Meteora, Undiscovered Greece
Greece Bike Tours
Experience Magical Meteora
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length7 days
- Prices from€1194 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
This unique and fascinating bike and multi-adventure tour in Greece showcases a region that is off the normal radar. Greece has been, and always will be, a classic travel destination, possessing unmatched natural beauty and cultural heritage, but this tour will showcase the magical.
Meteora is situated at the heart of the plain of Thessaly, land of the Centaurs. Olympus the mountain of the twelve gods casts’ its shadow over the plain to the northeast. The name, Meteora, literally means 'hovering in the air'.
What created this rare geological phenomenon, these giant rocks, remains a mystery of nature. Only she knows the answer.
But as amazing a marvel of nature as these giant rocks are, the monastic buildings perched on top, are a marvel of man. Mostly dating from the 14th to 16th centuries, these monasteries were built by hermit monks who once lived in the caves. It took years and sheer determination to carry the construction material to the top of rocks, using ropes, folding ladders, nets, and baskets. At one time, there were twenty-four monasteries. Only six remain today.
We invite you to experience this awe-inspiring destination on this multi-adventure tour.
Highlights
- Legendary landscape
- Regional cuisine and wine showcased by locals
- Active vacation combined with magic, mystery, and ancient history
Interested in more biking? Check out our other bike tour in Greece!
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Day
Day 2: Explore Athens
Day 3: Travel from Athens to Meteora by train, sunset tour in the evening
Day 4: Guided mountain bike tour at Meteora, 15 km
Day 5: Three options are offered on this day: (please see pricing!)
Day 6: Meteora hiking tour, 7 km
Day 7: Departure by train from Meteora to Athens*This tour offers great flexibility and will be tailored to your wishes in regards to the difficulty level.
Day 1: Arrival Day
Individual arrival in Athens and check-in to your hotel.Options for accommodation in Athens (based on availability):
Acropolis Hill Hotel, Acropolis Museum Boutique Hotel, or Acropolis Select HotelDay 2: Explore Athens
You will have the whole day to explore on your own the historical center of Athens. Perhaps you would like to visit the Acropolis and the new Archeological Museum of Athens. Optionally, you may book a guided tour to have a complete experience of this historically important city. You might consider either a walking tour or a culinary tour. There is more than one possibility to explore this ancient city, just ask!Day 3: Travel from Athens to Meteora by train, Sunset electric bike tour in the evening
In the morning at 8:30 am, you will depart from the Larissa train station in Athens to Meteora. This journey by train, all part of the adventure, will take approximately 5 hours with an expected arrival time in Kalampaka at 1:30 pm. You will follow the same line that opened back in 1898, partially modernized only a few years ago, crossing deep gorges and steep mountains with the aid of bridges and tunnels. Next to the bridges, you can observe some relics of the cold war, hundreds of bunkers made back in 1947 by the Greek army to protect the lines of communication from the sabotage of communist insurgents during the civil war. After your arrival, you will explore the hidden gems of Meteora on a Sunset Electric Bike Tour. You will cycle between the rock giants of Meteora and learn about the culture, tradition, and history of the cliff-suspended Monasteries and their surroundings from a certified local bike leader.
Even for those that are not in great shape, the electric bikes are powerful enough to do all the work and let the visitor focus on the landscape without getting tired. The tour is a 4 hours sightseeing tour. Monastery tickets are not included (€3, cash only)Options for Accommodation in Meteora:
Hotel Kastraki, Archonitiko Mesochori, Hotel Dellas, or Theatro Hotel OdysseonDay 4: Guided mountain bike tour of Meteora
This day will start with a guided mountain bike tour of Meteora. You will start from the center of Kalampaka and within minutes you will find yourself cycling on a beautiful trail enjoying unique sceneries. You will visit the 14th-century monastery of Ypapanti, constructed inside a large cavity of a rock.Whether you’re a first-time mountain biker or a skilled thrill-seeker, there are enough routes to suit all.
In the afternoon you will have free time to explore the town of Kalampaka and the village of Kastraki.
