Paros horse riding is a guided ride of one and a half to three hours from a stable in the island’s interior, walking and trotting across dry-stone terraces to a beach at Molos or Santa Maria, with helmets, a guide and a swim with the horse on part of the programmes. Plan the rest of the island with Greece Tours.
This page covers the ride in full: where the stables sit and where the routes go, the prices, the horses and how the yards are run, what changes for beginners and for children, the beach and swimming ride, what to wear, and when the season runs.
What is a Paros horse riding tour and what happens during it?
A Paros horse riding tour is a guided ride of 1.5 to 3 hours from an inland stable, walking and trotting across dry-stone terraces toward a beach, with helmets, a guide and, on selected programmes, a swim beside the horse included.
The structure is fixed across the island’s centres. Riders arrive 15 minutes early, sign a liability form, receive a fitted helmet, and meet the horse assigned to their height and weight. A groom shortens or lengthens the stirrup leathers at the mounting block. The guide then leads the group out of the paddock gate in single file, keeping a walking pace for the first 10 to 15 minutes while the horses settle. The Paros horse riding stables state this at booking.
The route crosses the terraced hinterland between Kampos, Lefkes and Marpissa, following field tracks bordered by dry-stone walls, olive groves, fig trees and abandoned threshing floors. On the flat sections the guide calls a trot for stretches of 200 to 400 metres. Groups of 4 to 10 riders stay within voice range, with one guide at the front and, on larger rides, a second rider closing the line. It decides which Paros horse riding route runs.
The final third of a coastal programme drops toward the sand. Horses walk into water up to their knees, and on swim programmes riders dismount, remove the saddle and re-mount bareback while the horse swims 20 to 40 metres in the shallows. Riders who prefer the terraces to the shoreline pair this activity with Paros hiking on the Byzantine Road, which crosses the same valley on foot in 2.5 hours. Every Paros horse riding group works to it.
Where do the stables sit on the island and where do the rides actually go?
Paros stables cluster in the eastern and central interior around Kampos, Marpissa and the Lefkes valley, sending rides down to Molos, Santa Maria, Golden Beach and, from the northern base, the granite coves of Kolymbithres.
From Parikia, the drive east on the main Parikia–Naoussa–Marpissa road reaches the Kampos and Marpissa stables in 20 to 25 minutes over 17 km. From Naoussa the same yards sit 15 minutes away across 11 km. Lefkes, at 300 metres of altitude in the centre of the island, is 25 minutes from Parikia and 30 minutes from Piso Livadi. Parking at each yard is on packed gravel, free, and shaded by tamarisk or eucalyptus. Every Paros horse riding group works to it.
The Marpissa and Kampos routes descend the eastern slope toward Molos, a 1.2 km sand and dune beach with a shallow gradient that suits horses in water. Santa Maria, north of Naoussa, receives rides from the northern yard along a sandy track behind the dunes. Golden Beach, 3 km south of Molos, takes the longer 3-hour programme. Kolymbithres, with its wind-carved granite, hosts short shoreline walks rather than swim sessions. The Paros horse riding price reflects it.
Riders planning routes across the island fit the stable visit into a wider Paros itinerary that already covers Naoussa harbour, the marble quarries at Marathi and the mountain village of Lefkes. Paros horse riding sits well on the second or third day, once the drive times between the eastern beaches and the two ports are familiar. A Paros horse riding ride is planned around that.
What does Paros horse riding cost and what is included in the fare?
Paros horse riding costs 55 to 75 euros for a 1.5-hour group ride, 80 to 110 euros for the sunset ride with a swim, and 120 to 180 euros for a private ride for two riders with a dedicated guide.
The base fare covers the horse, the fitted helmet, the guide, third-party insurance and drinking water at the yard. Body protectors, where stocked, add nothing to the price. Photographs taken by the guide on a phone or GoPro are handed over free at three of the island’s yards and charged at 10 to 15 euros at the rest. Transfers from Parikia or Naoussa hotels run 10 to 20 euros per vehicle. A Paros horse riding ride is planned around that.
