Day 1: Arrival
Upon your arrival at Tirana airport, ideally in the morning but no later than 14:00, our team will greet you and transport you to Gjirokastra, a journey of approximately three hours. Settle into your hotel, conveniently located a short walk from the historic center of Gjirokastra. Before dinner, take your own tour through the town, exploring the old Bazaar, Gjirokastra Castle, the Church of the Old Bazaar, the Mosque of the Bazaar, and Skenduli House, offering a glimpse into traditional life in Gjirokastra. Enjoy a traditional dinner at a local restaurant, where our guides will discuss the program, itinerary, answer any questions, provide advice, and offer valuable insights.
Day 2: Getting Acquainted with Horses Morning Session
Participants will familiarize themselves with horses and receive lessons in ground handling, including exercises on maintaining safe distances, grooming, harnessing, feeding, and understanding equine behavior.
Lunch will be served in a village restaurant.
The afternoon session will focus on basic riding positions, balance exercises in the arena, and overall skill reinforcement.
In the evening, participants can opt for a rural village experience or spend time with family on the veranda. Friends are welcome to join cooking sessions and assist with other tasks. An optional visit to the horse stables is available if willing to walk 15 minutes one way to the stables.
Day 3: Independent Horse Preparation and Nature Ride Testing Morning Session
Begin with independent horse preparation followed by a nature ride test to assess skills acquired during the morning session.
Lunch will be served at a local village restaurant.
The afternoon session will include basic knowledge tests on the track and guided horseback riding in nature, focusing on safety measures, risk management, and using reins in outdoor settings.
Dinner will be served at the guesthouse, where you'll enjoy a traditional meal prepared by the hosts.
Day 4: Trotting Preparation and Riding in Nature Morning Session
Revisit all lessons learned so far and prepare for trotting on the track. Morning concentration will be paramount as participants practice trotting techniques in the arena and apply them briefly in outdoor settings. Lunch options will be served at a local restaurant.
After lunch, there will be further trotting practice on the track, horse leading downhill followed by a session on uphill riding positions.
You will have dinner at the guesthouse, where you can enjoy a comforting meal to end the day.
Day 5: Mastery Trek to Cini Lake (one session)
It’s a day you’ve been eagerly awaiting, a chance to put your skills to the test in the rugged beauty of Albania’s countryside.
The day kicks off with the familiar routine of preparing the horses.
Now, it’s time for the real challenge—a trek to Cini Lake.
With the horses saddled and ready, riders take a moment to mentally review the lessons of the past days. Mounting your steeds, you set off for the morning session—a series of advanced trotting exercises designed to push your limits.
Throughout the ride in nature through hills, valleys and pastoral life the instructors provide guidance and feedback, fine-tuning techniques and addressing any lingering questions. Riding in pairs fosters camaraderie and teamwork, reinforcing the bond between rider and horse.
It’s a journey that will test your mettle, but also a chance to forge memories that will last for long.
After accommodating the horses back in stable lunch will continue and also free afternoon and evening for different activities. Dinner again with the host family.
Riding 4-5 hours
Day 6: Intensive Trotting and Horse Games Morning Session
The morning will focus on intensive trotting sessions on the track, as well as engaging in various horse games. Participants will practice riding in pairs, maintaining safe distances, and applying technical elements of trail discipline.
After lunch, participants will continue with trotting and horse games in the afternoon, with additional testing of trotting and short canter fragments for balance assessment. The afternoon the session will be out in nature going through the very diverse landscape of Gjinofshat hills possible to test all the lessons so far.
Optional activities during break times may include relaxation, stable work, or village exploration.
Day 7: Final Test and Lake Adventure (one session)
This last day is the culmination of a week-long journey, a day awaited with equal parts excitement and trepidation.
The morning unfolds with purpose as riders gather in the arena, their steeds poised and ready for the ultimate challenge. You embark on a comprehensive skills test—a culmination of all you’ve learned throughout your equestrian odyssey.
Under the guidance of experienced instructors, participants navigate through a series of exercises, each one designed to assess their proficiency in the saddle. From precision maneuvers to fluid transitions, every aspect of your riding ability is put to the test.
You will mount your trusty companions once more, ready to embark on the final leg of the journey—a scenic trek to Qestorati Lake. Along the way, you’ll pass by the imposing castle of Santa Triada, its ancient walls standing as a silent testament to the region’s storied past.
The journey will also take you through the charming village of Dhoksat, where time seems to stand still amidst cobblestone streets and rustic buildings.
And so, as you set off into the unknown, guided by the gentle rhythm of hoofbeats and the whisper of the wind, you carry with you the memories of a week filled with laughter, learning, and the timeless bond between horse and rider the foundation of a new passion.
Riding 4-5 hours
Day 8: Departure Morning
After a rural breakfast at the guest house, being also the last moments of this equestrian experience, you will be transferred to the airport.
Note: Itinerary subject to changes
*Optional Activities with extra costs paid on site:
Wood crafting workshop – 36 Euro per person
Cooking class – 46 Euro per person
Buggy tour – 35 Euro per person
Cold War city tour – 55 Euro per person (including entrance tickets in three monuments)
Guided hiking tour – from 48 – 64 Euro per person depending on the itinerary
Embroidery class – from 25 Euro per person
Dress as a local – from 15 Euro per person
Ice cream making activity – from 13 Euro per person
Farming activity – From 34 Euro per person
* price subject to changes