Day 5: Four options are offered on this day: (please see pricing!)
Option A
Meteora-Metsovo, truffle hunting, and wine tasting:
This option combines adventure, food, and wine. First, you can explore the surrounding mountains and the picturesque village of Metsovo. In the heart of the forest, you will have an opportunity to go truffle hunting. The flavorful underground mushrooms are very popular in Europe and have been used as gourmet food for centuries. The truffles sprout grow underground and for that reason is very difficult to find them.Next on the list is Averoff’s winery to taste some of the best wines of Greece. Its history began in the late 1950s when Evangelos Averoff planted Greece΄s first Cabernet Sauvignon vines on the steep slopes of Mount Pindus!
Your day will end at a traditional restaurant for a sampling of local food!
Option B
Meteora food and wine Tour
Another culinary experience, Option B begins with short walks in the town of Kalambaka with transportation via a mini-bus to visit various delicatessens, groceries, restaurants, dairies, sweet and pie shops, as well as a nearby winery to taste the most traditional local flavors of Meteora. Taste homemade traditional spinach pie, bougatsa, herbs and spices, yogurt with honey and nuts, and locally produced sausages and cheeses. Visit a nearby local family estate winery to learn about the local grape varietals and to taste 5 local labels. The tour also includes a visit to the local museum of Natural History and Mushrooms to taste dishes made out of indigenous varieties of mushrooms. The Mediterranean diet incorporates not only the basics of healthy eating but also an intriguing blend of tastes, flavors, and cultures that combine dishes of ancient Greece, Italy, the Balkans, and the Near East. The traditional Greek cuisine is one of the best representatives of the Mediterranean diet. It relies heavily on the use of nuts, olive oil, legumes, succulent herbs, fresh vegetables, and a variety of different cheeses and wines. English-speaking guides will walk you through the rich local flavors and the long history and the culture of Meteora. Numbers are limited to 16 people, ensuring a personalized experience on this tour.Option C
Meteora half-day sightseeing tour by mini-bus
Visit the three main monasteries of Meteora and discover the natural beauty and cultural heritage of this area. This Meteora Half-day Sightseeing Tour will take you back to the dark ages and the story of the first hermits and monks who laid the foundations of what later on became the monastic community of Meteora. Learn which monastery was the first to be established and the true motivations behind the monks’ decision to try to climb the steep rocks of Meteora and build the monasteries there. Learn everything, see everything! And then we will take you to the most beautiful spots to enjoy amazing views and take photos. With this comprehensive half-day morning Tour of Meteora, you’ll discover this astonishing site through the eyes and the narrative of the locals!Inclusions:
Pick up and drop off service from Kalampaka or Kastraki
See all monasteries
English-speaking local tour leader
Semi-independent tour
Transportation by air-conditioned minibus
On your tour of Meteora, you will be able to visit three monasteries
Free wifi
Map and bottle of waterExclusions:
Gratuities (optional)
State licensed guide
Entrance fees (€3 per person at each monastery)Option D
Meteora electric bike tour
Ride the smile-making bikes between the rock giants of Meteora and learn about the culture, tradition, and history of the cliff-suspended Monasteries and their surroundings from a certified local bike leader.
Even for those that are not in great shape, the electric bikes are powerful enough to do all the work and let the visitor focus on the landscape without getting tired.
You meet in front of the Meteora e-Bike office, right in the center of the lovely town of Kalampaka. Your leader will lead you out on a 4-hour sightseeing and monastery tour by e-bike.
