Private Tour V.I.P. visit Mount Athos

Contact us today to discuss your options or to recommend a program tailored exclusively to your needs.

English-French and Italian-speaking tour guides can arrange a 4-day visit to Mount Athos and make all the arrangements and bookings. Experienced local guides will make all your arrangements for a highly memorable, 1-2-3, or 4-day visit to Mount Athos, including all the monastery highlights and some memorable walking. In the case of a Russian tour guide, there is an extra charge for the following prices.

Visit Holy monasteries

GREAT LAVRA – VATOPEDI – IVIRON –FILOTHEOU –XENOFONTOS – SIMONOS PETRA – KARAKALOU – PANTOKRATOROS STAVRONIKITA – SKETE SAINT ANDREA – PROFETE HLIA – KOUTLOUMOUSI – AXION ESTI–AGIOS PANTELEIMON

PRICES

The BASIC PACKAGE:

2 –  Days 1-night stay in Athos

3 –  Days 2 nights stay in Athos

Our tour starts from Ouranoupolis and includes :

SEA   transfers regular lines,

PRIVATE   tour guide speaking English Italian  French

ACCOMMODATION   in monasteries in common rooms and shared toilet

2 MEALS   per day in the monasteries with the monks.

VISIT a limited number of monasteries by walk.

For a 2-day, 1-night stay in Athos: Total cost   980€ 

Two persons: From 550€ per person

For the 3 – day 2 nights stay in Athos:  Total cost:  From 1250€  one  person

Two persons:  From 750€ per person

If you haven’t arranged for your permission to pass, we can help you, with an additional charge of 60€.

 

STANDARD   PACKAGE:

2- Day  1-night stay in Athos

3 – Day  2 nights stay in Athos.

TRANSFERS   from Thessaloniki Hotel or airport to Ouranoupolis and back.

PERMIT   pass for your entrance

SEA   transfers

PRIVATE    tour guide speaking English Italian   French

PRIVATE     car for   our tours in Athos

ACCOMMODATION    in a private  room, toilet, shower in Monasteries or cells

2 MEALS     per day in monasteries plus a snack during the day

SIGHTSEEING      Visit a museum

VISIT    various monasteries

LIVE     the original mount Athos speak and see monks’ life.

FOLLOW VESPERS AND HOLY SERVICE  according to the standard prayer program of the holy mountain including night prayers, optional.

HIKING   optional

For a 2 Day  1 stay in Athos: Total cost: From  1350€ 

Two persons: From 680€

THE 3RD DAY  INCLUDES A BOAT CRUISE OF REGULAR LINES AT SOUTHWEST OF ATHOS

For a 3 day  2 night stay in Athos:    Total cost:  From  1850€   per person

Two persons: From  950€   per person

*For a 4 day 3 nights stay in Athos there is an extra charge of 600€

*We can also organize an ultimate hiking experience

 

PREMIUM   PACKAGE

2- Day  1-night stay in Athos

 3 -Day  2 – nights stay in Athos.

PRIVATE TAXI BOAT for the sea transfers

TRANSFERS   from Thessaloniki Hotel or airport to Ouranoupolis and back.

PERMIT   pass for your entrance

PRIVATE    tour guide speaking English Italian   French

PRIVATE     car for   our tours in Athos

ACCOMMODATION    in a private  room, toilet, or shower in Monasteries or cells

2 MEALS     per day in monasteries plus a snack during the day

SIGHTSEEING      Visit a museum

VISIT    various monasteries

LIVE     the original Mount Athos speak and see monks’ life.

HIKING   optional

FOLLOW VESPERS AND HOLY SERVICE according to the standard prayer program of the holy mountain, including night prayers, optional.

