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Albania Horse Riding Holiday

Welcome to the exciting and immersive equestrian adventure of a lifetime! Get ready to embark on a week-long journey filled with thrilling horseback riding experiences, cultural explorations, and delicious culinary delights.

Key information

  • Rider Weight Limit: 198 pounds / 90 kilograms
  • Horse Height Range: 12 to 15 hands

Highlights

  • Twice daily horse riding and sessions
  • Enjoy cultural exploration, farm activities, and culinary delights
  • An extraordinary equestrian escapade for beginners
  • Have a truly unforgettable riding experience in Albania
  • Daily full-board meals will be provided
  • 7 nights accommodation

Skill level

  • Beginner

Styles


7 days with instruction
Group size: 2-8 participants
Airport transfer available:
Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (US$ 94 per person)
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Accommodation

You will be accommodated in single or twin rooms with shared bathrooms.

Program

Welcome to the exciting and immersive equestrian adventure of a lifetime! Get ready to embark on a week-long journey filled with thrilling horseback riding experiences, cultural explorations, and delicious culinary delights.

Day 1: Arrival

Upon your arrival, be greeted with warm hospitality as you settle into your

accommodation. Take a moment to relax and soak in the serene atmosphere of the picturesque village of Asim Zeneli.

Introduction to Horse Riding Evening: Enjoy a traditional dinner at a local restaurant in the city of Gjirokastër, soaking in the rich flavors of Albanian cuisine and immersing yourself in the vibrant atmosphere.

Day 2: Getting Acquainted with Horses Morning Session:

Participants will familiarize themselves with horses and receive lessons in ground handling, including exercises on maintaining safe distances, grooming, harnessing, feeding, and understanding equine behavior.

Lunch will be served in a city or village restaurant, depending on the chosen midday experience.

Afternoon Session: The afternoon session will focus on basic riding positions, balance exercises in the arena, and overall skill reinforcement.

Evening: Participants can opt for a rural village experience or spend time with family on the veranda. Friends are welcome to join cooking sessions and assist with other tasks. An optional visit to the horse stables is available if willing to walk 15 minutes one way to the stables.

Day 3: Independent Horse Preparation and Nature Ride Testing Morning Session:

Begin with independent horse preparation followed by a nature ride test to assess skills acquired during the morning session.

Lunch will be decided based on participant preferences and the intensity of riding lessons.

Afternoon: The afternoon session will include basic knowledge tests on the track and guided horseback riding in nature, focusing on safety measures, risk management, and using reins in outdoor settings.

Day 4: Trotting Preparation and Riding in Nature Morning Session:

Revisit all lessons learned so far and

prepare for trotting on the track. Morning concentration will be paramount as participants practice trotting techniques in the arena and apply them briefly in outdoor settings. Lunch options will be chosen based on participants' preferences and the selected experience.

Afternoon: After lunch, there will be further trotting practice on the track, horse leading downhill followed by a session on uphill riding positions.

Day 5: Mastery Trek to Cini Lake (one session)

It's a day you've been eagerly awaiting, a chance to put your skills to the test in the rugged beauty of Albania's countryside.

The day kicks off with the familiar routine of preparing the horses.

Now, it's time for the real challenge—a trek to Cini Lake. With the horses saddled and ready, riders take a moment to mentally review the lessons of the past days. Mounting your steeds, you set off for the morning session—a series of advanced trotting exercises

designed to push your limits.

Throughout the ride in nature through hills, valleys and pastoral life the instructors provide guidance and feedback, fine-tuning techniques and addressing any lingering questions. Riding in pairs fosters camaraderie and teamwork, reinforcing the bond between rider and horse.

It's a journey that will test your mettle, but also a chance to forge memories that will last for long.

After accommodating the horses back in stable lunch will continue and also free afternoon and evening for different activities. Dinner again with the host family. Round 4-5 hours

Day 6: Intensive Trotting and Horse Games Morning Session:

The morning will focus on intensive trotting sessions on the track, as well as engaging in various horse games. Participants will practice riding in pairs, maintaining safe distances, and applying technical elements of trail discipline.

Afternoon: Participants will continue with trotting and horse games in the afternoon, with additional testing of trotting and short canter fragments for balance assessment. The afternoon the session will be out in nature going through the very diverse landscape of Gjinofshat hills possible to test all the lessons so far.

Optional activities during break times may include relaxation, stable work, or village exploration.

Day 7: Final Test and Lake Adventure (one session)

This last day is the culmination of a week-long journey, a day awaited with equal parts excitement and trepidation. The morning unfolds with purpose as riders gather in the arena, their steeds poised and ready for the ultimate challenge. You embark on a comprehensive skills test—a culmination of all you've learned throughout your equestrian odyssey.

Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants navigate through a series of exercises, each one designed to assess their proficiency in the saddle. From precision maneuvers to fluid transitions, every aspect of your riding ability is put to the test.

You will mount your trusty companions once more, ready to embark on the final leg of the journey—a scenic trek to Qestorati Lake. Along the way, you'll pass by the imposing castle of Santa Triada, its ancient walls standing as a silent testament to the region's storied past.

The journey will also take you through the charming village of Dhoksat, where time seems to stand still amidst cobblestone streets and rustic buildings.

And so, as you set off into the unknown, guided by the gentle rhythm of hoofbeats and the whisper of the wind, you carry with you the memories of a week filled with laughter, learning, and the timeless bond between horse and rider the foundation of a new passion. Round 4-5 hours

Afternoon: After lunch, participants can enjoy free time or engage in optional activities. The day will conclude with a group dinner at a local restaurant in the historic city center.

Day 8: Departure Morning:

After a rural breakfast at the guest house, being also the last moments of

this equestrian experience, you will be transferred to the airport.

Riding level required

No experience or beginners. This program doesn’t fit more advanced riding levels.

Meeting points

  • Arrival: Tirana Airport (TIA) or Saranda Port
  • Departure: Saranda Airport (CFU) - Take a flight from Corfu and then a boat to Saranda.

Assisting the riding center

Since Albania lacks equestrian shops, procuring necessary horse equipment from the local market becomes a significant challenge for us. If it’s feasible for you, they kindly request your assistance in bringing along any spare or unused items such as old pads, halters, ropes, girths, bridles, or any other equipment that you no longer require. Your contribution would be greatly appreciated by the center.

Location

The stable is situated amidst scenic hills, and green valleys, surrounded by high mountains and rural life, a few kilometers away from Gjirokastra’s UNESCO-protected city in the South of Albania. While much has changed since our first year of operation, the motto remains the same: offering real moments in the saddle, which means enjoyable and professional riding holidays for international guests. The riding tours aim to keep harmony among humans, horses, and nature.

There are 2 ways to get to the venue: Tirana Airport (TIA) or Saranda Port. In order to get to Saranda Port, one must land at Corfu Airport (CFU), hence the different airports mentioned in the departure. Albania and Greece are neighbors, it is possible to land in Greece as well.

Food

Daily full-board meals will be provided during this trip.

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

  • Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

What's included

  • Twice daily horse riding and sessions
  • Daily full-board meals
  • 7 nights accommodation

What's not included

  • Airfare
  • Airport transfers (Please note that transportation to each location can be arranged at an additional cost, ensuring your comfort and convenience throughout the adventure.)
  • Extra drinks
  • Ticket entrances in museums, cultural sites, art galleries, or activities (optional) that are mentioned with extra cost, etc.
  • Accommodation upgrade (If riders choose to be accommodated in the town's historical area instead of the village farm it is possible with an additional cost of 212 EUR; meals also will take place in town.)
  • Additional and optional activities
  • Personal expenses

How to get there

Recommended Airports

Arrival by plane

Please arrange your flight to arrive at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA). The cost of a roundtrip transfer to Gjirokastra is 90 EUR per person (45 EUR one way), the distance is 225 kilometers and the duration is 3 hours. Scheduled transfers are available every Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 14:30 p.m.

  • Recommended arrival time for flights: No later than 2:30 p.m.
  • Recommended departure time for flights: Not earlier than 12 p.m. (midday)

Arrival by bus

Riders arriving in Tirana one day in advance should plan their arrival for the 12 p.m. or 14:30 p.m. transfer. Transfers from Tirana can’t be organized, but it’s easy and affordable to reach Tirana airport by bus. Buses run every hour from the center of Tirana (behind the opera palace). The cost of private transfers to/from Tirana are:

  • 1 person: 140 EUR (one way)
  • 2 persons: 70 EUR each (one way)
  • 3 persons or more: 55 EUR each (one way)

Private transfers can be booked if it’s not possible to schedule flights that align with the normal transfer schedule.

Arrival by boat

From Saranda Port to Gjirokastra (roundtrip) the cost is 50 EUR per person, the distance is 60 kilometers and the duration is 1 hour. Transfers can be organized based on the ferries’ timetable for 2024, typically with one morning and one afternoon options.

Airport: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza Airport transfer available: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (US$ 94 per person) Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

  • A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
  • The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
  • The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.

Value for money
Accommodation & facilities
Food
Location
Quality of activity
8 days / 7 nights
from --
Pricing information
Small group supplement

The small group supplement is applicable if only 1 rider did book onto the ride. If, at the time of departure, more than 1 rider is booked, the small group supplement will be refunded. The small group supplement is 132 EUR per person.

Minimum group size

This trip requires a minimum of 2 participants

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