Albania - Orikum - Saranda - Orikum
Welcome to the Blue!
It's time to meet the turquoise blue of the Adriatic coast. All you have to do is hoist your sails and let yourself be carried away by the Adriatic winds.
ALBANIA
DAY 1 – ORIKUM AND VLORA BAY​
After the morning transfer, you will board the boat. Following a brief briefing, you will stay overnight in the marina. The first night will be spent in the marina. However, if you arrive early, you may spend the night outside the marina, in Vlora Bay, depending on the weather and sea conditions.
Oricum , (Latin: Oricum or Oricus; Albanian: Oriku or Orikum) was a harbor on the Illyrian coast that developed in an Ancient Greek polis at the south end of the Bay of Vlorë on the southern Adriatic coast. It was located at the foot of the Akrokeraunian Mountains, the natural border between ancient Epirus and Illyria. Oricum later became an important Roman city between the provinces of Epirus Vetus and Epirus Nova in Macedonia. It is now an archaeological park of Albania, near modern Orikum, Vlorë County. Oricum holds such a strategic geographical position that the area has been in continuous usage as a naval base from antiquity to the present-days.
It is not known whether Orikos was originally a Euboean colony on the Illyrian coast as reported in ancient literature. As a Euboean foundation it would date back to about the mid 8th century BC, probably established as an Eretrian emporium, or as a harbor by Eretrian refugees from Kerkyra after this island was conquered by the Corinthians, although the latter hypothesis is less likely. Archaeological evidence has shown that the site of Oricum was not inhabited before the 6th century BC, however the lack of artifactual confirmation does not necessary mean that the Euboean seafarers did not reach these parts at an earlier era. The site appears to possess all the characteristics of places that were typically chosen by Greek expedition movements of the 8th–6th century BC to establish new settlements.
Little is known about the exact status of the port and the origins of the city's urbanisation. Orikos, like Epidamnos, could have served as a stopover for merchant ships coming from Corinth and heading towards the Po delta and the port of Spina, where many Corinthian vases from the 6th century BC are found. Findings from the proto-urban period provide evidence of extensive contacts primarily with the Greek world. As in the ports of Apollonia and Dyrrachion, Korkyrean merchants certainly conducted trade activities in the port of Orikos, as evidenced by the presence of Korkyrean coins from the 5th–4th centuries BC. The ports of southern Illyria were places of exchange of products and a meeting point between the outside world and the Illyrians located in the hinterland of the coastal cities. The settlement developed towards the middle of the 5th century BC and it was built on a Greek model.
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DAY 2 - ORIKUM - HIMARA
After about 4-5 hours of sailing in the Gulf of Vlora, we arrive at Himera Bay and anchor there.
Himarë (Albanian definle from: Himara, Greek Χειμάρρα, Romanzid: Himárra) is an ethnically Greek town in Southern Albania along the Alnanian riviera and part of the Vlore City. It is the largest settlement and the seat of the municipality of Himera,
The beaches that are found in the town of Himara or directly linked to the town are located in Spile, Potam, Llaman and Livadhi.
Overnight stay is here, and in the cool evening air, you can enjoy a stroll along Himara's fine sandy beach, dine at the beachfront restaurants, or sip wine in the warm, star-studded bars. Accommodation is provided here.
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DAY 3 HIMERA – SARANDA/ Kshamil
After three days of sailing, we arrive at Saranda and anchor there.
You can spend the night here or in Kshamil Bay. If you wish, you can hire a taxi from here and embark on a journey into mythology to the ancient city of Budhrit.
Sarandë Albanian Definite form: Saranda; Greek, Άγιοι Σαράντα) is a city in Albana and the seat of Sarandë Municipality. Geographically, the city is located on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea within the Mediterranean Sea. Stretching along the Albania Ionian Sea Coast, Sarandë has a Mediterranean climate with over 300 sunny days a year.
In ancient times, the city was known as Onchesmus or Onchesmos, and was a port-town of Chaonia in ancient Epirus. It owes its modern name to the nearby Byzantine monastery of the Forty Saints by which it became known from the High Middle Ages. Sarandë today is known for its deep blue Mediterranean waters. Near Sarandë are the remains of the ancient city of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In recent years, Sarandë has seen a steady increase in tourists, many of them coming by cruise ships. Visitors are attracted by the natural environment of Sarandë and its archaeological sites. Sarandë is inhabited by a majority of ethnic Albanians, and also has a minority Greek community and as such has been considered one of the two centers of the Greek minority in Albania.
DAY 4 SARANDA - PORTO PALERMO
On day 4, we depart for Porto Palermo after breakfast.After approximately 5 hours of sailing, we anchor near the castle.
Porto Palermo Fortress (Albanian: Kalaja e Porto Palermos) is an Ottoman fortress located near Himarë in southern Albania. It lies a few kilometers south of Himarë, on the Porto Palermo Bay along the Albanian Riviera.
The area, along with Llamani beach, is designated a protected area with Protected Landscape status by the Albanian Government. It is the best-preserved garrison in the region, built by Ali Pasha. The castle is located in the Porto Palermo Gulf, west of the road connecting Vlorë and Saranda. The area was originally a small island, later connected to the mainland by land eclamation.
The fort is triangular in shape, with three large artillery bastions at its corners and an open terrace to the south. It has a hexagonal central room with a domed ceiling and six large columns, providing access to all the rooms and terraces. Soldiers stayed in rectangular rooms. The terrace is accessible by a staircase. The fort had walled watchtowers and a series of stone-roofed guard posts. The well-preserved fortress was built in the early 19th century by Tepelenalı Ali Pasha. With its turquoise sea and lush green nature, this tranquil destination offers a special chance to enhance your travel experience
DAY 5 DHERMI to SAZAN ISLAND
In Dhermi, you'll find everything you could imagine for a tourist destination. No matter your age, young or old, you'll find unlimited entertainment. For example, Dhermi beach is one of the largest and most visited beaches in the Ionian Sea. The shore is very clean and clear, and the setting is quite special. Here, bars and accommodations cater to those who want to try seafood and local refreshing drinks while enjoying the most spectacular views.
Generally, the village of Dhermi has a hilly terrain divided into two parts.
The upper part of the Monastery of St. Mary is located a 15-minute climb up a beautiful stone-paved path.
After breakfast, we will weigh anchor and sail towards Dhermi, a route with a magnificent coastline. We will anchor off the coast of Palace and Dhermi, where we will embrace the Adriatic Sea in its turquoise waters. After a break for sea and lunch, we will sail overnight to Sazan Island and anchor there.
DAY 6 SAZAN ISLAND - KARABURUN
In the morning, the eyes greet the day on Sazan Island, where silence and greenery predominate
Breakfast is served here, and after lunch, a journey of about an hour takes us to a bay within Karaburun, again dominated by greenery and bearing the traces of the Cold War.
Dinner is eaten here, in the silence of the night and the feast of stars, a longed-for location for a peaceful sleep
DAY 7 KARABURUN - ORIKUM
After having breakfast in Karaburun, and after caressing the turquoise blue waters, we weigh anchor and return to Orikum marina.
Around midday, we say goodbye, bidding farewell to the blue waters until our next meeting.
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Blue Is Waiting For you...
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