Deposits of 20 to 30 euros are taken by card at booking through the stable website or a booking platform, with the balance paid in cash or by card at the yard on the day. Cash remains the preferred settlement at the smaller family-run centres near Kampos, where card terminals depend on mobile signal. Tips for grooms sit at 5 euros per rider. Paros horse riding books out on that count in August.
Set against other island activities, the pricing is mid-band. A half-day catamaran cruise to Antiparos runs 90 to 140 euros, and a guided quad excursion 60 to 90 euros, figures worth comparing when selecting among Paros tours. The 3-hour Golden Beach programme, at 95 to 130 euros, is the longest saddle time sold on the island. The Paros horse riding guides brief it before mounting.
What horses do the stables keep and how are the animals cared for?
Cycladic yards keep Arabians, Andalusians, Lusitano crosses and Greek Skyros ponies in herds of 8 to 20 animals, shod every 6 to 8 weeks, vaccinated annually, and rested through the midday hours in shaded paddocks with constant fresh water.
The Arabians and Arabian crosses carry the experienced riders because of their forward pace and stamina in heat. Andalusian and Lusitano types, heavier through the shoulder and calm in the water, take beginners and the swim sessions. The Skyros pony, a small native breed from the island of Skyros standing 90 to 115 cm at the withers, works the led rides for children aged 6 and over. The Paros horse riding guides brief it before mounting.
A farrier travels from Athens or Naxos every 6 to 8 weeks for shoeing and trimming. An equine vet visits for annual vaccination against tetanus and influenza, dental rasping once a year, and worming four times across the season. Feed is barley, alfalfa and hay, supplemented with electrolytes through July and August when daytime temperatures on the eastern slope reach 33 to 36°C. The Paros horse riding season turns on this.
Reading a yard before booking takes 10 minutes on arrival. Look for clean water troughs, shade cloth or trees over the paddock, hooves without cracks, girth areas free of rubs, and horses standing relaxed rather than pacing the fence line. Any Paros horse riding centre that refuses a walk around the paddock before payment is worth leaving. This is what Paros horse riding delivers on the trail.
Can beginners and children join a Paros horse riding tour?
Paros horse riding accepts complete beginners on every walking programme, children from age 6 on a led Skyros pony and from age 8 in the saddle alone, under a rider weight limit of 90 to 100 kg depending on the yard.
Every first-timer receives a 20-minute ground lesson inside the arena before departure. The groom demonstrates mounting from the left, holding the reins with contact but without pulling, sitting deep with heels down, and the two commands used on the trail: a squeeze of the calf to go forward, a slow squeeze of the fingers to halt. Riders practise walk and halt twice before the gate opens. This is what Paros horse riding delivers on the trail.
Beginner groups stay at a walk for the full 1.5 hours, with no trot called on the descent to the beach. Guides pair nervous riders with the steadiest school horses and ride alongside, sometimes on a lead rope for the first 20 minutes. Families booking a led pony session for a 6-year-old pay 25 to 40 euros for 30 minutes inside the arena and adjoining olive grove. Riders on a Paros horse riding tour meet it in the first ten minutes.
The weight limit is measured rather than estimated at the larger yards, which keep a scale at the tack room. Parents planning Paros with kids around a morning at the stable pair the 09:00 pony session with an afternoon at Livadia beach in Parikia, 20 minutes away by car. A Paros horse riding session starts with this settled.
What is the beach ride and the swim with the horse actually like?
The swim programme walks the horses into the shallows at Molos or Santa Maria, where riders remove the saddle, re-mount bareback and stay aboard for 20 to 40 metres while the horse swims in water reaching 24 to 26°C through August.
The sequence is controlled. The guide enters first, testing depth and current, then calls riders in one at a time with a 10-metre gap between horses. Saddles and helmets go to a groom waiting on the sand. Riders hold a neck strap or a handful of mane, sit upright and keep both legs loose, because a swimming horse rises and drops under the rider with each stroke of the forelegs. A Paros horse riding session starts with this settled.