Hear stories about tradition, history, and landmarks you see along the route. Short breaks for pictures and chat. Groups are small, with a maximum of 8 people and your smiling local tour leader.Inclusions:
Electric assistance bike
Helmet
Certified bike leader
Water
Raincoat (if needed)Exclusions:
Monastery tickets (3 euros each, cash only)*If none of the above options appeal to you, just tell us. Also possible:
- Hiking Meteora's caves
- Hiking and Scramble tour of Great Saint
- Meteora rock climbing
Day 6: Meteora hiking tour, 7 km
The guide will pick you up from your hotel for a morning hike to follow the footsteps of the monks on the ancient trails of Meteora. Enjoy captivating views of the rock pillars and the monasteries with this morning activity. The hike begins from the foothills of Doupiani rock, beneath the old ruined monastery of Pantokrator. It then crosses through the immense rock formations to reach the northern side of Meteora, away from the beaten tourist paths, and lasts for roughly 5 hours. With this hike, you will have the chance to visit the most important monastery of all, the “Great Meteoron”.Day 7: Departure by train from Meteora to Athens
Your Meteora unique experience will come to an end in the morning of this day by taking the train back to Athens.Please ask us if you would like us to book accommodations in Athens for you at the end of your tour.
Take time to peruse our full list of bike tours in Europe or view all our featured bicycle tours, specials, and news.
Hotels & Bikes
You will be accommodated in 3 and 4-star hotels and boutique accommodations. You will find the preferred hotels listed in the Day to Day section. In Meteora, there are a few contracted hotels. The Hotel Kastraki is a 3-star establishment located at the foothills of Meteora rocks in the beautiful village of Kastraki, 2 km from Kalambaka town. another possibility is the Archontiko Mesochori, located in the Mesochori Square of Kastraki. Originally a 19th-century mansion, it has been renovated to offer modern amenities in a traditional atmosphere. You can take a look at the other possibilities and please note that the final hotel list will be based on availability.
Bicycles
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Electric Bike
Devron City Electric Bike
(used on the sunset tour as well as the day tour)
- Aluminum low step frame
- Front suspension
- Tektro caliper brakes
- 26-inch wheels
- 250 W Bafang engine
- Phylion13 Ah battery (located under the rear rack)
- Several levels of assitance
- Range up to 120 km
- Weight: 24 kg
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Mountain Bike
Specialized Pitch Sport
- Premium aluminum frame
- Front suspension
- 16-speed Shimano drivetrain
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 27.5 inch wheels
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation in Athens & Meteora for 6 nights with breakfast
- The tours as described with all the necessary transportation
- Round trip train ticket from/to Athens
- English speaking guides for the tours
- Electric bike for Sunset evening tour on Day 3
- Mountain bike rental for Day 4
- All taxes
What’s Not Included
- Lunches & dinners that are not in descriptions
- Entrances fees for the archaeological sites & monasteries (8 euros/person)
- Transportation/transfer within Athens (airport-hotel, hotel-train station, train station-hotel, hotel-airport)
- Bike protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2022
Daily arrivals are possible.
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2022
Option A (Truffle hunting and wine tasting): $ 2264 £ 1200 $ 2,045 € 1406 ₪ 5159 NZ$ 2423 kr 15010 $ 1,621 Option B (Meteora Food and Wine): $ 2020 £ 1070 $ 1,824 € 1254 ₪ 4601 NZ$ 2161 kr 13388 $ 1,446 Option C (Meteora Half-Day Monastery Tour): $ 1923 £ 1019 $ 1,737 € 1194 ₪ 4381 NZ$ 2058 kr 12747 $ 1,377 Option D (Meteora Half-Day Monastery Tour by electric bike): $ 1923 £ 1019 $ 1,737 € 1194 ₪ 4381 NZ$ 2058 kr 12747 $ 1,377 Single supplement: $ 242 £ 128 $ 218 € 150 ₪ 550 NZ$ 259 kr 1601 $ 173
Extra Options
Extra nights
Athens: $ 119 £ 63 $ 108 € 74 ₪ 272 NZ$ 128 kr 790 $ 85 Single room: $ 200 £ 106 $ 180 € 124 ₪ 455 NZ$ 214 kr 1324 $ 143 Meteora: $ 85 £ 45 $ 77 € 53 ₪ 194 NZ$ 91 kr 566 $ 61 Single Room: $ 135 £ 72 $ 122 € 84 ₪ 308 NZ$ 145 kr 897 $ 97
Upgraded train tickets
First-class from/to Athens: $ 32 £ 17 $ 29 € 20 ₪ 73 NZ$ 34 kr 214 $ 23
Excursions
Acropolis, city tour, and Acropolis: on request
Athens food tour: on request
Athens Cooking lesson: on request
Children's discounts available for excursionsTransfers
From/to Hotel Athens/Train Station, per transfer:
Up to 3 people: $ 64 £ 34 $ 58 € 40 ₪ 147 NZ$ 69 kr 427 $ 46 Up to 5 people: $ 97 £ 51 $ 87 € 60 ₪ 220 NZ$ 103 kr 641 $ 69 Up to 8 people: $ 129 £ 68 $ 116 € 80 ₪ 294 NZ$ 138 kr 854 $ 92From/to Athens airport/Athens hotel, per transfer:
Up to 3 people: $ 129 £ 68 $ 116 € 80 ₪ 294 NZ$ 138 kr 854 $ 92 Up to 5 people: $ 161 £ 85 $ 145 € 100 ₪ 367 NZ$ 172 kr 1068 $ 115 Up to 8 people: $ 193 £ 102 $ 175 € 120 ₪ 440 NZ$ 207 kr 1281 $ 138Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy guided tour in which you can choose what activities you would like to participate in.
