Meteora Monasteries Half-Day Small Group Tour with Transport

Discover Meteora’s UNESCO treasures on a half-day tour. Explore monasteries, enjoy serene views, and delve into rich history with a local guide.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Meteora - From the 14th to the 16th century, 24 monasteries were built atop the numerous rock peaks, with 6 still available for exploration and admiration. These monasteries became pivotal centers of the Orthodox faith during the Byzantine era, producing some of the finest religious art and crafts, and housing a collection of valuable manuscripts now displayed in their museums. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Meteora-Antichassia region has also been designated a Natura 2000 Ecological Zone by the Greek Ministry of Environment to protect rare bird and flower species.
  • Agios Nikolaos Anapaphsas - The Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas, established at the end of the 14th century, is the first monastery encountered on the way to Meteora.

The name Anapafsas has several interpretations, with two being the most popular. One suggests it was named by a benefactor, while the other proposes it served as a resting place for pilgrims and visitors due to its position as the first monastery on the ascent.

  • Roussanou Monastery - Named after the first probable hermit who settled on the rock, the Holy Monastery of Roussanou’s main cathedral was founded at the end of the 16th century and decorated thirty years later.

Unlike other monasteries, Roussanou is situated on a lower elevation, making it more accessible. Initially founded by monks, it suffered significant damage during World War II and became a convent in 1988.

  • Varlaam Monastery - The Holy Monastery of Varlaam, the second largest monastery, is located opposite the Great Meteoro Monastery and was founded in the mid-14th century by the ascetic Hosios Varlaam.

The elegant Catholicon was built in honor of Agioi Pantes in 1541-42 by two priest-monks from Ioannina, Hosioi Theophanes and Nectarios the Apsarades. The main church was decorated in 1548, with the stunning wall-paintings attributed to the renowned hagiographer from Thebes, Frago Catelano.

  • Great Meteoron Monastery - The largest and oldest of all, the Great Meteoron Monastery was built atop a gigantic rock, earning it the name “suspended in the air” (meteoro).

Founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite, who organized the systematic koenovion, this monastery marks the beginning of organized monasticism in Meteora.

  • Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada) - The Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada) is the most challenging to reach, but the panoramic view from the top is breathtaking!

Located near Saint Stephen’s Nunnery, it sits on a steep, magnificent rock. Organized as a monastery since 1362, as documented by Symeon Uressis Palaeologos, visitors must first reach the foot of the rock before ascending about 140 steps.

  • Agios Stefanos - The most accessible monastery, Agios Stefanos, can be reached by crossing a small bridge instead of climbing steps, making it ideal for visitors unable to use stairs but still wanting to experience a Meteora monastery.

Monastic life on the rock of Agios Stephanos began in the early 12th century. Its founders, Hosios Antonios in the first half of the 15th century and Hosios Philotheos, who rebuilt the old Catholicon in 1545, are notable figures in its history.

What's Included
  • Free WiFi on board
  • Bottled water
  • Visit Inside 3 monasteries and see all the other monasteries from outside
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off to/from Kalambaka or Kastraki
  • Free smart audio guide in French, Spanish & German
What's Not Included
  • Entrance fees ( 3 euros per monastery, three monasteries 9,00
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • State Licensed Guide inside the monasteries
Additional Information

Embark on an unforgettable journey with our Meteora Half-Day Sightseeing Tour! Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora, marveling at its cultural richness and natural beauty. Visit three main monasteries and delve deep into the history of the hermits and monks who established this remarkable community. Conducted by a local English-speaking tour leader, gain in-depth insights into the rich history, all explained in fluent English. However, note that the tour does not include a guide inside the monasteries, offering a more independent way for visitors to explore at their own pace. This approach is ideal for those who seek a personalized experience, wish to avoid the hussle of driving and parking outside the busy roads, allowing time to absorb the serene atmosphere and spectacular views. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a family, or a small group, this tour offers a unique and enriching perspective of the wonders of Meteora.

