Imagine hanging over a thousand feet in the air,
right? And you are just crammed into this tiny
fraying rope finette. Oh my gosh, my palms are
sweating just thinking about it. Right. The wind
is just howling through this massive canyon and
the ropes are literally groaning under your weight.
And you're just, you're being pulled up the side
of a sheer vertical sandstone cliff. By hand.
Exactly. Completely by hand. And I mean, if that
rope snaps or if the pulley gives out, well,
that is just it. Game over. Yeah, game over.
But the crazy thing is, for centuries, this was
literally the only way anyone could reach the
Meteora monasteries in Greece. It's just terrifying.
It completely defies all logic. It totally does.
but is entirely by design. Anyway, welcome to
the Travel Podcast by Excursion Pass. We are
so glad you're here with us today. This is honestly
one of our absolute favorite formats to do. Oh,
for sure. We love doing these deep dives. We
are your guides for today. And our mission basically
is to unpack this huge full day trip from Athens
to these impossible monasteries in the sky. Yes,
we are breaking down this exact tour, pulling
straight from the key tours and excursion pass
listings. Right, which usually run anywhere from
like 74 euros to 98 dollars, depending on the
options. Exactly. And we're going to share every
single vivid detail with you, all the inside
secrets, just as if we literally got off the
bus ourselves and are sitting here having coffee
with you to compare notes. Because we want you
to feel like you are right there with us. But
look. I know what you are thinking. I can hear
you through the speakers. Oh, I know exactly
what they're thinking. You're thinking 14 hours
on a bus in one single day. Are you absolutely
crazy? It is the ultimate pushback. And look,
it is totally valid. Hearing 14 hour bus ride
makes almost anyone just instantly flinch. Right.
It just sounds like a complete logistical gauntlet.
It's so tempting to just say, you know what,
I'll stay in Athens. Yeah, just grab another
coffee and pluck maybe look at the Acropolis
one more time. Exactly. But I promise you, once
you understand exactly what is waiting for you
up on those cliffs, that 14 -hour commitment
is going to start making perfect sense. Oh, totally.
Because before we even get into all those grueling
logistics, we really need to paint a picture
of this destination. It justifies the entire
journey. OK, let's unpack this. Because Meteor
isn't just like... a bunch of old buildings on
a hill, it's this geological anomaly. Visually,
it makes absolutely zero sense. Not at all. You're
just in this relatively flat valley, right? Yeah.
And then suddenly, boom, there are these massive
sheer pillars of solid rock just shooting straight
up into the clouds. It's like something out of
a fantasy movie. The natural landscape alone
is just staggering. It really is. And this is
the part that gets me. You realize that human
beings in the 14th century somehow built these
sprawling, intricate stone monasteries on the
very tips of those rock needles. Without any
modern equipment. Right. I mean, try to imagine
building a modern skyscraper today, but you have
no cranes. no helicopters, and no safety harnesses.
Just ropes, pulleys, and some really extreme
faith. What's fascinating here is exactly what
this tour actually covers when you get there.
You're not just looking at one building. No,
it's a whole complex. Exactly. You get to see
all six of the remaining UNESCO listed monasteries
from the outside, which is just incredible for
photos. Oh, the panoramic views are unmatched.
And then the tour actually takes you inside three
of them. Usually, it's the Holy Monastery of
Varlam, Rusenu, and the Holy Trinity. Walking
inside is just... It's a whole different level
of awe. They're standing where these monks sought
this extreme spiritual devotion and total isolation.
Yeah, they literally wanted to disconnect from
the entire earthly realm. And beyond the main
monasteries, the tour also takes you to the Hermit
Caves of Badovas. Oh man, the caves. We have
to talk about the caves for a second. We really
do. Because, okay, full warning here, based on
actual reviews from people who just took this
tour, the Hermit Caves segment is kind of notorious
for being a literal drive by. A blink -and -you
-miss -it situation. Exactly. Because the mountain
roads are so narrow, the Megabus literally cannot
pull over and stop. So if you happen to be sitting
on the wrong side of the bus aisle, you will
completely miss these centuries -old caves because
you'll just be staring at a metal guardrail.
That is so frustrating. You have to really keep
an ear out for the guide's announcement. You
do. You have to be ready to aggressively lean
across the aisle over the person next to you
if you want to see them. Honestly, that tension
right there is a perfect transition because these
monks were so good at finding the most isolated
inaccessible spot in Europe. Getting there today
is still a total logistical nightmare. Okay,
but let's be real about this schedule for a second.
We really need to act as true experts here. and
address the practical reality of this day trip.
