JOURNEY
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BY SARAH
Try horse riding in Montenegro and explore hidden beauty and secret watering holes.
Have you ever dreamed of swaying gently with the easy walk of a horse while you marvel at majestic mountains rising up either side of you?
How about listening to nothing but birdsong and the muted padding of horse hooves along a mossy path through lush forest?
Or the exhilaration of cantering across a field of wild flowers?
What about splashing with your horse in a hidden freshwater spring?
Or galloping along a sandy beach with the ocean breeze in your hair?
It sounds like a fairytale right? But with horse riding in Montenegro, the fairytale comes to life!
This is an absolutely unique way to see some of the most spectacular – and secret! – destinations in Montenegro. When you explore on horseback you’ll be able to:
This is the real Montenegro that most tourists don't get to see.
And the great thing is, you don’t need to be an expert rider
to experience it. Even if you’ve never ridden a horse before, you can explore
Montenegro’s hidden treasures on horseback. This activity is great even if
you’ll be in a group and some won’t be taking part. There are plenty of trails
and paths through the mountains to explore on foot and you can get maps of the local tracks at the ranch.
If you’ve never ridden before, I encourage you to give it a try. There’s an indescribable feeling of being one with nature when you’re mounted on a horse, marveling at stunning natural beauty. You and your horse become one as you explore along forest and mountain trails together. There’s no car window or exhaust fumes to come between you and the wild nature you came to experience. And if you’re worried about actually learning to guide a horse, it’s surprisingly easy. Horses tend to follow each other so your horse will just happily walk behind your ride leader – that is unless he spots a tasty patch of grass he really wants to eat!
There’s one specialist company that offers horse riding in Montenegro. Mountain Riders has a full selection of trail rides that are suitable for everyone, from beginners to experienced riders. Their ranch is just 15 minutes from Podgorica and they offer riding tours in three locations around Montenegro. If you’re interested in doing a riding tour in Montenegro, you can see the tour options in detail below.
What You Should Know Before Booking
Mountain Riders’ ranch is in Komani, just 15 minutes from Podgorica. It’s a beautiful area full of rolling hills and lush vegetation that you can explore on horseback. This the best place to start if you’re a beginner or you’ve never been horse riding before.
Each tour is led by a licensed, English-speaking instructor, who’ll take you through some of the most beautiful scenery in the area. Each tour also includes rest and photo stops and can be tailored to your skill and experience.
There are three tour options:
Riding level guide:
Beginner to experienced riders
This is a two hour tour that will take you on an easy and panoramic ride along the meandering paths of the Komani Highlands. It’s perfect for beginners and those looking for a scenic and unique experience.
The tour starts with an introduction to the horses and horse riding. You can get to know your horse while riding around the small arena for about 15 minutes, or until you feel comfortable.
Then you’ll pack water and apples (for your trusty steed!) and follow the trail into the hills. The relaxing route meanders past traditional stone houses until you reach a lookout with stunning views over Sitnica River Valley.
After admiring the view, it’s time for a short refreshment break and some photos before you take another relaxing ride back to the ranch. Along the way you’ll stop at a local church - Sveti Kuzma and Damjan - and on clear days you’ll get views all the way to Albania.
Start point: Oraovica, Komani
Start time: Flexible
Duration: 2 hours
Price: €50 per person and €15 per additional hour. Tours are available for
single riders at a 30% supplement
Group sizes: Minimum 2, maximum 6. If you’re
a single, you can also use the contact form below to find out if you can join
any other groups
Age restrictions: 18 years and older. Riders aged 16-18 can ride with written
parental consent. Riders aged 12-15 can ride with parental consent, proof of
diploma from a riding school and must be accompanied on the tour by a parent
Intermediate and experienced riders
This is a three hour tour that follows the paths through the hills of Komani, with a short rest for riders and horses at the half way point. It’s for intermediate riders, but you can also do it if you’re a beginner rider who has good balance and fitness in other equilibrium and co-ordination sports like snowboarding, martial arts or pilates.
