FOR STUDENT GROUPS ATHENS – ISTHMIA – NEMEA – NAFPLION – OLYMPIA – DELPHI- ATHENS
DAY 01: ATHENS Meeting at Athens airport. Transfer to the hotel in Athens. Overnight.
DAY 02: ATHENS Visit the Acropolis. Continue with a drive to the modern highlights of Athens. Stop at the “Kallimarmaro Stadium” where 1895 the first modern Olympic Games were organized. Return to hotel. Afternoon free. Overnight.
DAY 03: ATHENS – ISTHMIA – NEMEA – NAFPLION Leave Athens and drive to the Peloponnese. The first stop is at Corinth Canal. At the entry of the canal lies the site of Ancient Isthmia, the location of the quadrennial Isthmian Games. Today you can see only the remains of the temple and the starting gate used for track events. Continue on to Ancient Nemea. Visit the museum and the stadium which has the earliest known vaulted entrance tunnel. This stadium held the Nemean Games every two years and the winners were crowned with a wreath of wild celery. We end the day at NAFPLION. Overnight.
DAY 04: NAFPLION – ANCIENT MESSENE – OLYMPIA
Visit Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the most important sanctuary of Zeus. In the stadium, the starting line is still visible, inviting you to run. The official date of the first Olympic Games was 776 BC. The games lasted five days and the winners were crowned with a wreath of the olive tree. Visit the archaeological museum beside the ancient site. It contains interesting exhibits, the pediments and the metopes of the Temple of Zeus, the Statue of Nike, and of Hermes. Depart from Olympia to Rion, cross to Antirion, and from Nafpaktos, we arrive in Delphi, the Sanctuary of Apollo, the “omphalos” (navel) of the earth – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world. On the slopes of Mt. Parnassos, lies the archaeological site of Delphi. Overnight.
DAY 05: OLYMPIA – DELPHI – ATHENS We visit the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, the Stadium, and the Archaeological Museum containing masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture such as the bronze Charioteer and the famous athlete Aghias. After lunch, we start the return via Arachova to Athens. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 06: ATHENS DEPARTURE Transfer from hotel to Athens Airport for departure.
Our mobile friendly website www.toursingreece.info Appropriate clothing is required for everybody that visits the monasteries.
Departures and prices
NOVEMBER-APRIL the 2-day tour to Delphi – Meteora is organized on Wednesdays only. MAY-OCTOBER the 2-day tour is organized on Mon, Wed, Thu and selected Sat – COMBINE THIS TOUR WITH THE 1-day TOUR TO ARGOLIS + NAFPLION. Read the Special prices for combination of tours (Combo Tours column) in the footer
PRICES in € p.p: *Entrance fees to be added: NOV-MAR + 8 € || APR-OCT + 15 € 3* superior Hotel – DBLB with breakfast + Dinner = 150 + fees | SGLB = 180 + fees * Follow the “4 steps to book” in the footer and send us the request. .
THE ABOVE PRICES INCLUDE: – transportation on air-conditioned buses – Pick up/drop off near your hotel (See the list on the footer of this site). (This service is from central hotels in Athens). – Entrance fees to the Delphi site and 2 monasteries. open on the day that you visit Meteora. – Short stopover at the monument of the Spartan King Leonidas at THERMOPYLAE – Services of the professional tour guide all along the tour. – 1-night accommodation in the hotel of your choice. – Dinner on day 1 + breakfast on day 2 – All taxes except the hotel tax of 1.50 € (in 3*) & 3.00 € (in 4*) per room, per night. NB:Lunch on both days is not included. The bus stops at local restaurants, but the lunch is extra. In Kalambaka, the bus stops at the central square where there are lots of restaurants to choose from.
Copied from a client’s blog: The tour which I joined was organized by G.O. TOURS. However, I did not book through their website. I booked it through ASTORIA TRAVEL After browsing through the web, I found that ASTORIA TRAVEL offers the cheapest tour packages in Athens. Initially, I was quite skeptical. How can this tour agent offer such a low price compared to the other travel companies? Is this a scam? Well, it was not a scam and the complimentary arrival transfer was true. I even booked my first two nights in Athens at Hotel Arethusa in Syntagma at a very cheap price through ASTORIA TRAVEL. Read more in the testimonials section…
This tour includes two of the most important sites, in mainland Greece. It presents a picture of ancient Greek civilization beginning with the Mycenaeans, the Greek Bronze Age, and continuing through Archaic, Classical, and, to a lesser extent, Hellenistic, and Roman Greece. It provides a glimpse of the spiritual splendor of Byzantine art and architecture. It is a full itinerary, but the pace is manageable. Plenty of time is available on the sites, allowing time for adequate exposition by the tour guide and time for further exploration on your own.
