Horseback riding on the Greek islands

By: Virginia Imberti Posted: 18/05/2021

Greece represents the ancient world and the origin of our modern civilization. For many years it has been, and is a popular and memorable horseback riding vacation destination.

Discover the Greek isles of Crete and Kefalonia on horseback. Fabulous beaches, beautiful landscapes and good food on equestrian routes in the Mediterranean.

Riding some of the best horse breeds in the whole world along its charming trails, you will have a great horse riding holiday, very different from what you have seen before.

Every equestrian tourism route and trail in Greece takes you into the landscapes of Greek mythology, whether it be on the coasts of Crete, in the ancient Olive groves or the trails of its rugged mountains.

Who would turn down a horseback adventure in such a paradise?

In the land of ancient mythology, the gods of Mount Olympus, classic scholars and philosophers like Plato, Socrates and Aristotle, history lovers will marvel at the many things they can find if they visit this country.

Greece is also home to the centaur, the legendary creature that was half man and half horse.

Rich in historical monuments and presents the opportunity to visit Athens, the Acropolis, the Parthenon, places of great importance.

Far from the continent, its beautiful islands are an invitation to explore Santorini, Crete and Mykonos, among others, on horseback.

Crete is the largest of all the Greek islands. It’s filled with wonderful trails and it offers unequalled panoramic views which, together with the Greek sea, the sunshine and the moonlight, give birth to a dream ride.

On the west coast of the island, you have many beach ride opportunities. This is the land of Zorba “the Greek “, in the very popular southern area of Trek.

The geography of Crete is varied and beautiful at the same time, with fertile coastal plains and small villages nestled in its high mountains, covered with snow until the springtime.

Among the equestrian tourism options you have in Greece, there are two that we will now present so as to give you an overall idea of what you can expect if you decide to spend your next horseback riding vacations on the isles of Crete or Kefalonia.

Odysseia Stables

Odysseia Stables is situated in the heartland of Crete Island, which is almost a whole different country due to its particular idiosyncrasy. The Cretan people pride themselves on their hospitality. In fact, they are considered the most hospitable people in Greece.

Who are they?

Sabine Ruijters, of Dutch origin, and Manolis Fragkakis, of Greek origin, are the owners of Odysseia Stables. Ever since 1997, they have welcomed guests for horse riding holidays or day horse rides in Crete.

• Ever since 1997, they have welcomed guests for horse riding holidays or day horse rides in Crete.
• In 2004 they built a complete new equestrian centre with all the necessary facilities for this activity on a beautiful local estate. In 2006 and on the same site, they built the Country Hotel Velani, where you can stay if you visit them.
• Their horse riding holidays are sold through the largest horse riding agencies around the world, in more than 15 countries.
• They are a certified stable for training students of the equestrian education in the Netherlands and they are also an ISO 9001:2008 certified stable with high standardisation for safety and stable management.
• They offer several horseback routes and we have chosen one of them as an example of their services.

Guided Lassithi Trek

This adventurous guided horseback trek of 200 km is only suitable for the experienced horse riders.

During the route, you travel on horseback for a week through the Dikti Mountain Range, the Cretan south coast and the Greek countryside. This is an 8 day program and every day has a different terrain to ride.

You can go for a fast canter over the Lassithi high plateau, and climb up to 1,800 meters.

You sleep directly next to the Mediterranean Sea, where you can eat fresh fish and even swim with the horses.

On your way back, you ride through almost forgotten trails of the Greek countryside, discovering its age-old villages, olive groves and wine yards.

During the Guided Lassithi Trek, you stay in Country Hotel Velani and family hotels along the way, of different categories, but all with private bathroom.

The trek is on a full-board basis including breakfast, lunch and dinner. You are always accompanied with an experienced guide giving you assistance with the horses and information on the Greek culture and area.

On average you spend 6 hours in the saddle and luggage is transported every day by their efficient logistic service.

The guided trek is a circular ride. You start and end in Country Hotel Velani & Odysseia Stables.

The minimum of participants is 2 riders and the maximum is 10. Riders travelling alone can choose to share a room with another participant of the same gender or they can stay in a single room at an extra charge.

Riding lessons with Odysseia Stables

You can learn or improve your riding abilities with lessons on horse riding basics, dressage or show jumping. The Odysseia horse riding Club in Crete organizes horse riding lessons for all levels: from riders of novice to experienced levels, but there are also clinics for riders mounting a horse for the very first time.

They have weekly group lessons for riders living in Crete or lessons for riders staying on Crete for a holiday.

All horse riding lessons are given by a certified and highly experienced instructor.

The training by Odysseia Stables is based on the philosophy of the famous Greek General ‘Xenophon’, who lived 400 years before Christ.

Xenophon gave us the foundations for the equitation that grew into nowadays Classical riding. His philosophy of intuition, insight into the world of the horse and kind treatment to this noble animal. Or better explained through his own words:

“Anything forced and misunderstood can never be beautiful”.

Based on that, the horse will show its natural movement with pleasure by working with the trainer in hand as well as under the saddle.

