Horseback Holidays in Albania

Located on the Balkan Peninsula, this small country surprises with its stunning landscapes, castles, and palaces that invite you to a horseback holiday.

Discover Albania on Horseback

From north to south, Albania is the perfect combination of nature, history, culture, gastronomy, and the authenticity of its people. All together make Albania the perfect destination for a unique horseback holiday.

Despite its small size, its variety of landscapes is dazzling: mountains in the north, lakes that extend into neighboring countries, and beaches that can compete with those of neighboring Greece.

After decades of isolation, Albania has opened up to the rest of the world. It is now a safe country and you should not fear visiting it.

On an equestrian holiday in this country, you will not only enjoy unique landscapes, but also discover its history by visiting its Byzantine churches, mosques, and Ottoman houses.

Some Interesting Facts about Albania

Geography

Albania borders Montenegro and Kosovo to the north, North Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the southeast.

The plains of its narrow coast turn into mountains that reach almost 2,000 meters in height and cover almost the entire territory of the country.

The coast, divided between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, has transparent water beaches along 427 km of coastline.

The Albanian Alps, with Valbona National Park, are a paradise of biodiversity.

The highest point in Albania is the summit of Mount Korab (2,764 m), on the border with North Macedonia.

The largest lake in the Balkans, Lake Skadar, extends on both sides of the border between Albania and Montenegro; in the southwest, Lake Ohrid is shared with North Macedonia and the Prespa Lakes between Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece.

Climate

Albania has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Temperatures vary between the lowland coasts and the highlands, but in general, it is pleasant everywhere throughout the year.

A Bit of History

Albanians descend from the ancient Illyrians, an Indo-European people who migrated from Central Europe southwards, reaching northern Greece at the beginning of the Iron Age.

The history of Albania is the history of Europe, still represented today in archaeological, historical, and cultural testimonies from the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Slavic, Venetian, and Ottoman periods.

It suffered the Balkan wars and achieved independence in 1912; an independence threatened by the expansion of the Austro-Hungarian and Italian empires.

After World War II, Albania lived under communism in one of the periods of greatest international isolation.

Albania's turbulent history has left its mark on the country; its general infrastructure, such as roads, is far from European standards, although improvements are now being made.

Cities and Castles

The cities of Albania are full of history, but you will also discover the hospitality of its people and enjoy its gastronomy. We highlight two cities, Berat and Gjirokastra.

Berat, the “city of a thousand windows” for its houses set on the hill, is an example of the historical architecture of this Balkan region.

Berat, the city of a thousand windows

In southern Albania, you must visit the Albanian city of Gjirokastra with its rich architectural heritage, known as the “Stone City” for its Ottoman-style tower houses. This city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gjirokaster

The many castles and fortresses present in Albania's landscape are undoubtedly evidence of more warlike times in the Balkans.

In Albania, it is said that every city has its own castle. The most popular are Rozafa Castle, Berat Citadel, Porto Palermo Castle, Gjirokastra Citadel, and Elbasan Castle.

Horseback Holiday Provider in Albania

Ampascachi suggests the provider Caravan Horse Riding for your horseback tours.

Caravan Horse Riding Albania

They are located among beautiful hills, green valleys, surrounded by high mountains and rural life, a few kilometers from the city of Gjirokastra in southern Albania.

Since 2011, they have welcomed horse, nature, history, culture, and long ride enthusiasts.

Their founders, owners, and guides have managed to create an excellent living environment for their more than 30 horses and a harmonious, eco-friendly atmosphere for their guests.

Their guides will take you through unspoiled nature to discover history, tradition, culture, and ancient monuments in remote and isolated areas of southern Albania.

Their horseback tours aim to maintain harmony between riders, horses, and nature.

\"Following the Paths of Zagoria\" and \"Route of King Skerdilajd's Army\" are two of their available routes. These are 8-day, 7-night tours, with 6 full days on horseback. They are offered from March to the end of November.

They also have great experience in customizing private horseback routes based on their guests' interests.

Day rides are offered on weekends throughout the year.

They believe that riders should sign up for the routes they choose regardless of where they come from, what discipline they practice, or what culture they belong to.

They are prepared to offer:

• A quality, dynamic, and varied equestrian experience with the opportunity to participate in the daily life of local families.
• Excellent, safe horses, cared for by professional staff and with a natural horsemanship training program whose secrets they will share with you.
• Delicious food for all tastes, very good service, hospitality, and friendly guides.

Their Community Mission

At Caravan Horse Riding Albania, they are very involved in promoting and protecting cultural heritage monuments along their itineraries, showing guests the most original side of Albanian life.

They also have a program for breeding Albanian horses to recover the breed, as in the last 70 years this breed has lost more than 70% of all specimens.

We can say that this provider not only offers horseback routes to their guests, but also fights for the protection and improvement of natural habitats, maintaining horse culture in both urban and rural areas, and promoting the country's history and customs.

Discover their offerings by visiting their website: horseridingalbania.com. You will be surprised by everything they have to offer.

Albania is a Mediterranean country that offers the possibility of riding through mountain and Mediterranean coastal routes in a peaceful and welcoming environment.