Sarandë Albania - Gjirokastër, Blue Eye & Lekursi Castle - A PERFECT Port Day Tour

If you’re cruising to Sarandë, Albania and wondering what to do in port, this video gives you a complete look at the full-day excursion we booked outside of the cruise ship. Our day included Gjirokastër Town & Castle, the Blue Eye, and Lekursi Castle — all in one cruise port day on the Sapphire Princess. Sarandë is one of the newest and fastest-growing cruise destinations in the Mediterranean, but it’s also a tender port, which means getting ashore and planning your day takes a little extra strategy. In this video, we walk you through exactly how the water shuttle process works, how to plan your timing, and what to watch for when booking a third-party excursion. We start our day navigating the tender process from the Sapphire Princess, sharing tips on how to get off the ship early — especially important if you’re not in a priority group. From there, we meet our tour provider and head into the Albanian Alps for an unforgettable day. Our first stop takes us to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Gjirokastër, known as the “City of Stone.” We sampled local sweets from a small bakery, explore the cobblestone streets, and made our way up to Gjirokastër Castle, where we heard about its history from Ottoman times through World War II and Albania’s communist era. Next, we visit the famous Blue Eye — one of Albania’s most unique natural attractions. We share exactly what it takes to get there, including the 2 km walk vs optional train costs, and what makes the water’s deep blue color so fascinating. Finally, we head up to Lekursi Castle overlooking Sarandë, where we take in panoramic views of the Ionian Sea, Corfu, and the surrounding coastline — and reflect on our full day exploring and scenic drives through the Albanian mountains. We also share honest tips along the way: • How to plan around tender ports • What costs are cash only • How much time you really have at each stop • What we would do differently next time If you’re planning a cruise stop in Sarandë, Albania — or are just curious about what this port has to offer — this video will help you decide if it's worth putting on your list and how to make the most of your day. Thank you for coming along on our Journey! ✅ Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more tours, more tips and of course more fun with Hubbard’s Journey! 💬 QUESTION FOR YOU: If you were visiting Sarandë, would you choose a cruise ship excursion or go with a third-party tour company? 🔗 Amazon Storefront LINKS: ✅ Bonine: https://a.co/d/03PsQMOo ✅ Cruise travel gear: https://a.co/d/0304gbRI As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the amount you pay in any way. Thank you again for your support and coming along on our journey. https://www.youtube.com/@HubbardsJourney?sub_confirmation=1 🥰 Love watching us? A quick thumbs 👍 up or a “Thanks” ❤️ on our video helps us keep exploring and sharing more adventures with you! 🌟 Want to show support for our channel? Consider one of the these: YouTube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@HubbardsJourney/join Buy Me A Coffee (or a drink!): buymeacoffee.com/hubbardsjourney Channel Memberships get you access to exclusive member-only content, behind-the-scenes videos, early access to content, and special shoutouts—plus, you’ll be helping us keep the journey going! 💙 🎬 If you'd like to see more of our travel videos, we've got lots more Playlists & Videos based on Destinations, or Cruise lines. In addition, we have Cruise Cabin Reviews, Full Cruise Ship Deck Tours, and lots more fun on and off the ship with Hubbard's Journey! And, as always... Thanks for coming along on our journey! All the best, Michael & Andrea Watch other videos by Cruiseline Playlists: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VWZcykBeZG_7kbyU_5T5ZkVp7k3jbmH https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VWZcykBeZFbf0kmvnmcVOnupiriYtNL https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VWZcykBeZHgPoHaAWEsQ8mpPVmi9UVv https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VWZcykBeZEqZ43WkMIzZt-VeQPTrPCH Ship Tours & Cabin Review Playlists: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VWZcykBeZFDyZ_0DVzjjI6RekDcekIK https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-VWZcykBeZEMGMt8z8OfZij--_o5-iAl Try watching videos by country from Our Destination Playlist: https://youtube.com/@HubbardsJourney?si=7LydqyCZGFLCT-05 Follow our Facebook PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/HubbardsJourney Join our Facebook GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hubbardsjourneycrew Shop Our Amazon Favorites: Thank you for supporting us by purchasing Amazon products we promote and use. ✅ HUBBARDS JOURNEY Storefront: https://amzn.to/3NOggCA As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the amount you pay in any way. Thank you again for your support and coming along on our journey. #HubbardsJourney #HubbardsJourneyCrew #CruiseLife #CruiseVlog #CruiseVacation #CruiseTips #CruiseFun #CruiseShips #CruiseTravel