Athens, Levadia, Arachova, Delphi, Kalambaka, Meteora

REGION OF CENTRAL GREECE - REGIONAL UNIT OF VIOTIA - Starting from Athens, we will journey through Sterea Ellada, the Region of Central Greece, until we reach Delphi. Known locally as Ρούμελη (Roúmeli), this region is one of Greece’s thirteen administrative areas. It covers the eastern half of traditional Central Greece, including the island of Euboea. It borders Attica and the Peloponnese to the south, West Greece to the west, and Thessaly and Epirus to the north. Lamia is its capital city. Geographically, it is divided into East and West by the southern part of the Pindos mountain range. We will pass through Theves, Livadia, and Arachova before arriving at Delphi to visit the archaeological site!

Arachova - A Cosmopolitan Greek Mountain Experience, this once-quiet village where people stopped to buy folk art before reaching Delphi is now often called the ‘Winter Mykonos’ by Greeks.

Perched on Mt Parnassos, Arachova has transformed into a popular destination for winter sports and relaxation. At an altitude of 973 meters and close to Athens, it buzzes with city dwellers seeking a weekend escape during the winter months. Follow their lead and discover why this place is so beloved.

Cosmopolitan Arachova, with its lively tavernas, bars, and restaurants, offers endless entertainment – expect to see patrons dancing on tables and inviting you to join in. But Arachova is more than just weekend fun. For the rest of the year, away from the visitor spotlight, it exudes a cosmopolitan charm.

Delphi - At the foot of Mount Parnassos lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was considered the center of the world. According to mythology, it was here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met. For many centuries, Delphi was the cultural and religious center and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. Its history begins in prehistory. Initially, the site was sacred to Mother Earth and guarded by the serpent Python, who was killed by Apollo. Apollo’s sanctuary was built here by Cretans who arrived at Kirrha, Delphi’s port, accompanied by the god in the form of a dolphin. This myth was celebrated in various Delphic festivals, such as the Septerion, the Delphinia, the Thargelia, the Theophania, and the famous Pythia, which celebrated Python’s death and included musical and athletic competitions.

Temple of Apollo - Among the imposing ruins on the southern slopes of Parnassos mountain is the Temple of Apollo. This temple, dedicated to the god of music, harmony, light, healing, and oracles, held the most important position in the Delphic Panhellenic Sanctuary. It is a Doric temple whose history is intertwined with the site’s turbulent past, enduring numerous incarnations before reaching its current ruinous state, dating back to the 4th century B.C. The temple was first built around the 7th century B.C. by the legendary architects Trophonios and Agamedes. It was rebuilt after a fire in the 6th century B.C. with funds from all over Greece and foreign emperors, overseen by a noble Athenian family.

This temple was destroyed by an earthquake in 373 B.C. and rebuilt for the third time in 330 B.C. by architects Spintharos, Xenodoros, and Agathon from Corinth.

Tholos of Athena Pronaia - The tholos of the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, visible from above, is perhaps the most characteristic monument at Delphi and the most important building of this small sanctuary. Located between the later temple of Athena and the Treasury of Massalia, this circular building of unknown purpose is a masterpiece of Classical architecture. It is thought to have been connected with chthonic cults, although Pausanians, who saw its ruins in the second century AD, do not refer to it as a temple.

According to Vitruvius, this impressive building was raised in 380 BC on plans by the architect Theodoros of Phocea or Phocis, who even wrote a book about its construction. The tholos is a synthesis of most styles of Classical architecture. It rests on a three-stepped podium, and the twenty Doric columns of the outer peristyle supported a Doric frieze of triglyphs and metopes with relief decoration. Inside the cella were ten engaged Corinthian columns.

Thessaly - Next, you will travel through Thessaly, a region of sheer beauty with mountains, rivers, beaches, the popular Plastira Lake, Tempi valley, and the unique Meteora, the most photogenic spiritual site in Greece. Archaeological areas, Byzantine monasteries and churches, traditional settlements, and ski resorts complete Thessaly’s fascinating natural beauty, making it a popular holiday destination. Soaring like a sleepless guardian above the city of Volos, Mt Pelion is gorgeous throughout the year.

