KsamilKsamili

Location and founding

Ksamil is a coastal village in the riviera of southern Albania, situated south of Sarandë on the road to Butrint. It lies within the boundaries of Butrint National Park and sits on the Ionian coast near the Greek border.

The village was established during the communist era, in 1966, making it a planned settlement rather than a historic town. Its founding date distinguishes it from older settlements in the region, and its layout reflects the period in which it was built.

Administrative status and 2015 reform

Ksamil was formerly a municipality in its own right. Under the 2015 local government reform in Albania, it lost that status and became a subdivision of the municipality of Sarandë.

The municipal unit of Ksamil consists of two villages: Ksamil itself and Manastir. The unit's name in Albanian is Ksamili, and in Greek the area is referred to as Εξαμίλι.

Population figures and census data

The 2023 census recorded a population of 2,731 for Ksamil. This figure contrasts sharply with the figure held by the Civil Offices, which recorded 9,137 residents in 2018. The disparity between the two counts reflects a significant gap between registered and census-enumerated populations.

Official estimates from 2014 put the population of the commune at 9,215. Of those, 4,207 were recorded as Greeks, seven as Aromanians, and the remainder as Albanians.

Ethnic and religious composition

In 1992, Ksamil village had a mixed population comprising Muslim Albanians (1,125), Greeks (520), and Orthodox Albanians (210). This breakdown indicates that the settlement has historically contained a substantial Greek-speaking minority alongside Albanian communities of differing religious affiliations.

By 2014, official estimates indicated that Greeks constituted a near-majority within the commune, with 4,207 out of a total of 9,215. Seven individuals were recorded as Aromanians. These figures are official estimates rather than census results and should be treated accordingly.

The Ksamil Islands

The principal natural attraction associated with Ksamil is the group of small offshore islands known as the Ksamil Islands. These islands are described as the main draw for visitors to the area.

The beaches around Ksamil, including those near the islands, are characterised by white sand. The Guardian included Ksamil Beach and Albania's broader Ionian coast to the north in its list of 20 of the best bargain beach holidays for 2013.

Tourism development and visitor patterns

Ksamil is recorded as one of the most frequently visited coastal resorts in Albania, drawing both domestic and international tourists. In recent years, visitors from Kosovo and other Albanian-speaking areas have been among the more prominent domestic tourist groups.

Growing international tourism has driven the construction of new hotel facilities in the area. The same growth has been accompanied by rising prices. The article does not specify when this pattern of development began or provide precise figures for visitor numbers.

Nearby sites and wider Butrint area

Ksamil sits within Butrint National Park, which is itself a major draw for visitors to the region. The park and the ancient site of Butrint lie close to Ksamil along the same road south from Sarandë.

Other sites accessible from Ksamil include the Blue Eye spring at Muzinë and the town of Sarandë to the north. Several smaller beaches are located north of Ksamil along the coast. These sites collectively form the range of activities available to those staying in the village.

Position within southern Albanian riviera

Ksamil occupies the southern end of the Albanian Riviera, close to the Greek border. Its position between Sarandë and the Butrint lagoon places it at the junction of coastal tourism and protected natural and archaeological landscape.

The village's growth from a 1966 communist-era settlement into a recognised tourist destination on an internationally published list of bargain beach destinations illustrates how rapidly the area's character changed after Albania opened to foreign visitors in the 1990s. The article does not provide detail on the rate or specific chronology of that transition.