War Trail

After breakfast at the hotel, we set off for the stables where we meet the horses and guides. The first day of riding will take us about 6 hours. The route initially leads through a valley along the Drin River, where we will have an opportunity to try out the horses in canter over longer distances. Then we plunge into hilly terrain, streams and pine forests appear. Gradually, the climbs become steeper until we reach the Cepo monastery, with a beautiful view of the Drin valley. Half an hour later we arrive at a farm for a lunch break. We then set off towards the Kardhiq River. Along the trail, numerous natural monuments in the form of 3-4 meter high columns or pillars, called Gods of Light, appear. In the late afternoon we will reach the village of Fushëbardhë, where we will be hosted by a local family. In the evening, we will help feed the horses and afterwards have dinner with traditional dishes, followed by an overnight stay.

We will spend about 8-9 hours on the road that day, of which about 1.5 hours dismounted and leading our horse. This is the most difficult day during the entire expedition. The route follows the trail of the army led by King Skerdylaidas, who supported Queen Teuta against Rome around 2300 years ago. The route leads through green forests, climbs stony slopes and along the way you will come across ancient ruins. Along the way we will pass quite a few interesting works of nature: Basha’s Stones, Despina Cave, the Rock of Kaze, the Valley of Cherries, the Crooked Brook, the Shameti Brook, Trullas Neck, Derrasa Hole and many other local attractions. Halfway through the day we will stop for a break in a mountain valley, in the shade of a leafy forest. The rest of the route will involve a walkin part while leading out horses. The trail is not easy, leading quite steeply downhill at times. Towards evening we will arrive at the home of the family who will host us that night. We will look after the horses and then have dinner. The hosts will treat you to homemade traditional food, locally produced olive oil, herbal tea, as well as locally produced wine and raki.

We have a shorter, very pleasant day ahead of us. We will spend about 3.5 hours in the saddle. First we visit the stone castle of Borsh from the 4th – 3rd century BC, also known as Sopoti Castle (alb. Kalaja e Sopotit). It is interesting to note that the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I included it in the list of fortifications from 527-565, and the fortress bears traces of the influence of various civilisations, from the Byzantine Empire to the Venetian Republic. It was converted into a military camp in the Middle Ages, being fully fortified during the reign of Ali Pasha. After sightseeing we get back on the horses and head along the coast and between olive, orange, lemon and grapefruit trees. In the afternoon we reach Piqera, an old fishing village, where we will stay for the rest of the day and overnight. There, at the home of a local family, lunch awaits us, with no shortage of fish and seafood on the table. We will spend the rest of the afternoon at the seaside (where we will go by car). On our return, we will hold dinner to enjoy the meal, the music and the atmosphere of the place.

We will have breakfast on the terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea. We’ll enjoy a traditional seaside burek (cheese cake), pastries, milk and local honey. After breakfast we hop on the horses and set off, with about 6.5 hours of riding ahead of us. We will first head towards olive plantations, from where a lovely view of the sea stretches all around. Then we will ride to Bunec, to a beach covered with sand and pebbles, accompanied by the sea breeze. We will stop at a small restaurant by the beach for lunch, and have some time to sit on the beach and bathe in the sea. After a break we continue on our way through a small ‘jungle’ of trees and bushes, concealing an old road that once connected coastal villages. In the afternoon we will reach the village of Shen Vasil, whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. During the communist dictatorship a labour camp for political prisoners was located here, traces of the place’s dark past are still visible. A little later we will descend to the Kalasa valley, where we will canter through the ancient battlefield where King Skerdylaidas in 229 BC fought the army of Epirus. Along the way we may come across shepherds with sheep and goats. The region is traditionally agricultural, so there will also be an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the daily life of the local people. Solidly in the afternoon we will reach the village of Bajkaj, located 200 metres above the valley and surrounded by citrus groves. We will settle into the comfortable home of our hosts, help groom the horses and then enjoy our dinner and an evening’s rest.

After breakfast we continue our journey, which will take about 6 hours that day, with some parts of the trail dismounted and leading our horses. Heading to the village of Varfaj we will ascend the gently rising slope of Sopoti Mountain, with a beautiful view of the surroundings. During out climb to the top we will stop at springs to water the horses and replenish water for the road. On the way to Varaj the slope becomes steeper and rockier and we will reach the summit riding slowly and carefully, stopping for a picnic at the top of the mountain. Once rested we will ride down to the Drin river valley, accompanied by an amazing view all around us. Along the way there will be places where we will dismount and lead our horses downhill. In the late afternoon we will reach the village of Lazarat. The area is known for its turbulent past, the dynamic changes of the present times and its rich cultural heritage. Once (in)famous for marijuana cultivation, Lazarat proudly displays its timeless cultural heritage. Upon arriving at our overnight stay at a local guest house we will join a…. cooking lesson, led by our hosts. Towards the evening, we will feed and water our horses and then enjoy our own dinner, which we will eat amongst the olive trees, in an extraordinary atmosphere.

After breakfast we set off on our return journey to Gjirokastra. We have a final, shorter day in the saddle ahead of us, which will take about 3 hours. We will start by crossing the village of Lazarat and descending towards the Drin river valley. We will follow the trail to a point where we can cross the river, with no shortage of places for fast, exhilarating gallops along the way. As we approach the southern outskirts of the village of Asim Zeneli, the terrain will begin to ascend again. We will follow a path climbing the hills to reach the stables soon after. There we will unsaddle our brave horses, bid them farewell and let them out to pasture. We will spend the early afternoon having a picnic prepared by a local family. In the afternoon we will return to Gjirokastra, check into our hotel and have some time to relax or go for a walk in the old town. In the evening we will hold our last, farewell dinner together.

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