Special Tour "Wine Tasting - Blue Eye and Lekursi Castle"
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Start Point: Saranda (Pickup at 9:00AM or 4.00 pm )
Pickup from your hotel or a central meeting point in Saranda by a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle.
Stop 1: Blue Eye Spring
Drive time: ~45 minutes
Explore the famous Syri i Kaltër (Blue Eye) – a deep, crystal-clear natural spring surrounded by lush forest.Enjoy a short guided nature walk, learn about the spring’s geology and local legends.
Stop 2: Local Winery Experience
Drive time: ~30-40 minutes.
Guided tour of the vineyard and wine cellar.
Wine tasting session: sample 3–5 types of local wines (red, white, and raki), paired with Albanian cheeses, olives, and homemade bread.Learn about Albania’s ancient winemaking traditions and grape varieties.
Stop 3: Lekursi Castle & Sunset View
Drive time: ~30 minutes
Arrive at Lekursi Castle for a guided historical tour.Enjoy free time to explore, relax, and take in breathtaking sunset views over Saranda, Corfu, and the Ionian coast.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Kantina E Veres Isak
Experience an exclusive taste of local wine, traditional raki and some delicious Albanian snacks at a local wine producer, Kantina Isak.
The Blue Eye
The Blue Eye is a natural spring in southern Albania. It holds the bluest, clearest water imaginable. Looking at it from above, the Blue Eye spring forms a swirling vortex that’s hypnotic to watch.The layers of the spring range from clear, colourless shallows to azure waters that border the intense, deep blue centre of the eye.The park around the Blue Eye includes a lake, a bridge, a rocky path and mountain scenery. The beautiful spring lies at the top end of the park, and is the source of the lake and the clear blue river that flows from it.
What‘s Included
All Fees and Taxes
Air-conditioned vehicle
€15 – Basic tasting: 3 wines, 3 rakis, brandy, small food platter • €25 – Medium: more drinks, extra food variety • €35 – Full experience: 6 wines, 5 rakis, brandy, large food platter with meats
Train Ticket to Blue Eye (one way)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Sunset Option
Pickup included
Reviews
17 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing experience
O939KKiant,,Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It's well worth it. Beautiful views and interesting history. Our tour guide, Faye, was very knowledgeable and friendly.
Disappointing & Misleading Tour Despite a Great Guide
Freedom53995082813,,Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00I booked the Wine Tasting - Blue Eye and Lekursi Castle Sunset Option (16:00) via TripAdvisor for Wednesday, at a cost of £89.26 for two people. Unfortunately, the overall experience was far from what was advertised, and I left feeling misled and disappointed. On Tuesday morning—the day before the scheduled tour—I was contacted by Visit Saranda and asked to reschedule because other guests had cancelled and I was told it was “impossible” to run the tour with only two participants. This was very frustrating, as I had booked well in advance and carefully planned my itinerary around this experience. My only option was to move the tour to Friday, and even then the start time was changed from 16:00 to 15:00. Communication regarding pickup was also unclear. The TripAdvisor listing specifies hotel pickup or a central meeting point in Saranda, but I was asked to provide a private address since I was not staying in a listed hotel. Fortunately, our guide, Mariglen Lici, arrived punctually (in fact, early), and throughout the tour he was polite, knowledgeable, and accommodating. His professionalism was the highlight of the day. The Blue Eye was a beautiful stop, but access involved an additional and unexpected cost. Visitors must either walk 25 minutes or take a road train at 300 LEK per person each way (approximately €3). For two people, this was a further outlay on top of the advertised tour price. Additionally, while our guide encouraged swimming, it was apparent from signage and from observing conflicts between staff and tourists that swimming was not permitted, which created confusion and discomfort. The visit to Kantina E Veres Isak was particularly disappointing. The description of the tour suggested that wine tasting was included, yet upon arrival I was informed there would be an additional charge of €15–€35 per person, depending on the package and timing. This felt misleading and contrary to the expectations set by the booking. Communication during the winery visit was also difficult, and the guide did not accompany us inside, leaving us feeling more like unsupervised customers than participants in a guided cultural experience. Furthermore, we were rushed in order to reach Lekursi Castle before sunset. The sunset at Lekursi Castle was indeed beautiful, and Mariglen ensured we returned safely to our accommodation. However, despite his efforts, the overall experience did not reflect what was advertised when I booked. Between the forced rescheduling, additional costs, lack of clarity about inclusions, and rushed pacing, I cannot recommend this tour in its current form. Summary: Positive: An excellent guide (Mariglen), punctual and professional. Negative: Misleading description of inclusions, last-minute rescheduling, unexpected extra costs, and poorly structured itinerary. For the price paid, I expected a much higher standard of organization and transparency.
Great day trip! The Blue...
Paige T,,Sep 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great day trip! The Blue Eye is beautiful and the wine tasting and sunset were unexpected highlights! The wine tasting was at a cute vineyard with a lovely patio. You have 4 different wines and more rakia with great local tapas. The sunset at the castle was beautiful!
In a city where US tourists seem rare…this Klajdi provided the utmost display of kindness & professionalism.
SusanN2168,,Aug 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We didn’t know what to expect of this tour however from the hotel pickup to the visit to the Blue Eye then the local Winery and lastly, the Castle for a sunset view….simply Lovely. Klajdi’s knowledge about his village/town/country was perfect for us since we knew very little. A wonderful experience.
All great except for wine tasting
Sasha P,,Jul 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Klajdi is a great guide, told us quite a lot of interesting things about Saranda and took us to all places without any problems. The wine tasting was the part we have been looking forward to the most and the one that disappointed us more as well, so don’t expect amazing wines there. Otherwise the Blue eye was gorgeous, and the view from the castle is breathtaking. Get ready to take some pictures!
A worthy glimpse of southern Albania in a day
Stefanie B,,Jul 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A besutiful part of southern Albania we were glad to see with our exceptional guide Klajdi. The drive to it was a beautiful glimpse into the Albanian landscape. Blue Eye is fascinating; the only sad part: not all tourists follow the signs of this beautiful but fragile ecosystem. The tasting was great and we got a hint how raki and local products are made. The castle has truly a nice view especially at sunset but it can get crowdy.
A fantastic trip
Q4076FImarieh,,Jun 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a perfect way to experience The Blue Eye and Lekursi Castle! The guide was very nice and helpful. We had a really nice trip and the trip has good value for money! We warmly recommend this tour.
Best part of our vacation was this tour!!
312aundreac,,May 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time and with such a diverse itinerary, we were able to experience a lot of the area in a limited time. I would highly recommend booking this tour for anyone wanting to taste and see all that the southern Albania has to offer!
Nice place and good wine
gauchof2025,,May 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely outstanding place! We had the best time! The wine is amazing and so are the appetizers you get! We also really loved the staff! Klajdi was so nice and accommodating🤗 definitely come if you are in the area!
Deff recommend
ernaldod,,May 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Me and my friends had an amazing evening. The food was great, the wine was delicious and the tour guide was very friendly. Would def recommend
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Operated by Visit Saranda