Ouranoupolis

Arrival in Ouranoupoli and settle in the guesthouse. Meeting with guide and briefing about the itinerary.

Mount Athos The Holy Mountain

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 on top of a sheer granite rock. Following our visit to Simonopetra, we will transfer by minivan to the administrative center of Agion Oros, Karies.

Mount Athos The Holy Mountain

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.

Mount Athos The Holy Mountain

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.

Mount Athos The Holy Mountain

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.