Ksamil in Albania (Image: Getty)
A beautiful part of Albania is hailed as the country’s “best-best kept secret” with beaches galore. Ksamil is a village and a former municipality in the Balkan nation’s southern riviera, known for its array of waterfront resorts. The small settlement is located along the Ionian Sea, around 15 kilometres south of Saranda and near the Greek island of Corfu.
But though it’s small in size, with a permanent population of around 2,000, it’s home to a wealth of spots for beach lovers to enjoy – attracting far less attention than tourism hotspots like Croatia or Greece. Julia, a digital nomad who shares updates about her travels on her Nomadic Seasons Instagram account shared a post about the area in August last year, writing: “Albania’s best kept secret.
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The area is known for its wealth of sandy beaches and tourquise waters (Image: Getty)
One travel blog recommended avoiding the busy summer months (Image: Getty)
“This is Ksamil, a small town surrounded by the most beautiful beaches with turquoise blue water. Let me tell you the Albanian Riviera is something special and most people don’t even know places like that exist.”
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The top-rated beach desination on TripAdvisor is Ohana Beach Bar, with one user writing: “I went there with my girlfriend and the whole vibe was just perfect relaxed, romantic, and right by the sea.”
Another wrote: “The food was delicious. We had the grilled fish and prawns. The beach itself is lovely with a large swimming area. We will definitely be back!”
Another stand-out is Lori Beach, with one person writing: “Wonderful beach with soft sand, really enjoyable if you want to relax or have fun , I really recommend it. Also having a bar and having really great drinks.”
There are also nearby ruins for culture buffs to enjoy (Image: Getty)
Ksamil is located within Butrint National Park, a UNESCO-protected area, and the nearby ruins of Butrint are a sight to behold for both history buffs and visitors alike.
UNESCO’s website explains that the ancient settlement had been inhabited “since prehistoric times” having been “the site of a Greek colony, a Roman city and a bishopric”.
“Following a period of prosperity under Byzantine administration, then a brief occupation by the Venetians, the city was abandoned in the late Middle Ages after marshes formed in the area.”
What remains is a “repository of ruins representing each period in the city’s development”, it adds.
However, some visitors have noted that the village can get pretty busy, and Ksamil’s reputation as a hidden gem has attracted increasing numbers of sunseekers over the years.
Travel blog Carma Adventures says the June to August high season brings scorching summer heat, with highs between 29 and 31C, and big crowds. In their opinion the “sweet spot” is May and September.
“The sea is still warm enough to swim, the weather is sunny (but not boiling, you still need sunscreen), and you get to experience the town without the heavy crowds,” they explain.
They added: “Most businesses are still open, but everything just feels more laid-back.”
