Aliki Bay Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

The main bay in 5–10m on sand and pebble. Fair to good holding — sand patches between pebble give reliable holding when the anchor is set on the sandy substrate; confirm set with engine reverse. Protected from NE and E by the coastal hills rising steeply from the Albanian coast. Open to NW and W — the Corfu Strait NW Maestral enters the bay from the W and NW; in strong NW conditions the anchorage is uncomfortable. Used primarily by boats making the transit between Albania and Corfu (4nm to the SW) as a final Albanian anchorage before the crossing or a first Albanian stop after arrival from Greece. IMPORTANT: check GPS position carefully against the Albanian-Greek maritime border before anchoring — the border is approximately at 39°47'N; confirm on official charts to ensure you remain in Albanian waters and are not inadvertently anchoring in Greek-administered waters.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Aliki Bay is primarily sand and pebble with variable holding that requires extra attention.

1. Check for posidonia before dropping — Ksamil waters have protected posidonia meadows. Confirm sand bottom on the depth sounder before anchoring. Use mooring buoys at Ksamil when available.
2. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 5–12m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (84m chain at 12m 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 Aliki Bay are feasible in settled conditions but require vigilance — the anchorage is exposed to NW and W and SW and S winds.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 90m radius before going below. 90m alarm radius in the main bay in 5–10m. The mixed sand and pebble bottom provides fair but not outstanding holding — in NW Maestral conditions (the dominant exposure direction) the holding can be tested; use a robust anchor and confirm set thoroughly before leaving the deck. The key consideration at Aliki Bay beyond the weather is the international border: the Albanian-Greek maritime boundary passes close to this bay at approximately 39°47'N; anchoring south of this line without having cleared into Greece is a serious violation of Greek maritime law. Confirm position on official charts and GPS before anchoring.

Usable April–October in settled conditions. The crossing to Corfu is most comfortable in May–June and September when the NW Maestral is least intense and the sea state in the strait is manageable. July–August sees the strongest Maestral afternoons — an early morning departure is strongly recommended for the crossing. October: viable in settled spells but NW wind frequency increases; reliable early morning calms are less predictable. Not recommended for overnight November–March.

Navigation Hazards

• International border proximity: the Albanian-Greek maritime border is approximately at 39°47'N — the bay is close to this line; confirm GPS position on official charts before anchoring; anchoring in Greek waters without Greek clearance is a serious legal infringement enforceable by both Greek and Albanian coast guard vessels
• NW Corfu Strait Maestral: the dominant summer exposure direction — the W and NW are fully open and the Corfu Strait channels and concentrates NW wind; in strong NW the anchorage is uncomfortable with swell building from the W
• No facilities or refuge: fully remote anchorage with no facilities; in deteriorating conditions the 5nm passage N to Sarandë is the nearest harbour; do not anchor here in uncertain weather
• Patrol boat activity: both Albanian maritime patrols and Greek coast guard vessels operate in the strait; have all documentation in order and fly the appropriate courtesy flag
• Pebble bottom holding variability: the mixed sand and pebble bottom requires careful anchor placement; on pebble-only substrate the anchor may not bury fully; move slightly until a sand patch is found

Rules & Regulations

• Albania entry — clearance agent mandatory: All foreign yachts must use a local clearance agent (~€100–150). Fly yellow Q flag. Present passports, registration, insurance, and crew list at the first port of entry.
• Anchoring fee: Free. No facilities.
• Maximum stay: 1 days
• Restrictions: CRITICAL: Check GPS position against the Albanian-Greek maritime border (approximately at 39°47'N) before anchoring — the border is nearby and anchoring in Greek waters without having cleared into Greece is a serious legal violation. Confirm the exact border position on official charts before approach. Boats clearing out of Albania must complete clearance at Sarandë before anchoring here if planning to proceed to Greece.

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

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Sarandë city centre (5nm N) (5nm)
• Restaurant: None — nearest at Sarandë city centre (5nm N) (5nm)
• Provisions: None on site — Sarandë city centre (5nm N) (5nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. Aliki Bay works well as a dawn departure staging anchorage for the Corfu crossing — anchor overnight, make an early start (05:00–06:00) before the NW Maestral builds, and complete the 4nm crossing to Corfu in the calm of the early morning
2. Ensure Albanian clearance is complete at Sarandë before arriving at Aliki Bay — the port authority requires boats to clear out before departing for Greece; having the zarpe (clearance document) in hand makes the Corfu arrival straightforward
3. The Corfu Strait crossing is straightforward in settled conditions but can be rough in strong NW Maestral — the 4nm passage takes 1 hour in F3 and can be very uncomfortable in F5; check the Windguru or Poseidon forecast specifically for the Corfu Strait before departing
4. The hill views from the E side of the bay give the last panorama of Albania's mountains — worth a dinghy trip to the shore before the crossing; the Albanian landscape from the sea is dramatic
5. The Greek side of the crossing (Corfu) has full facilities at Corfu Town and at the marinas on the NE coast — plan the Corfu arrival for a port with customs facilities for the entry formalities