Mount Athos (Hagion Oros), in Halkidiki, Greece: Mount Athos is located on the third leg of Chalkidiki on the eastern peninsula. It is an autonomous state from Greece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, administered by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
It consists of 20 Orthodox monasteries, of which 17 are Greek and the other 3 are Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian. Apart from these monasteries on the mountain there are other small communities of monks and other solitary hermitages. Access to Mount Athos is only allowed to men. Women can only approach and see it from afar with a boat trip.
Life there is simple, the monks feed themselves with what they produce, pray constantly and fast. They believe that the path to God is found by being in solitude, by praying and abstinence.
There are many artifacts from the medieval era, manuscripts from the Byzantine era, and about a quarter of Greek works are found there in manuscript form.
You can get to Mount Athos by boat from Ouranoupolis, from Ormos Panagias or from Ierisso village. Many visitors can take the city bus from Dafni to Karyes, the capital of Mount Athos. Visitors must obtain their Diamonitirion, a pass entrance, from the Hagion Oros office in Thessaloniki.
Foreign visitors must possess their passports, a letter of recommendation from their embassy in Athens or consulate in Thessaloniki as well as the entry permit from the Administration Division of Church Affairs at the Greek Foreign Ministry in Athens or Administration of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki.
- Sightseeing Tour of the Monasteries of the Holy Mountain of Athos
Enjoy majestic moments on board, explore all the SouthWest side of Mount Athos and admire the wilderness of the landscape.
During the Ouranoupolis to Mount Athos route, you will be able to be tour guided and see 8 monasteries: Holy Monastery of Dochiariou, H.M. Xenophontos, H.M. Panteleimonos (Russian Monastery), H.M. Xiropotamou, the central port of Mount Athos Daphni, H.M. Simonos Petras, H.M. Grigoriou, H.M. Dionysiou and finally in the shadow of Mountain Athos which towers up to 2033m. H.M. Saint Pavlou.
Subsequently, you will see the New Skite, and Saint Anna’s Skite. Finally, you may be a witness of the daily shows that dolphins offer to us during our trip.
Departure point : Ouranoupolis port // Duration 3 hours : Starting time 10:30 a.m & 2:15 p.m
Includes :Tour to the West side of Mount Athos peninsula – Tour-guiding in several languages
- Sightseeing Tour of the Monasteries Mount Athos and Ammouliani island
During this route, you will be able to be tour guided and see 4 monasteries: Holy Monastery of Dochiariou, H.M. Xenophontos, H.M. Panteleimonos (Russian Monastery), H.M. Xiropotamou, the central port of Mount Athos Daphni.
Next stop, Banana beach on Ammouliani island, feel the summer temptation, catch your sunbed and umbrella, listen to the music, taste real greek plates, swim, snorkeling, explore the full green and blue coast.
Departure point : Ormos Panagias Port // Duration 7,5 hours. Starting time 9:30 a.m.
Includes : Tour to the West side of Mount Athos peninsula – Tour-guiding in several languages – Light lunch at Banana beach.
