Greece – the cradle of the ancient world and civilization – has long been a popular and memorable holiday destination. Hidden Trails has brought together some of the best horse riding holidays in Greece, so you can experience the magic of this time honored country on horseback. All of our horse riding vacations in Greece explore the landscapes of mythology – whether it’s the coastline of Crete, ancient olive groves, or rugged mountain paths. Take a step back in time on a once in a lifetime Grecian horseback vacation.
Greece is a holiday destination par excellence. Home of ancient mythology, the Olympian gods, classical scholars, and philosophers like Plato, Socrates and Aristotle, lovers of history will find much to appreciate. Appropriately, Greece is also the home of the centaur - the legendary creature said to be half man and half horse.
With historical landmarks at every turn Greece offers the opportunity to visit Athens, the Acropolis and the Parthenon – historical sites of extreme importance.
Away from the mainland, beautiful Greek Islands beckon to be explored. Santorini, Crete and Mykonos are but a few.
Horse Riding in Greece and Crete
The largest of all the Greek Islands is Crete. It is here that Hidden Trails offers its Greek horse riding holidays - the Crete Explorer Ride, the Panorama Ride, and the Sea, Sun and Moonlight Ride.
Crete is almost a country in its own right and Cretans regard themselves as a race apart. A big part of what makes Crete so special is the proud people, amongst the most hospitable in Greece, with a long tradition of welcoming strangers.
The island is ruggedly beautiful, with fertile coastal plains and resort towns overshadowed by towering mountains, still snow-capped in early spring. Crete is major tourist destination with two international airports linked by a fine north-coast highway, excellent beaches of all kinds, great nightlife and some of the best places for eating out in whole Greece. The biggest cities in Crete are Chania, Rethymno, Iraklion and Agios Nikolaos on the North part of the island. There are also many harbor towns (including Ierapetra) in the south part of the island. Iraklion is Crete's main city and has a population of over 120,000.
As well as exquisite horse riding vacations, you can also visit several ancient Minoan sites including Knossos, home of the fabled Minotaur, and the longest gorge in Europe at Samaria.
From Crete you can also visit the beautiful neighboring island of Santorini, which some believe is the legendary lost city of Atlantis.
Greece Climate and Weather
The island of Crete has a temperate Mediterranean climate meaning 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.
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