Albania Winter Explorer

Introduction
Central Albania
This unique winter program combines 4 days of horse riding adventure with another 2 days of cultural exploration!

Winter has a lot to offer including fun adventures, smaller groups, and a different light on cultural elements such as monuments, music and traditions.
The riding portion of the trip takes place on the East bank of river Drino, close to Antigonea archaeological park, and goes deep in the history of the valley. You will experience unforgettable moments in the saddle, while exploring the undiscovered treasures of Southern Albania.  
When you are not riding, you will learn more about the Albanian culture and have the luxury of discovering its monuments, thermal baths, archaeological sites, Ionian coast and shepherd lifestyle. On this tour, guests will also have the opportunity to interact, participate and live part of the Albanian local life.

If you already love Albania in the summertime, you should try exploring it in the wintertime. This season brings a slower pace of life and lets you discover another side of this wonderful country!

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive ride so nights will be spent in different accommodations.

Description
You will be staying in a variety of accommodations. Bathrooms are shared during the whole trip.
Access to electricity is possible every evening and the whole area has a good phone coverage.
Laundry can be done at various locations for a small fee.

Wi-Fi access is only available in Gjirokaster. Internet access is difficult during this ride so we recommend guests to buy an Albanian sim card (around 13 euros) to get free internet access and about 30 minutes of free calls.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Gjirokaster
Night 2: Family house in Libohova
Night 3: Hotel in Gjirokaster
Night 4: Hotel in Gjirokaster
Night 5: Farmhouse near Ballaban
Night 6: Farmhouse in Karjan
Night 7: Hotel in Gjirokaster




Room Occupancy
It may be possible to pay for a single supplement on the first, third, fourth and last night of the trail but for the rest participants must be prepared to share accommodation and facilities.



Meals
All meals are included in this trip from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day.

You will get to enjoy local Albanian food (local meats, fruits, and vegetables) traditionally cooked.

Breakfasts include eggs, butter, cheese, local pancakes, fruit jams, honey, milk and tea.
Lunch is often a picnic packed by the riders from the family they stayed with the night before and usually consist of bread, cheese, tomatoes, eggs, olive, pie fruit and a drink.
For dinner, we serve meat (chicken, calf  or pork meat, fish by the sea), salads, cheese, local yogurt sauce, olives, pickles, vegetables from the garden and fruits.

Wine or beer is included with lunch and dinner every day.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to all dietary restrictions with prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Riding Experience
This trip has been designed for intermediate riders who are reasonably fit and in a decent state of health. You should also be happy to share facilities with others and live in basic conditions.

Horses
The horses used for this ride are locally bred and ideal for the terrain. They are small but very robust and surefooted Albanian horses (between 13 and 14.2 hands). The Albanian horse, a unique mountain breed that is s local mixture of the archaic Tarpan and medieval Arab horse. They are great climber, have a clear mind and are surefooted. Our breeding program aims to help saving this declining breed of horses.
Our stable include 38 horses and is situated amidst scenic hills, green valleys, surrounded by high mountains. Our horses are trained with natural horsemanship techniques that we are pleased to share with the guests.

Pace
The rides are at a moderate pace overall. Most of the time we are traveling through mountains so that must be taken into account in regards to your expectations of speed, however there are indeed occasions where you can have a good canter.

Guides
Kristina, Aurel and Ilir are all native from Albania and always happy to share their love for horses and their knowledge of Albania with guests. There are 2 guides accompanying you on this trip.

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Please note that this itinerary is given as guidance only and may be altered.

The tour starting on December 21st 2023 will include a traditional Christmas day with live music and dancing.

