Karaburun Peninsula

Albania’s largest peninsula, Karaburun (Gadishulli i Karaburunit), marks the border between the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Under communism, it was completely closed to the public as a military area. Now, tourists can explore its coves and beautiful deserted beaches. Along with the island of Sazan, the coast of Karaburun has been declared a marine national park. 

The Karaburun Peninsula is a geological continuation of the Ceraunian Mountains that divide the Albanian Riviera from the hinterland. It is also home to a diverse range of landforms, including mountains, caverns, islands, depressions, bays, cliffs, canyons, and rocky coasts, all of which contribute to its outstanding biological diversity, both on land and in the surrounding waters. It is not uncommon to find rare and endangered species in the area, such as golden jackals, sea turtles, seals or dolphins.

Karaburun is known for its secluded and unspoiled beaches which have crystal-clear waters. The most visited is St. John’s Bay on the very tip of the peninsula, with a beautiful beach and a former military base.

Just a few kilometres further west, the impressive Cave of Haxhi Ali (Shpella e Haxhi Aliut) is located. It served as a hideout for an 18th-century pirate called Haxhi Aliu. Thanks to its cliffs, it is a popular place for snorkelling.

On the Adriatic (eastern) coast of the peninsula, there is also the much-visited beach of St. Basil’s (Plazhi i Shën Vasilit).

The best way to reach Karaburun is by sea as the gravel road leading along the east coast is still closed to the public. In season, various agencies offer boat trips to Karaburun from Vlorë, Orikum or Radhimë. The cruises typically include a visit to one of Karaburun’s adriatic beaches, Haxhi Ali Cave and Sazan Island.

Truly hidden gems are the Karaburun’s bays of Dafina, Brisan, Lloviz and Grama. They are all located on the western (Ionian) coast of the peninsula which is secluded and can be reached on a speedboat from Vlorë.

Karaburun presents excellent hiking opportunities, inviting you to immerse yourself in the untouched wilderness of this uninhabited peninsula. Along the way, you can discover hidden beaches and, thanks to the rugged terrain, take in breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding sea. The hikes, however, are notably challenging, with long distances, a lack of accessible drinking water, and dense, thorny vegetation overgrowing many of the marked trails.

The marked trail system is centered near Orikum, with the most popular destination being Brisan Bay (Gjiri i Brisanit). A well-maintained trail leads over the ridge that runs along the peninsula (see route here). This path, which passes by rows of concrete bunkers, offers stunning views and takes approximately two hours each way. However, most of the other mapped trails descending from the ridge to Karaburun’s west coast are heavily overgrown with thorny bushes, making them unsuitable for trekking.

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