No-licence RIB in Vlorë
from €200
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Self-drive Karaburun itinerary: the perfect RIB route, hour by hour
The route we recommend to first-time RIB renters: tested hundreds of times, with real sailing times, the bays worth stopping at and the zones to avoid. Print it mentally before setting off.
Direct booking with local operators: no hidden fees, free cancellation up to 48h before.
At a glance
Typerecommended self-drive itinerary
Route duration8 hours with 4-5 stops
Distanceabout 25 nautical miles round trip
Estimated fuel€40-60
Difficultyeasy in calm seas
SeasonMay-October
Route golden rules: leave the bay early (calmer sea), keep Sazan on your right at regulation distance (approaching the shore and fishing within 1 mile are forbidden), enter Haxhi Ali Cave only if the sea is flat, and make the long lunch stop at Shën Vasil or Dafina. Return by 17:00, before the afternoon north-westerly raises chop in the bay.
Zones to absolutely avoid: Karaburun's exposed west side (unpredictable waves for a self-driver), the active military area north of Sazan and any approach to Sazan's coast outside St. Nicholas bay. The map we give you at the briefing marks everything.
Tour itinerary, hour by hour
- 09:00Leave Vlorë harbour, heading south-west
- 09:40Passing Sazan on your right, at regulation distance
- 10:15Haxhi Ali Cave: enter if the sea is flat, otherwise photos from outside
- 11:00Dafina bay: first swim of the day, almost always empty in the morning
- 12:30Shën Vasil bay: lunch stop at the taverna or packed, turquoise sea
- 15:00Second swim stop at a cove on the return route
- 16:30Return into Vlorë bay, at an easy pace
- 17:00RIB handover at the harbour
What's included
- This route is handed to you with a map at the rental briefing
- Updated advice based on the day's wind
- Phone support throughout the day
What's NOT included
- This is an information page: the RIB is booked from the rental page
- Fuel depends on how fast you go: relaxed route = €40-60
What to bring
- Everything needed for a self-sufficient day at sea
- The briefing map (photograph it, just in case)
Who it's for (and who it's not)
Those who rented the no-licence RIB and want the tested route. If you'd rather not think about anything, there's the skipper.
Weather & cancellation
This route works in calm or slightly choppy seas. In strong south-westerly wind the rental doesn't go out at all: rescheduling or refund.
Frequently asked questions
Can I modify the route?
Sure: it's a recommendation, not an obligation. The only real constraints are the restricted zones and the 17:00 return.
Where do you anchor?
On the sandy bottoms of the indicated bays, never on posidonia (it's protected and recognisable by its dark colour). At the briefing we show you how to anchor in 2 minutes.