Naxos horse riding is a guided ride on horseback on the island of Naxos in the Cyclades. You ride with a leader at a pace that suits your skill. This post covers the ride, the route, the horses and the booking rules. The homepage lists more Greece Tours like this one.
Each tour card below opens a live GetYourGuide booking. Start times and group sizes are shown on each card.
What is Naxos horse riding and what does a ride include?
Naxos horse riding is a guided ride on horseback on the island of Naxos. Centres run beach rides, countryside rides, sunset rides, lessons and private rides for beginners and advanced riders. A trained guide or instructor leads, and the centre provides the horse.
Naxos horse riding covers more than one kind of outing. One centre runs beach rides, countryside rides and sunset rides, plus lessons for children and adults and private tours. Riders can also find trail rides, a ride under a full moon and therapeutic riding on the island.
If you plan to cross into Turkey as well, the homepage also lists Turkey tours.
Length depends on the format and the centre. One centre sells rides of one, two or three hours. Another puts its rides at one to two hours. A third centre puts its group ride at about one hour. Its private ride takes about an hour for an experienced rider and an hour and a half for a beginner.
A group ride is shared with other riders, and a private ride is booked as a separate option. Tours at one club run for individuals or for groups all day long. At the third centre, the private ride adjusts its route and pace to the rider’s level.
Naxos horse riding leaves the main choices to the rider. One centre sells morning, afternoon and sunset rides. A club with a sunset tour offers it as a two-hour or a three-hour ride. Riders also pick a group ride or a private one. At another centre they pick a beach route or a countryside route.
Leaders differ by centre. At one, trained guides lead the rides and share information about the island and its culture. At another, an experienced instructor or trainer leads with an assistant, and a trainer stays beside each child throughout. Trained people lead Naxos horse riding at both of these centres.
The centre provides the horses and ponies. At one centre they are trained to suit different abilities. Helmets are provided on the ride at one centre. A second centre provides a professional guide and names helmets as safety equipment for children. At both of these centres, the horses come with the ride.
Naxos horse riding suits beginners and more advanced riders. One centre welcomes riders of all levels, from introductory rides to advanced trails. Ponies carry children beside adults on bigger horses. At another centre, children’s rides use ponies and small donkeys. Riding tours are open to adults and children.
Lessons are part of Naxos horse riding too. Horse riding schools on the island give lessons for everyone, and courses for all ages run beside the tours. One centre teaches children and adults. Children can also follow their parents on a ride or take lessons from experts.
Extras differ by format. Photos are taken during the group tour at one centre, while its private ride gives photos of the rider alone. That centre also lets a private ride join an event, and the group ride does not allow this. These extras belong to that centre’s rides, not to every ride on the island.
Where does Naxos horse riding go and what do you see on the ride?
Naxos horse riding leaves from a riding school just outside Naxos Town and heads for the sand. On the Agios Georgios ride, you reach the sandy beach closest to town and ride beside shallow, transparent water. The sunset ride adds the sun going down over the sea.
Naxos Town sits on the west side of the island, and the rides begin close to it. On the Agios Georgios ride, the meeting point is a riding school just outside the town, also called Chora. Other riding schools stand on the outskirts of the town and at Plaka beach.
Naxos horse riding on this route reaches a beach about 1 kilometre from the port. It lies about three minutes from the main town, Chora. Fine sand lies on the shore and continues into the water. The water is transparent and shallow. The beach suits families and keeps you close to the life of the island.
Agios Georgios is the beach of Chora, the main town of the island. On the map, the town stops at this beach on its western side. The bay is small and sheltered, and its calm water makes it a meeting point for young and old alike.
Naxos horse riding in the afternoon becomes a sunset ride on this beach. The sun sets over the sea, and you see Paros across the bay.
Other Naxos beaches look quite different from Agios Georgios.
- Agios Prokopios has dazzling white sand and turquoise water.
- Agia Anna has tavernas almost at the water’s edge, and a small harbour with fishing boats.
- Plaka is quiet and simple, with sand dunes along its full length.
- Alyko and Pyrgaki have sand dunes, cedar trees and quiet.
Near Chora, the coast changes from bay to dune. A dirt road runs between saltpans and sand dunes on the way to Agios Prokopios. A cycling route on this stretch also crosses an area of cultivated fields.
Naxos horse riding in the south-west covers more than sand. One ride starts in the hills near its stable and then follows the beaches of south-west Naxos. That corner of the island has sand dunes with juniper trees. The coast also holds seasonal wetlands, such as the lagoons of Mikri Vigla and Agios Prokopios.
The island is surrounded by the clear, dark blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Its beaches run from long sandy shores to quiet rocky coves, and the water along them is crystal clear. The warm breeze carries the scent of wild oregano, thyme and spartium.
Riders can explore scenic trails and valleys. Seasonal streams cut ravines across the island, with plane trees and oleanders. Naxos horse riding also reaches the cobbled streets of traditional villages.
Naxos horse riding near the town also mixes land and water. One route runs first along a bamboo path and then onto the beach. One club near the town runs rides over sandy beaches, mountain paths and forests. Another riding centre takes its excursions into the waves.
How does Naxos horse riding work for beginners and for experienced riders?
