Agion Oros

Nowhere else on the planet are more powerful, purer and mysterious forces released to attract and match, to "tie" Nature, Art, Man, and Faith so harmoniously together, as in this verdant mountainous and coastal together, small strip of land on the peninsula of Halkidiki that some call Athos and others Mount Athos.
Whatever you call it, Mount Athos endures 11 whole centuries there, imperious. A magnificent "monastery" in a dot of the universe, emblematic, legendary, unique. Mostly hospitable for any lonely visitor or group of men who wants to decipher its secrets.

Which is a lot: Within these generous 330 square kilometers of ancient Greek land, they manage to coexist unparalleled natural beauty, legendary but also humbler monasteries, emblematic dependencies, mystical inaccessible, monastic cells and thousands of believers whose degree of refusal to secular life and the power of their "calling", some called them monks, others monks, other departed, hesychasts or abbots and other ordinary visitors.

Believers but also tourists who come for once or who come back and whose steps led them to Athos either out of deep faith or out of simple love for beauty.
Because Mount Athos is not only a strip of land with a living history and 20 monasteries. It's so much more. It is a destination for sophisticated tourists and spiritual people, a sacred place pulsating with faith, worship and reverence. An excursion, a trip of a lifetime, that if you don't do it, even mentally (for women), you will always miss something.

In order to obtain an entry permit and issue a "Diamonitiri" in your name (issued for a maximum of 4 days), you should follow these steps:

First call the Pilgrims Office in Thessaloniki at 2310 252575 which is located at 109 Egnatia Street or the Pilgrims Office of Ouranoupolis at 23770 71421. On the diamonitirion are written the details of the visitor, the code number, the date and the days of stay.

The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 10:00 to 12 noon. It is advisable to book your entry permit on time (even a month or two in advance if you can plan it) because the number of pilgrims is limited every day.

Usually 4 days are set, but in case you want to stay longer, you can request an extension from the Holy Monastery where you are staying.

For women who can't get in or tourists who want to get just a nugget of this experience there is always the possibility of cruising. It lasts about 3 hours and gets close enough to be able to distinguish the monasteries and cells. Tickets for the cruises can also be purchased from the reception at the same prices as from the offices.