Best of Izmir

Day 1: Izmir

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Izmir

First of all, we will visit the House of Mother Mary. This place is discovered by Lazarist priests after a Germannun described the house and the mountain according to her visions as it is the last residence of Virgin Mary. This shrine is a pilgrimage center for Catholics, being cared by Lazarist Fathers. Lazarist Fathers still celebrating the mass every day. Then we will drive to Ephesus Ancient City. Ephesus was one of the most important harbor cities in antique world and also it is mentioned in the book of Revelations as one of the seven churches. Also Celsus Library and theater in Ephesus are the other highlights. In Ephesus we will see, Celcus Library, Temple of Hadrian, the fountain of Trajan and the Theater. We will have lunch in a local Turkish restaurant. After lunch we will visit Isa Bey Mosque which is built in 1375 by Anatolian Seljuks. The last stop of the tour will be the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, standing today next to Ephesus Ancient city.16:00 End of the tour. Drive back to your hotel.

Day 3: Izmir

You will be met at Harbor, Airport or at your Hotel in Izmir, Selcuk or Kusadasi. It takes 3 hours to reach Pamukkale Travertine Terraces and Hierapolis Ancient City from Kusadasi, and 4 hours from Izmir. There will be a break halfway for the needs. You will have an open buffet lunch upon arrival in Pamukkale, then head to the South Gate of Pamukkale (Hierapolis). Your Tour Guide will explain Necropolis (cemetery) of Hierapolis which is one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia with 1.200 graves, Roman Bath, Domitian Gate, and the Main Street, Byzantium Gate. After the tour in Hierapolis, there will be a break which you can spend your time to swim in the Ancient Pool (aka. Cleopatra Pool). Please note that swimming in the pool costs an extra fee. The Cleopatra Pool is warmed by hot springs and littered with underwater fragments of ancient marble columns. It is possibly associated with the Temple of Apollo. The pool provides a rare opportunity to swim among antiquities to visitors! During the Roman period, columned porticoes surrounded the pool; earthquakes toppled them into the water where they lie today. If you want you can walk to the natural warm water terraces which were formed by the hot water that contains calcium. The temperature of the water is about 35 degrees all the time even in the winter season. You can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis Ancient City. The extraordinary effect is created when water from the hot springs loses carbon dioxide as it flows down the slopes, leaving deposits of limestone. The layers of white calcium carbonate, built up in steps on the plateau, gave the site the name Pamukkale (cotton castle). After the tour you will be taken back to harbor, airport or your hotel in Kusadasi or Izmir.

Day 4: Izmir

At a convenient time, you will be met and transferred to airport to connect your flight to your onward destination