Ksamil, Albania, has been ranked 19th in the world's 50 best beaches, beating the only Maldives beach on the list, Dhigura Beach, which came in 22nd. The ranking comes from Big 7 Travel's study.
Ksamil's appeal
The team behind the research said: "This tropical-looking beach on the Albanian Riviera is accessible in around four hours from the nation’s capital, Tirana, or, more popular for international visitors, via a short ferry ride from nearby Corfu, Greece. Turquoise waters lap up against soft white sands, while beach huts and bars give Ksamil a truly Caribbean feel."
In recent years, Albania has become an emerging hotspot for Brits, with images of sun-soaked beaches and over 300 days of sunshine circulating on social media. Thomas Cook recorded a 293% year-on-year increase in holiday bookings to Albania.
Travel agents' caution
Travel agents have cautioned holidaymakers to be realistic. Amanda Mollentze from Triangle Travel said: "Albania was supposed to be the 2026 or 2027 destination of the year, but I think it's going to take another couple of years for it to really take off. It is beautiful. One of our staff members went there on a family trip and absolutely loved it. I think it's an up-and-coming destination."
Ashley Quint from TravelTime World added: "As it is at the moment, when you can only fly into Tirana and all of the places you want to visit - most people want to stay in the South - is a long transfer, it's just not practical at the moment. Once we've got [Vlorë airport] up and running, once they have done a little bit more development on the towns and resorts there, it will be there. I'm going to guess it's going to be on the same sort of level as somewhere like Bulgaria."
Maldives still a contender
Despite Ksamil's higher rank, the Maldives' Dhigura Beach remains a top contender. The team explained: "Stretching along one of the Maldives’ longest islands, this picture-perfect beach is made up of snow-white sands and crystal-clear waters, forming warm lagoons just offshore. Swim slightly further offshore, and you’re presented with one of the best opportunities anywhere on Earth to swim with two of the ocean’s gentle giants: whale sharks and manta rays."
