Dionysus Trail - North Macedonia

Emma who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. North Macedonia | Both horses I got to ride were fantastic, albeit very different. First I got Erdo, a small (~135 cm) Balkan mountain horse, and then Jafar, a somewhat larger (~165 cm) more sporty type. They were both well-trained and responsive and fantastic fit.

The riding itself was demanding, and the guide Vasko could well say that now we should ride our horses little more, and not just let our horses follow each other's tails. In addition, the route included both a lot of riding uphill, and just as much downhill, which was a bit hard on my knees.

You ride in western saddles, and that requires a slightly different riding style than I'm used to.

However, the route is beautiful, the landscape is very varied, the biodiversity is high and there is the opportunity for some fantastic, long canters on horses that always felt in control (and it makes you completely forgetting about your sore knees).

Do you have any comments about the accommodation and food?

Overall the accommodation was really good, we only slept one night in slightly more basic accommodation, and this will probably change soon as they are building some guesthouses.

The food and wine have been absolutely fantastic, and there has been plenty of everything. Our chef, George, provided delicious lunches along the route, and the immense hospitality from the various wineries we visited was complimented by good, home-cooked food made from seasonal ingredients.

This way we also got an introduction to the local culture, in addition to all the fantastic horse riding.

How could we improve the quality of pre-holiday information that we send?

I felt well-informed, and it's safe to know that you can always write an email if something is unclear.

Do you have any other feedback for us?

It was a dream vacation, and several of my friends have already asked if I could go with them next year - and I don't know if I can say no 😉