Tours in Meteora

You see the rocks before you understand them. Coming up from the plain, the road bends and suddenly there are great grey pillars standing out of the trees, some of them with buildings on top that look like they grew there. That first glimpse is the reason people make the long trip. It still feels a little unlikely when you are standing under it.

The towns at the bottom are Kalambaka and Kastraki, and they are where you will spend the quieter part of the day. Kalambaka has the cafes and the grilled meat. Kastraki is smaller and sits right against the cliffs, so the rock looms over the last row of houses. Wander the shops for local honey, herbs, sweets and woven things, and sit down for something simple before or after you go up.

Up on the rocks are the monasteries, and this is where a guide earns their keep. Each one sits on its own pillar, and each has a different feel. Some are all stairs and courtyards and painted walls. Others are mostly about the edge, and the drop beyond it. Dress for a place of worship, with shoulders and knees covered, and bring layers, because the wind up there does not care what the valley is doing. The viewpoints at the end of the day, when the light turns the stone gold, are the ones people talk about afterwards.

Meteora is a long way from Athens, so a day here is a full one, with a good stretch of it spent on the road. Going private means you can choose where to linger and where to skip. If there is a particular monastery, trail or viewpoint you have your heart set on and it is not in the list below, ask. A local guide can build the day around it.