Exclusive Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary

This exclusive tour is an opportunity to travel in a small group by minibus to see the magnificent ruins of Ephesus which is one of the best preserved Greek/Roman cities in Asia Minor. You’ll experience other historical and natural values around it such as at your first stop, the House of Virgin Mary. This was declared a place of pilgrimage in 1892, and has since been visited by many Christian pilgrims. From here you’ll continue to Ephesus, one of the most interesting and extensive ancient cities in the world. Built in the 3rd century B.C., this is the center of attraction in the Aegean Region. The remains from the Roman period are a grand amphitheater, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Scholastic Baths, the Odeon, the Lower Agora, and the State Agora. The tour will end with a stop at a local handicraft center designed as a typical Turkish village to see how the famous Turkish carpets are made before driving to Izmir. Note: This tour is similar to IZM_01 Ephesus & the Virgin Mary tour but is conducted in small groups and requires a minimum number of passengers to operate. Expect crowded venues and long lines. Temperatures can reach extreme highs during summer months; we recommend that you drink a lot of water and use suitable sun protection. There is approximately 1 3/4 miles of walking over uneven and cobblestone surfaces with inclines and steps.