Description

Humongous rocks, monasteries «hanging in the sky» and beautiful paths compose an enchanting scenery that everyone must see. This almost “unearthly state” with monasteries that clambered on the edge of impressive steep mountainous masses, challenge you to discover the majesty of nature. The earth meets the sky, the human intervention the divine element and the traveler finds the emotional serenity and spiritual well being which arises eternally from the atmosphere. Every year, millions of visitors from all over the world visit Meteora in order to admire this unique phenomenon. Since 1988, Meteora is part of the World Heritage sites of UNESCO.

Don’t miss this absolute experience!

The monasteries have strict dress rules prohibiting entry to male visitors wearing shorts and women visitors with sleeveless sweatshirts.
Women need a skirt/ long dress to enter the monasteries.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Two out of six Holy Monasteries of Meteora
• Kastraki, in Kalampaka area (lunch-break against the magnificent view of Meteora)

STARTING POINT AND DEPARTURE TIME

• Starting point: Aristotelous Square & Egnatia Street (Venizelos Statue) | 08:00

EXCURSION DURATION

• 11 hours (6 hours on the road)

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCURSION

We depart to Meteora with the bus of Ammon Express along with our friendly trip attendant-archaeologist,

at 08:00 from Aristotelous Square & Egnatia Street (at the white Statue of Venizelos).

The distance is 230km and lasts approximately 3 hours. During our way, we have a 20΄ stop for rest and coffee.

We reach Meteora at around 11:30 this fascinating complex of huge steep rocks of pennant, arising close to the first elevations of the longest sierra in Greece, Pindos (the “spine” of Greece). We visit two of the six operating Holy Monasteries depending on the schedule of each one*:

• the women’s monastery of Saint Stefanos with the impressive wood-carved iconostasis and the magnificent view of the city of Kalampaka, the river Lithaios and the plain,

• the monastery of the Holy Trinity at the steepest rock of Meteora, through stairs cut through the stone,

• the women’s monastery of Rousanou with the extraordinary wall paintings of the small church, and the verdant path leading to it,

• the Varlaam monastery with the valuable surviving frescoes of the painter of icons Frangos Katelanos and, among others, the thirteen-ton wooden barrel,

• the monastery of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) of Christ, which is the largest monastery of Meteora,

• the monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapafsas, with the frescoes of the famous painter of icons Theophanes the Cretan, which has a balcony that is a stone’s throw away from the huge rocks.

*Every Monday we visit the monasteries of Varlaam and Rousanou, every Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday the monasteries of Saint Stefanos and Varlaam and every Friday the monasteries of Rousanou and Saint Stefanos. In exceptional cases, visits to the monasteries may be varied.

The monasteries are built οn the peak of the huge rocks, and form the second most important complex of monasteries after Mt. Athos. In the past, there were twenty four monasteries but today only the six of them operate properly. In 1988, Meteora joined the list of the World Heritage sites of UNESCO.

For your convenience, the bus stops in front of the entrance of the Holy Monasteries.

During our visits to the monasteries we make a short stop to admire the stunning panoramic view of the Holy Monasteries from up high and capture the mystique of the landscape. The wild unapproachable area with the sandstones of more than 65 millions years old is majestic and at the same time unearthly and divine as until today their origin cannot be explained.

Next, we enjoy our greek traditional lunch break in Kastraki, at Kalampaka area, against the view of the astonishing Meteora.

We depart to Thessaloniki at around 15:30 and we have a last stop for 20΄ for coffee and rest. We are back at about 19:00, making the same stops where we started from.

THE PRICE OF THE EXCURSION INCLUDES

• Round-trip transportation to Meteora
• English speaking trip attendant-archaeologist
• Basic travel insurance (during transportation)

NOT INCLUDED

• Entrance fee 3€ per monastery (only in cash), valid for all non-Greek citizens
• Tour-guide inside the monasteries
• Cost of lunch at the restaurant
• Tips

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Our trip attendant-archaeologist shall wear clothing with the Ammon Express marking so that he/she will be recognisable easily

• You should be at the departure point 10΄ before the time indicated in the schedule. The bus cannot remain at designated stops, except for boarding

• The monasteries have strict dress rules prohibiting entry to male visitors wearing shorts and women visitors with sleeveless sweatshirts. Women need a skirt/ long dress to enter the monasteries

• Wear comfortable shoes to walk around the monasteries of Meteora

• In summer season bear in mind to have sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat

• Please be consistent with the exact appointment times specified by the Ammon Express escort, so that the excursion will remain unforgettable to all participants

• Have a nice trip and an unforgettable experience!

• Don’t forget to share pictures and comments from your experience!