Author: ENEA KUMI

Dhermi Boat Tours

Best Beaches Near Dhermi to Visit by Boat

ENEA KUMICaves, beaches and the sea

By Tina

Dhermi beach is beautiful, but some of the best beaches around it are hidden in small bays under the cliffs, where no road goes. The easiest way to reach them is by boat. Here are our favorite beaches near Dhermi, south and north, and how to visit them.

South of Dhermi

1. Gjipe Beach

The most famous hidden beach on the Albanian Riviera: white pebbles and turquoise water at the mouth of the Gjipe Canyon. Gjipe is not reachable by car. You can walk down from the parking lot near the Monastery of Saint Theodore, or arrive the easy way, by boat. Read our full guide: How to visit Gjipe Beach: by boat vs. walking.

Visit it on: the Caves & Gjipe Beach tour, with a stop of around 90 minutes, or the Caves tour, with a photo stop.

2. Pigeons Cave Beach

A small, quiet beach next to Pigeons Cave, with calm, clear water that’s great for swimming. It’s the long swimming stop on our Caves tour.

Visit it on: the Group Tour of the Caves or a private tour.

3. Couple’s Bay

A tiny, romantic cove between the cliffs, just big enough for a few people. It’s best seen from the water.

Visit it on: the Group Tour of the Caves or a private tour.

North of Dhermi: the Karaburun coast

North of Dhermi, the Karaburun Peninsula is completely wild: no roads, no villages, just cliffs, caves and hidden bays. This coast is part of the Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park, and the only way to reach its beaches is by sea.

4. Grama Bay

A pebble beach under high cliffs, famous for the inscriptions that ancient sailors carved into the rocks while sheltering from storms. The water is perfect for snorkeling. Read more in our guide: Secret Blue Cave and Grama Bay: what to expect.

Visit it on: the Grama Bay & Secret Blue Cave tour or a private tour.

5. Saint Andrea Bay

A peaceful bay on the Karaburun coast with a beach and clear water, and a swimming stop on our way to Grama.

Visit it on: the Grama Bay & Secret Blue Cave tour or a private tour.

Which tour should you choose?

Tips for a beach day by boat

  • Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
  • Water shoes help on the pebbles.
  • July and August are the busiest months, so book a few days ahead.
  • All our tours leave from our office on Dhermi beach.
See all our boat tours

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dhermi

ENEA KUMIThings to do in Dhermi

By Tina

Most visitors know Dhermi for its beach, but just above it, on the hillside, is the old village of Dhermi: stone houses, narrow streets, old churches and wide views over the Ionian Sea. It’s easy to explore on your own, on foot. Here’s our local guide to a self-guided walking tour of Dhermi, with the places we think you shouldn’t miss.

The old village of Dhermi

The old village sits on the slopes above Dhermi beach, between the mountains and the sea. Walking through its winding streets, you’ll find hidden churches, traditional stone architecture and beautiful sea views at every turn. It’s a quiet, authentic side of Dhermi that many visitors miss.

Where to start

Start from Dhermi by taking the walking trail of the old water mills, which begins next to the Ionios Hotel. The trail takes you up through the green part of the village.

  • Time: plan about 3–4 hours, depending on your physical shape.
  • Good for: people who are fit, have no physical problems and enjoy walking.
  • What to bring: comfortable shoes, water, a hat and sunscreen.

What to see

The water mills trail

A walk along the trail of the old water mills, through the green part of the village. The trail starts next to the Ionios Hotel.

Ipapandia Church and Saint Stephen’s Church by the sea

Two churches worth a visit, including Saint Stephen’s, close to the sea.

An old olive oil workshop

Olive trees cover the hills around Dhermi. In the neighborhood of Alonia, visit the old olive oil workshop “Eleotrivio Lolo. G. Dhima” and learn how olive oil was made in the village. To book a visit to the workshop, call +355 69 210 7597.

