Winter horse trail and culture in Gjirokastra

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Winter horse trail and culture in Gjirokastra

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Winter horse trail and culture in Gjirokastra

€928.00

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Description

This program is a winter unique offer from the South of Albania. It combines 3 days of horse riding adventure in changing landscape, of valleys, hills, small forests, rivers, steep climbing and downhills, with another 3 days of culture, hospitality, monuments, thermal baths, archaeological sites, Ionian coast and shepherds life. The program offers real moments in the saddle, dynamic off road experiences to explore the very unspoiled parts of the South and many hiking paths to be explored.

The horses used on this ride (Albanian horses) are local breed mix of Tarpan and Arab horses. They are small but perfectly suited to the rocky terrain being surefooted and accustomed to trekking long mountainous routes, in all kind of weathers, allowing riders to feel confident, relaxed and free to enjoy the stunning views.

The whole itinerary is designed as a dedication to a different season that has a lot to offer, in terms of adventure, fun, smaller groups, culture, history, monuments, local houses, music, art and tradition. Food and cooking experiences, wine and Raki tasting will be something really exceptional about this trail.

Guests will have the possibility to interact, participate and live part of the Albanian local life. Meeting people and introducing our guests to their life and activity is a very social part of this program.

Many things experienced with this offer can’t be enjoyed with the fast rhythm of the high season that’s why this is a suggestion for slow life, dynamic ride, slow food and slow adventure.

Return: Tirana airport (TIA) or Saranda Port – fly to Corfu (CFU).
Transfer: Tirana airport to Gjirokastra: €70 return per person, 225 km, 3-4 hours
Saranda Port to Gjirokastra: €40 return per person, 64km, 1 hour

Additional information

Price Includes

All meals and accommodation apart from the extra drinks and ticket entrances in museums, cultural sites, art gallery etc.
Departure Time/Date

Plan your flight to arrive at Tirana airport ideally in the morning, but no later than 15:00. 21/12/2019 – 28/12/2019; 04/01/2020 – 11/01/2020; 08/02/2020 – 15/02/2020; 29/02/2020 – 07/03/2020
Requirements

Please take along sun cream and anti-allergy medicine for possible insect bites.
What you should bring

Normal riding clothes: riding hat, long sleeved shirts (please avoid packing your favourite or expensive clothing due to risk of damage) riding trousers, warm clothes,chaps, gloves. Good mountain shoes – with a grip for walking but not too thick as you will need to ride in them too.
Proper shoes to walk in the river. 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 Sun cream, sunglasses, hat, waterbottles. 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.
Day 1: Arrive in Gjirokastra, Albania

Accommodation in a traditional hotel, in the heart of the historical Gjirokastra . Visit The new Bazaar, EnverHoxha’s house, Gjirokastra castle, the church of the Old Bazaar, the mosque of the Bazar and Skenduli house. Dinner in a traditional restaurant.
Day 2: First Riding Day

Breakfast at the hotel. Ride to the small town Libohova. Lunch stop in a small traditional restaurant. Afternoon visit Libohova’s castle. Riding hours: 3-4 hours.
Day 3: Second Riding Day

Ride through rolling hills, Drino’s valley. Visit Antigonea National Park. Lunch will follow in a village close to the stable. Accommodation at the same hotel in Gjirokastra. Visit the Cold War tunnel in Gjirokastra. Riding hours: 3-4 hours
Day 4: Monuments of Culture Day

Morning visits to few very important monuments of culture next to Drino’s valley. Visit the Melani Bektashi monastery. Visit church of Labova of the Cross in Labova. Lunch Stop. Drive up Lunxheria’s mountain and will stop at Çajupi’s valley. Dinner in the mountain. Driving hours: total 3 hours.
Day 5: Around Permet City

Breakfast than drive back to the Drinos valley to reach the thermal baths of Benja in Permet. Lunch will take place in the city of roses, Permet. Drive to a remote area close to Ballaban village. Accommodation for the evening and dinner place in a farm. Driving hours: Total 3 hours
Day 6: Visit on Butrint

Visit of Butrint. Visit the ruins of the church of Leshnica and will have a coffee stop by Cerkovica village. Lunch will take place in Ksamil or Butrint in a restaurant next to the sea. Afternoon we will drive to and be accommodated in Saranda. Dinner in a small restaurant in Saranda. Driving hours: Total 4 hours
Day 7: Last Riding Day

Breakfast and drive back to Gjirokastrato the horse stables for another horse riding day. Taditional home-made lunch in Dhoksat village. Accomodation in Gjirokastra in the same hotel. Later in the evening we can have a drink in a popular bar. Riding hours: 5-6 hours
Day 8: End of Trail

After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred back to the airport of Tirana.

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