Palasë Bay Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

The Palasë Bay anchorage in 3–8m on good holding sand. The S headland separating Palasë from Dhërmi provides marginally more NW shelter than Dhërmi and the bay is slightly more enclosed than the fully open Dhërmi beach. Holding on sand is consistently good — set with engine reverse and confirm before going below. Like all Riviera anchorages, fully exposed to the prevailing SW Ionian swell; the S headland does not protect from the primary SW quadrant. Notably quieter than Dhërmi: the beach is narrower (approximately 400m) and less famous, drawing fewer day-trip speedboats and beach clubs. A seasonal restaurant behind the beach operates in summer.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Palasë Bay is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set.

1. Check the forecast for Llogara Pass gusts before anchoring — if cloud is streaming over the 1,027m summit, consider Porto Palermo or Sarandë instead. Watch for katabatic gusts throughout your stay.
2. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 3–8m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (56m chain at 8m depth).
3. Drop into the wind and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back.
4. Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain.

Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade, Delta.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Palasë Bay are feasible in settled conditions but require vigilance — the anchorage is exposed to SW and W and S winds.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 70m radius before going below. 70m alarm radius for Palasë Bay in 3–8m. Sand holding is reliable once confirmed, so the 70m radius is set for scope management rather than drag risk. The primary overnight hazard is SW swell building during the night — the same exposure profile as every anchorage on this coast. In any SW F3+ building forecast, depart for Himarë harbour (4nm S) which has breakwater shelter. Palasë's key advantage over Dhërmi is the quieter environment rather than materially better shelter — both are exposed SW to the Ionian.

Good May–October. Palasë is at its best May–June and September–October when it is genuinely quiet and the summer crowd pressure is absent. July–August: busy on the beach but manageable from the anchorage; the seasonal restaurant is in full operation. October viable in settled weather. Not recommended overnight November–April.

Navigation Hazards

• SW and W swell: same coast-wide exposure as all Riviera anchorages; F3+ SW generates uncomfortable rolling; F4+ untenable; the S headland provides no protection from the primary SW threat
• Shoaling approach: the bay shoals to 2m near the beach — approach slowly on echosounder in the final 150m; anchor in the 4–8m range and do not go further inshore than depth permits
• Llogara katabatic risk: Llogara Pass is 15km to the N; katabatic downslope gusts can reach Palasë during unstable NW flow — monitor cloud formation over the pass

Rules & Regulations

• Albania entry — clearance agent mandatory: All foreign yachts must use a local clearance agent (~€100–150). Fly yellow Q flag. Himarë is a port of entry June–September only; outside summer season, clear at Sarandë or Vlorë.
• Anchoring fee: Free to anchor.
• Maximum stay: 5 days
• Restrictions: No specific restrictions. Stay 50m+ from the beach swimming area. Monitor SW swell forecasts — depart for Himarë harbour if sustained SW above F3 expected overnight.

For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Himarë town (7km S) (4nm)
• Restaurant: Seasonal restaurant behind the beach (July–August, cash, ALL/EUR). Small camping area in summer. No other facilities at the bay. Full provisioning at Himarë town (7km S).
• Provisions: None on site — Himarë town (7km S) (4nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. Palasë is the most underrated anchorage on the central Albanian Riviera — reliably good sand holding, quieter than Dhërmi or Himarë, and accessible to Himarë services by dinghy or the 4nm sea passage
2. Use Palasë as an overnight base while day-tripping under engine to Dhërmi (3km N) in the morning calm — the combination avoids Dhërmi's afternoon chop while enjoying the famous beach in the best conditions
3. The beach at Palasë has a more local Albanian character than the tourist-saturated Dhërmi beach — a good opportunity to interact with Albanian summer visitors rather than an international crowd
4. The morning view S toward Himarë from Palasë Bay is excellent for photography — the hill above Himarë with the castro hilltop village creates a distinctive Mediterranean silhouette