Naxos horse riding matches the pace to the rider. At one centre, a beginner gets basic training and a walk. An experienced rider there has the chance of a gallop. A private ride at another centre allows a trot and canter.
Preparation comes before the saddle. A Naxos centre gives an inexperienced rider the basic training needed before the ride. The same centre supplies the equestrian equipment that protects the rider’s body. At that centre, Naxos horse riding for a first-timer begins with instruction and equipment, and the ride follows.
Riding instruction teaches mounting from the left, the traditional side. The rider checks that the girth is snug and gathers the reins in the left hand. Next the rider steps up on a mounting block and puts the left foot in the stirrup. Then the rider settles gently into the saddle.
For a beginner, Naxos horse riding is a walk. One centre calls the beginner ride a pleasurable walk. At a second centre, the group ride goes at walking pace only. Its private ride adjusts the pace to the rider’s level. The walk is a four-beat gait that averages about 7 kilometres per hour.
Balance starts with a straight line. Seen from the side, a vertical line runs from the rider’s ear through the shoulder and hip to the heel. The heel points down. The head stays up, with the eyes looking ahead. The rider sits equally across both seat bones.
Speed is for riders with experience. One Naxos centre says experienced riders have the chance to gallop. At another centre, an experienced rider on the private ride can trot and canter throughout the tour. Naxos horse riding at a faster pace follows the rider’s level.
The trot is a two-beat gait that averages about 13 kilometres per hour. The canter is a controlled three-beat gait. Its average speed runs from 16 to 27 kilometres per hour. In the hunt seat, the rider stays in balance with the horse in every gait.
Naxos horse riding draws on more than one type of horse. One centre keeps ponies for children and ex-racehorses for advanced riders. At another, island-born horses and ponies form the larger share of the stock, joined by horses from nearby islands. Horses are sure-footed and highly intelligent animals.
Tack is the gear on the horse. A girth fastens the saddle to the horse’s back. Stirrups support the rider’s feet, and reins run from the bit to the rider’s hands. For Naxos horse riding, ask the centre to confirm a helmet, which protects the rider’s head in a fall.
Care for the horses is a stated aim. At one centre, the instructor helps with the proper care of the horses and manages the stables. A Naxos centre has open-stable paddocks. Two centres state a commitment to their animals: one speaks of love and care, the other of exceptional care.
Dismounting follows set steps. The rider puts both reins in the left hand and takes both feet out of the stirrups. Then the rider leans forward, swings the right leg over the horse’s rump and slides down to the ground. Afterwards the reins go over the horse’s head, and the stirrups are run up.
When does Naxos horse riding run and what do the booking rules say?
Naxos horse riding runs all year at one centre, closed on Sundays. Its sunset tour belongs to the peak months, late spring to October. Morning, afternoon and sunset slots exist. Age, weight and health limits differ by ride, so read each card.
The calendar of Naxos horse riding has a peak and an off-season. One centre is open all year, daily except Sundays. Its sunset tour is the highlight of the peak season, from late spring to October. Outside that window, the same centre offers tailored tours to advanced riders from October to April.
The meltemi is the wind of the Aegean summer. Across the central Aegean it blows from the north, from late spring until mid-September. It blows periodically, not every day. It tempers the summer heat of the region, which is fierce at times.
Heat sets the rhythm for the horses as well. Horse-welfare advice for hot weather says to ride in the morning or late evening, when the day is coolest. It also asks for shade and clean water for the horses. Naxos horse riding has a morning slot and a sunset slot, which match those two cool times.
Start times differ by ride. The ride-and-swim outing along the Aegean coast starts at half past ten in the morning. At one centre, the afternoon rides in summer take in part of the sunset. Sunset moves through the year, so pick your date first and read the start time on the card.
Naxos horse riding sets its limits ride by ride. Take the countryside and beach ride. It is unsuitable for children under 10, riders over 91 kilograms and anyone under 140 centimetres. Pregnancy and back problems also rule it out. The ride-and-swim outing takes guests aged 13 and over.
A ride that enters the sea changes the packing. The ride-and-swim outing asks for swimwear, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses, and it provides a large towel for each guest. At one centre, the private rides include a swim with the horses.
Shoes come first when you dress for a ride. A smooth sole and a small heel suit the stirrup, while trainers and heavy-tread shoes do not. The ride-and-swim outing asks for closed-toe shoes. Riding advice also calls for long trousers. Gloves help against blisters from the reins.
Sun care covers the hours before and after the saddle. Use sunscreen of at least factor 30 and apply it again every two hours. A broad-rimmed hat keeps the sun off your face and neck. In hot weather, drink extra fluids and skip alcohol. A plan for sun and thirst belongs in every Naxos horse riding day.
At one centre, every booking needs a reservation made by contact. A call or a messaging app brings the faster answer. Online, each tour card on this page lists open dates for Naxos horse riding in real time. Pick the date and the slot, and the card shows what is free.
Terms sit with each ride. On the ride-and-swim outing, a cancellation one day or more ahead returns your money in full. That outing meets guests at a square in Naxos Town. One centre offers pickup from your hotel by car or jeep. Read the meeting-point line on your card before the day.