Blue eye - källan "Syri i Kalter" i Albanien

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.

Table of contents

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.

Albanerna fyller sina vattenflaskor med rent och gott källvatten — Albanians fill their water bottles with clean and tasty spring water

Vägen från Saranda till källan "Blue eye" är vacker — The road from Saranda to the "Blue Eye" spring is beautiful.

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.

Vattnet runt om källan är så klart att man ser precis allt på botten — The water around the spring is so clear that you can see everything at the bottom.

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 ...

Syri i Kalter — The blue eye - or the green?

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.

Blue eye — From other angles, the blue colours of the Blue Eye stand out even more.

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!

Blue eye - Blå ögat - Syri I Kalter i Albanien — The chilly water at the Blue Eye doesn't deter everyone.

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: Ksamil in Albania - lovely holiday
READ MORE: Facts about Albania - 30 things you (might) not have known

15 Comments

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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

Mr 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 in 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 and 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

Comment by post author

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

Comment by post author

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

Comment by post author

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

Comment by post author

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

Blue Eye - "Syri i Kalter" source in Albania

Fresh spring water

Blue eye - "blue eye" or "Syria in the cold"

Visiting Syria in cold weather

See more in the neighbourhood

Trip to Blue Eye

Guide to the Blue Eye

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15 Comments

Lennart says:

Åsa says:

Mr Steve says:

Birgitta in Umeå says:

Ama de casa says:

Maggan and Ingemar says:

admin says:

BP says:

admin says:

Steel city anna says:

Ontrip.dk says:

admin says:

Ditte says:

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