Ksamil Island, Albania

South of Saranda, the unofficial capital of the Albanian Riviera, and within striking distance of the Greek border, Ksamil has an excellent location.

The three small islands in its turquoise bay are an easy swim or boat ride away, and there are always fewer people here than on the busier town beach.

This is a big tourism centre for locals, and it can get very crowded in summer, but even then the islands offer some respite.

Corfu looms across the channel in the distance (this is Albania’s closest point to the Greek island), and the ancient city of Butrint, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is just beyond Saranda, which makes it very easy to combine beach time with some cultural pursuits.