Miyak Tribe Trail
27 October 2024
Miyak Tribe Trail
20 October 2024
Deborah who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. More than just a riding holiday | The riding was great on forward going horses with lots of fast canters (from day 3 onwards), day 1 and 2 are more reserved with is less cantering which I hadnt realised.
Miyak Tribe Trail
20 October 2024
who has been on In The Saddle rides. Unique | Excellent riding experience, I stayed for two Miyak trail rides one after the other just because I enjoyed it so much, overall approx 400km. Scenery, food, horses, people all fantastic.
[ITS replies: Many thanks for your lovely feedback on the Miyak Tribe Trail. We are really pleased that you enjoyed your return visit].
Miyak Tribe Trail
20 October 2024
Bregje who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. PERFECT | I’ve been on many, many trails…….but these horses were fantastic! Loved my one, but they were all great! All very fast walking pace, easy to control, forward, gentle, comfortable. Unique!
Miyak Tribe Trail - Saturday Arrival
21 September 2024
AL who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Excellent | I thoroughly enjoyed my riding adventure in Macedonia, despite the colder and wetter weather than expected. Vasko and his team were incredibly helpful, making every effort to ensure we had a fantastic week despite the challenges.
The horses were wonderful, and Laura and Vasko did an excellent job matching us to the right mounts based on our preferences and needs. What truly set this ride apart from others I’ve experienced was the pride and passion Vasko and his team have for their work. They were not only informative but also fun, making the learning about Macedonia and the Miyak Tribe incredibly engaging.
Vasko, in particular, is the heart of this operation. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more enthusiastic, informative, and fun riding host. I loved how he trusted us to ride in open order at various paces whenever the terrain allowed.
That said, to fully enjoy this experience, it’s essential to be physically fit and an experienced rider. Some sections require walking over rocky terrain for at least 15 minutes, which can be quite challenging, especially considering the altitude.
Be sure to come with a sense of adventure. Riding in the dark to catch the sunrise was a unique and thrilling experience that added an unforgettable touch to our journey.
[Abbie from ITS replies: Many thanks for your comprehensive feedback. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your adventure in North Macedonia].
Miyak Tribe Trail - Saturday Arrival
21 September 2024
Pam who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. Fascinating but foggy! | Very mountainous, steep ups and downs. Fast cantering (running as Vasko liked to call it, to include some galloping) including races when terrain allowed. Fit and sure footed horses - forward going, responsive and sensible - knew their job well. Well cared for by the team.
[Abbie from ITS replies: Many thanks for taking the time to send us your feedback. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your adventure in North Macedonia].
Miyak Tribe Trail
8 September 2024
Belinda who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Magical Miyak. So good I did it twice: and I’m not done. Surefooted and fast. Mountain goat meet Maserati. | The horses are incredible. Vasko’s leadership and logistics are impeccable. I would follow him and his Team to the edge of the world. A friendly, fun, professional and inspiring Team. Chef, support drivers, horse handlers, support guides give their all to ensure the ride and experience of a lifetime. Has to be experienced to be believed. Pure magic.
Miyak Tribe Trail
8 September 2024
Brigitte (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Enjoyable holiday with excellent horses, tour guide and introduction into miyak culture | Excellent
Miyak Tribe Trail
18 August 2024
Dru who has been on 9 In The Saddle rides. A fantastic holiday in the Northern Macedonian Mountains | The horses were very well looked after and were fun to ride at all speeds. My horse was sure-footed over often rocky terrain and easy to mount and dis-mount from. The guides were very competent and helpful and it was a luxury not having to tack up or groom the horses yourself. The western-style saddles were very comfortable over long distances and the saddle bags were easy to use and didn't slide around when cantering. The long canters across the grassy plains were great fun and we mostly didn't have to stay in a line, meaning we had the freedom to go at our own pace and not worry about overtaking the guide! The whole trip was very well organised.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your lovely feedback, it's great to hear how much you enjoyed the riding.]
Miyak Tribe Trail
18 August 2024
Rose (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) The best riding holiday I have been on | Exhilarating riding on fit, forward going horses. Vasko took the time to listen to our previous experience and what kind of horses we enjoy riding and perfectly matched us all with our horses. [Caron from In the Saddle replies: Thank you for your lovely feedback, it is great to hear that you were so well matched with your horse.]
