Kos Horse Riding

Kos horse riding is a guided ride on horseback on the island of Kos, along the sandy north coast near Marmari and the Alyki salt lake or inland past fields and dunes, led by an instructor from one of the island’s riding stables. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.

The sections below cover the ride formats, the stables, the beach and salt lake route, beginners and children, sunset rides, what to wear, the length of a ride, the months that suit it and booking, with links into the Kos pages. The rides shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.

What is Kos horse riding?

Kos horse riding is a guided ride on a trained horse or pony along the sand dunes, the beach and the salt lake on the north coast of Kos, plus inland trails near Kardamena on the south coast, with tuition for beginners.

Kos is a Dodecanese island of 42.1 by 11.5 kilometres, lying south of Kalymnos and Pserimos and north of Nisyros. Its north shore between Tigaki and Marmari has open sand, dunes and a salt lake, and Kos horse riding there follows the shoreline, in and out of the water’s edge. The island tourism office counts about six therapeutic and athletic riding centres and notes that the stables supply safety equipment for every ride.

Horses also hold a place in island tradition. On St George’s name day, 23 April, the village of Pyli stages a horse race every year, and local riders keep horses for it. For visitors, Kos horse riding is a land-based option beside kitesurfing at Tigaki and the other activities collected on the things to do in Kos page. No riding background is needed: the tourism office lists tours for beginners and experts alike.

The yards cater for whole families. The tourism office lists sitting areas, snack bars and playgrounds among the facilities at the riding centres, so non-riders have a place to wait while the group is out. That makes Kos horse riding a family outing as well as an hour in the saddle for the riders.

Which Kos horse riding experiences can you book?

Kos horse riding comes in six bookable formats: the one-hour beach ride with an instructor, rides for first-time riders, riding club lessons, sunrise, sunset and moonlight rides, swimming trips with the horses, and pony rides for young children.

• Beach ride with an instructor: sold online through GetYourGuide and Viator.
• Arena lesson for first-time riders: given free at Salt Lake Stables before the ride.
• Riding and archery lessons: taught at the Riding Club of Kos.
• Sunrise, sunset, night and moonlight rides: run by Salt Lake Stables.
• Swimming trip with the horses: run by Salt Lake Stables and Erika’s Horse Farm.
• Pony rides: run for young children at the riding centres.

The online Kos horse riding format is the GetYourGuide tour Kos: Horse Riding Experience on the Beach with Instructor. It lasts 1 hour, runs as a small group and offers pickup. An instructor leads the horses down the beach and stays with the group for the full hour. Viator lists a ride under the title Horse Riding Experience on the Beach with Instructor.

First-time riders get instruction before they reach the sand: at Salt Lake Stables, a short free lesson in the arena comes before the ride begins. For structured tuition, the Riding Club of Kos teaches riding from the age of 6 and adds archery lessons from the age of 8. The club suits families who want Kos horse riding lessons rather than a single outing on the beach.

Swimming trips take horses and riders out into the sea, and the island tourism office keeps them for experienced riders only. Pony rides cover the other end of the scale, and the office lists them for young children. Beach formats of Kos horse riding run on both coasts, between Tigaki and Marmari in the north and around Kardamena in the south, two stretches of the shoreline set out on the Kos beaches page.

Where do the Kos horse riding stables operate?

Kos horse riding stables operate on the north coast between Tigaki and Marmari, beside the Alyki salt lake, and on the south coast at Kardamena; each yard runs guided rides for beginners, children and experienced riders, with horses matched to each level.

Salt Lake Stables is a small family business on the beach between Tigaki and Marmari, about 1.2 km from the Alyki salt lake. Its Kos horse riding menu covers pony rides plus 30-minute, 1-hour and 2-hour rides on the beach and around the salt lake. Ponies carry children, separate horses carry first-time riders, and Warmbloods and Andalusians carry experienced riders. Two guides go out with every small group, a transfer service collects riders from hotels, and riders’ families use a free drinks bar.

Erika’s Horse Farm is a family-run stable at Marmari, and its guided rides use the sand of Marmari beach. Staff match each horse to the rider’s size, skill level, age and weight. Its Kos horse riding programme covers beach rides in the morning, in the afternoon, at sunset and under the full moon, plus swimming with the horses. Deer, chickens and rabbits share the farm with the horses.

On the south coast, a riding centre at Kardamena takes riders through olive groves into the hills around the town or along the beach. Kardamena sits mid-way along that coast, 7 km from the island airport at Antimachia, while Tigaki lies about 10 km west of Kos town. Kos horse riding therefore has a base on each coast: the north-coast yards near Tigaki and Marmari, and the Kardamena yard near the south-coast resorts and the airport.

What does a Kos horse riding route along the beach and the salt lake show?

A Kos horse riding route between Tigaki and Marmari on the north coast runs along open sand, crosses the dunes and circles the Alykes salt lake, a protected Natura network wetland where flamingos gather during the spring and autumn migrations.

