Best local English or Spanish speaking Tour Leader
See all 6 monasteries and enter inside 3 of them
Plenty of stops for amazing photos
Runs 365 days
Tour Description
Catch the train from Thessaloniki Train Station at 08:56 to Kalabaka via Palaiofarsala (change train, waiting time about 20 min) and admire the beautiful Greek landscapes during your trip.
Arriving in Kalabaka at 12:05 our Mini Bus will be waiting for you at the Kalabaka Train Station with our local , highly educated , Tour Leader which will hold a signboard with your name in order to find us and begin your customized Special Panoramic Midday Meteora Tour.
Take an amazing about 4+ hours Meteora tour, see all 6 monasteries and visit inside 3 of them. Our Tour Leader will give you full attention and care as the group will be small. Plenty of photo opportunity stops and many secrets places that only locals know will make your tour a life time experience. In the end will be transferred back to Kalabaka with drop off to the train station.
The train departs at 18:22 from Kalabaka and you will arrive in Thessaloniki at 22:20. (change at Palaiofarsala Train Station , waiting time about 40 min)
Included
Roundtrip Train tickets
Pick up / Drop off from Kalabaka Train Station
Highly educated , English or Spanish speaking Tour Leader
Upon request French , Italian , German
Full comprehensive , about 5 hrs , Meteora Tour
Mini Bus (small groups up to 35 people) during the tour
Visit all 6 Monasteries (3 of them inside )
Free WI FI on the bus
All Taxes
Excluded
Pick up / Drop off from Hotel in Thessaloniki to the Train Station
Entrance fees of Monasteries (5 euro each)
Licenced Tour Guide – Guidance inside the Holy Monasteries
Meals and soft drinks
Gratuities (optional)
Useful info
Departure time : 08:56 am (please be at the station at least 30 min before the train departure)
Departure place : Thessaloniki Train Station ( You have to change train in Palaiofarsalos Station )
Meeting point : 12:05 pm at Kalabaka Train Station (we will hold a signboard with your name)
Train tickets will be sent in your email after your confirmation
It is not necessary to print the train tickets you can just have them on your phone
Short stop after your arrival for a snack and refresh yourself
Departure and return point
Appropriate clothing for everyone is required to enter the monasteries. For ladies skirts by the knee or longer are required. No pants for ladies, no shorts, no sleeveless shirt. For men sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knee are prohibited.
We highly advice you to read our F.A.Q. page for more information.
Cancellation Policy
LAST MINUTE – Cancellation received more than 24 hrs before the tour will get a full refund
Cancellation received within 24 hrs before the tour will incur a penalty of 100% per person (no refund)
5/5
Top Rated – 5 Stars based on
User Reviews
0
Highly recommend this tour! Our guide Dimitri was well prepared for our visit of the monasteries as well as the surrounding geologic phenomena known as Meteora. He was well educated... read more in English. Well versed in not only the the monastic tour, at times he slipped into Greek mythology. He provided scientific explanation for us to ponder as to the creation of the mountains so unique to this region! With no doubt this is the Best Tour for your money!!!
Osmin11 July 14, 2022
This was a great tour, I liked it so much I went ahead and booked their half day Monasteries tour for the next day. The sunset tour was my favorite... read more of the two because we got to go see a Monastery, an old church, the hermit caves, and the sunset from sunset rock. It really is spectacular to see the sunset behind the rocks. They picked up and dropped off at my hotel which was really convenient.
terriwR1386ZW July 24, 2022
Excellent tour of multiple monasteries- well organized, and the train trip was a bit long but a good experience. Local travel company knows their town best - booking with Meteora... read more Thrones is the way to go. Katya (?) was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Very enthusiastic.
DavidL5414 July 13, 2022
Wonderful tour - It was a wonderful experience! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We stopped at 3 monasteries and stopped at all the great picture locations. Meteora was an amazing... read more place. We are so happy to have taken this tour.
