Things to do in

Trikala

Embark on a 2-day tour to the archaeological site of Delphi and the historic Orthodox monasteries built on the rocks of Meteora. Learn about the myths and history attached to these sites from your guide on this guided tour from Athens. Day 1: Depart Athens for the ancient site of the Oracle of Delphi. Travel by air-conditioned coach through the pretty towns and villages of Thebes, Levadia, and Arachova on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Arrive in Delphi and explore the ruins of the ancient sanctuary of Pythia, the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo. Explore the temple and learn about its significance from your guide. Then, continue to the beautiful town of Kalabaka for dinner and your overnight stay. Day 2: After breakfast, make your way to Meteora, famous for its stunning rock formations. Visit the monasteries built to serve the monks and nuns following the teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Return to Athens via Trikala and Lamia. Stop at Thermopylae to admire the monument to the Greek warrior-king Leonidas I, who died there in 480 BC. Arrive back in Athens by the early evening.

Meteora 2 days (on halfboard basis) 1st day: First you will drive to Delphi through Levadia and Arachova. At Delphi you will visit the archaeological site. Then depart for Kalambaka. Drive through the towns of central Greece (Amphissa, Lamia and Trikala) crossing the Thessalian plain, the granary of Greece, to reach Kalambaka. Overnight. (D.*) 2nd day: Morning visit of the breathtaking Meteora and its monasteries built on the top of high rocks. Then start the drive back to Athens passing through Thermopylae where Leonidas was killed (visit) and Kamena Vourla.(B.**) * Dinner ** Breakfast

Day 1: Leave by the coastal road to the Corinth Canal (short stop). Drive on and visit the Theatre of Epidaurus, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Then, proceed to the town of Nafplio (short photo stop), drive on to Mycenae and visit the archaeological site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Then, depart for Olympia through central Peloponnese and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Overnight in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games (dinner) Day 2: In the morning, visit the archaeological site with the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus, the ancient stadium, the spot where the torch of the modern Olympic Games is lit and the Archaeological Museum. Then, drive on through the plains of Ilia and Achaia until the magnificent bridge that crosses the Corinthian Bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque towns of Nafpactos (Lepanto) and Itea. Arrive in Delphi (dinner and overnight) Day 3: In the morning, visit the archaeological site and the Museum of Delphi, the most famous oracle of the ancient world. Depart for Kalambaka, a small town located at the foot of the astonishing complex of Meteora, surrounded by gigantic rocks (dinner and overnight) Day 4: Visit Meteora, a striking scenery perched on top of huge rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, stand ageless monasteries, where you can see exquisite specimens of Byzantine art. Return to Athens via Trikala, Lamia, Thermopylae (short stop to see across the road to Leonida's Monument). Arrive in Athens early in the evening.

We start our tour early in the morning from Athens till Meteora. Our driver will pick you up from your hotel/ apartment or the airport/ port. The travel time is about 4,5 hours. The first stop is at Kalabaka, a town of the municipality of Meteora in the Trikala regional unit, part of Thessaly in Greece. The population was 12,000 at the 2011 census, of which 8,330 in the town proper. The Meteora monasteries are located near the town. We arrive at Meteora and visit up to three Monasteries. Breathtaking at first site, the Monasteries are of great cultural and natural importance. Split from earthquakes, weathered from the wind and the water over millions of millions of years, these immense rocks are an authentic masterpiece of mother nature. The Meteora is a rock formation in central Greece hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries. The six (of an original 24) monasteries are built on immense natural pillars and hill-like rounded boulders that dominate the local area. Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the name means "lofty", "elevated", and is etymologically related to meteor. Please be modestly dressed. Women are suggested to wear long skirts & long sleeves. If you do not have, you will be given a skirt on your way in. Next stop is at Kastraki, a picturesque village near Meteora, where we have free time for lunch at a traditional Greek tavern with your friends and family or shopping. As we leave the magnificent Meteora behind us, let us not overlook the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BCE, which has long been the topic of cultural motivation, as it is perhaps the most famous military last stand of all time. The monument of the Great Leonidas, King of Sparta, in Thermopylae, will grace our path on our way back to Athens in the late afternoon. The drive is about 4,5 hours.

The Meteora is a rock formation and a World Heritage Site, hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. The Meteora Greek: Μετέωρα, pronounced is a rock formation in the regional unit of Trikala, in Thessaly, Greece, hosting one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries, second in importance only to Mount Athos.The six (of an original twenty-four) monasteries are built on immense natural pillars and hill-like, rounded boulders that dominate the local area. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, twenty-four monasteries were established atop the rocks. Meteora is located near the town of Kalabaka at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly, near the Pineios River and Pindus Mountains.

Located at the foot of Mt. Parnassos, the pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi was once regarded as the center of the world. Experience this mystical place, set between the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, on a 3-day excursion from Athens. Traveling by bus, you will drive into the mountains and learn the legend of the most famous oracle of Ancient Greece. Continue to Meteora to explore the large complex of monasteries, built on natural sandstone rock pillars, and seemingly suspended in air. Day 1: Athens - Delphi Depart Athens in the morning and drive through the historic towns of Livadeia and Arachova, the latter famous for its bright, multicolored carpets. Upon arrival in Delphi, on the southwestern spur of Mount Parnassos, explore one of the most famous archaeological sites in Greece. Sacred to Apollo in Greek mythology, Delphi was once considered the naval of the world. According to legend, it is where the two eagles sent by Zeus from the end of the universe met. Soak up the mysterious atmosphere of the sanctuary, set within a spectacular landscape. For centuries, Delphi was the cultural and religious center, and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. It was also the site of the Pythian Games, the second most important games after the Olympics. Explore the ruins of the theater, set above the Temple of Apollo, and admire the reconstructed Treasury and Doric columns of the Tholos, constructed between 380 and 360 B.C. You'll spend the night in Delphi after a complimentary dinner. Day 2: Delphi - Kalambaka Enjoy the morning and lunch at leisure before heading north to Kalambaka, passing through olive forests and the towns of central Greece, including Amfissa, Lamia, and Trikala. This scenic drive to one of the most beautiful towns in Greece takes you over the plains of Thessalian, considered the granary of the country. You'll spend the night in Kalambaka after an inclusive dinner. Day 3: Meteora – Athens Today, you will explore one of the most amazing sites in Greece on a tour of Meteora. Meaning “suspended in air,” this rock community of 24 monasteries is the largest and most important group in Greece after Mt. Athos. When they were built, there were no steps leading to the buildings. The main access was by a net that was hitched over a hook, and then hoisted by rope and hand-cranked windlass connected to winch towers overhanging the chasm. Each community of hermits developed their own resources, and by the end of the 14th century the Grand Meteoron emerged as the dominant community. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the breathtaking complex has been a backdrop for James Bond films and other movies. Following your guided tour, drive back to Athens, pausing at the hot sulphur springs of Thermopylae and the spa resort of Kamena Vourla to take photos.