Included:

• Information, History, Mythology
• Lunch pack: Snack, water, sandwich with feta, cucumber, tomato, olive or other traditional greek food (f.e. pita)
• Mountain guide
• Pick-up & Drop-off from Thessaloniki or the wider area of Pieria (upon request)
• Statutory Liability for the experience
• In case you choose to pay for Meal it includes: meal in a tavern or refuge (main dish, salad per 2 persons and appetizer per two persons)

Details:

• Driving hours from Thessaloniki: 6 hours (round trip)
• Duration: 1 day
• Difficulty: 1/5
• Children friendly: Yes (12+)
• Operation period: All year round (We do not recommend a visit on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and during the Greek National Holidays)
• Hiking duration: 3-4 hours (doesn’t include the time for visiting the monasteries)
• Distance: 7km
• Starting point: 310 metres
• Highest point: 580 metres
• Gain altitude: 410 metres

Trip Outline
Our journey starts early in the morning because we have 2 hours driving from Pieria or 3 hours from Thessaloniki. On our way to Meteora you will have the chance to enjoy the imposing Olympus that will stand in front of us, we will pass through Leptokarya and Platamonas and on our passing from the valley of Tempi we will have our first stop on the 3rd longest river of Greece, Pinios river. Inside the valley we will take a short walk to Pinios and through the suspension bridge we will visit a of Saint Paraskevi. A few words about the legend that connects the river, the history of the area and you will have the opportunity to find some of the most famous traditional fireproof clay utensils. From here we are 1.5 hours away to reach Kalambaka, where the rocks of Meteora stand around us, a short stop for a coffee take away and the necessary renewal and in 10 minutes we will be at the starting point of our route. During our hiking we will have the chance for a closest view to those great giants made of sandstone, walking along the dense oak forest, where we will definitely find turtles! We will pass an unknown monastery, of the Assumption of the Lord and we will head to the statue of Vlachava, where we will have the opportunity to enjoy a unique view from the usually invisible side of Meteora. After our short break we will continue in the direction of the Great Meteor, the biggest monastery, that will emerge timidly as we cross the ridge. At this point depending on the opening hours of the monasteries there is the possibility to visit either the Great Meteor or the monastery of Varlaam. The visiting inside the monastery needs about 1 hour. On our way out we will continue the trail hiking down the old path that will lead us to the vineyards and at the starting point. The scenery on this is a bit reminiscent of Game of Thrones. After these 7 kilometers, we can reward ouselves with delicious food in a traditional tavern in Kalambaka