u/Accomplished_Bat7798

I know I bring this topic up a lot, but we are still in peak tourist season, which means 1000s of new people are visiting Santorini every week and may not know what these animals are going through.

If riding a donkey is on your list of things to do while you're visiting, I would strongly encourage you to reconsider. There are other ways to get where you are going. You can walk. You can take the cable car.

The donkey rides might look like a classic Santorini experience in photos and travel videos, but seeing it in person is very different. These animals spend hours climbing steep steps in the heat while carrying tourists all day long. You don't have to agree with me, but I do think it is worth taking a minute to think about the animal behind the experience before deciding whether to participate.

Skipping a donkey ride won't take anything away from your trip, but it could make a difference for the animals that are still doing this work every day.

If you’re in Santorini right now (or visited this summer), what did you see with the donkeys?
I have posted about the treatment of the donkeys in Santorini a countless amount of times, and this week I want to do something a little different.

Rather than only sharing what I witnessed, I would really like to hear from people who are there right now or who have visited during summer 2026.
When I visited Santorini, I watched donkeys working continuously in the scorching heat, carrying tourists up and down the steps. I also witnessed exhausted animals being struck while they struggled to continue. It affected me so much that I have continued trying to raise awareness ever since.
But I do not want this conversation to be based solely on my experience, so hoping to get others’ voices and perspectives to help spread the word…

If you’ve been to Santorini this summer…What did you see?
Did you see donkeys being ridden in the heat?
Did you notice whether they were being given breaks, water or shade?
Did you witness anything that concerned you?
Did you take photos or videos?
And on the other hand, if you saw improvements in how the animals were being treated, I would genuinely like to hear that too as that would be super helpful to know.
I am really hoping we can use this message thread to create a snapshot of what visitors are actually witnessing in Santorini this summer.
If you are currently there and feel comfortable doing so, please document what you see. Photos, videos and firsthand accounts are much harder to dismiss than me as one person repeatedly saying, “This is happening.”
For anyone planning a trip to Santorini…please don’t ride the donkeys**.** There are other ways to get up and down the cliffs.
Thank you so much to everyone who has shared their experiences on my previous posts. For those of you wondering why I continue to post on this…it’s because new travelers visit reddit every week, so it is important to continue to post. Plus these animals obviously can’t tell people what is happening to them. Visitors can.
If you have been there recently, please add your experience below. ❤️ Thank you so much 🙏

I know some people roll their eyes when they see another post about this.

But here's the reality...every single week, thousands of new people join this channel while thousands more are preparing for a trip to Santorini. Most of them have never seen these discussions before.

I wasn't an activist before visiting Santorini. I was just another tourist excited to experience one of the most beautiful places in the world. Then I watched exhausted donkeys being forced to keep climbing in the heat while carrying tourists. I witnessed animals that were struggling to continue being struck to keep moving. It completely changed the way I viewed this attraction, and honestly, it is something I still think about long after my trip.

That is exactly why I keep posting.

Not because I expect one post to solve the problem...but because awareness changes decisions. Every person who decides to take the cable car, walk the steps, or simply choose not to ride a donkey is one less ride an exhausted animal has to endure.

If you have visited Santorini recently, please share your experience. Did you witness anything concerning?

If you have an upcoming trip...I would strongly encourage: 1. Consider taking the cable car or walking instead of riding the donkeys. 2. If you witness concerning treatment, document it if you can to share out to spread awareness., 3. Come back & share your experience so future visitors can be in the know as they plan their travels.

I would really hope that all agree that these animals deserve to be treated humanely. Thank you to everyone who continues to have respectful conversations about this. Even if this post causes just one person to make a different choice, it is 1000% worth posting again. Thank you!

I know some people will think, "Here we go again." Broken record...

But that's exactly the point.

Every day throughout the summer, 1000s of new tourists visit Santorini. Most have never seen the discussions about the donkeys before they arrive. If even a small percentage choose not to ride them because they saw one post like this, then repeating the message is worth it.

When I visited Santorini, I watched the donkeys working continuously in the extreme heat, carrying tourists up & down the steps. I witnessed exhausted animals being struck while they struggled to continue. It was one of the most upsetting things I have ever experienced while traveling. I was so disturbed by what I witnessed that I cannot give up on spreading the word on this issue.

Many people have told me they feel nothing can change because the donkey rides have been part of the island for so long and are an important part of the local tourism business. Regardless of where change ultimately comes from (ie. local leaders, national authorities, international orgs or simply from tourists choosing not to participate), one thing is clear: Absolutely nothing changes if people stay silent. That is why I am posting continuously, and this time I am asking for your help.

If you have visited Santorini & have seen the treatment of the donkeys, please share your experience in the comments. If you have already commented on one of my previous posts, I would really appreciate you sharing it again. The more firsthand accounts there are, the harder it becomes to dismiss this as one person's opinion.

