The source "Syri i Kalter", Blue eye, is located in southern Albania, not far from the city of Saranda. We drove here directly after our visit to Butrint, and must say that the road to the mountains is absolutely beautiful. It feels like nature is doing well, because it is intensely green and right next to it the clear mountain water flows in a wide channel. But this is of course nothing compared to what we will soon see and experience.
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
ShareInnehållsförteckning
Fresh spring water
On the way up to the spring, we do as we see the Albanians do - we stop where the mountain water flows out and fill our water bottles. Fortunately, we have about 15 empty 1.5 litre bottles that we can fill with clean, clear and tasty spring water.
A driver who has no time to stop holds out his half-litre bottle to Peter and says "Please Mr". Peter fills the bottle while the man asks "Where are you from?". When we answer "Sweden" he says "Stockholm! Scandinavians are wonderful people!" and then he thanks us and moves on. We continue to the famous Syri spring in Kalter.
Blue eye - "blue eye" or "Syria in the cold"
The Blue Eye spring really does look like a blue eye. There are many names for it! Called a natural phenomenon, it consists of a spring a few square metres in size at a depth of at least 50 metres, where clear and drinkable water constantly bubbles up.
The spring is a tourist attraction and many people choose to both bathe and jump in from the small balcony above, even though the water is only 12.7 degrees centigrade. Others take billions of selfies with their selfie sticks ...
We are content to take photos and enjoy the surroundings. It is not only the deep spring that is beautiful. The green and blue colours of the water and the surrounding trees are the most intense shades we have ever seen.
Visiting Syria in cold weather
Syri i Kalter is a popular place to visit and we are far from being alone. On the contrary, children, young people and adults are swarming to swim or just admire the fascinating spring. Of course, there is also a small tourist stall selling drinks and sweets in the middle of the forest ...
If you want to get a nature experience without having to crowd with too many others, it might be an idea to come here early in the morning. But, crowded or not, we are very happy with our visit to this beautiful place!
See more in the neighbourhood
Not too far from the Blue Eye are the holiday resorts of Ksamil and Saranda, where you can enjoy sunbathing and swimming, boat trips and restaurant dinners. In the southern part of Albania, you can also visit the archaeological site. Butrint, a place that has been inhabited for around 3000 years and has been a Greek colony, a Roman city and a Christian bishopric.
Trip to Blue Eye
- Car/mop: You can drive to the Blue Eye by car, camper van, rental car or perhaps a moped. The driving time from Saranda is about 30 minutes by car.
- Taxi: It's not too far and prices in Albania are low, so taking a taxi can be reasonable.
- Bus: There are also buses. Check with your tour operator, hotel or campsite.
Guide to the Blue Eye
- Accessibility: There are no long distances to walk, but the surface can be uneven. The carriageway is also of varying quality.
- To think about: There can be a lot of tourists, so if you don't want to be crowded, you may want to arrive early in the morning.
- Read more: You can find more information at albania.al
Major cities and motorways in Albania
Today we have experienced both big cities and motorways in Albania. We have travelled from...
Butrint - an archaeological site in Albania
Butrint is an archaeological site in southern Albania. The city was inhabited for about 3000 years, and...
Beautiful northern Albania - Shkoder and Lake Shkoder
Now we are just about ready to leave northern Albania with Shkoder and Lake Shkoder and head north,...
From North Macedonia to Albania by motorhome
Now we have continued our journey from North Macedonia to Albania. After the visit in Kicevo we went...
Food in Albania - 22 Albanian specialities
Food in Albania, what does it taste like? And what does Albanian food mean? We have travelled by motorhome...
Camping on Lake Ohrid in Albania
Camping at Lake Ohrid in Albania. Lake Ohrid is located in eastern Albania on the border with North Macedonia, and is...
By motorhome on Albania's mountain roads
Today we continued northwards on Albania's mountain roads, from Himara to Radhima. The plan was just to move...
Is it safe to travel in Albania?
When travelling in Albania, we get a lot of questions. Many are curious about the country and...
Albania's beaches - 14 beautiful beaches in Albania
Albania's beaches! Today we present five beautiful beaches in Albania, including our own favourite Bunec Beach....
Albanian meze - Many small dishes
Albanian meze - what is it? We are currently staying at a campsite in Shkodra at...
