Visit Delphi & Meteora Monasteries Luxury Private Tour FromAthens
Description
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Delphi, home of the 4th-century-BC Temple of Apollo on this private, full day excursion from Athens. Travel in private, air-conditioned vehicles and get around all the sites your group is interested in visiting within the extensive mountainside archaeological complex before returning comfortably to Athens. The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo features, was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious centre and symbol of unity of the Ancient Greek World Give us the chance to make this icon live and feel together the fundamentals of our culture. Trust the locals!!! From the early Christian times, the Meteora vertical cliffs were regarded as the perfect place to achieve absolute isolation, to discover peace and harmony and, thus, to support man’s .
Tour Options
Itinerary
Arachova
Mount Parnassus is a mountain in central Greece that towers above Delphi, north of the Gulf of Corinth. Mount Parnassus offers many advantages to the population of Greece. In peace, it possesses scenic views of the countryside and features olive groves and rolling hills. The mountain is also the location of historically, archaeologically, and culturally significant places of interest (such as Delphi). Recreationally, the slopes of Parnassus provide a medium for hiking (in the three warm seasons) and are skied in winter. Its melting snows provide water to the surrounding communities, reaching out as far as Athens. The mountain is composed of limestone, and its rock contains bauxite, ore that is rich in aluminum. In war, Parnassus has been a center of resistance if need be, providing cover and refuge to partisans.
The tholos at the sanctuary of Athena Pronoia (Ἀθηνᾶ Πρόνοια, “Athena of forethought”) is a circular building that was constructed between 380 and 360 BC. It consisted of 20 Doric columns arranged with an exterior diameter of 14.76 meters, with 10 Corinthian columns in the interior. The Tholos is located approximately a half a mile (800 meters) from the main ruins at Delphi. Three of the Doric columns have now been restored, making it the most popular site at Delphi for tourists to take photographs. The gymnasium, which is half a mile away from the main sanctuary, was a series of buildings used by the youth of Delphi. The building consisted of two levels: a stoa on the upper level providing open space, and a palaestra, pool and baths on lower floor. These pools and baths were said to have magical powers, and imparted the ability to communicate to Apollo himself.
Delphi Archaeological Museum is one of the principal museums of Greece and one of the most visited. It is operated by the Greek Ministry of Culture. Founded in 1903, it has been rearranged several times and houses the discoveries made at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which dates from the Late Helladic (Mycenean) period to the early Byzantine era.
The Temple of Apollo, god of music, harmony, light, healing, and oracles occupied the most important and prominent position in the Delphic Panhellenic Sanctuary. The edifice with the partially restored colonnade visible today dates to the 4th century BC; it is the third temple built at the same place. The famous oracle, the Pythia, operated inside the temple, the location chosen, according to one tradition, due to a sacred chasm beneath the site emitting vapors, which were inhaled by the Pythia. Some ancient writers state that the Pythia then entered a state of delirium and uttering inarticulate cries, which were then turned into equivocal oracles by the priests.
The Greeks told many stories to explain the origins of Delphi. The site was originally sacred to Gaia (also known as Ge), the ‘Mother Goddess’ whose cult centred on the Korykeon Cave, high on Mt Parnassos. After slaying a snake or she-dragon (known as Pytho) here, Apollo took the local name of Apollo Pythios. For a thousand years, pilgrims flocked to his sanctuary for guidance. The height of its fame came between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, after the Amphictyonic League, a federation of 12 tribal states, took control of the sanctuary following the First Sacred War (595–586 BCE). As an autonomous state, Delphi earned great prosperity from benefactors including the kings of Lydia and Egypt, and the Roman emperor Hadrian. Nominally neutral, it was a locus of political power.
Treasury of the Athenians built to commemorate victory at Battle of Marathon From the entrance of the upper site, continuing up the slope on the Sacred Way almost to the Temple of Apollo, are a large number of votive statues, and numerous so-called “treasuries.” These were built by many of the Greek city-states to commemorate victories and to thank the oracle for her advice which was thought to have contributed to those victories. These buildings held the offerings made to Apollo; these were frequently a “tithe” or tenth of the spoils of a battle. The most impressive is the now-restored Athenian Treasury, built to commemorate their victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. The Siphnian Treasury was dedicated by the city of Siphnos whose citizens gave a tithe of the yield from their silver mines until the mines came to an abrupt end when the sea flooded them. One of the largest of the treasuries was that of Argos
In this tour we will visit Meteora, a unique location full both in terms of landscape and christian faith.
Kalabaka is a town and seat of the municipality of Meteora in the Trikala regional unit, part of Thessaly in Greece. The population was 12,000 at the 2011 census, of which 8,330 in the town proper. The Meteora monasteries are located near the town.
tour of Osios Varlaam Monastery
tour of the Rousanou Monastery at Meteora
As we leave the magnificent Meteora behind us, let us not overlook the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BCE, which has long been the topic of cultural motivation, as it is perhaps the most famous military last stand of all time. The monument of the Great Leonidas, King of Sparta, in Thermopylae, will grace our path on our way back to Athens in the late afternoon.
