Meteora Sunset with Monastery & Hermit Caves Tour in Small Group
Description
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Meteora at its most magical hour on our Meteora Sunset Tour. Join us as we explore the breathtaking rock formations and monasteries that have made this UNESCO World Heritage site famous. Join our Meteora Sunset Tour for a mesmerizing adventure! Explore stunning rock formations and ancient monasteries. Visit Saint Stephen Monastery and the Byzantine Church of Virgin Mary. Discover the secrets of Hidden Monasteries and Hermit Caves. discover the fascinating stories of the hermits and monks who once lived in these remote areas. You'll have the chance to witness the remnants of their dwellings and gain a deeper understanding of their way of life. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset over Meteora. Book now for an unforgettable experience!
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer pick up and drop off from all the hotels and AirBNBs that are located at Kalambaka and Kastraki village.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(723)
Unforgettable afternoon, Meteora Sunset Tour. Towering monasteries perched high on ancient rock pillars, fascinating history, hidden viewpoints, and an awesome sunset. A huge thank you to our fantastic guide, Chris, whose knowledge, humour and passion brought Meteora to life. If you're visiting this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site, I can't recommend this tour highly enough. Truly one of the highlights of our time in Greece! 🌅🇬🇷 P.S. 💯 ask for Chris.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are delighted that the sunset, hidden viewpoints and history of Meteora made the afternoon so unforgettable. Chris will be especially happy to hear your kind words about his knowledge, humour and passion. Thank you for your enthusiastic recommendation. We are honoured to have been one of the highlights of your time in Greece!
The booking correspondence with Ioanna was excellent, answering my emails promptly and adjusting the tour to our needs. We were met in Thessaloniki by a very comfortable bus and very pleasant driver Maki’s.The guide Apostolis, who joined us in Meteora was one of the best we have every had. He was very professional, extremely knowledgeable with a good sense of humour; he made our experience memorable. Meteora itself was fascinating and memorable, nothing could ever compare to it. We would highly recommend this tour and company without hesitation.
Thank you for your exceptional review and recommendation! We’re delighted that Ioanna’s assistance, Makis’ comfortable transfer, and Apostolis’ knowledge, professionalism, and sense of humour made your experience so memorable. We’ll be very happy to share your kind words with the entire team. It was a pleasure welcoming you to Meteora!
We enjoyed this “small” tour, a bus of approximately 25 people. Great tour guide, friendly. Beautiful views, wonderful stops. Great history and information. It was tough though because it was so hot. We brought our own water but it was quickly depleted and the bus provides just 1 bottle each. There was a stop in town before heading back up to the sunset view. So you can load up again. The other thing is that in order to see the hermit caves you must have proper shoes for walking up and down rocky pathways that include steep inclines. I have a daughter with dyspraxia and this was really hard for her. She had to turn around. Older couples were also struggling and still other members of the group just turned back. And given the heat, it was probably the part of the tour that wore everyone out.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We are pleased that you enjoyed the beautiful views, historical information, stops, and the friendly service provided by our guide. We are sorry that the extreme heat made parts of the tour uncomfortable. One complimentary bottle of water is provided per guest, and the stop in town offers an opportunity to purchase additional drinks, but we understand that more water may be needed during particularly hot days. The walk toward the hermit caves includes uneven, rocky ground and some steep sections, so it may not be suitable for every guest. Participation in this part is optional, and guests can wait safely if they prefer not to continue. We appreciate your comments, as they help us communicate the physical requirements of the tour more clearly.
I pre-booked my sunset tour from Kalambaka via booking dot com but also pooped into the office to check few things and the lady there was so nice and helpful. On the day, they were so busy that a small group was created for the 6 of us with Chris (the best tour guide of all!!!) and we had a great time with him. He's shown us hidden places, he knew the answer to every question we had. And he is a great driver and a awesome person! But all the people I met (and I have met quite a few other guys who work there) were so accommodating and nice! I'd highly recommend this trip and company for anyone (couples / solo travellers) and from anywhere (Kalambaka, Thessaloniki, Athens) and their website is full of useful info about the monasteries and hiking routes (that's how I planned my stay + solo hikes and in 3 days, I visited all the monestaries) if you are planning to book a trip, look no further: choose the best!
