach (or Saint Koll's beach), one of the very few on the island, since Sazan mostly has steep and rocky coasts. Coasts that you will visit by getting back on the boat, to reach some of the most beautiful coves and rocks, which the British christened with rather evocative names: the Hell's Hell, The Devil's Bay and the steep slope of Rocky Rocks, up to 300 meters high.

The sea cave of Haxhi Ali

You will then get on the boat again to reach one of the most precious gems of the Karaburun-Sazan marine area in a few minutes. This is the Illyrian Cave, also called Haxhi Ali Cave, in honor of the legendary Albanian pirate who lived between 1500 and 1600. Haxhi Ali, originally from Ulcinj, used to use this beautiful cave as a refuge and headquarters for his men. The pirate had, in fact, made a special bond with the local population. He defended the waters from attacks by Turks, Venetians, British and Neapolitans. He lived as a pirate, preying on ships passing through these parts. In return, the shepherds and merchants of the peninsula supplied it with raw materials.

The Karaburun-Sazan peninsula

Back on the boat, you will leave to go along Karaburun. A peninsula 15 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide, which reaches a height of 800 meters above sea level at the highest point. The area retains some of the most beautiful Albania beaches, whose names (Saint Jan Beach, Aquamarine Beach, Sai