2 DAY EPHESUS & PAMUKKALE TOUR FROM ISTANBUL
Ephesus Ruins, Temple of Artemis, House of Virgin Mary
Merhaba! We will meet at your hotel lobby and transfer you to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival to Izmir we will meet and depart for our Ephesus tour.
Begin your Ephesus group tour with a visit to The Temple of Artemis, which is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, and built in an area of Ephesus. Today one can only see the ruins of the foundations of this marvelous construction of the Hellenistic Age, entirely made of marble and full of sculptured columns’ capitals and shafts. Your next visit is to the archeological site of world famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus. You will enter Ephesus through the Magnesia Gate and begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. Your route takes you past the Odeon Theater, the Celsius Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater.
The theater, which seats 24,000 spectators, is believed to be the site where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians; it is still used today for a local spring festivals and concerts. After visiting this impressive site, you will break for lunch and then continue your tour with a visit of The House of Virgin Mary, which is considered a holy place for both Christians and Muslims alike. The House of the Virgin Mary is the official site recognized by the Vatican as the residence where the Virgin Mary spent her final days and it provides you with the opportunity to experience a special tranquility for prayer and meditation.
After the tour we will check in to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Pamukkale, Hierapolis ancient city and Travertines.
Merhaba! We will meet at your hotel lobby and transfer you to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Denizli. Upon arrival to Denizli we will meet and depart for our Pamukkale tour.
Pamukkale Travertens ( Calcium Terraces ): Pamukkale Travertens are natural formations of limestone with small ponds at multiple levels. You will feel the clouds under your feet. It is recognized as a World Heritage Sites together with Hierapolis. A few other places in the world resemble it, including the Mammoth Hot Springs in the USA and Huanglong in Sichuan Province of China (another UNESCO World Heritage Site). Hierapolis-Pamukkale was made a World Heritage Site in 1988.
Hierapolis Ancient City: Hierapolis, whose name means “sacred city,” was believed by the ancients to have been founded by the god Apollo. It was famed for its sacred hot springs, whose vapours were associated with Pluto, god of the underworld. The city also had a significant Jewish community and was mentioned by Paul in his Letter to Colossians.
Thermal Water: The water flowing from the hot springs on the southern slopes of Caldag rapidly loses heat during its flow through these open channels it is still hot enough to make it possible for one to bathe throughout six months of the year in the open-air swimming pools in the motels and on the terraces.
Optional visit to Cleopatra Pool (please bring bath suites and towels)
After the tour you be transferred to Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival to Istanbul we will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Turkey Insiders team says so long and looks forward to be your host again until next time on your travel pleasure for other destinations. Gule Gule.
Price Includes
- Licensed guides throughout Ephesus tours
- Local taxes and service charges
- Arrival/departure transfers
Price Excludes
- Personal expenses
- Optional tours
- Customary tips to guide and drivers