Miyak Tribe Trail
28 July 2024
Carolina (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) It's a life changing experience! | Excellent
Miyak Tribe Trail
28 July 2024
Leah (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Miyak Tribe Trail | Excellent
Miyak Tribe Trail
28 July 2024
Anne-Marie who has been on 30 In The Saddle rides. Great fun | Riders were well matched with horses following an in-depth discussion and a very short ridden assessment in the paddock. My horse, Jafar, was very controllable but also had a great turn of speed that meant that as I grew in confidence with him I was happily able to go flat out and even win a race! He was very sure footed and incredibly comfortable which was good as these are long days. Safety was also prioritised, air jackets were available to those who wanted them and I took advantage of this, and a couple of day trippers who were supposed to join in an afternoon ride were told that their riding was not of sufficient standard to do this.The scenery is beautiful and we were blessed with great riding weather, with only a couple of very brief showers.
[Olwen from In The Saddle replies - we are so glad you enjoyed this great riding adventure.]
Miyak Tribe Trail
30 June 2024
Stephanie (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Amazing and memorable! | Macedonia is the most beautiful place I have ever visited. Being able to ride through the amazing national park was an utter treat.
Amazing horses, super sure footed, beautifully forward going.
Very good guiding and safety
Warm and welcoming team. Nothing was too much trouble. The team were super in creating a cohesive group spirit.
Miyak Tribe Trail
16 June 2024
Nina who has been on 12 In The Saddle rides. Incredible scenery and fast riding | The riding was very fast and intense. The scenery was incredible and jaw dropping, and so even though I struggled physically at times with all the uphill and downhill (there I a lot of it) and the long hours is the saddle, it was absolutely worth it. The food at every meal was superb and you eat a lot here. The team look after our needs perfectly and are all wonderful people.
The ceremony at the end is the icing on the cake and it was one of my favourite parts of the trip. Vasko had so many wonderful surprises for us up his sleeve.
It is worth mentioning that there is a lot of racing on this trip at full gallop and on uneven ground and long grass in some places, with Grand National type starts. I did love the racing and the speed but I wasn't happy to gallop downhill. ITS 'the riding' description says 'to avoid racing the canters will be in single file'. This is only true in some spots such as the forests, but out in the open you are encouraged to race and overtake. If you love lots of fast riding and racing and can cope with uneven ground then this trip is for you (if not, you may struggle). Its such an adventure and the incredible scenery plus the warm hospitality will blow you away.
[In The Saddle - We are so pleased that you enjoyed visiting this incredible country. It is the case that the riding is fast in places and that, where the terrain permits, riders are encouraged to spread out and take their own line. Some of the horses do know where these fast sections are and of course can get a bit excited about the forthcoming gallop].
Miyak Tribe Trail
2 June 2024
Jessica (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Unforgettable adventure | Excellent riding on forward going and sure footed horses who seemed to have enjoyed the ride too. Lots of fast canters in magnificent landscape. The horses were very well looked after by Vasko and his amazing team. Long days in the saddle and every minute a single pleasure.
Miyak Tribe Trail
2 June 2024
Bree (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) An epic week of riding in a stunning national park setting | Vasko and team provided super fit, well-educated horses who knew their job. The horses were very well cared for and extremely sure-footed on the rocky mountain terrain. Much of the tack was brand new this year (saddles, bridles and saddle bags) and the team made sure to stop and check several times a day for any rubbing or chafing. The riding scenery was beautiful and varied, from forests to meadows, lakesides to mountains. I would have appreciated more pace in the first two days, however toward the end of the week we had many more canters. I absolutely loved the 'rock and roll' races and only wish they were longer!
Miyak Tribe Trail
22 October 2023
Janet who has been on 10 In The Saddle rides. Trip of a lifetime | This riding holiday certainly exceeded my expectations and what a trip!! Not for the faint hearted, we rode through mountains and forests and there were long hours in the saddle. The countryside beautiful and unspoilt. We learnt all about the countryside, history and the people who live in this amazing part of North Macedonia. Huge thanks to Vasco and his team! Hope to see you all again soon.
Miyak Tribe Trail
8 October 2023
Liz who has been on 13 In The Saddle rides. Thrilling, immersive trail ride | This ride is for those who enjoy long hours in the saddle, riding at a variety of paces and a good gallop. The horses are wonderfully suited to the terrain and a pleasure to ride, being sure-footed, easy going and knowing their job.
