8 Day Magical Horse Riding Holiday with Breathtaking Scenery in Glyki, Thesprotia

Facilities

Day 1: Arrival day

Transfer from the airport and arrival at the hotel. During the informative welcome dinner, you get to meet your hosts and your riding team.

Day 2

After breakfast, you head to the farm to see the horses. Once the horses are shared, you take your first trail towards the Acheron river (two hours riding). After the trail riding, you enjoy a light lunch at the hotel. In the evening, you explore together the protected spring area of the river.

Day 3

In the morning, you take your horses to a long trail and visit a picturesque Byzantine monastery where you enjoy a picnic-breakfast. The trail takes about four hours after which you can enjoy a light lunch at the hotel. In the evening, you are free to try any other activities on the river, such as trekking, kayaking, rafting, cycling, etc.

Day 4

After breakfast at the hotel, you take your horses for a trail to the springs of Acheron where you leave the horses to take a rest when you try kayaking together. After kayaking, you enjoy lunch at a taverna by the river and afterward, return to the farm. In the afternoon, there is a possibility to go to Loutsa beach together with the group.

Day 5

The horses have a free day so after taking care of them we visit the old Souli villages up at the mountains and enjoy a light lunch at a traditional cafeteria. In the evening, there is a possibility to visit Parga (tourist town) with the group.

Day 6

You take your horses for a mountain trail early in the morning. After two to three hours riding, you eat picnic-breakfast and head back to the farm. In the evening, you can learn how to cook traditional Greek dishes with the village ladies.

Day 7

After the breakfast at the hotel, you head to the river with your horses. This time, you get to have fun in the water and even try swimming with your horses! The photographer will come with the team to take memorable pictures. After lunch, there is a possibility to go to the beach with the group or try other activities.

Day 8: Free day

You can choose your activity such as riding, rafting, kayaking, trekking, etc. You enjoy a festive lunch together after which you will be transferred back to the airport.

Rafting

Rafting is a great way to experience the river with your friends and family. The river is very easy and excellent for children and beginners! You will have a qualified rafting instructor with you during the whole trip. You can also take your camera with you. You and your group will be taken back to the starting point with Pony Club’s minibus. Pony Club will provide helmets and life jackets to everyone.

Kayaking

If you are looking for more adrenaline, then this one is for you! There are inflatable single and double kayaks to choose from. This time you will definitely get wet so leave all your valuable items in your car or with the team. The trip is the same as with rafting.

Trekking

Acheron river, Glyki, Souli, mountains… These are all perfect for exploring nature. Nature here is unique and if you are lucky, you might spot new types of birds or herbs or even have a glimpse of wild mountain horses.

The spring area is easy to access and is suitable for families even with little children. The trails up to the mountains are a little bit trickier but reachable. If you are interested in having a guide with you to show you the route and tell you interesting stories about the Souliotes and their heritage.

Pony Club Acheron is located in a unique spot, in a village called Glyki, where the magical Acheron river flows down from the mountains.

Acheron River

Acheron is a 58-kilometer long river starting near Ioannina, Epirus region. It flows into the Ionian Sea in Ammoudia, near Parga. In Greek mythology, Acheron was known as the river of Underworld. The souls of the newly dead were carried to the Underworld by Hades’ ferryman Charon. Of course, you had to pay Charos two coins to get there and if you couldn’t afford it, your soul was left to the banks of the river.

Acheron also flows through the Necromantion, where the very famous and popular oracle of Necromantion could talk to the dead. The ruins of Necromantion still exists.

Glyki

A village called Glyki lies at the bottom of the valley, where part of the river comes down from the mountains through a canyon. This is the place where the most Springs of Acheron are. Above the canyon is Soulis Castle, where a war between Greeks and Turks were taken place.

Nowadays, it is believed that in the Christian Era there was a monstrous Draco who ruled the river and the once so clean water was turned poisonous by its venomous fangs. The villagers had to sacrifice one maiden girl every year in order to keep the Drago satisfied. Fortunately, a fearless man called Donatos came to the rescue. He managed to kill the Drago with his sword and he saved the villagers by turning the water back to clear and drinkable. He was then declared Saint Donatos and he is still the Saint of Glyki. You can still find a lot of small monasteries dedicated to him.

Acheron river has been acknowledged by its strange energy that attracts spiritual people of all kind. There are many stories of a strange healing power that lies beyond the surface of the clear water. It was believed that Acheron had miraculous powers and could make someone invulnerable. According to one tradition, Achilles was dipped in it in his childhood, acquiring invulnerability, with exception of his heel, by which his mother held him. This is the source of the expression Achilles’ heel, a metaphor for a vulnerable spot.

The nature around the river is very rich with flora and fauna and it is protected by the EU’s Natura 2000 program.

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Breakfast and lunch are included in the price. Dinner and other snacks are chargeable. The hotel serves breakfast every morning and some of the lunches. There are many nice and affordable grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, and cafeterias around the village.

All the transportation required by the program is arranged by Pony Club. In addition, you can rent a bike from the hotel and most of the places and services are at walking distance.

• 7 nights accommodation in a double room
• Activities (horse riding, kayaking, rafting etc.)
• Breakfast and meals as mentioned in the program
• Local transportation

• Other personal expenses

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.