If you have photos/videos that you are comfortable sharing, they can also help document what visitors are seeing today.

If you are heading to Santorini this summer+:

• Please do NOT ride the donkeys.
• Encourage the people you are traveling with not to ride them.
• If you see concerning treatment, document it (take videos/photos/live stream/etc.).
• Share your experience after your trip as I have, so others can continue to be informed.

I am also hoping to collect peoples' experience (not just my own) to help paint a clearer picture for people that these concerns continue to be raised by people from all over. The goal is really to encourage more humane treatment of animals as they cannot speak for themselves.

Thank YOU very much to everyone who has taken the time to read, comment or help spread awareness. Every single conversation/comment matters. <3

Donkey Abuse - DO NOT RIDE THEM!

I know there are going to be upset people saying there she goes again, but until things change...I will continue to voice this as it needs to be said/heard. The only way to make an impact and change something as big as this is to be persistent and continue to spread the word. So please help pass along my story as well as the stories from the others who have shared theirs on my threads...Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart.

I typically do not take the time to reach out to make my feedback known, but this one has scarred me to the point where I cannot disregard it. It was absolutely horrific to witness how the donkeys have been used (and abused) in Santorini. I went to dinner at the Fish Tavern in Ammoudi Bay in July, and I sat in shock as I watched the donkeys in the scorching heat go up and down every few minutes without a break/without water/without food. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see as the donkeys were being whipped in the face despite their utter exhaustion. The next day I saw the same thing happening on repeat, so I took a minute to stop and pet the donkeys. I asked if they get breaks/food and water, and the man pretended he didn't speak English (when I previously heard him speak English). You could literally feel the desperation and fear by just looking at the donkey's faces. Witnessing this treatment ruined our honeymoon as it was unbearable to put on a smile and pretend that I did not see what I did. I will not go back to Santorini because of this, and I will be sharing this experience with my entire network of friends/family and beyond. This needs to be stopped as it is beyond cruel to the animals. Giving them back-breaking work in extreme heat and working them to exhaustion is unacceptable. I was told that when it is off season the donkeys are then used to carry debris up and down the cliffs- so there is no end for them, which is gut-wrenching to even hear about. I hope this resonates with you and you all do not ride the donkeys to play into this abuse. The animals have no voice, and everyone I talked to there agreed with me on how horrible this situation is, but they say there isn't anything that can be done. I will share my experience to no end until actions are taken. Voice this to as many people as you can, share this experience and demand change with me. Unbelievably cruel to these animals.

There are so many tourists who I witnessed who are blind (or act blind) to all of this and just ride up the donkeys, laughing, taking pictures, waving as if they are a king/queen, all while ignoring the fact of what is actually happening...supporting this business = this will never end. So STOP riding the donkeys and PLEASE help spread the word. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you reading this and for any and all help that you all can give to this case.

Donkey Abuse - DO NOT RIDE THEM!

I know there are going to be upset people saying there she goes again, but until things change...I will continue to voice this as it needs to be said/heard. The only way to make an impact and change something as big as this is to be persistent and continue to spread the word. So please help pass along my story as well as the stories from the others who have shared theirs on my threads...Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart.

I typically do not take the time to reach out to make my feedback known, but this one has scarred me to the point where I cannot disregard it. It was absolutely horrific to witness how the donkeys have been used (and abused) in Santorini. I went to dinner at the Fish Tavern in Ammoudi Bay in July, and I sat in shock as I watched the donkeys in the scorching heat go up and down every few minutes without a break/without water/without food. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see as the donkeys were being whipped in the face despite their utter exhaustion. The next day I saw the same thing happening on repeat, so I took a minute to stop and pet the donkeys. I asked if they get breaks/food and water, and the man pretended he didn't speak English (when I previously heard him speak English). You could literally feel the desperation and fear by just looking at the donkey's faces. Witnessing this treatment ruined our honeymoon as it was unbearable to put on a smile and pretend that I did not see what I did. I will not go back to Santorini because of this, and I will be sharing this experience with my entire network of friends/family and beyond. This needs to be stopped as it is beyond cruel to the animals. Giving them back-breaking work in extreme heat and working them to exhaustion is unacceptable. I was told that when it is off season the donkeys are then used to carry debris up and down the cliffs- so there is no end for them, which is gut-wrenching to even hear about. I hope this resonates with you and you all do not ride the donkeys to play into this abuse. The animals have no voice, and everyone I talked to there agreed with me on how horrible this situation is, but they say there isn't anything that can be done. I will share my experience to no end until actions are taken. Voice this to as many people as you can, share this experience and demand change with me. Unbelievably cruel to these animals.

