Albania is home to numerous and exciting natural cave

formations along its coast, but most can only be reached

by sea. For only the most experienced and adventurous
of tourists, this half-day itinerary leads visitors to three of
the most interesting cave formations on the Ionian Coast
that are reachable by land.

Please note that visitors assume all safety and

responsibility for their welfare on this itinerary as not all
of the caves have been fully explored and/or documented
by speleologists. Also note that travel and visitation times
are approximate and may vary depending on the season,
weather, and/or vehicle used. Public transportation will
only provide access to locations on the main Vlora-Saranda
National Road; private transportation is recommended.
Walking shoes in good condition are also advised. No
sites on this itinerary are handicapped accessible.

For more Information:

www.albaniantourism.com
www.tirana-airport.com.al; www.bashkiavlore.org;
www.himara.eu; www.saranda-guide.com
Celesi Tourist Guides; e-mail: opinion@celesi.com
Car Rental Companies: Sixt; EuropCar; AVIS; HERTZ

Integrated Coastal Zone

Management and Clean Up Project
 CA
CAVEVE OF OD YSSEUS
ODYSSEUS
(Approx.500 m south of Himara – approx. 5 minutes on
the seashore boulevard)
Begin your journey by heading south on foot from
Himara’s main beach to the Cave of Odysseus, where
the seashore walkway ends and meets the National
Road. Located in a rocky outcrop next to the national
road, this cave is also known as the Cave of Cardini
(Luigi Cardini). The cave received its name from
Homer’s The Odyssey, in which Homer described the
imaginary journey of Odysseus in the “country of the
Himariots”. The cave is a karstic cave, meaning it was
created by erosion processes out of surrounding
limestone. Its length is up to 20m, and has a width of up
to 7-8m. Excavations have confirmed that this cave has
been inhabited since the Neolithic period and the Bronze
Age, while there are findings dating in the Hellenistic
and Roman periods.
CA
CAVE VE OF PORTO P ALERMO
PALERMO
(Approx.10 km south of Himara – approx. 20 minutes
on the National Road)
Next, drive to visit the Cave of Porto Palermo.
Palermo This
cave is situated in the Bay of Palermo, near the former
submarine base that is still under the auspices of the
Albanian military. Also a karstic cave created out of
limestone, the cave at Porto Palermo measures only a
few meters in each direction. The entrance is heavily
damaged and there have been no formal excavations or
exploration of the history of the cave. It is primarily
noted for its scenic and tourist values.
CA VE OF LLUK
CAVE UK
UKOOVA
(Approx.26 km south of Porto Palermo – approx.
55 minutes on the National Road)
From Porto Palermo, drive south to the village of
Lukova. In Lukova, take the dirt road to the beach
area and park. Walk for about 25 minutes (ask the
locals for directions) to arrive at the Cave of
Lukova
Lukova. A karstic cave created out of limestone,
this cave has several wide and narrow passes with
beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations. This
complex cave has several floors, but they should
not be explored without a professional speleologist,
as no formal explorations or mapping of the cave
have yet been performed. Visitors are advised
extreme caution when visiting.
After visiting the caves, visitors can lounge on the
beach near Lukova or head back to Himara or their
next destination to continue their journey.