Full-Day Cruise: Albania with Optional Tour to Butrint

Opt for a pickup from your hotel or make your own way to Corfu port (depending on the option you select) and embark on an unforgettable Full-Day cruise to the fascinating, but little-known country of Albania! Arriving at Corfu port, pass the essential passport control procedure, board your boat and enjoy a relaxing trip across the Ionian Sea to the pretty port of Saranda. Once you arrive at Saranda, you can either spend the day exploring the city independently or take the optional (highly recommended) tour to the archaeological site of Butrint (additional cost/can be arranged and paid on the boat).

Optional Tour to Butrint

Those who opt for the side tour to Butrint will board an air-conditioned coach at Saranda and, after a short coffee-break, head to the extraordinary archaeological site of Butrint (approximately 40-minute drive). Located on a peninsula between Lake Butrint and the Vivari Channel and now forming part of an extensive national park, Butrint was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide, step back in time and imagine life in Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine times, as you marvel at well preserved remains from all three periods! Walking through the shrine of Asclepius (the Greek god of medicine), retrace the footsteps of the thousands of pilgrims coming in ancient years to make offerings to the god, to take the waters and hopefully be healed. Get the chance to view the large amphitheatre, originally from the Greek settlement, but expanded and improved by the Romans, and now left to us in wonderful condition. Or, among the many other impressive and varied remains, discover the extraordinary mosaic floor of the early Christian Baptistry – from an era when large numbers of converts were still being baptised as adults.Visit also the central museum, renovated in 2005, and admire the remarkable archaeological finds, including the “Goddess of Butrint” – an embodiment of the Greek ideal of beauty – as well as other finely crafted statues of Greek gods and famous Romans!

On your way back to the port, sample local specialties as you stop at a small restaurant for a buffet lunch (included in the optional tour to Butrint). As your insightful tour comes to an end, hop back on your coach and travel back to Saranda where you will have some free time to explore the city before you get back on your boat and follow the return journey to Corfu port!