Kos Horse Riding on the Beach with Instructor

The stables and your first lesson

The experience begins with a transfer from your hotel to the stables, where the horses are cared for by a team that knows each animal's character. Before anyone mounts, the instructor explains how horses communicate, how to approach them calmly and how to sit, steer and stop, so even complete beginners feel confident in the saddle.

You are matched with a horse suited to your size and experience, and the instructor adjusts your stirrups and checks your equipment. Experienced riders can tell the instructor their level at this point. If you are wondering whether horse riding in Kos is suitable for first-timers, the answer is yes: the pace is calm and the instructor rides with the group from start to finish.

Through the Kos countryside

The first part of the ride follows quiet trails through the countryside of Kos, past fields, olive trees and low bushes of wild herbs. The island is green for much of the year, and inland you can see the long ridge of Mount Dikaios, the mountain range that forms the backbone of Kos, rising above the plain.

As the trail opens up, wide views of the Aegean appear, with the neighbouring islands on the horizon on clear days. Riding at a gentle walk gives you time to get used to your horse's rhythm, enjoy the fresh morning air and listen to the instructor's tips on posture and balance. It is a peaceful side of Kos that most visitors never see from the beach resorts.

Riding along the beach and the dunes

The highlight of the ride is the beach: a stretch of sand framed by low dunes and coastal plants, where you ride along the shoreline and let your horse walk in and out of the water's edge. The sound of the waves and the open horizon make this one of the most memorable things to do in Kos.

The group stops on the sand so you can admire the view and take photos of riders and horses against the sea, then continues back towards the stables along a different route. The morning departure is ideal, as the light is soft and the beach is quiet before the day gets hot; the best time to visit Kos for riding is spring and early autumn, when temperatures are mild.

Kos beyond the ride: Kos Town, Tigaki and Mastichari

Pickup covers some of the island's main areas. Kos Town is the lively capital, with its harbour guarded by the medieval Castle of the Knights, the ruins of the ancient agora among palm trees and, a few kilometres inland, the Asklepion, the ancient healing sanctuary set on terraces with views towards the coast of Turkey.

Tigaki and Marmari on the north coast have long sandy beaches and the Alykes salt lake, where flamingos often gather in winter and spring, while Mastichari is a relaxed fishing village with boats to Kalymnos. After the ride you have the rest of the day free to explore them. Halal food is limited on Kos, but grilled fish, salads and vegetarian dishes are easy to find everywhere.