horses

Horse riding in Greece, Crete Island
Odysseia Stables

Odysseia Stables offers complete horse riding holidays, trekking, trail riding, day trips, 2 hour hacks and horse riding lessons in Greece, Crete Island.
The horse riding holidays are including a full board stay at Country Hotel Velani***, with swimming pool. And the horse riding with a professional guide and beautiful well schooled horses.

The Odysseia Stables and the equestrian hotel are located together on a unique hill side location overviewing the Aposelemis lake, near the village of Avdou on Crete Island in Greece.  A rural area dotted with olive trees, small villages and Kermes oak forrest with plenty of space for endless horse riding.
What better way there is than to discover a country from the back of a horse.

Horse riding holidays in Greece, Crete Island

The Equestrian centre and the Country Hotel are open the whole year round.
The Odysseia Stables is also open to the public.
There are various horseback riding holidays and horse riding trips suitable for riders of different levels.

The horse riding we offer is:

  • Trail rides of 4 hours, and 2 hour hacks. Trail rides through beautiful Cretan nature and olive groves, with valleys, hills and Cretan villages. Ride through the Langada valley with endless dirth roads for horse riding.
    Riders are splitted according to their riding level.
  • Group and private lessons given by an experienced instructor for all riding levels.
  • Boarding or training of private horses is offered at high standards.

The various Horse riding holidays we offer are:

  • The Guided Lassithi Trek. An adventurous trek riding through the Dikti Mountains, up to 1800 meter, to the Mediterranean Sea on the  South side of the island.
    This week trek is only suitable for experienced and well trained riders. The trek is 200 km long and has every day a different landscape. Accompanied with an experienced guide giving you assistance with the horses and information on the Greek culture and area.
    At this hotel to hotel trek we spent on average 6 hours in the saddle and luggage is transported every day.
  • The Self Guided Lassithi Trek. Explore the Lassithi trek at your own pace by going unguided. The special feeling of just you, the horses and the mountains.
    Riding at your own pace and stopping for a break when you like. The unguided Lassithi Trek is only suitable for the very experienced rider who are used to take care of their own horses.
    At this hotel to hotel trek we spent on average 6 hours in the saddle and luggage is taken in saddle bags on the horse.
  • The Panorama Rides, a hotel based riding holiday.  Stay in the comfort of the Equestrian Hotel and ride every day out for a new trail.
    The equestrian hotel is uniquely located in the middle of Kermes Oak forrest with a Panoramis view on the Langada valley and the Aposelemis lake. An area offering plenty of tracks through the Cretan country side for endless riding plessure.
    During this day rides program we spent on average 4 hours in the saddle.
  • Sun and Riding, a hotel based riding holiday.  Stay in the comfort of the Equestrian Hotel and ride every day out for a new 2 hour hack. The perfect combination of riding and relaxing. Or for those guests travelling together with non riding family or friends.
    During this day rides holiday we spent on average 2 hours in the saddle.
  • Starters week, a hotel based starters course. Stay in the comfort of the Equestrian Hotel and learn in a safe and fun environment the basics of horse riding with the target to make an easy 2 hour hack into nature by the end of the week. Lessons are given by an experienced teacher with a well schooled horse in the safety of the arena. The week starts with private lessons, followed by group lessons and ends with outside hacks.
  • Family holiday, a hotel based riding holiday. Spent your family holiday in the nature and the relaxing environment of the Country Hotel Velani.
    An ideal combination for families with all riders or families with a combination of riders and non riding family members.
    The horse riding offered are outside 2 hour hacks or lessons, depending on age and experience.
    Your stay is in a family room.

All horseback riding holidays are offered with a stay in the Country Hotel Velani, on a basis of full board.

Read more
  • Guided or unguided Lassithi Trek

    Guided or unguided Lassithi Trek Read more Watch video Read more

    An adventurous trek through the Dikti Mountains to the Lybian Sea.

    For experienced and well trained riders.
    200 km trek with every day a different landscape.
    Guided or self guided bases.
    Trekking from hotel to hotel.
    Daily 6 hours in the saddle.

    Read more
  • Panorama Rides

    Panorama Rides Read more Watch video Read more

    A hotel based riding holiday with day rides.

    Wonderful stay in Country Hotel Velani***.
    Horse riding on endless trails in Cretan nature.
    For experienced to medium experienced riders.
    On average 4 hours in the saddle.

    Read more
  • Sun and Riding

    Sun and Riding Read more Read more

    A hotel based riding holiday with 2 hour hacks.

    Wonderful stay in Country Hotel Velani***.
    Horse riding on endless trails in Cretan nature.
    For novice to experienced riders.
    Daily 2 hours in the saddle.

    Read more
  • Learn to ride

    Learn to ride Read more Watch video Read more

    A hotel based starters course.

    Wonderful stay in Country Hotel Velani***.
    Learn to ride in a safe and fun environment.
    An experienced teacher and well schooled horses.
    For starting and novice riders.
    Private lessons, group lessons and outside hacks.

    Read more
  • Horse Riding only

    Horse Riding only Read more Read more

    Visit the Odysseia Stables.

    Guests not staying in our hotel are welcome to join the horse riding.
    Horse riding through beautiful Cretan nature and olive groves, on endless dirth roads.
    Riders are splitted according to their riding level.
    Daily trail rides of 4 hours, and 2 hour hacks.

    Read more
  • Stables and the horses

    Stables and the horses Read more Read more

    A happy horse is a happy rider

    We maintain very high standards for facilities, equipment and animal welfare.
    Riding on beautiful, well schooled and happy horses.

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  • Swimming with horses

    Swimming with horses Read more Watch video Read more

    An exciting event during our guided Lassithi Trek.

    We go swimming with the horses in the Lybian Sea.

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  • Country Hotel Velani

    Country Hotel Velani Read more Watch video Read more

    A charming small hotel in nature.

    Full board stay in Country Hotel Velani***
    Hotel and stables are on one location.
    Swimming pool and Greek restaurant with local produce.
    Unique hill side location with panoramic view.

    Read more

For everybody who wants to experience the real Greece, meet the Cretans and feel their honest and warm hospitality,
tast the healthy mediterranean food, experience the quiet and beautiful nature, and see the breathtaking views
from the back of a beautiful happy horse…
Odysseia is the place to be!

Join in a modern Odyssey of experience and adventure,
and only then shall your heart beat in rhythms long forgotten!

  • English

Guest opinions!

“Great views, lovely horses and instructor”
Great riding, we stayed at the attached fabulous hotel. Breathtaking hacks over the mountains and sometimes through villages. Matt N. United Kingdom, Visited July 2015
TripadvisorRanking tripadvisor Odysseia Stables

Holidays 2024

The new travel dates and programs


The Panorama Rides
Have a look at our new travel dates and programs for the year 2024.

All our Panorama holidays have confirmed departure!

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