Treasures of Southern Albania

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to the stables where we will match horses and riders. Our trail leads to the foot of Mount Bureto. We will spend up to 4 hours in the saddle that day. The route is moderately difficult and quite scenic. We will cross hills, valleys, rivers and streams, with a view to surrounding cliffs. There will be plenty of opportunities for relaxed canters. Then – after settling in at the farm – we will head to Libohova (10 minutes by car) for a delicious lunch at a traditional Albanian restaurant. We will spend the afternoon sightseeing. Archaeological excavations revealed an ancient settlement here. The town entered its golden era in 17^th century as an important trade center. In the afternoon we can take a long walk and visit Libohova’s castle, a Bektashi cult spot and the tomb of Ali Pasha’s sister, Shanisha. In the evening we will return to the farm where we will help with feeding and watering our horses. A home-cooked dinner awaits us and those willing can take part in the cooking together with our host.

Right after breakfast we saddle the horses and set off. We will spend 4 hours in the saddle that day. First, we plunge into the picturesque valley of the Drino River before climbing a steep hill and entering the Antigonea National Park. We will stop here for a visit. Antigonea was built by King Pyrrhus in 295 BC and named after his first wife, Antigonea (daughter of the Egyptian king, Ptolemy). The ancient ruins of the city are one of the highlights of southern Albania. After a break, we will enjoy an hour of horseback riding and then go for lunch in a village near the stables. In the afternoon we check into our hotel in Gjirokaster. After a short rest, we will go to visit the Cold War-era tunnel, a building that bears witness to a difficult history and illustrates the paranoia of communism. Next we will visit a painting studio where we will have the chance to get acquainted with local art. Dinner will take place in a small restaurant in the historic part of the town.

Tego dnia konie odpoczywają, a my po śniadaniu wyruszamy na przygodę 4×4. Czeka nas sporo wrażeń: kręte górskie drogi, brak dróg, zniewalające widoki. Zatrzymamy się, aby zwiedzić ruiny kościoła Leshnica i napijemy się kawy pod wsią Cerkovica. W końcu dojeżdżamy do naszego celu. Są to ”bałkańskie Pompeje”, czyli miasto Butrint. Według mitu, uciekinierzy z upadłej Troi osiedlili się tutaj w VII wieku p.n.e. Cały park archeologiczny wpisany jest na Listę Światowego Dziedzictwa UNESCO. Znajdują się tutaj świetnie zachowane starożytne ruiny teatru i łaźni publicznych czy paleo-chrześcijańskie baptysterium. Nad miastem unosi się akropol zwieńczony sanktuarium Asklepiosa, boga medycyny. Po zwiedzaniu wyruszamy w dalszą drogę, do Sarandy. Nad brzegiem morza zjemy obiad złożony z owoców morza. W drodze powrotnej do Gjirokastry zwiedzimy jeszcze lokalną galerię sztuki. Kolacja zaplanowana jest w restauracji na Starym Bazarze.

It’s the second day with our mechanical horses. Our route takes us along the charming Vjosa River to the Benje hot springs. The picturesque pools are filled with warm water and bathing in them – according to local beliefs – has healing powers. We will also see an Ottoman-era monument, an impressive 18th-century stone Kadiu Bridge, which is the gateway to the nearby canyons. We will stop for lunch in Pewet, also known as the City of Roses. We then depart for the village of Ballaban, where we will stay for dinner and overnight. Local wine tasting is also a part of the plan for the evening.

After breakfast the group will be taken by car to the stable, where everyone will get a horse. We ride out for about 5 hours and the trail will take us through a number of villagers, with both fields and farms, as well as cliffs and streams all around. We will reach Drino river, locally called „The Tree Of Life”. It’s the most important source of water in the vicinity, as well as a part of old, local, pagan beliefs. During the ride we will cross The Holy Trinity castle ruins, a strategic point that controlled caravan routes, reconstructed by Ali Pasha in 1809-1810. During communism period the ruins were used for military purposes. We will stop in a village of Erind for a break and stay for the night at a local family’s house.

After breakfast with our hosting family we ride out to the village of Nokova where we will see two charming medieval churches. Then we reach the village of Dhoksat, famous for its stone buildings and ornate doors. There we will meet a local expert who will introduce us to the world of Albanian folklore: he will tell us about the characteristics of rural life, traditional costumes and ethnography of the region. After the meeting we mount up for the last time. We continue along a path leading among pastures, gardens and cultivated fields. We will stop for a while next to Lake Qestorati and then canter up the hills surrounding the stables. After saying goodbye to the horses, we return to the hotel. In the evening our last, farewell dinner and a visit to a local bar will conclude the tour.

Riders leave Albania that day. Transfers to Tirana or Saranda are available upon request.