Santorini’s widely reported “100 kg donkey limit” came from a 2018 Greek equid-welfare measure stating that working horses, donkeys and mules should not carry loads above 100 kilograms (220 pounds) or one-fifth of their body weight. It addressed the load placed on the animal—not a named category of tourists—and safe welfare requires much more than passing one weight test.
Key takeaways
- The rule was reported in 2018 as part of a Greek code of practice for working equids, not as a Santorini-only “ban on overweight tourists.”
- The wording focused on the total load carried by the animal, with both a 100 kg ceiling and a one-fifth body-weight threshold.
- Using 20% as a universal donkey capacity is scientifically questionable; modern European guidance gives different general limits for horses and for donkeys or mules.
- Body condition, fitness, terrain, heat, duration, tack and the animal’s health can make a lower load necessary.
- Water, shade, rest, suitable equipment and removal of unfit animals from work are central welfare requirements.
What was Santorini’s 100 kg donkey rule?
In October 2018, international reporting described action by Greece’s Ministry of Rural Development and Food after concern about donkeys and mules carrying visitors up the steep route between Santorini’s old port and Fira. The reported wording said owners must not burden equids with “any load exceeding 100 kg” or one-fifth of the animal’s weight.
The measure was discussed as part of a revived national code for the welfare of horses, donkeys and mules. Because tourists made up the most visible load on Santorini, headlines quickly described it as a ban on people over 100 kg riding donkeys. That shorthand missed two important points: the text concerned loads rather than labeling people, and the proportional limit could become restrictive before the absolute 100 kg ceiling.
| Claim | What the evidence supports |
|---|---|
| “Santorini banned overweight tourists.” | Misleading shorthand. The reported measure restricted loads carried by working equids. |
| “Every donkey can carry 100 kg.” | False. The rule also used a proportional threshold, and individual welfare can require a lighter load. |
| “Twenty percent is the modern limit for all equids.” | Too broad. Current European tourism guidance distinguishes horses from donkeys and mules and requires individual assessment. |
| “Weight alone determines welfare.” | False. Heat, slope, duration, tack, fitness, health, rest and water all matter. |
Why the viral headline needs context
Calling the policy a “fat tourist ban” turns an animal-welfare safeguard into a story about human body size. It can also encourage a mistaken pass-or-fail interpretation: under 100 kg means safe, over 100 kg means unsafe. Neither conclusion follows.
The carried load may include the rider, saddle and other equipment. More importantly, two donkeys of different size, fitness and health do not have identical capacity. A steep cobbled ascent in Mediterranean heat is also different from a short walk on level ground. A responsible assessment begins with the animal and the work being asked of it.
Is the 20% figure scientifically universal?
No single percentage guarantees that an individual equid can safely perform a task. A 2022 European Commission Platform on Animal Welfare guide says carrying capacity depends on age, duration, slope, footing, weather, size, body condition and fitness.
That guide offers general reference points of no more than 20% of body weight for horses and no more than 33% for donkeys and mules, while still requiring consideration of intensity and duration. This differs from the one-fifth limit reported in Greece’s 2018 measure. The difference is a reminder that a legal or administrative threshold and a biological maximum are not the same thing.
Research on mounted load carrying likewise finds that equine responses vary and that the evidence base does not support treating one ratio as a complete welfare test. Conservative decisions are especially important on steep routes, during high temperatures, or when animals work repeated trips.
What other welfare protections matter?
Load is only one part of working-equid welfare. The European tourism guide recommends that animals be individually fit for the task and regularly examined by professionals with equine knowledge. Ill or injured animals should be withdrawn from work and return only after recovery.
The same guidance calls for properly fitted, clean and dry tack; breaks; clean water; suitable feed; shade and ventilation in hot locations; avoidance of the hottest part of the day; and protection outside working hours. It advises against work when environmental temperature exceeds 35°C and recommends at least a 30-minute break after no more than four hours of work.
These are guidance recommendations rather than a summary of every enforceable Greek provision. They show, however, why checking only the rider’s weight cannot establish humane treatment.
How can tourists make a responsible choice?
A traveler does not need to calculate an animal’s carrying capacity from appearance. The safer choice is to use the cable car or walk when conditions allow. Anyone considering an equid ride should look for transparent welfare practices and decline if warning signs are present.
Questions worth asking include:
- Is the donkey or mule alert, sound and in healthy body condition?
- Does the equipment fit without visible rubbing or wounds?
- Are clean water, shade and meaningful rest available?
- Is the operator weighing or otherwise assessing the complete load?
- Are animals rotated rather than making continuous trips?
- Is work reduced or stopped during extreme heat?
Visible lameness, open sores, labored breathing, exhaustion, harsh handling or badly fitted tack are reasons not to participate. A welfare-conscious tourism business should be able to explain how it monitors each animal rather than relying on one number.
Are Santorini donkey rides banned?
No general ban on donkey and mule rides was established by the 2018 reports. The policy sought to regulate load and improve care. Publicly accessible sources do not provide a simple real-time measure of enforcement across every Santorini operator, so visitors should not assume that the existence of a rule guarantees consistent compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 100 kg person ride a donkey in Santorini?
The 2018 measure was reported as prohibiting a load over 100 kg or over one-fifth of the animal’s weight. Because tack contributes to the load and individual capacity varies, body weight alone cannot establish that a ride is appropriate.
How much weight can a donkey carry?
There is no safe answer based only on species. Size, body condition, fitness, age, health, terrain, temperature, equipment, duration and work frequency must all be considered.
Why are donkeys used on Santorini?
Equids have long been used for transport on the island’s steep routes. Tourism greatly increased the visibility and intensity of this work, prompting concern about overloading, heat, saddle injuries and inadequate rest.
The real meaning of the Santorini rule
The 100 kg headline captured attention, but the useful lesson is broader: tourism does not override an animal’s physical limits. Weight thresholds can provide a basic safeguard, yet humane work requires individual assessment, suitable tack, rest, water, shade, veterinary care and consistent enforcement.
References
- European Commission Platform on Animal Welfare: Guidance for working equids in tourism
- The Guardian (12 October 2018): Contemporary report on the Greek measure
- Bukhari et al. (2021), “Quantifying the Impact of Mounted Load Carrying on Equids,” Animals
- Haddy et al. (2020), “Documenting the Welfare and Role of Working Equids in Rural Communities,” Animals
- Animal Action Greece: Equine welfare and the Greek ministry circular