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The island of Crete has a temperate Mediterranean climate. This means it experiences hot, dry summers and mild winters. Crete has the mildest climate of anywhere in Greece. Summer sees almost no rain, while winter months, especially December to February, can be quite wet. Average temperatures are at their peak in July and August at 26 ºC while January and February see temperatures of 12 ºC on average.

In general, Crete experiences winter days that can sometimes be rainy and windy and even feel quite cold. January sees the most rainfall, with some parts of the island averaging 14 rainy days in the month. Showers are frequent from November until February. Winter temperatures average about 12-14ºC. Temperature rarely falls much below double figures in lowland and coastal Crete though Heraklion did record a temperature of -0.8 ºC in 2004! In February 2004 Crete did experience an unusually cold period of weather which saw the whole island dusted in snow! Normally, though, snow is very rare anywhere on the island apart from in the higher mountains.

Springtime weather on the island can still see a number of rainy days, especially in the north, though clear and mild days are frequent. Temperatures can begin to hit the 20s and the sea begins to warm up.

Summer begins in earnest from June. The period June to September sees almost no rainfall and average temperatures of around 25 ºC. Daytime temperature in mid summer is often in the low 30s, though it can sometimes reach up to 40 ºC! Summer 2002 saw the mercury rise to a stifling 45 ºC!

Temperatures begin to cool off in late September, and the now dry island begins to receive some much needed rainfall. Early autumn is a pleasant time with calm, clear days. The weather becomes more unstable from November as rainy and windy days increase, though sunny days with temperatures in the low 20s are not uncommon.

Different parts of Crete can experience very different weather patterns, due in the main to the weather barrier created by the mountain ranges that stretch from ease to west across the island. The south is on average a couple of degrees warmer than the north and is also drier. Similarly eastern Crete is drier and warmer than those regions in the west.

Crete straddles two climatic zones – Mediterranean and North African. Southern Crete falls into the North African climate zone, enjoying warmer weather and averaging over 2800 hours of sunshine a year. The varying climates on the island are reflected by the landscape and vegetation. The south can be very arid, especially in summer, while the north is more green and verdant. Southern Crete’s similarities with the North African climate are evident in the fact that African swallows remain year round rather than migrating south.

The mountain regions can experience heavy snowfall in winter due to their high elevation. Snow can often remain on the higher peaks such as Mt Ida until June. At these heights there is a distinctly mountainous climate, with large temperature variations between the seasons. Weather conditions often change rapidly. This mountain climate is very different from the coastal and lowland regions on the rest of the island.

The winds that visit Crete have an important role in shaping the island’s weather patterns. Cold, wet and windy winter days are experienced when the strong northern winds hit the island. The sirocco winds arrive from the southeast bringing hot, sand filled air from the deserts of Africa. When the sirocco winds arrive the island becomes very dusty and hot and visibility can fall. However, when they blow in winter they bring warm air and pleasant temperatures. Southerly winds in the summer months can sometimes bring stifling temperatures of up to 45 ºC. On other summer days the welcome ‘meltimi’ winds arrive from the north-west bringing a much needed cooling breeze to the island. When the wind blows from the east, Crete usually experiences calm and clear weather.

Sea temperatures around Crete are generally warm, and bathers can swim comfortably from May right up to November. The water remains above 20 ºC during these months, peaking at 25 ºC in high summer. The sea temperature will drop to about 15 ºC in February before beginning to warm again with the onset of spring.

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 coloured 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 overnights are at a four star country hotel and 2 nights along the trail in country inns.

The hotel suits its surroundings; it is built with 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.

On the arrival day guests are welcome the whole day, but guests rooms are not ready before 2 PM. On departure day guests leave the room before 9.30 AM, but are welcome to spend their last day in the hotel. A shower/changing room and toilets are available.

The 12 hotel rooms are grouped into 2 bungalows each housing 6 rooms.
The bungalows lay quietly separate from the main activities.
The rooms are large and comfortable and all have a tremendous view over the valley. Each room has a large bathroom with bathtub and hair dryer. The rooms have a fireplace, heating and air conditioning (both included in the price), a large glass door of 2 meter and a private balcony or terrace.

Next to the main building lays the naturally formed large swimming pool 100 m2 (130 – 160 m deep) with a separate, lower situated, children’s pool of 11m2 (40 cm deep). 



