Gjipe Beach

Gjipe is a small beach at the mouth of a deep limestone canyon on the Albanian Riviera, hidden between the villages of Dhërmi and Vuno. It is reachable only on foot or by boat, and that inaccessibility is the reason it remains one of the most unspoilt places on the entire Albanian coast.

The Canyon and the Beach

The Gjipe Canyon cuts through the Ceraunian Mountains for several kilometres, ending abruptly at the sea in a narrow cleft about thirty metres wide. The beach itself, a curve of white pebbles and unusually fine sand, sits at this junction, with sheer cliffs rising on either side. The water is turquoise, deep, and exceptionally clear; the sea floor drops away within a few metres of the shore. There are no roads, no large buildings, and a single small bar and campsite that operate in the summer months.

The Walk

The most common approach is from the SH8 coastal road, where a marked turn-off leads down a dirt track. The first kilometre or so is driveable in a robust car; after that, the final descent to the beach is on foot, about thirty to forty minutes downhill, through olive groves and pine woods, with the canyon opening up ahead. The return walk uphill in the summer heat is significantly harder, and many visitors take a boat taxi back to Dhërmi or Jal at the end of the day. The canyon itself can also be hiked, in the cooler months, as a longer route from inland.

The Monastery Ruins

On the cliff above the beach, the ruins of a small monastery, the Monastery of St Theodore, sit on a rocky outcrop with one of the finest views on the Riviera. Little is left except parts of the walls and the foundations of the church, but the spot itself is worth the short climb up from the beach.

Practicalities

Gjipe is a day-trip destination for most visitors. There are no shops, no medical facilities, and limited shade, visitors should bring water, sun protection and supplies. Camping at the small site behind the beach is possible in summer for those who want to stay longer.

Getting there

The Gjipe turn-off is on the SH8 coastal highway between Dhërmi and Vuno, roughly 220 kilometres south of Tirana. By boat, Gjipe is about ten minutes from Jal Beach and twenty from Dhërmi.