Volos, the city of the Argonauts, is where you will definitely pass by a tsipouro taverna, as they are found in every nook and cranny. Just a few kilometers to the west lie Sesklo, the most ancient settlement in Europe, dating back to 6,000 BC, and Dimini, the most important prehistoric settlement in Greece and one of the most significant of the New Stone Age worldwide.

Kalambaka, Meteora, Byzantine monasteries, Athens

Kalambaka - Kalabaka town, with a population of 12,000, is situated at the foothills of the extraordinary geological phenomenon, the giant cliffs of Meteora. For thousands of years, people found refuge on the steep cliffs of Meteora and the surrounding area. It was an ideal place to survive, with clean water, abundant food sources, and shelter. The oldest known human settlement in the area dates back to 130,000 years and was found in the prehistoric cave of Theopetra, just 4km from modern Kalabaka.

The history of Kalambaka began more than 3,000 years ago! A Greek inscription on the wall of one of the town’s old churches (Saint John the Baptist) testifies to the existence of an ancient Greek settlement named Aiginion, thriving during the 4th century BC. Historical records refer to the town’s Byzantine name as Stagi when it became a significant center of the Byzantine Empire.

Kastraki - Kastraki is located in the western part of Meteora, amphitheatrically built among the towering cliffs, and is a municipal district of Kalabaka. Its history is lost in time. In the eastern part, there is the old picturesque district of the village and above the spindle, small but impressive because of its form and support position. It is mainly the base of climbers from around the world who come to admire the landscape formed by the towering rocks. Kastraki has a rich local tradition, customs, and folk songs, all unique. The impressive landscape with canyons, plateaus, and the ghostly figures of “sacred rock” emerges through the lush scenery, striving to touch the heavens. Today, the village and the entire region of Meteora are declared a Monument and World Heritage site by UNESCO. It has become a wonderful place for recreation with camping, taverns, and guest houses, offering pleasant relaxation.

Meteora - Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, second in importance only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on immense natural pillars and hill-like rounded boulders that dominate the local area.

Meteora monasteries; the miracle of Greece. A few kilometers northwest of Kalabaka, the impressive rocks of Meteora rise from the plains of Thessaly, one of the most amazing places in Greece. Many centuries ago, on these gigantic rocks with breathtaking landscapes reaching heights of more than 600 meters, one of Greece’s most important monastic communities was formed.

In 1988, the Meteora monasteries were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the Meteora-Antichassia area is part of the Natura 2000 network, hosting some rare species of birds and flowers.

The Great Meteoron Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour - The Great Meteoro (Grand Meteor), also known as the Holy Monastery of the Metamorphosis (Transfiguration of Christ), is a male monastery and the oldest and largest of all the Meteora monasteries.

The foundation of the Monastery of Great Meteoron marks the beginning of organized life at Meteora. On the most imposing rock, it occupies a commanding position among the monastic complex of Meteora.

It’s the largest and most formal of the extant Meteora Monasteries, as its name implies. Founded shortly before the middle of the 14th century by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite, who was also its first founder and the first to organize a systematic monastic community.

St. Stephen’s Monastery - St. Stephen was inhabited by monks in the late 12th century. The monastery, founded in the 14th century, was completed in the 15th and 16th centuries. The first founder of the monastery is the monk, later abbot, Antonios Kantakouzenos. Antonios, according to some researchers, was the son of the Serbian Despot of Epirus Nikephoros II (1359) and a descendant of the great Byzantine family. The second founder is Monk Philotheos “ex Sklatainas,” referred to as the renovator of St. Stephen.

Theophilos erected a new church, built cells, and other facilities for the monastery. During his time (1545), the monastery became stavropegic and retained this privilege until 1743. In 1798, a new church was built dedicated to Saint Charalambos, who in the 17th century was referred to as the second patron of the monastery. In the 18th and 19th centuries, several buildings and the abbey were built, giving the monastery its current form.

Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas Anapafsas at Meteora - The monastic life on the rock of Anapafsas began in the 14th century, and the monastery’s name likely comes from its old founder. The monastery was renovated in the early 16th century.