After meeting our guide, your transfer to the archeological site of Delphi will begin for a total duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
As soon as you have completed your visit to the monasteries, you will start your Return to Athens total duration 3 hours 30 minutes
After you finish your guided tour of the archaeological site of Delphi, you will start a trip to Meteora, lasting 2 hours
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Welcome & Meeting Instructions We are delighted to welcome you to Athens and look forward to offering you a truly exceptional experience. Your personal driver will meet you with a warm smile and a sign displaying your name for easy recognition. Please follow the instructions below based on your arrival point: • Hotel Pickup: Your driver will be waiting for you inside the hotel lobby, near the reception area, ready to assist you with anything you may need before departure. • Airport Arrival: After collecting your luggage, please make your way to the Arrivals Hall. Your driver will be standing by the exit doors, holding a personalized name sign, prepared to escort you comfortably to your vehicle. • Cruise Port (Piraeus) Arrival: Once you disembark, follow the signs to the Cruise Terminal Exit. Your driver will greet you just outside the terminal, holding a clearly marked sign with your name and ready to welcome you aboard. ***Confirmation will be received at time of booking ***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 archaeological sites with you, they can answer all of your questions about the places you visit with this tour.Please keep your phone switched on so your driver can reach you if necessary. If you have any difficulties locating them, feel free to contact us immediately — we are always here to assist you. We look forward to providing you with a relaxing, memorable, and luxurious tour experience.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(11)
Fabulous tour!! our guide and driver Christos was one of the best ever. his knowledge and highly entertaining personality made for a highly educational and most enjoyable experience!! only use him if you are interested in learning and like to engage with your guide for an experience of a life time.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re truly delighted to hear that you had such a fabulous experience on your Delphi and Meteora tour. Christos will be especially happy to know that his knowledge and engaging personality made the journey both educational and enjoyable. Creating meaningful, interactive experiences is exactly what we strive for, and it’s wonderful to know this came through so strongly during your tour. Thank you again for your kind recommendation—we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience in the future! Warm regards
It was a wonderful private tour. The driver Chris gave us excellent company explaining on the sites visited and he drove us safely bothways to give us a memorable experience. Worth the money spent.
Thank you very much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful private tour and that Chris made your experience enjoyable and memorable. Providing clear explanations, great company, and a safe, comfortable journey is exactly what we aim for. It’s especially rewarding to know that you felt the experience was worth the investment — that means a lot to us. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again on another tour in Greece!
Meteora was such a neat experience. There were a few monasteries there. Our tour guide was amazing. Panos was a wonderful driver. He didn’t rush us and he even let us stop at a neighbor restaurant which was so delicious. Panos had a lot of history information about every place we stopped. We loved having a private tour and I would recommend this tour to everyone. Excellent company and excellent driver!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! Meteora is truly a special place, and I’m glad you enjoyed the monasteries and the beautiful experience they offer. Panos will be thrilled to know he helped make your day memorable — from sharing the history to giving you the time and flexibility to enjoy each stop, including the delicious local restaurant. We’re delighted you loved the private tour and truly appreciate your recommendation. It was our pleasure to host you, and we hope to welcome you back for more adventures in Greece!
Great day to Meteroa and Delphi. Chris was prompt, courteous, anticipated what was needed and full of Greek mythology information.
We took this tour in June. Our driver, Andreas, delivered a perfect day. He was very professional. The car, the driving, and conversation made for a completely enjoyable day. The convenience of being dropped off and picked back up at the entrance was worth it. It was a highlight of our trip to visit these locations in this manner.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful feedback! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you had a lovely day with Panos. We will be sure to pass your very kind words along to him; he takes great pride in providing a professional and enjoyable service, so your praise will mean a great deal. It is fantastic to know that his punctuality, clear communication, and knowledge all contributed to making your day in Athens so memorable. We are so pleased you would highly recommend him and would travel with him again. That is the highest compliment we can receive. We all look forward to the possibility of welcoming you back to Athens for another adventure in the future! Warmest regards,
Our driver Christos was very knowledgeable and friendly. This was the only tour we found that went to Meteora and Delphi in one day. It was a long drive, but we are very happy we did it. Both sites are historically important and spectacular to see. Because this was a private tour, Christos was able to customize it a bit to our specific interests. Would definitely do it again.
Thank you for sharing your experience with Christos! We're delighted to hear that your private tour to both Meteora and Delphi was such a rewarding adventure. It's fantastic that Christos' knowledge and flexibility allowed you to explore these spectacular sites in a way that perfectly matched your interests—even with the long drive, we're so glad it was worth it! We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Christos; he'll be thrilled to know he helped make your journey so memorable. Your willingness to do it all over again is the highest compliment we could receive! If your travels bring you back to Greece, we'd love to create another customized experience for you. Until then, safe travels and happy exploring! Warm regards,
We absolutely loved this tour. Every single stop was amazing and our driver Christos was the absolute best!! He didn’t make us feel rushed at all and we got to experience soooo many amazing sights. Meteora is breathtaking, truly incredible. And then Thermopylae was so beautiful and so many things to learn and see in Delphi! It’s a long day but worth every single minute. Highly, highly recommend!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with our service. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we're delighted that we could contribute to making your trip memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next adventure. Safe travels until then! Greetings from CHRISTOS !!!!