Water temperature climbs from 19°C in May to 24 to 26°C in August, falling back to 22°C by mid-October. The meltemi wind, which blows from the north at force 4 to 6 through July and August, chops the surface at Santa Maria and pushes the swim session across to the sheltered southern end of Molos bay on windy afternoons. The Paros horse riding route is set by it.
Sessions run at 09:00 and 18:00 rather than midday, because sand surface temperature at 14:00 exceeds 45°C and horses overheat under saddle. Riders bring a towel and a full change of clothes; salt water dries stiff on cotton within 20 minutes. Paros horse riding operators supply dry bags for phones and car keys at the beach. The Paros horse riding timetable is built on it.
What do you wear and bring to a Paros horse riding session?
Wear long trousers and closed shoes with a heel of 1 to 2 cm, take sun cream, 1 litre of water, swimwear and a towel for beach programmes, and leave valuables locked in the car. The stable supplies the helmet.
Long trousers matter because the saddle flap and stirrup leathers rub bare calves raw within 30 minutes. Leggings, jeans or cotton chinos all work. Shorts are refused at the mounting block by the yards near Marpissa. Footwear needs a defined heel to stop the foot sliding through the stirrup; trainers with flat soles pass at walking pace, while flip-flops and sandals are refused outright. The Paros horse riding timetable is built on it.
Helmets in sizes 52 to 62 cm hang in the tack room and are fitted by a groom. Sun protection is the rider’s own responsibility: factor 50 on face, neck and forearms, applied before mounting, plus sunglasses with a retaining cord. A cap worn under the helmet blocks ventilation and is left in the car alongside watches, jewellery and loose bags. A Paros horse riding yard keeps the gear for it.
Horseflies work the paddocks of the Lefkes valley from mid-June to early September, most active between 11:00 and 16:00. Yards spray the horses with a permethrin-based repellent before each ride, and riders apply DEET to exposed skin. Mosquito activity near the water troughs peaks at dusk, which affects the 18:00 departure more than the 09:00 one across the island of Paros. That detail separates one Paros horse riding yard from the next.
When does the season run and how far ahead do rides need booking?
The season runs April to October, with departures at 09:00 and 18:00 through July and August and a compulsory midday rest for the horses between 12:00 and 17:00. Booking 2 to 5 days ahead secures a place, with free cancellation to 24 hours.
April, May, September and October carry a wider timetable, with rides at 10:00, 12:00 and 16:00 while air temperature holds between 20 and 27°C. From 1 July to 31 August, yards close the arena at noon, hose the horses down and turn them out under shade until 17:00. Evening departures at 18:00 return to the paddock between 19:30 and 20:30, tracking sunset from 20:50 in July to 19:40 in September. That detail separates one Paros horse riding yard from the next.
Group sizes hold at 4 to 10 riders, capped by the number of guides on duty. August fills first, particularly the sunset swim programme at Molos, which sells out 4 to 6 days ahead across the first three weeks of the month. Private rides for two, at 120 to 180 euros, remain available on 48 hours notice for most of the season. Stables confirm it by message when Paros horse riding is booked.
Reservations go through the stable’s own site, WhatsApp, or a platform, with a card deposit of 20 to 30 euros and free cancellation to 24 hours before departure. Rides are cancelled by the yard when the meltemi exceeds force 7, with the deposit refunded in full. Paros horse riding operators reschedule rather than refund whenever a later slot exists that week. It decides which Paros horse riding route runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Paros horse riding cost?
From 55 to 75 euros for a ride of one and a half hours in a group, 80 to 110 euros for the sunset ride with a swim, and 120 to 180 euros for a private ride for two, with helmets and the guide included.
Can beginners go horse riding on Paros?
Yes. The beginner groups walk and trot behind a guide after a 20-minute ground lesson, take riders from age eight in the saddle and six on a led pony, and carry a weight limit of 90 to 100 kg.
Where do the Paros beach rides go?
To Molos and Santa Maria on the north-east coast and to Golden Beach on the east, riding down through the terraces from the stables near Kampos and Marpissa, with the swim ride entering the shallows at sunrise or sunset.