* The traditional village of Arachova. * The modern Village of Delphi. * The sanctuary with the temple of Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi. * The monument of Leonidas, the Spartan King, in Thermopylae. * 2 monasteries are visited. One of them is the nunnery of St. Stephen.
* NB. The archaeological museum in Delphi is not visited on this tour.
ORACLE OF APOLLO in DELPHI-the centre of the universe
According to the myth, Zeus released two eagles. One flew east and the other one west. They met over Delphi, determining that the center of the world was there. A temple dedicated to the god Apollo was built there in the 7th c BC. The oracle of Apollo became a religious center where common people and kings alike, came to consult the priestess of the sanctuary. The ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE consists of the temple of Apollo, the treasury houses, the theatre, and the stadium.
METEORA-THE ART OF NATURE
Beautiful rocks from another world embrace Kalambaka. The monuments are under the protection of UNESCO and are recorded as the second largest Monastic community after the Holy Mountain. It’s a region of inaccessible sandstone peaks where the monks found protection and settled on these “columns of the sky” since the 10th c. AD. 24 monasteries were built, despite incredible difficulties at the time of the great revival of the monastic ideal in the 15th c. Their 16th c. frescoes mark a key stage in the development of the post-Byzantine painting. The monasteries at Meteora grew out of the need to avoid Turkish persecution during the occupation in the 14th c. Monks lived in caves in the rocks of Meteora since the 11th c. but the inaccessible peaks provided safety for Greek Orthodox monks. Over time a large number of hermitages and monasteries were built on these rocks, making Meteora the second largest monastic complex in Greece after Mount Athos. Seeing the beautiful stone structure, surrounded by mist, is enough to make you understand why the monks and nuns selected this area for unceasing prayer. Today, from the many monasteries that existed, only six are open to the public: The monasteries of St. Nicholas Anapafsas, Grand Meteoron, Varlaam, Roussanou, Holy Trinity, and St. Stephan. The Holy Meteora is the most visited religious monument in Greece.
“Here at these barren rocks thousands of orthodox monks learned wisdom, humility, and morals “
Itinerary
DAY 1: The bus starts the pick up at 07.30 am and, traffic allowing, it departs from the terminal in the center of Athens at 08.30 am. Passing by THEBES (the town of mythical Oedipus), LEVADIA (short restroom stop), and the traditional village of ARACHOVA, you arrive in DELPHI at +/- 11.30 am. Delphi was considered by the ancient Greeks to be “the center of the universe”. With the professional tour guide, you will explore the legendary site of the Oracle.
13.30 The group proceeds for lunch, and at +/- 14.45 departs via AMPHISSA, LAMIA, and TRIKALA for Kalambaka with a short photo stop at THERMOPYLAE, the site of the famous battle between the 300 Spartans against the huge Persian army in 480 B.C. took place. In antiquity Thermopylae (= hot gates,) was a narrow coastal passage. Its name comes from its hot sulfur springs. “Hot gates” is also “the place of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades. After a brief rest stop outside Lamia, we shall arrive at your hotel in Kalambaka at +/- 19:00. Overnight.
DAY 2: 08.15 You visit two of the monasteries that are open on that day. 12:30 Return to Kalambaka for lunch and at +/- 14:00 you start the return and arrive in Athens at 19:30.
Time Tour Plan & Services 8:30 Depart from the terminal at +/- 08:30 11:30 After a short break outside Levadia you arrive in Delphi 11:45 With the professional tour guide you visit the sanctuary 13:45 Proceed for lunch at a local restaurant (not included in the price). 15:00 Continue to Kalambaka via Thermopylae (photo stop) and Trikala. 19:15 Arrival in Kalambaka. Check-in at the hotel and (optional) dinner at 19.30 08:15 Depart from the parking of Hotel ORFEAS 09:00 Drive to Meteora and visit 2 monasteries (entrance fees included). 12:00 Have lunch at a local restaurant. (Not included in price) 14:00 Start the return and arrive in Athens at +/- 19:30. Hotel drop off by 20:00
Meteora is one of the most beautiful areas of mainland Greece and the monasteries are one of the country’s most unique attractions. Join one of the following tours and visit Meteora.
