Our Ephesus guide will meet you at port of Izmir. The guide will hold up a sign with your name on it. We Leaving the colorful town of  Izmir behind , you will pass throught the verdant countryside before  arriving at Ephesus. 

Tour start from the port of Izmir proceed to the House of the Virgin Mary includes scenic views of the Byzantine fortress in Selcuk and the Temple of Artemis. A long and winding road affords wonderful views of the valley en route to the Shrine of St. Mary. The diminutive house, beautifully situated in the Solmissos Mountains, is considered by the Vatican to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary.

Your tour continues to ancient Ephesus, where you'll pass through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk to the ruins of the Roman provincial capital while listening the daily lifes of the early Christians in the city, your guide will highlight such sights as the beautifully preserved Temple of Hadrian, the magnificent Trajan Fountain, the Odeon, once used for both political and entertainment purposes, and the beautiful Celsus Library with its imposing facade and two story Corinthian-style columns. The Great Theater is one of the few structures still used today, with the seating cappacity of twenty-five thousand people this is THE ONLY THEATRE THAT HAS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE and, although it was once an arena for gladiator games, it is now home to annual spring festivals.

The Basilica of St. John, is still a majestic sight to behold.Looking at the Temple of Artemis from the courtyard of the church your guide will tell you the story between the pagans and St John.  Among the remains, large columns, frescos and mosaics still stand, paying homage to the monumental basilica built during Emperor Justinian's reign. The structure was created in the shape of a cross and covered with six individual domes, the central one of which is thought to lie directly above the burial site of St. John.

SPECIAL NOTES

Guests must be able to walk approximately 1.5 miles over uneven and cobblestone surfaces, inclines and 10 - 30 steps. Comfortable shoes, a hat and plenty of sunscreen are recommended as shade is limited the order of the tour itinerary may vary in order to avoid congestion. 

If required, at the end of our tour program  we will have a chance to visit a cooperative where you will be able to learn about tradational handmade Turkish rugs.