Even though a major train accident occured in Greece about 2 weeks ago, they provided us with a great tour. All the trains were cancelled in the country, but they still chartered a luxurious bus to Kalabaka. They communicated about the transfer change very smoothly.
We highly recommend this tour!!!
mikiwerner March 12, 2023
Yiannis and Kostas were great hosts. We enjoyed our experience and would reccomend it! Bring a comfortable pair of shoes!
Roving736480 May 16, 2022
We had such a great experience getting to visit this beautiful place. Marcini, our guide was truly a star, she shared so much information around the phenomenon of the... read more Meteora area and was always smiley and enthusiastic. Our driver was very kind too. Thank you once again!
joannekI2615UI July 11, 2022
Beautiful weather, perfect amount of time at each monastery, and good information from Giannis the tour guide
anuragk612 April 30, 2022
Meteora 2 day trip - We had a wonderful experience with Meteora Thrones. Very accommodating to our needs, plus we had a wonderful travel guide! Highly recommended!
G205LIangelak January 7, 2023
The Sunset Tour I did was exceptional. Our guide Fortina was lovely and very knowledgeable and really made the tour so worthwhile. So thankyou.
The booking process with... read more Meteora Thrones was easy and the follow through with train tickets, pick ups etc very smooth .
I would highly recommend this tour and believe me Meteora is not to be missed.
ben53071 July 11, 2022
A completely different look at Meteora - First things first: Meteora is absolutely stunning any way you look at it, and you can't really go wrong. But while any bus or car can take you to vantage... read more points to spot the monasteries, there's nothing like a good old-fashioned hike through forest trails across streams, rocks, and trees. There's no instant gratification here, but as you slowly gain altitude, the sheer brilliance of Meteora slowly reveals itself, a far more rewarding experience than simply taking a bus.
A guide can make or break your trek, and Christos was the best hiking buddy we could get. A local from the area, he knows the Meteora trails like the back of his hand, and is very well-versed with the history of the place too. While many people huff and puff up the hills, he strolls across like he's going to the supermarket, with plenty of breath left to narrate histories and perspectives of the Meteora monasteries.
While the buses focus on the monasteries and rocks, the hike gives you the opportunity to see another side of Meteora, the green, lush side.
If you're reasonably fit and want to go to Meteora, do the hike. You won't regret it.
Nigel B September 26, 2023
Guide was absolutely lovely girl who knows how to interact with people, perfect bus driver and of course incredible Meteors.
In Athens there are no signs of which track... read more you should take as also no schedules with all possible directions. But people always help.
Camper268680 April 22, 2022
We absolutely loved this tour! On our own, we caught the train at the Thessaloniki Railway Station. All tickets and instructions were sent to us the day before so we... read more had plenty of time to prepare for our trip. Train times were given on the tickets. Once in the town of Kalabaka, there was someone waiting for us. Our guide continued to impress us with her knowledge of the past and present of these monasteries. There was plenty of time to see everything we wanted to see. We went inside 3 of the monasteries, which was absolutely incredible, and stop at the other 3 for pictures. Plus we visited a rocky outcropping for a truly breathtaking experience. Then stopped for a bite to eat at the local village before heading back to the train. Well worth the money. I would definitely recommend.
debbieisacatlover June 9, 2022
This was the most knowledgeable, interesting, educated, and entertaining tour guide and tour we have taken to date. Meteora was where he grew up and his father before him. He... read more ensured our very informative and fascinating sunset tour of meteora. We took a sunrise tour with another company the next morning and the sunset tour was by far better than the other. The excellent driver made sure our trip up windy roads was extremely smooth and comfortable. It was well worth the higher price of the other tours. Thank you for such an enjoyable tour!
181janinl July 10, 2022
Our train tickets arrived by email well before the tour, with assigned seats. Athens station was easy to navigate and find the train ok. Top tip there’s a station cafe... read more on the platform side that we only saw after getting to the platform!
