Many of the world's most historic and beautifully situated monasteries have traditionally been detached communities. Now two of the most breathtaking sites, St Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai (the oldest continuously inhabited monastery ) and the fabulous mountain-top monasteries of Meteora in Greece, are working with local communities to offer accommodation and specially guided tours.
Many historic monasteries are known for their hospitality, welcoming people to stay and share meals and prayers. Others have remained more detached, but a leading travel expert says two spectacular sites are now working with their local communities to offer accommodation and expert guided tours.
"This a chance for travellers and people interested in history or spirituality to stay in a location close to some of the most awe-inspiring and historic monasteries in Egypt and Greece," said Lily Smith, a leading travel expert from Monasteries.com "Visitors can take a guided tour and join in theological workshops and seminars if they wish.
"The stunning St Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai in Egypt is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery, dating back 17 centuries. The Orthodox South Sinai mountain complex features numerous significant religious sites, including the Holy Monastery of Sinai at Mount Horeb. The monastery was built around the legendary Biblical sites of the Burning Bush and the Well of Jethro. While it is not possible to stay within the monastery itself, the guest house of St Catherine’s Monastery is located just below the complex and has recently started offering guided tours to the sites on Mount St Catherine and Mount Moses.
"Similarly, it’s not possible for guests to stay at the breathtaking monasteries of Meteora in Thessaly, Greece," Ms Smith continued. "However, a local guesthouse sited in the ancient town of Kalampaka has now opened its doors to Monasteries.com guests and has arranged an itinerary that allows visitors an expert guided visit to the stunning complexes. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora is stunning because the Byzantine monasteries are perched precariously on top of the area’s towering rock formations. Dating back over 1,000 years, the monasteries are geologically and architecturally unique.
"Happily, thanks to these new accommodation arrangements, it is now simple to book tours of both historic sites. For the St Catherine’s Monastery tour, this includes three nights’ accommodation at the St Catherine’s Guest House [owned by the religious community]. Also included are all meals, a fascinating theological workshop — 'Sinai Asceticism and Sinaite Saints' — and the guided visit to the monastery and grounds. The tours are led by a mountain-hiking leader/guide with international first aid certification. For the more adventurous, there’s also the chance to snorkel in Dahab’s Blue Hole on the edge of the Red Sea.
"For the Meteora monasteries, there are two types of tour available: two nights’ accommodation and a guided visit to the monasteries, or three nights’ accommodation plus a guided visit to the monasteries and a theological seminar."
The accommodation site Monasteries.com provides a booking platform to stay at monasteries, convents and abbeys. For more information see Monasteries.com