For a 2 Day 1 night stay in Athos: The total cost:  From 1950€

Two persons: From  950€

For a  3 – Day 2-night stay in Athos:   The total cost:   From    2380€ per person

Two persons:   From  1250€ per person

THE 3RD DAY  INCLUDES A BOAT CRUISE OF REGULAR LINES AT SOUTHWEST OF ATHOS

*For a 4 day 3 nights stay in Athos there is an extra charge of 600€

 

• Reception from Macedonia Airport of Thessaloniki.
• Transport by car to Ouranoupolis port in Khalkidhiki.
• Issuing permits for entrance to Mount Athos.
• Transport by private speedboat, or taxi.
• Transport by private minibus or car during our excursion.
• Private accommodation in Mt Athos.
• Escorted by an experienced tour guide during our excursion,  speak English, Italian, French, and Russian.
• We will tour the most beautiful parts of Mount Athos.
• Will live the traditional Mount Athos.
• Dine with the monks all the traditional dishes that monasteries offer,(there is also the option of having a private meal, in a tavern in Karyes, or in a monk’s cell.

 

The ultimate hiking experience providing breathtaking views of The Aegean Sea and the monasteries that rise up from the peninsula’s rocky shores.

The natural beauty and spiritual ambiance of Mount Athos provide the perfect opportunity for those pilgrims seeking to combine their tour of monastic life with hiking. With our thorough knowledge of the many hiking paths throughout Athos, we will guide you to sites providing breathtaking views of  The Aegean Sea and the monasteries that rise up from the peninsula’s rocky shores. We arrange tours to various monasteries depending on the selected monasteries’ ability to accommodate our tour at the time of reservation.

Our Day Pilgrimage begins in the 4 th century city of Ouranopolis(City of Heaven) where we will acquire our entry passes to Athos.   We will then depart via speedboat to the coastal port of Daphne from where we will proceed by private car to the Athos capital of Karyes.  Karyes is a central geographic point on Mount Athos from where most monasteries can be reached efficiently.

ITINERARY

9:00 Meet at the Pilgrim’s Office in Ouranopolis for entry pass
9:30 Depart Ouranopolis by speedboat(1-8 passengers) to Daphne
10:00 Arrive in Daphne
10:00 – 17:00 Tour Monasteries
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch Optional
16:00 Return to Ouranoupolis via boat
*If customers would like to follow afternoon holy vespers from 17:30 to 18:30, must leave than for Ouranoupolis in a private speed boat with an additional price of 250€ from 1 to 7 persons

The excursion includes

Visit  5-6 of the most famous monasteries,such as,XENOFONTOS-RUSIAN-BATOPEDI-KARYES-KOUTLOUMOUS-ST ANDREA-SIMONOS PETRA,AND IBHRON if time permits us

and having a morning typikal Athonite meal with the monks,if available.

Monasteries are:

The Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in northern Greece. was built during the second half of the 10th century. The Monastery of Vatopedi holds the Cincture of the Theotokos  which she wore on earth and gave to Thomas the Apostle after her death and during her transition to heaven. St. John Chrysostom is kept in the Monastery and is credited by Eastern Orthodox Christians with miraculous healings. The monastery also contains the Iaspis, a chalice fashioned of a single piece of the precious stone jasper, and numerous icons. The library holds 2,000 manuscripts and 35,000 printed books. Among manuscripts from Vatopedi are Uncial 063, Uncial 0102, and the Vatopedi Psalter in the British Library and the early-14th century Codex Vatopedinus 655 divided between the British Library and the French Bibliothèque Nationale, which includes numerous peripluses, extracts from Strabo and Ptolemy’s geographical works, and early maps.

The Holy Monastery of Iviron is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in northern Greece. The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and Tornike Eristavi between 980-983 and housed Georgian clergy and priests.[1] Iveron literally means “of the Iberians” in Greek. The name Iviron originated from the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (Iveria) where the master architect of the monastery Ioannes was from. The monastery ranks third in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The monastery library contains 2,000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and 20,000 books in Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin.

The monastery has the relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. The Panagia Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon, is also located at Iviron. The monastery has about 30 working monks and novices, none of whom are Georgian. However, there are forty or so Georgian hermits living in hermitages near the monastery.

