Amazing Horse Riding Experience at Vjosa National Park in Permet

The best part of this Përmet horse ride is the setting: you leave town for old paths beside the Lengarica Canyon, passing stone bridges, springs, ruins, and high hills where sheep and goats may be grazing. The route changes to suit your riding ability, so beginners are not simply dropped into a demanding mountain ride.

I like the small group, which is listed as a maximum of seven in the practical details, and I like that the horses are described as healthy, calm, and free to roam when not working. The guides, including Avenir, also called Avi, and Lilly, focus on giving clear instructions. The main caution is that horseback riding can be physically demanding, especially when the route includes steep mountain trails or faster riding.

Key points to know before you ride

• Lengarica Canyon is the favorite route: You follow an old connection between villages, with views of valleys, springs, ruins, and rocky hills.
• The ride suits mixed abilities: The route is chosen according to your experience, and beginners receive help before faster riding is introduced.
• Saint Maria Church of Leuse is the named stop: This old church adds culture and village character to a trip otherwise focused on nature.
• A picnic is part of the outing: Expect fruit, cookies, nuts, water, soft drinks, and wine during a break.
• The price is $96.79 per person: For four hours with transport, a helmet, refreshments, and guides, the cost is reasonable if you want a full outdoor activity rather than a short town ride.
• Thermal baths are nearby but not clearly included: The pools at Benja are about 20 minutes from Përmet and can be added to your day, but confirm the arrangements before booking.

Riding out from Përmet toward the wild Vjosa

Funky Guest House and Adventures begins at Sheshi Abdyl Frasheri in Përmet, a useful central meeting point for an outing in the Vjosa region. The company operates on both sides of the Vjosa River, known as one of Europe’s last wild rivers, and uses the surrounding valleys and hills for its rides.

You spend about four hours on horseback, not counting any separate time you choose to spend at the thermal baths. An air-conditioned vehicle is included, which matters because the riding area is outside town and the exact trail depends on your group’s experience.

This is not a formal riding-school session with a fixed arena. You get a short introduction, safety instructions, and a cap, then head onto rural paths. If you are new to horses, tell the guide clearly. The route can be adjusted so you gain confidence before attempting a faster pace.

The strongest part of the experience is its sense of place. You are not riding around a fenced property or following a short loop built only for tourists. The paths connect villages, springs, churches, and valleys that have long been part of local life.

Why the Lengarica Canyon route matters

The favorite trail follows the Lengarica Canyon, an old route once used to connect several villages. That gives the ride a useful human story. You are not only looking at rock walls and hills, but following a practical road shaped by generations of movement through the region.

The canyon route also offers variety. One section may bring open hill views, while another leads through a narrower valley or past a cold-water spring. You can expect old ruins, stonework, and changing views rather than a single repeated scene.

The scenery is the star, but the horses make the pace possible. Several people who have tried the trip describe the animals as well behaved, strong, friendly, and well cared for. That is important for a horseback outing. A calm horse lets a beginner pay attention to the trail instead of worrying about every step.

The descriptions of the animals roaming freely when they are not working are also reassuring, although you should still ask about the day’s horses and riding conditions if animal welfare is a major concern for you. Good care is part of a good riding experience, not a small extra.

Saint Maria Church of Leuse and Përmet’s old villages

The named stop is Saint Maria Church of Leuse. It is one of the area’s older religious sites and is known for its traditional setting and painted interior. The supplied route information also points to villages such as Benja, Ogdunani, Leuse, and Badlonje, with stone houses, cobblestones, springs, and old churches.

Do not expect a museum-style tour with a long series of formal explanations. The emphasis is on moving through the countryside, with brief stops along the way. If you want detailed religious or architectural information, ask Avenir or Avi directly while you are there.

This is one reason I would choose the ride over a simple scenic drive. From a vehicle, you pass through the area quickly. On horseback, the old paths, village edges, springs, and stone structures become the route itself.

The exact order can change. The guides choose the trail based on ability, so Saint Maria Church of Leuse is the listed stop, but the full route may not be identical on every departure. Treat the itinerary as a framework, not a promise of every possible village and ruin.

A four-hour ride with real breaks

The trip includes a stop for snacks, fruit, cookies, water, and either wine or soft drinks. The food is simple, but it fits the setting. A picnic under a tree, with the horses nearby and the hills around you, gives the ride a pleasant pause.

The included wine is a nice local touch, but use common sense if you plan to ride again afterward. You can choose a soft drink or water instead. Lunch is not included. An optional lunch is listed at 15 euros per person, including drinks.

The pace can include walking, trotting, and possibly cantering. You should not assume that a fast ride is guaranteed, since the route and pace depend on ability, terrain, and the guide’s judgment. Some experienced riders especially enjoyed galloping near the end, while beginners were able to progress from nervousness to trotting and cantering.

That range is a major strength, but it also explains the physical caution. Riding for four hours can leave you sore, and mountain paths are not as forgiving as a level riding ring. One account specifically described the outing as painful despite the beautiful views. Wear practical trousers and shoes, and do not book this as a passive sightseeing trip.

How the guides handle beginners and experienced riders

The experience works best when the group has a clear idea of who is riding. Avenir, also known as Avi in the supplied information, is praised for giving instructions that build confidence. Lilly is also mentioned as helping nervous beginners feel comfortable.

A family group with three first-time riders reportedly moved from fear to faster riding during the outing. That does not mean every beginner will canter, nor should it. It does show that the guides are used to mixed ability and do not treat first-time riders as a problem.