Dear Traveler, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing our Meteora Sunset Tour. We are delighted to hear that you had such a great experience, both at our office and during the tour. Your kind words about Chris mean a lot, and we will be very happy to share them with him. He will be thrilled to know that his knowledge, driving, and friendly approach helped make your visit so special. We are also glad that our website helped you plan your stay and solo hikes around Meteora. It is wonderful to hear that you managed to visit all the monasteries during your time here. Thank you again for your trust and recommendation. We hope to welcome you back to Meteora one day for another experience. Warm regards, The Visit Meteora Team
We are very happy with tour! Great team work, fantastic guide Irina! Beautiful views!
Dear Irina, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your private Sunset Tour and the beautiful views of Meteora. We’re especially happy that Irina and our team made the experience special for you. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her. Warm regards, The Visit Meteora Team
This was an amazing tour. Our tour guide did an excellent job of explaining the rich history of this area.
Dear traveler, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Meteora Sunset Tour and that our guide helped bring the rich history of this unique area to life. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Meteora again one day. Warm regards, The Visit Meteora Team
Wonderful guide, very knowledgeable and entertaining. Bus was nice! Plenty of time at each stop! We did it our first afternoon/evening in Meteora and it was a great introduction to the area! Thank you!
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that our Sunset Tour was a great introduction to Meteora and helped you make the most of your first evening in the area. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed the comfortable transportation, the pace of the tour, and especially your guide’s knowledge and enthusiasm. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back to Meteora for more unforgettable experiences in the future!
This tour was fantastic, we all learned so much about the area from our tour guide, Chris: the history (both old & recent), the mythology, geology, religion, and local greek culture. Chris is incredibly well spoken, extremely knowledgable, keeps his audience interested, and he was lots of fun! We visited a monastery or two on our own, which was wonderful, and at the end he then gave us a personal tour of a special church to understand the meanings of what was inside. The mini-van was very comfortable; had a great driver and lots of special photo opportunities along the way. The staff at Visit Meteora were very helpful and flexible when I needed to change my pick up location at the last minuted. It all went smoothly. Chris provided personal service, asking for questions, engaging us in the talk, and even shared a bit of her personal life as he is from the area. Even gave some restaurant and Greek food recommendations! We all started out as strangers on the tour, but become friends, even if for a day, by the end of our tour. I highly recommend Visit Meteora and especially Chris' tour for a comprehensive understanding of Meteora, and because he makes it fun!
Thank you so much for your outstanding review and recommendation! We're delighted to hear that Chris made your Meteora experience both informative and enjoyable. His passion for Meteora's history, mythology, geology, religious traditions, and local culture is something our guests consistently appreciate, and we're thrilled that his storytelling and personal approach helped create such a memorable experience. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed the monastery visits, the special church tour, the comfortable transportation, and the many photo opportunities along the route. We're also pleased that our office team could assist with your last-minute pickup change and ensure everything went smoothly. One of the most rewarding aspects of our tours is seeing travelers connect and share unforgettable moments together, so we're especially happy that your group ended the day as friends rather than strangers. Thank you for choosing Visit Meteora. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
This will always be an interesting tour but it was made special by our guide "Jim," who is a real character with a genuine love of his home.
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that Jim helped make it a truly special experience. His passion for Meteora, its history, and the local way of life is genuine, and we're glad that his enthusiasm and personality added an extra dimension to your visit. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to Meteora for another memorable experience in the future!
Our guide was fantastic, providing history of the region and the monasteries, a geological overview and insight into the culture of the Greek people. All that information together with unforgettable views and tours of some of the monasteries. moderate physical activity. Great tour ending with the promised fantastic view of the sunset.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted that you enjoyed the combination of history, geology, culture, and the breathtaking landscapes of Meteora. It's great to hear that your guide helped bring the region to life and that the tour concluded with the unforgettable sunset you were hoping for. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to Meteora again soon!