The tour starts with an introduction to the horses. You can then get to know your horse while riding around the small arena for about 15 minutes, or until you feel comfortable. Then, you can test your skills or learn new ones on the on-site trail before heading off on the mountain trail.
The relaxing route meanders past traditional stone houses until you reach a lookout with stunning views over Sitnica River Valley. If you’re a confident rider, you’ll be able to take your horse for a trot on the country roads.
After admiring the view, it’s time for a short refreshment break and to take some photos before you climb higher up the mountain and visit the 3-house hamlet of Podi. From Podi, you take a higher, more challenging path back to the ranch. Along the way you’ll stop at a local church - Sveti Kuzma and Damjan - and on clear days you’ll get views all the way to Albania.
Start point: Oraovica, Komani
Start time: Flexible
Duration: 3 hours
Price: €65 per person. Tours are available for single riders at a 30%
supplement
Group sizes: Minimum 2, maximum 6. If you’re a single, you can also use the
contact form below to find out if you can join any other groups
Age restrictions: 18 years and older. Riders aged 16-18 can ride with written
parental consent. Riders aged 12-15 can ride with parental consent, proof of
diploma from a riding school and must be accompanied on the tour by a parent
Intermediate to experienced riders
If you love horse riding and nature you'll love this week-long trek through the Komani highlands. Here you'll trek over the rolling hills which make up traditional summer pastures for local shepherds. The trail also goes through forests and rivers.
The accommodation on the trail is rustic and traditional. You'll even stay in katuns, the traditional shepherds' bungalows in Montenegro. The food is all traditional and locally grown and you might even be treated to some traditional gusle music around the fire.
Would you love to ride along a sandy beach in Ulcinj or are you planning a special event? Mountain Riders are happy to tailor a ride just for you.
They can transport their horses to suitable locations and help you plan a bespoke excursion you’ll never forget.
Price: Day rentals (5-6 hours riding time) cost €150 per horse, half day rentals (3 hours riding time) cost €80 per horse. There’s also a horse transport fee which depends on the location, you’ll get a quote with your enquiry.
Kolašin is a small mountain town near Biogradska Gora National Park, one of Montenegro's most popular national parks. Kolašin is the best place to stay if you want to visit the national park, you'll find lots of nice accommodation and traditional restaurants there (see my page about Kolašin for some really good places to eat).
Most visitors to Biogradska Gora National Park just visit Lake Biograd, but if you venture into the park, which you can only do by hiking, biking, on horseback or on a jeep safari, you'll see the rolling hills and katuns (shepherds huts) inside the park. There are two horse treks you can do in Biogradska Gora:
Click on a picture to enlarge
Because
Montenegro’s climate is highly variable, especially in alpine regions, it’s
possible that your route or location may have to be changed to account for
flood, snowfall etc. In this case Mountain Riders will arrange an alternative
route or location for your tour that will still give you an unforgettable
experience, while making sure both you and the horses are safe. If the location
of your tour needs to be changed, you’ll be offered an alternative or you can cancel or reschedule.
The minimum age for horse riding with Mountain Riders is 16. If anyone in your group is under 18, they must have a parent present and written parental consent. Riders aged 12-15 are accepted on a case by case basis for the Komani or half-day rides if they have a horse-riding school certification and are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. You’ll need to confirm this when you make your booking.
There is a maximum weight limit of 90kg. The horses can’t safely carry any riders
over 90kg on the steep trails.
Horse riding is a challenging physical activity which requires a moderate level of fitness, balance and co-ordination. You must be physically able to mount and control a horse and have no pre-existing injuries or health conditions that could make it dangerous for you to ride. If you’re not sure, please check with your doctor before making a booking.
If you'd like to book horse riding in Montenegro, you can enquire to book any of the tours above by filling in the form underneath the calendar below. The calendar shows up to date availability and tours.