We created tour packages at special prices.
In your booking request, you must menmtion the package name.
Included in the price of the tour packages are:
– Transportation,
– Entrance fees,
– Lunch on the one-day tour to Delphi, and, the one-day tour to Argolis,
– The services of the professional tour guide.
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Discover the best of Greece with our Combo Tours! Immerse yourself in the ancient wonders of Athens, visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and other well known archaeological sites. Our Combo Tours offer guided tours at best price.
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The packages include morning City tour in Athens with the Acropolis museum, 1-day tour to Delphi with lunch, 1-day tour to Agolis with lunch, and the 1-day cruise.
———————————– ZEUS, includes:
1) Delphi with lunch
2) Argolis with lunch Combo tours price: 170 €
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HERA, includes:
1) Morning Tour of Athens, with Acropolis, and the Acropolis museum
2) Delphi with lunch Combo tours price: 160 €
_______________________________________________ ATHENA, includes:
1) Morning Tour of Athens, with Acropolis, and the Acropolis Museum
2) Delphi with lunch
3) One day cruise to 3 islands Combo tours price 260
(If Argolis is chosen instead of Delphi) The price is:
Argolis with lunch, Combo tours price: 268 €
_______________________________________________ APOLLO, includes:
1) Morning Tour of Athens, with Acropolis, and the Acropolis Museum
2) DELPHI with lunch, or, ARGOLIS with lunch Combo tours price: 235 €
________________________________________________ POSEIDON:
1) Morning Tour of Athens, with Acropolis,and the Acropolis Museum Delphi with lunch Afternoon to Cape Sounion Combo tours price: 120 €
_________________________________________________ HERMES:
-1) Morning Tour of Athens, with Acropolis,
-2) Two days Delphi + Meteora Combo tours price: 230 € per person, 3* hotel, double room, Half board
=======================================================
Our mobile friendly website www.toursingreece.info Appropriate clothing is required for everybody that visits the monasteries.
[tabby title=”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…
[tabby title=”Places visited”]
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 “
[tabby title=”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.
[tabby title=”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.
[tabby title=”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.
NOVEMBER-APRIL The 2-day tour is organized on Wednesdays.
MAY-OCT the tour is organized on Mon, Wed, Thu and SELECTED SAT No tour on TUE
– Cumbine the 2-day tour to Meteora with the day tour to Argolis + Nafplion. Old town of Nafplion is beautiful. (Read the Special prices for combination of tours (Combo Tours column) in the footer)
– Any booking in the last 48 hrs can be done on our premises.
– On weekends the office is closed
PRICES are in euro: In 3* hotel with breakfast + dinner. Double room = 150 € p.p !Single room =180 €.
* Entrance fees to Delphi and 2 monasteries = NOV-MAR €8 p.p., APR-OCT €15 p.p. must be added.* Click and SEND US the booking request
The price INCLUDES:
– transportation by modern bus
– Pick up from near your hotel in central Athens. Drop off at same location, or, at the terminal.
– Entrance fees to 2 monasteries, that are open on the day that you visit Meteora.
– Stopover at the monument of the Spartan King Leonidas at THERMOPYLAE
– Services of the professional tour guide all along the tour.
– 1-night hotel accommodation.
– dinner + breakfast in the hotel.
NOT INCLUDED :
– Lunch. The bus stops near restaurants, but the lunch is extra. In Kalambaka, the bus stops at the central square where there are lots of restaurants to choose from.
– The hotel tax of €5.00 (in 4* hotels) per room, per night.
– The New “City TAX” for overnights in hotels. The accommodation Tax will be payable by the guests prior to their check-out as following: 4* hotel: €3.00 per overnight per room, 3* hotel: €1.50 per overnight per room.
ALTERNATIVE cheaper solution:
You pay for the tour services, 110 € and book a bed in a Kalambaka hotel (See the hotels in https://www.hostelworld.com/st/hostels/europe/greece/kalambaka/)
The Tour services include:
Pick-up/ Drop off near your hotel.
