Itinerary
Pick up from your hotel in Istanbul and transfer to the airport for your flight to Izmir. After a short (50 minute) flight, you will be met in Izmir airport by our driver and drive to Ephesus to meet the rest of your tour group.
Our first stop of the day is at the magnificent ruins of Ephesus, an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city near present day Selcuk. It was also one of the Seven Churches of Asia, cited in the Book of Revelation. Today it is the most visited ruins site in Turkey, and the best preserved site in the Mediterranean.
Excavations of Ephesus began in the 19th Century, and some of the buildings you will see include gymnasiums, agoras, the Domitian Square, the Hadrian Temple, the Roman Bath, the Celsus Library and the biggest theatre in Anatolia with 25,000 seats. As you wander through these well-preserved ruins you will feel as if you have been transported back in time.
Next stop is a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, which is believed to be the place she was taken to by St John to spend her last days.
After lunch we visit the Isa Bey Mosque – once used as a caravanserai, and famous for its architecture. Our final stop of the day is the site of the former Temple of Artemis which is one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Here you will learn about why Artemis was so revered by the Ephesians and although just one column remains of the temple you will be able to imagine it in its former glory.
At the end of your tour you will be transferred to your hotel for check in.
Overnight Kusadasi
(L)
Today you are free to explore, until the afternoon, when we transfer you from your hotel to the airport for your flight.
Some ideas for you today include:
- Soaking up the sun or passing some time at a beachfront cafe at Kadınlar Denizi (ladies beach)
- Sirince (old Greek Town) for wine tasting
- Pamucak Beach (horse riding on the beach).
In the afternoon we will pick you up from your hotel, and transfer you to Izmir airport for your flight back to Istanbul. You will be met on arrival in Istanbul and transferred back to your hotel.
(B)
