On the Trail of Ancient Zagoria

Take a flight to Tirana (TIA) or to Saranda's Port arriving by 3.00 p.m. Meeting with the corrispondents and transfert by minivan to Gjirokastra, 250 km away. After approximately 3 and a half hours you will arrive to the town, check in and welcoming buffet. In the evening, tour around the city's center, the bazar and, if time allows it, the castel, the church and the mosque. Dinner in a traditional restaurant and presentation of the trip.

Breakfast and then everyone on horseback, riding through the countryside with its varied landscapes: hills, valleys and rivers. We will pass close to a lot of small suburbs and local farms, Santa Triada castle's ruins, a control base for merchant's caravans. Pic-nic lunch and, in the afternoon, arrival to the village of Karjan, which was already inhabited in medieval times. Dinner and overnight stay with a family.

Departure following the runway, which passes through beautiful mountain's landscape, northwards. Come to labova's village, we will have a break to visit the church. It's here where was born Vangjel Zhapa, the organizer of first Olympic Games. We will continue among the endemic vegetation: mountain tea, wild rose and oregano, to the Cajupi valley, where we are going to have a pic-nic under trees and to drink some water from a famous source, a caravan crossroads.
We will go on along the old, medieval tracks to the Nderan village, in the middle of Zagoria region, where we will stay for two nights: a famous place thanks to the deliciousness of its honey and its typical products. Dinner and overnight stay with families.

Hearty mountain breakfast before to take us on saddles along the most important rail for the trades of South Albania. The rock formation of Zhej, Hoshteva's church, with its various heathen elements is very beautiful and the Liliar reservoir, built by Ali Pasha, is very interesting. We will pass on a medieval bridge, which link an old monastery to Nderan, where we are going to enjoy another family's night.

A thrilling morning into a wide valley, perfect for long rides. Crossing Pogoni's region will be a real journey into the past: byzantine monuments and ancient bridges and ruins throughout the area. We arrive, in the late afternoon, at Polican's village, inhabited by a curious greek minority. You will have some free time to wander around the medieval monuments before enjoying a delicious dinner.

More mountains, rivers and beautiful forests to reach the top of Swallow Rock, from where the Suha River can be seen. A little break for lunch near to the most ancient Albanian's church: Labora's church, whose construction it's said to date back to 554, at the behest of Giustiniano.
In the afternoon, we arrive at Libohova's town, at the foot of Bureto's mountain, an ancient human settlment, now inhabited by a noble family. Dinner with typical dishes and overnight stay with families.

We advise waking up early to enjoy the sunrise which enlight the entire valley. You will have some free time for a short walking tour around the village before to get in the saddle and to reach, after 3 hours riding, the Antigonea National Park. It will be very interesting the story of the monuments you are going to see. In the afternoon, we wil come back to Gjirokastra. Last dinner in a typical restaurant at the bazar, and overnight stay at Babameto on the outward journey.

Breakfast and transfert to Tirana's airport (or Saranda's port) between 9.00 and 12 noon.