FAQs
QUESTION: How many hours do we stay at the ancient site in Delphi? ANSWER: You spend 1.30 hours in the ancient site of Delphi. QUESTION: Is there any free time, or is it all guided? ANSWER: There is free time but I suggest you break from the group as early as possible. The tour doesn’t go to the top of the mountain to see the Delphi stadium. AT METEORA: You spend about 1 hour in each monastery but there is no need to break early. Appropriate clothing is required to visit the Monasteries and nunneries. Skirts below the knees for ladies and long trousers for gentlemen. The monasteries/nunneries provide wrappings that the visitors can wear over their clothing before entering. FREE TIME: After the guide takes you around, you have enough time to see whatever is left to see. IN DELPHI the 2-day tour to Meteora meets the 3-day classical tour, and the tour company usually moves guests traveling to Meteora onto another bus and they proceed to Kalambaka and visit Meteora together. For the 2-day tour to Delphi and Meteora clients: The restaurant in Delphi is 3 km after the modern Delphi village.
Testimonials
littlebluekingfisher, Bangalore, Re: Astoria Travel, Jan 14 My family and I are just back from a wonderful trip to Greece. I’d done some research and bookings before I ran into a brick wall trying to book train tickets to Meteora. Searching around I found a note by another traveller on Tripadvisor, who’d had exactly the same problem and stumbled on Astoria Travel. He’d had a great experience with them and recommended them highly. So I contacted Kosta at Astoria, and am blessing the stars that I did so! If we had a good, sensibly planned trip in which we saw as much as we could without being run ragged, it was thanks to Kosta. Over the course of several emails, he helped refine my plans; even to the extent of arranging to hire a taxi from Delphi to Levadia railway station to catch the train from there to Kalampaka and not lose a day. He also arranged our train and ferry tickets (to Santorini) — getting the latter at a cheaper rate than that quoted on the web! I wish we’d done our hotel bookings through him too, as according to people that we met in Greece, he got them good rooms at the hotel that we all stayed at lower than the rates that we were found through www.booking.com
I visited them at their office in Athens. It was impressive to see that Astoria Travel has been in business since 1958, and through experience has been able to attune its services and offerings to a very wide range of traveler needs. Their list of contacts is vast, which worked helpfully in our favor: Kosta just picked up the phone and got a taxi to pick us up at Kalampaka station (paying no more than the normal rates, despite being booked ahead). Moreover, they are a family-run concern, so their levels of friendliness, personalization of services, and traveler support are several notches higher than what a more impersonal agency could provide. I would highly recommend Astoria Travel not just for booking tickets, tours, and hotels, but for help and advice in planning your holiday as well. He graduated from a University in South Africa, his English is excellent and he is highly knowledgeable and courteous. _________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: https://travelbunny8.blogspot.com/2016/07/greece-4-days-classical-greece-tour.html (Visit the excellent blog site, read the description and comments)
If you wish to see the major sights of mainland Ancient Greece including UNESCO-listed ancient sites of Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora monasteries, then I recommend you to join a 4 Day Classical Greece Tour. The tour departs from Athens and returns to Athens.
5 UNESCO World Heritage Site in 4 days. I have to warn you that 4 out of the 5 World Heritage sites are in ruins. The tour which I joined was organized by G.O. TOURS. Information about the tour can be found on their website at http://www.gotours.com.gr/en/
However, I did not book through their website. I booked it through ASTORIA TRAVEL http://www.astoria.gr/price-tours-classical-4day.html that can be contacted at athens@astoriatravel.gr. I e-mailed Mr. Kosta and since I booked the tour through him in 4-star hotels, I got a free arrival transfer offer to my hotel. Actually, Kosta himself came to the airport and took us to the hotel.
After browsing through the web, I found that Astoria Travel offers the cheapest tour packages in Athens. Initially, I was quite skeptical. How can this tour agent offer such a low price (20% cheaper) compared to the travel company’s price? Is this a scam? Well, believe it! I even book my first two nights in Athens at Hotel Arethusa (very near Syntagma Square) at a very cheap price through Astoria Travel.
I took the First-Class package as the price difference was not much compared to the Tourist Class package and the complimentary airport transfer sounded attractive. During the tour, some of my fellow travelers took the Tourist Class package. Frankly, I don’t think there was much of a difference compared to the First-Class hotels. In fact, the Tourist Class hotels were located nearer to the town center while the First-Class hotels were located at quieter locations outside the towns providing small luxuries (swimming pools, good dinners, breakfasts, etc.)
After checking into the hotel, you can actually explore the town of Kalampaka, and don’t miss the 9th-century church at Kalampaka. The church is about 15 minutes walk from the hotel.
The tour includes visits to two of the six monasteries of Meteora.