The Holy  Monastery of Xenofontos

It is built by the sea, between the monasteries of Docheiariou and St Panteleimonos, and is dedicated to St George. The Katholicon is built in the early 18th c. and has no frescoes. In the old Katholicon, there are remarkable frescoes of the Cretan painter Antonius (1544) as well as the wooden-curved templum of the 17th c. The monastery possesses 14 chapels, 8 of which are inside the monastery. Xenophontos Monastery has two Catholics honored in St. George. The monastery is mentioned for the first time in the last quarter of the 11th c. Its period of prosperity is interrupted by the fall of Constantinople. Afterwards, the monastery is alternatively destroyed and rebuilt with the financial aid from the rulers of eastern Europe.  Among the heirlooms of the monastery, the most prized are the two mosaic icons with the Transfiguration of Christ, ecclesiastical vessels and others. In the library there are 300 manuscripts, various documents and over 4,000 books. The monastery is inhabited by a brotherhood of 35 monks.

The Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. The monastery is located in the southern coast of the Athos peninsula, between the Athonite port of Dafni and Osiou Grigoriou monastery. While the southern coast of Athos is quite rugged in general, the particular site upon which the monastery is built is exceptionally harsh. It is built on top of a single huge rock, practically hanging from a cliff 330 metres over the sea. The monastery was founded during the 13th century by Simon the Athonite The monastery consists of several multi-storeyed buildings, the main being in the place of the original structure, built by Simon. The main building has been described as the “most bold construction of the peninsula”.[3]The monks of Simonopetra traditionally count the floors from top to bottom, thus the top floor is the first floor and the bottom floor the last. The monastery is built on top of the underlying massive rock, and the rock runs through the lower floors. The original monastery was called by Simon “New Bethlehem and is to this day dedicated to the nativity of Jesus. The choir of Simonopetra has grown in reputation among Byzantine music specialists and enthusiasts.

Karyes, Mount Athos

Karyes. is a settlement in Mount Athos It is the seat of the clerical and secular administration of the Athonite monastic state. The 2011 Greek census reported a population of 163 inhabitants. It is the largest settlement in Mount Athos. The major church at Karyes is the Protaton, which is the church of the Protos or president of the monastic community.Axion estin, or It is Truly Meet, is a megalinarion  and a theotokion, of and a Hymn to Mary which is chanted in the Divine Services

Koutloumousiou Monastery.

 

 

Includes staying for, three, nights in different  Holy Monasteries or cells within the Holy Mountain. The excursion starts from Thessaloniki or Ouranoupilis  where we will acquire our entry passes to Athos. The entrance to Mount Athos is by boat and destination to Dafni. On our way to the west coast of Mount Athos, we will have the opportunity to see the Holy Monasteries, Dochiariou, Xenophon, Agios Panteleimonos, Xeropotamos, arriving in Dafni, and departing for the monastery to be hosted for our first stay.

Prices Include

• Transports by minivan or car from Thessaloniki to Mt Athos
• Entrance pass
• Boat transports to get in and out Mt Athos
• Transports in Mt Athos by private  minivan or car
• Host in Monasteries
• Experienced tour guide, speaking, English, Italian, French, Russian
• Two meals per day at the monasteries

ATTENTION

* Stay in the monasteries depends on availability for hospitality

* Our hospitality will be among the following monasteries VATOPEDIOU – MEGISTI LAVRA – AGIOY PAVLOY – DIONYSIOY – GRIGORIOU – XENOFONTOS – IVIRON – KOTLOMOUSIOU

FIRST DAY

9:00 Meet at the Pilgrim’s Office in Ouranopolis for entry pass
9:45 Depart Ouranopolis by boat to Daphne
11:50 Arrive in Daphne port from where we will proceed to the monastery  where we stay our first day

Arrival at the Monastery

Athonite Welcome, with coffee, raki, and loukoumi, in Archontariki, and then arrange in the guesthouse of the monastery for our stay. An expert guide will always be present for the entire duration of the tour visit. Photographs of the outer monastery surroundings and courtyards are permitted however NO photographs within the churches are permitted.

