Izmir

Nature & Adventure

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. And during the tour you'll have the chance to have a look at the Turkish traditional handcrafts

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.

Discover the natural wonders of Pamukkale on this guided tour with lunch. Marvel at formations of travertine and explore Hierapolis to learn the history of the ancient city. Get the chance to also visit jewelry, leather, carpet, or ceramic centers. Begin at the ancient city of Hierapolis, established in 200 B.C. and one of the most important settlements during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Walk around the recently restored theater and the city’s majestic buildings and monuments. Later, see why Pamukkale means “cotton castle.” Step into a world of wonders as you witness spectacular formations of travertine and the natural hot spring pool. Learn more about the area and spend some relaxation time in the spring pool.

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.

Day 1: Izmir Arrival Enjoy the convenience of being picked up at the Izmir airport and driven directly to your hotel where dinner will be served. Day 2: Pergamon, Thyatira, and Izmir After breakfast, drive to Pergamum, now known as Bergama, mentioned in the New Testament as one of the 7 Churches of Asia Minor [Rev. 1:11; 2:12]. Visit the Acropolis of Pergamum, an amphitheater perched dramatically atop a steep hill. Stop at the Asklepion, a famous medical center during the classical era. See the Altar of Zeus, which John the Apostle referred to as the “Throne of Satan.” Walk among the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan, which once housed a library of 200,000 texts, rivaling the Library of Alexandria. Admire the immense walls of the Red Basilica (St. John’s Church). Continue to Thyatira, now called Akhisar, another of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 2:18-24; Acts 16:14]. Known in ancient times for its purple dyes, Thyatira is also the city where St. Lydia once lived. As you make your way through the city, you’ll have the chance to see ruins from Roman times. Enjoy a panoramic ride through Smyrna, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 2:12-17]. Ascend Mount Pagus and visit the Citadel of Lysimachos, commander of Alexander the Great. See the famous Izmir Clock. Return to the hotel for dinner and some rest. Day 3: Izmir, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Hierapolis Depart early in the morning to reach one of the most picturesque of the Seven Churches of Asia, Sardis [Rev. 1:11; 3:1-4]. Sardis, now known as Sart was portrayed in the Book of Revelations as a dying church. Visit the Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which became churches under the Byzantine empire. See the restored gymnasium and the reconstructed Synagogue. Walk the last several meters of the royal Persian Road from Susa to Sardis built by Cyrus the Great. Lay your eyes on the "Golden" river Pactolus. Enjoy lunch en route. Your journey continues once you reach Philadelphia, now known as Alasehir, another of the Churches of Asia, and the only church not censured. Unlike the other 6 churches, they remained steadfast in their faith. Visit the remains of a Byzantine basilica that features 11th-century frescoes. Drive to Hierapolis, a city known for its therapeutic springs. See the Pamukkale, or “Cotton Fortress,” where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs forming pools, channels, and stalactites. Visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where he was martyred during persecutions ordered by Domitian. Journey on to Laodicea (now called Denizil), another of the Seven Churches of Asia [Rev. 1:11; 3:14; Col. 2:1; 4:13-16]. See the ancient theatre, the remains of a basilica and ancient stone water pipes. Visit the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, a 2nd-century theatre, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium and the Necropolis. After a full day of site-seeing, check in at a Thermal hotel and enjoy dinner before having a good night’s rest. Day 4: Ephesus Drive to Kusadasi and visit the ancient city of Ephesus. See the Basilica of St. John, which received an epistle from the apostle Paul who lived in Ephesus for 3 years. Tour the spectacular ruins where excavations still continue in this once great and important city founded over 2 millennia ago. Take a trip back in time as your walk along the marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings such as the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the Theatre. See the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a house said to have been the Virgin Mary’s home in her final years. Afterward, enjoy dinner at your hotel in Kusadasi. Day 5: Izmir Your tour comes to a close, as you are picked up from your hotel in Kusadasi and then transferred to the Izmir 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.

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.

Begin your half-day tour at your residence in either Kusadasi or Izmir, and enjoy a comfortable drive in air-conditioned luxury vehicle to the ancient city of Ephesus. Considered to be one of the most spectacular open-air museums in Turkey, Ephesus is a must-see on any visit to Turkey. Walk through its ancient marble streets and admire the stunning facade of the Library of Celsus. Walk past the Temple of Hadrian and the Temple of Artemis, as well as the Vedius and Scholastic Baths, and the Fountains of Trajan and Polio. Admire the staggering size of the Great Theatre, whose capacity exceeds 24,000 spectators, and then begin to make your way back to Kusadasi or Izmir to end the tour.

Following your pick-up from the cruise ship port, the tour begins in the ancient city of Ephesus. Here you will enter through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeum, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. The tour then moves on to the House of Virgin Mary, which the Vatican has officially recognized as the final resting place of the Virgin Mary. A small shrine dedicated to St. Mary was found when the ruins of this house in the Solmissos Mountains was first discovered. Finally the tour will visit the Temple of Artemis, known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Here you can discover the ruins of this once great Greek temple. After the tour you will be transferred back to your cruise ship.

In Airports: Your driver will be waiting with a board with ‘’YOUR NAME’’  on it in front of the exit gate. You will be escorted to your vehicle and your driver will drop you off to any address in Kusadasi or any specific area. In Hotels ; Upon your reservation request the supplier will reply to you as fast as possible and send your confirmation. Your driver will be waiting in front of your hotel for your transfer service to any specific area such as Izmir airport,. The supplier offers you a 24 hour, 7 day, 365 day per year service to and from Izmir airport. All of the vehicles are air conditioned, clean, and fully insured for your protection. They offer 1st Class professional and reliable service with no fuss, no hassle, and no waiting time charges, just the first-class service you expect and deserve. The supplier is constantly monitoring flight times so please don't worry if your flight is early or delayed, your driver will be waiting for you on arrival. At Kusadasi transfer your safety is of paramount importance and they offer baby car and booster seats to ensure your family travels comfortably and safely, please let them know your number when making your booking.