HORSERIDING-COUNTRY HOTEL

Odysseia organizes quality horse riding holidays on the sunny island of Crete in Greece.
Odysseia is open the whole year.
Our horse riding holidays include a stay in our own Equestrian Country Hotel Veláni**** with swimming pool and half board, the horse riding with a professional guide and good horses. The equestrian centre and hotel are located on a 4 hectare large estate close to the village Avdou.
The different horse riding holidays we offer are:
The Lassithi Trek, an adventurous guided or unguided trail (6 riding days) for the experienced rider, taking you over the Dikti Mountains to the Libyan Sea.
Or the Panorama Rides, stay in the comfort of The County Hotel Veláni**** and ride every day out for a new beautiful day trip through the Lagada Valley. You prefer to combine the horse riding with relaxing or other activities than the Sunny Rides is ideal for you.
Groups are split according to their level of horse riding. You don't know any horse riding, no problem. We also offer a Starters Course in which we learn beginners horse riding in a safe environment and take you out for easy hacks in the end of the course.
In the equestrian centre you are also welcome for horse riding lessons, day trips or 2 hour horse rides.
But for everybody who wants to see the real Greece, meet the Cretans and feel their honest and warm hospitality, experience the quiet and beautiful nature, see breathtaking views and you have a love for horses, then Odysseia is the place to be.
Join in a modern Odyssey of experience and adventure, and only then shall your heart beat in rhythms long forgotten!

COUNTRY HOTEL
Nature, wildlife, serene quietness and panoramic views combined with sports... Welcome to our Country Hotel****.

The country hotel has:
• 12 large and comfortable rooms
• a restaurant with panoramic view
• a café with Mediterranean terrace
• a large swimming pool
• and our own equestrian centre

The estate is 3,5 hectare large and located in the country side of the village Avdou, in the province of Heraklion, on the island of Crete in Greece.

The moment you arrive on the hillside of the country hotel you immediately experience the serene quietness and the tremendous panoramic view. Under the hotel stretches the Lagada Valley with the Apposelemis River crossing through, above the hotel rise the red coloured peaks of the Dikti Mountains. Birds of prey, like the Griffon Vulture, glide along these peaks.
The estate is surrounded by protected Kermes Oak forest and olive groves stretching down to the valley. On the estate many protected trees and flowers can be found, like different types of beautiful orchids.

The country hotel suits its surrounding as it is built with real natural stones collected from the land it stands on, giving it a robust and natural look. The hotel has a neo-classic style creating a romantic atmosphere for long summer nights.

The main building houses the reception and a romantic bar with a large balcony on witch you can drink your Greek coffee or Rakí. In the main building you also find the Panorama Restaurant with its large terrace overlooking the riding place and the valley. The restaurant serves the Cretan diet which is famous for being healthy and the use of olive oil. The olive oil is our own produce by the olive grove of the estate.

Our small country hotel has 12 rooms which are grouped into 2 bungalows each housing 6 hotel rooms. The bungalows lay quietly separate from the main activities. The hotel rooms are large and comfortable and all have a tremendous view over the valley. Each hotel room has a large bathroom with bathtub.

All our rooms are designed to give you a feeling of relaxing and freedom by living outdoors.
The rooms are grouped into bungalows which lie quietly separate from the main activities and are surrounded by nature.
The rooms are large and comfortable and all have a tremendous view over the Lagada Valley.

The rooms have a terrace or balcony with valley view, a large bathrooms with a bathtub,
telephone, central heating and air-conditioning.