Kalambaka to Meteora Sunset Tour with Church of Virgin Mary
4.9
(733)
🕑 4 hours
Free cancellation
Experience Meteora at its most magical on a sunset tour of the UNESCO-listed monastery complex from Kalambaka or Kastraki. Visiting at this time generally means smaller crowds, and you'll peek into centuries-old caves and churches as you learn about the unique hermitages from your guide. Watch the sunset over Meteora from a secret viewpoint.
Languages:
English
Portuguese
Japanese
Polish
Russian
Korean
Spanish
German
Italian
French
📍Patriarchou Dimitriou 2, Kalampaka 422 00, Greece
🏢Operated by Visit Meteora
Highlights
- ✓Enjoy hassle-free transfers between Meteora and Kalambaka or Kastraki
- ✓Explore a monastery, Byzantine church and centuries-old caves
- ✓Admire the sunset from a little-known Meteora vantage point
- ✓Go beyond the guidebooks and learn about Meteora’s history from your guide
What you'll see & do
- ✓Meteora is an area that covers few square kilometers, where an ancient monastic community and a rare geological phenomenon of huge rock pillars coexist in absolute harmony. Located at the northwest tip of the plain of Thessaly, Meteora today has become one of the most popular destinations of mainland Greece. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an archeological site and an officially declared holy place! At the foothills of the rocks, there are 2 settlements, the town of Kalabaka and the village of Kastraki.
- ✓It is a must-see church, not only for its age and precious 11th century Byzantine frescoes, but also because of the construction material of its walls. Relics of an ancient Greek temple dedicated to God Apollo have been embedded in the wall. In its interior one can also pay attention to the older mosaic floor that is revealed in specific spots beneath the current floor. This is definitely one of the most precious early Christian basilicas around Greece and even now days serves as an active church for the locals.
- ✓This is the most accessible monastery, where instead of steps you simply cross a small bridge to reach the entrance. It is ideal for visitors who cannot use the steps and yet they wish to have a real experience of a Meteora monastery. The beginning of monastic life on the rock of Agios Stephanos dates back to early in the 12th century. Hosios Antonios, in the first half of the 15th century, and Hosios Philotheos, who renovated or rather rebuilt from its foundations the old small and elegant Catholicon, the present church of Agios Stephanos, in 1545 are mentioned as its founders.
- ✓The Great Meteoron Monastery is the biggest and oldest one of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in the air” (meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built. The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the organizer of the systematic koenovion. For this reason, the foundation of this monastery is considered to be a turning point, or even better, the beginning of the organized monastisicm in Holy Meteora.
- ✓The Great Meteoron Monastery is the biggest and oldest one of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in the air” (meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built. The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the organizer of the systematic koenovion. For this reason, the foundation of this monastery is considered to be a turning point, or even better, the beginning of the organized monastisicm in Holy Meteora.
- ✓The Holy Monastery of Roussanou has received the name of the first probable hermit who settled on the rock. The main cathedral was founded at the end of the 16th century and was decorated thirty years later. Compared to other rocks where monasteries were built, the one of Roussanou has a lower elevation, which makes it more accessible. The monastery was initially founded by monks and it suffered severe damage during World War II. It became a convent in 1988.
- ✓The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second biggest monastery. It is located opposite of the Great Meteoro Monastery and it was founded in the mid 14th century by the exercitant Hosios Varlaam. The elegant monastery Catholicon was built in the honour of Agioi Pantes in 1541-42, by two brothers from Ioannina, the priest-monks Hosioi Theophanes and Nectarios the Apsarades. The main church was decorated in 1548. Based on stylistic criteria, this magnificent wall-painting is attributed to the famous hagiographer from Thebes, Frago Catelano.
What's included
- ✓Audio guide:Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese
- ✓Visit The hidden Hermit Caves
- ✓Visit Inside the Byzantine Church of Virgin Mary
- ✓Bottled water
- ✓Visit Inside the Monastery Saint Stephen
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off to/from Kalambaka or Kastraki
What's not included
- ✓Food and drinks
- ✓Gratuities
- ✓State licensed guide inside the monastery
- ✓Meteora
Good to know
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Saint Steven Monastery is closed on Mondays. Due to this fact, on this day of the week Saint Nicholaos Monastery or Roussanou Monastery will be visited
The monasteries have a strict dress code: men must wear trousers and long sleeves, women must wear a long skirt. If you do turn up in shorts, trousers and skirts will be provided.
Tour is available in English only! Additional languages are available with a smart audio guide app
We offer pick up and drop off from all the hotels and AirBNBs that are located at Kalambaka and Kastraki village.