In the sequel

• Attending afternoons holy vespers around 1700 to 1800 pm
• Dinner with the  monks
• Pray after dinner
• Adoration of holy relics
• Spiritual dialogues, talk with Monks of the Monastery, as long as the formal allows it

SECOND DAY

The program starts with the Holy Sequences

03:00 – 04:00 Early morning prayers around
07:00 Divine service
09:00 Morning meal with the Monks, according to the typical of each monastery
09:30 Departure for  Karyes. Karyes is a central geographic point on Mount Athos from where most monasteries can be reached efficiently

Our visit  includes: Guided tour of the Karyes area

Protato Axion Esti

PROTATO  is called the cathedral which is located in the center of Karyes on Mount Athos. The temple, which is the oldest preserved of Mount Athos, is dedicated to the Assumption of  Virgin Mary. It is best known for its relics, such as the icon of Panagia Axion Esti. The temple houses well-known murals attributed to the principal representative of the Macedonian faculty, Manuel Panselinos. The hagiography took place in the 14th century, while during the Ottoman rule, additional works were made.

The Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou

The Koutloumousiou Monastery: is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. The monastery ranks sixth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries.The monastery was raised with the help of voivodes Nicolae Alexandru and Vladislav Vlaicu from Wallachia. Among the treasures of the monastery is the purported largest relic of the True Cross. The monastery’s library contains 662 manuscripts and approximately 3,500 printed books.It has 20 working monks.

Dedicated to transfiguration of the saviour

It was founded on the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos on the end of the IA century. The katholikon of the monastery, built in 1370, was painted in 1540, except for the narthex, which was frescoed in 1744. On the left side of the katholikon, there is the .chapel of the Virgin of Fervor Protection, where the miraculous icon – Protector of the monastery.

The Holy Monastery of Iviron is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in northern Greece. The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and Tornike Eristavi between 980-983 and housed Georgian clergy and priests.[1] Iveron literally means “of the Iberians” in Greek. The name Iviron originated from the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (Iveria) where the master architect of the monastery Ioannes was from.

The monastery ranks third in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The monastery library contains 2,000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and 20,000 books in Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. The monastery has the relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. The Panagia Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon, is also located at Iviron. The monastery has about 30 working monks and novices, none of whom are Georgian. However, there are forty or so Georgian hermits living in hermitages near the monastery.

Skete of Saint Andrew

The Skete of Saint Andrew, also the Skete of Apostle Andrew and Great Anthony or Skiti Agiou Andrea in Karyes is a monastic institution on Mount Athos. It is a dependency of Vatopedi Monastery and is the site of the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy. With the continued growth of the Skete in monastic numbers, a central church, dedicated to Saint Andrew, was built in 1867 and consecrated in 1900 by Patriarch Joachim III of Constantinople. The church is the largest on Mount Athos and is amongst the largest in the Balkans.

At around 4pm we leave for the Monastery to host us, and follow the typical of the monastery. Vespers ect…..

THIRD DAY

We continue visiting very famous and well known monasteries for their history, such as

Skete of Prophet Elijah

The Skete of Prophet Elijah (Greek: Σκήτη Προφήτη Ηλία) is a cenobitic skete of the Pantokratoros monastery in Mount Athos, Greece. It was founded in 1759 by the Ukrainian monk from Poltava Paisius Velichkovsky.[1] Within the complex are a main church (built 1903) and three chapels. There are also an extensive library and two icons reputedly with miraculous powers.

