Clear Ionian water below mountain villages
The Albanian Riviera runs south from the Llogara Pass towards Sarandë, where mountains drop steeply to clear Ionian water. Villages such as Dhërmi and Himarë overlook pebble beaches and sheltered coves, and Ksamil, near the Greek border, is known for white sand and small islands. Nearby Butrint is a UNESCO site layering Greek, Roman and Venetian ruins in a forest by a lagoon. The Blue Eye spring, inland, is a vivid natural pool.