Mussel Sailing Tour with Food and Drink Tasting in Albania

Overview

Available languages

Greek

English

2 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Mussel tour is a unique local experience where you will meet our Queen, the famous blue mussel of Butrint lake. The journey will start on a traditional boat, first, stop at mussel farms. The process of mussel cultivation will be explained and we will take some fresh mussels directly from the farm, next stop will be at the restaurant but before being there a little involvement in the separation process will. Each of us will wear gloves and start to separate the Queens. Work, sailing, and meditation for 15 min will be optional for each guest. After that, sail to another part of the National Park of Butrint, a local and idyllic restaurant, there will cook together two kinds of mussel dishes dressed in olive oil, lemon, and parsley accompanied with local white wine, fresh vegetables, homemade bread, and water for each will complete the table. After enjoying the taste of our land and sharing wonderful stories relaxing sailing back will be through watching the sunset.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Gloves and plastic bags that we need at mussel farming process

Sailing on traditional boat is included too

Two kind of mussel dishes, vegetables, homemade bread, white wine and water

All Fees and Taxes

Private transportation

What To Expect

Butrint National Park

National Park of Butrint. We start the tour from the entrance of the ancient city of Butrint, at viavari channel (11:00am) on traditional engine boats with capacity 8+ 2(Guide and Captain). Sail to mussel beds, concrete structure where we cultivate mussels, 10minute sailing. At 11:10 we arrive at the mussel beds, first stop here, we park the boat and stay on the boat through enjoying the process of mussel cultivation explained by our local guide. Stay here for about 20 minute. During this time we will wear gloves and start working as mussel farmers do, work and meditation will be.

45 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

At 11:30 we start sailing again, this time our direction will be at Kalivoi, "rich man" home in ancient Rome, part of National Park of Butrint, a nice local restaurant near the lake is situated there. 15 minutes sailing. At 11:45 we will land at the restaurant and start preparing the mussels that we had taken on mussel beds. Enjoying the lunch with three kinds of mussel dishes, fresh vegetables, homemade bread accompanied with local white wine and water for each. At the restaurant we will stay for one hour, sometimes more.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Mussel Sailing Tour with Food and Drink Tasting in Albania

Reviews

4.82

102 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Good tour and good food!
Sasha K,
Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
A trip to see the mussel farms and then a fresh home cooked meal at the beach of the lake, really nice and Informative tour!
Brilliant
Jenny P,
Sep 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Fabulous experience. Boat tour from Ksamil across the lake, picking up mussels along the way to a tiny restaurant on a quiet beach. Best mussels I’ve ever eaten - raw, barbecued and steamed with wine and local oregano. Don’t make the mistake I made and think that the tour starts at Butrint Archaeological park (happily less than 30 mins back by bus).
Fresh Mussels, Beautiful Setting
qd7wcvcshm,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Fantastic experience in Ksamil! The mussel tour was authentic, the hosts were welcoming, and the mussels were the freshest and most delicious we’ve ever had. A must-do if you’re in the area!”
Our guide was very...
Bonnie S,
Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable, he was happy to answer any and all questions that members of the group had. It was lovely to be able to try the local mussels cooked in various ways
Beautiful, interesting and tasty
721 dik,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was very beautiful, interesting and tasty. Elidon is a great guide. He is very knowledgeable of the mussels farming process and a great host. I highly recommend this tour.
We had an amazing experience. I highly recommend it for everyone!
gaborw427,
Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Me and my family had a wonderful time and gained a bunch of core memories with this experience. The tour guy was doing an excellent job on how to make mussel harvesting interesting for us outsiders. He involved us to feel like a real mussel sailer and we could try it with our own hands. The family restaurant that he brought us was also a heartwarming suprise. The family greeted us warmly and we got a fullfilling lunch with traditional and fresh mussels.
Highly Recommend
Mikaya D,
Aug 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
What an amazing tour! If you’re in Ksamil, I highly recommend taking this tour. Learning about the mussel process was fascinating, and the dishes prepared with the mussels were absolutely delicious. Our guide was fantastic and made the experience even more memorable.
Nice people, good vibes.
Fearless14155850883,
Aug 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Everything was wonderful. Very friendly and easygoing. Pros: Eat good food, have a nice tour guide, vibes were immaculate! Cons: None of:)
This tour was one of the absolute highlights of our holiday!
492maikb,
Jul 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour was one of the absolute highlights of our holiday! From start to finish everything was perfectly organized and exceeded our expectations. Our guide was incredibly friendly, warm and just knew everything. He explained everything to us with a lot of enthusiasm and attention to detail – from the surroundings to the preparation of the mussel dishes. What was particularly impressive was that he showed and explained the whole shellfish farming to us – an exciting insight into the local tradition and work. Another highlight: We were even allowed to help ourselves – when harvesting the mussels and removing the so-called “beards”. A unique, authentic experience! Dinner was then held in a very original, authentic restaurant on a secluded beach – an absolutely idyllic place that perfectly matched the atmosphere of the tour. The mussels were fresh, excellently prepared and simply delicious! The atmosphere on the boat was relaxed and full of life at the same time. Delicious food, refreshing drinks and fantastic views – what more could you want? I can really recommend this tour to anyone who is traveling in the area. An authentic, special experience that you won't forget anytime soon. A huge thank you to our great guide – without him the tour would have been half as beautiful!
Mussel Tour
johnbQ7802LF,
Jul 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Antonio was a great tour guide. If you like mussels you must take this tour. He showed us everything from harvesting the mussels, cleaning them and then preparing them at the restaurant.