Six monasteries on top of sandstone pillars, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and about two hours west of the hotel.
Meteora is the longest of the three trips and the one people talk about afterwards. Six monasteries sit on top of natural sandstone pillars above the town of Kalambaka, and it is the most important monastic site in Greece after Mount Athos.
What you are looking at
The pillars are the remains of an old river delta, weathered into towers over millions of years. Monks began settling in the caves on them in the fourteenth century, and the monasteries were built on the summits where almost nobody could reach them. For a long time the only way up was a net on a rope.
All six are still standing and can be visited, each with its own opening days. Shoulders and knees covered, for men and women both.
The drive
It is one hundred and eighty-eight kilometres from the hotel, roughly two hours each way. That makes it a full day rather than a half day, so leave early, and take water and something to eat for the road.
When to go
Early morning is best, both for the light and because the coaches have not arrived yet. If there is mist in the valley you will see the pillars rising out of it, which is the view everybody hopes for.