Ksamil in Albania - lovely sunshine holidays
Why not take a sun holiday in Ksamil, Albania? Ksamil is a tourist resort near Saranda with nice beaches....
Guest blog: From Dubrovnik to Thessaloniki
Saturday and guest blog with Elisabeth Haug From Dubrovnik to Safari Beach, 16 miles. That should...
Lake Shkodra Resort - camping at Lake Shkodra
Lake Shkodra Resort - camping at Lake Shkodra. If you're worried about it being...
Motorhome parking in Albania - Radhima on the west coast
Now we have found a modern caravan site in Albania at Radhima. We have written a...
Facts about Albania - 30 things you (might) not have known
Facts about Albania - 30 things you might not know about Albania. We travelled around...
Saranda in Albania - 5 great excursions around Saranda
Curious about Saranda in Albania? Today we offer some tips on the lovely holiday resort of Saranda...
Driving in Albania - on Balkan roads
What is it like to drive in Albania? It doesn't have to be difficult to drive a car in...
Livadhi beach, Himara in Albania - camping Moskato
Today we can tell you about the Livadhi beach at Himara in Albania and the Moskato campsite, which...
Restaurant Guvat, Ksamil in Albania
We had received the same restaurant tip from two completely independent people. So we were "forced" to try...
You might also like:
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Lennart says:
Beautiful!
Live well!
19 August 2015 - 8:55
Åsa says:
I should have gone swimming! I have almost obsessive thoughts that if it is possible to swim, I must swim! (in new places)
19 August 2015 - 9:21
Steve says:
Albania is getting better and better. It makes me feel good to read "It feels like nature is doing well". I wish we could say that wherever we are.
19 August 2015 - 9:31
Birgitta i Umeå says:
How wonderful you have it! I have heard and seen pictures of how beautiful it is up in the mountains.
Would love to go to Albania. Enjoy the time you are there.
19 August 2015 - 10:02
Ama de casa says:
Wow, how beautiful! But bathing in the drinking water? I hope bathing is the only thing they do there... 😉.
19 August 2015 - 10:11
Maggan och Ingemar says:
I'm glad you found the Blue Eye magical spring. We spent the night there all alone. 🙂
No, I wouldn't want to swim in the cold water. Albania has a lot to offer if you take the time to find the different places. Inland I am curious about will probably be a new trip maybe next year. 🙂
19 August 2015 - 10:56
admin says:
Lennart, it's amazingly beautiful in Albania. We sit and say "wow" all the time!
Åsa, you would have been swimming! For me it was both too cold and too crowded 😉.
Steve, this is what you want nature to look like everywhere!
Birgitta in Umeå, we think you should definitely come here if you can! Beautiful and friendly people.
Ama de casa, I don't think many people get their drinking water from here... It sprays and flows from the mountains in a thousand places. But it's drinkable water for bathing.
Maggan and Ingemar, really nice! Understand that it was nice to stand there overnight! We are on the coast now, but may see some of the inland as well.
19 August 2015 - 13:13
BP says:
Incredibly beautiful and who would have expected a pure spring and such a paradise - or should I say oasis - in Albania. Prejudice after prejudice disappears here thanks to your enthusiasm for what you have seen so far.
Never actually drank spring water. Enjoying this post:-)
19 August 2015 - 13:21
admin says:
BP, we are also very positively surprised by Albania. More beautiful than we could imagine! It is also chaotic and messy in many ways, I'll report on that too 😉.
19 August 2015 - 14:26
Steel city anna says:
So beautiful! A lagoon it looks like, like in the films 🙂 .
19 August 2015 - 14:54
Ontrip.dk says:
WOW it looks very delicious 🙂 It would be nice with a swim in the delicious but cold water right now 🙂 ðŸ™'
19 August 2015 - 18:19
admin says:
Steel city Anna, great colours when the sun is out!
Ontripdk, it's probably refreshing to take a dip there anyway! 😉
19 August 2015 - 19:20
Ditte says:
What fun and interesting to read more about Albania and see your beautiful pictures, because Albania is a completely unwritten card with me. So far...
19 August 2015 - 22:58
admin says:
Ditte, it's nice to be able to talk about a place you haven't been. You are so well travelled!
20 August 2015 - 9:31
Rebecca says:
Thanks for such a great and useful post so that we can plan our trip more easily! Have read several posts!
25 March 2018 - 15:40