Cars are banned on the Aegean island of Hydra, adding to a laid-back vibe that once attracted Sophia Loren and Leonard Cohen and continues to pull in creatives today.Hydra is at first glance no different from its neighbors. Like other islands in the Aegean Sea, it has white-washed streets, fragrant jasmine-filled air and breathtaking vistas of the shimmering blue waters around it.
As you wander through Hydra’s quaint pathways, it’s common to witness locals going about their daily business, accompanied by their four-legged companions. “I got fed up with everyone telling me to sell her because it’s expensive to keep a horse,” she recalls. “I thought, okay, I’m going to show people the reasons why I want to stay on the island myself.”The company now has a team of 12 horses, with guided tours across the island’s trails led by experienced equestrians.
“Hydra is an island that really takes you back in time,” says local resident Harriet Jarman. Courtesy Harriet JarmanDonkeys and mules became an integral part of the island’s identity and were used to transport goods, building materials and even people around the island – a tradition that persists to this day.