In the footsteps of ancient Zagoria

In the footsteps of ancient Zagoria

You will thrown back in the time by following the ancient caravan’s ways of Zagoria, Pogon, Lunxheria, Libohova and Antigonea, which the merchants, with their caravans, were used to use more than 2000 years ago.

Our journey will bring us to find out the ancient ruins of the Illyrian culture, medieval villages, a lot of remote churches and monasteries. Very interesting are the uniquely designed bridges built in the time of Ali Pasha. On the first and the last night, you will stay at the beatiful city of Gjirokastra, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, while on the following days you will be hosted by locals, who will warmly open their homes to you and serve you the best food in the local culinary tradition. The higlight of this amazing trekking will be the climb up Swallow’s Rock. As you enter more and more into this land full of mysticism, intricate myths and legends, you will know the Albanian rural traditions. Approximately 170 km in the saddle, with and an average of 6 hours per day, it’s waiting us. The horses used in this trekking are a mix between the local breed called Tarpan end Arabian Horses: small but perfectly adapted to the rock terrain, balanced and reliable, as you can relax yourselves and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes. Your luggages will be transported by car, while you will able to keep the essentials things, thanks to to the comfortables saddlebags.

We are waiting you for an incredible adventure in the name of the armony between the humanity, the horses, the nature and the culture.

Shared guaranteed departure dates, minimum 1 person departing from Italy

PARTICIPANTS: MIN 5 MAX 10

1° day

TIRANA/GJIROKASTRA (-/L/D)

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.

2° day

GJIROKASTRA /KARJAN (B/L/D)

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.

3° day

KARJAN/NDERAN (B/L/D)

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.

4° day

NDERAN (B/L/D)

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.

5° day

NDERAN/POLICAN (B/L/D)

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.

6° day

POLICAN/ LIBOHOVA (B/L/D)

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.

7° day

LIBOHOVA/GJIROKASTRA (B/L/D)

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.

8° day

GJIROKASTRA/TIRANA (B/-/-)

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

Tariff per person, starting from:

Departure	Double
From 25 February 2023 to 2 December 2023	€ 1,640

Notes

(B / L / D): B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = Dinner

Shared guaranteed departure dates, minimum 1 person departing from Italy:

From 27/02 to 06/03
From 06/03 to 13/03
From 13/03 to 20/03
From 20/03 to 27/03
From 27/03 to 03/04
From 03/04 to 10/04
From 10/04 to 17/04
From 17/04 to 24/04
From 24/04 to 01/05
From 08/05 to 15/05
From 15/05 to 22/05
From 29/05 to 05/06
From 12/06 to 19/06
From 26/06 to 03/07
From 03/07 to 10/07
From 14/08 to 21/08
From 28/08 to 04/09
From 04/09 to 11/09
From 18/09 to 25/09
From 16/10 to 23/10
From 23/10 to 30/10
From 30/10 to 06/11
From 06/11 to 13/11
From 13/11 to 20/11
From 20/11 to 27/11
From 27/11 to 04/12
From 04/12 to 11/12

Single supplement for night 1 and 7 (to be paid locally): € 40
Departure supplement with only 2 people: € 180

Difficulty level: From ° to °°°°°

DURATION: 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS

DIFFICULTY: °°° (INTERMEDIATE)

AGE: minimum 14 years

ACCOMMODATION: traditional accommodation

EQUIPMENT: ENGLISH TREKKING SADDLE

HORSES: ALBANIAN SADDLE HORSES

GAIT: 6/7 H PER DAY IN THE SADDLE. It mainly proceeds slowly due to the mountain grounds, which your horses know well. However, there will be no lack of terrain for trot and gallop. A good level of control is required at the three paces.

TYPE : Itinerant with overnight stay in basic rooms. Support means for luggage

ACCOMMODATION:

The first and last night will be in Gjirokastra, also called “the city of 1000 steps”, in accommodation with traditional architecture. The city of Gjirokastra, located in southern Albania, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005, with its Ottoman-style castle, churches and monasteries. The 5 nights itinernti of our trekkig will be in typical houses of the Albanian countryside.

Note: The itinerary described above is to be considered indicative. It could be subject to variations due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.

The tariff includes

Transfer from / to Gjirokastra from Tirana airport (minimum 2 people)
All meals as per program
2 nights in Gjirokastra in traditional houses
5 itinerant nights in basic traditional houses
6 days on horseback (6-7 hours a day)
Horses and equipment available
Expert guide of the English speaking territory
Gadgets, luggage tags and various illustrative documentation
Insurance for medical assistance, medical repatriation and damage to luggage

The tariff does not include

Flights to / from Tirana
Transfer supplement 1 person € 120
Meals not mentioned, airport taxes, drinks, tips, personal extras
Alcoholic
Anything not highlighted in the item “the fee includes”
Supplementary insurance
Airport taxes To be paid locally
Registration fee € 95