Saint Dhimitri Square

Make sure to visit Saint Dhimitri Square. From its balcony, you can look out over the bell tower of Saint Spiridhon Church and the sea. There’s also a bar on the square where people meet in the evening to have a cocktail and make new friends.

Sunset photo spot next to Saint Thanasi Church

The sunset photo spot next to Saint Thanasi Church is a must-go place for every Instagrammer.

Zoe Hora cafe-restaurant

Consider a visit to Zoe Hora cafe-restaurant, with a great view over the old village, or for a romantic dinner by the pool.

Panagia (Holy Mother) Church

At the top of the village stands Panagia Church, dedicated to the Holy Mother. It’s a good place to learn about Dhermi’s long religious and cultural history.

Places to eat

Affordable places to drink and eat are located by the main road, like the Balcony of Dhermi, Fiori coffee place or Grill Taverna Angjelos.

Where to stay in the old village

Looking for affordable accommodation? Try Hotel Old Town Dhermi, or Old Town Charm studio for a romantic stay. For other studios and apartments in the old town, take a look at Sea Apartments Dhermi.

See Dhermi from the sea too

After exploring the village on foot, see the coast from the water. Join one of our group boat tours from Dhermi beach to the sea caves, Gjipe Beach or Grama Bay and the Secret Blue Cave, or book a private boat tour.

See our boat tours

Secret Blue Cave and Grama Bay: What to Expect

ENEA KUMICaves, beaches and the sea

By Enea

North of Dhermi, the mountains of the Karaburun Peninsula drop straight into the sea. There are no roads and no villages here, just wild cliffs, sea caves and a few hidden bays. Two of the most special places along this coast are Grama Bay and the Secret Blue Cave. Here’s what to expect, and how to visit both in one day.

Where are Grama Bay and the Secret Blue Cave?

Both are on the west coast of the Karaburun Peninsula, north of Dhermi. This coast is part of the Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park, Albania’s first national marine park. There is no road to any of these places. The only way to get there is by sea.

Grama Bay: a beach with 2,000 years of history

Grama Bay is a small pebble beach surrounded by high cliffs and crystal-clear water. For centuries, sailors sheltered here from storms. While they waited for the weather to change, many of them carved messages and prayers into the rocks. Some of these inscriptions date back to ancient Greek and Roman times, and you can still see them today. That’s where the bay gets its name: “grama” means “letter” or “writing.”

The water at Grama is perfect for snorkeling, with clear views of the rocks and fish below.

The Secret Blue Cave: swimming in blue light

The Secret Blue Cave is a sea cave you can swim into. Sunlight enters through the water and lights up the inside of the cave in an intense blue color. It’s one of the most memorable swims on the Albanian Riviera, and the highlight of the trip for many of our guests.

More stops along the way

On the way from Dhermi to Grama, the coast is full of beautiful places. On our Group Tour to Grama Bay & Secret Blue Cave, you’ll also see:

  • Plasa Beach
  • Thunder Cave
  • Saint Andrea Bay, with a swimming stop at the beach
  • Blue Gem Cave
  • The Hidden Cave, which the boat sails inside

What to expect on the tour

  • Departure: 10:00 from our office on Dhermi beach. Please arrive 10 minutes early.
  • Return: around 14:00, so about 4 hours in total.
  • Swimming stops: Saint Andrea Bay, Grama Bay and the Secret Blue Cave.
  • Included: an English-speaking guide, snorkeling gear, bottled water, and swimming from the boat.
  • The boat: TOMAS-I, our 11 m excursion boat with a shaded area, a large sundeck and a swimming platform.

Good to know before you go

  • The tour goes along the open coast of Karaburun, so it depends on the sea. If the sea isn’t safe, we’ll let you know in advance and offer another time or date, or a full refund.
  • This tour is not recommended for children under 12. For families with younger children, our Caves & Gjipe Beach tour is a great choice.
  • Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
  • July and August are the busiest months, so book a few days ahead.

