Best of Ephesus

Experience the best Ephesus has to offer on this comprehensive full day Ephesus guided tour. This Kusadasi shore excursion takes you to the most noteworthy and popular destinations available. Learn about Ephesus's stunning history, visit incredible landmarks, and enjoy local cuisine before visiting a popular shopping area to witness a carpet demonstration. This Kusadasi guided tour is ideal for history lovers, photographers, and anyone looking for an immersive cultural experience at a low price.

Begin your professionally Ephesus guided tour with a comfortable 30 minute drive to The House of the Virgin Mary. Learn the spectacular story behind this historic structure, discovered in the 19th century following reported visions by a Catholic nun who had never seen the building. A book was published after her death, and years later her descriptions were followed, leading to the prominent site being discovered. The building became an officially declared holy shrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1896 and has developed into a popular place of pilgrimage, receiving visits from several popes. Check out the ""Wishing Wall,"" a noteworthy spot where pilgrims have tied their personal wishes, dreams, and goals on paper or fabric to a scenic wall.

From The House of the Virgin Mary, travel to Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an incredible history. Built in the 10th century BC, this ancient city contains the largest collection of Roman ruins in the Eastern Mediterranean. Famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this destination has plenty of sights to offer the eager eye. Pass by the Library of Celsus, built in 125 AD, where an extravagant entrance once lead to nearly 12,000 scrolls.

Another highlight is The Baths of Scholastica, an area used by former citizens to bathe, socialize, and discuss current events and important daily topics. The most grandiose attraction in Ephesus is The Great Theater, a massive 25,000 seat venue. Sixty rows of seats spanning three sections face a striking 60 foot stage. The theater was once used for concerts and plays as well as religious, political, and philosophical discussions. Most interestingly, gladiator and animal fights were also held there. Enjoy a few other notable highlights before moving forward with your tour.

The next stop on your Kusadasi guided tour is The Basilica of St. John, a marvelous church built in the 6th century AD. It is speculated the evangelist St. John spent his last living years around Ephesus and was buried on a nearby hill. Three hundred years after his death, a small chapel was constructed over his grave. Several hundred years after that, Emperor Justinian transformed that small chapel into a marvelous Basilica. Built almost entirely of brick and stones, the structure is an extremely rare find among the architecture of its time. Six beautiful domes cover the cruciform-style building, making this a stunning photogenic landmark.

Up next on your Ephesus guided tour is the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. Two divided sections in this museum (archaeological and ethnographical) contain interesting artifacts from the Prehistoric, Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman time periods. Discover magnificent coins and sculptures, elegant mosaics, and numerous statues of Mother Goddess Artemis.

After the museum, head to the local restaurant for a savory lunch, which is included in your tour price. Enjoy a mixture of hot and cold appetizers, seasonal salads, a main course, and Turkish pastries with dessert and fresh fruit. Water, tea, and coffee are also provided.

Your comprehensive Kusadasi guided tour closes with a return trip to your starting point. You have the option to end your tour in a vibrant shopping area, where an interesting Turkish carpet demonstration takes place. Additionally, you can explore the variety of shops filled with jewelry, carpets, leatherwear, and copper goods. If you prefer to return to your port instead of remaining in the shopping area, advise your professional guide, and you will be returned directly to your port. Book this amazing Kusadasi shore excursion now for an unforgettable Turkish experience at an exclusively low price.

Starting from the port of Mykonos, enjoy a tour around the island from a different point of view, full of traditional and authentic images and experiences. Your first stop will be at a popular site offering photographic panoramic views of Mykonos town, a must-see for all the island's visitors.

Following the picture taking, visit the picturesque small port of St. Ioannis, an area named after a small church of great historical significance dedicated to Saint John ("Ioannis" in Greek). You will visit the church, along with the Saint's cell, home of the annual fair. The small port is the launching point for local fishing boats, protected from the island's strong north winds.

You will then head towards the Mykonos airport offering another photographic panoramic opportunity, this time on the airport's runway. If you are lucky, you will catch a plane, taking off or landing. After a few shots of the runway, you will make your way toward Ano Mera Village driving through the island's agricultural and livestock-raising areas. Ano Mera is best known as being one of the oldest, most quaint, and quiet villages found on Mykonos.

