Rates Note:

Transfer and Other Options:

Sea, Sun and Moonlight Ride

This partner or family program is an ideal combination for those who travel together with non-riders or whose partner joins 1 of the other sport activities in the hotel like golf, mountain climbing or paragliding.

We ride daily on a 2 hour active trip through the valley of Langada, crossing the traditional Greek village of Avdou with its Byzantine church. We climb up the mountain giving an excellent view over the stables and the Langada valley. We ride through Kerm Oak forest to visit the mysterious Church of the Saint Fotini which is hidden deep into a cave. (2 hours in the saddle and a visit to the cave) and we enjoy a quick canter over the plateau of Mochos.

This active holiday combines all the good things of the Cretan live: relaxing at the beach, swimming in the sea or pool, visiting an ancient site, meeting the friendly locals, enjoying the Greek food and taking our 4-footed friends for a ride during the cool evening hours. The program includes 6 days of horseback riding with a total of 12 hours.

Beginner Course Option

This intensive program teaches the new rider the English riding style in a very direct approach. In the end of the course, the rider is able to walk and trot independently, feeling secure on and around the horse. The rider will be able to make an easy outside trip, tack the horse and start cantering (depending on the rider's ability). According to our experience we know that sportive riders even learn to canter independently.

-- subject to changes --

 In the mountains it can also be cold in May or September.
The hotel has laundry available, one wash costs 5 euro.

The moment you arrive on the hillside you experience the serene quietness and the tremendous panoramic view.  Under us stretches the Langada Valley where the Apposelemis River flows. Above us rise the red colored peaks of the Dikti Mountains. Birds of prey, like the Griffon Vulture, glide along these peaks. The estate is surrounded by protected Kerm Oak forest and olive groves stretching down to the valley. On the estate many protected trees and flowers can be found, like different type of beautiful orchids.

The hotel suits its surroundings; it is built with real natural stones collected from the land it stands on which give it a robust and natural look. The hotel has a neo-classic style creating a romantic atmosphere for long summer nights. 

The main building houses the reception, and a cafe with a large balcony on witch you can drink your Greek coffee or Rakí. In the main building you also find Restaurant Veláni with its large terrace overlooking the riding place and the valley. The restaurant serves the Cretan diet which is famous for being healthy and the use of olive oil. The olive oil is our own, produced by the olive grove of the estate. Reception, café and restaurant have operating hours.

Meals
The stay is on a basis of half board: breakfast and dinner in Restaurant Veláni. Dinner is your choice from the menu and includes a starter, main dish and salad. Drinks, lunch, desserts and other foods are not included. The food we serve is traditional Cretan/Greek: food from a traditional woodfire oven, many vegetable dishes, mezedes, or grilled meat. Sometimes our guests prefer if we eat the Greek way (mezedes) and we put several dishes in the middle so everyone can try them!

If you are out riding over lunch, a saddle-bag lunch can be purchased at the restaurant.

Tack:		English - Wintec
Horses:		Arab, Berber, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and Weslh ponies for children
Pace:		moderate with occasional steep terrain 4 hrs/day | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(2 to 3 out of 5)    Good Novice+
Age:		Min 8
Weight:		Max 210 lbs
Riders:		Min 1 riders	Max 10 riders (per riding group)	Max Capacity 24

Horses - there are:
1 Arab horse, 1 Berber, 3 Thoroughbreds, 4 Dutch warm bloods, 4 Greek warm bloods, and for the guide 1 Hanoveran. For the children we have 2 Welsh ponies.
We ride on warm blood horses and thoroughbreds as they have a long breath and a never tiring will for long distance riding. Training them especially for the mountain work makes that we have a challenging travel companion for you. Full of strength and courage. But in the same time be surprised how cool in the head and safe our horses are.Especially for the novice rider we use reliable and easy horses, to give them the trust and safety that he or she needs.But for all our horses’ counts that they are friendly, well cared for, good fed, well trained and all have an excellent condition for the long distance riding.

The barn facilities include:
- 14 stalls with connected turnout paddocks giving the horses themselves the choice to go inside or outside.
- Outdoor arena, 45 x 20 meters with an all-weather proof floor a
- Outdoor arena, 15 x 12 meters, for lunging.
- Tack room
- Pasture
- An indoor horse shower
- Bathroom/changing-room and toilets for the guests

Passports
Passport required by all except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passports must be valid for the following durations:
(a) British and EU (excluding Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia) passports must be valid for length of intended stay.
(b) Australian, Canadian, USA and excluded EU passports must be valid for at least three months beyond length of stay.
Note: EU and EEA nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Passport Note
Greece is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;
(b) nationals of Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Romania and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
(a) 2. EU nationals staying more than 90 days or for employment (including establishing a business, trade, profession or commercial activity) have to apply in person to the consulate general of Greece for a national visa; (b) Greece refuses admission and transit to holders of travel documents issued by the area of Cyprus not controlled by the Government of Cyprus, and holders of UN laissez-passers; (c) Some nationals may have to register with the Aliens Department of the nearest police station within 48 hours of arrival. Contact the nearest embassy/consulate to determine whether this is necessary prior to travel.
Types of Visa and Cost
National visa: £30.
Working Days Required
Three to 14, dependent upon nationality.