  • Please bring comfortable shoes
  • The monasteries have a strict dress code: men must wear trousers and long sleeves, women must wear a long skirt. If you do turn up in shorts, trousers and skirts will be provided.
Location
Meteora
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(288 Ratings)
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Melissa
Jul 23, 2024
Jim rocks! - Jim was an amazing guide and told great stories about each site and took great photos of us. Time allowed at each site was perfect!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M0ny28
Jul 16, 2024
EXCELLENT - tour very nice, unfortunately we did not find a tour in Italian so we booked the one in English... the girl who accompanied us was very nice and in the afternoon found us a nice gentleman who spoke Italian and acted as a cicero
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chrismm5296wx
Jul 6, 2024
Amazing tour! - We had an amazing half day tour with Dimitris and Aris! It was really entertaining and interesting! Dimitris is so funny and animated! Thanks a lot / ευχαριστώ
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D9138puanar
Jul 3, 2024
FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE - Fantastic tour. We took the sunset tour the day before and it was also fantastic. We loved the place. Guide very professional and enlightened us with stories and details of the place. I highly recommend this agency.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gerald_t
Jun 24, 2024
Wonderful experience - Wonderful experience made all the more special with the informative and enthusiastic commentary from our tour guide Apostolis. You could tell he was passionate about the area and the Monasteries he grew up in! Our driver Dinos was friendly and would take photos for us, and was an exceptional driver considering the steep roads he would navigate. Be prepared for lots of stairs, but the end result is worth it!
Review provided by Viator
Caitlinak713ac
Jun 13, 2024
Best way to see meteora - The is was a perfect tour for us and four young kids. Best way to see Meteora. We usually DIY our trips but couldn’t imagine having to park ourselves and navigate and do our own research about each place. This was the way to go. They knew several things we didn’t about the best way to visit logistically that would have been a problem had we ventured out on our own. Guide and driver were really kind and knowledgeable. We made it to Vaarlem, St Stephen’s and St Barbara’s. Lots of stopping and getting off for pictures and views which we loved. Learned a ton. Highlight of our trip to Greece.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
1snehak
Jun 8, 2024
Great experience! - We had a great tour thru Visit Meteora - there were only 6 of us plus our guide, Katarina and our driver. We had more than enough space in the van to spread out and see the stark and breathtaking landscape from both sides of the van. Katarina was a great guide for our half day trip of three monasteries in Meteora. She was full of compelling stories about the area, the monasteries, had deep knowledge about the history, and local culture and tradition, being a local herself. She also encouraged and answered any questions that we had and this way we got to learn extra bits that were not part of the standard tour. She was clear with how long we had to tour each monastery and the location of meet up points afterwards. Everyone in our group was respectful of this so we incurred no delays as we moved thru our tour. We visited Varlaam, Meteoro, and the nunnery of St Rousanneau and also stopped at many popular vistas along the way for photos. The tour was a great introduction, a bite size guide into the monasteries and just the right amount of history, culture, and local tradition. While Katarina did not accompany us into the sites, she equipped us with plenty knowledge and things to look out for while we self toured each monastery. We felt fortunate for our small group experience in comparison to the many large charter buses that rolled thru with 100s of passengers in their tour. Overall a great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O1258ossarahh
May 23, 2024
Beautiful views, great guide, great service - The tour was wonderful. We got picked up from our hotel and drove to our location for our hike. Everything went smoothly and the service was top notch. Our guide Iven was awesome and taught us alot along the way. They also give you walking sticks and water if needed. Beautiful views and beautiful monastery we got to see. Highly recommend a guided tour. Much easier to get there and back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tom_h
May 18, 2024
amazing - the height of the rocks brilliant commentary and driver interesting facts of the monestaries and whole area
Review provided by Viator
Barry_n
May 11, 2024
Excellent Guide - Our guide (Apostolis) was excellent; he had all the info about the places, and it was easy to tell that he loved his home area, loved talking about it with others, and he just loved being with people who were genuinely interested in the area.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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