Highly recommended doing this trip when you are in Athens. Yes, it is a long day (4.5 hours each way on train from Athens) but it is breathtaking. You won’t see anything else like it anywhere else in the world! Truly beautiful. Our guide Tolis was amazing, enthusiastic and could tell he loves the area and therefore his job. And our driver Konstantin was brilliant too, he doubled up as a photographer as well as a driver! 😂 Pictures don’t do it justice, it needs to be seen to be believed. Take plenty of water and food for the train journey. There is a buffet car but can be a long walk to it depending on your seats on train! Unforgettable day.

Day trip great.Tour guide and driver great value. The pick up tour guide was not of value did not show us where to go at the train station had to find our way to the correct platform and did not mention that on return we had to find our own way back to our hotel late at night. Our train seats were not correct on the ticket .We we’re not seated together as booked.

The train wasn't running, so we had to take a bus. This information wasn't provided until after the reservation was made. The bus ride was 5 hours going and 4 1/2 hours back with 1 bathroom stop. No bathroom on the bus. Bus had no phone charging points as advertised. My pickup was nearly half an hour late and I began to wonder if they had forgotten me. All that said, the trip was still worth the hassle. Those monasteries are nothing short of amazing! I would have enjoyed the trip more by staying over night. A 16 hour day is too long for this old fella.