Overall the day-trip was long, but enjoyable and fun. The four hour train ride from Athens to Kalambaka was easy and smooth. Once we got there, Maria (our guide) and the driver George met us at the train station and took us around and showed us as much as they could considering that it was both fairly cold and it got dark early. But we did see two of the larger monasteries and we had plenty of opportunity to take great pictures of the scenery. It was a memorable day. Maria was a good guide. A bit quirky and eccentric, but she added character and charm to the experience. I liked that she grew up in the area and had lots of stories to tell us of things were when she was younger. My only suggestion to Maria is to slow down a bit while speaking. While most people who speak English could understand her and all of her jokes and whatnot easily, I would guess that people who are not too proficient in English might have difficulty with how fast she talks. Verdict: Recommended

Omg. I can’t even describe the excitement. This was one of the most memorable part of the trip. Though the train ride was a bit daunting it was sooooo worth it. Ladies don’t forget to bring a wrap (one similar to one you wear at the beach to wrap over your pants or they will not let you in) Marina was our guide and she was phenomenal. This is a must! We reserved VIP section on the train. The cabin number is on your ticket look for it, cause it took us 3 tries until we found it.

The train ride to Meteora was long but we’ll worth it. What an amazing place! Once we got there, we were bussed up to the caves and monasteries. The views are fantastic. Our guide was wonderful. She shared a rich history of 5hr monks and the monasteries. It is well worth the time and money.