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Riding Holidays - Program 4
7 days, 5 days riding - The Gypsy Trail
For whom?
This is a great hack with a perfect balance between riding and free time. Nights are spent in tents. Cooking and showering in the open nature. No luxury, just great fun!
Discover and experience Crete from a completely different angle!
Spread over 5 days, with a total of 29.5 riding hours. This holiday is suitable for good intermediate riders - able to control a horse during walking and trotting in the outdoors - and advanced riders, who will definitely enjoy some lovely gallops!
Riding Program
Day 1: Arrival and welcome. Free day. The night is spent in a self catering studio in Georgioupoli.
Day 2: From the stables we head downhill to the beach for our first rendezvous with the long sandy beach of Georgioupoli, giving opportunity for some amazing (slow) gallops. A real adrenaline rush! We then make our way up to Kastelos and ride through the almost abandoned village of Patima, to reach the greenery of Argiroupoli village, well known for its springs, ancient mills, avocados and associated products. Here we'll have lunch. There is plenty of time for a stroll in ancient Lappa or a visit to the local Museum of Village Life.
Trekking further southwards along grain fields and stock breeders of sheep and goat, we'll head down to a small mountainous village at the foot of the White Mountains. Here in Kalikratis at an altitude of 750m above sea level we spend the night.
Hours riding: 7, morning (4) & late afternoon (3), large lunch break, small stop during the ride.
Day 3: Enjoying splendid views over the Libyan Sea and riding through peaceful and still totally Cretan landscapes, we make our way down to the beach of Lakki. A great location for lunch and enjoying a swim in the sea with or without your horse. Nearby there are several beautiful sandy coves, separated by very small rocky peninsulas. Overlooking the beauty of the nearby gorges we follow the coast line to Rodakino. The night will be spent here. Possibility for a relaxing sunset swim.
Hours riding: 5.5, morning (3) & late afternoon (2.5), large lunch break, small stop during the ride.
Day 4: Following the coast line to Plakias while softly dreaming away in its roughness... The sound of the waves will be the song of the morning and it will fulfill us with a sense of endlessness. Lunch and free time at the popular tourist village of Plakias. Last chance for a dip in the Libyan sea. After lunch, we're getting into a completely different scenario: riding softly uphill through the peaceful Kotsifou Gorge while being surrounded by an impressive mountain plateau. A magnificent trail among trees like cypress, plane trees and arbutus offering open, panoramic views will lead us to the village and cypress forest of Agios Ioannis. Night is spent in Ano Malaki.
Hours riding: 6, morning (3) & late afternoon (3), large lunch break, small stop during the ride.
Day 5: Heading northwards to Kato Malaki we'll continue to cross the impressive island along picturesque villages situated in dense woodland.
The small mountain plateau of Potamia is an oasis of plane trees and springs. Nature pure! Getting lost in the panoramic views along the way, we'll reach the old Venetian settlement of Ano Valsamonero for a well deserved lunch. Heading downhill to the village of Kalonyktis with its traditional architecture and Venetian buildings including a mill, we make our way to interesting Roustika where we'll spend the night.
Hours riding: morning (3) & late afternoon (3), lunch break, small stop during the ride.
Day 6: From Roustika to Karoti, followed by another off road adventure to Episcopi and further downhill to Petres for lunch. For those who can't get enough of Crete's outstanding natural beauty, there is also a short visit to the Gorge of Petres where we walk through the riverbed to a private waterfall spa. Plenty of time left for sunbathing and swimming in the sea with the horses. Afterwards the accent is on beach riding: from Petres back to Georgioupoli in the late afternoon until sunset. The night is spent in the picturesque village of Georgioupoli, where we round off this amazing and unforgettable trip.
Hours riding: morning (3) & late afternoon (2), large lunch break, some small stops during the ride.
Day 7: Free time & departure.
Accommodation
Accommodation for 2 nights in a self catering studio and for 4 nights in a tent is included.
Food
Breakfast, lunch and dinner during the trail ride is included.
Drinks are at your expense.
Flight & hotel transfer
Flights are not included. However, the transfer from the airport or harbor, to and from the hotel, is included.
Price per person in Euro
In twin: 899.-
Single supplement: 99.-
Fixed departure dates 2012:
1st of July - 7th of July
26th of August - 1st of September
Groups starting from 4 persons may always request other dates.
For reservations and possible questions do not hesitate to contact Kristi. German, English, French and Dutch spoken.
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