LASITHI TRAIL GUIDED - GREECE

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Only for intermediate or experienced riders, this adventurous trail of 100 miles takes you through the remote mountains and friendly villages of Crete. There is an unguided trail option anytime for experienced riders able to care for their own horses. In this case you are equipped with maps and route descriptions and the trail is already clearly marked. Guided trails take place once a month. You stay at 2 different tavernas with the horses nearby and on other nights you return to the base hotel, the horses staying out on the trail. You have 2 saddlebags for your personal belongings and a change of contents is brought to you midweek. This horse riding holiday truly is an opportunity to explore another culture on good horses with secure back up. Most people in Crete speak some English and arriving on horseback in small villages you are eagerly awaited guests. The countryside lends itself to good riding with many dirt tracks winding through olive groves and mountains.

Find out why Unicorn's Danni Wittman loves Crete so much ! She was recently interviewed for a Greek newspaper .... read the interview here. For those whose Greek is not all it could be, a translation site can be found
by clicking here

Trip length 8 days / 7 nights / 6 riding days Ride price detailed prices price promise 2010: double pp £929/€945/$1,379 Departure dates 2010: 14, 21 Mar (FULL); 11 Apr; 2, 9 May; 6 Jun; 12 Sep; 3, 31 Oct. Approximate riding time per day approximately 4 - 7 hrs in the saddle daily Riding ability required Must be riding fit and able to walk, trot and canter for trail Group size 3-8 Meeting point (getting there) Heraklion, Greece Transfer By Taxi from Heraklion to accommodation, about €40 - €45 Flight guide London - Heraklion return from £175 Single supplement detailed prices No supplement if rider is willing to share and a sharer can be found. 2010: £145/€145/$215

SAMPLE ITINERARY - LASITHI TRAIL GUIDED

Day 1
Arrival, a welcome tour through the stables, a dive in the pool and evening dinner in the restaurant at the hotel. A briefing about the trail riding you'll be undertaking.

Day 2
We ride in a northerly direction; we ride up the hills of Sfendili. We cross the Byzantine church of Avdou, and ride quickly over the plateau of Mochos and have an excellent view to the Psiloritis Mountains, the highest peak of the island. Overnight in Avdou in the hotel .

Day 3
The trail starts with a spectacular climb. After riding through the gorge of Gonies we climb up from sea level to 1000 meter high, over the small old donkey route. In the past the only possible path to the Lassithi Plateau. We enjoy the breathtaking 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.

Day 4
Today we cross through the Dikti Mountain Range in south direction. Nothing but nature, experience the special feeling of being alone with the horses, the mountains, the nature and some rough but friendly shepherds. Overnight - transport back to our base hotel in Avdou.

Day 5
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 swimming with the horses. (IMPORTANT: The swimming is dependent on safe weather conditions). We sleep next to the sea and of course here we eat fresh fish from the wood-fire. Overnight in Keratokambos.

Day 6
First we ride along the sea 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; we grow dizzy from the depth. Suddenly the land becomes more friendly, hilly with many olive and wine yards. We cross through villages and along lake Ini. The horses stay near Skinias. Overnight in Avdou at the hotel.

Day 7
We ride back to Avdou through typical Greek country side. We cross Greek villages where time has stand still. Feel welcome to stop and drink an Raki with the Cretans at one of the village squares. Next to our path rise the Dikti Mountains, which we will not quick forget. Overnight in Avdou at the hotel.

Day 8
After breakfast depart for the airport and your flight home.

Notes: The riding times vary from 3 hours to 7 hours on one day. In the case of unguided trails the days can be taken at your own pace and on some days there are shorter or longer routes available to your accommodation that night. As with many of our horse riding holidays, the itinerary may change due to weather or other local considerations. The trail is not available in July and August due to the heat, the Sun and Riding program is offered instead with a few hours riding in the cooler hours of the day.

The weight limit for this ride is 14 st/198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
8 days/ 7 nights on a basis of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, diner a la carte at local restaurants, from the dinner on the first day until breakfast on the last day. Overnight stay in the base hotel (see Sun and Riding Program for details), during the trail overnight stay in village hotels and the base hotel, with toilet/shower en suite. During the overnight stays in Avdou you can enjoy your meal in the hotel restaurant. Luggage is carried in saddle bags and a change will be brought to you on the Wednesday of the trail. All horses, and tack and guide.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Lunches (picnics can be ordered from your overnight hosts or purchased very cheaply along the road wherever you decide to stop), drinks, transport to and from Heraklion. The return transfer from the airport is not included. Guest can take a taxi at the airport which costs 45 around euro. Night tariff is around 55 euro.

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