Day 1 (Friday): Arrival
Plan to land at Tirana airport ideally in the morning, but no later than 1:00 pm - this leaves enough time for the transfer plus a visit of Gjirokstra. The transfer from the airport of Tirana will take around 3-4 hours (250km).
Tonight, you will be accommodated in a traditional hotel, in the heart of the historical Gjirokastra: the new Bazaar. If you have some spare time before dinner, we recommend having a look at Enver Hoxha’s house, Gjirokastra castle, the church of the Old Bazaar, the mosque of the Bazar and Skenduli house.
Dinner will be served at a traditional restaurant. During dinner your guides will be able to speak to you about the trail (possible requests or needs, advice and things which are good to know). We recommend that you buy a map of the area before dinner in order to gain a good understanding of the itinerary.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight in hotel in Gjirokastra

Day 2 (Saturday): Ride to Libohova  
After breakfast at the hotel and allocation of horses, we will set off on our ride through the picturesque countryside towards the village of Labova of the Cross. This charming village is known for its beautiful landscapes and historical significance. The route to Labova of the Cross will be moderately challenging, featuring hilly terrains, valleys, small water streams, and opportunities for enjoyable canters.
Upon reaching Labova of the Cross, we will check into a local guest house, where you can experience the warm hospitality of the villagers. The guest house will provide a comfortable and authentic stay, allowing you to immerse yourself in the local culture.
After settling in, we will visit the Church of Labova of the Cross, a significant religious site in the area. The church is known for its unique architecture and historical importance, offering a glimpse into the village's rich heritage.
In the evening, you can participate in various activities at the guest house, such as helping with farm chores or engaging in traditional cooking alongside the family. This will provide a hands-on experience of the village lifestyle and create memorable moments.
Overnight accommodation will be at the local guest house, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner consisting of traditional local cuisine. The guest house will offer a cosy and authentic atmosphere, ensuring a restful night's sleep.
Riding 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Family house in Libohova

Day 3 (Sunday): Libohova to Antigonea National Park
This morning, you will ride through rolling hills, Drino’s valley and few water streams before climbing a steep hill to reach Antigonea National Park, where we will stop for a visit. Antigonea was built by King Pyrrhus  in 295 BC and named after his first wife Antigona, daughter of King Ptolemeus of Egypt. After the break, we will ride 1 more hour before reaching the stables. Lunch will follow immediately after, in a village close to the stable.
After a short break, we plan to visit the cold war tunnel in Gjirokastra, a building of communism defence paranoia that has a lot to tell. Then, before dinner, you will visit a painter studio and learn from him about local art and special techniques of painting and installations, as well as about many elements of tradition that were involved in his works. Ideological art during communism can be one of the topics to be discussed. 
Dinner will take place at a small local restaurant in the historical area of Gjirokastra and a well-known iso-polyphonic group will be invited to talk, sing and explain about their complex role. South Alabian Iso-poliphony is a UNESCO protected world heritage.
Riding 4 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in hotel in Gjirokastra

Day 4 (Monday): Butrint & Saranda (no riding)
This morning after a fresh cooked breakfast we will drive back to Gjirokastra and then towards Butrint, a UNESCO protected archaeological park, through a challenging off road path. The driving experience will be exceptional and the views some of the most beautiful met in your journey. Small remote villages, old houses, windy roads, no roads, small gardens, very few animals, old churches and the sense of time stopping somewhere in the past is the impression this driving day offers. We will stop to visit the ruins of the church of Leshnica and will have a coffee stop by Cerkovica village. A local person will give a short presentation on how this area lives and what was their past, and what do they expect for the future. We will later drive to Butrint to visit the archaeological park. Originally part of an area called Epirus, Butrint has been occupied by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines and the Venetians. As a result, Butrint offers a wealth of incredible archaeological structures, including a well preserved theatre, Roman public baths inside which lies a paleo-Christian baptistery and a 9th century basilica. The sanctuary of Asclepius, god of medicine sits on its hill or “acropolis” and dates back to the fourth century.
After the visit, we will drive to Saranda for lunch in a restaurant next to the sea with plenty of seafood. Before going back to Gjirokastra for dinner, you will visit the local art gallery and will have a presentation by the manager who is also a very good painter. Dinner will take place in a restaurant in the old bazar.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in hotel in Gjirokastra