The construction and installation of the monastery (a tall rectangular building with successive levels) adapted to the small area of the rock’s plateau. As you ascend, you see the small chapel of St. Anthony and the crypt, where codes and heirlooms were previously stored. The chapel walls still have frescoes from the 14th century. On the next floor is the church of the monastery, a small single room, almost square, with a large narthex (lite) preceding it. Upstairs are the old bank of the monastery, now restored and serving as the official residence (hostel), the ossuary, and the renovated church of St. John the Baptist since 1971.

Varlaam Monastery - The Varlaam monastery is named after the hermit-anchorite Varlaam, who first inhabited the rock in the 14th century. The monastery’s history begins in the early 16th century when the Ioannina brothers Theophanes and Nektarios Apsaras, descendants of an old Byzantine family, settled and organized their priory on the rock.

In 1518, the Apsaras brothers renovated the chapel of the Three Hierarchs, built on the site of the original Catholic monastery by Varlaam. In 1536, they built the winch tower, and in 1541, they constructed the present church dedicated to All Saints.

In 1627, the chapel of the Three Hierarchs was rebuilt, and in 1637, it was decorated by the artistic crew of John the priest and his children from Kalabaka.

The monastery is distinguished for its spiritual prosperity and participation in national struggles in recent years.

Holy Trinity Monastery (Agia Triada) - The Holy Trinity monastery was built in 1488 by a monk named Dometios, but sources reveal its existence since 1362. The oldest building phase of the monastery is represented by the current church, built in 1475/6 and dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

The church’s frescos were painted by the priest and painter Antonios and his brother Nicholas in 1741. The Catholic exonarthex was built in 1689 and decorated in 1692. In 1682, with the efforts of Hieromonk Damaskinou, Jonah, and Partheniou, the chapel of St. John the Baptist was built and decorated.

Visitors must cross a pedestrian path downhill to the foot of the cliff and then climb 145 carved steps to reach the monastery. Northwest of the monastery, behind the church, visitors can enjoy a rare view of the other monasteries and the Meteora rocks from the balcony.

Holy Monastery of Rousanos - Saint Barbara - The rock known as Rousanou was inhabited from the early 16th century, while the monastery was founded in the 14th century. The monastery took its present form in the 16th century when the brothers Ioasaf and Maximus from Epirus and the abbot of the Great Meteoron monastery rebuilt the ruined church dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ.

The Catholicon, built by the two brothers from Giannena in 1545 and decorated with frescoes, is still dedicated to the Transfiguration and also honors Santa Barbara. The monastery became a refuge for persecuted individuals and families during various historical events. In the 19th century, the monastery declined and slowly became a hermitage for the monks of Varlaam monastery. Today, after its restoration in 1980 by the Archaeological Service, it operates as a nunnery.

Thermopylae - Thermopylae is a place in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. It derives its name from its hot sulfur springs. In Greek mythology, the Hot Gates is one of the entrances to Hades. The Battle of Thermopylae took place in 480 BC between the Greeks and the Persians, coinciding with the Naval Battle of Artemision. The Persian Army, led by Xerxes, reached the passageways of Thermopylae. The Greeks chose this strategic spot to face the Persian attack. Xerxes commanded Leonidas, the Greek Army leader, to surrender his armory, but he replied, ‘Come and get them.’ For two days, the Greeks fought heroically. On the third day, Efialtes betrayed the Greeks, showing the Persians a passageway to get behind them. The Persian Army surrounded the Greeks. Leonidas remained at the battle site with 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians, and 400 Thebans, loyal to his homeland’s laws. He fell dead from Persian arrows.

Leonidas Monument - Why did the Battle of Thermopylae become one of the most world-famous battles? The Battle of Thermopylae is a perfect example of selflessness, sacrifice, and obedience to the country’s laws. The resistance in the passage is a result of hard military training, better gear, and strategic use of the land to multiply defense abilities.

Where is the Thermopylae Memorial? The passage of Thermopylae (which means “Hot Gates”) no longer exists, as the mud deposition by the Spercheios river moved the beach and sea a few kilometers away. Near Thermopylae, next to the national road connecting Athens to Thessaloniki, there is a memorial statue of King Leonidas and his soldiers with an inscription saying:

“Ὦ ξεῖν’, ἀγγέλλειν Λακεδαιμονίοις ὅτι τῇδε κείμεθα, τοῖς κείνων ῥήμασι πειθόμενοι,” which means: “Stranger, tell Spartans that we lay here, staying faithful to Sparta’s laws.”

