Athens to Meteora: Monasteries, Caves & Seaside Stopovers
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WHEN
Monday 1 June to Fri Jan 10th 2025
ADDRESS
Highlights
- Enjoy authentic local flavors with an optional lunch from 10 menu selections!
- Discover ancient hermit caves, Meteora's hidden treasures.
- Capture Meteora's stunning panoramas and enjoy the most breathtaking views.
- Explore all Meteora monasteries, tour 3 interiors for a cultural experience.
- Coastal stop for brunch and dinner at a beachfront seaside restaurant
Description
Embark on an unforgettable day trip from Athens to the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora. This tour combines sacred history with scenic comfort, offering you the chance to explore centuries-old monasteries, hidden hermit caves, and enjoy a taste of the Greek coastline—all in one amazing day.
Departing from Athens at 08:00 AM by modern, air-conditioned coach, you’ll enjoy a smooth ride through the countryside. The usual train service is temporarily replaced by our comfortable bus for your convenience.
Scenic Coastal Brunch Stop
Instead of stopping at busy highway stops, we take you to the seaside for a refreshing brunch break. Sit just steps from the sea and enjoy your meal or coffee with the breeze, the scent of the sea, and beautiful coastal views. Meals are optional and can be pre-ordered through an app on the bus—no waiting, no stress.
Explore Meteora with a Local Guide
At around 12:30 PM, you’ll arrive in Kalabaka and board our local VIP minibus to begin your Meteora adventure. Your expert local guide will take you to three of the most famous monasteries, with short photo stops at all six. Along the way, you’ll enjoy spectacular views and hear fascinating stories about the history and spiritual life of Meteora.
You’ll also explore the hermit caves of Badovas, carved into the cliffs by the first monks who came here seeking peace and isolation. After the cave visit, you’ll enjoy a relaxed lunch in the nearby village of Kastraki, choosing from a variety of home-cooked Greek dishes, including vegetarian and vegan options. Meals are not included but can be paid directly at the restaurant.
Dinner by the Sea
On the way back to Athens, we’ll make a final stop in Kamena Vourla around 19:30 for an optional sunset seaside dinner. It’s a quiet, peaceful setting by the water—perfect for enjoying your favorite Greek meal, dessert, or drink. After dinner, the return trip continues with arrival in Athens around 22:30.
For non-English speakers, a free smart audio guide is available in 10 languages. A private tour option is also available with a live guide in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, or Romanian.
Includes
Round-trip transportation from Athens in an air-conditioned coach
Seaside stop for optional brunch and sunset dinner by the waves
Live local English-speaking tour leader
Smart audio guide app available in the following languages: English | Spanish | French | German | Italian | Portuguese | Russian | Polish | Korean | Chinese | Japanese
Lunch (if option selected) at a local restaurant: Bread, water, and a choice of 10 traditional Greek dishes, including meat, vegetarian, and vegan options.
Explore the interiors of the 3 most iconic monasteries
Panoramic photo stops to see all 8 monasteries
Visit to the hidden hermit caves
Stops on the way to buy lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks
Wi-Fi and USB chargers onboard
Bottled water
Important Information
- During the tour, you’ll need to walk up staircases to access the monasteries.
Each monastery has a different number of steps and difficulty level.
It usually takes 10–20 minutes at a slow, comfortable pace (with short breaks) to reach each monastery from the parking area.
Entrance fees are not included and must be paid in cash at the entrance of each monastery (€5 per person).
The tour is guided in English, with a free smart audio guide available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
Dress code:
Women: Skirts below the knee are required (no pants, shorts, or sleeveless tops).
Men: No sleeveless shirts or shorts above the knee.
There will be stops to buy breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Meal options:
Meat & Poultry: Oven-baked chicken, soutzoukakia, pastitsio, moussaka
Vegetarian: Greek salad, spinach or cheese pie
Vegan: Gemista, briam, gigantes
Bread and water included
Please bring your smartphone and earpads to use the audio
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund