Horse riding in Antalya is a quiet way to see the country behind the beaches: no engines, just the steady pace of a horse on forest tracks, sandy paths and mountain trails. You don’t need any riding experience. We pick up from six regions, and every one has its own stable and scenery: the rides near Side, Manavgat, Belek and Antalya mix pine woods with the beach, while those above Alanya and Kemer climb onto mountain paths. Here is where each ride goes and how to prepare.
How a riding tour works
Every ride follows the same pattern. You are collected at your hotel’s main gate and driven to the stable, where everyone is fitted with a helmet and learns the basics in a short briefing – sitting, holding the reins, stopping and turning. The group then rides out behind the guide for roughly 90 minutes (in Alanya about one and a half to two hours), followed by a short break at the stable and the transfer back. Door to door, the trip takes about three hours from Belek, four from Alanya and three and a half from the other regions.
First-timers get calm horses picked by the guide and stay mostly at a walk, with an easy trot here and there; the guide rides along the whole way. Cantering is reserved for experienced riders on stretches the guide approves. Between rides the horses are looked after and given time to rest.
Forest and beach: Side, Manavgat, Belek and Antalya
Side
From a riding club close to Side, the Side Horse Riding Tour leads through pine woods and then along one of the sandy beaches on the Side coast. Ride with the sunset group and you reach the sand when the evening light is soft. Children can join from 6. Everything else that starts in Side is on the Side safari tours page.
Manavgat
For the Manavgat Horse Riding Tour you start at a rural stable outside Manavgat. Forest tracks and country lanes lead towards the Manavgat River delta, and the ride finishes on the beach. The minimum age is 6.
Belek
The Belek Horse Riding Tour skirts Belek’s pine forests: woodland paths first, then sandy tracks across the dunes and a brief photo stop on the beach (the horses stay out of the sea). At about three hours door to door, it fits easily into a beach or golf day. Riders must be at least 8.
Antalya
City guests ride from a stable east of the centre, around Lara and Kundu: the Antalya Horse Riding Tour combines pine woodland with a stretch on the long Lara–Kundu sands. We pick up in Lara, Kundu, Konyaaltı, the city centre and Kaleiçi, where guests meet at a nearby point. From 6 years.
Mountain paths: Alanya and Kemer
The Alanya Horse Riding Tour heads for a stable east of Alanya, up in the Taurus foothills and about 30–45 minutes from most hotels; from the western resort areas the transfer is longer. The trail climbs through pine forest and along village paths, with views down across the coastline towards ancient Syedra, and you spend about one and a half to two hours in the saddle. Riders must be at least 8. Other trips from the town are on the Alanya safari tours page.
Kemer’s stable sits in the foothills of the Taurus, some 20 minutes from the resort. On the Kemer Horse Riding Tour, pine forest and mountain paths open up views of the peaks and glimpses of the sea, with small streams along the way. Children can ride from 6. See the Kemer safari tours page for more.
Morning or sunset group?
Every stable runs two groups a day. The morning group starts at 09:00 in all six regions. The sunset group leaves in the late afternoon: at 15:30 from Alanya and Kemer, at 16:00 from Side, Manavgat and Antalya, and at 16:30 from Belek. Your hotel’s exact pickup time follows after booking.
- Morning group: fresher air and the rest of the day free. Bring a hat and sun cream.
- Sunset group: softer light as the heat fades; in spring and autumn the ride ends around sunset, so a light jacket helps.
In midsummer both groups avoid the midday heat. Rides run most of the year; if heavy rain or a thunderstorm makes riding unsafe, the ride moves to another day or is cancelled free of charge.
Who can ride: experience, age and weight
- Experience: none needed; the briefing covers the basics.
- Age: from 6 in Side, Manavgat, Antalya and Kemer, and from 8 in Alanya and Belek. Under-12s need an adult riding in the same group, and for small children the guide may take the horse on a lead rein.
- Weight: about 100 kg per rider at most, for the horses’ welfare.
- Health: skip the ride if you are pregnant, have back trouble or a heart condition, or are recovering from an injury.
Travelling with children? Our guide to safari tours with kids sums up the age rules for every kind of tour.
What to wear and bring
- Long trousers, so your legs don’t rub against the saddle.
- Closed shoes: trainers work well; leave sandals and flip-flops at the hotel.
- Sunglasses and sun cream, plus a hat for the morning group.
- Water, as drinks and snacks are not included.
- For an evening ride in spring or autumn, a light jacket.
Every ride includes the hotel transfer, the horse and riding equipment with a helmet, the briefing, the guide and insurance. Some stables offer photos and videos at extra cost.
To see what else starts from your resort, read our guide to safari tours by resort. As always, booking needs no deposit: you pay in cash on the day of the ride, and free cancellation is possible up to 24 hours before.