Book your trip to Grama Bay and the Secret Blue Cave

We’ve been running boat tours from Dhermi beach since 2017. See prices, dates and book online on the Group Tour to Grama Bay & Secret Blue Cave page. If you’d rather have the boat just for your group, take a look at our private boat tours.

Book the Grama Bay tour

How to Visit Gjipe Beach: By Boat vs. Walking

ENEA KUMICaves, beaches and the sea

By Enea

Gjipe Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Albanian Riviera: a hidden bay of white pebbles and turquoise water at the end of a dramatic canyon, just south of Dhermi. There is no road all the way to the sand, so you have two ways to get there: walking down from the hills, or arriving by boat from Dhermi beach. Here’s what to expect from each, so you can pick the one that suits you.

Where is Gjipe Beach?

Gjipe lies between Dhermi and Himara, below the Monastery of Saint Theodore. The beach sits at the mouth of the Gjipe Canyon, with tall cliffs on both sides. Because it’s hard to reach, it stays quieter and wilder than the busy beaches nearby.

Option 1: Walking to Gjipe Beach

From the main coastal road, a side road leads toward the Monastery of Saint Theodore. The first part is paved and ends at a paid parking lot near the monastery. From there, a steep, unpaved track goes down to the beach. Gjipe Beach is not reachable by car. The track is in bad and dangerous condition, and Gjipe is a protected nature area where car access is restricted. Visitors leave their car at the paid parking lot and walk the rest of the way.

  • Parking: 5–10€, depending on the time of the season.
  • Walk down: about 20–30 minutes from the parking lot, on a steep, rocky path.
  • Walk back up: it’s uphill all the way and takes longer, often in the midday heat.
  • Shade: very little along the way.
  • What to bring: good shoes (not flip-flops), plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen.

Good for: active travelers who enjoy hiking and have a car. Not ideal for: families with small children, older travelers, or anyone who doesn’t want to climb back up in the sun.

Option 2: Taking a boat to Gjipe Beach

The easiest and most scenic way to reach Gjipe is by sea. Boats leave from Dhermi beach and follow the coast south, so you see the cliffs, caves and the canyon from the water before you arrive.

On our Group Tour of All Caves & Gjipe Beach, you’ll visit:

  • Pirates Cave
  • The Monastery’s caves
  • Pigeons Cave
  • A swimming stop at the Secret Cave
  • A long stop at Gjipe Beach, around 90 minutes, to swim, relax and explore the canyon

The stop at Gjipe Beach lasts around 90 minutes, which is plenty of time to explore the beach and the canyon. The tour leaves Dhermi beach at 12:00 and returns at 15:00. Bottled water, snorkeling gear (on request) and an English-speaking guide are included. No hiking, no parking, no steep climb back.

Good for: families (children from 7 years old), couples, groups of friends, and anyone who wants to see more than one place in a single trip.

Walking vs. boat: a quick comparison

WalkingBy boat
EffortSteep walk down and back upNone, you step off the boat
You needA car and good shoesJust your swimsuit and towel
Parking5–10€, depending on the seasonNone needed
Time at GjipeAs long as you likeAround 90 minutes, enough for the beach and the canyon
What you seeGjipe BeachGjipe Beach plus caves along the coast
SwimmingAt the beachAt the beach and at the Secret Cave
Best forHikersFamilies, couples and groups

Tips for visiting Gjipe Beach

  • Bring a towel, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Sunbeds are not always available.
  • July and August are the busiest months. Book your boat tour a few days ahead.
  • Water shoes help on the pebbles.
  • Take your trash with you and help keep Gjipe beautiful.

Book your boat trip to Gjipe

We’ve been running boat tours from Dhermi beach since 2017. See prices, dates and book online on the Group Tour of All Caves & Gjipe Beach page. If you’d rather have the boat just for your group, take a look at our private boat tours.

Book the Gjipe Beach tour