A full day among the greatest ancient and sacred sites of the Aegean — the marble streets of Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis, the Basilica of St. John and the charming village of Şirince. A rich day of history and faith for your clients, led by a Ministry-licensed local guide and ready to resell.
Ephesus is one of the most magnificent archaeological sites in the world — the Roman capital of Asia Minor, whose marble streets, grand library and vast theatre still stand after two thousand years. Around it lies a landscape thick with history and faith: the hillside home where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last years, the last column of a Wonder of the Ancient World, a great Byzantine basilica, and a picturesque Aegean wine village. This full-day tour brings them together with a Ministry-licensed local guide.
Built for the travel trade, the tour is completely flexible. It is the classic day trip and cruise shore excursion from Kuşadası, and it runs equally from İzmir and Selçuk. Resell it as it is, pair it with Pamukkale in the popular "Ephesus & Pamukkale" program, or have us tailor the pace, stops and guiding language — private or seat-in-coach, under your brand, with confidential net rates on request and no public pricing.
From a sacred hillside chapel and the marble heart of Ephesus to a Wonder of the World and a hilltop wine village.
The day begins in the pine-clad hills of Mount Koressos at the House of the Virgin Mary (Meryem Ana Evi), a humble stone chapel believed to be where Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final years after being brought to Ephesus by St. John. A tranquil place of pilgrimage revered by Christians and Muslims alike, and visited by several popes, it sets a peaceful, reflective tone with its wishing wall and sacred spring.
The heart of the tour is Ephesus (Efes) itself, one of the greatest and best-preserved cities of the ancient Mediterranean and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the Roman capital of Asia Minor and home to as many as a quarter of a million people, its marble streets lead past the magnificent two-storey Library of Celsus, the vast Great Theatre that seated some 25,000, the Temple of Hadrian and the agora — an entire Roman world brought vividly to life.
Terrace Houses optionalThe Aegean has been a centre of fine leather craft for centuries, and a visit to a local leather workshop offers a lively look at the tradition. Guests enjoy a fashion presentation of the latest Turkish leather designs and can see the quality and craftsmanship up close — an enjoyable, relaxed interlude and a chance to find a genuine hand-made souvenir.
In nearby Selçuk stand the remains of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Dedicated to the goddess Artemis and rebuilt several times over the centuries, it was among the largest temples ever raised in antiquity. Today a single reconstructed column marks the spot, but the story of its scale and splendour — and its place among the great Wonders — makes it unmissable.
On Ayasuluk Hill above Selçuk rise the ruins of the Basilica of St. John, a monumental church built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the 6th century over the believed tomb of St. John the Apostle, author of the fourth Gospel. Once one of the largest churches of its age, its columns and arches command sweeping views over Selçuk, the plain and the distant sea.
The tour ends in Şirince, an enchanting hilltop village of whitewashed, red-roofed houses founded by Greek settlers and wrapped in vineyards and orchards. Famous for its home-made fruit wines, olive oil and handicrafts, its narrow cobbled lanes and cafés make a delightful, relaxed finale — the perfect place for a tasting before the return journey.
A sensible default — fully configurable when we build your net rate.
Site entrances, the Ephesus Terrace Houses, a Şirince wine tasting, cruise shore-excursion timing from Kuşadası port, or an Ephesus & Pamukkale combination can all be built into your net rate on request — just tell us how you'd like to package it.
The practical details your team needs to sell and brief with confidence.
Ephesus lies near Selçuk in İzmir province, on Türkiye's Aegean coast — about 20 minutes from Kuşadası and its cruise port, and roughly an hour from İzmir. We operate the tour from all three as a full day.
Ephesus is one of the greatest ancient cities of the Mediterranean, celebrated for the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and its marble streets. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Yes — Ephesus is the classic shore excursion from Kuşadası port. We tailor the timing to your ship's schedule and guarantee return well before departure, with private or group options.
Yes. The "Ephesus & Pamukkale" combination is one of the most popular programs in western Türkiye, run over one long day or, more comfortably, as a two-day trip with an overnight in between.
Become a partner and send us your brief with dates, gateway, group size and service level, and we reply with a costed, ready-to-sell proposal on confidential net rates — with no public pricing.
Give your clients the marble wonders of Ephesus and the sacred sites around it — from the House of the Virgin Mary to a Wonder of the Ancient World — with net rates and one accountable local team on the ground.
