Ksamil Islands
Island Small Ionian islands known for clear beaches
Tiny islets off Albania’s Ionian coast near Ksamil village, popular for swimming, day-trip island‑hopping, sandy beaches and seafood restaurants. Visits are often combined with excursions to nearby Butrint.
The Ksamil Islands are a small group of islets off the coast of the village of Ksamil on Albania’s southern Ionian shoreline. The islets sit inside a sheltered bay known for shallow, clear water and sandy beaches.
Visitors use the islands for short boat trips, swimming and beach excursions; the area is noted for its small-scale tourist infrastructure on the mainland and easy day visits from the nearby resort town of Sarandë. The islands themselves are uninhabited and composed of a handful of rocky and sandy islets.
The islands lie close to the southern Albanian coast near the Butrint archaeological area and the broader Albanian Riviera, fringed by low coastal hills and Mediterranean vegetation.
- Access: Many of the islands are only a few hundred metres offshore and can be reached by short boat rides or, in calm conditions, by swimming from the Ksamil mainland beaches.
How to Get to Ksamil Islands #
The Ksamil Islands are reached from the coastal village of Ksamil in Vlorë County. From the regional hub of Sarandë it is a short drive south (roughly 10-20 minutes) along the coastal road into Ksamil; regular local minibuses (furgons) and taxis also run between Sarandë and Ksamil. From the village you can walk to the small piers or beaches and take short boat trips to the nearby islets in summer.
Tips for Visiting Ksamil Islands #
- Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the peak-day crowds and the large numbers of Sarandë day-trippers that arrive around midday in summer.
- Take a short local boat taxi from Ksamil beach to hop between the tiny islands-boats run frequently in high season from Ksamil's small jetties and are the fastest way to explore multiple islets.
- Explore the smaller, sandier islets and the quieter coves on the island edges rather than staying at the busiest central beaches; the little islets have better snorkeling and fewer sunbeds.
Best Time to Visit Ksamil Islands #
For warm sea and full beach amenities visit in June-August; choose May or September to enjoy milder weather with fewer crowds.
Weather & Climate near Ksamil Islands #
Ksamil Islands's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 4°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1206 mm/year), wettest in November with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (149 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (151 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (108 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 17°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 11 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. Light rainfall and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Significant rainfall (147 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (207 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Heavy rain (202 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
