Off-season Alternative Routes

HORSE TREK & PICNIC IN THE FOOTHILLS OF EROS MOUNTAIN

A beautiful trek, through a pine forest, up to Hydra’s highest mountain. The setting offers stunning panoramic views of the blue waters of the Saronic Gulf and Mirtoo Sea and an unspoiled landscape.

    • Duration: 90 minutes up and 90 minutes down, with a 2-hour stop for a picnic.
    • Degree of difficulty: medium
    • Period of operation: November to March
    • Included in the price: Sandwiches with homemade bread, fresh boiled eggs from our hens, fruit, homemade cake or biscuits, filter coffee, soft drinks, and water.
    • Minimum attendance: 2 people
    • Ride cost : 170€ round trip per person

HORSE TREK & PICNIC AT EPISKOPI

Following Hydra Island’s idyllic coastal route, with picturesque beaches and an old bridge (17th century), we reach the Palamidas beach and boat yard. From there, we follow the inland route to the mountain village of Episkopi, passing the Saint Marina chapel. Episkopi features open fields, olive groves, and traditional houses.

    • Duration: 2 hours up and 2 hours down, with a 10-minute stop at Saint Marina for photos and 2 hours  stop for picnic at Episkopi.
    • Degree of difficulty: medium
    • Period of operation: November to March
    • Included in the price: Sandwiches with homemade bread, fresh boiled eggs from our hens, fruit, homemade cake or biscuits, filter coffee, soft drinks, and water.
    • Minimum attendance: 2 people
    • Ride cost : 170€ round trip per person

HYDRA MONASTERIES (Agia Matrona, Agia Evpraxia, Profitis Ilias)

Day 1: Visit Agia Evpraxia and Profitis Hlias
Profitis Ilias and Agia Evpraxia are located at an altitude of 500 metres, on the slope of Mount Eros. Both offer magnificent panoramic views of the island and its surrounding waters, all the way to the Peloponnese. Today three monks live at the monastery of Profitis Hlias is a monastery. Agia Eupraxia is a convent or nunnery.

    • Duration: 75 minutes up and 75 minutes down, with a 30-minute stop at each site
    • Degree of difficulty: medium

Day 2: Visit Agia Matrona
We follow the path to Agia Fotini Monastery and continue on to the “Milos” (Mill), an 18th-century stone building formerly used for wheat production. There the path forks, with one branch leading to the convents of Agia Triada and the other to Agia Matrona. We can see the interiors with pre-arrangements.

    • Duration: 60 minutes up and 60 minutes down, with a 30-minute stop
    • Degree of difficulty: medium
    • Period of operation: November to March
    • Minimum attendance: 2 people
    • Ride cost for the 2 days: 170€ round trips per person

PROFITIS ILIAS MONASTERY

The monastery of Profitis Hlias is located on the slope of Mount Eros, Hydra’s highest peak. Its history begins in 1813. During the revolution of 1821, Theodoros Kolokotronis was imprisoned in the monastery. Today you can see old pictures, the wooden temple, and the library. It provides breathtaking views of the island and the Peloponnese. You can visit the monastery (with pre-arrangement) and see the interior. This beautiful trek passes through the pine forest visible on the mountain above Hydra Town.

    • Duration: 75 minutes up and 75 minutes down, with a 30-minute stop
    • Degree of difficulty: medium
    • Minimum attendance: 2 people
    • Period of operation: From November to March
    • Ride cost: 100€ round trip per person

PANAGIA ZOURVA MONASTERY

On the east side of Hydra, atop of the unspoiled rocky hill of Ano Zourva, rises the Monastery of Zourvas, built in 1814. It can be accessed through an ascending path and offers stunning panoramic views to the surrounding wild landscape and the sea. On the way to the monastery you will see other churches as well. Hydra writer George Sahinis says that the sacred image of the Virgin was found in year 1776 in a cave on the estate of Eleftherios Giannikas, who founded the monasery. Today the holy image is in the Catholic Holy Monastery and has been masked by silver leaf and gold. It is open to the public. We advise against this trek in late afternoons as we don’t want to get caught in the dark. We also advise that novice riders use pack saddles.

    • Duration: 3 hours there and 3 hours back, with a 60-minute stop
    • Degree of difficulty: difficult
    • Minimum attendance: 2 people
    • Period of operation: From November to March
    • Ride cost: 170€ round trip per person

PALAMIDAS-AGIA MARINA

The adventure follows the Hydra–Vlychos– Palamida coastal path. At the beach of Palamidas, according to history, is the Voulgaris mansion, which hosted Kapoudan Pasha during his stay on Hydra. The beach is home to the only traditional shipyard still in operation on the island. After a 10-minute stop to rest and take photos, the trek continues another 30 minutes through the pine forest to reach Agia Marina, a beautiful traditional chapel. The church is celebrated on July 17. Hydriots spend the night there and early in the morning holy service takes place.

At the chapel, we stop 15 minutes to admire the marvelous scenery and take photos.

    • Duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes up and 1 hour and 40 minutes down with a 25-minute stop
    • Degree of difficulty: easy to medium
    • Minimum attendance: 2 people
    • Period of operation: from November to March
    • Ride cost: 100€ round trip per person

SAINT MATRONA MONASTERY

The monastery of Agia Matrona is located in the hills above Agia Fotini cemetery. Starting from Agia Fotini, we follow a rocky path up the mountain, eventually coming to the ‘Mill’, the ruins of an eighteenth-century stone windmill. At this point we take the path that leads to up the monastery. Agia Matrona is a convent or nunnery, celebrated on March 25 and October 20.Two nuns live there today. They make beautiful rosary bracelets and incense. The nearby small chapel of Agios Sozon, together with the monastery, creates stunning scenery. You can visit the monastery (with pre-arrangement) and buy handmade rosaries and incense.

    • Duration: 60 minutes up and 60 minutes down with a 30-minute stop
    • Degree of difficulty: medium
    • Minimum attendance: 2 people
    • Period of operation: From November to March
    • Ride cost: 100€ round trip per person

SAINT EVPRAXIA MONASTERY

The convent of Saint Evpraxia is located adjacent to the Monastery of Prophet Elias on a slope of Mount Eros, Hydra’s highest peak. It was built between 1807 and 1819. The church of Agias Eupraxias stands in the center of the convent. The nuns were famous for their beekeeping and weaving. It is said that the nuns used up to eight looms to make rugs and carpets. After a beautiful trek through a pine forest, you can visit the convent (after prior arrangement) and see the interiors.

    • Duration: 75 minutes up and 75 minutes down with a 30-minute stop
    • Degree of difficulty: medium
    • Minimum attendance: 2 people
    • Period of operation: From November to March
    • Ride cost: 100€ round trip per person

TOGETHER LET’S CREATE MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME!

Please follow a “Leave No Trace policy” to reduce the impact of our presence on the natural environment.

Note: For all rides and treks there is a minimum attendance of  2 people. Groups are limited to 4 riders for all rides and treks and from 2 to 6 people for the experiences (depend on experience). We do not offer services for larger groups.We offer private rides, treks and outdoor activities. We emphasize to privacy, safety, comfort for both riders and horses and connection with nature and local life. 

If you wish to see more photos of each trek, visit our FB page, our You Tube channel or photo galleries.

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