View the home of the Virgin Mary following the death of Christ until her Assumption, or Dormition, and explore Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world. Journey to the location believed to be where the Virgin Mary spent her last days and which has become a pilgrimage site for both Christians and Muslims. You’ll marvel at 3rd-century BC Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and once the location of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Discover countless remains of this once-thriving city, such as the 2nd-century Library of Celsus and the Odeon Theater. You’ll marvel at the perfect acoustics of the 24,000-seat Great Theater, which is still used today for musical performances. At the end of the tour, they will have lunch at the handicraft center and will have a free time for shopping. Then, will drive back to the Izmir port.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Discover the site thought to be the last home of the Virgin Mary until her Assumption.
• Visit the striking and well-preserved ruins of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Marvel at Ephesus’ 24,000-seat Great Theater, 2nd-century Library of Celsus and the Odeon Theater.
• Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at a luxury hotel.
• Relish time to shop for souvenirs, jewelry or handmade Turkish carpets.
• Explore the Ephesus Archaeological Museum to view treasures from the ancient city.

OVERVIEW

Admire two of the most hallowed sites in the ancient world and browse a museum whose collection sheds more light on the past. A panoramic drive will bring you to the House of the Virgin. Believed to be the last residence of the Virgin Mary, the small stone building contains a bedroom, kitchen and an altar adorned with images of Mary. Feel free to drink from the sacred spring that runs under the house. For a more all-encompassing look at ancient times, you will walk through the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, taking in the locally excavated artifacts, the most famous being the statue of the Greek goddess Artemis. You will also visit St. John’s Basilica, which was built in the 6th century over the spot where St. John is supposedly buried. Although a Mongol army destroyed the building and pillaged much of it, part of the basilica has been restored to show its scope. At the end of the tour, you will stop at a local handicrafts center where you will be served some snacks and have some free time for shopping before returning to Izmir to join the ship.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a leisurely exploration of the ancient city of Ephesus that showcases its most revealing landmarks with time to shop as well. In its glory, Ephesus was a major trading center and played a vital role in spreading Christianity. You will enter this UNESCO World Heritage site town through its lower gate, where the ground is flatter for easier walking. Highlights include the remains of the Grand Theater where St. Paul once preached and the Library of Celsus, whose façade has become an iconic structure. The library was originally built as a mausoleum that also held scrolls and codices. You will also meander through the Ephesus Museum, whose vast collection is full of artifacts that have been unearthed locally since 1895. Just outside of town, you will have time to shop independently for handicrafts. Woven Turkish carpets, colorful ceramics and three-dimensional point lace items are among the most popular merchandise.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow an easy-to-walk route through ancient Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Visit the ruins of the 25,000-seat Grand Theater where Saint John once preached.
• Browse the comprehensive collection of artifacts in the Ephesus Museum.
• Spend free time shopping for handicrafts such as carpets and ceramics in Ephesus.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Local, boutique wine producers of Turkey have been doing nice jobs for a couple of decades. The oldest wine production of the world is known to have started in the northeast of Turkey, around Georgia, so this land has a very old and deep story of winery. Today we will take you to one of the nicest wineries of this region. Turks love to use some well know grapes, as well as their local ones. urla became new napa valley of turkey. once one of the twelve largest cities of the ionia was there called ‘’klazomenai’’ producing high quality wine and olive oil for thousands of years. Nowadays living trends are changing towards simplicity and to nature more & more in everway. the desire of being close to nature is also reflected on dining tables with meals sourced directly from the farms and no other place exhibits this nature to table movement more than urla, being referred as ‘’Tuscany of turkey’’. Due to its variety of micro climatic zones, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, nero d’avola, cabernet frank, merlot, Pino noir, Sangiovese, petit Verdot, bogaz kere and bornova muscat grapes are produced for vine. A 45 minutes scenic drive will take us from Izmir to urla district, a charming laidback area which at one side faces a bay and at the other an open sea giving a pleasant breeze even on hot summer days. A beautiful scenic drive through vineyards will take you to a restaurant. The tour provides us with an outstanding chef’s menu, unforgettable flavors in an attractive geography accompanied with award winning wines of the area. It is a very elegant restaurant surrounded by nature, we will have a cheese plate: smoked black pepper cheese, gouda, aged cheddar, parmesan. charcuterie plate: beef tenderloin, smoked beef sirloin, beef ham, walnuts, dried figs. bruschetta, quinoa salad. main course: beef pappardelle or filet mignon with demi-glace sauce. dessert: profiterole.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Familiarize yourself with the historical delights of Turkey’s third-largest city, known as Smyrna in antiquity. Visit Izmir’s Museum of History and Art to browse classical sculptures and artifacts collected during excavations in and near the city. You’ll marvel at the open-air Smyrna agora, now called the Izmir Agora Museum, which was the commercial, judicial and political hub of the ancient metropolis and its center for artistic activities and teaching. Discover the base of the northern basilica gate, the ancient shopping center and the stoa, or portico. You’ll find the Hellenistic structure was rebuilt in the 2nd century during the Roman era after its destruction in AD 178 by an earthquake. Learn that its reconstruction, under the emperor Marcus Aurelius, followed a plan drawn by Hippodamos, considered the father of European urban design. At the 18th-century Kizlaragasi Hani Bazaar, one of the oldest markets in the city, you’ll relish free time to browse, savor a cup of Turkish coffee or perhaps find a perfect memento of your foray into Izmir’s ancient past.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Izmir’s Museum of History and Art, one of the country’s richest repositories of ancient artifacts.
• Roam the open-air Izmir Agora Museum, site of an ancient agora that was Smyrna’s heart.
• See vestiges of stunning freestanding colonnades and covered walkways known as stoa.
• Enjoy time on your own at the 18th-century Kizlaragasi Hani Bazaar to shop or sip a Turkish coffee.

