Included/Excluded

Tour Plan

• Day 1
  The tour starts in Albania’s capital with its grandiose 1930s design and Communist inspired urbanisation, enjoying the an interesting architectural mix of ideologies.
• Day 2
  Today we travel south towards the UNESCO World Heritage town of Gjirokastër, stopping en route firstly to visit the important Roman archaeological site of Bylis and secondly to take a look at the castle of Tepelenë.
• Day 3
  From Gjirokastër we will drive south to the Greek border where we will meet the horses, saddle up and head off on the old mountain trail, taking lunch at Bektashi Monastery and stopping for the night in Libohovë.
• Day 4
  Today’s ride takes us on through the hills to the ancient site of Antigonea, a city founded by King Pyrrhus of Epirus in 295 BC and one that, before its destruction during the Macedon Wars 150 years later, was an important trading centre.
• Day 5
  Today we will continue on Byron’s trail to the village of Erind, on the eastern side of the Drinos Valley. Taking lunch on the way we will ride till mid-afternoon and visit the church of Labovë e Krygit.
• Day 6
  For the next two days we will head northeast, high up over the mountains on a trail known only to drovers and ancient pilgrims. We will explore local monasteries and churches and camp for two nights before heading down to the spectacular Kelcyra Gorge.
• Day 7
  Today we will ride down out of the high hills and into the Kelcyra Gorge, a place that witnessed one of the most famous and pivotal battles of antiquity, providing us with some of the most enchanting vistas of our journey. A fitting finale we feel.
• Day 8
  After an early breakfast we will drive back to Tirana (4-5hrs), heading directly to the airport for our onward flights.