The island
Tongo is a small rocky island at the southernmost end of Albania's Ionian coast, close to the border with Greece.
The island sits just off the Albanian mainland, at the entrance to the Bay of Ftelia. The distance between Tongo and the Albanian coast is short enough to make the mainland clearly visible from the island, while the Greek maritime border passes only around 50 metres beyond its southeastern side.
This unusual position gives Tongo a distinctive setting. On the side facing away from Albania, the island opens directly onto the Ionian Sea. On the opposite side, the Albanian coastline lies close by, with rocky terrain and several small beaches along the mainland. Tongo Beach Bar is also located on the nearby Albanian coast, rather than on the island itself.
Tongo is approximately 250 metres long and up to 100 metres wide, covering around 2.5 hectares. It is rocky, uninhabited and covered in low Mediterranean vegetation.
There are no permanent buildings, roads, hotels or restaurants on the island. There is also no conventional beach infrastructure, which means that the experience here is primarily about the landscape and the surrounding water.
The nearby Albanian mainland is different. Along the coast opposite Tongo are small beaches and a simple wooden beach bar known as Tongo Beach Bar, giving visitors the option of combining a boat stop around the island with time on the mainland.
How to reach Tongo
Tongo is reached by boat from the southern Albanian coast.
Saranda is one of the most practical starting points, with boats departing from the city's port. Another possible starting point is the area near Butrint, where boats can be arranged from the coastline in front of Butrint National Park.
Visitors can reach Tongo as part of an organised boat excursion, arrange a private boat with a captain, or, where available and appropriate, rent a boat and operate it themselves. Current boat operators offer both shared and private trips to Tongo from Saranda.
Because boat availability, routes, duration and prices vary between operators and throughout the season, it is advisable to confirm the arrangements before travelling.
Tongo
Destination Features
Access
By boat
Best time to visit
Summer
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
What to expect
Tongo is a destination best experienced from the water.A typical visit involves anchoring near the island, swimming, snorkelling and spending time around the rocky coastline before continuing to other points along the southern Albanian coast.
The island itself is small enough to understand quickly, but its position creates a much larger sense of space: open sea on one side, the Albanian mainland and its beaches on the other, and the Greek border immediately beyond the island.
There are no visitor facilities on Tongo itself, so visitors should not expect restaurants, shops, toilets or other conventional beach infrastructure.
Through Our Lens
The hidden coast, captured as we found it
Travel tips
What to bring
Because there are no facilities on the island, visitors should bring enough drinking water and food for the duration of their trip, together with sun protection, swimwear, a towel and suitable footwear if they intend to step onto the rocky shoreline. Snorkelling equipment can also be useful for exploring the surrounding water. Most importantly, everything brought onto the island should leave with the visitor, including all waste.
Boat trips and costs
The cost of reaching Tongo depends on how you choose to travel.
Shared excursions are generally the more affordable option, while a private boat costs more and gives visitors greater control over the route, stops and time spent at Tongo. Prices can also change depending on the type and size of boat, the number of passengers, the duration of the trip and whether Tongo is part of a longer coastal itinerary.
For this reason, there is no single fixed price for a Tongo trip. Visitors should compare the available options and confirm the total cost directly with the operator before departure.
When to visit
Boat trips to Tongo are primarily a seasonal activity, and availability depends on the period of the year, weather and sea conditions.
Summer is the main period for organised boat excursions along this part of the coast, but conditions can change quickly at sea. Visitors should check with their boat operator before departure, particularly when planning a private or self-operated trip.
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Responsible travel
Tongo’s lack of permanent infrastructure is an important part of its character. It also means that visitors have a direct responsibility for preserving the place.
There are no waste facilities on the island, so everything brought ashore should be taken back with you. Avoid leaving plastic, food or other waste behind, and take care not to damage the vegetation, rocks or surrounding marine environment.
A different perspective on the southern coast
Tongo is small, but its location makes it an interesting point from which to experience the southernmost part of Albania.
From the island, the relationship between land and sea becomes especially clear: the Albanian coast is only a short distance away, the Ionian Sea stretches out beyond it, and the maritime border with Greece lies immediately to the southeast.
Rather than a destination built around facilities, Tongo offers a simple experience centred on the boat journey, the surrounding coastline and the water between them.
