Ancient Pathways

8 Days  |  From £1056pp

Albania ( Best airport: Tirana)

This mountainous trail in Albania is a challenging and exciting experience for adventurous riders. Ride up and down steep mountain passes before enjoying fast canters in the grassy valleys. This trail is a cultural immersion with accommodation on the trail with welcoming host families for a true insight into Albanian rural life.

The Riding

The Albanian mountain horses you’ll be matched with willingly go places you would never believe possible for a horse; happy cantering over rocks, down loose scree or climbing mountain sides without hesitation. This trail offers challenging and exciting riding with the pace changing every few minutes to suit the terrain. Expect steep climbs where you can trust your horse to get you to the top.

Each day usually includes around five hours of riding with a rest break and a lunch stop during the day. You’ll cover around 35km a day riding at all paces. The horses used on these trail really know their jobs so although the riding is challenging the horses are easy to ride.

Level of Riding and Fitness

This trail is suitable for confident intermediate and experienced riders only with a good, balanced seat. You will be riding over challenging mountainous terrain so a head for heights is also important! Good riding fitness is required as you’ll be spending 4-6 hours in the saddle each day. This programme is not suitable for non-riders. Help to mount or dismount can be provided by the guide if required and the minimum age is 16. Please be aware that on difficult paths riders should be able to walk beside their horse (for around 10 minutes) In the evenings, riders feed their own horses.

Weight limit: 14 stone / 90kg

Guides and Group Size

The guides are professionals with many years of experience in guiding trails through the Albanian mountains. Every trail has two guides, one in the front and one at the back. They are adventurous, knowledgeable about the history and nature, and most of all, passionate about their horses and Albania. They speak English, Italian and Greek.

Maximum number of riders in a group is 10.

The Horses

The horses used on this ride are of local Albanian breed, Tarpan, mixed with Arabs. They are small, strong and perfectly suited for the challenging, rocky terrain being surefooted and accustomed to trekking over long mountainous trails.

Tack and Riding Equipment

The tack is English style with small saddlebags provided for items such as water bottles, packed lunches and cameras. Tacking up is optional.

Riders are expected to help with feeding and watering the horses during the trail.

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Accommodation and Dining

The first and last night of the trail will be spent in a hotel with en suite bathrooms and WiFi. The rest of the nights are spent at local, friendly family homes which offer a great opportunity to soak in the rural Albanian lifestyle. The accommodation during the family stays is fairly basic with shared bathroom facilities. If travelling in the colder months we advise you to bring warm sleepwear. Your hosts may not speak English.

The food served during the trail will be of local produce and traditional Albanian meals. Picnic lunches will be brought to you by the support vehicle or alternatively carried in your saddle bags while riding. Dinners will be served in a local restaurant when staying in a hotel or by your hosts when spending the night in a local family home. Allergies and special dietary requirements can be catered with advance notice.

Get a free Ancient Pathways mini-brochure in PDF format.

Itinerary

Ancient Pathways

8 days / 7 nights / 6 days riding
£1056pp

Single Supplement
It may be possible to pay for a single supplement on the first and last night of the trail, allowing riders to have a single room. However, on other nights, riders must be prepared to share accommodation. The single supplement for a single room is 25 Euros per night, payable on site.

Transfers
Set transfers every Saturday at 12:30pm and 14:30pm and cost £75 per person (3 hour drive). Private transfers are available if you can’t make the group transfer.

Arrival flight should arrive no later than 14:30pm
Departure flights should leave no earlier than 12:00pm (midday)

Price Includes
  • 6 days riding (4-6 hours per day)
  • Shared accommodation
  • Breakfasts
  • Lunches
  • Evening meals
  • Drinks during meals
Price Excludes
  • Flights
  • Airport transfers
  • Tips
  • Entrance tickets to monuments & parks