Horse holidays abroad · Greece
Horse Riding in Greece: Crete, Lesvos and the Islands
Horse riding in Greece is either an hour on the beach from a resort or a riding week of five to eight days on Crete or Lesvos, on Arab and native-type horses through olive groves and mountain tracks.
- Best monthsMar to May, Sep to Oct
- Level
Novice to expert - Typical trip7 or 8 days
- Price guide
Higher
At a glance
What does a riding holiday in Greece involve?
- Best monthsMarch to May and September to October
- Riding level
Beginner weeks to strong intermediate and advanced trails - Hours in the saddle1 to 6 hours a day, depending on the route
- Typical trip7 or 8 days, with 5 to 6 riding days
- Weight limitAbout 90kg in riding clothes; 86kg on the unguided Lassithi trail
- Group size2 to 12 riders, depending on the route
- HorsesArab, Arab crosses, Haflingers and mountain ponies
- TackEnglish saddles, some routes with bitless bridles
- AccommodationCountryside hotels, most with a pool
- Price guide
Higher for this kind of holiday, per person, before flights
The riding
What is horse riding in Greece like?
Horse riding in Greece is either an hour or two from a resort or a riding week of several days. The resort rides, on the beach or in the hills, run on Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Zante, Naxos, Paros and Santorini, and are booked once there. The riding weeks are on Crete and Lesvos, booked before flying.
Crete has most of the multi-day routes, crossing the Lassithi plateau and the hills around Avdou through olive groves and mountain villages. On the steepest ground you get off and lead your horse over the rock.
Lesvos has one riding week, based in Molyvos, through forest, mountain and quiet back roads. In summer it includes a day when you ride your horse bareback into the sea.
Groups run from 2 riders on the unguided Lassithi trail to 12 riders on the gentlest Cretan week. Most of the riding is on stone and dirt tracks, with tarmac on a few village approaches.
Crete
Lesvos
Corfu
Rhodes, Kos, Zante, the Cyclades
When to go
When is the best time to ride in Greece?
The best time to ride in Greece is spring and autumn, from March to May and from September to October. The unguided Lassithi trail runs from mid-March to early June and from mid-September to late November, missing the heat of July and August.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Resort rides run through the summer as well.
The Lesvos sea day is kept for summer, when the water is warm enough for the horses.
Your level
What riding level do you need for Greece?
You need to be secure at walk, trot and canter outdoors for a Greek riding week, and fit enough for several hours in the saddle on consecutive days. The unguided Lassithi trail asks for a stronger rider still, because no guide rides ahead of you to choose the line.
Novice
Intermediate
Experienced
It suits you if
- You ride several times a week and are fit
- You are comfortable on stony or uneven ground
- You want a week built around the riding
It is not for you if
- You are still learning to canter in open country
- You weigh more than 90kg in riding clothes
- You prefer soft, level bridleways to loose stone
The weight limit is about 90kg in riding clothes on most routes, and 86kg on the unguided Lassithi trail. If you are a beginner, you can book a gentler version of the Lesvos week, riding one to two hours a day.
The horses
What are the horses and tack like in Greece?
Most Greek riding horses are Arabs and Arab crosses, with thoroughbred and warmblood crosses on some Cretan strings. Lesvos uses Haflingers, Arabs and local mountain ponies.
Greece has its own native breeds, among them the Pindos pony, the Skyros pony and the Cretan Messara horse, but the horses in a holiday string are almost always Arab types. You ride them forward in an English saddle, sometimes with a bitless bridle, and they are used to stony ground and heat.
Where you stay
Where do you stay on a riding holiday in Greece?
You stay in a countryside hotel on most Greek riding weeks. The Avdou hotel has twelve en-suite rooms and a pool. The Lassithi trail spends two nights at smaller coastal hotels between longer stays at the base stable. On Lesvos, accommodation is a small hotel in summer and self-catering villas in winter.
The cost
How much does a riding holiday in Greece cost?
A week's riding holiday in Greece is a higher price, like most riding weeks, before flights, and the price covers the horse, guide, accommodation and most meals on the route.
Lesvos island week
Price guide
Higher
Avdou hills and groves trail, Crete
Price guide
Higher
One-base riding week, Crete
Price guide
Higher
Rides we can arrange
Which rides do we recommend in Greece?
We know horses, and we know the people who run these rides. Tell us how you ride and where you want to go, and we will put you with the right one.
Lesvos island week
You ride this week from Molyvos on Lesvos, with a summer day when you ride your horse bareback into the sea. Two versions run side by side, one for intermediate to experienced riders and one for beginners.
Avdou hills and groves trail
You ride Crete from the hills around Avdou, over eight days with six in the saddle, through olive groves and mountain villages. You need to canter and gallop confidently in open country before you book.
Lassithi plateau trail, Crete
You cover an unguided trail of about 160km across the Lassithi plateau over six riding days, on Arabs, thoroughbred crosses and Dutch warmbloods. The route is followed unguided, so a strong, confident rider is needed.
One-base riding week, Crete
You ride a gentler week from one hotel, with around two hours in the saddle a day and room for every ability. It suits a holiday where riding is part of it rather than all of it.
Common questions
Greece riding questions
Can you go on a horse riding holiday in Greece as a beginner?
Yes. A beginner version of the Lesvos week runs alongside the intermediate one, and a one-base week on Crete takes riders of any level. For the longer mountain trails on Crete you need to be intermediate or above.
Where is the best horse riding in Greece?
Crete has the widest choice of riding holidays in Greece, from a beginner week at one hotel to a 160km trail across the Lassithi plateau. Lesvos has the most distinctive single ride, with a summer day swimming the horses in the sea.
What is the weight limit for horse riding holidays in Greece?
Most Greek riding holidays set a limit of about 90kg in riding clothes. The unguided Lassithi trail on Crete sets 86kg.
When is the best time to go horse riding in Greece?
Spring and autumn. On Crete that means March to May and September to October, when the heat is lower and the long trails run.
Can you swim with horses in Greece?
Yes, on Lesvos, where the riding week includes a summer day when you ride your horse bareback into the sea.
How many riders are in a group on a Greek riding holiday?
The unguided Lassithi trail takes 2 to 6 riders, the Avdou trail takes up to 8, and the one-base Cretan week takes up to 12.
What tack is used on Greek riding holidays?
English saddles on most Greek riding holidays. On the Lesvos week the horses go mainly in bitless bridles.
Where to go next
Nearby, and next
Tell us how you ride
Tell us your level, your dates and the country you have in mind, and we will point you to the ride that fits.