Attica - You will be traveling through Attica, a journey through 6,000 years of history, the land that gave birth to ideas and arts, shaping what we call today Western civilization. Today, a visit to Attica offers visitors a unique experience. A journey through its 6,000-year history, including the chance to see renowned monuments and masterpieces of ancient and medieval art, and the architectural heritage of the 19th and 20th centuries. Here lies Athens, the capital of Greece, the busiest city in the country with the most prominent archaeological site and symbol of the country, the world-famous sacred rock of the Acropolis.

Attica is home to some of the world’s most important and fascinating museums and archaeological sites, testifying to its long and prominent role in world history. Festivals featuring ancient Greek drama, as well as performances, sports, or culinary events, are organized throughout the year, captivating the audience. Then travel towards Peloponnese!

• Air-conditioned vehicle transportation tailored to group size
• Complimentary bottled water
• Expert English-speaking tour driver
• Exclusive private tour for your group
• Included breakfast

• Entrance fees to the archaeological sites and museum
• Food and drinks
• Gratuities
• English-speaking licensed tour guide (We can arrange for a tour guide for you with an extra cost)

Highlights Of The Magical Delphi, Impressive Meteora, Legendary Thermopylae 2d
-Blessed Lucas Byzantine monastery
-The town of Delphi, the museum and the archaeological site of Delphi with the temple of Apollo
-The suspended rocks of Meteora with the breathtaking Byzantine monasteries on top of them
-The town of Kalambaka by the feet of Meteora Rocks
-Thermopylae, the famous Hot Gates of the ancient Years.
-Scenic drive through the picturesque and hospitable countryside
-English-speaking driver. A guide is available on request
-Pickup and drop off from Athens hotels or Piraeus cruise terminal

• Sunscreen and hats are recommended for visits during the summer months
• Duration time is approximate and may vary based on local traffic and conditions
• While the local operator does its best to ensure sites are open before travel, they are not responsible for short-term closures
• A moderate amount of walking is involved; comfortable shoes are recommended
• Important note: You will have a professional English-speaking driver with good knowledge of the history and culture of Greece, to guide you till you enter archaeological sites and museums according to the program. Tour drivers are not licensed to companion you inside the archaeological sites and museums. If you’d like to have one, we can arrange it for you at an additional cost. Licensed by the state tour guides are freelance and it is subject to availability on bookings day!
• Athens Airport transfers: arranged on request!
• How many monasteries can I see in one day? Before we answer this question we have to specify that everything should be taken into account. It depends on how fit you are, the transportation and time available, weather conditions, etc. Most people are able to visit between 2 to 4 monasteries per day. The few visitors who visit all 6 of them within one day are missing out on a magical, more slow-paced adventure. We recommend at least 2 days’ stay in Meteora.
• What is the Entrance fee for the monasteries? In each monastery, there is an entrance fee of 3 euros per person. Kids up to 12 years old don’t pay entrance fees in the monasteries.
• Is there a dress code to enter a monastery? Appropriate clothing for everyone is required to enter the monasteries. Sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knee for men are prohibited and you‘ll be denied access if dressed that way. For ladies skirts and shawls are available to borrow or buy at the entrance of monasteries in case they don’t have such clothing to cover themselves.
• Should I take the car to drive to monasteries or is better to use other means? There are many reasons not to want to drive while exploring Meteora like if you’re not confident driving on the opposite side of the road, your spouse is a terrible copilot and you just want to have fun instead of arguing; or if you want to enjoy the scenic road and not to feel stress about the narrow and curvy roads. Lack of parking space outside the monasteries is an especially frequent phenomenon during the pick period in the summer. So joining one of our tours might save you a lot of headaches and unwanted distractions.
• We suggest that you have your admission tickets pre-purchased as there is a chance not to find availability, please note that we can buy the tickets for you in advance -under a small service fee.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.