St. Panteleimon Monastery (Russian: Пантелеймонов; Greek: Άγιος Παντελεήμων, Aghios Panteleimon), known as Rossikon (Русикон, Ρωσσικόν), is an Eastern Orthodox monasteryThe monastery’s katholikon (main church) was built between 1812–1821 and is dedicated to St. Panteleimon. The library is housed in a separate building in the monastery’s court. It contains 1,320 Greek manuscripts and another 600 Slavonic ones, as well as 25,000 printed books. In addition, the library has a few priceless relics, such as the head of Saint Panteleimon, one of the most popular saints in Russia. The 19th-century monastery bells are said to be the largest in Greece. There is a daughter community at the monastery at New Athos, Abkhazia.

GREAT  LAVRA, BATOPEDI, SIMONOS  PETRA, AGIO PANTELEHMON(RUSSIAN)

At around 4pm we leave for the Monastery to host us, and follow the typical of the monastery. Vespers ect…..

FORTH DAY

The program begins with the Holy Sequences

• Orthros
• Mass
• Morning meal  with the Monks. According to the typical of each monastery

09:00 Departure from monasteryDEPARTURE  FROM  MONASTERY
11:00 Arrival to the port of Dafni by car
12:00 Departure by ship we return to Ouranoupoli

Includes staying for, two, nights in different  Holy Monasteries or cells within the Holy Mountain. The excursion starts from Thessaloniki or Ouranoupilis  where we will acquire our entry passes to Athos. The entrance to Mount Athos is by boat and destination to Dafni. On our way to the west coast of Mount Athos, we will have the opportunity to see the Holy Monasteries, Dochiariou, Xenophon, Agios Panteleimonos, Xeropotamos, arriving in Dafni, and departing for the monastery to be hosted for our first stay.

Prices Include

• Transports by minivan or car from Thessaloniki to Mt Athos
• Entrance pass
• Boat transports to get in and out Mt Athos
• Transports in Mt Athos by private minivan or car
• Host in Monasteries
• Experienced tour guide, speaking , English, Italian, French, Russian
• Two meals per day at the monasteries

ATTENTION

* Stay in the monasteries depends on availability for hospitality

* Our hospitality will be among the following monasteries VATOPEDIOU – MEGISTI LAVRA – AGIOY PAVLOY – DIONYSIOY – GRIGORIOU – XENOFONTOS – IVIRON – KOTLOMOUSIOU

FIRST DAY

9:00 Meet at the Pilgrim’s Office in Ouranopolis for entry pass
9:45 Depart Ouranopolis by boat to Daphne
11:00 Arrive in Daphne port from where we will proceed to the monastery  where we stay our first day

Arrival at the Monastery

Athonite Welcome, with coffee, raki, and loukoumi, in Archontariki, and then arrange in the guesthouse of the monastery for our stay. An expert guide will always be present for the entire duration of the tour visit. Photographs of the outer monastery surroundings and courtyards are permitted however NO photographs within the churches are permitted.

In the sequel

• Attending afternoons holy vespers around 1700 to 1800 pm
• Dinner with the  monks
• Pray after dinner
• Adoration of holy relics
• Spiritual dialogues, talk with Monks of the Monastery, as long as the formal allows it

SECOND DAY

The program starts with the Holy Sequences

03:00-04:00 Early morning prayers
07:00 Divine service
09:00 Morning meal with the Monks, according to the typical of each monastery
09:30 Departure for  Karyes. Karyes is a central geographic point on Mount Athos from where most monasteries can be reached efficiently.

Our visit  includes: Guided tour of the Karyes area

Protato Axion Esti

PROTATO  is called the cathedral which is located in the center of Karyes on Mount Athos. The temple, which is the oldest preserved of Mount Athos, is dedicated to the Assumption of  Virgin Mary. It is best known for its relics, such as the icon of Panagia Axion Esti.

The temple houses well-known murals attributed to the principal representative of the Macedonian faculty, Manuel Panselinos. The hagiography took place in the 14th century, while during the Ottoman rule, additional works were made.

The Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou

The Koutloumousiou Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. The monastery ranks sixth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries.The monastery was raised with the help of voivodes Nicolae Alexandru and Vladislav Vlaicu from Wallachia. Among the treasures of the monastery is the purported largest relic of the True Cross.The monastery’s library contains 662 manuscripts and approximately 3,500 printed books.It has 20 working monks.

Dedicated to transfiguration of the savior

It was founded on the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos on the end of the IA century. The katholikon of the monastery, built in 1370, was painted in 1540, except for the narthex, which was frescoed in 1744. On the left side of the katholikon, there is the .chapel of the Virgin of Fervor Protection, where the miraculous icon – Protector of the monastery.

The Holy Monastery of Iviron

The Holy Monastery of Iviron is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in northern Greece. The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and Tornike Eristavi between 980-983 and housed Georgian clergy and priests.[1] Iveron literally means “of the Iberians” in Greek. The name Iviron originated from the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (Iveria) where the master architect of the monastery Ioannes was from.

The monastery ranks third in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The monastery library contains 2,000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and 20,000 books in Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. The monastery has the relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. The Panagia Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon, is also located at Iviron.

Skete of Saint Andrew

The Skete of Saint Andrew, also the Skete of Apostle Andrew and Great Anthony or Skiti Agiou Andrea in Karyes is a monastic institution on Mount Athos. It is a dependency of Vatopedi Monastery and is the site of the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy.With the continued growth of the Skete in monastic numbers, a central church, dedicated to Saint Andrew, was built in 1867 and consecrated in 1900 by Patriarch Joachim III of Constantinople. The church is the largest on Mount Athos and is amongst the largest in the Balkans.

Skete of Prophet Elijah

The Skete of Prophet Elijah (Greek: Σκήτη Προφήτη Ηλία) is a cenobitic skete of the Pantokratoros monastery in Mount Athos, Greece. It was founded in 1759 by the Ukrainian monk from Poltava Paisius Velichkovsky.[1] Within the complex are a main church (built 1903) and three chapels. There are also an extensive library and two icons reputedly with miraculous powers

At around 4pm we leave for the Monastery for our second night stay, and follow the typical of the monastery. Vespers ect…..

THIRD DAY

The program begins with the Holy Sequences

• Orthros
• Mass
• Morning meal with the Monks. According to the typical of each monastery

09:00 Departure from the monastery
11:00 Arrival to the port of Dafni by car
12:10 Departure by ship we return to Ouranoupoli

 

Includes staying for, two, nights in different  Holy Monasteries or cells within the Holy Mountain. The excursion starts from Thessaloniki or Ouranoupilis  where we will acquire our entry passes to Athos. The entrance to Mount Athos is by boat and destination to Dafni. On our way to the west coast of Mount Athos, we will have the opportunity to see the Holy Monasteries, Dochiariou, Xenophon, Agios Panteleimonos, Xeropotamos, arriving in Dafni, and departing for the monastery to be hosted for our first stay.

Prices Include

• Transports by minivan or car from Thessaloniki to Mt Athos
• Entrance pass
• Boat transports to get in and out Mt Athos
• Transports in Mt Athos by private minivan or car
• Host in Monasteries
• Experienced tour guide, speaking , English, Italian, French, Russian
• Two meals per day at the monasteries

ATTENTION

* Stay in the monasteries depends on availability for hospitality

* Our hospitality will be among the following monasteries VATOPEDIOU – MEGISTI LAVRA – AGIOY PAVLOY – DIONYSIOY – GRIGORIOU – XENOFONTOS – PANTOKRATOROS-IVIRON – KOTLOMOUSIOU

FIRST DAY

9:00 Meet at the Pilgrim’s Office in Ouranopolis for entry pass
9:45 Depart Ouranopolis by boat to Daphne
11:00 Arrive in Daphne port from where we will proceed to the monastery  where we stay our first day

Arrival at the Monastery

Athonite Welcome, with coffee, raki, and loukoumi, in Archontariki, and then arrange in the guesthouse of the monastery for our stay. An expert guide will always be present for the entire duration of the tour visit. Photographs of the outer monastery surroundings and courtyards are permitted however NO photographs within the churches are permitted.

