Monks' footpaths from Kastraki and Kalambaka

What they are

Before the road was opened, the monasteries were reached on foot, and many of those paths are still there. The Meteora Trails network has mapped them in fourteen sections, M1 to M14, which link up with one another. They are short, from a few hundred metres to 4.6 km, but very steep: they climb 100, 200 or almost 500 m in a short distance. They start from Kastraki and the old town of Kalambaka and reach the door of the monasteries.

The most useful sections

• M8, Kastraki to Roussanou: leaves from Kastraki's old aqueduct and climbs 250 m in 1.72 km to Roussanou. It is the most direct from the village.
• M13, Varlaam to Kastraki's old aqueduct: 1.35 km with 270 m of ascent. It is used to go down from Varlaam and the Great Meteoron to the village, or to climb up.
• M6, Kalambaka to the Holy Trinity: leaves from the Byzantine church of Kalambaka and climbs 470 m in 2.22 km to the Holy Trinity. It is the hardest in the network.
• M7, Holy Trinity to Kalambaka high school: 3.22 km and 365 m of ascent, to return to the village another way.
• M1 and M2, Doupiani to Varlaam via Ypapanti: 2.43 km and then 1.36 km, through the north of Kastraki, beside the Doupiani rock and the Ypapanti monastery.

A half-day circular route

From Kastraki: climb by the M8 to Roussanou, continue along the road for a few minutes to the Great Meteoron and Varlaam and descend by the M13 to the aqueduct. It is a little over 3 km of path, 250 m of ascent and 270 m of descent, plus the road stretch. With a visit to two monasteries, allow a whole morning. Check beforehand which monasteries are open that day: the Great Meteoron closes on Tuesdays and Varlaam on Fridays.

Difficulty and signposting

There are no great distances, but the slopes are steep. You need mountain footwear with a good sole: not sandals. Some sections are poorly signposted and others pass beside drops. Download the maps and GPS files from the Meteora Trails website beforehand, or buy the 1:12,500 trail map from the publisher Terrain. In 2021, after some earthquakes, Meteora Trails warned of rockfalls from the towers: do not stop at the foot of the walls.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. In July and August, in Trikala the average high exceeds 33 °C: walk from 7:00 to 10:00 and be back before midday. In rain, the rock and earth are slippery on the slopes: if it rains or a storm threatens, leave the paths and go by road.

Water, shade, children and dog

Do not count on springs or shops on the way: carry at least a litre of water per person, a hat and something to eat. With children, the M8 or M13 are manageable from about age 7, holding hands on the rock steps; the agencies set 7 as the minimum age for their walks. With a dog, bear in mind that animals are not admitted at the monasteries, except assistance dogs.

With a guide

If you prefer not to find the way, two Kalambaka agencies run guided walks with pick-up at your accommodation: Meteora Thrones, about 8 km in 4 hours with a monastery visit, and Visit Meteora, 7 km and 200 m of ascent in 5 hours, from the Doupiani rock. Monastery entry tickets are paid separately, in cash. For the afternoon walk to the hermit caves, see sunset over the rocks.