4-Days: Meteora, Delphi, Ioannina Lake city & Best of Greek Villages Experience

Day 1: Starting from Athens: Delphi & Hosios Loukas Monastery

1. Delphi
   1h 30m
   The 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.
2. Delphi Archaeological Museum
   45m · 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.
3. 30m
   The first photo you see when you google "Delphi" but still a place that most tourists miss out on! We don't!
4. Monastery of Hosios Loukas
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   OPTIONAL: Hosios Loukas is a thousand years old historic walled monastery situated near the town of Distomo, in Boeotia, Greece. It is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art and has been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Day 2: Ioannina city, Castle & Lake

1. Ioannina Region
   3h
   This is a long trip to reach the northwest of Greece and Ioannina city, the Jewel of North/Western Greece. There will be many locations to enjoy a coffee break and stretch your legs before arriving at Ioannina. This is an elegant town with a long multicultural history.
2. Ioannina Castle
   2h
   You will immediately be captivated by the legends of Ali Pasha – the onetime Ottoman ruler of the city, by the narrow streets of the Castle district, and by the beauty of the lake.
3. Silversmithing Museum
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   It is a thematic museum, as it concerns the technology of silversmithing during the pre-industrial period, while simultaneously being a regional museum, as it focuses principally on the history of silversmithing in the region of Epirus.
   Finely-crafted objects with ornate details, such as jewelry, arms and martial gear, household silverware, and personal effects feature amongst this collection.
4. 1h
   The island in the middle of Ioannina's lake (called Pamvotida) is a lovely place to spend a sunny afternoon or drive to the mountain viewpoints that to enjoy the whole area of the city, lake, island, and sourrounding moutains

Day 3: Zagorochoria: Aristi, Papigo, Monodendri, Stone Forest

1. Zagorohoria
   2h
   From Ioannina, a winding road we'll take you to the western Zagorochoria villages. You’ll know you’ve reached the west Zagori area when you see the dominating Astraka cliff towers covering the famous villages of Aristi, Megalo (big) Papigo, and Mikro (small) Papigo.
   When we meet the Aristi village bridge we will have the chance to approach the banks of the Voidomatis river.
2. 30m
   Another wonderful hiking area is Kolymbithres (Rock Pools), 500 m from Papigo. It's a small canyon cut by the river Rogovo where the flow of the water has carved the rocky sides of the canyon, creating a beautiful landscape. Some of the water pools are deep enough to dive into.
3. Aristi
   30m
   The natural scenery surrounding the popular Aristi village is great. It is a good place for lunch but we will opt for a much less touristy location where the local "pites" (pies), filled with cheese, meat or vegetables are highly recommended.
4. Monodendri
   30m
   Monodendri is a designated traditional settlement (altitude 1.060 m), with stone houses and picturesque cobble roads, where the Rizario Centre of Handicrafts, with traditional embroidery weavings, operates. The village is located at the entrance of the Vikos gorge. The cobblestone trail leading to the Monastery of Aghia Paraskevi (15th century) and continuing through the gorge is wonderful.
5. 45m
   The Stone Forest is a composition of limestone so chiseled that you think you see trees made of stone. Time and nature have essentially created a majestic forest of stones formed by structures of fine-grained limestone.
   But, “Stone Forest” is also the area which is a beautiful spot for breathtaking views of the Vikos gorge.
6. 1h
   OPTIONAL: We will be exploring East Zagorochoria villages where even more, impressive than the architecture of the local houses- are the stone bridges that we will meet. The local rivers have wonderful single and triple arch stone bridges.

Day 4: Metsovo town & Meteora Monasteries

1. Metsovo
   2h
   Metsovo is a town in the mountains of Pindus, between Ioannina to the west and Meteora to the east. This tree-shaded village is full of life throughout the year generously offering its natural surrounding beauties. Particularly during winter, the famous village is the beloved holiday destination. The settlement’s heart beats in the central square; the most famous one in mountainous Greece. Metsovo is also well-known for its cheeses – a wide variety of cheeses are available and the cheeses are exported throughout Greece. The town will be our “stepping stone” from Ioannina and it is the ideal place to make a stop for coffee/lunch.
2. 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 in Kalampaka between mountains Koziakas and Antichasion. 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.
3. 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 started to construct the first buildings from the beginning.
4. 45m · Admission ticket not included
   Probably the most photographed monastery. According to historical sources Holy Trinity must have been built between 1458 and 1476.
5. Campo della battaglia delle Termopili
   20m
   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 over the course of three days, in 480 BC.
6. 2h
   Expect to be back in Athens around 7 pm!

Pickup details

Any airbnb or alternative accommodation is possible.

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness