Meteora & Thermopylae Tour
Duration: 2 daysMeteora & Thermopylae Tour
Duration: 2 daysABOUT THIS TOUR
Meteora, is a complex of monasteries, which are built on natural sandstone rock pillars in central Greece. Take this tour to visit a place where natural beauty meets the power of human creativity. Also, during this tour you will learn about the historic place of Thermopylae.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Meteora, the largest complexes of monasteries in Greece
- Undeniably sublime and breathtaking scenery
- Beautifully formed natural trails
- St. Stephen’s Nunnery
- Great Meteoron Monastery
- Roussanou Monastery
- Holy Trinity Monastery
- Varlaam Monastery
- St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery
- Varlaam Monastery
- St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery
- The battlefield of Thermopylae
- Thermopylae’s Innovative Centre of Historical Information
- Monument of King Leonidas
- Sea Side village of Kamena Vourla for lunch break
We can customize this tour to your needs.
If you want to skip or add something, please let us know in advance.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Meet your chauffeur at the lobby of your accommodation bright and early in the morning to start your day trip to Meteora and Thermopylae. Enjoy the scenic drive on the Greek countryside and let yourself admire the diversity of the scenery and after 5hrs arrive at the magnificent land of Meteora.
There are only a few sites in the world that can take a person back to the dark ages. Meteora is one of them. Meteora is one of the largest complexes of monasteries in Greece, inferior only to Mount Athos. The cultural and historical value of the site combined with the remarkable natural beauty of these uniquely formed monasteries has established Meteora as a protected site on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In the 9th century AD the first monks gathered in the area and began forming a community that since then grew and flourished into the unique and beaming monastic community of Meteora.
You will have the time to visit 3 of the open monasteries on the first day. Of course our tour would not be complete without a short walk among the beautifully formed natural trails.
After your visit to the Monasteries your driver will eascort you to your accomondation in Kalabaka.
Day 2
Start youe day by visiting the rest of mansteries. At the end of our path we will make a stop to rest, snap some photographs to remember this heavenly place and enjoy the undeniably sublime and breathtaking scenery.
Then, after a great 2 hours driving we will arrive at Thermopylae. There, the great Spartan King Leonidas with a small Greek force defended Attica and Boeotia against the southward advance of Xerxes’ Persian army.
The scenery has pretty much changed at the battlefield nowadays. For this reason, “Thermopylae’s Innovative Centre of Historical Information” is a must see on the spot to help the visitor understand the morphology of the ground and the narrow passage of the battlefield, that due to erosion has changed.
At the end, we will return in Athens.
ADMISSIONS FEES
Entrance fees to each monastery are 2 Euros pp
For prices updates please click here
To buy your tickets in advance click here
OPENING HOURS FEES
- Summer Period: 1 April – 31 October
- Winter Period: 1 November – 31 March
Opening hours for Meteora Monasteries:
- Summer period:
- St. Stephen’s Nunnery: Visiting Hours: 9:00 to 13:30 and 15:30 to 17:30. The monastery stays closed on Mondays.
- Great Meteoron Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 17:00. The monastery stays closed on Tuesdays.
- Roussanou Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 17:45. The monastery stays closed on Wednesdays.
- Holy Trinity Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 17:00. The monastery stays closed on Thursdays.
- Varlaam Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 16:00. The monastery stays closed on Fridays.
- St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 15:30. The monastery stays closed on Fridays.
- Winter Period
- St. Stephen’s Nunnery: Visiting Hours: 9:30 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 17:00. The monastery stays closed on Mondays.
- Great Meteoron Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 15:00. The monastery stays closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Roussanou Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 14:00. The monastery stays closed on Wednesdays.
- Holy Trinity Monastery: Visiting Hours: 10:00 to 16:00. The monastery stays closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Varlaam Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 15:00. The monastery stays closed on Thursdays and Fridays.
- St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery: Visiting Hours: 09:00 to 14:00. The monastery stays closed on Fridays.
Opening hours for Centre of Historical Information of Thermopylae:
- Jan – Dec: Mon-Fri: 08:00:19:00
- Jan – Dec: Sat-Sun: 10:00-18:00
All sites and museums are closed or have reduced opening hours, on the following holidays:
- 1 January: closed
- 6 January: closed
- Shrove Monday: 08.30-15.00
- 25 March: closed
- Good Friday: until 12:00 closed
- Holy Saturday: 08.30-15.00
- Easter Sunday : closed
- Easter Monday: 08.30-15.00
- 1 May: closed
- Holy Spirit Day: 08.30-15.00
- 15 August: 08.30-15.00
- 28 October: 08.30-15.00
- 25 December: closed
- 26 December: closed
For updates on opening hours please click here
USEFULL INFO
- Comfortable clothing and sensible, flat-soled walking shoes are recommended for most locations. Sun glasses, a hat and sun screen are also suggested since the Mediterranean sun is extremely hot during the summer months.
- Photography is permitted in almost every site throughout the tours and if it is prohibited you will be informed beforehand.
- Local currency (euros) might be needed in order to pay at the spot small entrance fees and small expenses.
- In case one of our guests has some special needs, is under certain medication or has a limited walking endurance you can let us know during the organization of your customized tour and we will make sure that small breaks are incorporated into your itinerary.
- Also it is suggested that you bring with you a small bottle of water or something small to eat in case you need to during the tour.
- Furthermore if an individual has advanced accessibility needs you can let us know and allow us to customize the tour to fit your needs.