As the tour group was small, we got to know each other pretty quickly. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Singh, Melbourne, posts 60, reviews 8. Re: Astoria Travel
Just came back from 2 days Delphi and Meteora tour arranged by Kosta. He gives such good service with fast replies and the issuing of vouchers. Kosta gives excellent value for money. He is highly knowledgeable, caring, and courteous. Very trustworthy. There were 6 of us going on the tour and on the morning of the tour, he personally came by and made sure we got on the tour! Great discount for the tour and we did save €’s by booking with him rather than directly with a tour company or Viator. On the bus, we met and became good friends with a couple that bought their tour from Viator and we could compare prices and services for the same tour in the same hotel. Kosta gives excellent value for money. He is highly knowledgeable, caring, and courteous. His English is excellent, he is very experienced, extremely helpful, and proud of Greek history and Greek culture.
contact us
Astoria Travel (est. 1958) 48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece. Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585. SEND your message to: bookings@astoriatravel.gr
In the footer of this website, you find the “4 steps to make a booking”. If our offer sounds interesting, send us the booking request.
SEE ALL THE TOURS that visit Meteora in guided tours or train trips.
Description
For real pleasure and nice memories, combine touring with walking and hiking. The sight of the Meteora is a unique experience, but walking on the well marked paths, is breathtaking. Experience and observe the beautiful local flora and fauna between the huge rocks.
Step off the tourist trail and discover the little-known routes that most visitors do not get to see. On this morning hiking trip, you follow your leader-guide on a leisurely hike in the narrow well marked path that leads into the valleys set on the foothill of the great rocks all the way to the Grand Meteoro Monastery. Along the way, you pass from the out of the way Ypapanti monastery and some of the smaller rock monasteries, and listen to fascinating commentary about the formation and history of this unique site.
There is a number of hiking paths in the area, some are more difficult than others. The routes chosen to follow are not too difficult. Wear the proper shoes and be careful where you step, other than that it is a great experience to become one with the nature.
“Go hiking in Meteora” and see this unique geological phenomenon walking. Experience a unique convergence of nature and spirituality unlike any other place in Greece. Discover and follow the paths of the monks. This is the opportunity to see the monasteries and landscape from a different perspective. The views of the town of Kalampaka at the base of the rocks and the valley of Pineios river are stunning. Plus a visit to a monastery (Great Meteoron or Varlaam) is included. The Professional Hiking Guide will be with you to give you all the information you need about the area and wherever is needed, transport is organized on a minibus.
Distance: 8 km | Duration: 4 hrs | Difficulty: Easy. If you are an active person you should join this tour.
Included
Our local partner in Kalambaka is METEORA THRONES-Tour operator.
INCLUDED Visit One monastery, Certified Hiking Guide, Hotel Pick up / Drop off, Free Meteora Map
EXCLUDED: Entrance fees to the Monastery (3.00 €), Meals and soft drinks.
Useful advice
The best season for walking at Meteora is Spring and Autumn. If you are walking in the Summer, you will need to have a lot of water with you. You should avoid walking in the heat of the day (11.00 – 4.00 pm). In the Winter you should also avoid areas that are very wet and slippery. You should wear shoes, correct for such sports. Please respect the holiness of the site and maintain the proper dress and behaviour.
More info
Witness nature at its best and admire the historic monasteries on this morning escapade. The views are majestic and our tour guides will make sure you enjoy them through the most efficient paths, all while informing you about the history and tales of the area.
The hiking tour of Meteora is best possible way to experience this historic site and geological mystery. On this tour you will walk through paths less traveled by the masses, which only locals are able to guide you through. Follow the trails taken by the first hermits and monks to settle in Meteora in the 9th Century AD, enjoy views which most visitors do not get the opportunity to see!
The tour begins from the Doupiani rock, right under the remains of Pantokrator monastery. We continue through the imposing sandstone mountains and move to the north side of Meteora. There we visit the concealed monastery of Ypapanti and the remains of St. Dimitrious Monastery. While visiting these landmarks, you will hear the history, legends and dark tales associated with the area and each site as told by the locals.
Visit the Ypapanti monastery from the inside (it is open until October), and then the monasteries of Great Meteoron or Varlaam. After filling your soul and absorbing history, we begin the last leg of this one of a kind tour by taking the original paths monks used before more modern road construction began.
Contact us
Astoria Travel, 48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece. Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585. Click here and send us a message
SEE ALL THE TOURS that visit Meteora in guided tours or train trips.
Following the State’s COVID 19 measures the monasteries do not provide wrappings anymore. Appropriate clothing is required for everybody that visits the monasteries. For men: Sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knees are not allowed, and For ladies: Skirts bellow the knees are required.
Take the 4 hour morning tour and explore Meteora.
Many centuries ago, an important monastic community was formed on these gigantic rocks in Greece.