Day 5 (Tuesday): Permet (no riding)
After breakfast and the views of a wonderful sunrise in the mountains, we will drive to the Drinos valley and follow the Vjosa river to reach the thermal baths of Benja, in Pwrmet. Along the river, there are splendid warm water human-made pools to soak on a cool day. People believe that the baths have healing properties. The pools are off the beaten path, and during winter months you can have enough privacy. Kadiu bridge, a monument of culture built in 1760 during ottoman period, offers a stunning view of the Langarica river. That is an entering gate to the canyons. During the day there are chances of exploring the canyons by hiking and swimming. Lunch will take place in the city of roses, Pwrmet. You will especially enjoy the local raki and the local sweets.
Later on, we will drive to a remote area close to Ballaban village to visit another unique farm that will be our accommodation for the evening. The owners will have a short presentation on how they abandoned the city life and made it possible live and dream far form everything. Tonight, we will enjoy a special wine tasting.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at farmhouse near Ballaban

Day 6 (Wednesday): Ride to Karjan Village
After breakfast, we drive back to Gjirokastra to the horse stables for another riding day. Today's itinerary passes through a rural environment; beautiful steep hills, small valleys, pastoral atmosphere traditional farming and cultivation of the land, bush area, small lakes, small water streams and cliffs, old defence infrastructure from communism time. The view of River Drino, “Tree of Life” river remains on the left during the morning ride. Drino is the most important water basin in the area and part of ancient pagan beliefs. On your way you will meet the ruins of the castle of Santa Triada reconstructed during 1809-1810 by Ali Pasha, a strategic point to control all the mediaeval caravan itineraries. The castle ruins were used later during the time of socialism for military issues.
We will stop for a picnic lunch near the village of Erind. After around 4-5 hours riding we will reach Karjan village where a traditional dinner and accommodation await you in a local farm. You can visit the village and take part in the family activities, also help to feed, clean and water the horses.
Riding 4-5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at farmhouse in Karjan

Day 7 (Thursday): Ride to Dhoksat 
After having breakfast with the family, we get back in the saddle at 9 o’clock. We first ride towards Nokova village to visit medieval churches and later we ride through Lunxheria area where we stop for our picnic lunch in Dhoksat village. This village has a unique architecture and it is famous for the use of the back stone in building also and for the beautiful doors. A local expert will talk about the characteristics of life, tradition, folklore, costumes and ethnography of the area. 
The afternoon ride leads us to cultivated lands, gardens, livestock and meadows. We have another short stop by Qestorati lake to enjoy the view before heading back to the stables. The last part of the ride before reaching the stables is the most beautiful as the landscape allows several canters and the climbing up hills is stunning.
After the ride, we will drive back to Gjirokastra. You can go for a walk around the historical area before the farewell dinner. Later in the evening we can have a drink in a popular bar.
Riding 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in hotel in Gjirokastra

Day 8 (Friday): Departure 
After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred back to the airport of Tirana.

Rates and Dates for Albania Winter Explorer

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Gjirokaster
Airport: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA)
Transfer: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA) or Saranda Port.

Climate:
                                            Gjirokaster area

• Normal riding clothes: riding hat, long sleeved shirts (please avoid packing your favourite or expensive clothing due to risk of damage)  riding trousers and chaps, gloves.
• Good mountain shoes - with a grip for walking but not too thick as you will need to ride in them too. Normal riding boots with a smooth sole are not recommended as they can be slippery when walking on foot.
• Waterproof raincoat
• Casual clothes for the evening
• Swimming suit, river shoes and towels
• Sleeping bag for camping
• Sun cream, sunglasses, hat, water bottles.
• Anti-allergy medicine for possible insects bites
• Camera - please bring small cameras as large professional ones are very difficult to transport on horseback.
• Copy of passport
• Personal saddlebags are welcome if riders would like to bring their own. Small saddlebags are provided by the ride but just for food and water