Gjirokaster | Zagoria Pathways Horse Riding Tour

8 Days, 7 Nights, 6 Riding Days from Gjirokaster

Gjirokaster is one of the most beautiful cities of Albania, where you have a lot of possibilities to explore nature and to have unforgettable adventures. One of them might be a horse riding tour .

Itinerary

Day 1st

Arrival in Gjirokastrer, Albania

The arrival to Gjirokaster must be in the afternoon. The points of interest to be visit in Gjirokaster are: Old Bazaar, Enver Hoxha’s house, Gjirokaster castle, the church of the Old Bazaar, the mosque of the Bazaar and Skenduli house, an ideal sample of Gjirokaster traditional life.

Dinner will be at a traditional restaurant. 

Day 2nd

After breakfast at the hotel and allocation of horses, we will start to ride through the countryside towards the medieval village of Karjan with its small churches and old roman bridge. 

We will pass through a rural environment; small houses, gardens, traditional farming and cultivation of the land. All the route combines hilly landscapes, valleys, small water streams and cliffs. 

We will pass along the view of River Drino, called the “Tree of Life” river. Drino is the most important water basin in the area and it’s also part of ancient pagan beliefs.

 Our lunch stop will be just near the village of Erind. We will arrive in Karjan village after around 4-5 hours riding. The accommodation and also a traditional dinner will be hosted by a local family. In the second part of the day you can be part of the family activities and also help to feed, clean and water the horses.

Riding Hours: 4-5

Day 3rd

After breakfast our ride continue north to the villages of Small Labova and the valley of Cajupi. Our first break will be in Small Labova, It’s a village well known all over the south for its wonderful Church. We follow the mountain path to the valley of Cajupi and we will stop by a cattle of 1000 sheep to visit shepherds and have lunch with them. 

During the trail we will have the opportunity to taste the Brati famous spring water. The trail will follow the medieval Caravan pathway with its famous bandit hideout ‘Hija e Mallkuar’ or to ‘The Cursed Shadow’. The final destination will be the village of Nderan, placed in the heart of Zagoria region. Our accommodation, for 2 nights, will be at a Vllah linguistic minority family. You will have dinner in a delicious mixture of local products, also raki and wine 

Riding hours: 6

Day 4th

Breakfast will begin with traditional mountain foods.

On the way to Lliar, Hoshteva, Koncka and Nivan villages we will encounter various terrain combining hard cliffs, rivers, and woods and rolling hills. The ride continues to be one of the most important horse pathways of the XVII and XVIII century. This had connected the biggest commercial centers in Southern Albania. We will take a short break at the water spring of Lliar. We continued on the downhill route to the ruins of a medieval stone bridge. Possibility to take a refreshing swim during summer months. Overnight at the same Vllah family house.

Riding hours: 5-6

Day 5th

In the morning we begin a really exciting equestrian experience. After breakfast our ride passes  through a mountain valley, perfectly suited for gallops, passing small remote farms, wild cliffs and many historical small routes off the tourist trail.

Lunch will be near the famous stone bridge of Hllomo or Kacarello’s. One of the most isolated constructions of the merchant’s period and can only be reached by horse. In the afternoon, after 5 hours of riding we will reach the center of the Pogon region. You will spend the night with a Greek minority family.In the evening you will enjoy local gastronomic delights.

Riding hours 4-5

Day 6th

In the morning we proceed to the town of Libohova. The trail will pass through beautiful mountain landscapes with a finish at the Swallow Rock situated 500m over the river of Suha. Our lunch will be either Suha River or Labova Church depending on the weather for swimming.

In the afternoon we will ride to Libohova, a small town at the foot of the Bureto Mountain. It is possible to take a long walk and visit Libohova’s castle and also a Bektashi cult object and the tomb of Ali Pasha’s sister, Shanisha. Overnight in a local family house where we will taste delicious local food. 

Riding hours: 5

Day 7th

This last day we will have a riding day of 3,5 hours. In the morning the ride passes through rolling hills, Drino’s valley and a few water streams.  After climbing a steep hill we will reach Antigonea National Park. After a short break we will ride 1 more hour to the stable. 

There you can enjoy the view of letting your horses free. Our picnic lunch will be in the village close to the stable. Your farewell dinner will be in a small restaurant in the old Bazaar. And to finish we will have a drink in a popular bar.

Riding hours: 3-4

Day 8th. 

End of Trail

The ride will pass through ancient ruins of the Ilirian civilization, medieval villages, remote churches and monasteries. The culmination of this trial will be the climb on Swallow’s Rock.

You will soak in Albanian traditions by staying with local people and riding through vibrant, unspoiled natural landscapes.

The horses we use on this ride are a local breed mix of Tarpan and Arab ones. The horses are small but perfectly suited to the rocky terrain, being accustomed for trekking long mountainous routes, allow riders to feel confident and relaxed.

During the trail you will meet locals and learn about their traditions and enjoy accommodation as guests in local homes. You will celebrate the harmony between humankind, horses, nature and culture.

Included:

Accommodation and meals. English speaking guide, drinks during the meals, luggage transportation by car.

Not included: 

Flights, entrance tickets in monuments or parks, lunch on day 1, extra drinks, other services or expenses during free time, entrance tickets in monuments or parks. Transfers to/from Gjirokastra