Arion Stables & Apartments

We loved how quiet and close to nature Arion felt, with animals around and amazing views every morning. The room was comfortable, clean, and had what we needed, and the hosts were kind and made us feel at home. The food was fresh and made with local ingredients, a great taste of Crete without the usual tourist fare. We also enjoyed riding the horses through the countryside, which was such a special way to see the area. We stayed a week and would happily come back to explore more of the island.

The walk through the olive trees had lovely views, and the owners were so welcoming. They looked after my mum and me carefully as beginners. You can see how gently they connect with the horses, and the horses are very well trained. We were lucky to find this place!

George picked us up from our hotel for a very reasonable price, then Zara, the leading lady, guided our hour-long ride through the vineyard and up into the mountains. It was a real pleasure. We found Arion Stables through Google, and the strong reviews convinced us to book. We're glad we did. The horses are clearly content and treated wonderfully. I'd recommend it to riders of any experience level, the people and horses are lovely.

I tried two different rides on separate days, one in a carriage through the village and one alone on horseback in the mountains. The village route passed a beautiful church, where we stopped to look inside, and the horses sometimes went very fast, which was fun. The mountain ride was comfortable even though it was my first time riding, so it worked well for an inexperienced rider. Jorge, Zara, their family, and the helpers were wonderful and full of information. They clearly care a lot for the horses. While waiting, you can look around the stables, which also have a nice little range of animals.