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Crete: Finikia & Giouchtas Horseback Ride with Cretan Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration5h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Horseback riding Crete’s mountain trails with local lunch

You’ll ride gentle horses through Crete’s Finikia and Giouchtas mountains alongside a local guide, pause for fruit at the summit with views of Zeus’ resting place, then return for a homemade Cretan lunch and wine in the stables’ garden. It’s not rushed—just slow moments you’ll want to hold onto.

Step-by-step itinerary

Horse riding and traditional lunch

Arrive at the stables
Receive basic riding training
Mount horses and ride to mountains
Stop at Finikia mountain top
Enjoy soft drink and fruit
Take photos of mountain views
Ride back to the stables
Have traditional Cretan lunch with wine
Relax in garden with more wine
Return to hotels or apartments

The Experience

Ever wondered what Crete smells like at 9am from the back of a horse? I didn’t, until we were halfway up a dusty trail in the Finikia mountains and all I could think about was wild thyme and that sweet, dry grass smell. Our guide, Yiannis, had this easy way of talking—half stories, half directions—and he kept pointing out little things I’d never have noticed: the way the light hits Giouchtas (“Zeus is sleeping there,” he said, and grinned), or how to say “thank you” to your horse in Greek (I tried, badly).

The horses were calm—mine was called Eleni—and even though I’m not exactly an expert rider, after five minutes I stopped worrying about looking silly. The path wound up past olive trees and loose stones crunching under hoof. At the top, there was this pause—just wind and a few birds—and Yiannis handed around cold fruit and soft drinks while everyone took photos of Zeus’ “sleeping face” across the valley. It’s funny, I still think about that quiet moment more than the view itself.

Riding back down felt quicker somehow. Maybe it was hunger kicking in or maybe just knowing lunch was waiting at the stables—a real Cretan spread with bread still warm from someone’s oven and homemade wine that tasted like sunlight (or maybe just strong). We sat outside in the garden afterwards; some people kept chatting with Yiannis about horses or local legends, but I just let myself sit there for a bit longer than usual. Didn’t want to rush it.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off (for selected hotels), guidance from a local expert, basic riding instruction at the stables, a relaxed horseback ride through Finikia and Giouchtas mountains with stops for refreshments like fruit and soft drinks at the summit, followed by a traditional Cretan lunch paired with homemade wine before heading back to your accommodation.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cretan Holidays