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
Free cancellation
🔒 Secure checkout
from
€ 33.00
Kalambaka to Meteora Sunset Tour with Church of Virgin Mary
4.9
(733)
🕑 4 hours
Free cancellation
Experience Meteora at its most magical on a sunset tour of the UNESCO-listed monastery complex from Kalambaka or Kastraki. Visiting at this time generally means smaller crowds, and you'll peek into centuries-old caves and churches as you learn about the unique hermitages from your guide. Watch the sunset over Meteora from a secret viewpoint.
Languages:
English
Portuguese
Japanese
Polish
Russian
Korean
Spanish
German
Italian
French
📍Patriarchou Dimitriou 2, Kalampaka 422 00, Greece
🏢Operated by Visit Meteora
Highlights
- ✓Enjoy hassle-free transfers between Meteora and Kalambaka or Kastraki
- ✓Explore a monastery, Byzantine church and centuries-old caves
- ✓Admire the sunset from a little-known Meteora vantage point
- ✓Go beyond the guidebooks and learn about Meteora’s history from your guide
What you'll see & do
- ✓Meteora is an area that covers few square kilometers, where an ancient monastic community and a rare geological phenomenon of huge rock pillars coexist in absolute harmony. Located at the northwest tip of the plain of Thessaly, Meteora today has become one of the most popular destinations of mainland Greece. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an archeological site and an officially declared holy place! At the foothills of the rocks, there are 2 settlements, the town of Kalabaka and the village of Kastraki.
- ✓It is a must-see church, not only for its age and precious 11th century Byzantine frescoes, but also because of the construction material of its walls. Relics of an ancient Greek temple dedicated to God Apollo have been embedded in the wall. In its interior one can also pay attention to the older mosaic floor that is revealed in specific spots beneath the current floor. This is definitely one of the most precious early Christian basilicas around Greece and even now days serves as an active church for the locals.
- ✓This is the most accessible monastery, where instead of steps you simply cross a small bridge to reach the entrance. It is ideal for visitors who cannot use the steps and yet they wish to have a real experience of a Meteora monastery. The beginning of monastic life on the rock of Agios Stephanos dates back to early in the 12th century. Hosios Antonios, in the first half of the 15th century, and Hosios Philotheos, who renovated or rather rebuilt from its foundations the old small and elegant Catholicon, the present church of Agios Stephanos, in 1545 are mentioned as its founders.
- ✓The Great Meteoron Monastery is the biggest and oldest one of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in the air” (meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built. The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the organizer of the systematic koenovion. For this reason, the foundation of this monastery is considered to be a turning point, or even better, the beginning of the organized monastisicm in Holy Meteora.
- ✓The Great Meteoron Monastery is the biggest and oldest one of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in the air” (meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built. The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the organizer of the systematic koenovion. For this reason, the foundation of this monastery is considered to be a turning point, or even better, the beginning of the organized monastisicm in Holy Meteora.
- ✓The Holy Monastery of Roussanou has received the name of the first probable hermit who settled on the rock. The main cathedral was founded at the end of the 16th century and was decorated thirty years later. Compared to other rocks where monasteries were built, the one of Roussanou has a lower elevation, which makes it more accessible. The monastery was initially founded by monks and it suffered severe damage during World War II. It became a convent in 1988.
- ✓The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second biggest monastery. It is located opposite of the Great Meteoro Monastery and it was founded in the mid 14th century by the exercitant Hosios Varlaam. The elegant monastery Catholicon was built in the honour of Agioi Pantes in 1541-42, by two brothers from Ioannina, the priest-monks Hosioi Theophanes and Nectarios the Apsarades. The main church was decorated in 1548. Based on stylistic criteria, this magnificent wall-painting is attributed to the famous hagiographer from Thebes, Frago Catelano.
What's included
- ✓Audio guide:Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Korean, Chinese, Japanese
- ✓Visit The hidden Hermit Caves
- ✓Visit Inside the Byzantine Church of Virgin Mary
- ✓Bottled water
- ✓Visit Inside the Monastery Saint Stephen
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off to/from Kalambaka or Kastraki
What's not included
- ✓Food and drinks
- ✓Gratuities
- ✓State licensed guide inside the monastery
- ✓Meteora
Good to know
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Saint Steven Monastery is closed on Mondays. Due to this fact, on this day of the week Saint Nicholaos Monastery or Roussanou Monastery will be visited
The monasteries have a strict dress code: men must wear trousers and long sleeves, women must wear a long skirt. If you do turn up in shorts, trousers and skirts will be provided.
Tour is available in English only! Additional languages are available with a smart audio guide app
We offer pick up and drop off from all the hotels and AirBNBs that are located at Kalambaka and Kastraki village.
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
Free cancellation
🔒 Secure checkout
from
€ 33.00