While at Ano Mera Village your guide will lead you through the village's colorful square and the monastery of Panagia Tourliani, built in 1542 and restored in 1767. You will have the opportunity to join a guide for a walk through the monastery chambers if you so choose. Entrance fees to the Monastery are 2 EUR per person.

After capturing the images of the Mykonian countryside and its lifestyle, you will visit the farm of the Mykonian Spiti, where an escort and the farm's superintendent will oversee your stay. Whoever wishes may also use the farm's tools and get involved with the farming work and tasks in cooperation with the superintendent. Take this opportunity to get closer to the domestic animals and the farm's traditional organic cultivation. A light snack will be offered to all visitors for 15 EUR, or you can choose the option of a light lunch for 20 EUR consisting of local products from the conventional farm itself.

Upon leaving the traditional farm, head over to Kalo Livadi, Kalafati, and Aghia Anna, the most distant and beautiful beaches in all of Mykonos for a few more photo opportunities.

To close out your tour, you will be driven back to your ship with lasting memories of the fantastic time spent on Mykonos.

Ruins of Herculaneum

The ancient city of Herculaneum was one of several cities, including Oplontis and Pompeii, that was destroyed when the then 800-year-old dormant Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. Herculaneum was a thriving trading port thanks to its proximity to the Gulf of Naples and was more prosperous than its more famous neighbor, Pompeii.

Unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried under 50 - 60 feet of mud and lava from several pyroclastic surges that ended up preserving a major portion of the city, with many buildings and objects completely intact. The wealth of objects includes 2000-year-old doors, windows, partitions, furniture, jewelry and money. Sections of Herculaneum are continuing to be unearthed today and the delicate work of securing the ancient city aims to make this increasingly more accessible for visitors, gradually allowing the opening to the public of the precious collection of artefacts which illustrate daily life in a Roman city in the first century AD.

Here's your chance to wander through one of the world's most famous archeological sites and see such landmarks as the house of the Deer, the house of Aristides, the Central Thermae bath houses and House Number 22 with its colorful mosaics of Neptune and Amphitrite.

Walk along stone paved roads, observe water pipes fashioned out of lead and much more as you imagine what the last few minutes of life were like for the remnant of residents huddled at the boat houses waiting for rescue from sea.

Herculaneum is smaller than Pompeii and can be experienced in 1.5 hours, despite its extensive excavation. Sign up today, bring your camera and get ready to see what life was like for those living in the shadows of Mount Vesuvius.

Exclusive Santorini, Oia and Winery Tour

Departing from the tender pier at Fira port, you will be led to your transportation. From here, you will begin your exploration of this wonderful island.

Your Santorini Winery tour will take you to the major must see sites on the island. Depending on traffic the day of your tour, the order you see the sites may vary from the tour description order. One of your stops will be at the village of Oia, located at the northern tip of the island. As you travel along, you will see the different layers of lava the volcano had produced making a timeline of the island's history. Oia offers magnificent views of the caldera and the rest of the other islands. Depending on the time of day, the sun paints the cliffs with different shades of color and light like an ever-changing landscape painting. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that Oia attracts so many artists. With its cobblestone streets, beautiful old mansions and houses perched on the cliffside, you can admire the traditional Cycladic architecture for which Santorini is so well known.

From Oia, you will travel across the terraced island, through Pyrgos village and make your way up to the highest peak of Santorini, Mt. Profitis Ilias.(883 feet) Here a monastery of the same name was built in 1712. Although you cannot enter the monastery, you can enjoy its magnificent view of the entire island from the south end of Perissa Beach to the north part of the island were Oia village is situated.

After the photo stop, you will drive to one of the local wineries on the island. Here you can learn about how wines were once produced on the island, as well as learning of the unique way in which grapes are grown and harvested on Santorini. You will be able to sample three of the most famous wines of Santorini.

From the winery, you will make your way back to the town of Fira, the picturesque capital town of the island built on the rim of the caldera wall. Your guide will lead you to the major pedestrian street where they will give you a brief orientation of how to navigate the town before you explore on your own. Wander the endless maze of whitewashed streets looking for jewelry, gifts, or the perfect view of the caldera while you enjoy a coffee or wine. The tour ends in Fira, so you can enjoy the atmosphere of this beautiful place and return to your ship at your leisure.

Please Note: The tour duration does not include the time required to tender ashore from your ship. This tour ends in Fira Town.