Private Ephesus, The House of Virgin Mary, St. John Basilica with Traditional Lunch - Skip the line
6 hours
Group 1+
English, Spanish
6 hours
What you'll do
Private tour allows you to see almost all the highlights close to Kusadasi. Our private tour includes visits to Ephesus, The House of Virgin Mary, St. John Basilica, The Temple of Artemission.This private full-day tour includes a private guide, private transportation by brand-new minibus with A/C and a traditional kebap lunch with mezes and salad that is not to be missed. • Private Tour for your family and friends • You will decide on departure time • Our tour guide will meet you at the Port/Hotel with your name sign, • Our professional tour guide will be with you from arrival till departure, • You will have flexibilty to spend how much time you want in each site and customize the itinerary, • You do not have to wait for other group members • You may stop to have pictures during your tour. • Lunch in a local restaurant is included
Itinerary
- 1Your private guide will meet you at your Kusadasi hotel or Kusadasi port at pre-arranged time. Pickup time will be given during the confirmation of your booking.
- 2
After greeting, we will have a 2-minute drive to the Ephesus area to visit one of the main highlights in Turkey. Ephesus, one of the 12 cities of Ionian League (an ancient Greek district on the western coast of Asia Minor) is located near Izmir. As a port city it was a major departure point for trade routes into Asia Minor.
Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings. Among them are the Baths of Scholastica and the Library of Celsus (it was built in the beginning of the 2nd century A.D. by Gaius Julius Aquila to be a memorial to his father Gaius Julius Celsus Polemanus, the proconsul of Province of Asia). The Temple of Hadrian and The Grand Theater are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. The Grand theatre was built in the 3rd century B.C and it was later expanded to 24.000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D.
- 3
Our next stop is The House of Virgin Mary, located in the Aladag Mountains 5 miles away from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council in 431 AD in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared it as a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed there.
- 4
Lunch time: we will have a delicious Turkish kebap and mezes with salad with soft drinks included.
- 5
After Lunch we drive to St. John’s Basilica. It is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and was buried in the southern slope of the Ayosolug Hill.
- 6
We will stop at the Temple of Artemis where one of the seven wonders of the ancient world used to be.
- 7
After the tour we will take you back to the Kusadasi city center or port.
What's Included
Traditional Turkish Lunch
Private professional licensed tour guide
Private transportation by brand-new vehicles with AC
Private tour for your family and Friends only
Notes
Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with back problems
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
Not suitable for pets
No public transportation nearby
Not wheelchair accessible
Pick up from Your Hotel and Kusadasi Cruise Terminal for cruise guests. Suggested pick up time will be given on your confirmation message.
Requirements
Notes;
a) Since all shore excursions involve some walking, we highly recommend that you wear comfortable low-heeled shoes and casual clothes.
b) sun glasses and hats are recommended,
c) Cameras are recommended,
Gallery
Cancellation policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
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