In the sequel

• Attending afternoons holy vespers around 1700 to 1800 pm
• Dinner with the  monks
• Pray after dinner
• Adoration of holy relics

.

Our visit  includes: Guided tour of the Karyes area

Protato Axion Esti

PROTATO  is called the cathedral which is located in the center of Karyes on Mount Athos. The temple, which is the oldest preserved of Mount Athos, is dedicated to the Assumption of  Virgin Mary. It is best known for its relics, such as the icon of Panagia Axion Esti.

The temple houses well-known murals attributed to the principal representative of the Macedonian faculty, Manuel Panselinos. The hagiography took place in the 14th century, while during the Ottoman rule, additional works were made.

The Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou

The Koutloumousiou Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. The monastery ranks sixth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries.The monastery was raised with the help of voivodes Nicolae Alexandru and Vladislav Vlaicu from Wallachia. Among the treasures of the monastery is the purported largest relic of the True Cross.The monastery’s library contains 662 manuscripts and approximately 3,500 printed books.It has 20 working monks.

Dedicated to transfiguration of the savior

It was founded on the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos on the end of the IA century. The katholikon of the monastery, built in 1370, was painted in 1540, except for the narthex, which was frescoed in 1744. On the left side of the katholikon, there is the .chapel of the Virgin of Fervor Protection, where the miraculous icon – Protector of the monastery.

The Holy Monastery of Iviron

The Holy Monastery of Iviron is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in northern Greece. The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and Tornike Eristavi between 980-983 and housed Georgian clergy and priests.[1] Iveron literally means “of the Iberians” in Greek. The name Iviron originated from the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (Iveria) where the master architect of the monastery Ioannes was from.

The monastery ranks third in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The monastery library contains 2,000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and 20,000 books in Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. The monastery has the relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. The Panagia Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon, is also located at Iviron.

Skete of Saint Andrew

The Skete of Saint Andrew, also the Skete of Apostle Andrew and Great Anthony or Skiti Agiou Andrea in Karyes is a monastic institution on Mount Athos. It is a dependency of Vatopedi Monastery and is the site of the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy.With the continued growth of the Skete in monastic numbers, a central church, dedicated to Saint Andrew, was built in 1867 and consecrated in 1900 by Patriarch Joachim III of Constantinople. The church is the largest on Mount Athos and is amongst the largest in the Balkans.

Skete of Prophet Elijah

The Skete of Prophet Elijah (Greek: Σκήτη Προφήτη Ηλία) is a cenobitic skete of the Pantokratoros monastery in Mount Athos, Greece. It was founded in 1759 by the Ukrainian monk from Poltava Paisius Velichkovsky.[1] Within the complex are a main church (built 1903) and three chapels. There are also an extensive library and two icons reputedly with miraculous powers

At around 4pm we leave for the Monastery for our second night stay, and follow the typical of the monastery. Vespers ect…..

Includes staying for, two, nights in different  Holy Monasteries or cells within the Holy Mountain. The excursion starts from Thessaloniki or Ouranoupilis  where we will acquire our entry passes to Athos. The entrance to Mount Athos is by boat and destination to Dafni. On our way to the west coast of Mount Athos, we will have the opportunity to see the Holy Monasteries, Dochiariou, Xenophon, Agios Panteleimonos, Xeropotamos, arriving in Dafni, and departing for the monastery to be hosted for our first stay.

