Sazan (Ishulli i Sazanit) is the largest Albanian island. Due to the important naval base at the entrance to the Vlora Bay, it was completely closed for many years. A couple of years ago, as part of the newly established Karaburun National Marine Park, Sazan was open to the public and has become a popular destination for day trips from Vlorë. In addition to swimming and snorkelling, you can explore the abandoned military facilities here.
The existence of the island was mentioned already in antiquity. In 215 BC, a naval battle took place between the Macedonians and the Romans, who subsequently ruled the island for centuries. In the Middle Ages, due to its strategic location in the Strait of Otranto, it had been changing hands frequently until it was taken over by the Venetians in 1696. On the eve of the First World War, it was occupied by the Greeks. However, they were soon replaced by the Italians, who settled it with a few fishing families and held it throughout the inter-war period. Albania did not finally take possession of the island until 1947.
During the Cold War, Sazan became so important that the Soviet Union, in cooperation with communist Albania, built a submarine base and a chemical weapons factory there. Even today, it is said that discarded gas masks left by the military garrison can be found on the island. After the end of the Cold War, the island worked shortly as an Albanian-Italian coastguard base to prevent smuggling between Italy and Albania.
In 2010, Sazan together with the adjacent Karaburun Peninsula, which was also a restricted area under communism, was declared a national marine park. Since 2017, the island has been open to the public. It’s popular with both swimming enthusiasts and military history buffs – you can walk among abandoned barracks, dozens of bunkers and other military facilities.
The island’s surface area is 5.7 square kilometres, with a 15-kilometer-long shoreline which includes small beaches and a rocky coastline with several reefs rich in underwater flora and fauna. They plunge up to 40 metres below sea level in the western half of the island. As a result, the area is perfect for diving and snorkelling.
Various agencies offer boat trips to Sazan from Vlorë, Orikum or Radhimë. The typical cruises include a visit to one of Karaburun Peninsula’s beaches, Haxhi Ali Cave and Sazan Island.
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Experiences
Book a boat trip to Sazan Island on Viator.com.