From Athens: Meteora Monasteries Visit and Hermit Caves Tour
Athens
From Athens: Meteora Monasteries Visit and Hermit Caves Tour
14 hours
Comfortable roundtrip transfers in a A/C Bus
Traditional Greek lunch at Kastraki Village (depending on option selected)
Access to multilingual audio guide
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Get the full Meteora experience with this all-in-one tour from Athens, complete with round-trip coach transfers, monastery visits, photo stops, and shopping time.
Your local English-speaking guide leads the 4-hour tour, explaining everything from the symbolic meaning of monastery frescoes to how monks once scaled the cliffs in rope baskets.
Step inside three of Meteora’s active monasteries, such as Varlaam, with its restored wooden staircases and sweeping cliffside views, or Roussanou, a convent delicately balanced on a slender rock pillar, its gardens tended by resident nuns.
Explore the Hermit Caves of Badovas, once home to solitary monks, then stop by Kalabaka, filled with artisan workshops and local delicacies, perfect for taking a piece of Meteora home.
Opt for the lunch upgrade and enjoy local specialties like grilled souvlaki, vine-wrapped dolmades, and flaky spanakopita in Kastraki Village, all with a view of Meteora’s soaring rock formations.
Round-trip transfers to and from Athens by air-conditioned coach bus
Meteora tour with panoramic views of all 6 monasteries
Entry to 3 monasteries (depending on their rotating schedules)
Entry to the Hermit Caves of Badovas
Photo stops at all 6 monasteries
Shopping stop at Kalabaka (Dimoula Square)
English-speaking driver
Expert English-speaking local guide
Smart audio guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese
Traditional Greek lunch at Kastraki Village (based on option selected)
Free Wi-fi and USB chargers on the bus
Bottled water onboard
Pick-up and drop-off services
A small offering of €3 to €5 per monastery
Guide inside the monasteries (multilingual audio guides available)
Food and drinks
Tips for the guide (optional)
Personal travel insurance
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Know before you go
What to bring
- Bring some cash for monastery offerings (€3 to €5 per monastery) and any purchases, as credit card facilities may not be available.
- Opt for sturdy shoes with good grip, as paths can be uneven and include many steps.
- Carry water and light snacks, especially during the warmer months, between June and August.
- Don’t forget to bring your own earphones and a fully charged phone to listen to the audio guides comfortably.
What's not allowed
- While outdoor photography is generally permitted, refrain from taking photos inside churches and of monks or nuns.
- Flying drones is prohibited without special permission.
Accessibility
- Meteora is not wheelchair accessible. All monasteries involve steps or inclined paths.
- If you have mobility constraints, consider visiting monasteries like St. Stephen’s, which has a paved path and minimal stairs.
Additional information
- Your tour bus will be waiting directly across from the Larissa train station, on Theodore Diligianni Street, in front of Everest Café. Look for the bus with the 'Visit Meteora' sign on the front.
- Expect to visit 2 to 4 monasteries. Each has a weekly closing day (e.g., Great Meteoron on Tuesdays, Varlaam on Fridays), so the lineup may vary.
- All monasteries require a €3 to €5 offering per person, payable in cash at the gate.
- Tour guides are not allowed inside the monasteries. To continue exploring while inside, take advantage of the multilingual audio guides.
- Tours use minibuses or local shuttles to transport visitors between sites.
- Basic toilets are available at larger monasteries (Great Meteoron, Varlaam, St. Stephen) and may require a small tip.
- The Meteora monasteries follow a strict dress code. Men must wear long pants; women need long skirts and shoulder coverage. Sleeveless tops and shorts are not allowed.
By proceeding with any booking via Staybook, you acknowledge and agree to adhere to all the .
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