Let's do it. It's a marathon. It is. An 8 .0
AM start at the Larissa's train station in Athens
and a 10 .3 year PM return, sometimes even 11
.00 PM. How chaotic is this actually going to
be in practice? Well, let's break it down step
by step. The tour advertises complimentary hotel
pickups from central Athens. Which sounds great
on paper. Like a seamless luxury experience.
Right. But reviewers point out a major pain point
here. This morning transfer is often the most
chaotic part of the entire 14 hours. Oh, totally.
Because it's not just one bus picking everyone
up at their hotel. Exactly. Small vans pick you
up and just sort of dump you at the main train
station. And one reviewer mentioned they spent
30 agonizing minutes just wandering around the
station looking for the actual main tour bus.
Just wandering around at like 730 in the morning.
Yeah. surrounded by dozens of huge buses and
hundreds of confused tourists. And to make it
worse, sometimes those initial transfer drivers
don't speak any English. Oh, that is peak travel
anxiety. You're holding a lukewarm coffee, dodging
rolling luggage, and this driver just points
vaguely at a sea of buses and drives away. It's
rough. You really have to pack your patience
for that first hour. Seriously. But okay, let's
fast forward to the end of the day because that
late -night return is a massive safety and logistical
point, especially for solo travelers. Yes, this
is so important to highlight. A reviewer pointed
out that the 11 .0 p .m. drop -off is not back
at your cozy hotel. It terminates right back
at that same train station. In the dark. In the
dark. And you might just be standing there completely
exhausted waiting for a taxi to happen by. So
our advice to you... Do not wait until you step
off that bus to figure out your ride. No, absolutely
not. Have your Uber app open and plan that ride
while you are still rolling down the highway.
Pre -planet, it changes the whole vibe from stressful
to totally manageable. Definitely. And speaking
of the highway, we have to talk about the food
stops because this is honestly hilarious. Oh
my gosh, yes, the infamous food stops. So it's
a 14 -hour day, so obviously they have to feed
you. The tour offers this optional 10 -course
Greek lunch in Kalimbaka, which is great. Sounds
amazing. But for the mid -morning brunch and
the late -night dinner stops along the highway,
reviewers notice something really funny. They
stop at the exact same beachfront restaurant
both times. Yes. 10 hours apart, you are back
at the exact same diner. It so clearly shows
this very cozy relationship between the tour
company and the restaurant. The classic tour
industry hustle. Like it's the only place with
a parking lot big enough for a 45 person bus.
Exactly. And honestly, the food is fine, but
it's super rushed. eating against a stopwatch.
Which is why my biggest piece of advice here
is to pack a serious arsenal of snacks. Oh, absolutely.
Bring your own survival kit. I'm talking protein
bars, nuts, maybe some local fruit you grabbed
in Athens. Because when you are stuck on a bus
and your blood sugar crashes, you are going to
be miserable. And you cannot afford to be miserable
because once you survive the bus ride and actually
arrive in Kalimbaka around midday. you have to
physically perform. Right. And this is my next
big question. If I am not in, like, peak physical
condition, should I even attempt this? It's a
really valid fear. We have to be totally honest
about the physical reality here. Because it's
not just a casual stroll. Not at all. Moderate
fitness is absolutely required. First of all,
this is not wheelchair accessible on the slightest.
Noted. And to actually get into some of these
monasteries, you will be climbing over 300 stairs.
Over 300 stairs. Yes. And these are not nice
even modern stairs. They are carved directly
into the rock face. They're steep. They're uneven.
And in the summer, you are doing this in the
blazing Mediterranean heat. Wow. So you're literally
sweating through your clothes just trying to
get to the front door. Pretty much. But there
is a helpful alternative. If you are traveling
with someone older or if you just have bad knees,
you don't have to stay on the bus. Oh, that's
good to know. What can they do? You can wait
at these designated benches in the parking areas
right near the base of the pillars. You still
get those incredible sweeping views of the valley.
You just miss the interiors of the monasteries.
Exactly. It's a decent compromise if the stairs
are just impossible for you. Okay, so let's say
you do the stairs. You conquer the 300 steps,
you are completely out of breath, and you finally
reach the top. Here's where it gets really interesting.
Oh, I know where you're going with this. The
dress code. Because you cannot just waltz into
a 14th century sacred Byzantine monastery wearing
whatever you want. No, they are incredibly strict
about this. It's a functioning religious community.
Right. So men, you cannot wear shorts. Do not
even try it. You have to wear long pants. And
for women, the rules are even stricter. You must
cover your shoulders and you absolutely have
to wear a long skirt that goes below the knee.