Fees to enter the site in Delphi and 2 monasteries at Meteora,
And the services of the English-speaking professional tour guide.
The bus parks at the entrance of Kalambaka and walking distance from your hotel.
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 below the knees are required.
This tour visit two important sites, in mainland Greece. You will get a picture of the ancient Greek civilization and of Byzantine art and architecture. Pace is manageable with plenty of time on the sites.
* 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.
[tabby title=”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, LEVADIA (short restroom stop), and ARACHOVA, you arrive in DELPHI at +/- 11.30 am.
Delphi was considered by the ancient Greeks to be “the center of the universe”. With a professional tour guide, you will explore the site.
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 After breakfast you will visit a local art studio.
You continue and 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 and visit an icon exhibition
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
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.
[tabby title=”Departures & prices”]
The Delphi and Meteora tour operates April – October: Mon, Wed, Thu & selected Saturdays. CLICK and see the dates.
From November – March this tour operates ONLY on Wednesdays.
APPLICABLE ENTRANCE FEES: NOVEMBER – MARCH the entrance fees drop from 15.00 to 8.00 €
* If our offers sound interesting read the “4 steps to book” in the footer and start communication.
THE ABOVE PRICES INCLUDE:
– transportation in modern, air conditioned buses
– Pick up / drop off from your hotel or near it (See the list of hotels in the footer of this website).
(This service is from hotels in central Athens. The airport and the Port of Piraeus are not in Athens).
– Entrance fees to Delphi site and the 2 monasteries that are open on the day that you visit Meteora.
– Services of the professional tour guide all along the tour.
– 1 night hotel accommodation in the hotel of your choice.
– All taxes except the hotel night tax of 3.00 €(in 3* hotel) – 5.00 € per room, per night(in 4*star hotel)
NB:Lunches on both days are not included. The bus stops at local restaurants, but the lunches are extra.
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, on mainland Greece. It presents a picture of ancient Greek civilisation 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 splendour 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 in this tour. The museum is included in the 3 days Delphi – Meteora 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 centre of the world was there. A temple dedicated to god Apollo was built there in the 7th c BC. The oracle of Apollo became a religious centre 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” from the 10th c. onwards. 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. It is worth noting that the religious monuments mostly visitored in Greece are the Holy Meteora.
“Here at these barren rocks thousands of orthodox monks learned wisdom, humility and morals“
Over a million people visit the area of Meteora every year and admire this “unique” natural phenomenon.
[tabby title=”Itinerary”]
DAY 1: The bus starts the pick up at 07.30am and, traffic allowing, it departs from the terminal in the centre of Athens at 08.30am.
Passing by THEBES (the town of mythical Oedipus), LEVADIA (short rest room stop) and the traditional village of ARACHOVA, you arrive in DELPHI, the famous “Temple-Bank”, at +/- 11.30am.
Delphi was considered by the ancient Greeks to be “the centre 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 Kalampaka with a short photo stop at THERMOPYLAE, the site of the famous battle between the Spartan King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan soldiers against the huge Persian army of Xerxes 480 B.C. took place. Arrival at your hotel in Kalampaka at +/- 19:00. Overnight in Kalambaka.(Dinner is optional).
DAY 2: 08.15 After breakfast on the way o METEORA, you pass by a local art studio where you learn about the technique of painting of the icons and what an icon means for a Greek Orthodox Christian.
You then drive up to the rocks and 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 to Athens and arive in Athens between 19.30 – 20.00.
Time Tour Plan & Services
8:30 Hotel pick up startsat 07.30am and depart from the terminal at +/- 08:30
11:30 After a short break outside Levadia you arrive in modern Delphi village
11:45 Follow the professional tour guide, and visit the ancient sanctuary site
13:45 Proceed for lunch at a local restaurant (optional).
