Pulebardha
Best for. Snorkelers and cove hunters who want clear sheltered water and a pretty bay, and who will arrive at dawn to beat the Ksamil day crowd.
Best spot. The rocky shoulders of the bay at first light, where the water is clearest and the fish hold close to the rocks before the cove fills.
Know this. It is small and close to Ksamil, so it packs out by late morning in summer. Come early or in the shoulder weeks, or boat north for space.
Pulebardha, the seagull cove, is a small bright bay tucked between Saranda and Ksamil, reached down a gravel track off the main road and framed by dramatic rock. The water is the headline, very clear and sky blue and sheltered inside the bay, and the whole place has the look of a hidden gem. The catch is that the secret is long out, and on a summer afternoon this little cove is anything but hidden.
The adventure read is snorkeling, and it is genuinely good. The rocky shoulders of the bay drop into clear sheltered water where the fish hold close to the rock, and at first light with a mask on it is one of the nicer easy snorkels on this end of the coast. The bay shelters you from the worst of the wind, so the water stays workable longer than on the open beaches, but the move is still the same as everywhere here, which is to go early. Arrive at dawn and you might have the cove to yourself for an hour before the Ksamil crowd rolls in.
Be honest about the size and the timing though. Pulebardha is small, and it sits a short hop from the most popular beaches in Albania, so by late morning in peak season it fills fast and the parking up the track jams. It is lovely at dawn or in the shoulder weeks, hot and packed by midday in August. If you want the same clear water with real space, get on a boat and point north to the wild bay at Krorez.
The cove and its kitchens
Pulebardha has no styled beach clubs, just a couple of small restaurants that set out a few loungers above the sand. The cove itself is the draw. For the wider club scene, the bigger beaches and the directory are a short hop away.
Photo: M Lena via GooglePulebardha cove restaurants
A couple of small beach restaurants sit above the cove, serving fresh fish and cold drinks with a few loungers on the bright pebble. Simple and pretty rather than styled. Prices and loungers to be confirmed.
Between Saranda and Ksamil
Pulebardha lies roughly halfway between Saranda and Ksamil, signed off the main coast road and reached down a short gravel track to the cove. It is an easy taxi from either town, and walkable for the determined, with limited parking at the top of the track.
Timing is the whole game here. Come at dawn for a clear hour and a calm snorkel before the Ksamil day trippers arrive, carry water and a mask, and treat the little cove as an early stop rather than a midday plan in the heat of August.
Photo: M Lena via GoogleBook a beach club
Pulebardha runs simple, so tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a table or a day at the cove, or point you to a club on the bigger beaches nearby. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Pulebardha
Is Pulebardha beach worth visiting?
Yes, if you come at the right time. The seagull cove is small, bright and very clear, with genuinely good snorkeling on the rocky sides. The problem is the crowd, since it sits a short hop from Ksamil, so go at dawn or in the shoulder weeks.
Why does Pulebardha get so busy?
Because it is small and sits a short hop from Ksamil, the most popular beach area in Albania. By late morning in peak season the cove fills and the parking up the gravel track jams. Arrive at dawn for an hour of calm before the day crowd lands.
Is the snorkeling good at Pulebardha?
Yes, it is one of the nicer easy snorkels on this end of the coast. The rocky shoulders of the bay drop into clear sheltered water where the fish hold close to the rock. Bring a mask and go early while the water is calm and clear.
Are there beach clubs at Pulebardha?
No styled clubs, just a couple of small restaurants that set out a few loungers above the cove. The bay itself is the draw. For the wider Riviera club scene, the bigger beaches and the club directory are a short hop away.
When is the best time to visit Pulebardha?
June and September give warm clear water without the full Ksamil crush. In July and August the cove is best at dawn, before the day trippers arrive and the parking fills. Avoid the midday heat in peak if you can.