Description
The Meteora Morning Tour from Kalampaka is the perfect choice to explore the Meteora Monasteries. History, science and mythology alike have attempted to explain the formation of the sandstone mountain, but it is still a mystery which makes it one of the most unique places in the world and places it in the UNESCO list. Its deep religious history offers many tales and legends. It is estimated that the first hermit monks settled on the Meteora rocks around the 10th c. AD. It has since been a Christian sanctuary with a very complicated history. 24 monasteries were built during its history, 6 remain open today.
Go on a daytime tour of 3 of the 6 remaining monasteries in Meteora, learn the history and hear dark tales of the area from your local guide. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings and take photos from secrets positions. Give yourself the privilege of absorbing some of the most breathtaking sights, views and colors nature has to offer. Combine that with learning the history of the area and hearing impressive tales about the first hermits and monks who settled in Meteora, and you have a complete day of body and soul fulfilling activity.
Discover the natural beauty and the cultural heritage of this area. Many visitors never learn or hear that just few km away from Kalampaka there is one of the most important prehistoric caves not only for Greece but for the entire world, with archaeological findings dating back to 130,000 BC!
Best tour at best price: 25.00 €
Included
Transportation by modern air-conditioned bus Stops for beautiful photos Learn the traditions, myths and history See all 6 monasteries, Visit 3 of them English speaking tour leader Hotel Pick up / Drop off Free WI FI Meteora Map
Upon request French,Italian,Russian,Spanish (extra cost) Certified guide (optional, extra cost)
NOT INCLUDED
3.00 € per person, entrance fee at each monastery Visit the Grand Meteoro and the nunnery of St Stephen’s (If the Grand Meteoro is closed, the Varlaam is visited instead).
Useful information
Wear proper shoes. Do not forget to bring your camera. The monasteries have a strict dress code. Wrappings are provided.
Contact us
Astoria Travel, 48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece. Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585. Click here and send us a message
Following the State’s COVID 19 measures the monasteries do not provide wrappings anymore. Appropriate clothing is required for everybody that visits the monasteries. For men: Sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knees are not allowed, and For ladies: Skirts bellow the knees are required.
Description
If you happen to be at Meteora on a tour, finish the day with a Sunset Tour on the rocks watching the sun hiding behind the mountains. Meteora is a unique site, a complex of sandstone rocks listed in UNESCO’s Sites. It is the second-largest monastic site in Greece. 6 of the original 24 monasteries are still open to the public. The history and myths are endless, as are the paths to explore this unique area. Visit sites which tell the 27-century old story of the region like the Badovas and the surrounding caves.
You have the chance to combine the Sunset Tour with the Morning Tour or the Meteora Hiking Tour for a full day experience. The leaders are local guys willing to offer their knowledge. Walk on well-paved paths and hear the history and legends of the area.
In the 3.30 hour afternoon SUNSET TOUR, organized by our partner in Kalampaka, you visit either the ROUSSANOU, or, the St. STEPHEN’S nunneries, the old Byzantine church of Mother Mary in Kalambaka, and the 1,000 years old hermitages and cave dwellings of Badova.
Experience a beautiful sunset, and capture beautiful photos.
Best tour at best price: 25.00 €
Program
Starting at +/- 16.00 the tour will take you to places that only the locals know. Enjoy amazing views, learn about the history, and traditions of the place. High up on the rocks, you will see the 1,000 years old Bandovas’, the cave dwellings on the rocks, and learn the history of the very old Byzantine church, built on the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to god Apollo. The Dormition of Mother Mary in Kalampaka is one of the oldest churches in Greece, a real monument of special Byzantine architecture.
Driving on the rocks, the driver will stop on a flat opening, from where you will take dozens of photos of a beautiful sunset. When the sun touches the mountains at the background, complete silence is all you hear, and that is the moment that you understand why Meteora was chosen by the monks to build the monasteries here. It’s the moment that you also feel the need to meditate on the beauty of the creation.
Included
Transportation by modern air-conditioned bus Pick up and drop off from your Hotel in Kalampaka or Kastraki Stop at the right spot for taking the sunset photos. Learn about the local customs, legends and history Visit the nunnery of Roussanou, or, the nunnery of St. Stephen’s, Visit the Byzantine church of the Virgin Mary in Kalampaka and the cave dwellings at Badovas
Not included – 3.00 € per person, the entrance fee to the nunnery, and – 2.00 € per person, the entrance fee to the Byzantine church of Mother Mary.
Useful information
– Wear proper shoes and proper dress. Men wearing long trousers, and women long skirts. However, at the entrance of the monasteries, you are provided with wrappings to follow the dress code and show your respect.