Journey back in time during this exclusive, limited-participation tour of the ruins of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a leisurely drive, you’ll arrive in 3rd-century BC Ephesus, one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean and once the location of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Meet your guide, an expert archaeologist, who will lead you in a discussion about the site. You’ll visit the Ephesus Museum’s Hall of Artemis and view artifacts and statues unearthed during the excavations of the temple and other key locations around Ephesus. Discover countless remains of this once-thriving city, such as the beautifully restored 2nd-century Library of Celsus and the Odeon Theater. Marvel at the 24,000-seat Great Theater and see the Terrace Houses where Ephesus’ wealthiest citizens lived. At the end of the tour a set menu lunch will be served at a local handicrafts center where you will also have some free time for shopping before you return to Izmir to join the ship.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover ancient Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, under the tutelage of an expert archaeologist.
• View parts of Ephesus off-limits to most visitors with a guided look at some of its most breathtaking ruins.
• See relics of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Relish a flavorful lunch at a local handicrafts center.

Visit Sardis, capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and a flourishing city during the 7th-century BC Persian Empire, on this coach and walking tour. You’ll journey to Sardis, the inland terminus of the famous King Road that connected Persia to the Western territories of Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea. Learn that this city was home to King Croesus, whose wealth was famed across empires. You’ll explore Sardis’ remains via a majestically colonnaded road and pass what was once a massive, two-story gymnasium complex that includes the ruins of a Roman-era synagogue, a shopping arcade, a Roman bath and a Hellenistic theater. Notice the Pactolos River, which bisects the ancient town, and learn it contained gold that was used to strike the kingdom’s coins. You’ll view the remains of a stadium and the 3rd-century BC temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, a stunning example of Ionian style. Return to Izmir, where you’ll enjoy a brief orientation tour of the city.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Experience the ancient Lydian capital of Sardis, entering the city by roads lined with stately columns.
• See an impressive two-story gymnasium complex that once housed a synagogue.
• Explore remains of a 3rd-century BC temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis.
• Savor an enticing lunch of local specialties in a Salihli restaurant.

Explore Pergamum’s most revered ruins, which exemplify its reputation as an ancient center of learning and science. Journey through fertile plains to Pergamum, a UNESCO World Heritage site settled by one civilization after another until its golden age, approximately AD 300, when its citizens invented parchment. You’ll tour the remains of the city’s library, which contained 200,000 volumes and put Pergamum on par with Alexandria as a cultural center of the Roman Empire. Upon arrival, you will take the cable car to reach Acropolis. Walk around the acropolis atop a steep hill and realize the city was built to be an inaccessible fortress. You’ll also view a 10,000-seat theater built into the hillside, the temples of Trajan and Dionysus, the Altar of Zeus, the Sanctuary of Demeter and the agora. Continue via a sacred road lined with monuments to 4th-century BC Asclepion, built in honor of Asclepius, Greek god of medicine. Learn the site was an ancient healing center where people came to be cured of diseases diagnosed from their dreams. See remnants of the rehabilitation center, the sacred spring and the mysterious psychotherapy tunnel. Enjoy a flavorful lunch at a specially selected restaurant to cap off your exploration of Turkey’s bewitching past.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Investigate the ruins of Pergamum, a UNESCO World Heritage site where parchment was invented.
• Discover an ancient library that once contained 200,000 books, making Pergamum a noted Roman cultural center.
• Stroll Pergamum’s acropolis, whose strategic hilltop placement assured it was nearly impenetrable.
• Survey striking remains such as the Temple of Trajan, the Sanctuary of Demeter and the agora.
• Visit 4th-century BC Asclepion, an ancient healing center honoring the Greek god of medicine.
• Savor a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.

