Our Priciples

The VS believes and fundaments are based on the following core principles that will guide how we grow the tourism benefits:

Local First

VS mission is to improve the living of the communities through supporting the tourism businesses, in cities and rural areas, to develop and increase through sustainable practices.

Visitor Oriented:

To be successful as a visitor destination everything that we do must be driven by the needs and expectations of our visitors. We must be clear about: Who we want to attract; What they are looking for from their visit to the Island; How we will deliver an experience for them that exceeds their expectations.

Memorable Experiences

Holidays and short breaks are times when people make memories. We must ensure that the memories our visitors take away with them are positive and lasting, so that they will return and encourage others to come.

Long-Term vision:

VS objective is not about quick wins and easy successes. It is about recognising the need for sustained government and private sector investment in building a competitive visitor destination over time and taking it to market.

Making the Most of Our USPs:

As a destination with a fantastic seascape, coastline and landscape, UNESCO site, unique heritage, culture and food, we have many unique assets as a place to visit. There is so much more that we can do to make use of these USPs to help us stand out as a destination and get ahead of the competition.

Environmental Sustainability:

We must do everything in our power to ensure that the development of our Visitor Economy is environmentally sustainable, respects and enhances our seascape, coastline, countryside, nature, heritage, culture and communities, and contributes to reducing the impact of climate change on the region. Our visitor industry must be firmly focused on eliminating its carbon footprint.

Financial Sustainability:

We need to ensure that our organization and our members/businesses are financially sustainable and able to continuously invest in maintaining and improving their quality, by extending the season and increasing visitor numbers and stay.

Growth Strategy

In 2024 the main goal of Visit Saranda will be the strengthening, expanding and improving the Association, involving more businesses and public actors, creating sustainable benefits for the members/businesses and communities, through activities and services aiming to:

• Expand the touristic season through the year

• Expand the touristic offer in the region, cities and rural areas

To implement the plan, the Association will need to improve and consolidate the organization, involve, maintain and motivate professional staff and ensure the financial sustainability. Given the limited resources of the association, a clear focus and prioritization of activities is vital in order to make best use of people and money and achieve improvement where it's most needed.

With these in mind, the Board have programmed the activities following a business model, which not only offers good services and opportunities for the members, but also ensure financial income streams for the young organization.

Based on these, the VS board have discussed various fields of activities and came up with a prioritized list for 2024, which can be divided in three main functions:

1. Promotion & Marketing: promoting and marketing the touristic offer of the destination, involving in direct sales of the products of member businesses.

2. Product development and quality: supporting the members/businesses in improving and diversifying of the touristic offer.

3. Lobing and advocating: continuing to strength the collaboration with the municipalities and other third parties

Ksamil: Mussel Sailing Tour with Food and Drink in Albania

Price is 44€ pp

Price includes
--Boat trip
-Mussel farm experience
-Lunch (three kind of mussel dishes, vegetables, homemade bread, white Wine and water)
-Local captain (English)

2 and half hour experience
*Optional vegetarian menu at lunch.

Two times a day, 11:00 - 13:30 , 16:00 - 18:30

TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 4.8

Based on 83 reviews

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Butrint: Mussel Farming Tour with Mussel Tasting

Price is 25€ pp

Price includes
-Boat trip
-Mussel farm experience
-Mussel tasting with lemon and olive oil
-Local captain (English)

45 minutes experience

Every hour from 10:00 am till 19:00

TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 4.8

Based on 200 reviews

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Gjirokastër – The Ottoman City of Stone | A Step Back in Time

Price is 85€ per person

Price includes
-Private round-trip transport
-English-speaking guide
-Entrance to Argjiro Castle
-Entrance to Skenduli House
-Entrance to the Gun Museum

6 hour tour
Historic exploration through architecture, tradition, and culture.

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TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0

Based on [number] reviews

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Wine & Raki Tasting Tour | Discover the Flavors of Southern Albania

Price is 55€ per person

Price includes
-Private or group round-trip transport
-English-speaking guide
-Wine and raki tasting
-Fresh local snacks

3 hour tour
Includes vineyard visit, tastings, and a delicious local experience.

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TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0

Based on [number] reviews

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Private Snorkeling to the Island of Tongo with Ali Pasha Castle Visit

Price is 130 € per couple

Price includes
-Power boat trip
-Snorkeling masks
-Drinks (water and soft drink)
-Seasonal fruits
-Local guide

2 and half hour experience
*optional vegetarian menu for lunch

Place that we visit:

Ali Pasha's castle
Vivari Channel
Pema e Thatë beach
Blue pool" beach
Kep i stillos
Tongo island
Ftele beach

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TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0

Based on [number] reviews

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Private Snorkeling to the Exotic Islands of Ksamil and Pigeon Cave

TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0

Based on [number] reviews

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Romantic Sunset to Ksamil Islands with Private Sailing Boat

Price is 140 € per couple

Price includes
-Boat trip
-Drinks (water and juice)
-Seasonal Fruits
-Snorkeling masks
-Local captain

One hour experience
*Champagne or Bottle of wine will be offered with extra payment
*Personalized decoration upon requests and extra payment

Place that we visit:

Twin Islands
Miu Island
Sorkadhja Island
Miss Island

TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0

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Blue Eye Kayak & Walking Tour | Paddle to Albania’s Hidden Wonder

Price is 35€ per person

Price includes

• Air-conditioned round-trip transport
• Kayak rental and full safety gear
• English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees and taxes

4–5 hours tour Gentle hike and kayaking included.

