Enjoyed the most

Our guide was amazing - so patient and cheerful and interesting on the ride. Also - you could tell that they treated their horses well. Of course, the meals were exceptional and the pool - wow!

Bothered you

I have a bit of trouble riding in Wintec saddles and should have asked to change if possible or should have brought a seat saver.

Comments

But I've been booking trips with Hidden Trails for many years.

Enjoyed the most

I enjoyed every aspect of the trip. The accommodations were excellent as were the horses, the guide and the other riders

Bothered you

Nothing!

Comments

I have used Hidden Trails for many years to book equestrian vacations

Personal experience:
This is a wonderful place to go for a holiday, where you will get to really relax and experience the island of Crete from up high, in a mountainous setting, with beautiful views of the valley. Sabine and Manolis are exceptional hosts, gracious and very pleasant company, they try hard to look after guests and they will make you feel at home. Manolis is an extra friendly, very funny guy, with lots of charisma. He is a multi-tasker: besides running the hotel accommodation, he’s in charge of the cooking and helps with the horses. The other guests and I really enjoyed his old greek stories and fables after dinner. Sabine, his partner, is Dutch and she runs the stables and is the main guide. She’s very knowledgeable about horses. The atmosphere at the hotel and surroundings is quiet and serene. The mountains at the back of the hotel turn orange with the sunset light, so beautiful and romantic. I visited in June, the season when the loud tzitzikis are out and about. This variety of cicada hangs out by the millions on the olive trees everywhere, chirping non-stop their mating song, and blending the soundtrack of the long, dreamy summer days in Crete. Picture this: riding in the mountains, in between hundreds of olive trees, with the tzitziki singing at the background, climbing up high, watching the vultures soar from the high peaks above your head against a clear blue sky, with stunning views underneath, cliffs and rocks, and jumping goats that appear out of nowhere. It’s amazing! It was a real adventure on the second day, to go down an old donkey path, very narrow and rocky, on foot with our horses, to get to the Lassithi plateau, were we enjoyed a long canter on flat roads, between windmills and crops. I specially enjoyed swimming in the sea with the horses. It was at the end of a day’s riding, when we reached a small coast village where we spent the night. We took the horses to a stony beach and started walking them in. This was my first time and was very excited and a bit nervous. Sabine helped me get going and my horse Mangas, who I rode that day, was quite fond of water and he went in jumping like he was a dolphin! Once we were in deeper water he settled, I was holding his mane and we went for the most wonderful swim, were gliding together smoothly. After the riding, each day, we’d come back to the hotel for a refreshing swim in the pool, perhaps a greek coffee or a drink at the restaurant’s panoramic terrace, and a plentiful and delicious dinner afterwards. A truly enjoyable riding holiday!

Horse story:
I rode Eros most of the days, a handsome and tall thoroughbred, he is the son of one of their mares, Mama, and was born at the stables. He is very sweet and forward-going but calm at the same time. I enjoyed riding him up the mountain trails and specially his comfortable rhythm in trot and canter. He had some muscle soreness after a few days, so I switched to Selini, a mare who has a slower pace, but will still take you anywhere you want to go and is a good riding horse. Mangas was my companion in the water, the dolphin-horse!

Enjoyed the most: Hospitality. The location of the site is excellent as well as our hosts and meals.

Bothered you: I was expecting more gallops. The types of trails are not well suited for gallops. The rest was excellent.