Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below
Overview
Delphi and Meteora ("suspended in the air") in a 2-day/1-night private tour.
Why this tour?
Because of the quality of the ride, the great tour leader, the non-touristy lunch & drinks!
☼ After dropping you off at Delphi, stroll around the area on a self-guided tour to see the Temple of Apollo and Athina Pronaia. Then, enjoy a great lunch—your driver's treat —at a location where Greeks eat out.
☼ We arrive at Meteora early enough for an extra (but included) late afternoon visit to the famous rocks. We spend the evening relaxing at a great hotel facing Meteora.
☼ Next morning, we'll explore the monasteries, which were a very safe hiding spot for the monks from the Romans. Depending on your fitness and availability, you'll visit two or three amazing monasteries.
Heading back to Athens will include a couple of relaxing stops: one for a great lunch & drinks & a second at the Thermopylae battlefield of the famous 300 of King Leonidas.
What's included
One night accommodation/breakfast (4 or 5 star hotel)
Brand new 2021-2023 vehicles - Non smoking vehicle and driver
Lunch
Breakfast
Hotel private pickup and drop-off - Each person with one normal size suitcase & a small carry on bag
In-car Bottled Water & INFORMATION BOOKLET for all tour activities and sites.
Pickup and drop-off in areas outside of Athens or Piraeus port
PROFESSIONAL/LICENSED GUIDE (optional)
Shopping/touristy stops unless required by yourselves
Graduites (optional)
What to expect
Day 1: Delphi (plus Meteora late afternoon visit; time permiting)
Delphi Archaeological Museum
30m · Admission ticket not included
The Archaeological Museum of Delphi, one of the most important in Greece, exhibits the history of the Delphic sanctuary, the site of the most famous ancient Greek oracle. Its rich collections are comprised primarily of architectural sculptures, statues, and minor objects donated to the sanctuary.
The famous Charioteer belonged to a statuary complex of a chariot run by four horses and included a second male figure.
The Sphinx of the Naxians, dated to 560 BC, comprises one of the earliest representations in art of the demonic creature with a lion's body, bird's wings, and a woman's head.
Delphi Ancient Town
1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
The archaeological site of Delphi is one of the most important ones in Greece, second only to the Acropolis of Athens. The magnitude of the Delphi contributions to the entire ancient civilization cannot be overstated.
The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke, was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious center and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world.
30m
OPTIONAL: The first photo you see when you google "Delphi" but still a place that most tourists miss out on!
Amfissa
1h
Driving on towards Meteora to avoid the touristy Delphi or Arachova we'll stop at a total of the beaten-path location for our lunch with authentic choices, the treat of your driver/tour leader.
Meteora
1h · Admission ticket not included
OPTIONAL: If you follow our plan and there are no unexpected delays -although not part of the normal itinerary- we shall make the first visit to the amazing monasteries' area from Day 1 to get a feeling of the unique landscape with the late afternoon lighting. Time permitting it may even be possible to visit St Stephan's monastery.
The main visit will follow the next morning (day 2)!
Day 2: Meteora (2-3 monasteries) & Thermopylae Battlefield
1h · Admission ticket not included
We shall be visiting two of the monasteries that are open on a specific day. The gigantic rocks of Meteora dominate imposingly over Kalampaka town. This masterpiece of nature reveals all its glory for centuries as a unique geological phenomenon in beauty and an important monument of Orthodoxy.
The Great Meteoron Monastery, built on an imposing rock, is the oldest, the biggest, and the most important among the monasteries of Meteora which are preserved today.
Varlaam Monastery
45m · Admission ticket not included
In 1350 a daring ascetic named Varlaam ascended to the rock. The monastery was named after him. He built three churches, a small cell, and a water tank. After his death, the rock remained abandoned for about 200 years until 1517 when the two priest-monks Theophanes and Nektarios Apsarades started to construct the first buildings from the beginning.
1h · Admission ticket not included
Probably the most photographed monastery. According to historical sources Holy Trinity must have been built between 1458 and 1476.
Campo della battaglia delle Termopili
15m
We take a break at the Thermopylae battlefield location with King Leonidas' statue. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes-I in 480 BC.
2h
Expect to be back in Athens around 5 pm. You can optionally be dropped off at your cruise ship or even the airport.
Do remember that you can combine this tour with "The Ultimate Greek Experience: 7-Day Tour to the Peloponnese Delphi and Meteora" tour.
Meeting and pickup
Pickup details
Any Athens hotel or Airbnb, the Athens airport, Piraeus and Nafplio port. Possible extra cost for some locations.
Additional information
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
