Porto Palermo — Ali Pasha Fortress Quay Side Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Anchorage on the E side of the Ali Pasha Fortress promontory, inside the main Porto Palermo bay, in 5–15m over rock and sand. The fortress promontory rises directly to the W — the 19th-century Ottoman battlements are 30–50m away by dinghy to the E quay. All-round protection from the main bay walls is maintained in this position; despite being the closest anchorage to the entrance, the promontory itself is well inside the bay and sheltered from all directions by the surrounding cliff walls. Holding is fair on the mixed rock and sand bottom near the fortress base — sand patches provide adequate grip but rock outcrops can foul anchors; set carefully with engine reverse and confirm burial. The fortress quay on the E side of the promontory has old stone steps that allow dinghy landing at all states of tide; the fortress ruins above are freely accessible. The most dramatically positioned anchorage in the bay — sleeping with the fortress battlements silhouetted against the sky overhead is an experience without parallel on the Albanian coast. Alarm at 75m for the 5–15m depth range; if anchoring in the shallower (5–8m) sector close to the quay, 55m is sufficient.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Porto Palermo — Ali Pasha Fortress Quay Side is primarily rock and sand with variable holding that requires extra attention.

1. Enter from the south only at 5 knots maximum on echosounder through the narrow (50–80m) entrance channel. Rocks on both sides — stay in the centre.
2. Approach slowly once inside the bay. At 5–15m, deploy minimum 5:1 scope (75m chain at 15m depth) — the 30m+ depth requires generous chain.
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 for deep anchorage.

Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Porto Palermo — Ali Pasha Fortress Quay Side are excellent — all-round protection means minimal boat movement.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 75m radius before going below. 75m alarm radius for the fortress quay-side anchorage in 5–15m. The fair holding on mixed rock and sand — rather than the reliable mud of the NW main anchorage or N arm — is the primary consideration here. The anchor must be confirmed on sand, not resting on rock; a trip line is strongly recommended because the fortress stonework extends underwater near the quay and can foul an anchor that drags or buries on the wrong side of a submerged stone. The 75m alarm catches any scope creep on the rock/sand mix. All-round protection from the bay walls means external weather is not a factor; the alarm monitors anchor security on the mixed bottom only. If the alarm triggers in this position, the anchor has likely slipped off a sand patch onto rock and must be retrieved and re-set on a confirmed sand patch. The NW main anchorage at 10–25m mud is a more secure overnight option if anchor security is uncertain.

Best May–October for fortress exploration. May and June: the fortress sees very few visitors and the anchorage is almost always deserted; the combination of solitude and historical atmosphere is at its finest. July–August: some day visitors arrive at the fortress by land from the coast road above; the bay anchorage itself remains quiet. September: excellent — warm water, settled conditions, the fortress in the late-season light. October: the bay remains all-weather shelter but the fortress land access road may be closed after tourist season; the anchorage is still viable. The fortress quay-side anchorage is a day-stop and short-stay position — overnight at the main NW anchorage for maximum security.

Navigation Hazards

• Rocky bottom requires careful anchor placement: the bottom near the fortress promontory is a mix of sand patches and rock outcrops with submerged fortress stonework near the quay — anchor in a confirmed sand patch at least 30m from the quay; verify the anchor is buried and not resting on rock before going below; a trip line on the anchor is strongly recommended
• Fortress stones underwater near quay — approach by dinghy only: the foundations of the Ottoman fortress extend underwater on the E side of the promontory; navigating the main yacht closer than 20m to the quay risks fouling the propeller or keel on submerged stonework; all approach to the quay steps must be by dinghy
• Check anchor is buried not sitting on rock: the most common anchoring failure in this position is an anchor that appears set (because chain weight holds it momentarily) but is actually resting on a flat rock surface and will slip in any scope loading; engine reverse confirmation is essential; if any doubt remains, move to the main NW anchorage on mud
• Limited swing room close to fortress promontory: the area close to the fortress E side has limited swing room — the promontory is directly to the W and the entrance channel is to the S; boats anchoring here need to confirm swing arc clears the promontory rocks in any wind shift; maximum 2 boats in this position
• Fair holding means a trip line is not optional: the mixed rock/sand bottom near the fortress makes trip line use strongly recommended — without a trip line, anchor retrieval after the chain catches on underwater stones is very difficult; rig the trip line before deploying the anchor; the clear water of the bay makes the float easy to locate in the morning

Rules & Regulations

• Albania entry — clearance agent mandatory: All foreign yachts must use a local clearance agent (~€100–150). Fly yellow Q flag. Clear at Sarandë or Himarë (June–September) before visiting Porto Palermo.
• Anchoring fee: Free. No facilities. Fortress freely accessible.
• Maximum stay: 2 days
• Restrictions: Rocky bottom near fortress quay requires careful anchor placement — use trip line. Approach by dinghy only to the E quay for fortress access; do not navigate the main yacht to within 20m of the quay (underwater stones from fortress base). Respect the fortress ruins; the stonework is historic and fragile.

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

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Himarë (12nm SE) (12nm)
• Restaurant: None — nearest at Himarë (12nm SE) (12nm)
• Provisions: None on site — Himarë (12nm SE) (12nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. Arrive by dinghy at the E quay for fortress exploration — the stone steps on the E side of the promontory are the correct dinghy landing point; the quay is accessible at all states of tide; the fortress interior is freely accessible via the main gateway on the NE face of the promontory
2. Best photographed at golden hour when the stone walls glow — the Ali Pasha Fortress is at its most photogenic at sunset from the main bay anchorage (looking SW from the NW or NE anchorage positions) and at sunrise from within the fortress courtyard looking E over the bay; the warm ochre stone in golden light is extraordinary
3. The fortress interior rewards at least 2 hours of exploration — the main tower, the vaulted storage chambers, the battlements walk, and the views from the NE corner toward the Karaburun Peninsula are all distinct highlights; bring water as the fortress has no shade and is hot in summer midday
4. The best overnight position combining fortress proximity and anchor security is the NE shallow shelf (Anchorage 1, zone 2) at 5–10m on sand — 300m from the fortress but on reliable sand holding, with a clear dinghy run to the quay; use the fortress quay-side position for a day stop with dinghy exploration rather than overnight
5. The fortress was built in the 1820s by Ali Pasha specifically because he recognized Porto Palermo as the finest harbour on the Albanian coast — the same qualities that made it a strategic military asset in the 19th century (complete enclosure, hidden entrance, deep water) make it the finest cruising anchorage on the coast today; the historical resonance adds significantly to the experience