Contact us
Astoria Travel, 48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece. Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585. Click here and send us a message
TO JOIN THIS TOUR, AGE LIMIT APPLY. The tour departs between April and October, on Mondays, and returns on Fridays. The itinerary is the same as in 4 days classical and Meteora tour with an extra night in Kalambaka, allowing you to explore Meteora. Total 5 days/4 nights. During this extra day, you can join a sunset tour, the morning tour, or the hiking tour to Meteora.
Description
Visit Epidaurus, Nafplion, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi & Meteora. Spend 2 nights in Kalambaka and explore the Meteora rocks & monasteries
The Amazing open THEATRE OF EPIDAURUS The priests of the sanctuary of god Asclepius were excellent surgeons. On the ground of the sanctuary, the administration of the Asclipieion, in order to entertain the patients, decided to build a theatre. Today, next to the sanctuary of Asclepius, there is a small museum, displaying the instruments and tools used by the priests, and excellent surgeons, to perform even brain operations. NAFPLION – A Venetian town in Greece. Modern architecture hasn’t spoiled the old town of Nafplion, which is a feast for the eye. Nafplion was the capital of the Greek state in the early 1830s. Here, is the first residential palace for the young Bavarian Prince, Otto, the first king of the new country after the revolution against the Turks. The old town is beautiful, with old mansions and paved roads. The town’s fortresses, the Palamidi and the Akronafplia played a key role during the war of independence. The Venetian influence is everywhere.
MYCENAE – “City in gold” Mycenae, the city that controlled both the land and sea routes, was the kingdom of mythic Agamemnon. Myths related to history have inspired poets and writers over the centuries from Homer and the Greek tragedies of the classical period to contemporary literary and artistic creations. The site was uncovered in 1874 by Heinrich Schlieman, who also excavated the site of Troy. You enter the citadel through the impressive Lions’ Gate.
OLYMPIA & the OLYMPIC GAMES The site of Olympia, was the location of the ancient Olympic Games, with the first recorded win in 776 BC. In addition to the numerous temples and sanctuaries, there are remains of sporting structures, such as the ancient Stadium, the Gymnasium, the Palaestra, and others.
DELPHI – The famous “temple bank”. The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of the oracle of Apollo in Delphi, was the spiritual center of the Greek world. Situated in a spectacular natural setting on the mountain of Parnassus, it was the symbol of Greek cultural unity from the 8th c. BC onwards.
Driving from Delphi to Kalambaka you take a short stop at Thermopylae, the place where Leonidas and the 300 Spartans fought the Persians. Overnight in kalambaka.
KALAMBAKA – The unique “ART OF NATURE”. Travel on the rocks of Meteora and with the tour guide, visit 2 monasteries that are open on the day that you come to Meteora. Return to Kalambaka for lunch and after lunch start the return and arrive in Athens at +/- 19:30
Prices and discounts
The hotel pick up service starts at 07:30 and the bus departs from the terminal at 08:30, and returns at +/- 19:30
HOTELS at Olympia: (3*) KRONION, or similar | (4*) OLYMPIC VILLAGE, EUROPA, ARTY GRAND HOTELS in Delphi: (3*) FEDRIADES, HERMES, PARNASSOS and (4*) AMALIA HOTELS in Kalambaka: (3*) ORFEAS, or similar | (4*) KOSTA FAMISI, GRAND METEORA, AMALIA, or similar
PRICES: All travel agents, in Greece and worldwide, offer the tour at different prices. We are sure that our prices for this tour are not matched. Organizing tours since 1958, we secured the best deals in all aspects of travel. Our prices, per adult, are:
Two choices
Double room
Single room
Details
Option 1: 3* hotel with breakfast
435 + entrance fees
On request
Option 2: 4* hotel on half board
575 + entrance fees
On request
ENTRANCE FEES: Juniors <25 and E.U. students, JANUARY – DECEMBER, are free of charge. Students <25 from Non-European countries and E.U. seniors over 65, JANUARY - DECEMBER, pay 24 €
Everybody else, NOVEMBER - MARCH, pay 24 €, while, from APRIL - OCTOBER everybody else pays 48 € extra. Avoid planning visits to Archaeological sites & museums on the following dates. You will find them closed:
December 25 + 26, January 01, March 25, May 01, Greek Easter Day(April or May) & Greek Good Friday sites/museums open at 01:00pm
No other tour operators organizes this tour. The reason is thaat the tour is a combination of tours and includes empty legs. This explains the high price. Despite the high price, the tour is popular.
