Santorini: Horseback Volcano Trails & Eros Beach Ride

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.52 (124 reviews) 79% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/17

Duration1h 30m

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Horseback through volcanic canyons to black sand shores

You’ll ride gentle horses from Santorini’s hilltop stables through volcanic canyons and old vineyards down to secluded Eros Beach. With a local guide leading, feel the island’s wild side—hooves in black sand, salty breeze on your face—and pause for photos before relaxing at the stables’ café with views you won’t forget.

1h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Horse ride to Eros Beach and views

Start at stables in Megalochori
Ride along vineyard paths
Follow south trails to Eros Beach
See volcanic gorges and ravines
Ride along black sand beach
Ascend hill for panoramic views
Take commemorative photos
Relax at stables' chill-out area

The Experience

I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect the horses to be so calm, or the air above Vlychada to smell faintly of thyme and sea salt. Our guide, Eleni, handed me a helmet and grinned like she’d seen my nerves before. The stables sat high over the island, goats somewhere below making their weird little noises. We set off slow, dust kicking up behind us, and I kept glancing back at those blue strips of Aegean in the distance.

The path wound through old vineyards—those low basket vines you see all over Santorini—and then into these narrow canyons where the rock felt almost soft under my boots. Eleni pointed out how the cliffs were shaped by that ancient eruption (3,500 years ago? I think she said), and I tried to imagine lava pouring through here. At one point my horse stopped just to sniff some wild fennel poking out of the ground. It was quiet except for hooves and someone’s laugh behind me—maybe I was more relaxed than I thought.

When we reached Eros Beach it looked nothing like any Greek beach I’ve seen—just black sand and these jagged cliffs that block most of the wind. We rode along the waterline for a while; my horse seemed to know exactly where he wanted to go. Eleni took photos of us, but honestly, I still think about how cool the breeze felt after all that sun on my neck. Heading back up toward the stables, we stopped for bottled water and sat in this shaded café area overlooking everything we’d just crossed. Not sure why but time moved slow there—nobody rushed us off. Kind of wish every day ended like that.

What’s included

Your day includes a gentle horse matched to your comfort level, helmets and saddle bags for convenience, bottled water during breaks, plenty of photo opportunities along volcanic trails and Eros Beach, plus time to unwind at the shaded café area back at the stables before heading out again on your own schedule.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Santorini Horse Riding