The estate also is home to 14 horses and 2 ponies! The stables are built with natural stones, but above all they are designed to be horse friendly!

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.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

The Horses of the Stable:

1 Arab horse, 1 Berber, 2 Thoroughbreds, 4 Dutch Warmbloods, 4 Greek Warmbloods, 1 Jorkalidiko (Cretan Horse) and for the guide 1 Hanoverian. For the children we have 2 Welsh ponies!

We ride on warmbloods and thoroughbreds as they have an endless will and they never tire for  the long distance riding. Training them especially for mountain work has allowed us to provide our riders with a suitably challenging and enjoyable travel companion for each of you. Each of our horses are full of strength and courage, but at the same time you will be pleasantly surprised at 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 to enjoy oneself to the fullest. All our horses are friendly, well cared for, well fed, well trained and love the long distance riding.

The Barn Facilities:

We are a small friendly stable giving home to 17 horses and ponies. Due to our small character with a maximum of 9 horse riding guests a week, we are able to maintain a close and personal contact. We like to show you the real Crete and to experience the Greek hospitality

- 14 stalls with connected turnout paddocks giving the horses themselves the choice to go inside or outside.
- Outdoor arena, 42 x 20 meters with an all-weather proof floor
- Outdoor arena, 15 x 12 meters, for lunge work
- Tack room
- Pasture
- An indoor horse shower
- Bathroom/changing room for the guests
 

The Trail:

This adventurous trail of 160 km  is for the rider with some experience and confidence in the saddle. We travel through the Dikti Mountain Range, the Cretan south coast and the Greek country side.
Every day has a different terrain!
We make a quick canter over the Lassithi high plateau, we climb up to 1800 meters, we meet the biggest colony vultures of Europe in the high Dikti Mountains, we sleep directly next to the Libyan Sea, where we eat fresh fish and we swim with the horses. We ride through the Greek country side with its villages, olive groves and wine yards.
Every day has a different landscape and terrain to discover!

Note: The trail is partially in steep riding country!

Tack:		English - Wintec
Horses:		Arab, Berber, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and Weslh ponies for children
Pace:		Moderate with trots and canters. Occasional steep terrain, 4-6 hrs | Walk | Trot | Canter |
Level:		(3 out of 5)    Intermediate
Weight:		Max 210 lbs
Riders:		Min 4 riders	Max 8 riders

The Horses of the Stable:

1 Arab horse, 1 Berber, 2 Thoroughbreds, 4 Dutch Warmbloods, 4 Greek Warmbloods, 1 Jorkalidiko (Cretan Horse) and for the guide 1 Hanoverian. For the children we have 2 Welsh ponies!

We ride on warmbloods and thoroughbreds as they have an endless will and they never tire for  the long distance riding. Training them especially for mountain work has allowed us to provide our riders with a suitably challenging and enjoyable travel companion for each of you. Each of our horses are full of strength and courage, but at the same time you will be pleasantly surprised at 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 to enjoy oneself to the fullest. All our horses are friendly, well cared for, well fed, well trained and love the long distance riding.

The Barn Facilities:

We are a small friendly stable giving home to 17 horses and ponies. Due to our small character with a maximum of 9 horse riding guests a week, we are able to maintain a close and personal contact. We like to show you the real Crete and to experience the Greek hospitality

- 14 stalls with connected turnout paddocks giving the horses themselves the choice to go inside or outside.
- Outdoor arena, 42 x 20 meters with an all-weather proof floor
- Outdoor arena, 15 x 12 meters, for lunge work
- Tack room
- Pasture
- An indoor horse shower
- Bathroom/changing room for the guests
 

The Trail:

This adventurous trail of 160 km  is for the rider with some experience and confidence in the saddle. We travel through the Dikti Mountain Range, the Cretan south coast and the Greek country side.
Every day has a different terrain!
We make a quick canter over the Lassithi high plateau, we climb up to 1800 meters, we meet the biggest colony vultures of Europe in the high Dikti Mountains, we sleep directly next to the Libyan Sea, where we eat fresh fish and we swim with the horses. We ride through the Greek country side with its villages, olive groves and wine yards.
Every day has a different landscape and terrain to discover!

Note: The trail is partially in steep riding country!

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.