Izmir

Discover the stunning region of Pamukkale and its hot springs on a day trip from Selcuk, Kusadasi, or Izmir. Begin by meeting your driver/guide at the reception of your hotel in the morning and a transfer to Pamukkale. Explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, built on solid limestone layers formed by mineral-rich waters that flowed for millennia over a raised level plateau. See the most significant sites of the sacred city including the Theatre, the Temple of Apollo, and the Necropolis. Admire the Necropolis (Cemetery) of Hierapolis, one of the largest ancient burial sites in Anatolia. See a Roman bath, the Gate of Domitian, the main street of the ancient city, and the Byzantium Gate. Walk to the natural warm water terraces, formed by running warm water rich in calcium and temperatures of 35 Celsius all year-round. Get the chance to see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. Enjoy optional free time to swim in Cleopatra’s Pool before ending the tour with a transfer back to your hotel.

This full-day tour from Izmir, takes you to Ephesus in Selçuk to explore Turkey’s best preserved ruins from the ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations. Visit the most important ruins in Ephesus, including the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World before it was destroyed in 401 AD. You will also see the Library of Celsus, built to hold 12,000 scrolls and at its time one of the largest libraries in the world. The nearby Great Theater, which was the largest outdoor theater in the world, was designed to hold 24,000 people – even its ruins are huge. After discovering the impressive monuments, you will visit the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus. The museum houses many important statues and relics including a preserved segment of the original Temple of Artemis. After enjoying a lunch of traditional Turkish cuisine, you will travel to the House of the Virgin Mary on Bulbul Mountain, where archeologists and historians believe the mother of Jesus lived at the end of her life.

Start your tour with an early pick up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:30AM, and transfer to the airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, your local tour operator will welcome you at the exit gate inside the domestic terminal in the Izmir Airport, where you will see the crew holding a sign with your name. From here your tour begins after meeting with the rest of your tour group., and you will drive for approximately one hour to Ephesus. Visit the Virgin Mary House, a Catholic and Muslim shrine located on Mt. Koressos. Catholic pilgrims visit the house based on the belief that the virgin mother was brought there by St. John, and lived there until her assumption. Following this you will have about 2 hours in the ancient city of Ephesus. Built in the 10th century B.C. on the site of the former Arzawan capital, it flourished after it came under the control of the Roman Republic in 129 B.C. Some of the main sites you will see are the Library of Celsus and the Temple of Hadrian. You will spend about an hour enjoying a typical local open buffet lunch, before heading to the İsabey Mosque, one of the oldest architectural works left from the Anatolian beyliks, with principalities that existed from the 11th to the 13th century. Afterwards, travel to the ruins of the Artemis Temple, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was completely rebuilt three times before its eventual destruction in 401 A.D. Following this you will have chance to stop and see local and traditional goods which are under control of the ministry of culture and tourism of the Turkish Republic. At the conclusion of your tour at around 4:00PM, you will make your way back to the airport and you will board your flight back to the Istanbul. When you arrive at the Istanbul Airport, you will be met at the exit gate inside the domestic terminal, before being transferred back to your Istanbul accommodation.

Explore the most iconic archaeological sites in Turkey on a private day trip. Learn about the history of Aphrodisias and Hierapolis from an expert guide. Enjoy the natural hot springs and unique landscape at Pamukkale. Meet your guide and drive to Aphrodisias, one of the oldest sacred sites in Turkey, dedicated to the Greek goddess Aphrodite. See the now well-preserved and partially restored Temple of Aphrodite and imagine its ancient splendor. At Aphrodisias, explore other sites like ruins of a large theatre, a stadium, and an on-site museum displaying artifacts. Next, be whisked away to the fascinating site of Pamukkale. Considered to be the earliest spa on earth with the water of the hot springs carrying healing powers, Pamukkale is a UNESCO world heritage site. See the cotton-colored White Travertines formed by warm spring water. Visit the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis where you can see the Necropolis, Roman Bath, St. Philipe Martyrum, and Apollo Temple. Take a dip in the Sacred Pool with shallow thermal waters rippling over Roman ruins. Take photos from the nicest corners of Pamukkale. Stop at a traditional Turkish restaurant for a complimentary lunch.

We will depart from Izmir in the morning and two and a half hours later arrive at Pamukkale which means the cotton castle in Turkish. These white rock formations, known as travertines, are world famous and have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The water of Pamukkale is famous for the benefits it gives to the eyes and skin. It is also said to cure illnesses such as asthma and rheumatism. It is possible to swim in certain areas, so be sure to bring your swimsuit. Many centuries ago the Romans, aware of the powers of Pamukkale’s water, decided to build a large spa city called Hierapolis nearby. We will visit Hierapolis after lunch, which will be provided. Hierapolis means Holy City in Turkish and despite not having been lived in for several centuries it remains a fascinating place to visit. Hierapolis has a well preserved 12,000 seat amphitheater and the massive Necropolis which is the largest ancient graveyard in Anatolia. You will also see the Temple of Apollo and the shrine of the nymphs at this beautiful ancient site. At the end of the day we will drive back to Izmir, where we can drop you off at your hotel or at the airport.

