Metéora, literally "middle of the sky", "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above" — etymologically related to meteorology) is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. The nearest town is Kalambaka. The Metéora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage.
The Great Meteoro (a.k.a. Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ) is the highest, largest and oldest of the six monasteries of the Meteora. Founded in the 14th century by a monk from Mount Athos, the Great Meteoron is still impressive and important today. If there is only time to visit one monastery in the Meteora, this is the one to choose.
Holy Monastery of Varlaam
The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery after the Great Meteoro.Named after a monk who first built a tiny chapel on this rocky promontory in the 14th century,it has an elegant church with 16th-century frescoes by a well-known iconographer and other notable buildings.
Holy Monastery of Rousanou
The Holy Monastery of Rousanou, It is dedicated to ‘The Transfiguration’ but consecrated to Saint Barbara.
Founded in the 16th century, the easily-accessible Rousannou Monastery occupies a lower rock than the others of the Meteora.
Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas
The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas. Founded in the early 14th century, Agios Nikolaos Anapaphsas is a monastery in the Meteora notable for its unique construction and splendid frescoes by the 16th-century Cretan painter Theophanes the Monk.
Holy Monastery of St. Stephen
The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen. St. Stephen's was founded around 1400 and is now a nunnery. Although less spectacular than the others, it is the easiest monastery to visit and the nuns are welcoming.
Monastery of Holy Trinity
The Monastery of Holy Trinity is very difficult to reach.Probably the most dramatically positioned monastery of the Meteora. It is perched atop a slender pinnacle and accessible only by 140 steep steps, making it one of the most peaceful monasteries as well. The visitor has to cross the valley and continue high up through the rock before arriving the entrance.
Kalabaka (Greek: Καλαμπάκα, Kalabáka, alternative transliteration Kalambaka) is a municipality in the Trikala regional unit, part of Thessaly in Greece. The population 11,841 (2001). The Meteora monasteries are located in the town. Kalabaka is the northwestern terminal of the old Thessaly Railways, now part of OSE. Kalabaka was voted as one of the most beautiful places in Greece by the Skai TV show I LOVE GR
Thermopylae is world famous for the battle that took place there between the Greek forces including the Spartans and the Persian forces, giving birth to the world famous epitaph declaring "Go Tell the Spartans Passerby, That Here Obedient To Their Laws We Lie." Thermopylae is the only land route large enough to bear any significant traffic between Lokris and Thessaly. This passage from north to south along the east coast of the Balkan peninsula requires use of the pass and for this reason Thermopylae has been the site of several battles.
Starting from Athens very early in the morning (suggested 6am as it is apporx 4 hours driving!) and following the highway towards Lamia we make our first stop of at Thermopylae to see the statue of Leonidas, the King of the Spartans, who fell in the battle with all his 300 warriors fighting the Persians of Xerxes in 480 B.C.
Continuing North, and passing through the towns of Domokos, Karditsa and Trikala, we’ll arrive at Meteora precariously perched a top 1,300 feet high sandstone pinnacles. The bizarre but beautiful monasteries of Meteora are centuries old and listed by UNESCO World Heritage. Quite a journey from Athens, with the drive taking more than 4 hours but it is well worth the effort. On arrival you enter what is almost a different world with a strange and unique landscape where huge tall rock formations form towering peaks here and there. Unlike mountains, these stone rock formations more closely resemble pillars and are mostly tall and thin.
You will visit as many monasteries you want this day with a break for lunch at some point.
After breakfast, your driver will take you to see more monasteries until lunch time in the afternoon.After lunch we head back to Athens. If time permits and still have energy, you can visit Theopetra Cave, just 5KM from Meteora. Its uniqueness from an archeological perspective is that in contains, within a single site, the records of two greatly significant cultural transitions: The replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans, and the later transition from hunter-gathering to farming after the end of the last Ice Age. The cave consists of an immense 500 square meter rectangular chamber at the foot of a limestone hill, which rises to the northeast above the village of Theopetra, with a very big entrance 17m wide by three metres high. The tour returns to Athens late in the afternoon. The marks the end of your 2 days Meteora tour.
PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW AS WELL AS OUR TERMS OF SERVICEBEFORE BOOKING YOUR TOUR:
►All prices include all taxes, fuel, insurance, and parking fees.
► The total price for the tour is per group size. Individuals may split the cost of the tour among themselves as they wish.
►This tour does NOT include entrance fees to any archeological site and museum,meals, hotel accommodations, gratuities, or other client personal expenses. Driver’s hotel expenses are not included in the price but If our company book the hotels we use frequently you can avoid this cost. If you wish to book your own hotels then you need to pay a room for the driver.
► For your safety inside the vehicle, drivers provide commentaryonly when it is deemed safe to do so while driving. When your driver must concentrate during difficult driving conditions, please refrain from any distracting behavior as your safety during the tour is our top priority.
► Greece has strict laws and regulations in place to protect licensed tour guides, this it makes it unlawful for Tour Drivers to offer commentary about sites outside the vehicle. In order for us to comply with Greek laws, Tour Drivers may not tour our guests near or inside monuments or museums. Your Tour Driver will provide commentary and basic information only inside the vehicle. Only licensed Tour Guides may accompany or guide you at the sites you visit. If you wish to have a personal licensed tour guide please include this on your request.
► Your Driver will drop you off as close to the sites as legally possible and in accordance to the local Municipality and Traffic laws of Greece.
►Once you fill out our booking form and provide your credit card information, you are legally bound to a contract with us.
► Our service is solely confirmed when the potential customer has received an email confirming services along with the details of the tour. If the confirmation email is not received than please conclude that the service has not been confirmed. We suggest you contact us immediately for further clarification.
► Modes of Payment: Payment for the tour will be made in Euro funds at the end of your journey.
Important Note: Only cash payments are accepted for licensed tour guide services.
Please, note that there will be no charge if you cancel your reservation by e-mail within at least 5 days before date of requested service. If is not done in these terms, our company reserves the right to debit the "no show fee" on your credit card which is the total amount of requested services.
► Cancellations are accepted only via E-Mail so your cancellation is on record. We do not accept cancellations by phone, text message, or 3rd parties.
► If you have contacted us earlier asking for specific dates but have not confirmed those dates, it does not mean that these specific dates have been reserved for you and therefore may no longer be available. We will do our best to satisfy any need of a last minute request but obviously based on what we have available
*For visits to the monasteries, ladies are required to wear skirts and gentlemen need to be in long trousers.
Holy Monastery of Great Meteoro:
Summer: Mon, Wed-Sun 9am-5pm
Winter: Mon, Thu-Sun 9am-4pm Hours may vary.
Holy Monastery of Varlaam:
Daily 9am-1pm, 3:30-6pm (hours may vary). Closed on Fridays in winter.
Holy Monastery of Rousanou:
Daily 9am-1pm and 3-6pm (hours may change). Closed on Wednesdays in winter.
Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas:
Summer: Daily 9am-3.30pm; closed Fridays Winter: Closes by 3pm; sometimes closed completely.
Holy Monastery of St. Stephen: Daily 9am-1pm, 3:30-6pm (hours may vary) Closed on Mondays
Monastery of Holy Trinity: Daily 9am-1pm, 3:30-6pm (hours may vary). Closed Thursdays and sometimes Fridays.
Theopetra Cave: Daily: 8am-3pm