Ancient Ionia Tour from Ankara - 4 Days/3 Nights

Transfer from your hotel in Ankara to Ankara Airport. Early flight to Izmir. Your tour guide will meet you at the Izmir Airport and you’ll depart for Ephesus right away. First, we’ll visit the ancient city of Ephesus, where we’ll see Harbour Street, the Marble Street, Grand Theater with a capacity of 25,000, the Hercules Gate, the famous Celsus Library, Temple of Hadrian, the Ephesus Prytaneion, the State Agora, and Odeon. 

After we tour the city, we will have lunch in a local restaurant and; visit the Temple of Artemis, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Our next stop will be the House of the Virgin Mary, where the mother of Jesus Christ spent her last years. This place is visited by thousands of Christian pilgrims from all over the world. 
At the end of the tour, we’ll make a stop at a leather fabric outlet on the way and arrive at our hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay in Kuşadası. ( Dinner )

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Pamukkale, the most magnificent city of Ionia via Aphrodisias (approx. 270 km). Upon arrival, we will visit the ancient Aphrodisias, named after Aphrodite, whom we know as the goddess of love and beauty in mythology. The Aphrodisias Temple, which still survives today, was used as a temple during the Roman period and was later turned into a Christian basilica. We will admire the magnificent Aphrodisias Temple, the 30,000-seat stadium, the Roman bath, the Odeon, and the Ancient Theater of Aphrodisias.

We’ll continue on our way to Pamukkale, which means cotton castle due to its famous white travertines. In Hierapolis, we’ll see the Martyrium of Apostle Philip where he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian, ancient city ruins including the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, Grand Theatre, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium, and the Necropolis. Afterward, we’ll enjoy walking on the white travertines.  
We will have lunch in a restaurant. Free time in the thermal pool or the Ancient Cleopatra Pools (not included).    
Afterward, we’ll depart for Kuşadası. Dinner and overnight stay in Kuşadası. ( Breakfast – Dinner )

Today, we will visit some ancient Ionian cities. The Greeks (Ionians) who migrated to the Aegean Region after the attacks of the Dorian Tribe in Northern Greece in 1000 BC, took refuge in the Aegean region. The Ionians, who fled from Greece and the islands, mixed with the Lelegs, Carians, and Lydians living in the region. And today, we will visit 3 legendary Ionian cities.

First, we will visit Priene. The ancient city of Priene, which was established 2500 years ago at the foot of the Mykale Mountain, was a port city at that time. There are many works of art and architecture belonging to the ancient Greek period such as the marble streets laying parallel to each other and water channels. The Priene Theater and the Temple of Athena Polias were built by Alexander the Great as a gift. 
After a 20 km ride, we will visit the Miletos ruins. We will see the ancient theater with a capacity of 15,000, the Miletos Museum, the Temple of Serapis, and the Faustina Bath, built by Marcus Aurelius in the name of his wife. There is a 20 km-long sacred marble road between the Temple of Serapis in Miletos and the Temple of Apollo in Didim. Miletos people used to go to the temple of Apollo for pilgrimage and religious rituals through this holy path. Then, we will continue on our way towards Didyma (30 km).
Nowadays, Didyma is a tourism center thanks to its golden sand beach. The Temple of Apollo built in 600 BC here was a sacred religious center in ancient times. We will visit the temple that features magnificent marble columns.

Afterward, we’ll have a lunch break at a local restaurant and return to Kuşadası to visit the Caravanserai and the Pigeon Island and enjoy shopping in the local bazaar. 
End of the tour. Dinner and overnight stay in Kuşadası.  ( Breakfast – Dinner )

Free time until your transfer to the Izmir Airport. You’ll have a private transfer from the hotel to Izmir Airport and from Ankara Airport to your hotel in Ankara. (Breakfast )

Customized Tours
We can create a tour program on your request and offer an itinerary that suits your personal, educational, cultural, and budgetary requirements. Please contact us with your requests.