Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Greece - Epirus - Meteora
100% customisable for you
Your Grecian adventure begins today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and board your three-and-a-half-hour flight to Preveza. On arrival, collect your hire car and drive to Aristi, a picture-perfect village in the Zagoria region of the Epirus province. Check into your hotel, which will be your home for the next four nights. Unpack, settle in and tuck into a delicious dinner before hitting the hay.
Wake up bright and early for a private guided hike through Vikos Gorge. The route starts in Monodendri and Koukouli and ends at Vikos. With walls rising nearly 3,000ft high, the gorge offers breathtaking views and holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s deepest canyon in proportion to its width.
Your guide will highlight the pristine environment, pointing out endangered flora and fauna and explaining how the steep slopes reveal Pindos Mountain’s geological history. En route, stop off at four viewpoints which offer pretty panoramas of the gorge, culminating at Vikos itself, where the walk finishes – a fitting reward for an epic adventure.
Though not a technical trek, a decent level of fitness is essential as this eight-mile hike takes seven to eight hours and includes some strenuous sections. Pack smart and bring over-the-ankle boots, a leak-proof water bottle and walking poles or a stick. Afterwards, unwind at the hotel and re-live the walk while your tired limbs are massaged.
Rise and shine, today is another action-packed one and promises adrenaline-fuelled fun, with a private rafting experience along the shimmering Voidomatis River. Flowing through Vikos–Aoos National Park, it’s one of the cleanest rivers in Europe. Begin your descent on a raft from Aristi Bridge, glide past forested banks and craggy cliffs before drifting into Kleidonia. Your rafting trip will be led by an experienced guide and includes a riverside picnic lunch.
Today you’re free to explore Zagori at your own pace. Renowned as one of mainland Greece’s most beautiful regions, there will be plenty of photo-worthy spots
Keen to learn more about the region’s distinct culture? We can arrange privately guided visits to local farms and vineyards to sample Zagorian wines, cheeses (they make a mean feta) and game. This can also include a cooking workshop if you’re interested in picking up some new skills during your trip.
And don’t forget to make time for some Zagorochoria village visits. Home to Medieval arched stone bridges that span the region's rivers, every crossing feels like a step back in time. Feeling active? Your Concierge can arrange activities like yoga sessions, canyoning or river walking – just say the word.
After a leisurely breakfast, depart from Aristi and drive to Meteora, stopping en route to explore the region’s rich history and lush landscapes. Your first stop is Ioannina, a charming city overlooking Pamvotida Lake, where classical, Byzantine and Ottoman influences come together. Next, visit ancient Dodona, an oracle site with a stunning natural setting, which some 3,000 years ago, ranked second in importance only to the oracle at Delphi. Learn about the site’s significance as you explore the almost perfectly preserved theatre, with sweeping views towards Mount Tomaros.
Then it's on to Meteora, where you’ll stay in a postcard-perfect hotel, sitting pretty in the shadow of the sandstone pinnacles that are home to extraordinary monasteries. The journey takes approximately four-and-a-half hours, but with stops it’s more like seven hours so make sure to pack plenty of snacks.
This morning, step into the heart of Meteora on a two-and-a-half-hour guided hike, the perfect way to experience this extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage site. Follow your local guide along hidden trails, tracing the footsteps of the first monks who arrived here more than 15 centuries ago. The hike begins beneath the deserted Pantokrator monastery on Doupiani Rock and winds across to the northern side of Meteora, revealing the hidden Ypapanti monastery and the ruins of Saint Dimitrios. The hike culminates at either Great Meteoron or Varlaam – two of only six remaining intact monasteries, which can be accessed by climbing down ancient footpaths.
Spend the afternoon relaxing before a sunset tour of Meteora. Visit the monasteries of Agios Stefanos or Roussanou, then head to the Byzantine church of Virgin Mary in Kalambaka, whose ancient marbles trace 2,700 years of local history. Finally, after exploring the thousand-year-old hermitages of Bandovas, head high up onto the rocks of Meteora for swoon-worthy sunset views.
Sadly, it's time to head home. After an early breakfast, drive just under three hours back to Preveza airport for your three-and-a-half-hour flight home. If you’re not quite ready to end your Grecian getaway yet, there’s the option to add on some beach time in the Parga area before you hop on the plane back to the UK.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