[Becky from In The Saddle repiles: Thank you so much for your feedback and we are really pleased you enjoyed your holiday.]
Miyak Tribe Trail
17 September 2023
Belinda who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Magical Miyak Trail | Exhilarating, beyond any expectations I could have possibly have held.
Miyak Tribe Trail
17 September 2023
Lise who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Excellent | Everything about horses and riding was so nice.
Vasco had a lot of experience in matching horse and rider, so the experience was that everyone in the was satisfied and thought they had got the right horse.
It was exciting to ride in the beautiful mountains. Very fun and technical climbing combined with fast canters.
Miyak Tribe Trail
17 September 2023
Karin (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) A magnificent trail | Excellent
Miyak Tribe Trail
3 September 2023
Linnea who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Excellent | Fantastic ride. Well-behaved horses.
Miyak Tribe Trail
30 July 2023
Ruth (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) A memorable wilderness adventure! | The guides put great effort into matching each of us with the right horse which was great as the horse I had was perfect for me. Some more cantering on day 1 and 2 would have been nice but generally the riding was very interesting and exciting. Lots of incredible gallops through mountain pastures. The horses seemed happy and were eager to please.
Miyak Tribe Trail
30 July 2023
Davina who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Phenomenal! | What an incredible week. The trip is organised with absolute precision and the Macedonian mountains are truly breathtaking. It is definitely full on with about 9 hours a day in the saddle and sometimes quite fast paced(which is great fun). The horses are amazingly looked after and they really do make a great effort to match you with the right one for you. Vasko and his team are great and they keep a few little surprises up their sleeves too. I had a fantastic time and would definitely recommend this trip to anyone!
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your email and we are so pleased you had a wonderful trip.]
Miyak Tribe Trail
9 July 2023
Esther who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Most amazing riding experience | This is not an easy ride with long hours in the saddle, demanding terrain and at times unpredictable weather. But it is truly worth it. There are very few opportunities out there to really let go, to gallop across plains, up mountains on safe, exciting, sure footed horses. It was an exhilarating experience.
Miyak Tribe Trail
25 June 2023
Charles-Emmanuel who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Amazing trip, very well organized | Very nice horses,
Guides taking good care of the horses
Miyak Tribe Trail
25 June 2023
Lesley who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Everything about the ride was brilliant | The riding was superb - Vasco and his Dutch helper for the season, Wesley, matched me to a lovely horse and I had a fantastic time.
The horses were all so sure-footed and so well behaved, in all paces, which made each ride a real pleasure. There was also a lot of time spent riding.
Miyak Tribe Trail
25 June 2023
Mary who has been on 11 In The Saddle rides. Amazing Ride and Holiday | This amazing holiday in North Macedonia was fun, fast and unique. The mountain ponies are sure footed with great personalities and the landscapes, terrain and a good group made for a one of a kind experience. Our guide delved into the history and Miyak people of Macedonia on the trail with great enthusiasm and also made sure that all aspects of the trail were safe and very enjoyable.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback, we are so pleased that you enjoyed the ride.]
Miyak Tribe Trail
25 June 2023
Imogen (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Brilliant & intense | Riding was fast & intense & exceeded expectations. Matched w a lovely, comfortable elderly pony who didn’t have a gallop gear so missed out on the rush of the races so may have undersold my riding capabilities (1:20m show jumper riding 2 horses a day) but still really loved the whole holiday. Riding in western saddles was SO comfortable I’ll never do an English saddle ride again.
Miyak Tribe Trail
25 June 2023
Joanna who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. More than fantastic! | The riding is fast and varied. Saddle savers are to be recommended as there are long hours in the saddle and the bottom needed them! Walking/riding boots were a good shout as the walking times needed good soles. The horses were very good yet fast and when we got caught in a Biblical hail thunderstorm, none of them misbehaved despite the hail being really quite painful!
The whole experience exceeded expectations.
Miyak Tribe Trail
11 June 2023
Samantha (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) It was the best riding I’ve ever done. Lots more hiking on foot whilst leading the horse than I expected but it added to the variety!
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your holiday]
Katie (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Exceeded all expectations | Excellent