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TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0

Based on [number] reviews

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Blue Eye & Lekursi Castle Sunset Tour | Discover the Magic of Southern Albania

Price is 25€ per person

Price includes

• Entry to the Blue Eye spring
• Entry to Lekursi Castle
• Scenic one-way train ride to Blue Eye (available May–October)
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• All entry fees and taxes
Duration time 3 hours and 45 minutes

A peaceful walk through nature, followed by panoramic castle views.

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TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 4.6

Based on 9 reviews

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Sunset Sailing to Ksamil Islands with Fruits and Drinks

Price: 25€

Price includes:
-Boat Trip
-Drinks (water and soft drink)
-Snorkeling masks -Fruits (Seasonal fruit)
Local Captain
Place that we sail on:
-Twin islands
-Miu Island
-Sorkadhja Island
- Miss Island

One hour experience

TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 4.8

Based on [number] reviews

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Cooking Class: Preparing Traditional Albanian LAKROR in Ksamil

Price is 39€ pp

Price includes:

-Welcoming drink
-Cooking equipment
-Lunch (traditional dish. vegetables, feta cheese, homemade bread, traditional Albanian drink)
-Recipe of the lakror
-Local guide (English)

Two times a day, 12:00 - 14:00 and 13:00 - 15:00
Period: April till October

TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0

Based on 7 reviews

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Family Mandarin Farming Tour with Traditional Cooking Lunch

Price is 34€ pp
Price includes

-Farm experience
-Process equipment
-Traditional Cooking lunch (Lakror, vegetables, feta cheese, olives, jam, homemade bread).
-Drinks (water +orange juice)
-Local guide

3 hours tour
*Transport optional.

TripAdvisor Reviews

★★★★★ 4.6

Based on 9 reviews

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Our Association

Take care about local ingredients

Our Vision

Vision for the destination

In the next 5 years, the destination of Saranda should have a competitive and diversified touristic offer, extended throughout the year and in the region, impacting sustainably the businesses and communities.

Mission of the association

All stakeholders of tourism industry together to collaborate, for creating and promoting a brand for the region of Saranda (including Delvina, Finig and Konispol), under which to develop a sustainable year-round tourism with highest standards on region and beyond.

Internal Vision of the association

In the coming years VS association, composed from a professional team, to work daily for the implementation of the strategic plan, ensuring the grow and sustainability of the organization.

Our Priciples

The VS believes and fundaments are based on the following core principles that will guide how we grow the tourism benefits:

Local First

VS mission is to improve the living of the communities through supporting the tourism businesses, in cities and rural areas, to develop and increase through sustainable practices.

Visitor Oriented:

Memorable Experiences

Holidays and short breaks are times when people make memories. We must ensure that the memories our visitors take away with them are positive and lasting, so that they will return and encourage others to come.

Long-Term vision:

VS objective is not about quick wins and easy successes. It is about recognising the need for sustained government and private sector investment in building a competitive visitor destination over time and taking it to market.

Making the Most of Our USPs:

As a destination with a fantastic seascape, coastline and landscape, UNESCO site, unique heritage, culture and food, we have many unique assets as a place to visit. There is so much more that we can do to make use of these USPs to help us stand out as a destination and get ahead of the competition.

Environmental Sustainability:

Financial Sustainability:

We need to ensure that our organization and our members/businesses are financially sustainable and able to continuously invest in maintaining and improving their quality, by extending the season and increasing visitor numbers and stay.

Growth Strategy

In 2024 the main goal of Visit Saranda will be the strengthening, expanding and improving the Association, involving more businesses and public actors, creating sustainable benefits for the members/businesses and communities, through activities and services aiming to:

• Expand the touristic season through the year

• Expand the touristic offer in the region, cities and rural areas

With these in mind, the Board have programmed the activities following a business model, which not only offers good services and opportunities for the members, but also ensure financial income streams for the young organization.

Based on these, the VS board have discussed various fields of activities and came up with a prioritized list for 2024, which can be divided in three main functions:

1. Promotion & Marketing: promoting and marketing the touristic offer of the destination, involving in direct sales of the products of member businesses.

2. Product development and quality: supporting the members/businesses in improving and diversifying of the touristic offer.

3. Lobing and advocating: continuing to strength the collaboration with the municipalities and other third parties

Our Board Members

Ardiola Alikaj

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Majlinda Haskaj

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Prof. Rakela Thano

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Soraldo Nebo

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Pëllumb Çako

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Vasil Xhai

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OUR EXPERIENCES

Ksamil: Mussel Sailing Tour with Food and Drink in Albania

TripAdvisor Reviews

Butrint: Mussel Farming Tour with Mussel Tasting

TripAdvisor Reviews

Gjirokastër – The Ottoman City of Stone | A Step Back in Time

TripAdvisor Reviews

Wine & Raki Tasting Tour | Discover the Flavors of Southern Albania

TripAdvisor Reviews

Private Snorkeling to the Island of Tongo with Ali Pasha Castle Visit

TripAdvisor Reviews

Private Snorkeling to the Exotic Islands of Ksamil and Pigeon Cave

TripAdvisor Reviews

Romantic Sunset to Ksamil Islands with Private Sailing Boat

TripAdvisor Reviews

Blue Eye Kayak & Walking Tour | Paddle to Albania’s Hidden Wonder

TripAdvisor Reviews

Blue Eye & Lekursi Castle Sunset Tour | Discover the Magic of Southern Albania

TripAdvisor Reviews

Sunset Sailing to Ksamil Islands with Fruits and Drinks

TripAdvisor Reviews

Cooking Class: Preparing Traditional Albanian LAKROR in Ksamil

TripAdvisor Reviews

Family Mandarin Farming Tour with Traditional Cooking Lunch

TripAdvisor Reviews