Special discounts: (One option of 5% discount is applicable). * Persuade a friend, share a triple room with your friend, and save 5%
In the footer, find the the “4 steps 2 make a booking” and if you find our offer interesting, please, start the communication. Let us be your host.
Highlights
Short photo stop at Corinth canal Visit the sanctuary of Asclepius and the Epidaurus Theatre Visit the Mycenae Archaeological site & Tomb of Atreus Visit the Olympia Archaeological site & Museum Visit the Delphi Archaeological site & Museum With the tour guide, visit 2 of the Meteora monasteries that are open on the day you visit Meteora On Thursday, in Kalambaka, join a “sunset tour” and watch a beautiful sunset from the top of the rocks. A short stop at the romantic town of Nafplion. The Venetians had it for 200 yrs and they left their mark. 1-night hotel accommodation at Olympia 1-night hotel accommodation in Delphi 2 nights of hotel accommodation in Kalambaka 4 breakfasts (the dinners are optional and depend on the price that you choose to pay). Services of the Professional guide except on Thursday. Transport by modern air-conditioned coach Pick up / drop off service from central hotels in Athens (See the list in the footer) All taxes except the hotel overnight tax (0.50-3.00 €/ room/ night)
Not included: The entrances to museums, sites, and the 3.00 € entrance during the SUNSET tour Juniors under 19, and E.U. students are free to enter sites & museums.
More info & Map
* Explore the town of Kalampaka and don’t miss the 9th-century church at Kalampaka. The church is about 15 minutes walk from the hotel.
* Start the communication by sending us a message.
* Read the 4 steps 2 books that you find in the footer and we look forward to receiving your request. * When we receive the message from the bank that the money has been deposited, we’ll send you the voucher.
MAP – ROUTE OF THE TOUR
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Astoria Travel, (Est. 1958) 48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece. Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585. Click here and send us a message
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Meteora is a complex of Greek Orthodox monasteries built on natural sandstone pillars. Today four monasteries and two nunneries are open to the public.
Meteora today
If there is one place that you must visit is Meteora in central Greece. This huge Eastern Orthodox monastic complex is unlike anywhere else in the world – and despite how overused this phrase is nowadays, at Meteora it means the exact picture. If the unearthly landscape of massive pillar-like mountains and columns weren’t striking enough, monks went ahead and built huge monasteries ON TOP of them 800 years ago. 6 of them are still working monasteries nowadays and are open to the public if you are willing to make the trek up to them.
A view from Meteora is spectacular no matter where you stand, and it will make even the most seasoned traveler to say “wow”. Greece is full of spectacular sites, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one more unique and with so many fabulous views as in Meteora. The World Heritage monasteries of Meteora, in the middle of Greece, are one of the most extraordinary sights.
Meteora map
Built on top of huge pinnacles of smooth rocks, the monasteries provided monks with peaceful havens from increasing bloodshed as the Byzantine Empire waned at the end of the 14th c. The earliest monasteries were reached by climbing removable ladders. Later, windlasses were used so monks could be hauled up in nets, a method used until the 1920s. Apprehensive visitors enquiring how often the ropes were replaced were told ‘When the Lord lets them break’.
These days access to the monasteries is by steps hewn into the rocks and the windlasses are used only for hauling up provisions.
Don’t miss this unique place at this special price!
Monasticism at Meteora
The Monasticism at the Holy Meteora and its living witness over the centuries The monks’ love of God and of monasticism and asceticism formed the impetus for this miraculous way of life on the rugged spires of the plain of Thessaly. Monasticism is the highest calling and the path that leads most directly to holiness. It is the complete devotion of the human person to the triune God. It is the imitation of the angels in divine love, chant, obedience and the ministry of souls, which is why it was called ‘equal to the angels’ and an ‘angelic state’. The entire life of a monk consists in fully opening the heart to God and keeping His commandments, in constantly striving for sanctification and praying continually. Whether working, studying or in the stillness of prayer, the monk is unceasingly crying out to the Lord in the heart with the brief prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us”.
Over the centuries the Meteora monasteries were seed-beds of holiness for a multitude of monks, a bastion of faith and civilization, treasuries of the values and virtues of the Greek Orthodox spirit. Here, the unparalleled natural wealth of Meteora coexists in absolute harmony with discreet human intervention; intense spiritual striving and devotion to God is juxtaposed with a love of beauty and culture; the harsh ascetic way of life stands side by side with the refinement of art and artistic creativity, with the sole purpose of glorifying the Creator.
