Tired of the long waits and bustling crowds that come with the typical, over-crowded tour groups? If so, then this is the tour for you! With a maximum of 8 guests only, this tour will allow you an intimate and personalized experience as you spend more time touring and less time waiting.

A driver will greet you at the dock and take you on a scenic 80-minute drive through farms and orchards to Rome, one of Europe's most stunning cities. During your visit to the Colosseum (entrance fee not included), you'll have 40 minutes of free time to explore this incredible ancient amphitheater, marveling at its architectural grandeur and imagining the spectacles that took place within its walls. Nearby you will find the imposing triumphal Arch of Titus erected in A.D. 81 by the Emperor Domitian.

Your journey will then take you past iconic landmarks such as the Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus, the Victor Emanuel Monument, and the Capitoline Hill, leading you to the historic heart of Rome. Stroll through the charming narrow streets until you reach the magnificent Trevi Fountain. At 85 feet high and 65 feet wide, this is the largest Baroque fountain in the city with a traditional legend: those visitors who throw a coin over their left shoulder into the fountain are ensured a return trip to Rome. In this area, you'll also marvel at the Pantheon, a majestic structure constructed in A.D. 126 as a temple dedicated to all the gods. Make a stop at the Navona and Farnese Squares if time permits, then enjoy a quick lunch (on your own) before you make your way to Vatican City with views of the Castel Sant'Angelo and Bernini's Bridge of the Angels along the way.

Once in Vatican City, you'll have 45 minutes of free time to explore St. Peter's Square. Book your spot on this unique 9-hour tour of Rome today for a small-group experience that sets you apart from the large cruise tour groups.

Please Note:Tickets to enter the Colosseum are not included in the tour. However, you'll have the opportunity to admire its grandeur from the outside.

Meet your professionally trained guide and drive to Ephesus, approximately 30 minutes from Kusadasi. Famous in antiquity for its Temple of Artemus during the years of the Roman Empire, the Greek port of Ephesus became the greatest city in Asia Minor. You will start your 90 minute Ephesus tour at the upper Magnesia Gate, and work your way down through the city, ending near the ancient Harbor.

Along the way, you will see the Forum, the Odeon, the Library of Celsus, Temple of Artemis, the Thermal Baths of Scolastika, and the Great Theater, built in the Greek era and reconstructed in the Roman period. With your skip-the-line access, you can fully enjoy these sites, which have played host to events as varied as Paul and his sermons to the Ephesians, to concerts by Sting, in part due to their remarkable acoustics.

You will walk along the Arcadian Way, where once Mark Antony and Cleopatra rode in procession. You will hear stories of Alexander the Great, the Virgin Mary, and many other famous visitors who walked the same marble streets that you are walking. As you depart the Ephesus site, you will be able to view the hilltop ruins of the Basilica of St. John in the distance, which was erected over his grave in the 6th century A.D. by Emperor Justinian.

Returning to the town of Kusadasi, guests will have the option to end their Ephesus tour in the shopping area, where they can attend a Turkish carpet explanation and explore the shops filled with jewelry, carpets, leatherware, and copper goods, or both. Turkish salespeople expect you to haggle and quite often you can get 10-15% off the listed price. Treat it as an adventure. The cruise pier is a 5-10 minute walk from the main shopping area.

Guests not wishing to attend the optional carpet shopping should stay on the bus and they will be taken directly back to the pier.