Illyrian Trail

After breakfast the group will be taken by car to the stable, where everyone will get a horse. After saddling up the group will ride to the village of Karjan. The place, centuries ago, was a popular stop for trade caravans. Nowadays one can amaze at small churches and an old, Roman bridge there. The landscape is quite idyllic: hills and valleys all around with small streams flowing here and there. 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.

We wil ride north that day, follow an ancient trade road of Zhapa, made of stone, with a nice view on mountains, hills and valleys. The first break will take place in a village of Small Labova, well-known all over the south for its wonderful church and big houses, today mostly ruined, that used to belong to more influential merchants. Labova is also the birthplace of Vangjel Zhapa, a famous businessman, philantropist and the precursor of modern Olimpic Games. After visiting the unique, medieval church we will mount up again. Look around on our way to Cajupi – you should notice some interesting plants here an there: mountain tea, oregano, wild roses and other local flora. We will ride in Cajupi valley and have a longer stop there, at a local shepherds’ place, surrounded by sheep and accompanied by shepherd dogs. A nearby tower is an another trace of caravans. In the middle ages the area was also a hideout for bandits, named „Hija e Mallkuar” – The Cursed Shadow. In the evening we will reach the village of Nderan, where famous Albanian mountain honey is made – ten different tastes of honey, depending on the season and bee pasture. We will stay for the night hosted by a local Vlach family.

We will have our breakfast and ride out to visit a couple of local villages: Lliar, Hoshteva, Koncka i Nivan. You will notice some changes to the landcape, more diveristy: sharp cliffs, rivers, woods and mountains. We will probably encounter local shepherds with their herds. We will also ride on the most important horse trail of the 17^th and 18^th centuries that used to connect major trade centers of southern Albania. We will pass the Rock of Zhej, a beautiful natural monument, and stop for a short break at a spring in Lliar, built in the 19^th century by Ali Pasha. We will take a look at a medieval stone bridge that collapsed in 2018 in a place where – on a warm day – you can enjoy a swim. There’s also a medieval Hoshteva church nearby, built originally in year 999 and recreated for the last time in 1866. We will also pass a byzantine church in Lliar and the Nivan Saint Mehill monastery, built in 1702. The bridge we will ride right through was built at the same time in order to create a good connection between the monastery and the village of Nderan, an important animal trade center in the middle ages. We’ll stay for the night with the same family as the day before.

We will ride towards the town of Libohova. The trail is demanding and very picturesque at the same time, finishing at the Swallow Rock, 500 m above the river of Suha. We will have picnic lunch break next to the Church of Labova of the Cross, the oldest church in Albania, built by Justinian the Great in 554. According to the legend Justinian married Teodora in a small chapel in the village. Local inhabitants preserved her wedding dress for centuries. Our next stop is Libohova, a small town located at the foot of the Bureto Mountain. Archaeological excavations revealed that there was an ancient settlement here and the town entered its best period in 17^th century, as an important trade center. In the afternoon you can take a long walk and visit Libohova’s castle, a Bektashi cult spot and the tomb of Ali Pasha’s sister, Shanisha. We stay for the night with another local family and enjoy delicious, local food.

We’ll spend the first half of the day in the saddle. After breakfast we will ride through hills and the Drino valley. The group will cross streams and climb uphill to Antigonea National Park, where we will stop for a visit. Antigonea was built in year 295 on the order of king Pyrrus and named after his wife, Antigone. Let’s leave the park and have the last moment in the saddle – our next stop will be at the stables. We will have lunch in a nearby village and go by cars to Gjirokastra. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a restaurant. Night at the hotel.

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