Albania is not yet a famous riding destination, which is exactly why it works so well on horseback. In the south-east, along the Greek border, there are valleys with more shepherds than cars, villages linked by old mule tracks and a river that still runs free. This guide explains where the riding is, how much experience you need, what the days look like and what to pack, from the people who run the trips.
Where you ride
The riding country lies in the districts of Kolonjë and Përmet. The base is Farma Sotira, a family farm about 1,000 m up near the town of Leskovik, on the edge of the pine and fir forests of Shelegur. From there the trails drop towards the valley of the Vjosa, the river that runs past Përmet towards the Adriatic.
The Vjosa is often called Europe's last wild river: it rises in the Pindus mountains in Greece and runs without a single dam through the whole of Albania to the sea, and in 2023 Albania protected it as the Vjosa Wild River National Park. On horseback you follow its gravel banks, cross its side streams and stop to swim in it.
Short rides or a real riding holiday
Around Përmet you can book short guided rides of three to four hours. They are a good taste, but they stay close to town.
A riding holiday is different: you move from village to village and the horses carry you the whole way. On our eight-day trip there are six days in the saddle, with three to six hours of riding a day, a picnic lunch on the trail and a different bed most nights. The horses stay with the group, and caring for them at the end of the day is part of the rhythm.
Do you need riding experience?
Yes: the trip is for riders with at least basic experience, who already feel at ease in the saddle. Some stretches are flat and ideal for a gallop. If you have never ridden, a short ride first is the better start.
On our trip the minimum age is 12 and the maximum rider weight is 95 kg. Riding equipment is provided on site.
When to go
Our trip runs from April to November, with small changes to the route when the weather asks for it. Summer brings the warmest water for swimming in the Vjosa and the longest days, but also the most heat in the valleys. Spring and autumn are cooler in the saddle. The thermal springs are warm in every season.
Thermal springs on the way
Two sets of hot springs make this part of Albania unusual. Near Përmet, the Benja springs sit at the mouth of the Langarica Canyon, where warm, mineral-rich water collects in pools under the canyon walls.
Further south, about 10 km from Leskovik, the Sarandapor springs rise in the Vromoner gorge on the Greek border and fill natural stone pools at around 29–40 °C. Beneath this valley, Czech cave explorers found Lake Neuron, measured in 2024 as the largest known underground thermal lake in the world: about 138 m long, 127 m below the surface. Only cave explorers can reach it; riders bathe in the springs above it.
Where you sleep and what you eat
Nights are spent in village guesthouses, a traditional house, a small-town hotel in Leskovik and the farm itself, in twin or triple rooms. Meals are home cooking: breakfast before the ride, lunch outdoors on the trail, and dinner in the house where you sleep. At Farma Sotira much of it comes from the farm itself, with dishes such as sheep's yogurt, cabbage with nettles and oven-roasted chicken. Përmet is known for its raki and its gliko fruit preserves; alcoholic drinks are not included in the price.
What to pack
Pack riding or hiking shoes with a small heel and a good grip (not trainers or sandals), long riding trousers or leggings, riding gloves and a long-sleeved shirt. Add a warm layer and a waterproof jacket for the mountains, swimwear for the river and the springs, sun cream, a hat, a small torch and a water bottle.
Our eight-day riding tour
Our 8-day horseback riding tour in southern Albania starts and ends at Farma Sotira and links Delvinë, the Benja springs and the Langarica Canyon, Petran and Përmet, the Vjosa at Çarshovë, the Sarandapor springs and Leskovik. It is a private tour for your own group, from 3 riders, at €1,490 per person, with transfers from Tirana, Tirana Airport, Durrës or Shkodër, seven nights, all meals, soft drinks, a guide and the riding equipment included.