The train was a little delayed, announcements kept coming on the platform which was ok, no actual information on the length of the delay tho!
Eleni and the driver (whose name I can’t recall, apologies) were both superb throughout the tour. They were waiting outside the station with a large sign with names listed below, no issue. We ended up on the largest of the coaches which was nice and a group of I think 16 people.
From the station we went to the main square in Kalambaka and stopped for 15 mins by a bakery to grab drinks and sandwiches/ pastries and bathroom stop, also goes to spot potential places for dinner after the tour.
The monasteries were stunning and lived up to all anticipation. there were 24 in Meteora, now only 8 and 2 uninhabited. 4 monks monasteries and 2 female. The first was the Holy Monastery of Grand Meteoran, be warned there are 275 steps down and up to get to the monastery and the same coming out. Superb, stunning frescoes, just magical views of the other monasteries too. Second was Varlaam, only 150 steps here, just as beautiful and the views were magnificent. En route fro here to the last monastery we saw the scenery used for a Games of Thrones scene and the monastery (occupied by one 53 yr old hermit monk) used in For shout Eyes Only.
The last monastery was the a holy Monastery of St Stephan, nuns here (priests at the the others two, none seen at the first one seen at the second with some serious ring kissing going on with visitors ).
St Stephan was way favourite of the three it is beautiful, the church itself is amazing, with incense to add to the ambiance. Beautiful lavender and rose gardens behind it with more stunning views over the valley and a sad dried up river bed (2022 drought).
A short stop at an icon workshop en route back to Kalambaka and ended up back in the central square.
We ate in the square at the Archontariki Taverna and the food was really good, service friendly too
The train trip back was smooth, just a long day but absolutely worth it it was phenomenal totally recommend it and the company they were superb
willowbeachbum September 5, 2022
Must do tour of Meteora!! - Absolutely amazing tour of Meteora and the monasteries. Our tour guide’s passion for the area and knowledge of the Orthodox faith came through and made this tour incredibly enjoyable. We... read more learned about the creation of the area from a geological perspective and then from the first monks to the area. Unfortunately forgot the tour guide’s name - he moved to Kalambaka from Canada.
Plenty of stops at locations to take spectacular photos and to visit three monasteries (including museums where monks display important relics).
Be prepared for lots of stairs 🙂
xLauzx April 15, 2023
Great overview of Meteora - The hotel pickup was very convenient and the tour guide was professional and knowledgeable. We got driven to a bunch of monasteries and given 30 min - 1hr to go... read more inside on our own. Personally I like this as I'd rather explore the monasteries on our own. The tour guide gave historical info on the drives between the monasteries. Definitely recommend if you want a semi guided tour and easy transport.
Ryan A October 9, 2023
Our guide was excellent. She had terrific history of the the area and history and introduced us to the nuns who (along with the well-known monks) also continue their... read more work in this place. We visited both of the 2 nunneries and were very impressed by the museums on site and their continued work.
RBMGCA November 20, 2022
Rhea was an amazing tour guide. Very knowledgeable about the area, and was very flexible to adjust the tour to our needs. We were four of us so they gave... read more us a van to ourselves. It was a once in a life experience to visit these monastries in the heavens.
We grabbed breafast at the Larissa station before we headed out, had lunch when we got there and there was time to grab a small snack before heading back. We had booked for first class but did not get it, so we had regular coach tickets. We were a bit anxious when we looked at our seat numbers because they were not sequential. Don't worry because of the crazy numbering in the trains, the seats were actually together.
Rhea took us to three main monastries where we spent close to an hour each but also covered many more of the monastries - stopping by on some great picture spots to take some amaing pics. Time just went by so quickly. You do get some time to rest ast some amazing, quiet and meditative spots in the monastries. Lots of steps so travel light and carry cash. Every monastry charges an entrance fee (3euro/person) and they don't take cards.