The monks’ ascetic struggles were characterised by heroism, their spirituality by a spirit of self-sacrifice, self-denial and support to the troubled souls who sought refuge in these strongholds of Orthodoxy. Thus the monasteries of Meteora became the watchful custodians and guardians of tradition: they became schools for the Greek children under Turkish rule and a refuge for the persecuted, they offered provisions to the freedom fighters and at the same time gave an education in holiness and salvation.
The valuable ascetic tradition of Meteora, the large number of saints who have lived on the hallowed spires, its rich liturgical life and many relics, which are its most precious treasures, together make the monasteries vital centres of Orthodox spirituality.
Meteora is a holy land, a sacred space created and guarded by God, its cliffs and caves and ravines sanctified by the host of holy ascetics and martyrs of the Greek Thebaid who have inhabited them. A contemporary saint, St Porphyrios, used to say: “I speak with the rocks, for they have so much to tell of the ascetic life of earlier fathers”.
Over the last fifty years a remarkable programme of restoration has been carried out to the monasteries of Meteora, as a result of the hard work and tireless efforts of the energetic and worthy abbots and monks, the watchful care and blessing of Metropolitan Seraphim of Stagoi and Meteora and the excellent collaboration of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Larissa (formerly of Trikala). This major undertaking includes extensive reconstruction work, the preservation of frescoes and treasures in the monasteries’ collections and improvements to the surrounding space, making Meteora one of the most spiritual and attractive destinations in the world.
The monastic communities of Meteora participate in liturgical life and attend to the many visitors with love and sensitivity. In addition they preserve and maintain the sites, paint icons, embroider with gold thread, create miniatures, produce beeswax candles, incense and small icons, cultivate the monastery gardens and keep bees. Their publications include studies in history, theology and hymnography. However, their primary purpose is to offer a living witness of Christ in an age which is spiritually barren, when people have lost their sense of national and religious identity and are experiencing a crisis that is not only economic but also spiritual. The monks strive to preserve the precious legacy of their faith and rich tradition and to highlight their inestimable value in modern times.
The origin of the monastic community
Perched high atop spires of conglomerated Calcerous and sandstone rock, the monasteries of Meteora are one of the world’s most spectacular sacred sites. Located in the Thessaly region of North Central Greece and overlooking the valley of Pinios, the towering rocks of Meteora, meaning ‘rocks in the air’, have long evoked awe in human beings. Paleolithic remains indicate settlements around the stones from between 100,000 to 40,000 BC, and hermits and ascetics have lived in the area since long before the Christian era. The arrival of Christianity began in the 8th century, organized monastic communities had developed by the 12th century, and by the mid 1500’s twenty-four Greek Orthodox monasteries had been constructed upon the spires of stone. The monasteries, 200-600 meters high (and some accessible only by baskets lowered by ropes and winches), became a center of scholarship and art until the mid 18th century when popular interest in monasticism declined. Most of these meteorisa monastiria (‘hanging monasteries’) were abandoned and today only six survive, of which four can be visited by way of bridges and rock-cut steps. Previously a remote area, the construction of a highway in the early 1960’s made the monasteries accessible to pilgrims and tourists. This influx of visitors, however, has discouraged new monks from joining the monasteries and compelled others to move to Mt. Athos in search of solitude and privacy. Orthodox Monks started to populate the area of Meteora over 1200 years ago, initially searching for quietness, peace and the perfect environment
Lifting system with ropes in Meteora to pray and meditate. They were living in caves like hermits, with little human relations. Beginning of the 12th c. they started to congregate and create the first monasteries. To make things more difficult, they decided to build their communities on top of rocky peaks, apparently inhospitable places to live in, but with more protection from the outside world, and amazing views to enjoy daily. Approching Meteora the visitor wonders how could they manage at that time to climb these steep peaks with very little equipment and later to carry the materials to build the monasteries. The cliffs are as high as 600m (1800 feet) from the plain level, and hardly accessible even today to equipped rock climbers. Originally entrance to the monasteries was possible only with ladders, or ropes connected to nets, used to lift goods and people. Not only it was adventurous, but also really dangerous, since the legend say that the ropes were changed only “when the Lord let them break”. The advantage of such an access system was that the ropes could easily be lifted to protect the monks from external threats. The biggest expansion of the monasteries had place at the end of the 14th c, when Greece was threatened by Turkish invaders, and monks from other areas of Greece took refugee in Meteora, building a total of 24 monasteries, progressively abandoned in the last two centuries.
While walking in Meteora we saw buses packed with tourists going from one monastery to the other without even stopping on the way to enjoy the amazing views. This means to miss all of the magic of this place, the fusion of the human-made monasteries perfectly integrated on top of incredible rock formations. We advise you not to do the same mistake and enjoy the route in between the monasteries!
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