Meet with your professional guide at the port in İzmir. Drive to Ephesus-Selcuk. Ephesus is considered to one of the spectacular open-air museums in Turkey and in the world - and one of the highlights of any visit to Turkey. During this privately guided tour, Ephesus city will come alive as you walk through 2,000 year-old marble streets to admire the Library of Celsius, Hadrian's Temple, the Fountains of Trajan, Polio, The Temples of Hadrian and Domitian, Vedious and Scholastic Baths, Bouloterion, and the Great Theatre with capacity of 24.000 spectators. Then it’s up into the mountains to the lovely little Turkish-Orthodox village of Sirince. Up here, far from the madding crowd, you can wander the narrow streets, where the women sell their handcrafts and oils. You can take a quiet drink in one of the small café’s and sample the local sweet fruity wine. At the end of your day you will return to İzmir port.

You’ll meet your professional guide and head out on the drive to Ephesus-Selcuk. Ephesus is considered one of the most spectacular open-air museums in the world, and certainly a highlight of any visit to Turkey. During this guided full-day tour, the ancient city will come alive as you walk through the 2,000-year-old marble streets. Admire the Library of Celsius, Hadrian's Temple, the Fountains of Trajan, the temples of Hadrian and Domitian, and more. See the great theater that had a seating capacity of 24,000 spectators. Visit the terrace houses, located on the slopes of Bulbul Mountain, opposite the Hadrian Temple. The terrace houses were residences of the wealthy, and featured beautiful frescoes and mosaics in their interiors. After visiting the Ephesus ruins, you’ll continue on to the House of the Virgin Mary. The Vatican has recognized this small house in the Solmissos Mountains as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. A small shrine dedicated to St. Mary was found when the ruins of the house were first discovered. Your final visit will be to the Basilica of St. John, built by the Emperor Justinian over the tomb of St. John the Apostle. The basilica, now in ruins, once rivaled St. Sophia in Istanbul in size.

Begin your day at the Kusadasi port, and enjoy a comfortable drive in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional guide and driver. Considered to be one of the most spectacular open-air museums in the world, the ancient city of Ephesus is a must-see for all visitors to Turkey. Walk the city's ancient marble streets, and envision the Romans bustling through thousands of years ago. Visit the stunning Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the spectacular Fountains of Trajan an Polio. Then make your way to the vast Great Theatre, whose 24,000 seat capacity was impressive especially during those ancient times. Continue the tour with a drive Priene, an ancient Ionian city dramatically overlooking the fertile plains of the Meander Valley. Afterwards, make your way to the ancient city of Miletus and that of Didyma, the setting for one of the most colossal temples in the Hellenic World, venerating the God Apollo. End the day back at the Kusadasi port.

Join us on our full-day tour to Pamukkale, which in English means “cotton castle”. You’ll understand why it’s called this when you see the site! This unique site should be on everyone’s “must see” list when visiting Turkey. The thermal spa of Hierapolis dates from dynasty of the Attalids, the kings of Pergamon, and is registered as a cultural and natural heritage site by UNESCO. Your guide will show you the ruins of the baths, temples and other Greek monuments at the site. You’ll see the ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis and have time to relax in the warm spring waters. Calcite-laden waters cascade from springs in a cliff towering nearly 200 meters over the plain, creating a surreal landscape of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins. The terraces were formed by the warm cascading waters that contain calcium bicarbonate. As the water loses its carbon dioxide it leaves limestone deposits. During your visit to the open-air museum of Hierapolis you’ll see the massive ancient graveyard that contains over 1200 sarcophagi, many of which are the size of a small house. Other ruins that you’ll visit on this tour include the Great Theatre, the tomb of St. Philip, the Roman Baths and the Temple of Apollo.

Combine a guided tour of the extraordinary ruins of Ephesus with time in the small village of Sirince on this half-day tour, with round-trip transfers from Izmir or Kusadasi. The gem of the eastern Mediterranean is located about a 1-hour drive from the coast, and on arrival you will journey back in time to the days of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. Your guide will tell stories of the ruins as you explore the Trajan Fountain, where all that remains of a statue of an emperor is a single foot. Visit the Temples of Domition and Hadrian, the latter boasting beautiful friezes and a head of Medusa. Walk down the central Marble Street to the stunning Celcus Library, once capable of holding up to 12,000 scrolls. Other highlights include the Scolastica Baths, and the steeply pitched Great Theatre, with a capacity for up to 24,000 spectators. Then, drive up into the mountains to the pretty Orthodox village of Sirince. Its name translates as “pretty” and it lives up to expectations. Wander the narrow streets, where local women sell their handicrafts and oils. Stop for a quiet drink in one of the small cafés, and sample the area’s famous sweet wine.