Daily Trips to Meteora by Cosmos Travel

Meteora: A tourist destination full of wild beauty, magic and history.

Within a few hours from Thessaloniki in the area of ​​the city of Kalambaka, the world’s only attraction of the Meteora rocks is housed. A complex of enormous dark rocks of sandstone form Meteora outside Kalampaka, very close to the mountain range of Pindos and Hassia. The scenery is unique and surprising at the same time: Vertical rocks and monoliths sculptured by the wind have created a magical and yet dramatic scenery. The scenery surrounds the orthodox monasteries that one would say climb to the high peaks of the rocks! In these monasteries, on the rocks of Meteora, today live about sixty monks and nuns. For centuries this part of Orthodox worship and faith has offered and offering tranquility and protection from unwanted offenders. These orthodox monasteries today are not only one of the most famous destinations in Greece but since 1988 they are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is today, after Mount Athos, the most important monastic complex in Greece!

The unique, enchanting historical past of Meteora

Apart from the fact that Meteora is an enchanting attraction with their charming surroundings, they also cover an equally magnificent story. The beginning of the settlement of monks in Meteora is not clarified. From the 1st century AD until the conquest of Thessaly by the Turks several monasteries were founded and in the 15th & 16th centuries Meteora experienced their greatest prosperity. Their name is attributed to Saint Athanasios Meteoritis, which gave this name from “Meteoros” meaning Wide Rock. In the 17th century, Meteora reached its peak with more than 24 monasteries, Cloacks and monasteries. Today, only the monasteries of Agios Stefanos, Varlaam, Agios Nikolaos of Anapassa, Metamorphosis, Rousanou and Agia Triada together with some parts of other monasteries.

Sightseeing in the Meteora area

As in every corner of this country, here and there in the Meteora area there are other attractions, that of course can not be as magic as Meteora are, but they deserve to be visited.

The bridge of Sarakina with its many arches

On the road to Trikala from Kalampaka and about 8 km away there is the historical community of Sarakina. There dominates the largest multi-stone bridge in the prefecture of Trikala. This six-pointed bridge of Sarakina dates back to the 16th century AD. and it’s a very interesting site attraction.

The cave in Theopetra

Closest to Kalambaka, just 4 km outside of Kalambaka, you will be enchanted by the evocative scenery of the area. Among all the others, there is a cave worth visiting and that will spark everyone’s interest. The cave has within it a main hall with an area of ​​about 500 m². The calcareous rock surrounding the cave of Theopetra is placed in the upper Cretaceous period (137,000,000-65,000,000 years ago). In the cave, according to archaeologists, there is evidence that it was inhabited by people 130,000 years ago. The remarkable wall construction dating back 23,000 years ago marks the transition from Neanderthals to Homo Sapiens. Although the cave is a remarkable attraction for countless visits, it is overshadowed by the even more impressive and enthusiastic sights of the surrounding area.

Hiking in Meteora

For those who like hiking, Meteora is an ideal place for this, because the landscape is particularly fascinating and the shape of the land around the sacred rocks of Meteora is ideal. Most visitors to Meteora prefer getting in the area by car or on foot, with the main purpose of visiting monasteries and exploring nature. The most active visitors of the area “reach the skies” with their own alternative routes climbing on the rocks of Meteora.

VIDEOS of Meteora

Meteora is a destination of all times

When the weather is good, the streets, hotels and restaurants of Kalambaka are filled with visitors ready for excursions to the imposing Meteora. It is not surprising that a small town like Kalambaka is bustling with life, as neighboring Meteora offers the visitor both spiritual and tourist emotions. During the winter the snow adds beauty to the the sacred rocks of Meteora and the monasteries and things are more quite. It’s the time to visit for those who like a quite weekend!

Daily Routes by Cosmos Travel in Meteora

Cosmos Travel wishing to offer travelers the opportunity to visit Meteora organizes daily trips to Meteora and gives the opportunity to everyone to enjoy the wild beauty, magic and devotion offered by this historic attraction!

So we start very early from Thessaloniki (at 6:30), on the way we pass outside of Katerini and Larissa going up to Kalambaka. When we arrive at Meteora, we go to all the open Monasteries (a Monastery is closed every working day). There are many things to see and enjoy in every Monastery. The visit time in each monastery varies from 30 minutes to one hour! During our visit and because the road from monastery to monastery is magnificent, we stop at various places where there is a view to take pictures. Later in the afternoon, we descend to Kalambaka for food and a little rest and immediately afterwards, if travelers are not tired on the way back we stop at Tempi, which is in the middle of the route from Larissa to Thessaloniki for a visit. After Tempi we return to Thessaloniki at the point where we we picked you up in the morning. The average daily journey time is about 8-10 hours and will leave you with the best memories of Meteora!