We booked the luxury private tour of Meteora, Delphi, Thermopylae. Our tour guide is Chris and he is AMAZING! We are a family of five (my husband and I and 3 kids ages 3, 12, and 7). Chris was very knowledgeable and we learned A LOT during this tour. It was very educational and made us appreciate history. He answered all of our questions. He also did some trivia and games for the kids. There was never a dull moment. He took care of our family especially our kids, kept us safe and kept us curious about Ancient Greek history. Definitely the price of this tour is worth it. It was long and pretty much spent all day but we got the most out of it, from cultural significant to amazing views. We stopped and took pictures at all the spots that had the most amazing views! We went to the archaeological and heritage sites and he gave us meaningful explanations on each of the places we went to. We also had lunch at a tavern where they served really good Greek food!!!! Our family had such an amazing time, doing all what we wanted to do and see and be gave us options as well.. we highly recommend this tour and Chris as the tour guide! You won’t regret it! Thank you Chris, we will definitely come back!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with our service. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we're delighted that we could contribute to making your trip memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next adventure. Safe travels until then! Greetings from Chris !!!
This was a great tour. It is a long day but so worth it. Out tour guide Chris is one of the best tour guides we have ever had. He is extremely knowledgeable and kind. He started off by taking us to Delphi because we visited during winter hours and it would be closed if we tried to do Meteora first. This is just one example of his forethought in planning your trip to maximize your time. The guys really knows what he is doing. You must use WhatsApp to make your tour extremely smooth as you contact him in WhatsApp when you finish at each site and he picks you up. The temple of Apollo is truly amazing. Chris gave us a history of Delphi and the Oracles. I won’t include any spoilers but just remember to ask him about the “belly button” of the world, Pandora’s box, and the Trojan horse. Then we had a 3.5 hour drive to Meteora. Now a different temple is closed each day and Chris knows exactly which one is close Dan drill plan your tour accordingly. We arrived in time to see Megalo Meteroro first as that one closes at 14:00. This is the biggest monsters with amazing views. We he best views of each monastery are from the other monestaries of course. While we visited the monestary Chris thoughtfully got my family gyros wraps that my sone thought were the best he ever had. That really saved so much time. The next monastery we visited was the monestary of Rousanou. This had a wonderful walk through a zen like forest leading to the monestary. Then we visited Varlaam. This is the second largest monestary and the lift to move goods up the mountain was very cool. Pro tip use the restroom here it cost a euro but these are the best restrooms with western style toilets. After Varlaam we had time for one more monestary and that was the Holy trinity. This has the longest hike of the 6 monasteries but hike is worth it as you feel like it is “For Your Eyes Only”. St Stephanos was closed as it was a Monday. We saw all 6 monasteries and went into 4 of them plus Delphi. But we weren’t done yet. Next we saw the battle of 300 and hot springs on the way back. Finally Chris took us to Taverna Paradise which is a totally legit tavern where every patron is Greek. I asked Chris to order and he took us on a culinary tour of the the tavern. We had chicken, pork, veal, milk fed lamb, lamb, and sheep. Also hamburger, a special salad that had pomegranate, grilled cheese, house wine, and a crazy amount of dessert. To feed six people it was 110 euros. But really this food could have fed 8 people or even 10. Finally at about 11 pm Chris dropped us off at our hotel. What a great way to spend the day. He is such a hard working guy and so professional. This is one of only 2 companies that will do a private day tour to meteora and Delphi and it is definitely worth it. Hurry up and book it asap. I went to yomadic.tours. The operators website directly saved me about 100 euros and I’m sure they get more also. I was a little hesitant at first but Andreas the owner communicates with you promptly and made me feel very reassured booking on their site.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with our service. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we're delighted that we could contribute to making your trip memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next adventure. Safe travels until then! Greetings from CHRIS !!!
What an Amazing tour!!!! Our guide and driver, Chris, is the Best of the Best! From the moment he greeted us, till we said goodbye, Chris made us feel so welcomed and valued. We learned so much about the history and rich culture of Greece. He kept us engaged with wonderful stories, fantastic music and he helped answer so many of our questions as well. This tour with Chris was the absolute highlight of our Greece trip! Thank You Chris for such a fun and exciting day!!! We miss you already!!!
We are so grateful for your review. Thanks for sharing your rating with us and the community. Our goal is to offer quality services at the same time to make you feel friendly and enjoy your visit as much as possible. Looking forward to meeting you again!!!...Greetings from Chris !!!