Salt Lake Stables sits on the beach between Tigaki and Marmari and describes its riding ground as wide open spaces with no streets. Tigaki village lies about 10 kilometres west of Kos Town and about 400 metres from the lake. Kos horse riding here uses the long shore that runs from Tigaki beach towards Marmari, and on the seaside stretches the horses walk straight into the water.

Behind the dunes lies the Alykes lake, a heart-shaped former salt pan whose old salt-works buildings still stand. Reedbeds, wild canes, rushes and tamarisks fringe the water, and salt-tolerant plants grow on the dunes between the lake and the sea. In summer the lake dries out and leaves an all-white crust of salt. The Alyki salt lake page covers the wetland in detail; a Kos horse riding tour shows it from the saddle while circling its shore.

Greater flamingos and ruddy shelducks rest on the lake during the spring and autumn migrations. Pelicans, herons and spur-winged lapwings use the same wetland, and water turtles live in the lagoon. A Kos horse riding outing in either migration season therefore doubles as a birdwatching ride, with the flocks in view from the lake path. Four landmarks frame the route:

• Pserimos, an inhabited island about 3.5 kilometres north of Tigaki
• Platy, an uninhabited island at the same distance
• Kalymnos, the larger island behind Pserimos
• The Alykes lake, ringed by a circuit of about 4 kilometres

Can beginners and children join Kos horse riding?

Yes, Kos horse riding welcomes complete beginners and children: the Riding Club of Kos teaches riding from age 6, pony rides suit younger children, and Erika’s Horse Farm matches each horse to the rider’s size, skill, age and weight.

Beginners get instruction before they reach the beach. Salt Lake Stables gives first-time riders a free lesson in its arena before the ride, keeps groups small and sends two guides with every group. The bookable beach ride with an instructor includes riding instructions as part of the outing, so Kos horse riding needs no previous time in the saddle.

Children have their own options. The Riding Club of Kos pairs its riding lessons with archery lessons from age 8. The beach ride with an instructor sells a child ticket for ages 17 and younger next to the adult ticket for ages 18 to 99. Selected stables keep farm animals such as deer, llamas, geese, chickens and rabbits. The Kos with kids page lists family plans beyond the stables.

Weight is handled through the choice of horse. Salt Lake Stables keeps large, heavy breeds so riders of all heights and weights sit comfortably. Erika’s Horse Farm fits children with protective vests on top of the standard riding kit. The beach ride with an instructor is not suitable for people with back problems, and swimming with horses stays reserved for experienced riders, so Kos horse riding for a first-timer keeps to the sand and the lake path.

How does Kos horse riding work at sunset?

Sunset Kos horse riding is a timed outing that leaves the stable in the late afternoon and follows the beach and the salt lake shore as the light drops; Salt Lake Stables runs it beside sunrise, night and moonlight rides.

The sunset ride follows the same pattern as a daytime outing: kit on, the arena lesson for beginners, then the group heads out along the sand between Tigaki and Marmari. The difference is the clock. The start time moves with the sun through the season, so the departure comes later in midsummer than in spring and autumn.

The salt lake is the reason riders pick this hour. Photographers come to the heart-shaped lake at sunset, and in the spring and autumn migrations the flamingos are on the water as the sky changes colour. Coastal rides with sunset views run on Marmari and Tigaki beach near the lake, which keeps the whole Kos horse riding route on open ground as the light fades.

Riders who want more time in the dark book the night ride or the moonlight ride, and early risers take the sunrise ride over the same ground. The north-coast stables also serve guests from the south coast: the beach ride with an instructor lists a pickup at the main square of Kardamena, so Kos horse riding stays within reach of that resort.

What do riders wear and bring for Kos horse riding?

Kos horse riding needs no special clothing of your own: the stables lend helmets, boots, chaps and gloves, so riders arrive in light clothes and bring sun protection, a phone or camera and, for the swimming ride, swimwear.

Salt Lake Stables hands every rider a full outfit of hats, boots, socks, trousers, chaps and gloves, and adds bags for cameras and phones that keep both hands free for the reins. Erika’s Horse Farm treats helmets, riding boots, chaps and gloves as standard equipment for every Kos horse riding outing. The stable’s own boots replace beach sandals and flip-flops, which have no place in a stirrup.

Drinks are covered at Salt Lake Stables, which runs a free drinks bar for riders and the families who come to watch. Kos has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, so sun protection matters more than warm layers on a daytime Kos horse riding outing. Pack these four items for the ride:

• Sun cream and a pair of sunglasses for the open beach
• A phone or camera, carried in the stable’s bag
• Swimwear and a towel for the swimming ride
• Light clothes that cover the legs under the chaps

How long does Kos horse riding last, and what is included?

A standard Kos horse riding experience on the beach lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour, with an instructor, a helmet and hotel transport included. Longer rides of 2 hours, and swimming trips of up to 3 hours, run from the Salt Lake Stables.