Now, this is the number one doubt I see from
travelers online. People always ask, well, what
if I just show up in like really loose jeans
or long slacks? Right, because one reviewer did
mention that pants were okay for them. Yeah,
but that reviewer got lucky. Maybe they caught
a lenient monk at the door on a busy day. But
officially, they strictly enforced the skirt
rule for women. It has to do with obscuring the
silhouette of the legs entirely. It's a deep
theological tradition. It is. So what actually
happens if you show up in jeans after climbing
300 stairs? Do they just turn you away and make
you walk all the way back down? Thankfully, no.
They are very pragmatic about this culture clash.
Right at the entrance, they actually provide
these wrap skirts you can use. Yes, but it's
not free, right? No, it's a small surcharge,
usually about two euros. Which you have to pay
in cash, so... bring small coins. But honestly,
it leads to the funniest fashion statements.
It really does. Just imagine a huge group of
exhausted, sweaty tourists all tying these identical
borrowed monastery wrap skirts over their travel
pants. It is quite the look but hey it gets you
inside and that's what matters. Exactly. Okay
so we've talked about a 14 -hour transit day.
Yep. We talked about chaotic mornings, rushed
repetitive lunches, 300 grueling stairs, and
renting emergency skirts. It sounds like a lot
of friction when you list it all out like that.
It does. So why on earth does this specific tour
have a 4 .6 star rating and a 91 recommendation
rate? It's a great question. And honestly, it
all comes down to the human element. The people
leading this tour are what make it work. You
know, I always say a good tour guide is basically
like a great movie director. Oh, I love that
analogy. Right. Because they can take a totally
chaotic script, like confusing bus transfers
and a crazy tight schedule, and they just frame
the experience perfectly to turn it into a masterpiece.
That is so true. And the reviewers back this
up completely. The local English speaking guides
literally make or break this trip. They really
do, like reading through the reviews. There are
some absolute legends on this stuff. Oh, for
sure. People specifically name drop Katerina
all the time. They say she is incredibly witty
and so compassionate. Which you desperately need
when people are getting cranky in the midday
heat. Exactly. And then there's Apostolis. Yes.
Apostolis is apparently the guy you want if you
love taking photos. He is. Reviewers rave about
him because he literally acts like an unofficial
photographer for the guests. He knows all the
best angles on the cliffs and actively helps
you get that perfect shot. That is huge because
you want proof that you are actually standing
on top of these impossible rocks. Totally. But
we also have to give a massive shout out to the
drivers. Like Spyros. Oh man, driving a 45 -person
Megabus up those terrifying mountain roads. With
those sheer drops on the side, it takes serious
skill. One reviewer specifically praised Spyros
for navigating all those hairpin turns with,
and I quote, the patience of a Greek. The patience
of a Greek. I love that. And it really makes
you think, you know. What stands out to you when
you book a trip like this? Yeah, that's the real
question for the listener. Is it having... absolutely
perfect seamless logistics where nothing ever
goes wrong. Or is it that human connection, the
storytelling that makes the history just come
alive while you're standing there? For me, it's
the storytelling every single time. 100%. I will
happily endure a confusing morning at a train
station if it means I get to stand on a 1 ,300
foot cliff while a passionate guide tells me
how these desperate monks built a sanctuary in
the clouds. It makes all the physical exhaustion
completely worth it. It really does. So to kind
of wrap all this up for you. The Excursion Pass
Meteora trip is, without a doubt, a grueling
marathon of a day. You were going to be so tired.
You were going to be exhausted. But the unparalleled
views and that rich, deep history genuinely make
it a once -in -a -lifetime experience. As long
as you know exactly what you were signing up
for. Which, now, you do. Exactly. But before
we let you go, there is one final kind of provocative
thought we want to leave you with. Yeah, something
to just sort of ponder on your own while you're
staring at the bus window on that long ride back
to Athens. Hit them with it. So the original
monks built these monasteries on these sheer
impossible cliffs for one very specific reason.
Right. They wanted to seek the ultimate isolated
connection with the divine. Exactly. They wanted
to be as far away from humanity as physically
possible. They literally pulled the ropes up
behind them. Yes. Yet today, their solitary isolated
refuge attracts massive crowds. Thousands of
people. Right. 45 % mega buses roll up there
every single day. So the question is, does our
modern desire to witness their extreme isolation
ironically destroy the very peace they sought
to create? Wow. That is a heavy, amazing question
to chew on. Are we ruining the very thing we
came to see? It really makes you think about
how we travel and interact with history. It totally
does. Well, that is all the time we have for
today. Thank you so much for joining us and letting
us share this incredible destination with you.
Yes. Thank you for being here. We hope you feel
totally prepared for Meteora now. We really do.
And don't forget to subscribe to the Travel Podcast
by Excursion Pass for more of these deep dives
into the world's best experiences. We'll see
you next time. Safe travels everybody.