METEORA TO THERMOPYLAE

Private Daily Tour from Athens to Thermopylae -  Meteora  

A day of Saints and Monasteries

Meteora, meaning ‘suspended in the air’ (hence the word ‘meteorite’), is a rock formation in central Greece to the north of Athens. If the rocks themselves are remarkable, the Byzantine monasteries that sit upon them are amazing. Not surprisingly this unique combination of landscape and heritage is a UNRESCO world heritage site. In orthodox religious importance it is second only to Mount Athos.

The Monastery of Great Meteoron, founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite (sic), built on the most imposing rock, is the largest and most formal of the extant Meteora monasteries. Dating back to the middle of the 14^th century, Athanasios was the first to organize a systematic monastic community. Nearby, The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is named after its founder, the ascetic monk Varlaam who lived in a cave as a hermit and built a chapel on top of a rock. In the 16th century, enlarged the chapel and built a monastery. In total there are six monasteries here.

After Meteora we visit the city of Kalambaka where you have a chance to sample the local delicious traditional Greek cuisine. Our return journey takes us via historic Thermopylae, the location of the ancient battle between ancient Greeks and Persians that changed the course of European history. We’ll stop to see the battlefield, the statue of King Leonidas and the museum.

Highlights

• Grand Meteoro
• Varlaam Monastery
• City of Kalambaka
• Thermopylae battlefield
• Statue of King Leonidas

Info & Facilities

• Duration: Approx 10 hours
• Dep: Time requested by customer
• Vehicles is disinfected daily
• Drivers are vaccinated for COVID-19