Day 1
Riding: No riding.
You should aim to arrive in the morning, to allow time for the transfer and to be able to visit the town of Gjirokaster. The transfer takes around 3-4 hours (250km). Settle into your hotel which is just a 10 minute walk from the centre of historical Gjirokaster, and take a walk around the historical town before dinner. You may also wish to visit Enver Hoxha’s house, Gjirokaster castle, the church of the Old Bazaar, the mosque of the Bazar or Skenduli house which represents Gjirokaster traditional life. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant and during dinner your guides will discuss the trail with you - this is your chance to bring up any requests. We recommend that you buy a map of the area before dinner in order to gain a good understanding of the itinerary.
Day 2
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After breakfast at the hotel you will be allocated your horses. Set off riding through the countryside towards the medieval village of Karjan. This traditional village is a rural stop for passing travellers with its small churches and old Roman bridge. Your route takes you past small houses and gardens, through traditional farming and cultivated land - a combination of hilly landscapes, valleys, small streams and cliffs. You are also blessed with a view of River Drino, the “Tree of Life” river - one of the most important water basins in the area. Along your route you also pass the ruins of the castle of Santa Triada which was reconstructed during 1809-1810 by Ali Pasha, as a strategic point to control all the travelling caravans. The castle ruins were later used during the time of socialism for military issues. Stop for a picnic lunch near the village of Erind.
After around 4-5 hours riding you reach Karjan village where you spend the night with a local family who treat you to a traditional dinner.
Day 3
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After breakfast you ride down Drino’s valley to the village of Andon Poci, and then Hundkuq village. The ride becomes more challenging as you enter a small forest before reaching Labova of Zhapa. This village is well known all over the south for its wonderful Church and the old merchant houses which are now mostly ruined. Labova is also the birthplace of Vangjel Zhapa, the organiser of the first modern Olympic Games. Zhapa was a well-known businessman and philanthropist who lived around 200 years ago.
Stop for a picnic lunch and visit the church before starting your ride up the mountain. The vegetation here is rare and unusual featuring species such as mountain tea, oregano, wild rose and other endemic plants like digitalis or 'DigDag' as it's known locally. Follow the mountain path to the valley of Cajupi where you camp for the night. You will have the chance to taste the famous Brati spring water at this typical stopping point for the old caravans and visit a small medieval tower of protection called “karakoll”. You may also be able to experience milking sheep with the shepherds.
Day 4
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After breakfast you follow the medieval trade route with its famous bandit hideout 'Hija e Mallkuar' or 'The Cursed Shadow'. From here, thieves would rob the caravans passing through Zagoria! Continue riding to the most important horse pathway of the XVII and XVIII century which used to connect the biggest commercial centres in Southern Albania. You'll pass a beautiful natural monument called the Rock of Zhej and stop for a short break at the water spring of Lliar, reconstructed by Ali Pasha in the early XIX century. Then it's a challenging downhill route to the ruins of a medieval stone bridge (the bridge collapsed in February 2018) where you stop for lunch and a refreshing swim in the river.
In the afternoon, ride uphill to Hoshteva village, your destination for the night. Only 30 people currently live in this village with its unique church which was initially built in 999AC and last restored in 1866 . The monument has a very particular style with lots of pagan elements within the wall paintings.
Spend the night in a small family hotel, the only one in Hoshteva village, and enjoy a home-cooked dinner in the family’s garden.
Day 5
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Your riding day starts with a climb to reach Gjurmemushka mountain pass, but after that you will ride mostly downhill. Pass Maleshova village to visit the church and Limari's castle ruins. and stop for a picnic lunch next to a stream under the trees.
Views of the River Vjosa open up to you from the top of the mountain during your afternoon ride. You eventually reach the village of Mbrezhdan, which is a poor and forgotten area due to its isolation, lack of roads and immigration but still very welcoming. Here you stay in a local home and experience the traditional way of cooking outside and the famous “petanik” - a special pie made in the mountains. Mbrezhdan is a Raki area and very well known for its “spoon” desserts.
Day 6
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
After breakfast you continue riding downhill to reach the river Vjosa. For the rest of todays ride you will follow the river bank. The landscape is very different to previous days and there are many opportunities for long canters.
Camp in front of Piskova village on the dry part of the river bed and enjoy a meal cooked by a small restaurant in Permet (the meal will be brought to camp by car). The afternoon is relaxed and you can swim in the river, or even fish if you wish. Dinner is taken later, under the stars.
Day 7
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Depart Piskova and keep following the river bank. Again you are riding through an undulating landscape with many opportunities to canter. You should reach Permet town by lunchtime. Leave the horses on the outskirts and transfer to a hotel in the centre of Permet. Have lunch in a small restaurant and then the afternoon is free to visit the town, walk or climb the famous Premti rock. Before dinner you can visit the village of Leusa by car (a few kilometres away) to discover the Orthodox Church of St. Mary which is well-known for its outstanding mural paintings from the Byzantine era.
Return to Permet for dinner in a family run restaurant in the middle of the town. You can later enjoy the night life in different music bars if you wish.
Day 8
Riding: No riding.
Today is a rest day for the horses. We suggest you take a trip to the thermal waters of Benja in the Langarica canyons, which is half an hour away by car. There you can explore the canyons, swim, or if you're feeling brave, go river hiking to explore the “Pigeons Cave” on a rock along Langarica river. Have lunch in a restaurant close to the canyons and return back to Permet in the late afternoon. Dinner will be served in a small restaurant close to the hotel.
If you don't want to visit Benja then you can just relax in the town of Permet.
NB. Meals, drinks and activities today are not included since it is a free day.
Day 9
Riding: 5 - 6 hours
This is one of the longest and most difficult days of riding and you will need to wear long sleeves to protect your arms from branches. Most of the ride is climbing Dhembel mountain, from where the views are amazing. A picnic lunch will be carried in your saddlebags as the car cannot reach you here. You may have to get off and lead your horse, both uphill and downhill.
During the afternoon ride you pass the Byzantine church and monastery of Saint Mikhail of Nivan, built in 1702. Ride over the medieval bridge built in the same period to connect the monastery with Nderan village - a famous centre for livestock fairs and your stopping point for the night. You will overnight with a vllah family - their community represents a rare linguistic minority in Albania. Dinner will be a delicious mixture of local products, raki and wine. You can join in with local life and accompany the family during the milking process, dinner preparation or look around their farm animals and garden. This village is one of the most important producers of mountain honey in South Albania and offers nearly 10 different flavours of honey from different pastures.
Day 10
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Today's riding combines changing landscape and riding pace. There are wide valleys, steep downhills, green forests and the beauty of Suha River before lunch. Lunch is taken beside the river with the chance to freshen up in the water. Later you climb Swallow Rock and visit the church of Labova of the Cross - one of the most important in the country. The Church of Labova of the Cross is a rare monument representing the oldest church in Albania, built by Justinian the Great in 554. Justinian married Teodora his wife at the small chapel of this village and the villagers inherited her wedding dress for centuries. The church is decorated with an old wooden icon full of floral and symbolic animal scenes.
Later in the afternoon you ride to Libohova, a small town nestled at the foot of the Bureto Mountain. Archaeological evidence indicates a very ancient settlement here which peaked during the 17th-century when it became an important commercial centre. It is possible to take a long walk to visit Libohova’s castle, a Bektashi cult object and the tomb of Ali Pasha’s sister, Shanisha. You overnight in a local family house with more delicious local food.
Day 11
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
A short riding day of just 3.5 hours. In the morning you ride through rolling hills, Drino’s valley and cross a few streams before climbing a steep hill to reach Antigonea National Park. Antigonea was built by King Pyrrhus in 295 BC and named after his first wife Antigona, daughter of King Ptolemeus of Egypt. After a break you ride one hour to the stables where you can enjoy the experience of letting your horses run free and roll. A picnic lunch is taken in the village close to the stables. You are transferred back to the same hotel in Gjirokaster as you spent your first night. Your farewell dinner will take place in a small restaurant in the old Bazaar and later in the evening you can have a celebratory drink in a popular bar.
Day 12
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred back to the airport.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.