Quick Summary: Rrojdhe Bay, known locally as Gjiri i Rrojdhes, is a sheltered cove on the Albanian Riviera where fishermen and sailors have long pulled in when the open sea gets too rough. Thick underwater plant growth gives the water a deeper, more layered color than the beaches around it. Ajla Boat stops here for about 30 minutes on the route north from Saranda.
If you’ve looked into a boat tour from Saranda, Rrojdhe Bay probably showed up on the itinerary without much explanation, usually squeezed between Turtle Cave and Soldiers Beach on the list of stops. It’s easy to skip past. Here’s what it actually is and why it earns its place on the route.
What Is Rrojdhe Bay?
Rrojdhe Bay is a small, enclosed cove on Albania’s southern Ionian coast, reachable only by boat. Locally it’s called Gjiri i Rrojdhes, and you’ll sometimes see it written as Plazhi i Rrojdhes or misspelled as “Plazhi i Ridhes” in search results, same place.
What sets it apart from a typical swim stop is its function long before tourism existed here. Local fishermen have used the bay for generations as a place to shelter when conditions on the open water turn bad. The surrounding cliffs cut the wind, and the cove stays calm even when the sea just outside it doesn’t.
Why the Water Looks Different Here
Rrojdhe’s water has a noticeably deeper, more layered color than the beaches on either side of it. That comes down to how dense the underwater plant growth is in the bay. Where most stops on the route have the clear, pale turquoise typical of the Riviera, Rrojdhe’s water shifts through darker greens and blues depending on the light and depth, a direct result of what’s growing beneath the surface rather than anything artificial.
It’s a small detail, but it’s the kind of thing that makes Rrojdhe feel different from Kakome or Soldiers Beach even though all three sit within a short boat ride of each other.
Sea Urchins: What to Know Before You Swim
The same dense growth that gives Rrojdhe its color also supports a lot of sea urchins on the rocks underwater. They’re not dangerous, but stepping on one is uncomfortable and the spines are a hassle to remove. Water shoes are worth wearing here specifically, more so than at some of the sandier stops on the route. If you’re swimming rather than wading, stick to open water and you won’t have an issue.
How to Get to Rrojdhe Bay
Boat is the only realistic way in. There’s no road, no parking, and no walking trail down to the cove. Ajla Boat includes Rrojdhe Bay as a stop on its route north from Saranda, alongside Turtle Cave, Soldiers Beach, Kakome, and Kroreza. Depending on the tour, the boat departs at 9:00 or 10:30 from Saranda’s harbour, with each of the shorter stops, Rrojdhe included, lasting around 30 minutes.
Price starts at €20 per person. You can check the full route and schedule on the private boat tours page, or book directly on WhatsApp.
Is Rrojdhe Bay Worth the Stop?
On its own, no, 30 minutes in a cove without facilities isn’t a destination in itself. As part of a full day on the water, it’s one of the more interesting stops precisely because it isn’t just another pretty beach. The shelter history and the water color give it a character the other stops don’t have, and it breaks up the route between the more swim-focused beaches.
What Else Is on the Same Route
Rrojdhe Bay sits between Turtle Cave and Soldiers Beach on Ajla Boat’s northern itinerary, with Kakome and Kroreza further along. For the full breakdown of what a day on this route looks like, see the things to do in Saranda guide.
FAQ
Is Rrojdhe Bay worth visiting? As one stop on a longer boat route, yes. It’s not a standalone beach day, but the shelter history and unusual water color make it a worthwhile 30-minute break between the other stops.
Can you swim at Rrojdhe Bay? Yes. The cove is sheltered and calm, which is exactly why sailors have used it as a refuge. Wear water shoes because of sea urchins on the rocks.
How do you get to Rrojdhe Bay? Only by boat. There’s no road access or hiking trail to the cove. Ajla Boat stops here on its northern route from Saranda.
Why is Rrojdhe Bay called a shelter for sailors? The surrounding cliffs block the wind and keep the water calm even when the open sea outside the bay is rough, which is why local fishermen have long used it as a refuge in bad conditions.
How long does the boat stop at Rrojdhe Bay? Around 30 minutes, the same as most of the other stops on the route apart from Kroreza, where the tour stays for several hours.
Key Takeaways
- Rrojdhe Bay (Gjiri i Rrojdhes) is a sheltered cove north of Saranda, reachable only by boat
- Local fishermen have long used it as a refuge from rough seas thanks to the surrounding cliffs
- Dense underwater vegetation gives the water a deeper, more layered color than nearby beaches
- Sea urchins are common on the rocks, water shoes are worth wearing
- Ajla Boat stops here for around 30 minutes on its northern route, alongside Turtle Cave, Soldiers Beach, Kakome, and Kroreza
Ready to see it for yourself? Ajla Boat runs daily tours from Saranda starting at €20 per person, with Rrojdhe Bay as one of the stops on the northern route. Book your spot on WhatsApp.
