Meteora and Thermopylae Private Tour from Athens
Description
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Meteora, a rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries on this private full-day excursion. Departing from Athens, pass through the scenic towns of Amphissa, Lamia and Trikala before arriving at Meteora, the name Meteora is used to define any rocky plateau or steep rock formation. The monasteries were built between the 14th and 19th centuries, their location was chosen carefully so that the monks could be as close as possible to God.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel or your apartment early in the morning. The travel time is about 4,5 hours.
We arrive at Meteora and visit three Monasteries. Breathtaking at first site, the Monasteries are of great cultural and natural importance. Split from earthquakes, weathered from the wind and the water over millions of millions of years, these immense rocks are an authentic masterpiece of mother nature. The Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries. The six (of an original 24) monasteries are built on immense natural pillars and hill-like rounded boulders that dominate the local area. Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the name means "lofty", "elevated", and is etymologically related to meteor. Please be modestly dressed. Women are suggested to wear long skirts & long sleeves. If you do not have, you will be given a skirt in your way in.
Free time for lunch at a traditional Greek tavern with your friends and family or shopping at Kastraki, a picturesque village near Meteora.
On our way back to Athens we will make a stop at the battlefield of Thermopylae to admire the statue of king Leonidas. Leonidas was a king of the Greek city-state of Sparta and had a notable participation in the Second Persian War, where he led the allied Greek forces to a last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) while attempting to defend the pass from the invading Persian army; he died at the battle and entered myth as the leader of the 300 Spartans. While the Greeks lost this battle, they were able to expel the Persian invaders in the following year.
We will be back to Athens late in the afternoon. The travel time is about 4,5 hours.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your personal driver will pick you up and return you to the same place. Your driver will be waiting for you at the hotel lobby or at the entrance, in case of apartment, to pick you up.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Our drivers are not official tour guides, but they are knowledgeable and can provide fascinating commentary in fluent English. Although they will not enter the monasteries with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.
Reviews(21)
Christos was far more than just our driver today, he was an exceptional guide, teacher and storyteller who transformed our visit to the historic battlefields of Thermopylae into a deeply memorable experience. His knowledge of Greek history, culture and the surrounding regions was remarkable and he shared it with genuine passion and clarity. He didn’t simply take us from place to place, he enriched every moment. When we continued on to the breathtaking monasteries of Meteora, Christos again went above and beyond. He helped us evaluate which monasteries to visit based on physical effort, historical significance, and even the best spots for beautiful photo's for my wifey. His guidance was thoughtful, supportive and tailored perfectly to our needs. Beyond the history, Christos also impressed us with his local knowledge. My wifey asked some very specific questions about authentic Greek food including dessert and where locals actually eat and he delivered fantastic recommendations that only someone truly connected to the area could provide. Throughout the entire day we felt safe, comfortable and genuinely cared for. Christos wasn’t just a driver or guide, he was a teacher, historian and a gracious host. We are incredibly grateful for his expertise and kindness, and we will absolutely be recommending Christos to anyone visiting Greece. A truly outstanding experience - thanks for such a memorable day Christos.
Hello dennisy531, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
George Remoundos was Amazing!!! He was very knowledgable, pointed out important landmarks and buildings for us. Stopped for a lot of photos. Accomodated the kids washroom breaks. He was the best!!! If you go to Meteora, make sure to go with George. You will love it.
Hello manjini23, thank you for your positive review! It make us happy and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
We had a wonderful time today on our tour of Meteora and Thermopylae. What an unbelievable place Meteora is with the monasteries perched on the mountain side. Incredible! It was worth the long drive. Our driver, George was fantastic! He was friendly, knowledgeable and considerate. This made the trip the best it could be. He was one of the best drivers we have had!
Hello Nancy B, your positive review is a great pleasure for us and strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality services in every travel experience. At LS TOURS, our goal is to ensure that every journey and every excursion in Greece becomes a pleasant and unforgettable experience for our guests. Your trust is the driving force behind our continuous growth and improvement. We look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
We had an incredible experience visiting Meteora with Nikos. From the very beginning, everything was perfectly organized, and Nikos made the entire journey both enjoyable and informative. The trip itself was breathtaking—Meteora is truly one of the most unique and awe-inspiring places I’ve ever seen, with its towering rock formations and stunning monasteries. He went above and beyond to answer questions, offer recommendations, and ensure we experienced the best views and moments throughout the tour. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Greece. If you have the chance to explore Meteora with Nikos, don’t miss it—it’s an unforgettable experience!
Hello emailbrijeshvyas, Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! We’re truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
We spent the day with our guide George Remoundos, who was so kind, easy to talk to, and extremely knowledgeable about our journey. The drive to Thermopylae and on to Meteora was a pleasure as George not only educated us about various sites along the way, but Greece as well. Meteora is fascinating and one of the most beautiful places we have seen. Definitely a must experience if you are traveling to Greece and we highly recommend George!
Hello jasongD9445FK, Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! We’re truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Meteora is a magical, beautiful place. ancient monasteries sitting on huge sandstone columns. A mystical place with great byzantine christian art and breathtaking views . It is about 3.5 hours drive from Athens. We did a round trip in 13 hours. Worth staying overnight if you have the time. Also enjoyed the stop t historical Thermopylae, where the 300 Spartans took their last stand. Our driver George was exceptional. Was on time, very nice, knowledgeable, patient and helpful. I should add, I've used Viator a few times over the past few years and haven't regretted. So far, very good experiences. I'd recommend it
Hello carola_s, Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! We’re truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Meteora is a really beautiful and interesting place to visit. A private tour I think is the best way to do it because you get to spend more time at each monastery and maximize your time. George our tour guide was professional, specially knowledgeable and very attentive. He explained a lot of the history and interesting facts while driving from place to place, and he took us to a good restaurant with delicious authentic food at a good price. I really recommend this tour and remember to ask for George if you want to have the best experience.
Hello Victor_S, Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! We’re truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Beautiful! George our guide was really interesting. He told us about Greek culture! I recommend you!
Hello JeanGuy_R, Thank you so much for your kind words and positive feedback! We’re truly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
Pleasant trip Good driver Customisable tour Enjoyed the views Skipped the difficult climbing steps. But expensive
Hello PRITIRANJAN_B, Thank you so much for your time and for leaving this review! Looking forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
If you ever have the chance to tour Meteora with George, TAKE IT! Yes, it does make for a very long day leaving out of Athens. But the drive is on good roads, George is safe driver and most importantly, he is describing some of the history of the area while driving through it. The absolute star of this tour however, has to be Meteora. One word: STUNNING!
Hello Dale_B, Thank you so much for your time and for leaving this review! Looking forward to seeing you again! LS Tours and Transfers Team