Airport Info
Fly to Athens (ATH).
Local Travel
You will spend the first part of your tour in Athens. To travel from the airport to the city of Athens, there is a train station located adjacent to the airport terminal, accessed through an elevated walkway. From this railway station, you can access the Suburban Railway and Athens Metro Line 3.
The train ticket from Athens to the mystical land of Meteora is included in your tour price. The direct train from Athens departs from Platform 8 at 7:20 am and arrives at Kalambaka Train Station at 11:30 am. From Kalambaka Station, you can take a taxi (5 minutes) to Meteora. For your departure, the train back to Athens from Kalambaka departs at 5:15 pm, arriving in Athens at 10:30 pm.Climate
Please research local conditions before your arrival! Spring, early summer, and fall are the very best seasons in which to visit Meteora.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Visit Meteora.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
Photos
![Bike rest in Meteora, Greece. ©TO:Rupert Shanks]()
![Citrus tree in Athens, Greece. Flickr:gypsy in moda]()
![Mountain biking amongst the sandstone cliffs. ©TO]()
![Acropolis of Athens, Greece. Flickr:Spirosparas]()
![Eastern Orthodox Monasteries atop cliffs in Meteora, Greece. Flickr:Harshil Shah]()
![Falafel and fries in Greece. Flickr:Ben Ramirez]()
![Aerial view overlooking Meteora, Greece. ©TO]()
![Inside an Eastern Orthodox Monastery. ©TO]()
![Cliff-high monasteries in Meteora, Greece. ©TO]()
![The famous Greek salads! Flickr:Alfred Low]()
![Guided hike tour in Meteora, Greece. ©TO]()
![Dining in Athens, Greece. Flickr:Monika Monika]()
![Flying proud in Athens, Greece. Flickr:Ana Raquel Shernandes]()
![One of the Monasteries in Meteora, Greece. CC:Giac83]()
![Cliff dwellings in Meteora, Greece. ©TO]()
![Delicious baklava in Halkidiki, Greece. Flickr:Alpha]()
![Great view of the unique monasteries in Meteora, Greece. Flickr:Harshil Shah]()
![Admiring the view in Meteora, Greece. ©TO]()
![Bike rest for the view in Meteora, Greece. ©TO]()
![Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece. Flickr:Phanatic]()
![Photo op in Meteora, Greece. ©TO:Rupert Shanks]()
![Biking through Meteora, Greece. ©TO]()
![View of the Acropolis from Areopagus, Athens, Greece. Flickr:Tobias Van Der Elst]()
![Meteora, Greece. Flickr:Apostolosmargiolis]()
![Greek salads and beer for lunch in Athens, Greece. Flickr:Mark Hillary]()
![Evening glow in Athens, Greece. Flickr:Jose Nicdao]()
![Another great view in Meteora, Greece. CC:Stathis floros]()
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