Prices Include

• Transports by minivan or car from Thessaloniki to Mt Athos
• Entrance pass
• Boat transports to get in and out Mt Athos
• Transports in Mt Athos by private minivan or car
• Host in Monasteries
• Experienced tour guide, speaking , English, Italian, French, Russian
• Two meals per day at the monasteries

ATTENTION

* Stay in the monasteries depends on availability for hospitality

* Our hospitality will be among the following monasteries VATOPEDIOU – MEGISTI LAVRA – AGIOY PAVLOY – DIONYSIOY – GRIGORIOU – XENOFONTOS – PANTOKRATOROS-IVIRON – KOTLOMOUSIOU

FIRST DAY

9:00 Meet at the Pilgrim’s Office in Ouranopolis for entry pass
9:45 Depart Ouranopolis by boat to Daphne
11:00 Arrive in Daphne port from where we will proceed to the monastery  where we stay our first day

Arrival at the Monastery

Athonite Welcome, with coffee, raki, and loukoumi, in Archontariki, and then arrange in the guesthouse of the monastery for our stay. An expert guide will always be present for the entire duration of the tour visit. Photographs of the outer monastery surroundings and courtyards are permitted however NO photographs within the churches are permitted.

In the sequel

• Attending afternoons holy vespers around 1700 to 1800 pm
• Dinner with the  monks
• Pray after dinner
• Adoration of holy relics

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Our visit  includes: Guided tour of the Karyes area

Protato Axion Esti

PROTATO  is called the cathedral which is located in the center of Karyes on Mount Athos. The temple, which is the oldest preserved of Mount Athos, is dedicated to the Assumption of  Virgin Mary. It is best known for its relics, such as the icon of Panagia Axion Esti.

The temple houses well-known murals attributed to the principal representative of the Macedonian faculty, Manuel Panselinos. The hagiography took place in the 14th century, while during the Ottoman rule, additional works were made.

The Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou

The Koutloumousiou Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. The monastery ranks sixth in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries.The monastery was raised with the help of voivodes Nicolae Alexandru and Vladislav Vlaicu from Wallachia. Among the treasures of the monastery is the purported largest relic of the True Cross.The monastery’s library contains 662 manuscripts and approximately 3,500 printed books.It has 20 working monks.

Dedicated to transfiguration of the savior

It was founded on the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos on the end of the IA century. The katholikon of the monastery, built in 1370, was painted in 1540, except for the narthex, which was frescoed in 1744. On the left side of the katholikon, there is the .chapel of the Virgin of Fervor Protection, where the miraculous icon – Protector of the monastery.

The Holy Monastery of Iviron

The Holy Monastery of Iviron is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic state of Mount Athos in northern Greece. The monastery was built under the supervision of two Georgian monks, John the Iberian and Tornike Eristavi between 980-983 and housed Georgian clergy and priests.[1] Iveron literally means “of the Iberians” in Greek. The name Iviron originated from the ancient Georgian Kingdom of Iberia (Iveria) where the master architect of the monastery Ioannes was from.

The monastery ranks third in the hierarchy of the Athonite monasteries. The monastery library contains 2,000 manuscripts, 15 liturgical scrolls, and 20,000 books in Georgian, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. The monastery has the relics of more canonized saints than any other on Mount Athos. The Panagia Portaitissa, a famous 9th century icon, is also located at Iviron.

Skete of Saint Andrew

The Skete of Saint Andrew, also the Skete of Apostle Andrew and Great Anthony or Skiti Agiou Andrea in Karyes is a monastic institution on Mount Athos. It is a dependency of Vatopedi Monastery and is the site of the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy.With the continued growth of the Skete in monastic numbers, a central church, dedicated to Saint Andrew, was built in 1867 and consecrated in 1900 by Patriarch Joachim III of Constantinople. The church is the largest on Mount Athos and is amongst the largest in the Balkans.

Skete of Prophet Elijah

The Skete of Prophet Elijah (Greek: Σκήτη Προφήτη Ηλία) is a cenobitic skete of the Pantokratoros monastery in Mount Athos, Greece. It was founded in 1759 by the Ukrainian monk from Poltava Paisius Velichkovsky.[1] Within the complex are a main church (built 1903) and three chapels. There are also an extensive library and two icons reputedly with miraculous powers

At around 4pm we leave for the Monastery for our second night stay, and follow the typical of the monastery. Vespers ect…..