Experienced riders should also find enough variety to stay interested. The route includes hills, valleys, and faster sections when suitable. Still, this is a guided group activity, not a private endurance ride. If you want long periods of independent galloping, confirm that before booking.

The group size is another practical point. The main description says numbers are capped at 10, while the additional booking details state a maximum of seven. Since both figures appear, I would confirm the actual limit with Funky Adventures before paying. Either way, the advertised format is small enough for the guides to keep an eye on individual riders.

What is included in the $96.79 price

At $96.79 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Përmet. But the comparison should be with a half-day guided outdoor activity, not with a short horse photo opportunity.

The price includes approximately four hours of riding, a safety riding cap, an air-conditioned vehicle, snacks, fruit, cookies, water, wine or soft drinks, and guide support. You are also paying for access to rural trails that would be difficult to arrange on your own.

I consider that fair value for someone who wants horseback riding to be the main event. The price is less attractive if you only want to see the canyon or the villages, since walking, driving, or combining a shorter activity with the thermal baths may better suit your plans.

Insurance is not included, so check your own travel coverage. Lunch costs extra at 15 euros per person. Accommodation can also be added through a package, which may suit you if you want to make Përmet a base instead of rushing through on a day trip.

The experience is booked, on average, about 31 days ahead. That suggests you should reserve early during busy periods, especially if you need a specific date or want an accommodation package. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

Adding Benja’s thermal baths after the ride

The thermal baths near Benja are about 20 minutes from Përmet and offer a natural follow-up to the ride. After several hours in the saddle, soaking in warm pools and exploring the nearby canyon can make a satisfying second half of the day.

The baths are described as something you can enjoy after the trip, but they are not included among the listed tour inclusions. Confirm whether transport, admission, and timing are part of your booking or need to be arranged separately.

You should also avoid treating the thermal stop as guaranteed if the riding route runs late or weather changes. It makes sense as an add-on, not as the reason to book the horse ride.

If you have only one day in Përmet, this combination gives you two very different experiences: a moving view of the hills and villages, followed by time in the pools. If you prefer a relaxed schedule, book the ride on its own and leave the baths for another part of your visit.

Weather, fitness, and what to bring

The outing requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That is sensible for a mountain ride, where rain can make old paths slippery and reduce visibility.

Most people can participate, but the activity is not effortless. You should be comfortable sitting on a horse for several hours and handling uneven outdoor routes. Beginners can join, yet nervous riders should be honest about their concerns before the ride begins.

I would bring:

• Long trousers that allow movement
• Closed shoes suitable for outdoor paths
• Sun protection and a light layer
• Water beyond the included drinks if you need more
• A phone or camera with a secure way to carry it

The guides are known for taking photos and videos during the ride, which is useful when you do not want to handle a phone on horseback. Ask about this at the start, especially if you want copies afterward.

The ride may pass sheep herds and goats. That is part of the rural setting, but it also means you should follow the guide’s directions around animals and narrow paths.

Who should book this Përmet horse ride?

I would choose this experience if you want an active way to see southern Albania and like the idea of combining nature with old villages and religious sites. It is especially suitable for a mixed group, since beginners receive guidance while more experienced riders may get faster sections when conditions allow.

It also suits families with older children who can follow instructions, couples looking for a memorable half-day outing, and riders who want a scenic trail rather than an indoor lesson. The small group and personal guidance help make the activity feel less mechanical.

I would think twice if you dislike heights, uneven trails, long periods in the saddle, or uncertain pacing. You should also avoid booking it solely for the thermal baths, since the pools are a separate part of the day and may require confirmation.

The ride is less suited to someone seeking a tightly timed cultural tour. The route changes according to ability, and the countryside is the main attraction. That flexibility is good for riding quality, but it means you should not expect every listed village, church, bridge, and ruin on one four-hour departure.

Booking details and cancellation advice

The meeting point is Funky Guest House and Adventures at Sheshi Abdyl Frasheri, Përmet 6401. The activity returns there, and the location is near public transportation.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. If the minimum number of participants is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Because the information gives both a seven-person and 10-person group limit, confirm the expected group size before booking if privacy matters to you. Also ask about the exact route, the thermal bath add-on, lunch, and the likely pace if your group includes both beginners and regular riders.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want a genuine outdoor experience around Përmet rather than a quick horse ride for photographs. The strongest reasons are the Lengarica Canyon route, the old village paths, the calm horses, and the guides’ ability to work with nervous beginners and more confident riders.

Book with realistic expectations. You may get beautiful views, a picnic, village churches, and a thrilling faster section, but you may also feel sore afterward and the exact trail can change. At $96.79, it is good value for a four-hour guided ride with transport, refreshments, and equipment, especially when the group is small.

If your ideal day includes horses, mountain scenery, old paths, and a possible soak at Benja afterward, this is one of the more rewarding ways to spend time around Përmet. If you want a gentle, flat, predictable outing, choose something less demanding.

FAQ

Where does the horse ride start and finish?

The activity starts and ends at Funky Guest House and Adventures, Sheshi Abdyl Frasheri, Përmet, Albania.

How long does the experience last?

The horse ride lasts approximately four hours.

Is the ride suitable for beginners?

Yes. The route is chosen according to riding experience, and the guides provide instructions and support for beginners as well as more experienced riders.

What is included in the price?

The price includes snacks, fruit, cookies, water, wine or soft drinks, a safety riding cap, and an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is lunch included?

No. An optional lunch is available for 15 euros per person, including drinks.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum number of participants may also result in an alternative date or a full refund.