VIP 5-Day Tour From Ouranoupoli
Holy Mount Athos (Agion Oros) Hiking Tour
- (5 days)
Our excursion in a few words
Holy Mount Athos (Agion Oros)
Hiking Tour
Exclusive Private 5-Day Tour from Ouranoupoli – Start Any Day
The Athonian State, lovingly called the «Garden of Panagia», where faith meets flourishing beauty!
Highlights
• Mount Athos: A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 with 20 monasteries.
• The AVATON law forbids female access to Agion Oros, enforced by law.
• Agion Oros, an Orthodox spiritual center, autonomous since Byzantine times.
• Verdant slopes, old trees, and a 2,033m peak create unique natural beauty.
• Living museum of art, with murals, icons, and castle-like monastery architecture.
Agion Oros (Holy Mountain) also known as Mount Athos is located in the easternmost of the three peninsulas of Halkidiki, in Northern Greece and it remains the only place which is entirely dedicated to prayer and the worship of God.
An Orthodox spiritual centre since 1054, the monastic state of Agion Oros has enjoyed an autonomous status since Byzantine time and constitutes a self-governed part of the Greek State. An UNESCO World heritage site since 1988, it includes 20 “sovereign” monasteries, sketae, huts, cells, and “hermitages”. All the monasteries are coenobitic, i.e. with common liturgy and prayer, common housing, eating and work for the monks.
The region is governed by the “Holy community” under the ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
!Only men are permitted to enter Mount Athos!
The rule, known as the “AVATON”, forbids access to Mount Athos by any female and is enforced by law.
Mount Athos, which overlooks the peninsula, is a towering conical mountain with a height of 2,033 meters. Its barren peak seems to pierce the heavens, while its verdant slopes, adorned with ancient trees, create a sense of unparalleled natural beauty in this enchanting region. The natural landscapes of the peninsula are stunning, featuring picturesque hills, lush forests, steep cliffs, and an abundance of flowing waters.
The unique architectural style of the monasteries, with their castle-like arrangement of buildings, impressive towers, and magnificent bell towers, is truly remarkable. The intricate wood or marble chancel screens, along with the splendid décor of exquisite murals, holy icons, and the melodious psalmodies, create an atmosphere of profound devotion. Agion Oros thus stands as a living museum of art, ethnology, and ecclesiastical history.
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Detailed information
OURANOUPOLI
• Arrival
• Briefing
Arrival in Ouranoupoli and settle in the guesthouse. Meeting with guide and briefing about the itinerary.
OURANOUPOLI
-AGION OROS
• Grigoriou Monastery
• Simonopetra Monastery
Morning embarkation at 06:30 onto the ferry to enter the restricted area of Agion Oros from the port of Ouranoupoli. The ferry will take us to Grigoriou Monastery. After visiting the monastery, we will embark on a 1.5-hour hike (300m ascent) to Simonopetra Monastery, the most impressive monastery in the Athonian State, built atop a sheer granite rock. Following our visit to Simonopetra, we will transfer by minivan to the administrative center of Agion Oros, Karies.
Overnight accommodations will be at Agios Andreas Skete (also known as Sarai) or Koutloumousiou Monastery.
AGION OROS
• Protaton Church
• Koutloumousiou Monastery
• Stavronikita Monastery
• Pantokratoros Monastery
An early start to attend the morning mass at Protaton Church, the first church built in the Athonian State in 960 AD. This church houses the most important icon of the Greek Orthodox faith, the revered ‘Axion Esti.’
After the mass, we will begin our hike, stopping along the way to visit Koutloumousiou Monastery and St. Paisios’ cell in the Panagouda region. We will then continue with a 2-hour downhill hike to the impressive Monastery of Iviron. After visiting the monastery, we will follow an easy coastal path along the northern side of Agion Oros for 1.5 hours, leading us to Stavronikita Monastery, dramatically built atop the sea.
After exploring Stavronikita Monastery and admiring its impressive murals, we will continue hiking for another hour to our final destination, Pantokratoros Monastery, where we will spend the night.
Overnight accommodations will be at Pantokratoros Monastery.
AGION OROS
• Xiropotamou Monastery
• Panteleimonos Monastery
• Xenofontos Monastery
After attending the morning mass, we will transfer by minivan to Xiropotamou Monastery, located on the southern side of the peninsula. Following our visit to the monastery, we will embark on a leisurely one-hour hike, mostly downhill, to reach Panteleimonos Monastery, also known as the Russian Monastery.
After exploring Panteleimonos Monastery, we will continue along a dirt road for approximately 1.5 hours to our final destination, Xenofontos Monastery, where we will spend the night.
Overnight accommodations will be at Xenofontos Monastery.
AGION OROS
• Docheiariou Monastery
- OURANOUPOLI
After the morning mass, we will take a short half-hour walk to visit Docheiariou Monastery. Following the visit, we will return to Xenofontos Monastery.
In the afternoon, we will board the ferry to exit Agion Oros, heading toward Ouranoupoli. The expected arrival time in Ouranoupoli is 14:30.
End of services.
What's included
What's NOT included
Must have items
Notes
The region is governed by the “Holy community” under the ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
!Only men are permitted to enter Mount Athos!
The rule, known as the “AVATON”, forbids access to Mount Athos by any female and is enforced by law.
*Although Agion Oros is a peninsula is only accessed by sea. No regular land crossings of vehicles are permitted. (Sometimes due to adverse weather conditions the port authorities issue a prohibitive departure of the maritime transport services.)
- Customized pricing to accommodate every group size fοr 5 days, ensuring affordability for all.
GROUP SIZE | 5 Days |
2 pax | 1290 € |
3 pax | |
4 pax | 1260 € |
5 pax | |
6 pax | 1150 € |
7 pax | |
8 pax |
Map
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