
Porto Palermo & the Southern Riviera by Yacht
Ali Pasha's fortress, a Cold War tunnel and the wild coast north of Saranda

Ali Pasha's fortress, a Cold War tunnel and the wild coast north of Saranda
North of Saranda the Albanian Riviera turns wild and cinematic — deep bays under bare mountains, a fortress on a spit, and beaches reachable only from the water. A private yacht day runs the coast to Porto Palermo, the near-landlocked harbour the ancient Greeks called "all-harbour," where Ali Pasha's early-19th-century fortress guards a bay so deep it hid Cold War submarines.
From Saranda you run north past Kakome bay and Qeparo to Porto Palermo, anchoring in its clear, protected water to walk the triangular fortress on its causeway and see the submarine tunnel bored through the headland. Lunch is on board at anchor.
The return can drop into Gjipe, the canyon-mouth beach between Dhërmi and Himarë reachable only by boat or a long hike, for a last wild swim before Saranda.
A crewed motor yacht for the range — the coast is long and the bays are deep — with the tender for landing at the fortress and at Gjipe. The concierge sets the itinerary with the skipper around the day's wind.
Rates on request — every day is quoted individually by our concierge.
Enquire about this experienceDescribe your dates and who is coming — we reply with villas, a boat for the coves, and the crossing to Corfu.