Summary:
Ephesus is the highlight of any Guest's experience to Kusadasi. On this this private excursion, our Guests don't just tour but they explore the highlights and most fascinating sites of Ephesus including: the Ancient Ruins of Ephesus, the House of Virgin Mary, the Artemission Temple (Temple of Artemis), Basilica of St. John, and the Archeological Museum of Ephesus. With hundreds of interesting facts and fine details, the best way to explore Ephesus is in a small group with our friendly, knowledgable, and experienced English Speaking Guide. At the completion of this 6 to 7 hour tour, you will understand why Guests of The Guest Planners fall in love with Ephesus and Turkey. 

                                                                                      Overview:
Waiting on your ship's pier at the time of your preference will be your professional, English speaking licensed tour guide. Holding a sign with your group's name, your exclusive friendly and experienced guide will escort you to your driver and your private, clean, late - model, waiting vehicle. Sit back and relax in the comfort of your private vehicle as your guide discusses with you the history, culture, and customs of Turkey as you travel the 30 minutes through the Countryside enroute to Ephesus.

The House of Virgin Mary will be your first stop. The Vatican has recognized that it was here the Blessed Virgin spent her last years of her life. The site has been made famous by visits by Popes including Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II in 2006 and by Pope Benedictus the 16th in 2007. Your guide will provide you a complete history of the home and shrine and then escort you through the small home. Following your tour of the home, you will be shown the Fountain of Our Lady where you may choose to take a drink of holy water.  

The Ancient Ruins of Ephesus, which was a thriving Ancient Greek City with a population of 250,000 and destroyed by an Earthquake in 614, will be your next stop on the tour. Today, Ephesus is a spectacular "Open Air Archeological Museum" and one of the most magnificent excavations in the world. The Guest Planners Guests explore this magical place with a fully escorted guided tour.

Your local tour guide will not only show you the main sites of Ephesus such the Odeon, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, and the Grand Theater, but also take you to where large tour groups normally not venture such as to the Underground Tunnels and the Public Communal Bathroom. Your private tour guide will not only tell you of the common well know facts about Ephesus such as how prior to the Earthquake, a resident could have docked their boat within walking distance of the present day ruins, but also have the time, willingness and capability to tell you of the lesser known facts such as how Nike got its inspiration for its shoe logo or how the world got its medical insignias from the doctors of Ephesus. 

Touring as a small group enables you to learn and see more of Ephesus such as the optional inclusion of the Terrace Houses. Also known as the "homes of the rich" you will be able to fully understand family life during the Roman Period. You will be able to see the intricate working details of the home, the fascinating mosaics and frescos, and the role of each member of the family in society. The excavation of these homes on the end of the slope of Bulbul Mountain will be an enlightening experience for our Guests.

During your leisure and interactive approximately 2 hour guided walking tour of the Ancient Ruins of Ephesus, you can hear the explanations from your English Speaking Licensed Tour Guide and you can feel free to ask any question. The pace of the tour will be dictated by the group. If you have any specific requests or you would prefer to focus your tour on a specific area or subject of Ephesus, such as medicine, law, or archeology, your guide will do his or her best to accomodate your needs.

Artemission Temple will be the your next stop on your Best of Ephesus Tour. With this visit, our Guests can say they explored one of the the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Temple, which was known for its 127 marble columns, has been destroyed. Although several attempts were made to rebuild, today only fragments of the temple remain.

Your exploration of Ephesus continues as you explore the Basilica of St. John, which once rivaled St. Sophia in size. Built by the Emperer Justinian over the 2nd century tomb of St. John the Apostle, this historical site on the hill of Selcuk Countryside, overlooks Ephesus. Your tour will explore the ruins and excavations, including the mosaics, foercos, and marble columns, to give you a complete understanding of Basilica and St John's role in Christianity.

The final stop on your full day Best of Ephesus tour will be the Archeological Museum of Ephesus. During this guided tour of the nine room museum, your guide will enlighten you with historical details and show you artifacts that have been excavated from the Ancient Ruins of Ephesus. The collection of mosaics, statury, and marble statues of Greek Goddesses, including the famous statue of the Mother Goddess Artemis, will not only give you a chronological history of religion and Ephesus, but it will also help exemplify the importance of Ephesus in ancient times.  

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, including your thorough and complete trip of Ephesus. As you are driven back to your ship, The Guest Planners Team hopes your tour was filled with amazement and memories that will last a lifetime. When you arrive at your cruise ship, although the tour may have come to an end, you will always be a part of The Guest Planners Family.



                                                                        Customize Your Tour:
Your tour in Ephesus includes a private, friendly, and experienced English Speaking Guide. Ephesus has significant historical impact on medicine, law, politics, family, religion and greek mythology. If your group would like to focus on a specific area or a specific aspect of the tour, your private guide will do his or her best to accomodate your needs.


                                                                                       Notes:
The tour can be customized to your preference. The order of the tour may be modified to maximize your time and enjoyment. While we will make every attempt to include all parts of the tour as listed above, there is the slight possibility that for reasons beyond our control,  an aspect of the tour will need to be skipped, replaced, or modified. We suggest wearing comfortable walking shoes and clothing and wearing sunscreen. For your protection and convenience, payment must be made through credit card on The Guest Planners secure payment processing system. We will be happy to accept multiple credit cards for your group. During the tour, we suggest leaving valuables in your onboard safe and only carrying a minimal amount of cash. Your fully escorted tour of Ephesus will cover approximately 1.5 miles of walking over cobblestone surfaces with inclines and steps. Guests should always watch their step in order to avoid injury. Although the tour will move at the pace dictated by the group, it may be extremely difficult for Guests needing the use of wheelchairs or walkers to fully appreciate the Ancient Ruins of Ephesus.  Our extremely competitive pricing is below. If you have any further questions or if The Guest Planners Team can be of any assistance, including making a reservation, or customizing a tour for your group, please call (305) 933 - 4888 or E-mail Reservations@TheGuestPlanners.com. We look forward to you joining our "Family." Thank you!