From the port, have a nice walking in the alsancak district which is the most popular neighbourhood of the city for about 45 minutes. along this walking you will witness the very vibrant lives of the citizens; this walk will give you a very much idea about the daily lives of the locals . you will be guided with a nice explanation about old and modern lives of the area. from this old part, you will walk through much modern part of the neighbourhood with trendy cafes and restaurants. finaly after 45 minutes you will arrive your magnificent restaurant on the coast line with a magic view. enjoy your lunch for 90 minutes and walk about 10 minutes back to port. restaurant "tavaci recep". menu: starters: bostane salad, green salad, icli kofte (traditional minced meat-stuffed bulgur),stuffed-sundried eggplant, cig kofte (raw meatball). main: lamb on pan and lamb ribs. desert: baklava and helva with ice cream. drinks: wine: red / white, beer or raki. water: still / sparkling. soft drinks are available.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic drive through Izmir, an ancient city whose origins date back more than 5,000 years, and then dine on a gourmet meal that showcases the local cuisine. Izmir exudes history through its many excavated archaeological sites, yet it is still a modern metropolis, especially around the shimmering Gulf of Izmir. The restaurant Soiree overlooks the waterfront and offers an extraordinary setting for your lunch. It occupies a building in the Konak Pier Shopping Mall that was used as a customs house in the 19th century. In this atmospheric location, you will enjoy a leisurely multi-course meal that showcases the local ingredients. Artichoke with olive oil. Bodigo with plum sauce (veal shank, mustard mashed potatoes with bone sauce). arugula salad (baby rocket, parmesan cheese, pomegranate, orange, cherry tomato, sesame, grissini and balsamic glaze). Pear dessert with wine sauce (with ice cream). 2 glasses of wine or 2 bottles of beer or raki. Local wines or raki – the national drink of Turkey – will also be served.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Guests who are fully dependent on their mobility device are eligible for this excursion and are required to bring their own wheelchair/scooter.

Explore the extraordinary ruins of ancient Ephesus and other historically important archaeological sites. One of the most impressive structures in Ephesus is the Great Theater, which was constructed in the 3rd century BC and enlarged to its current capacity of 25,000 during the Roman period. Over time, it has served as a venue for gladiator fights, political discussions, plays and concerts. The theater’s gymnasium once contained warm bathing pools, recreation rooms and training halls. As you proceed along Ephesus’ lower gates, you will view the commercial agora, tomb of Arsinoe and iconic façade of the Celsus Library, all of which the guide will describe in detail. You will then drive past the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, before pausing at the modest house where the Virgin Mary is thought to have spent the last years of her life. The house is now a small chapel.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the Great Theatre, which the Romans expanded to seat 25,000 spectators.
• Admire the remains of the magnificent Library of Celsus, which was built in 117 AD.
• See the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Visit the house where the Virgin Mary supposedly lived toward the end of her life.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.

OVERVIEW

This tour is intended for guests who have limited mobility, rely on a cane or walker, or for guests’ companions.

Explore the extraordinary ruins of ancient Ephesus and other historically important archaeological sites. One of the most impressive structures in Ephesus is the Great Theater, which was constructed in the 3rd century BC and enlarged to its current capacity of 25,000 during the Roman period. Over time, it has served as a venue for gladiator fights, political discussions, plays and concerts. The theater’s gymnasium once contained warm bathing pools, recreation rooms and training halls. As you proceed along Ephesus’ lower gates, you will view the commercial agora, tomb of Arsinoe and iconic façade of the Celsus Library, all of which the guide will describe in detail. You will then drive past the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, before pausing at the modest house where the Virgin Mary is thought to have spent the last years of her life. The house is now a small chapel.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the Great Theatre, which the Romans expanded to seat 25,000 spectators.
• Admire the remains of the magnificent Library of Celsus, which was built in 117 AD.
• See the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Visit the house where the Virgin Mary supposedly lived toward the end of her life.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.