Price
2026
High Season: 15 March – 2 November
Low Season: 3 – 23 November
Low season €1,865 per person sharing
High season €1,900 per person sharing
Dates & Prices
GREECE
Self Guided Dikti Mountains & Coast Trail
Overview
Self-guided adventure trail for experienced riders with first hand experience of caring for horses.
Embark on a challenging 160 km adventure through stunning mountain areas. This week-long journey, without a guide, is designed for seasoned riders seeking an exhilarating experience. It's a wonderful escape riding through the rural Cretan countryside where you will follow an interesting trail which takes you from the Dikti mountains down to the Mediterranean Sea.
You’ll spend time climbing up to 1,800 metres and be amazed at how the horses cope with such rocky terrain. Once high up in the Dikti mountains you might be lucky enough to spot some Griffon vultures, an awesome sight. After you reach the plateau there are some chances for fast canters – in general this is not a fast-paced ride due to the terrain, but where allowed you will let loose! The latter part of the week you are heading towards the beach and sea, where you can realise that dream of swimming with your horse.
You'll navigate your journey using a map, route description, and painted arrows at every crossroads, ensuring a clear path throughout the trail. You’ll carry your luggage in saddlebags on the horse, with a luggage change twice a week. To ensure safety in the mountainous terrain, the trail is limited to 2-4 guests. The program spans 6 riding days, covering a total of 32 riding hours.
Highlights
Lassithi High Plateau: Enjoy a thrilling canter across this vast expanse.
Vulture Colonies: Encounter the largest colony of vultures in Europe in the high mountains.
South Coast Stay: Sleep by the coast, dine on fresh fish, and swim with the horses.
Mountainous Terrain: Spend 3 days traversing rocky paths, descending and ascending at a leisurely pace.
Active Riding Days: Spend 3 days riding through flat plateaus, countryside villages, olive groves, and vineyards.
Accommodation along the trail includes stays in family hotels, each equipped with private bathrooms and showers. This is a great trip for anyone seeking some great trail riding in Crete off the beaten track and wants to enjoy a high standard of accommodation, lovely horses, beautiful countryside, a sense of the old rural lifestyle and amazing Greek cuisine and drinks! Blissful!
Location
Crete, Greece
Airport
Heraklion, Greece
Duration
7 nights
When to go
March - November
Riding level
Advanced
Weight
90 kg / 14 stone / 198 lbs
Group size
4 max
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses
Included
All riding, full board accommodation and luggage transport.
Extras
Single supplement applies to guarantee a single room, please enquire.
Room upgrades available, please enquire.
Excluded
International flights, Climate Crisis Resilience Fee (maximum €2 per room, per night), drinks, deserts and ice cream, transfers and tips.
Price guarantee
All our riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book with us and will refund the difference should you find the same riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
Exchange rate
Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full details.
Transfers
Heraklion is the closest airport, 40km away from the hotel. You can also fly to Chania which is a 3-hour drive.
From the airports you can either rent a car, we can arrange transfers and there’s also option of public transport.
From Heraklion airport we can organise transfers for €55 each way per vehicle. Please be aware that not all taxis will agree to drive the dirt drive to the hotel or will add an extra charge.
From Chania you can take a bus to Hersonissos and from here a transfer which costs €30 each way.
Departure dates
Available from 15th March to 7th June and 13th September to 21st November.
Riding & Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival, a welcome at Country Hotel Velani, a dive in the pool and evening diner in the Restaurant Velani. A briefing about the trail route.
Day 2
(3 hours in the saddle)
We make an active trip in north direction; we ride up the hills of Sfendili. We cross the Byzantine church of Avdou, we ride quick over the plateau of Mochos and have an excellent view to the Psiloritis Mountains, highest peaks of the island (2, 5 km). Overnight in Country Hotel Veláni.
Day 3
(6 hours in the saddle)
The trail starts with a spectacular climb. After riding through the gorge of Gonies we climb up from sea level to 1100-meter-high, over the small old donkey route. In the past the only possible path to the Lassithi Plateau. We enjoy the breath-taking views and eat a lunch cooked in a traditional oven.
In the end of the day we ride over the Lassithi Plateau. This fertile Plateau between the tops of the Dikti Mountains is known for its white windmills irrigating the land. Meet the locals still working with their donkeys on the land. Here we make a quick canter over the flat plateau. Overnight in Magoulas, Hotel Dionissos or in Dzermiado Hotel Kourites.
Day 4
(5 hours in the saddle)
Today we cross through the Dikti mountain range in south direction. Nothing but loneliness, experiences the special feeling of being alone with the horses, the mountains, the nature and some rough but friendly shepherds. Overnight Transport to Country Hotel Velani, the horses stay in the mountains.
Day 5
(6 hours in the saddle and swimming with the horses)
We ride downhill through a desert land dried by the south winds out of the so close Africa. Until we meet the clear blue water of the Libyan Sea for a refreshing dive. We go for swimming with the horses if sea conditions allow. We sleep next to the sea and of course here we eat fresh fish from the wood-fire. Overnight in Keratokambos, Finikas Rooms.
Day 6
(6 hours in the saddle)
First, we ride along the see and then we turn inland again. We follow the Anapodaris River which cut out a 5-km long gorge. Still now the water is cutting the gorge deeper; some may feel dizzy from the depth. Suddenly the land becomes more friendly, hilly with many olive and vineyards. We cross through villages and let the horses drink in lake Ini. Overnight transport to Country Hotel Veláni.
Day 7
(5 hours in the saddle)
We ride back to Avdou through typical Greek countryside. We pass Greek villages where time has stand still. Feel welcome to stop and drink an Ouzo with the Cretans at one of the village squares. Next to our path rise the Dikti Mountains, which we will not quickly forget.
Overnight in Equestrian Country Hotel Veláni.
Day 8
Breakfast and departure.
Please ask about
Centre based riding for novices
Hiking trails
Mountain biking
Paragliding
Golf (7km from hotel)
Horses
Arabs, Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods, plus a Section B pony for the kids, ranging from 14.2hh to 16.2hh.
Riding level
Advanced
Type of riding
Self guided trail ride with 4-6 hours of riding per day.
Tack
English style
Weight limit
90 kg / 14 stone / 198 lbs
Group size
4 max
Accommodation & Meals
Velani Hotel
The country hotel Velani run by your hosts is perched high on a hillside overlooking the Lake Aposelemis in the foothills of the Dikti Mountains. It is a secret haven hidden in a rocky wilderness of ancient stone and protected Kermes oak forest. It is these oak trees with their evergreen leaves and ‘Velani’ fruits that gave the hotel its name.
A charming hotel in a serene quietness, with spacious and comfortable rooms. All rooms have a breath-taking view and give you a feeling of relaxing with nature on your doorstep.
With a 4-hectare estate, there is onsite pasture for the horses to roam and also various gardens for fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers as well as an olive grove for the production of their own olive oil.
The rooms are gorgeous with 3 different room types and options to upgrade at an extra cost just ask. With a fantastic infinity pool, a jacuzzi (extra charge) and a yoga area with mats available for hire there is always some relaxing to be done.
Local Guesthouse Accommodation
You will stay in local guest house accommodation for two nights of your itinerary. The guest houses are chosen for their location and are local, rustic, cosy and clean.
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses
Single Supplement
Possible to have a single room, extra fees apply
Meals
Inform us about food allergies and intolerances
Drinks
Drinks payable.
The Destination
Crete is the largest island in Greece, and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, you can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. In 2025, UNESCO added six Minoan palace centres in Crete to its World Heritage List.
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