Amazing Horse Riding Experience at Vjosa National Park in Permet

The best part of this outing is the way a horse carries you into corners of southern Albania that are hard to reach on foot or by car. You follow old village routes beside the Lengarica Canyon, passing hills, springs, ruins and stone-built settlements around Permet.

I like the small group, capped at seven riders, and I like the care given to the horses. The animals are described as healthy, friendly and free to roam when they are not working. The main consideration is comfort: a four-hour ride over mountain trails can leave you sore, and the route may include faster riding for those ready to trot or canter.

Quick reasons to consider this ride

• Old trails beside Lengarica Canyon: Follow a route once used to connect villages in the area.
• Saint Maria Church of Leuse: Stop at one of the region’s notable old churches, known for its painted interior.
• Friendly instruction for beginners: Avenira and Avi provide guidance for first-time riders as well as experienced horsemen and women.
• A real break in the countryside: Fruit, cookies, water, wine or soft drinks are included during the outing.
• A small, personal group: The advertised maximum is seven riders, though some details describe the cap as ten, so confirm the final group size when booking.
• Thermal baths nearby: After riding, you can continue toward Benja, about 20 minutes from Permet, to relax in the hot pools and explore the canyon.

Riding into Permet’s mountain country

This is not a fenced-in pony ride around a resort. Funky Adventures takes you out into the countryside around Permet, operating on both sides of the Vjosa River. The Vjosa is known as Europe’s last wild river, and the surrounding area has a strong rural character, with stone houses, cobbled lanes, cold-water springs and old churches.

The ride generally lasts about four hours. Your exact route is chosen according to the riding ability of the group. That matters. A beginner group can receive a gentler outing, while confident riders may get more chances to move at a faster pace.

The favorite route follows the Lengarica Canyon. This old trail once connected several villages, so the ride is not only about scenery. You are moving through a route that served everyday village life long before it became a recreation trail. Along the way, you may pass sheep and goats, old ruins, hills, valleys and springs.

For me, this is the experience’s strongest quality. A car can get you close to the famous sights, but a horse gives you a slower view of the countryside. You have time to notice stonework, grazing animals and the changing shape of the canyon instead of simply stopping for a photograph and moving on.

The horses and the riding instruction

You do not need to be an expert rider. The experience is designed for both beginners and people who already ride. Guides give instructions and help you gain confidence before the group heads into the hills.

The horses receive unusually strong praise in the information provided for this outing. They are described as well behaved, healthy and well cared for. The animals are also allowed to roam the countryside when they are not working, a detail that will matter to anyone concerned about responsible riding.

Avenira and Avi are named as guides associated with the experience. Their role is especially important for first-time riders. Several riders describe receiving clear instructions and feeling comfortable enough to move from basic riding to trotting or cantering. That does not mean every participant will canter. The pace depends on your ability, confidence, and the group route selected that day.

You should still treat this as a physical activity. Sitting on a horse for four hours, especially on uneven mountain trails, can be tiring. One account praises the galloping but also describes the outing as painful, a useful warning for anyone unused to the saddle. Wear practical clothes and expect dust, sun and movement. A safety riding cap is included.

Saint Maria Church of Leuse

The listed itinerary includes Saint Maria Church of Leuse, in the village of Leuse. This is one of the area’s traditional settlements, with stone buildings, cobbled paths and old religious sites.

The church is especially worthwhile for its painted interior. The visit breaks up the riding with a cultural stop, giving you a chance to look beyond the natural scenery. Permet is known for its old villages and churches, so this part of the outing helps connect the ride to the local communities.

Do not expect a long guided museum visit. The experience is built around horseback travel, not a full religious or architectural tour. Still, stopping at Leuse gives the day more variety and makes the route feel connected to the area’s past.

The Lengarica Canyon route

The canyon is the main visual reward of the outing. The trail runs along an area shaped by water, with hills, valleys and springs around it. The route can also include old ruins and open views across the surrounding countryside.

The exact trail changes according to the riding group, so you should not treat every listed feature as a guaranteed stop. The operator chooses the route based on ability and conditions. That flexibility is sensible, especially when the group includes both beginners and confident riders.

The canyon route also gives the ride a clear sense of place. You are not simply riding in a generic rural setting. You are following an old link between villages, crossing ground that has long been used by local people and animals.

A short stop along the way includes fruit, cookies, water, wine or soft drinks. It is a modest picnic rather than a full meal, but it makes a difference during a four-hour ride. The setting under a tree, with views of the hills and canyon, is part of the pleasure.

What the small group changes

The maximum group size is listed as seven riders in the additional information, while the main description refers to groups of no more than ten. Because the two figures differ, ask Funky Adventures to confirm the expected size for your date.

