Excursion from Corfu to Meteora

This tour includes:

• Transportation in air-conditioned coach with a driver
• Professional tour guide
• Collection and return to chosen pick-up point
• Free time for shopping and dining
• Tour is guided in English, German, Russian and French languages

Meteora means ‘Suspended in the air’ in Greek. The sandstone rocks look like they have been dropped from the sky. Rising 400m above the Peneas Valley, the monks thought that the position of the rocks was God’s work, so they could be closer to him.

The first inhabitants of the Meteora, thought to be hermits in the 9th century, who  ascended the rocks using scaffold wedged into holes, ropes and nets.  As early as the 11th century monks inhabited the mountains and began to build their monasteries. Working under impossible conditions, all construction materials were winched up in baskets. Until 1920 supplies for the monks were still brought up in this way. By the 15th century 24 monasteries had been built. Today there are only six left, with four, Aghios Stephanos, Aghia Trias, Varlaam and Great Meteoron, housing religious orders. Here, the Orthodox Religion has continued, uninterrupted, for over 600 years.  The monasteries represent a unique architectural and artistic achievement and are the 2nd largest monastic pilgrimage after Mount Athos.

Chemical analysis of the rocks suggest that they were formed 60 million years ago in the Tertiary Period. Geologists believed that the rocks emerged from an estuary in a river that had been covered by the sea for millions of years. The Meteora are an enormous mass of sandstone and matter from all over Northern Europe. Seismic activity created faults and fissures causing the rocks to split and became individual columns.

Whether you are a believer, a spiritual seeker or a cultural traveller this is an unforgettable journey to a truly emotive place.

Itinerary

Your bus will pick you up from your agreed pick up point and at the time stated. We will drive south to the port of Lefkimmi. Ferry departure from Lefkimmi Port to Igoumenitsa Port is at 06.30am.

Upon arrival in Igoumenitsa we will drive by air-conditioned coach to Kalambaka. It is a 160 km drive (about 1,5 to 2 hours long) through Epiros on the Greek Mainland. The scenery is stunning with mountains, lakes and forests.

Arriving in Kalambaka we will visit a studio where holy icons are made and hand painted. The artists will demonstrate their work from the beginning to the finished product. You will be able to purchase icons from this studio.

Later, we drive to the magnificent rocks of Meteora. We will visit two monasteries. First is the Great Meteoron, largest monastery of Meteora. An hour guided tour will explain the unique building technique of the monastery, as well as the lifestyle of monks living there. The second monastery we visit is one of the smaller ones, where we will also have an hour long guided tour.

Our tour ends in a traditional Epirotic restaurant, where you can try many local specialties.

The coach will leave Kalambaka at 16.30. The ferry departs from Igoumenitsa at 18.45 and arrival back to Corfu is about 19.45.  Your expected arrival at your resort is between 20.15 and 20.30.