Things to do in

Kalabaka

Depart Thessaloniki in the morning and journey to the amazing monastery complex of Meteora to visit 2 of the 6 holy monasteries, depending on their operating schedule. Get access to holy sites such as the women's Monastery of Agios Stefanos with its impressive wood-carved iconostasis, or visit the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, perched on the top of a rocky precipice over 400 meters high. Alternatively, discover the tower of the old preserved net at the Monastery of Varlaam, or explore the largest of the monasteries at the Monastery of Great Meteoron. Take in panoramic views of these incredible structures and the stunning landscape. Enjoy a traditional Greek lunch in Kastraki, near the city of Kalampaka, before heading back to Thessaloniki.

Redeem your e-ticket for the 7:20 AM departure from Athens and travel to Kalambaka on your own. Sit back and admire the beautiful landscapes along the way. The train ride takes about 4 hours and it is recommended that you bring your own food and drinks. Upon arrival in Kalambaka at approximately 11:30 AM, meet your guide at the train station and start your 5-hour, customized, panoramic Meteora tour. See all 6 monasteries of the stunning rock formation over 5 hours. Look inside 3 of the UNESCO World Heritage monuments for a glimpse behind their imposing walls. Stop to take photos from locations that only the locals know about. Get dropped off at Kalambaka Train Station, to make the 5:15 PM departure for Athens, scheduled to arrive at 9:30 PM.

Take a day out of your sightseeing in Athens to visit the spectacular clifftop Meteora monasteries on this 14-hour excursion by train. Catch the train for Kalambaka at 7:20 AM from Athens railway station. Admire the beauty of the countryside along the way. At 11:30 AM, arrive in Kalambaka, a small town built at the foot of rocky grey cliffs crowned by the monasteries of Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spot your English-speaking driver upon arrival in Kalambaka, holding a signboard with your name on it. Be shown to the vehicle that’ll take you to the monasteries, where you have around 4 hours to visit 3 of them, as well as the hermit caves of Badovas. At the end of the day, be transferred back to Kalambaka. Enjoy some time to explore the town and enjoy a light lunch (not included in the tour price). At 5:15 PM the train departs Kalambaka, arriving in Athens at 9:25 PM.

After a pick-up at your hotel in Kalabaka or Kastraki you’ll travel a few miles northwest from Kalabaka, to Meteora. The impressive rocks of Meteora rise from the plains of Thessaly, and are one of the most amazing sites in Greece. Many centuries ago, on these gigantic rocks reaching heights of close to 2,000 feet, one of the most important monastic communities of Greece was formed. During this 4-hour tour you’ll experience spectacular landscapes and marvel at the Byzantine monasteries perched atop the steep rocks. Today only 6 monasteries are still active, operated by a small number of monks and nuns who reside in Meteora. You’ll be able to see all 6 monasteries and have the chance to visit inside 3 of them and admire their priceless artifacts. There will be numerous photo stops along the way, so you'll be able to record your memories. Enjoy short walks during the excursion as well.

Spend a few hours in Meteora and fully experience the magnificence of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about its history, architecture, and the spirituality of its monasteries.  This tour is specially designed for people coming from Athens or Thessaloniki to Meteora by train and departing the same day. At 11:30 AM, your train arrives at Kalabaka Train Station, where your tour leader will be waiting for you holding a sign with your name on it. After boarding a VIP limo mini-bus, make a short stop to have something to eat or snack. Then, begin your wonderful 5-hour tour to see Meteora and all six of its active monasteries.  Explore inside three of them, a unique opportunity exclusive to the local partner. Stop for plenty of photo opportunities and at many secret spots that only locals know. At the end of your tour, you will be transferred back to the train station before your train departs back to Athens or Thessaloniki at 5:15 PM.

Your 4-hour sunset tour begins with a pick-up at your Kalambaka or Kastraki hotel, and a drive by VIP limo minibus to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora. Travel in comfort and safety in a luxury air-conditioned VIP minibus to the unique and world-famous rock forest of Meteora. Enjoy a comprehensive tour that takes you to all 6 monasteries, with the opportunity to visit the interior of 1 or 2 of them. Your tour leader will remain with you throughout, providing information about the area in your language. At the end of the monastery tour you’ll be able to enjoy one of the best sunsets in Greece from the best vantage point in Meteora.

Catch the train to Kalambaka in the morning from the Athens railway station and enjoy a trip that will give you the chance to admire the beauty of the countryside. Arrive in Kalambaka, a small town built at the foot of the majestic grey rocks, and crowded by the Meteora monasteries. Your driver will be waiting for you holding a sign with your name, and you will board a 19-seater VIP Mercedes minibus that will transfer you to the Meteora monasteries (Meteora is included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites). For 5 hours, you will have the time to explore three monasteries. Visit the thousand years old hermitages of Bandovas, learn the stories and the legends, and enjoy great views from the most panoramic spots. At the end of the day, your driver will transfer you back to Kalambaka, where you will have the time to stroll around and have a light lunch (not included). At 5:15 PM, the train will depart from Kalambaka and arrive back at 9:25 PM to Athens.

Your tour will begin from "Stathmos Larissis", the fabulous central railway station of Athens where you will depart to Kalambaka from. Throughout your train journey, indulge in the unique scenic routes that the Greek countryside provides. You can discover a mosaic of unique beauty, biodiversity and enormous ecological value. At about 11:30 AM, you will arrive at your destination, the railway station of Kalambaka. Once having arrived, you will meet with your guide who will be holding a signboard with your name on it. From here your tour to the Meteora Monasteries is going to begin. You can admire the amazing Christian architecture, and discover how monasteries have been influenced over time, having existed for over 700 years. After 4 hours of exploration, your tour will come to an end and you will be driven back to Kalabaka where you will have free time to spend under the shadow of giant rocks. You will arrive back in Athens at 9:25PM after a full-day exploring.

You will independently take the train from Athens train station at 7:20 AM to Kalabaka and admire the beautiful Greek landscapes during your trip to Meteora. Arriving in Kalabaka at 11:30 AM, be picked up from the train station and transferred to check into your reserved hotel. After lunch, prepare yourself for the Meteora majestic sunset tour. You will be picked up from your hotel in the afternoon and after the tour be brought back to your hotel or to Kalabaka town for a short walk. The next morning at 09:00 AM, be picked up from your hotel and join a comprehensive Meteora morning tour or a Meteora hiking tour. For the next 4-hours, you have the chance to experience all the beauty of the unique phenomenon of Meteora and the holy monasteries on top of the rock giants. After the tour ends, transfer back to your hotel where you can get ready for your departure back to Athens. Your train will depart at 5:15 PM and you will reach Athens at approximately 9:30 PM.

Admire the authentic mainland of Greece, first visiting the historic Thermopylae, the original location of the famous battle between ancient Greeks and Persians in 480 B.C. See the battlefield, the statue of King Leonidas and visit the museum. The journey continues with beautiful views of the mountains and fields until you reach Meteora.  Visit two of the six remaining Byzantine monasteries, built back in the 14th and 16th centuries. Take photos and videos of the marvellous landscape while your guide shares the local history. Afterward, your driver will take you to Kalambaka, a scenic town below the rocks with many options for a delicious traditional Greek lunch.  Visit the oldest church in the area, where you see a Greek inscription on the wall which testifies to the existence of an ancient Greek temple at the same location. During your free time in Kalambaka you may also visit the Natural History Museum.