Plan the details Riviera Road-Trip Planner Build a self-drive route along the Albanian Riviera in seconds. Choose how many days you have, where you start, and the kind of trip you want — the planner orders the coastal stops from Vlora over the Llogara Tunnel down to Himarë, Borsh and Saranda, with real 2026 drive times, tolls and parking. Pick your options and the planner rebuilds a day-by-day Vlora→Saranda route. Distances are 2026 driving estimates on the winding SH8, where 50 km of map distance often means an hour behind the wheel. How many days? Where do you start? Travel style ⚠️ Arriving via Corfu: you cannot bring a Corfu/Greek rental car into Albania. Cross on foot, rent in Saranda, and follow the day plan below in reverse (south→north). Once your route is set, compare rental cars and read our Himarë driving and Llogara Tunnel guide for the road rules behind these legs. These are the verified 2026 legs the planner uses. The coastal road is paved but winding, so times assume the strict 40 km/h village and 80–90 km/h rural limits — not map-straight speeds. Leg Distance Drive time Notes Tirana Airport → Himarë ~220 km 3.5–4.5 h via Vlora + Llogara Tunnel Vlora → Himarë ~70 km 1.5–2 h tunnel or scenic pass Dukati → Palasë (tunnel) 5.9 km ~7 min 250 ALL one-way, 80 km/h Dukati → Palasë (Llogara Pass) ~25 km 30–45 min free, ~1,027 m, winter-closure risk Palasë → Dhërmi ~12 km ~15 min steep descent Dhërmi → Jalë (Gjipe between) ~10 km ~15 min narrow side roads Jalë → Himarë ~12 km ~20 min heavy summer traffic Himarë → Qeparo ~13 km ~20 min coastal plateau Qeparo → Borsh ~5 km ~10 min short, accessible Borsh → Saranda ~37 km 45–55 min some inland deviations Himarë → Saranda (total) ~53 km ~1 h 10 main southern leg Saranda → Ksamil / Butrint / Blue Eye 17–22 km 30–45 min south-tip excursions Corfu ↔ Saranda (ferry) ~30 km sea 30 min fast / 50–70 min car no rental cars from Corfu The Ceraunian Mountains separate Vlora from the Riviera, and since 5 July 2024 you can choose how to cross. The 5.9 km Llogara Tunnel cuts the Dukati→Palasë run from 30–45 minutes to about 7 minutes; the historic Llogara Pass climbs to roughly 1,027 m for the Riviera's most famous sea view. Route Time Cost Best for Llogara Tunnel (5.9 km) ~7 min 250 ALL one-way (≈ €2.50) Speed, winter reliability, the return leg to Tirana Llogara Pass (~1,027 m) 30–45 min Free Scenery, photography, the southbound first reveal 💡 The classic move is to take the Pass southbound (sea views opening up as you descend) and the Tunnel on the way back north to save time and fatigue. The tunnel toll is 250 ALL for a standard car — well-publicised by the Ministry of Infrastructure after early "€5" estimates were officially corrected; collection has been repeatedly announced since September 2025, so verify locally whether the barrier is charging yet. ⚠️ The old Pass can close in winter (Dec–Feb) for snow or ice, and tour buses cause 5–15 minute queues on the switchbacks in summer. The tunnel is the reliable year-round option. Overtaking inside the tunnel is banned and 136 cameras enforce the 80 km/h limit. The sweet spot is June and September: warm sea (~26 °C), comfortable mid-to-high-20s °C for the Gjipe hike, and 30–40% lower prices than peak. July–August spikes into the mid-30s with heavy SH8 traffic, full beach lots by mid-morning, and the top tier of Ksamil and Dhërmi sunbed prices. Stop Parking Sunbeds (2 + umbrella) Dhërmi / Drymades 300 ALL/3h → 500–1,000 ALL/day 1,000–4,000 ALL (priciest) Gjipe 300–500 ALL + 2.5 km hike none (wild beach) Himarë (Spile/Livadhi) Town lots; Livadhi easier 500–1,000 ALL (best value) Borsh Free along the access road 500–1,000 ALL Ksamil 1,000 ALL+ (if you find space) 2,000–4,000 ALL Every Albanian beach is public by law (Council of Ministers Decision VKM 649, 16 Oct 2024): the immediate waterline must stay free even in front of private beach clubs, so you can always lay a towel without paying. Fuel is state-regulated and volatile — budget roughly 180–190 ALL/L in 2026, and fill up in Vlora or Saranda before the coast, where stations thin out. Plan the details Driving to Himarë: Llogara Tunnel & SH8 rules Beaches & parking in Himarë by car Saranda port pickup & Corfu ferry logistics Day trips from Himarë Official references: the Albanian Road Authority (ARRSH) for road and tunnel notices, Ionian Seaways for the Corfu–Saranda ferry rules, and Llogara National Park for the pass.