Introduction
Crete West Coast Greece Discover luscious green hills, goat-trodden tracks, olive groves, herbs and wild flowers, unique oases like the lake of Kournas and Argiroupoli's waterfalls, small and friendly villages and beautiful beaches a plenty. These are all just simple elements that combine to make a recipe for an excellent relaxing riding holiday!

Based in Georgioupolis in Western Crete, this area is well known for its combination of long sandy beach and mighty mountain range. Beaches in Western Crete are strung along the north and south coasts, with the mountain range jutting majestically in between. These mountains are so dominant that if rain falls on the north beach, the south can enjoy peaceful skies and bright sunshine. The abundance of beaches makes this vacation great for riders and non riders alike.

This riding vacation offers plenty of riding and ample time to relax and explore. Rides are available for novice and advanced riders alike; this is made possible by splitting the groups into different riding levels. Relax on the beach, take a dip in the sea, and prepare yourself for the exciting canters along the Cretan Sea - a horseback riding holiday suited for the whole family!

Itinerary
This ride is all about options! Choose from the options below to create a vacation experience specifically tailored to your interests!

The riding holiday includes beach hotel (4*) accommodations and 5 riding days with a total of about 23 riding hours:

Short Beach Ride
Either a morning beach ride from 7:30 - 9:30 or a sunset ride.
We start at the stables located in the hills of Georgioupoli. We walk for about 25 minutes down country roads and through the village outskirts to the beach. This gives the rider the chance to get to know the horse and the horse the chance to warm up. On the beach there is walking, trotting and slow galloping. If the riders are good, there are also some fast gallops!
After the beach ride we head back to the stables via the beach promenade, which affords a great view over the picturesque harbor of Georgioupoli, and ride through the famous Eucalyptus alley to make our way back to the hills and stables.
During the morning beach ride, the light is great and makes the sea really look blue. During the evening rides, the light is not as bright but a beautiful sunset makes up for that.
* For late sleepers, it is possible to do the evening beach ride.
* For early birds it is possible to do the morning ride.
* From the end of October to the end of March, the sun is much milder and there are no tourists on the beach, allowing us to ride later during the day.

Two Mini Safaris (4 hour rides)
a) The Trip to Kournas Lake
We start at the stables, that are located in the hills of Georgioupoli. We walk for about 25 minutes down country roads and through the village outskirts to the beach. This is gives the rider and horse a chance to warm up and get to know one another. On the beach there is walking, trotting and slow galloping. If the riders are good there are also some fast gallops! After, we ride mainly on dirt tracks, passing a lot of olive groves and making our way to the only freshwater lake on Crete. This turquoise lake is surrounded by flower bushes and mountains which are usually reflected in the lake. Around 9:45am we reach the lake, before the tourist rush, letting us believe this is an oasis of peace. Enjoying a drinking stop for horse and rider. After we head to the traditional village of Mathes on a shady asphalted road and before following a dirt track leading us through the hills back to the stables, where we shower the horses.

b) The Monastery of Karidi
Here is no beach ride! The accent is on riding through "fields" in the hills, trough olive groves and passing small traditional villages with their unique architecture and funny little gardens. We stop at Kalamitsi for a break in a traditional Cretan kafenion where you can get a taste of Greek coffee and Cretan hospitality. As the ride starts up again we are afforded amazing views as we pass through many hills. We have a short visit of the abandoned Monastery in Karidi before making our way back trough the hills.
* On request this ride can also be done about 4.5 hours before sunset but the light is more beautiful in the morning.
* From the end of October to the end of March, the sun is much milder and so allowing us to ride later during the day.

Two Full Day Trips
These trips start at 8:00am and we come back at sunset. The lunch breaks are ~ 3 - 4 hours.
a) The Evergreen Spring Village of Argiroupoli
We start at the stables located in the hills of Georgioupoli. We walk for about 25 minutes down country roads and through the village outskirts to the beach. This gives both horse and ride the chance to warm up and get to know one another. On the beach there is walking, trotting and slow galloping. If the riders are good there are also fast gallops! Travelling through country roads and dirt tracks we make our way to Kastelos and ride through the almost abandoned village of Patima, to reach the greenery of Argiroupoli village. The horses get showered and are put in a shady place where they can eat and rest. The village of Argiroupoli is well known for its springs, ancient mills, avocados and associated products. Amidst these delightful surroundings - green, even in the middle of the summer - we enjoy typical Cretan dishes, listening to the sound of the waterfalls. After lunch, there is plenty of time for a stroll to visit the water springs, the local Museum of Village Life and some tiny shops where you can find products derived from the local avocados and a beautiful embroidery shop. After our break we head back to Kavros where we go on the beach for a lovely sunset beach ride to Georgioupoli. After the beach ride we head back to the stables; passing the beach promenade, enjoying a great view over the picturesque harbor of Georgioupoli, riding through the famous Eucalyptus alley and making our way back to the hills and stables.

b) Extended Beach Ride and Swimming with the Horses
We start at the stables located in the hills of Georgioupoli. We walk for about 25 minutes down country roads and through the village outskirts to the beach. This gives both horse and rider a chance to warm up and get to know one another. On the beach there is walking, trotting and slow galloping. If the riders are good there are also some bits of fast gallops! This beach ride is about 8 kilometers. At lunch time in Petres, we unsaddle the horses and go for a lovely swim in the sea with them. This is really an amazing feeling, as some of our horses swim like ducks! After their refreshing swim, we put them in a shady place to eat and rest. This way the horse can dry before resaddling. The riders do not ride bareback on the beach, only swim without saddle. The place where we go swimming is not a touristy area. Lunch is provided at a local beach tavern and during the free time, the clients can go sunbathing, swimming or come with the guide to have a look at the outstanding beauty of the Petres Canyon. (Don't worry, this is break time; we don't walk the whole gorge!) After our break we go on the beach for a lovely sunset beach ride back to Georgioupoli. After the beach ride we head back to the stables; passing the beach promenade, enjoying a great view over the picturesque harbor of Georgioupoli, riding through the famous Eucalyptus alley and making our way back to the hills and stables.

Other Info
Meeting: Georgioupoli
Airport: Chania
Transfer: Chania airport

Crete Coastal Ride

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Packages and Options

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