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See Ephesus, Priene, Miletus, and Didyma on this 2-day, 1-night trip that starts in Istanbul and flies you to Izmir. After an early pickup from your Istanbul hotel, day one covers the Temple of Artemis, the Library of Celsus, the Great Theater, and the House of the Virgin Mary, followed by a night in Kusadasi.
Day two explores Ionia: the planned streets of Priene, the theater and Byzantine fortress at Miletus, and the Temple of Apollo at Didyma with its famous cracked Medusa head. A licensed English-speaking guide leads each visit before your evening flight back to Istanbul.
You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, you will meet your professional guide to begin an unforgettable exploration of the Temple of Artemis, which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
Next, you will discover the world-famous Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well-preserved example of its kind, featuring highlights like the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Great Theater. After a break for lunch, you will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a holy site for both Christians and Muslims where it is believed she spent her final days.
Your day concludes with a visit to the historic Isabey Mosque before being transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi for check-in.
After enjoying breakfast and checking out of your hotel in Kusadasi, you will be picked up around 8:30 am to begin a fascinating journey through the history of Ionia. Your first stop is Priene, which was renowned as one of the most spectacular and well-planned cities of the ancient Ionian world. From there, you will proceed to Miletus, one of the oldest and most influential cities of the region, where you can admire its magnificent theater and the imposing Byzantine fortress situated on the acropolis. Your final exploration of the day takes you to Didyma, home to the Temple of Apollo, the largest Ionic temple in the world. Here, you will also see the famous, massive cracked head of Medusa that fell from the frieze centuries ago. Following the tour, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your late evening flight back to Istanbul, marking the conclusion of our services.
Please note: The drop-off transportation service from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the price.
Hand-picked hotels for your stay — view our featured options for each city.
If you need to cancel your tour or change your travel dates, please notify us at least 5 days before the tour start date. As this tour includes domestic flights and bus tickets, which are non-refundable, the cost of these tickets will be deducted from your payment and the remaining balance refunded to you. For cancellations or date changes made less than 5 days before the start date, no refund will be issued and the booking will be treated under our no-show policy.
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Our 2 day trip to Ephesus, Priene, Miletus and Didyma was wonderful. The Efe boutique hotel were very nice. The food was all good and very plentiful. Highly recommended.