High above the landscape below, lie the Meteora monasteries in the central Greece. Sixty monks and nuns live in the fabled monasteries perched on top of immense natural rock pillars surrounded by hill-like rounded boulders. In centuries past, this place of worship brought them solitude and peace from unwanted trespassers. Today, the Greek Orthodox monasteries are one of the most revered destinations in all of Greece.

Meteora is in central Greece only a few hours north of Athens. It is the site of six Greek Orthodox monasteries built by monks beginning in the 14th century. Windswept monoliths rise abruptly from the earth, with vertical cliffs forming a dramatic backdrop. The picture-perfect vistas have been the inspiration for films and TV shows, including ‘Game of Thrones’.

The word ’meteora’ means ‘middle of the sky’ and monasteries seem as if they are ‘suspended in air.’  The six monasteries were built by monks beginning in the 14th century providing protection from the warriors below. The monks used a network of ropes, pulleys, baskets and ladders to lift supplies and worshippers to the monasteries. In times of war, these were raised denying access to anyone that posed a threat. 

During our tour, Greece & the Greek Islands, September 26 – October 8, we will stay in the nearby village of Kalambaka and hike the area. Hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy this unique geological phenomenon and to learn the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Centre. We’ll walk through hidden trails only the locals know. Our guided hike will take us among the gigantic rock pillars of Meteora to visit two monasteries and enjoy the truly breathtaking views.

Note: This hike is rated ‘easy to moderate’. Our guide knows the way!

No trip to Greece is complete without visiting the Acropolis of Athens! On our tour, Greece & the Greek Islands, September 26 – October 8, 2018, we’ll explore the major monuments of the Athens Acropolis.

The Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a citadel built on a hill during the Golden Age of Athens (460-430 BC). The Acropolis served as the preeminent sanctuary of the ancient city of Athens and its purpose was to provide sacred grounds to the goddess Athena. Athena was the goddess of many things: wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law, justice, mathematics and the arts.  She was essentially urban and civilized but was also the goddess of war.

Led by a certified guide, we’ll tour and learn about the key monuments of the Acropolis: 

Parthenon 
Temple of Athena
Erectheum
Temple of Athena Nike
Propylaea
Temple of Zeus
Theather of Dionysis

We’ll also visit the Acropolis Museum (opened in 2009) that houses the historic and archaeological treasures of the Acropolis as well as objects of Athenian every day life. The museum hosts its collections on three levels and has an archaeological excavation site that lies at its foundation.

 

 

 

 

1. Be guided through the Acropolis temples: the Parthenon, Temple of Zeus, Theater of Dionysis, Temple of Athena Nike…follow with a visit to the new Acropolis Museum.
2. Drink Greek wine…you’ll love it!  Also, tour and taste at Santorini wineries.
3. Enjoy free time to wander, shop and dine in the Plaka District of Athens. 
4. Take a culinary walking tour in Athens…sample and taste Greek delicacies and liqueurs.
5. Enjoy an evening event (a concert, dance, theatre) at the Acropolis…it’s especially beautiful lit up at night!
6. Hike to two Meteora Monasteries and visit their interiors…a serene experience!
7. Be guided through Delphi, the site of the Temple of Apollo…followed by a visit to the Delphi Museum.
8. Sail around the island of Mykonos on a catamaran… Greeks are known for their skill on the water.
9. Snorkel in a secluded cove…Greece has some of the most beautiful sea life on earth.
10. Enjoy the local cuisine in Old Mykonos Town from a seaside cafe…order some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever taste.
11. Visit a Greek volcano…hike along the Caldera of Santorini, the edge of the volcano.
12. Watch a Greek sunset… perhaps the best sunset you will ever see is from Oia, Santorini.
13. Eat a traditional Greek meal… we’ll try local specialties and traditional Greek dishes everywhere we go!
14. Learn to cook as the Greeks do in a hands-on cooking class paired with Greek wines.
15. Take in the beauty of the Aegean Sea…it’s a vista you will always remember!

Whatever you do…enjoy yourself and take in all that Greece and the islands have to offer during this small group tour!