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While traveling to Greece many of us visit Greek islands; however, some other destinations in Greece remain relatively unknown for many of us. One of them is an area around small town of Kalampaka with unusual geological formations - about 1000 sandstone rocks rising from the ground. Since early times these rock attracted hermits, first Metéora inhabitants. Cliffs' height and the boldness of their walls kept most visitors to the area away from rocks. With time, hermit monks living in caves and hollows in the rocks started building structures on top of some rocks typically as high as 1000 - 1300 feet (300 - 400 meters).

Both, the natural wonders of the rocks and the serene and breath-taking views of monasteries are amazing. No writing or pictures can do it justice to this place - you must go and have this experience yourself to understand its breathtaking beauty. And by the way, no matter how lame it may seem to you, but I would mention that one of the monasteries, Moni Agias Triados (The Monastery of the Holy Trinity), was featured in James Bond film For Your Eyes Only with 007 climbing the rock wall.

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From Athens airport you can reach Kalampaka by train, by bus and by car. Renting a car can give you more freedom in exploring the area during your trip (where Metéora can be just on the places to visit). The drive from Athens may take from 5 to 6 hours (207 miles or 352 km). If you do not plan to travel to other areas in northern Greece, the most efficient way to visit Metéora is by bus or bus tour from Athens. Buses to Kalampaka are available from Ioannina, Trikala, Thessaloniki and Athens (the fare from Athens to Kalampaka is about €25). It is also possible to take the train from Thessaloniki or Athens; although you will have to switch trains, still you can arrive right to Kalampaka railway station.

Once in Kalampaka, there are different options for exploring monasteries. They are linked by asphalt road - you can use a car a take a bus trip or you can visit them on foot. Actually, you can do both, arrive by bus in the morning and continue on foot.

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The Monasteries of Metéora are opened for visitors all year round. However, the weather from December to March is cold and rainy. On the other hand, if you travel during high season (July - September), you may see crowds and deal with higher rates for everything. Because of all this, May and June can be a good opportunity to explore the area without haste.

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We recommend the following hotels in Kalampaka
- Petrino Guesthouse, a tiny guesthouse (5 rooms) in authentic stone building (Kastraki, 42200 Kalampaka ) known for its excellent service, prices €60 - €120.
- Monastiri Guesthouse, a small hotel (six rooms) in traditional monastery style located in the center of Kalampaka next to the train station (Nea Dimotiki Odos, 42200 Kalampaka, Web site: www.monastiri-guesthouse.gr). Prices are €75 - €120
- Pyrgos Adrachti, one of the best to stay at Kalampaka. Pyrgos Adrachti Hotel is small (10 rooms) and just 1 km away from Kalampaka, at the base of the rocks of Metéora (Kastraki, 42200 Kalampaka) €80 - €110.
- Hotel Meteoritis, a recently newly built hotel (with its 34 rooms larger than some of Kalampaka traditional guest houses), with breathtaking views of Pindus Mountains and Metéora (Kastrakiou - Meteoron, 42200 Kastraki, Kalampaka Web site: www.meteoritis.com) , €75 - €120
- Guesthouse Papastathis, another small and friendly guest house (7 rooms) a kilometer away from Kalampaka and very close to the rocks and one of the monasteries of Metéora only 100 meters from the residence (Kastrakiou - Meteoron, 42200 Kastraki, Web site: www.guesthouse-papastathi.gr). Prices are from €45 to €70. Research and book hotels in or near Kalampaka, Greece

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Enjoy your visits to monasteries, their architecture, frescoes and small museums in some monasteries. There are various hiking trails in the area linking monasteries with surrounding villages. Finally, if you like climbing, keep in mind that in the Metéora there are about 700 climbing routes on 120 rocks - in fact, this place become something like a mecca for rock climbers. All rocks can be climbed apart from those with inhabited monasteries.

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There are several things to keep in mind while visiting monasteries
- Plan to spend a full day at Metéora for visiting monasteries which translates in two nights at Kalampaka. There are many bus tours which usually allocate 4 - 4.5 hours to monasteries; you can certainly do this, but it seems to be a bit tight schedule for a place like this.
- Appropriate clothing is required: sleeveless attire and shorts are prohibited (for those is not dressed accordingly, clothing is provided). Each monastery charges an admission fee of &euro2.
- Keep in mind that although there are no particularly steep paths and steps, for anyone with walking difficulties the exploration of monasteries on foot would be very difficult if not impossible.
- Kalampaka is surprisingly modern and nowadays very tourist oriented with everything tourists may require.
- Usually monasteries are opened from 9 to 6 pm with 2-hour lunch break. At least one day of the week a monastery is closed. If you are interested in a particular monastery, check its schedule. Do not assume that all of them have the same schedule or rules - monasteries are completely independent from each other.

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Tags: climbing (9); Greece (3); Heritage site (22); Hiking (17); Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron; Holy Monastery of Rousanou St. Barbara; Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas; Holy Monastery of St. Stephen; Holy Monastery of Varlaam; Hotel Meteoritis; Kalampaka; Landscape (17); Meteora; monastery; Monastery of the Holy Trinity; Monastiri Guesthouse; Mountain (16); Petrino Guesthouse; Pyrgos Adrachti; Sacred place and sanctuary (20); Thessaly; Trikala

Web Sites:   Kalampaka and Meteora Guide
  METEORA - GREECE :: Info about the rock towers of Meteora in Greece

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