Winter Horse Riding Holiday in Albania

This program is a winter unique offer from the South of Albania. It combines four horse riding days adventure in changing landscape, of valleys, hills, small forests, rivers, steep climbing, and downhills, with another two days of culture, hospitality, monuments, thermal baths, archaeological sites, Ionian coast, and shepherds life. The program offers real moments in the saddle, dynamic off-road experiences to explore the very unspoiled parts of the South and some hiking paths to be explored.

Key Information

Rider Weight Limit: 198 pounds / 90 kilograms
Horse Breed: Local breed mix of Tarpan and Arab Horses

Highlights

Daily great adventures on horseback
Approximate daily riding time: 3 to 5 hours
Ride on very good, smart, and surefooted horses
Enjoy great food and culinary experience and real-life encounters
Experience the culture and heritage and nature and diverse landscape
Have fun exchanges with other international riders
Daily meals and drinks will be provided
7 nights accommodation

Skill level

Intermediate

Styles

4 days with instruction

Group size: Minimum of 4 participants

Airport transfer available:
Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (US$80 per person)

Accommodation

You will meet friendly locals and learn about their traditions while enjoying accommodation as guests in various hotels and houses.

First day in Gjirokastra, Praga Hotel or another similar hotel
Day 2 the accommodation will be in a local family Farm in Libohova
Day 3 in Gjirokastra, probably Praga Hotel or another similar hotel
Day 4 in Gjirokastra probably Praga Hotel or another similar hotel
Day 5 in a farm in Ballaban Village
Day 6 in a local family farm, in Karjan Village
Day 7 in Gjirokastra, Praga Hotel or another similar hotel

Program

The horses used on this ride (Albanian horses) are a local breed mix of Tarpan and Arab horses. They are small but perfectly suited to the rocky terrain being surefooted and accustomed to trekking long mountainous routes, in all kinds of weathers, allowing riders to feel confident, relaxed, and free to enjoy the stunning views.

The whole itinerary is designed as a dedication to a different season that has a lot to offer, in terms of adventure, fun, smaller groups, culture, history, monuments, local houses, music, art, and tradition. The riding itinerary is placed on the East side of river Drino close to Antigonea archaeological park and goes deep into the history of the valley, the antic, medieval, and modern one.

Food and cooking experiences, wine, and Raki tasting will be something really exceptional about this trail. Guests will have the possibility to interact, participate and live part of the Albanian local life.

Meeting people and introducing our guests to their life and activity is a very social part of this program. Many things experienced with this offer can’t be enjoyed with the fast rhythm of the high season that’s why this is a suggestion for slow life, dynamic ride, slow food, and slow adventure.

Itinerary

Day 1

Plan your flight to Tirana Airport ideally in the morning, but no later than 13:00 - this leaves time for the transfer and be able to visit the town of Gjirokstra. The transfer from the airport of Tirana will take around three to four hours (250 kilometers).

You will be accommodated in a traditional hotel, in the heart of the historical Gjirokastra. The new Bazaar, and if there is daylight left, Enver Hoxha’s house, Gjirokastra castle, the church of the Old Bazaar, the mosque of the Bazar, and Skenduli house can all be visited before dinner.

Dinner will be served at a traditional restaurant. During dinner, your guides will be able to speak to you about the trail: possible requests or needs, advice, and things that are good to know. Caravan Horse Riding Albania recommends that you buy a map of the area before dinner in order to gain a good understanding of the itinerary.

Day 2 (horse riding day)

After breakfast at the hotel and allocation of horses, you will start to ride through the countryside towards the small town of Libohova, nestled at the foot of the Bureto Mountain. The route to Libovoha is of intermediate difficulty and combines hilly landscapes, valleys, small water streams, cliffs, and many chances of canters.

After the accommodation of the horses next to the small farm where you will spend the night, you will drive to the center of the town (10 minutes) to reach the lunch stop a small traditional restaurant. You can taste the local food wine and Raki.

