CAVE OF ODYSSEUS
(Approx.500 m south of Himara – approx. 5 minutes onthe seashore boulevard)
Begin your journey by heading south on foot from Himara’s main beach to the Cave of Odysseus, where the seashore walkway ends and meets the National Road. Located in a rocky outcrop next to the national road, this cave is also known as the Cave of Cardini (Luigi Cardini). The cave received its name from Homer’s The Odyssey, in which Homer described the imaginary journey of Odysseus in the “country of the Himariots”. The cave is a karstic cave, meaning it was created by erosion processes out of surrounding limestone. Its length is up to 20m, and has a width of up to 7-8m. Excavations have confirmed that this cave has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age, while there are findings dating in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
CAVE OF PORTO PALERMO
(Approx.10 km south of Himara – approx. 20 minutes on the National Road)
Next, drive to visit the Cave of Porto Palermo Palermo. This cave is situated in the Bay of Palermo, near the former submarine base that is still under the auspices of the Albanian military. Also a karstic cave created out of limestone, the cave at Porto Palermo measures only a few meters in each direction. The entrance is heavily damaged and there have been no formal excavations or exploration of the history of the cave. It is primarily noted for its scenic and tourist values.
CAVE OF LUKOVA
(Approx.26 km south of Porto Palermo – approx. 55 minutes on the National Road)
From Porto Palermo, drive south to the village of Lukova. In Lukova, take the dirt road to the beach area and park. Walk for about 25 minutes (ask the locals for directions) to arrive at the Cave of Lukova Lukova. A karstic cave created out of limestone, this cave has several wide and narrow passes with beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations. This complex cave has several floors, but they should not be explored without a professional speleologist, as no formal explorations or mapping of the cave have yet been performed. Visitors are advised extreme caution when visiting. After visiting the caves, visitors can lounge on the beach near Lukova or head back to Himara or their next destination to continue their journey.
Albania is home to numerous and exciting natural cave formations along its coast, but most can only be reached by sea. For only the most experienced and adventurous of tourists, this half-day itinerary leads visitors to three of the most interesting cave formations on the Ionian Coast that are reachable by land.
