PRIVATE : 1 day Meteora Tour from Thessaloniki by Train

  We were a group with 2 children and we were concerned the tour could be boring for them, but the guide went all out to attract their attention with with... read more curious facts about the monks' life in the past. The presentation was very informative and the mini-bus was comfortable and air-conditioned which helps a lot after going up and down the steps to the monasteries on a hot July day. We greatly appreciated the tips about the best photos spots.

  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

  I joined both hiking and sunset tour. Both were good, but hiking tour was superb and beyond expectation.

I thought it was just ordinary hiking, but it turned out... read more to be a historical, geographical, biological learning hiking tour.

Our guide Giorgia explained everything she knows along the hike, the things we see. it was fruitful and gained a lot of knowledge through the hike, besides you see the views and takes the road that less people taken.

If you have limited time, go for hiking tour! It just worth it.