During the afternoon, you will take a long walk to visit Libohova’s castle, a Bektashi cult object, and the tomb of Ali Pasha’s sister, Shanisha. The archaeological evidence indicates a very ancient settlement that reached its zenith in the 17th-century when the town of Libohova became an important commercial center.

Later on, feeding the horses and taking care of them is part of your evening activity. You will overnight at the local family farm and will taste delicious local food. You can also participate in cooking a local dish with the family. Riding hours: 3 - 4 hours.

Day 3 (horse riding day)

This morning you will ride through rolling hills, Drino’s valley, and a few water streams before climbing a steep hill to reach Antigonea National Park where you will stop for a visit. Antigonea was built by King Pyrrhus in 295 BC and named after his first wife Antigona, daughter of King Ptolemeus of Egypt.

After the break, you will ride one more hour to the stable where you can enjoy the experience of letting free your horses. Lunch will follow immediately after in a village close to the stable. You will be accommodated at the same hotel in Gjirokastra.

After a short break, the team plans to visit the cold war tunnel in Gjirokastra, a building of communist defense paranoia that has a lot to tell. Before dinner, you will visit a painter's studio and listen to him about local art and special techniques of painting and installations, also about many elements of tradition that were involved in his works. Ideological art during communism can be one of the topics to be discussed.

Dinner will take place at a small local restaurant in the historical area. A well-known iso-polyphonic group will be invited to talk, sing and explain the complex role of iso- polyphonic group members during dinner. South Albanian Iso-poliphony is a UNESCO-protected world heritage. Riding hours: 3 - 4 hours.

Day 4

This morning after a freshly cooked breakfast, you will drive first back to Gjirokastra and then towards Butrint, a UNESCO-protected archaeological park, through a challenging off-road path. The driving experience will be exceptional and the views some of the most beautiful met in your journey. Small remote villages, old houses, windy roads, no roads, small gardens, very few animals, old churches and the sense of time stopping somewhere in the past is the impression this driving day offers.

You will stop to visit the ruins of the church of Leshnica and will have a coffee stop by Cerkovica village. A local person will give a short presentation on how this area lives and what was their past, and what do they expect for the future.

You will later drive to Butrint to visit the archaeological park. Dating back to the 7th century BC based on the classic mythology the exiles following the fall of Troy moved to Butrint to escape. Originally part of an area called Epirus, Butrint has been occupied by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, and the Venetians. As a result, Butrint offers a wealth of incredible archaeological structures, including a well-preserved theatre, Roman public baths inside which lies a paleo-Christian baptistery, and a 9th-century basilica. The sanctuary of Asclepius, god of medicine sits on its hill or “acropolis” and dates back to the fourth century.

You will drive again to have lunch in Saranda in a restaurant next to the sea with plenty of seafood cooked local way. Before returning back to Gjirokastra for dinner, you will visit the local art gallery and will have a presentation by the manager who is also a very good painter. Dinner will take place in a restaurant in the old bazaar. Driving hours: Total 5 hours.

Day 5

After breakfast and the views of a wonderful sunrise in the mountains, you will drive back to the Drinos valley and will follow later Vjosa river to reach the thermal baths of Benja in Pwrmet. Along the river, there are splendid warm water human-made pools to soak on a cool day. People believe for centuries that the pools have healing properties. The pools are off the beaten path, and during the winter months, you can have enough privacy.

Kadiu bridge a monument of the culture built in 1760 during the ottoman period, offers a stunning view of the Langarica river. That is an entering gate to the canyons. Along the day there are chances of exploring the canyons by hiking and swimming.

Lunch will take place in the city of roses, Pwrmet. You will especially enjoy the local raki and the local sweets. Later on, you will drive to a remote area close to Ballaban village to visit another unique farm that will be your accommodation for the evening and dinner place also.

The owners will have a short presentation on how they abandoned the city life and made it possible to live and dream far from everything. This will be a special wine tasting place. Driving hours: Total 3 hours.

