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Greece

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων

Varlaam Monastery – View of the Thumb of Meteora loop from Kalabaka

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Greece

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Τρικάλων

Varlaam Monastery – View of the Thumb of Meteora loop from Kalabaka

Hard

4.7

(32)

108

hikers

Varlaam Monastery – View of the Thumb of Meteora loop from Kalabaka

02:27

7.49km

320m

Hiking

Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 27, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that may be dangerous

A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.

After 5.26 km for 7 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

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1.18 km

Stone Bridge with Ancient Trees

Highlight • Bridge

Romantic little stone bridge that is very stable. No water flows through it in the summer, but I can imagine it being useful in the spring after the snow melts.

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2.40 km

East of the Pindus Mountains, mighty sandstone cliffs rise to a height of approximately 500 meters. 24 monasteries were once built on their summits. Monks and nuns still live in six of them today. These monasteries are now UNESCO World Heritage sites and are often referred to as "floating monasteries" because they appear almost suspended in fog or low clouds.

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2.74 km

Varlaam Monastery

Highlight • Religious Site

For me personally the most interesting monastery because of the view and paintings.

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4.81 km

View of the Meteora Monasteries

Highlight • Viewpoint

The monasteries of Metamorphosis, Varlaam, Rousánou, Agia Triada, Agios Stephanos, and Agios Nikolaos Anapavsas are still inhabited today and can be visited. Each of the monasteries has a different day of rest, so they are never all closed at the same time.

The dress code for visitors must be observed. Shorts are taboo for men, while miniskirts and off-the-shoulder tops are not tolerated for women. Dresses or skirts are also preferred to trousers for women; in some monasteries, women wearing trousers are asked to tie an apron, which can be borrowed at the entrance.
The climb to the uninhabited and dilapidated monastery ruins is difficult, often dangerous, and not recommended.

Film set, among others, in:
James Bond 007: For Your Eyes Only (1981)
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (1996)

Source: de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteora

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5.68 km

View of Meteora Monasteries

Highlight • Viewpoint

It's easy to see why these monasteries are a designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built atop towering rock pillars in central Greece between the 14th and 16th centuries, they truly are spectacular.

To reach the Meteora monasteries, you must ascend steep stone staircases, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding area. The monasteries themselves feature stunning frescoes, religious icons, and a profound sense of spiritual calm.

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