With feeling, patience and respect, they train the physical development of the horse so he is able to carry the rider in balance and relaxed.

Their goal is to keep horses healthy during their working life and to give riders the feeling of becoming one with their horse.

A charming equestrian hotel

The Country Hotel Velani and the Odysseia stables are located on the same estate, offering a relaxing stay in nature with beautiful horse riding on endless, solitary trails.

The equestrian hotel is located on a unique hill side location, near the village of Avdou in Crete, Greece, an olive production region.

The equestrian hotel has 12 lovely rooms with private garden or veranda; a large infinity swimming pool; a restaurant serving homemade cooking with fresh, local produce; space, tranquillity and beautiful nature; flowers, and incredible fruit and vegetable gardens.

For more detailed information about their equestrian tourism offer on the gorgeous island of Crete, please go to https://www.horseriding.gr/

Kefalonia Horse Riding Tours

Located in the beautiful island of Kefalonia, this interesting option is worth considering if you visit Greece.

Cornelia’s horses

She has 13 beautiful horses waiting for you to explore the beautiful ancient island on horseback. In the herd, there are mainly Haflingers that came from Bavaria and northern Italy, and their breed are very well known to be kind, calm, good weight carriers and sure footed in the mountains. She also has a few Hanoverians and Arabians.

She has trained all her horses herself and many have been bred on the Island by herself also. As well as being good trekking horses they have also been trained to a medium level of dressage, which you can enjoy in private or group lessons in her lovely 20x40 m open arena with the best mountain views. The team at the stables and on the routes can speak English, German, and Greek.

The horses all live in big open paddocks with sheltered barns and trees to keep them cool in the summer.

What do they offer riders?

Their offer is varied. For occasional visitors to the island, they have some rides that range from 2 hours to 8 hours per day.

For equestrian tourism lovers, they offer 2 – 8 day trips.

All their horseback treks can accommodate up to 11 people, because they prioritize the quality of the service they provide over the quantity of trips they sell.

We will now describe two of their programs in order to give you an overview of their rides.

Bavarian horse riding stables in Sami Kefaloniaa

This is a 2 day program and it is available only in April, May, September & October. It includes food and night’s accommodation, and it is developed as follows.

After having breakfast in the morning, you start with a ride down to the beach where you go swimming with the horses – a great experience.

After that, you pass Melissani Cave where you have the option to enjoy an amazing view of the island. Next, you ride to two old villages that have been ruined by an earthquake 1953 (one of the locations from the movie “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”) where you will have a picnic. From there, you continue high up in the mountains (up to 1,000 metres above sea level) and pass an old cork-oak forest where there is a great panoramic view over the country- and seaside to the mainland and to the neighbouring islands.

The trails will take you, at the end of the day, to a beautiful secret place in the middle of the forest: a little house with a fireplace inside and a barbecue. You spend the evening together with Greek house wine and a meal which is prepared for everybody including vegetarians. You sleep there in bunk beds.

You spend the evening together with Greek house wine and a meal which is prepared for everybody including vegetarians. You sleep there in bunk beds.

In the next morning, after having breakfast, you will ride back home where you pass a village with a 500 year old farm and visit an old family church made of cypress wood.

Then, you also have the possibility to do a sightseeing tour around an old olive mill where you have the chance to taste the Greek schnapps Zypero.

At lunchtime, there will be a Greek picnic waiting for you. From there, you continue to the Drogarati Cave.

The last part of your ride brings you to a beautiful forest with four old water mills and a 600 year old bridge in a canyon. From there, you head back home to the stable.

A 6 days horseback tour

• Day 1: You ride through an old donkey trail to an old village where there is a wine tasting. You visit another village ruined by the 1953 earthquake and you enjoy the beautiful view over Ithaca and Lefkas.
• Day 2: You climb up in the mountains until 1,000 metres above sea level. Land of hundred-year-old olive trees with breathtaking views over the  islands of Ithaca and Lefkas, and the bay of Sami.
• Day 3: You ride in the countryside and, again, through mountain trails to an old village on horseback. A place that seems to be frozen in time. Again, you have a great view over the valley and the other side of Kefalonia.
• Day 4: This ride will bring you to 4 old villages – their remains, actually, since they were destroyed by the Great Earthquake and today, people live in a few houses that are still standing. You will ride through a Cyprus tree forest to some old historic buildings and you will get an idea of how life was around here over 300 years ago.
• Day 5: The horseback route takes you to the ruins of Agia Fanentes monastery, which dates back to the 9th century. New fantastic views over Lefkas and Ithaca will be waiting for you.
• Day 6: The last moments of your program. You ride up to the mountain and then down to the sea for a break. You can go for a gallop on the beach. After that, you go back to the stable through a big olive plantation in the valley. You continue on the old donkey trail along a riverbed and you find some beautiful old historic buildings and a 17th century bridge.

The program ends when you arrive at Kefalonia Horse Riding Tours’ stable, which was your starting point.

Learn more about this outfitter, its charming hostess, its routes and horses, on https://www.kephalonia.com/

/ Photos: www.horseriding.gr and www.kephalonia.com /

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