Expert , local , English or Spanish speaking Tour Leader
See all 6 monasteries , visit 3 of them and the Hermit Caves
Plenty of stops for amazing photos
Small Groups - Runs 365 days
Tour Description
The best tour to see Meteora picking you up directly from Kalabaka train station when you arrive. See the entire area , all the monasteries and take the best panoramic photos with our , expert in the area , local tour leader. At the end we drop you off back to the train station’s door !
Since you are visiting Meteora for a few hours you have to spend your time in the best way and enjoy as much as you can this amazing phenomenon. This tour is specially designed for people that traveling from Athens or Thessaloniki to Meteora by train and departing the same day. You can book the train tickets online at hellenictrain.gr
At 12:45 the train arrives at Kalabaka Train Station where our expert in the area local Tour Leader will be waiting for you holding a signboard with your name. After boarding our mini-bus you will begin your wonderful about 5 hrs tour to see all the area of Meteora, all 6 active 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 lifetime experience. See also the Hermit Caves of Badovas exclusively in this tour.
In essence, you will be given the chance to fully experience the magnificence of Meteora, a place that is honored by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, learn about its history, the architecture and the spirituality of the Monasteries, and see for yourselves this unique creation of nature.
At the end will be transferred back to Kalabaka Train Station so that you will be on time for the departure of the train, back to Athens or Thessaloniki.
Included
Pick up / Drop off from Kalabaka Train Station
Visit all 6 Monasteries (3 of them inside )
See the Hermit Caves
Local , expert in the area , English or Spanish speaking Tour Leader
Best stops for panoramic views and photos
Mini Bus (small groups up to 30 people) during the tour
Entrance fees of Monasteries (5 euro each) - ONLY BY CASH
Licenced Tour Guide – Guidance inside the Holy Monasteries
Meals and soft drinks
Gratuities (optional)
Useful info
Starting time of Meteora tour : 12:45 pm (or upon train arrival)
Meeting point : Kalabaka Train Station
We will hold a sign with your name written
Short stop after your arrival for a snack
Drop off back to the train station at 17:00 (on time before the train departure)
To book the train tickets from Athens or Thessaloniki visit the Official Website of the Greek Railway Company
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
Very nice guide and driver. Interesting comments and relaxed atmosphere. Very convenient with young kids.
Anna A October 11, 2022
This tour has been our favorite one! The tour guide was excellent, provided us full history information and was also fun.
NitramJavier June 9, 2022
Excellent tour! Our guide, Dimitris, was just amazing with his knowledge, not only for the Meteora but for so many other areas. A very good walk, amazing views & discussions. ... read more />
We enjoyed every moment of this journey!
Thanks Dimitris!
Genko G May 11, 2022
This trip was a long day but completely worth it! The train was comfortable and travelled through some beautiful scenery and meeting Ria (apologies if this is spelt incorrectly!) at... read more the station was quick and easy! We stopped first in the main square of Kalabaka at a cafe qhich is good for a bathroom break and good snacks / food should you wish but absolutely no pressure to buy. You stop there at the end so good for any purchases for the train back too. There is also a nearby supermarket and many good restaurants which Ria will show you. After this stop then onto the first monastery. Be advised that some monasteries have A LOT of steps / steep slopes to get to them so something to keep in mind. On our trip we visited St Nicholas, Varlaam and the nunnery at St Stephan - All of which are breathtaking....both inside and the views outside. Ria was so knowledgeable and friendly, you were always interested to hear the next pieces of information. It was intriguing to learn how the first monks got to the monasteries, how they built them and especially how they got up / down! Ideally, you would want to spend at least a couple of days in the area to fully explore (I'm sure they'd have a trip for that too!) but if one day is all the time you have then I cannot recommend this trip enough! I would certainly book again.
Deborah February 1, 2022
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
We had a great trip. Took a train from Athenes and met our guide who took us in a very comfortable car to the different monasteries before the bulk of... read more the tourists arrived in buses.
We had a private tour of one of the monasteries which was very interesting and then had a time for a great lunch with a wonderful view without any tourists before taking our train back to Athenes the same day.
Over all a great experience and a beautiful site to visit.
Emmanuel C July 11, 2022
We really enjoyed the tour of the Meteora monasteries. Friendly, kind and professional guide. And a very professional driver.
modrislaiv April 27, 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
Best way to book a local organized bus tour to maximize seeing as many of the monasteries as possible. The tour was 4 hours long with a very knowledgeable guide... read more and comfortable midsize bus. Visited 3 monasteries inside with plenty of time to spend and enjoy the sights. Stopped at several beautiful look out points for the perfect photo opportunities. We greatly enjoyed this tour and were glad we chose this hassle and stress free option as driving and parking around the sights can be challenging especially during peak season. The price of 24 Euro was very reasonable for this wonderful experience.
523noemi1717 October 18, 2022
we visited Meteora's monasteries with this tour. Everything was perfect, we were lucky as the 7:20 train from Athens arrived on time in Kalambaka, where the buses were already waiting... read more to take us to the first short stop to get some food before starting the real tour. The guide was very nice and knowledgeable, she provided also some good tips to visit the places as well as plenty of historical information. The time dedicated to each monastery is between 45 and 60 min, hence more than enough to enjoy the visits and to take pictures. The building are true masterpieces, and the panorama and views are unforgettable. For women, remember to bring a long skirt as it is required to enter the monasteries, although some of them may have some spare foulards to be used for the visits. Remember also to bring some water/food as in case of rush the time dedicated to additional stops could be very limited.
Alessio0575 April 21, 2022
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
The tour was a fantastic experience. The monasteries were incredible from the inside and outside. The journey in the van between the monasteries was pleasant and convenient and the guide... read more was very knowledgeable and knew the area inside out. I can highly recommend this tour!
Getaway62065549891 February 22, 2022
An unforgetable tour - There was no train so the trip from Athens to Meteora and back was by bus. I must recommend this tour because it is very interesting, the visit included three... read more monasteries and is amazing how those monasteries were built so many years ago. The views are excellent, specially for those fans of photography. It is a tour that you cann´t miss.
OnAir25653452 November 10, 2023
Excellent & Memorable - My husband and I took this tour with guide Antonis - and highly recommend this experience! The town and the monasteries are amazing and other-worldly, one of the most... read more beautiful places we’ve seen in the world! Antonis made the day comfortable and easy - sharing his own stories and experiences along with the tour content. He was knowledgeable and very interesting! Thank you Antonis for a truly memorable day!
michellerX3093AZ February 17, 2023
I did the 4 hour tour after arriving by train the day before. I don't usually (ever!) do tours but this was very well priced and I thought a convenient... read more way to get around the monasteries. The day I arrived I hiked up to the nearest two from Kalambaka and in theory you can visit them all yourself, as long as you set off early enough but I'm so glad I did this. I'm pretty fit and getting up the steps to each monastery was quite tough and would have been too much with walking to them all as well. Plus the guide gave a great talk about the monasteries, history and area was passionate about his home town. Both driver and guide were very friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend.
Kerrylan February 8, 2023
Visit to Meteora - Excellent trip. The guide was extremely competent and well informed. The bad part of the trip was the bus. Spending 10hours in one day inside a bus, with very narrow... read more seats is EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Apparently this seems being the same situation in all tourist companies.
The food was expensive and pretty basic. Discovering that the food was not included in the visit was not very nice. It is these kind of situation were you read the conditions of a trip and when you are offer a promotion with special price, you assume that this was included and it is not.
aenrichprast October 16, 2023
Great tour - Great tour. Did the morning hike with Christos. Exceptional guide, very informative and interesting. Would recommend this tour.
Anne W June 4, 2023
Meteora Thrones takes good care of their customers. We were guided by Chrysa, an effervescent, knowledgeable, engaging young woman and a great story-teller. The tour was everything I hoped for.... read more I learned a lot. I only wish we had more time at each monastery. Thank you for a great experience!