Join National Geographic photographer & filmmaker, George S Blonsky for your next photographic odyssey to some of the most iconic locations in Greece.

The Metéora (Greek: Μετέωρα, “suspended in the air” or “in the heavens above”) is one of the largest and most important complex of monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The monasteries are built on spectacular natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Peneios river and Pindos Mountains, in central Greece. The Metéora is home to six monasteries and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Although it is unknown when Metéora was established, as early as the 11th century AD hermit monks were believed to be living among the caves and cutouts in the rocks. By the late 11th or early 12th century a rudimentary monastic state had formed called the Skete of Stagoi and was centered around the church of Theotokos (mother of God), which still stands today. The hermit monks, seeking a retreat from the expanding Turkish occupation, found the inaccessible rock pillars of Metéora to be an ideal refuge. More than 20 monasteries were built, beginning in the 14th century but only six remain occupied today.

Visiting Metéora for the first 2 days of this 7 day landscape photography tour we will chase the light photographing sunsets and sunrises as the sun beams through this epic valley of monasteries.

PINDOS

The Pindos (Greek: Πίνδος) mountain range is located in northern Greece and southern Albania and is approximately 160 km long, with a maximum elevation of 2,637m at the peak of Mount Smolikas. Often called the “spine of Greece”, the mountain range stretches from near the Greek-Albanian borders in Northern Epirus runs through the Epirus & Macedonia regions all the way down to the northern edge of the Peloponnese.

The Pindos ecoregion covers a wide range of elevations and habitats, from deep canyons & gorges to steep mountains and the wide range in altitude results in two major forest zones:

• A coniferous zone, with trees such as a subspecies of Austrian Pine and the endemic Greek Fir characterizing the highest elevations and Juniper woodlands dominating near the treeline;
• A mixed broadleaf forest zone dominates the valleys and gorges of the middle and lower elevations.

Large breeding colonies of herons, spoonbills, egrets and pelicans fish the cool waters of the mountain lakes of the Pindos Mountains and this is one of the few areas in Europe where the rare and endangered Dalmatian Pelican can be found as well as wolves, jackals and bears.

For the latter 5 days of this landscape photography tour we will enjoy hiking through prehistoric valleys, gorges & canyons photographing nature in all her glory. We will visit and photograph the famed ancient stone arch bridges of Kipi and the majestic Vikos Gorge.