15:00 Continue to Kalanbaka via Thermopylae(photo stop), Lamia, Karditsa & Trikala.
19:15 Arrival in Kalambaka. Check-in the hotel and (optional) dinner at 19.30
08:15 Depart from the parking of Hotel ORFEAS, and visit the icon exhibition
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.
QUESTION: How many hours do we stay at the ancient site in Delphi. ANSWER: You spend 1.30 hour 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 them over their clothing before entering. FREE TIME: After the guide takes you around, you have enough time to see whatever is left to see. AT DELPHI, the 2 day tour to Meteora meets the 3 day classical tour, and the tour company usually moves guests travelling 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. If you decide to take the tour without lunch, you can ask the tour leader to drop you at the entrance of modern Delphi, and +/- 1 hour later to pick you up from the same point for the return to Athens.
CANCELATIONS If you cancel 7 days before the departure, there is no cancellation penalties.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 days before the departure, there is a 50 % cancellation penalty.
If you cancel within 2 days of the departure, there is a 100 % cancellation penalty.
Read more about Athens to Delphi and Meteora 2-Day Trip 2019 – https://www.viator.com/tours/Athens/2-Day-Trip-to-Delphi-and-Meteora-from-Athens/d496-31408A?mcid=56757
[tabby title=”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 my 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 have been able to attune their services and offerings to a very wide range of traveller indeed. Their list of contacts is vast, which worked helpfully in our favour: 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, personalisation of services and traveller support is 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.
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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 site 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 Site are in ruins. The tour which I joined was organized by G.O.TOURS. Information about the tour can be found at 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 night 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 centre while the First Class hotels were located at quieter locations outside the towns providing small luxuries (swimming pools, good dinners and breakfasts, etc.)
After checking in 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.
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tinghq, 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 issuing of vouchers. Kosta gives excellent value for money. He is highly knowledgeable, caring and courteous.ery trust worthy. There were 6 of us going on the tour and on the morning of the tour, he personally came by and make sure we got on the tour! Great discount for the tour and we did save €’s by booking with him rather than direct with 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.
[tabby title=”contact us”] Astoria Travel (est. 1958)
48 Stadiou street, Athens 10564, Greece.
Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585.
Click here and send us a message
[tabbyending]
In the footer of this website you find the “4 steps to make a booking”. If our offer sound interesting, please send us the booking form.
SEE ALL THE TOURS that visit Meteora in guided tours or train trips.
[tabby title=”Description”] Day 1: Arrive in Delphi at +/- 11:30.
Visit the famous “Temple Bank” of the ancient times, dedicated to the God Apollo, and see the Temple of Apollo, the Treasury of Athenians and in the archaeological Museum, you will see fantastic Greek sculptures like the Sphinx, the famous athlete Aghias, the handsome Antinoos and the bronze Charioteer.
Day 2: The morning is free to explore the ancient site of Delphi. After lunch depart for Kalambaka through the town of Lamia. On the way, a shortstop in Thermopylae, the place where the 300 Spartans (fought against the Persians) to see the Monument of Leonidas, is in the plan. Arrive in Kalambaka at +/- 19:00. Overnight.
Day 3: Visit Meteora, meaning “hanging from the sky”. It seems to be “suspended in the air”. You will visit two ageless Byzantine Monasteries and you will see unique specimens of Byzantine art. After lunch, return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, and arrive in Athens at +/- 19:30
The Delphi and Meteora tour operates April – October: Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & selected Fridays. CLICK and see the dates.
PRICES: All travel agents, in Greece and worldwide, offer the same tour at different prices. We are sure that our price is not matched. Organizing tours throughout Greece since 1958, we have secured the best deals in all aspects of travel.
The price per person in 3-star hotels is:
– in a double room with 2 breakfasts, 249.00 € p.p.,
– in a double room with 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts, 285.00 € p.p. (Htl Hermes and Htl Orfeas)
The price per person in 4-star hotels (Htl Amalia and Htl Grand Meteora is:
– in a double room with 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts, 335.00 € p.p.