There are so many tourists who I witnessed who are blind (or act blind) to all of this and just ride up the donkeys, laughing, taking pictures, waving as if they are a king/queen, all while ignoring the fact of what is actually happening...supporting this business = this will never end. So STOP riding the donkeys and PLEASE help spread the word. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you reading this and for any and all help that you all can give to this case.

Now that travel is picking up again…this needs to be heard again…

Donkey Abuse - DO NOT RIDE THEM!

I know there are going to be upset people saying there she goes again, but until things change...I will continue to voice this as it needs to be said/heard. The only way to make an impact and change something as big as this is to be persistent and continue to spread the word. So please help pass along my story as well as the stories from the others who have shared theirs on my threads...Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart.

I typically do not take the time to reach out to make my feedback known, but this one has scarred me to the point where I cannot disregard it. It was absolutely horrific to witness how the donkeys have been used (and abused) in Santorini. I went to dinner at the Fish Tavern in Ammoudi Bay in July, and I sat in shock as I watched the donkeys in the scorching heat go up and down every few minutes without a break/without water/without food. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see as the donkeys were being whipped in the face despite their utter exhaustion. The next day I saw the same thing happening on repeat, so I took a minute to stop and pet the donkeys. I asked if they get breaks/food and water, and the man pretended he didn't speak English (when I previously heard him speak English). You could literally feel the desperation and fear by just looking at the donkey's faces. Witnessing this treatment ruined our honeymoon as it was unbearable to put on a smile and pretend that I did not see what I did. I will not go back to Santorini because of this, and I will be sharing this experience with my entire network of friends/family and beyond. This needs to be stopped as it is beyond cruel to the animals. Giving them back-breaking work in extreme heat and working them to exhaustion is unacceptable. I was told that when it is off season the donkeys are then used to carry debris up and down the cliffs- so there is no end for them, which is gut-wrenching to even hear about. I hope this resonates with you and you all do not ride the donkeys to play into this abuse. The animals have no voice, and everyone I talked to there agreed with me on how horrible this situation is, but they say there isn't anything that can be done. I will share my experience to no end until actions are taken. Voice this to as many people as you can, share this experience and demand change with me. Unbelievably cruel to these animals.

There are so many tourists who I witnessed who are blind (or act blind) to all of this and just ride up the donkeys, laughing, taking pictures, waving as if they are a king/queen, all while ignoring the fact of what is actually happening...supporting this business = this will never end. So STOP riding the donkeys and PLEASE help spread the word. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you reading this and for any and all help that you all can give to this case.

I mapped the entire home buying process into a simple step-by-step walkthrough and ended up turning it into an interactive guide.

Curious if this would actually help people buying their first home. Would love your thoughts!

Now that travel is picking up again…this needs to be heard again…

Donkey Abuse - DO NOT RIDE THEM!

I know there are going to be upset people saying there she goes again, but until things change...I will continue to voice this as it needs to be said/heard. The only way to make an impact and change something as big as this is to be persistent and continue to spread the word. So please help pass along my story as well as the stories from the others who have shared theirs on my threads...Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart.

I typically do not take the time to reach out to make my feedback known, but this one has scarred me to the point where I cannot disregard it. It was absolutely horrific to witness how the donkeys have been used (and abused) in Santorini. I went to dinner at the Fish Tavern in Ammoudi Bay in July, and I sat in shock as I watched the donkeys in the scorching heat go up and down every few minutes without a break/without water/without food. It was incredibly heartbreaking to see as the donkeys were being whipped in the face despite their utter exhaustion. The next day I saw the same thing happening on repeat, so I took a minute to stop and pet the donkeys. I asked if they get breaks/food and water, and the man pretended he didn't speak English (when I previously heard him speak English). You could literally feel the desperation and fear by just looking at the donkey's faces. Witnessing this treatment ruined our honeymoon as it was unbearable to put on a smile and pretend that I did not see what I did. I will not go back to Santorini because of this, and I will be sharing this experience with my entire network of friends/family and beyond. This needs to be stopped as it is beyond cruel to the animals. Giving them back-breaking work in extreme heat and working them to exhaustion is unacceptable. I was told that when it is off season the donkeys are then used to carry debris up and down the cliffs- so there is no end for them, which is gut-wrenching to even hear about. I hope this resonates with you and you all do not ride the donkeys to play into this abuse. The animals have no voice, and everyone I talked to there agreed with me on how horrible this situation is, but they say there isn't anything that can be done. I will share my experience to no end until actions are taken. Voice this to as many people as you can, share this experience and demand change with me. Unbelievably cruel to these animals.

There are so many tourists who I witnessed who are blind (or act blind) to all of this and just ride up the donkeys, laughing, taking pictures, waving as if they are a king/queen, all while ignoring the fact of what is actually happening...supporting this business = this will never end. So STOP riding the donkeys and PLEASE help spread the word. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you reading this and for any and all help that you all can give to this case.

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