Day 6 (horse riding day)

After breakfast, you will drive back to Gjirokastra to the horse stables for another horse riding day. Today's itinerary passes through a rural environment; beautiful steep hills, small valleys, pastoral atmosphere traditional farming and cultivation of the land, bush area, small lakes, small water streams and cliffs, old defense infrastructure from communism time.

The view of River Drino, “Tree of Life” river remains on the left during the morning ride. Drino is the most important water basin in the area and part of ancient pagan beliefs. On your way, you will meet the ruins of the castle of Santa Triada reconstructed during 1809-1810 by Ali Pasha, a strategic point to control all the medieval caravan itineraries. The castle ruins were used later during the time of socialism for military issues.

You will stop for a picnic lunch just near the village of Erind. After around 4-5 hours riding, you will reach Karjan village where a traditional dinner and accommodation will be hosted by a local farm. In the afternoon you can visit the village and be part of the family activities, also help to feed, clean and water the horses. Riding Hours: 4-5.

Day 7 (horse riding day)

After having breakfast with the family and packing your picnic, you start the ride back at 9 o’clock. You are riding first to Nokova village to visit both medieval churches and later through Lunxheria area with a picnic stop in Dhoksat village.

It has a unique architecture and it is famous for the use of the back stone in the building also for the beautiful doors. A local expert will be invited to talk about the characteristics of life, tradition, folklore, costumes, and ethnography of the area.

The ride after lunch heads next to cultivated land, gardens, livestock, and meadows’ wide view. You have another short stop by Qestorati lake to enjoy the view and return back to the stables from another direction.

The last part of the ride before reaching the stables in the afternoon is the most beautiful as the landscape allows several canters and the climbing up hills is stunning. After the ride, you will drive back to Gjirokastra to the same hotel. You can have a walk around the historical area before the farewell dinner. Later in the evening, you can have a drink in a popular bar. Riding hours: 5 hours.

Day 8

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred back to the airport of Tirana.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and they may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organizing team.

Location

The stable is situated amidst scenic hills, green valleys, and 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 Caravan Horse Riding Albania's 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.

Distances

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA) - 3 to 4 hours, 225 kilometers

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How to get there

Recommended Airports

TIA

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza

152 km

Transfer available for additional US$80 per person

CFU

Corfu International Airport (Ioannis Kapodistrias Int'l Airport)

56 km

Transfer not provided

Arrival by airplane

Please arrange your flight to arrive at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA). Roundtrip transfers from Tirana are not included in the price but are available at an additional cost of 70 EUR per person. The journey will be three - four hours long (225 kilometers).

Caravan Horse Riding Albania organizes two transfers from the Tirana Airport every Saturday, the first one at 12 o’clock and the second at 15.00 p.m. Flights that fit Caravan Horse Riding Albania normal transfer’s schedule should be planned to arrive no later than 15.00 p.m. and departures not earlier than 12 o’clock (midday)

Riders that arrive in Tirana one day in advance can plan to arrive at the airport for the transfer at 12 o’clock or 15 p.m. Caravan Horse Riding Albania can’t organize transfers from Tirana. It is very easy and cheap to reach Tirana Airport by bus. There is a bus every hour starting from the center of Tirana (behind the opera palace).

Private transfer from or to Tirana:

1 person: 100 EUR (one way)
2 persons: 120 EUR (one way for both)
3 persons or more: 50 EUR per person one way

Note: Riders can book a private transfer if it is impossible to book flights that fit Caravan Horse Riding Albania's normal transfers schedule.

The meeting point is also available at Saranda Port. From Corfu International Airport (CFU), you may take a boat to Saranda Port. Transfers are not included in the package. The cost from Saranda Port to Gjirokastra is 40 EUR (return) per person, the distance is 64 kilometers or one hour. This pickup service might not be available during winter, but may be possible for the last departure of this trail.

Airport: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza Airport transfer available: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (US$80 per person) Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.

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