"Meteora Highlights: A Journey Among the Sky-High Monasteries"
Description
The world Heritage-listed Meteora is an extraordinary place, a testament to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. By far, the best way to appreciate the power of the natural forces that shaped this breathtaking landscape is walking right into it. Fantastic manifestations of geological history and current processes of nature await you around every bend or rise in the trail. They represent a unique artistic achievement and are one of the most powerful examples of the architectural transformation of a site into a place of retreat, meditation, and prayer. We will also visit Kalambaka, the town that guards the approach to the Meteora, was burned to the ground by the Nazis in WWII, and is now almost entirely of recent construction. While not especially attractive in itself, it does occupy a stunning location immediately in front of some gigantic rock formations.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meteora, a place famous for its natural beauty and its monasteries situated on the edge, you will be impressed by the wonderful journey. Meteora consists a complex of huge dark sandstone rocks which rise above Kalampaka (list of world heritage sites of UNESCO). The average attitude is 313m. The formation of its geological landscape, has at times occupied some geologists however, it hasn’t been clarified. It is remarkable that it has not been mentioned in the Greek Mythology by Ancient Greeks or by foreign historians. This wild and inaccessible landscape has been an offerable space for the Christian eremites who settled there according to the Byzantinologists of the eleventh century.
The Monastery of Great Meteoron is an Eastern Orthodox monastery that is part of the Meteora monastery complex in Thessaly, central Greece. It is situated on top of a rock called Meteora or Platylithos, which is 415 metres above the Pineios valley floor. The monastery was founded by Athanasius the Meteorite during the 14th century.
The Monastery of St. Varlaam is an Eastern Orthodox monastery that is part of the Meteora monastery complex in Thessaly, central Greece. It is situated at the top of a rocky precipice that is 373 metres above the valley floor. The Dragon Cave is located to the south, below the monastery.To the east, the ruins of Kelarakia Rock can be seen today. The Cell of St. Paul the Apostle can probably be identified with Kelarakia.
The monastery of Agios Stefanos, also known as St. Stephen, is the most accessible of all the Meteora monasteries. Visitors can easily reach its entrance by crossing a small bridge, making it an ideal destination for those with mobility issues.
Kalampaka is known all over Greece and the world because of the famous Monasteries that exist on the top of the rocks of the Meteora that are at the north-eastern side of it. Every year, millions of visitors come from all over the world in order to admire and honour them. Kalampaka is a city of rich history and important monuments. Here you can eat traditional food and and enjoy the beautiful view of the monasteries.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The guide driver will be happy to pick you up from any location you prefer — whether it is a hotel (where they will be waiting for you at the reception), an Airbnb, the Port of Piraeus (meeting you right outside your cruise ship with a sign displaying your name), or a metro or bus station. Simply provide us with the exact address or meeting point when you make your booking. If, for any reason, you are unable to locate your driver, please contact the emergency number shown on your voucher. Additionally, one day before your tour, we will send you the driver’s full contact details so you can reach them directly if needed.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Additional fees if the tour concludes at a location other than the designated meeting point.
- Flexible Pick-Up Times - Customize pick-up times to suit your schedule.
- Hourly Extensions - Extend your tour for a fee, adaptable to your needs.
- The itinerary of monasteries we will visit depends on which monasteries are open, as some may be closed on certain days.
Reviews(5)
We thoroughly enjoyed the full-day tour of Meteora, the half-day tour of Athens, and the airport transportation services. Our host, Mariana, was exceptional—she kept in touch regularly with updates, checked in on us throughout our stay, and even helped arrange an additional tour in Santorini through another agency. She was an absolute pleasure to work with. Our tour guide, Aris, was equally fantastic. He showed us all the highlights and made us feel completely welcome and comfortable. The level of service and attention to detail throughout our experience was outstanding.
Thank you so much for your kind words and wonderful feedback. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tours in Meteora and Athens, as well as our airport transportation services. Marina and Aris will be especially happy to know that their efforts helped make your trip memorable and comfortable. Providing personalized service and ensuring our guests feel welcomed and cared for is always our top priority. It was an absolute pleasure hosting you in Greece, and we sincerely appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you again in the future for another unforgettable experience!
Canadian Railways Trip of a Lifetime - Eastbound I flew into Vancouver and was booked at the Fairmont Vancouver Hotel. I was given a private tour of Vancouver by Carol who was delightful and showed me the coolest places in Vancouver. I took the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Kamloops where we spent the night and the next day went to Banff. The train hosts gave us a lot of interesting information along the way. The Rocky Mountaineer is a super fun train. Seats are comfy and the food and wine are excellent. In Banff, I was given a tour by Duncan (I reviewed Alberta Land & Sea in another post). The Banff tour included a gondola ride. Duncan was my guide from Banff through Lake Louise, to Jasper. Part of it is walking on the Athabasca Glacier. From Jasper, we were on VIA railways for 3 nights, to Toronto. Learning the train was fun and the attendants were all very pleasant. The VIA train from Sainte Foy to Halifax was overnight and quite comfortable to me, anyway. Toronto included a private tour and trip to Niagara Falls with Roy, who was delightful. I learned that Niagara is wine country but the growing season is May-October. The Okenagan Valley near Kamloops, is also wine country. I learned about Canadian wines on this trip and they are really nice. After the tour I went to the CN tower and saw fabulous views of the city. The next train ride, VIA, was from Toronto to Montreal. Sadly, Montreal was experiencing poor air quality from the Manitoba fires but I still had a great time, there. Sebastian and the driver, Momo, were patient and friendly. Union Station was across the street from the hotel (Bonaventure) which made it easy. From Montreal, The trip from Montreal to Quebec City (also VIA) was a treat and, again, I had a great guide, Marcel Maranda, who was full of information. All in all, the trip was wonderful. I recommend it to anyone. All the hotels and train rides, and private tours were very well organized. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
Andreas & Konstantinos made this trip so fun & informative for us. 14 women between 2 vans for an Athens tour, night & day in Meteora. Their knowledge of Athens is unparalleled, from the best spot to view the changing of the guard, allllllll the Greek history you ever wanted to know, and the rooftop restaurant to eat at. Meteora was an experience not to miss, the tour they arranged there was stunning. They were kind, solicitous, thoughtful guides, answering all of our questions, taking photos & anticipating needs.
Hello from Greece athens taxi!!!! Thank you very much for your positive feedback about the beautiful tour - experience you requested in Meteora!!!!We are very happy that we gave you the best memories!!!!These comments help us to improve our ability to provide you with the best possible services. Best regards, Konstantinos Tzardas
This is my 5th time taking groups to Athens! We get the highest quality service every time! Easy to communicate and very responsive which made the whole process amazing. Very affordable! This time we took a trip to Meteora which was a huge success due to Kostas and Andreas.
Hello from Athens!!!! We are very glad that you chose our country to enjoy your holidays... Thank you for choosing us this time for your trip to the beautiful Meteora... We look forward to seeing you again!!!!! Many thanks, Konstantinos Tzardas
The kindness and hospitality of the driver and your guide was what made our trip in Meteora the best experience imaginable Thanks