Either way, this is intended to be a small-group outing. That has practical value. The guide can give more attention to a nervous beginner, adjust the pace more easily and keep the group together on narrow trails.

A smaller group also makes the stops feel less rushed. You have a better chance to ask questions, take photographs and enjoy the countryside without a large line of horses moving through the same space.

The trade-off is that the experience depends on the rest of the group. If abilities vary widely, the pace may be adjusted for the least experienced rider. That is the fair and safe approach, but confident riders should not book this expecting a private high-speed ride.

Snacks, transport and the optional lunch

The price includes snacks, fruit, cookies, water, wine or soft drinks. These are served during the route, giving you a chance to rest and refuel. Lunch is not included, but an optional lunch is available for 15 euros per person, including drinks.

An air-conditioned vehicle is also included. The meeting point is Funky Guest House and Adventures at Sheshi Abdyl Frasheri in Permet, and the outing returns there at the end. The location is near public transportation.

The details are useful if you are building a day around the ride. You can start and finish at the same central meeting point, then decide if you want to continue to Benja for the thermal baths. The baths are about 20 minutes from Permet, and you can relax in the pools and explore the canyon after riding.

If you choose the optional lunch, confirm the timing and arrangement when booking. The supplied details identify the price and drinks, but do not give a full menu or exact lunch location.

Is the $96.79 price good value?

At $96.79 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning in Albania. It is fair value if you want a guided horseback outing with transport, equipment, refreshments and access to countryside that is difficult to cover independently.

The price also reflects the small group and the care needed to manage horses on mountain trails. You are paying for more than time in the saddle. The outing includes route planning, instruction, a safety cap, a vehicle, snacks and a guide who must match the trail to the riders.

Value depends on what you want from Permet. If your priority is a quick view from the roadside, you can see parts of the region for less. If you want a hands-on way to reach old paths, hills, springs and the canyon, the cost makes more sense.

The nearby thermal baths can add to the day, but they are not listed as part of the horse-riding price. Treat them as a separate continuation rather than an included feature.

Who should book this experience?

This ride suits first-time riders who want patient instruction and a scenic route rather than a formal riding lesson. The reports of calm, well-cared-for horses are reassuring, and the named guides, Avenira and Avi, are associated with helping riders feel confident.

It also works for experienced riders who want to ride through open countryside. The possibility of trotting or cantering adds excitement, although the guide decides the route and pace according to the group.

Families can consider it too. One family of four included three first-time riders and found the group moved from nervous beginnings to faster riding. Still, every family member should be comfortable with a four-hour outdoor activity and understand that the ride may be tiring.

This is less suitable if you dislike horses, have very limited mobility, or want a short, gentle ride with no uneven ground. The route includes hills and old trails, and one account specifically warns that the experience can be physically painful. Insurance is not included, so check your own coverage before booking.

Timing, weather and cancellation

Confirmation is provided at booking. The experience requires good weather, so poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund. It also requires a minimum number of participants, and if that minimum is not met, you can receive another date or experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the local start time are not accepted for a refund.

Because the ride depends on weather and a minimum group, keep some flexibility in your Permet plans. Booking about a month ahead is common, so reserve early if your schedule is tight, then avoid placing an important connection immediately after the ride.

Should you book the Permet horse ride?

Book it if you want an active half-day that combines horses, village culture and mountain scenery. The route around Lengarica Canyon, the stop at Saint Maria Church of Leuse, the small group and the included countryside picnic give the experience more character than a basic riding loop.

I would be most comfortable recommending it to riders who accept that the day may be dusty, bumpy and tiring. Beginners receive support, but this is still a genuine trail ride, not a short introduction in a flat arena.

The strongest reasons to book are the well-cared-for horses, the friendly instruction from Avenira and Avi, and the chance to add the Benja thermal baths afterward. Ask about the final group size and the route planned for your riding level, then book with a little weather flexibility.

FAQ

Where does the horse-riding experience start?

It starts at Funky Guest House and Adventures, Sheshi Abdyl Frasheri, Permet 6401, Albania.

Where does the activity end?

The experience ends back at the meeting point at Funky Guest House and Adventures.

How long does the horse ride last?

The activity lasts approximately four hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $96.79 per person.

Is the ride suitable for beginners?

Yes. The experience is offered to beginners and experienced riders, with guides providing instructions and support.

How many people can join the ride?

The additional information gives a maximum of seven riders, while the main description refers to a maximum of ten. Confirm the final group size with Funky Adventures before booking.

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. Optional lunch is available for 15 euros per person, including drinks.

Can I visit the thermal baths after riding?

Yes. The thermal baths are about 20 minutes from Permet. You can relax in the pools and explore the canyon after the ride, but this is not listed as part of the included horse-riding price.