• Athens - Our tour begins early in the morning from Athens to Meteora. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel, apartment, or the airport/port. The journey takes approximately 4.5 hours.
• Kalabaka - Kalabaka is a town and the administrative center of the Meteora municipality in the Trikala regional unit, part of Thessaly, Greece. As of the 2011 census, the population was 12,000, with 8,330 residing in the town itself. The Meteora monasteries are situated nearby.
• Meteora - Upon arrival at Meteora, we will visit up to three monasteries. These awe-inspiring monasteries are of significant cultural and natural importance. Formed by earthquakes and weathered by wind and water over millions of years, these colossal rocks are a true marvel of nature.

Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece that hosts one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Six of the original 24 monasteries are built on towering natural pillars and rounded boulders that dominate the landscape.

Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its name means “lofty” or “elevated,” etymologically related to the word “meteor.”

Please dress modestly. Women are advised to wear long skirts and long sleeves. If you do not have appropriate attire, a skirt will be provided upon entry.

• Meteora - Enjoy free time for lunch at a traditional Greek tavern with friends and family or go shopping in Kastraki, a charming village near Meteora.

• Thermopylae - Thermopylae is a historic site in Greece known for its narrow coastal passage and hot sulfur springs. In Greek mythology, the Hot Gates are one of the entrances to Hades. Thermopylae is famous for the battle between Greek and Persian forces, commemorated by Simonides of Ceos with the epitaph, “Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, That here obedient to their laws we lie.” This pass is the only land route large enough to accommodate significant traffic between Lokris and Thessaly, making it a strategic location for several battles.

• Battlefield of Thermopylae - As we depart from the stunning Meteora, we will reflect on the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE, renowned as one of the most famous last stands in military history. We will visit the monument of King Leonidas of Sparta in Thermopylae on our way back to Athens in the late afternoon.

Thermopylae is globally recognized for the battle between Greek forces (including Spartans, Lakedemonians, Thebans, and Thespians) and the invading Persian army, commemorated by Simonides with the epitaph, “Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, That here obedient to their laws we lie.”

• Leonidas Monument - Leonidas was a king of Sparta and the 17th ruler of the Agiad dynasty, which claimed descent from the mythological demigod Heracles and Cadmus. He was the son of King Anaxandridas II and succeeded his half-brother King Cleomenes I around 489 BC. Leonidas is best known for his role in the Second Persian War, where he led the allied Greek forces in a last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) to defend the pass from the Persian army. He died in the battle and became legendary as the leader of the 300 Spartans. Although the Greeks lost this battle, they successfully expelled the Persian invaders the following year.
• Athens - We will begin our return journey to Athens in the late afternoon, with a drive of approximately 4.5 hours.

• Private transportation
• Pick-up and drop-off at Athens hotel, Piraeus port, or Athens airport
• Complimentary bottled water
• On-board WiFi access
• Professional drivers knowledgeable in history
• Greek Traditional Food option for lunch
• Air-conditioned vehicles

• Licensed tour guide (upon request and depending on availability)
• Entrance fees to the monasteries (€3 per person per monastery)