The “City TAX” for hotel accommodation is not included. This tax is payable by the guests to the hotel upon check-in: 4* hotel: 3 € per night, per room, 3* hotel: 1,50 € per night, per room.
The price includes:
– 1 night in Delphi and 1 in Kalambaka.
– Meals according to the price paid.
– The services of a professional tour guide.
– The entrance fee to the site and the museum in Delphi is included.
– The entrance fee in 2 monasteries at Meteora is included.
– Pick-up service from or near your hotel (see the list of hotels at the footer)
– Transportation on a modern air-conditioned coach
– Taxes, except the hotel overnight city tax.
[tabby title=” Places visited”] Places visited during this tour:
* The traditional village of Arachova.
* The sanctuary of Apollo and the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.
* Overnight in modern Delphi.
* The monument of Leonidas, the Spartan King, in Thermopylae.
* Overnight in Kalambaka, the city below the rocks of Meteora.
* 2 monasteries are visited. One of them is the nunnery of St. Stephen.
ORACLE OF APOLLO in DELPHI-the center 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. Delphi was the most sacred place in the ancient world and thousands of pilgrims visited here, from kings and philosophers to common people to hear the prophecies of the Oracle and to watch and compete in the ancient games held here, the Pythian Games, similar to the Olympics.
The ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE consists of the temple of Apollo, the treasury houses, the theatre, and the stadium. DELPHI is one of the best archaeological sites in Greece with ancient temples and shrines placed along the sacred way, making Delphi one of the best places to visit all year round. The site consists of the temple of Apollo, the treasury houses of the City-States, the ancient theatre, the stadium at the top of the hill, the gymnasium, and the Hippodrome. The sanctuary was built in an imposing location, on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus. The Temple of Apollo, the treasury house of the Athenians, the Polygonal Wall, the treasury houses of the different city States — where treasures from all over Greece were kept, and the Theatre are some of the most important buildings.
The remaining part of the ancient site, below the road, with the temple of Athena Pronaia, the Tholos (a circular structure with 3 of its original 20 Doric columns restored), the gymnasium, and the sports facilities, used for training for the athletes that took part in the “Pythian or Delphian Games”, is not visited in the guided tours. Choose the tour without lunch and when the group is having lunch you can visit them on your own, without the tour guide.
Today, next to the archaeological site, there is an impressive museum, displaying findings from the local excavations, that started in 1892, masterpieces of Ancient Greek sculpture. The highlights are offerings by the oracle visitors, such as the famous bronze statue of the Charioteer, the statue of Antinoos, the famous athlete Aghias, the two “kouros” statues, the Roman “omphalos”, the sculptured stone that represented the navel of the world, and many others.
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” from the 10th c. onwards. 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. fresco mark a key stage in the development of 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, of the many monasteries that existed, only six are open to the public: The monasteries of St. Nicholas Anapafsas, Grand Meteoro, Varlaam, Roussanou, Holy Trinity, and St. Stephan. It is worth noting that the religious monuments mostly visited in Greece are the Holy Meteora.
“Here at these barren rocks, thousands of orthodox monks learned wisdom, humility, and morals“
Almost two million people visit the area of Meteora every year and admire this “unique” natural phenomenon.
[tabby title=”contact us”]
Astoria Travel (est. 1958)
48 Stadiou Street, Athens 10564, Greece.
Tel. +302103250380, +306932888585.
Click here and send us a message
[tabbyending]
In the footer of this website, you find the “4 steps to make a booking”. If our offer looks interesting, please send us the booking form.
Meteora is a complex of Greek Orthodox monasteries built on natural sandstone pillars. Today four monasteries and two nunneries are open to the public.
[tabby title=”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!
[tabby title=”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.
[tabby title=”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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