Ride lengths for Kos horse riding differ by listing and by stable. The GetYourGuide beach ride with an instructor gives a duration of 1 hour, and the same ride sold on Viator lists 45 minutes. The Salt Lake Stables between Tigaki and Marmari sell four standard lengths: pony rides for children, 30 minutes, 1 hour and 2 hours. Beginners there take a free lesson in the arena before the ride starts. The listings and the stable name these inclusions:

• A professional instructor who leads the ride on the sand
• A riding helmet for every rider
• Private transport from selected hotels and pickup points
• Riding outfits in all sizes at the Salt Lake Stables
• Bags for cameras and phones during the ride
• A free drinks bar for riders and their families

Pickup for Kos horse riding covers selected hotels and meeting points in Kos town, Tigaki, Kardamena main square and Mastichari. The Viator listing excludes pickup from the Kefalos area, so riders staying in the south-west of the island arrange their own transport to the yard. The GetYourGuide listing marks the ride as a small group with pickup available and an instructor who speaks English.

The tour listings name the instructor, the helmet and the transport, not insurance, so riders check that their own travel policy covers horse riding before the day. Neither listing names a photo package either. The Salt Lake Stables hand out bags for cameras and phones, and riders carry their own devices to take pictures of the beach and the salt lake from the saddle.

Which months and hours suit Kos horse riding?

Kos horse riding suits late spring, June, September and October, when average daily highs sit between 25 and 28.5°C. In July and August, highs reach 30.4 to 31°C, so riders pick the sunrise and sunset slots that the stables offer.

Climate records for Kos show a dry riding season from late spring to September, with no rainfall at all in July and August. Rain returns in October with 36.3 mm and builds through winter: November averages 106 mm and January 214.7 mm, the wettest month of the year. Average daily highs and rainfall for each riding month run as follows, and the full month-by-month picture for beaches and sightseeing sits on the page about when to visit Kos.

• April: average highs of 20°C and 40.6 mm of rain
• Late spring: average highs of 25°C and 7.2 mm of rain
• June: average highs of 28.5°C and 13.8 mm of rain
• July and August: average highs of 30.4 to 31°C and no rain
• September: average highs of 28.5°C and 5.2 mm of rain
• October: average highs of 25.7°C and 36.3 mm of rain

The hour of the ride matters as much as the month. Alongside the daytime menu, the Salt Lake Stables list sunrise rides, sunset rides, night rides and moonlight rides, so riders in July and August stay off the open sand during the hottest hours. A sunrise or morning Kos horse riding slot also leaves the rest of the day free for a Kos jeep safari or an afternoon on the beach. The GetYourGuide ride shows its open dates in the booking calendar.

How do you book and cancel Kos horse riding?

Kos horse riding books online through the GetYourGuide or Viator listing, or directly with a stable. The GetYourGuide ride needs booking at least 10 hours ahead and offers free cancellation, while Viator refunds in full up to 24 hours before departure.

The GetYourGuide booking form for Kos horse riding splits riders into two groups: adults aged 18 to 99 and children aged 17 and younger. Each booking takes up to 6 riders in each group, which fits the small-group format of the ride. The listing closes 10 hours before each start, so a ride for the next morning needs booking by the previous evening. The booking runs in five steps:

• Pick the date on the booking calendar
• Enter the number of adults and children
• Add the hotel name for the pickup
• Confirm the booking at least 10 hours before the start
• Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund on Viator

Free cancellation on GetYourGuide and the 24-hour rule on Viator let riders move a Kos horse riding date when plans change. A cancellation inside the final 24 hours does not qualify for the full Viator refund. Riders who book straight with the Salt Lake Stables request the transfer service at the same time, and the stable collects them from the hotel. Travellers moving on to Rhodes compare the stables there on the Rhodes horse riding page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can riders swim with the horses on Kos?

Yes. Kos horse riding includes swimming trips, in which horses and riders go into the sea together. The official tourism site of Kos limits swimming with horses to experienced riders. The Salt Lake Stables list rides that run up to 3 hours with the swim included, alongside their shorter beach routes. Beginners start with the 30-minute and 1-hour rides on the sand instead.

Is Kos horse riding open to pregnant riders or riders with back injuries?

No. The Viator listing for the beach ride with an instructor does not recommend Kos horse riding for pregnant travellers or for travellers with spinal injuries. Outside those two groups, the same listing rates the ride as suitable for all physical fitness levels, and a professional instructor leads beginners and experienced riders alike. Riders with another medical condition raise it with the stable when they book.

Can non-riders wait at the stables during a ride?

Yes. The Salt Lake Stables run a free drinks bar for riders and their families, so partners and children who skip Kos horse riding wait at the yard. The official tourism site of Kos also lists riding centres on the island with sitting areas, snack bars, playgrounds and farms with domestic animals, which keep younger children busy while the group rides on the beach.

Does Kos have riding centres beyond the beach stables?

Yes. The official tourism site of Kos counts about six therapeutic and athletic riding centres on the island, so Kos horse riding also covers lessons and therapy riding away from the sand. The Riding Club of Kos teaches riding and runs archery from the age of 8, and the club has hosted the Panhellenic Archery Competitions.