A natural spring rising from more than 50 metres below — a hypnotic, glowing blue pool in the forest that no photo quite captures.
Natural spring
Small fee + parking
2–3 hours with the walk
Sarandë or Ksamil
About 40 minutes inland from Sarandë, water erupts from a karst chasm deeper than divers have ever fully measured — over 50 metres down — and the result is the Blue Eye: a pool whose centre glows an unreal deep blue ringed by bright turquoise, pouring out into an ice-clear river under the trees.
The water holds around 10°C all year, and swimming in the spring itself is officially prohibited — the viewing platform hangs right over the eye instead. It's a sight, a forest walk and a cold blast of mountain air in one, and it pairs perfectly with a Butrint morning.
Off the Sarandë–Gjirokastër road near Muzinë — about 22 km from Sarandë. From the entrance gate it's a flat, pleasant 2 km walk to the spring (a shuttle buggy runs in season).
A small per-person entry fee plus parking is collected at the gate; open daylight hours. Cafés near the spring serve drinks and snacks.
Late morning to early afternoon puts the sun directly over the pool — that's when the blue burns brightest. Swimming in the eye is banned; respect it, the spring is fragile.
Ruins at opening time, Blue Eye after lunch — the classic deep-south double.
Return to Ksamil for a late-afternoon swim in considerably warmer water.
End the day at Lëkurësi Castle above Sarandë — the whole bay and Corfu at golden hour.
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