Exclusive Ancient Ephesus

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.

A Taste of Rhodes

You can get to know a lot about the culture and people of a city through its food, and this tasty 5.5-hour tour does not disappoint! With no more than 12 guests in total, you will be given a very special and intimate introduction to the culinary culture of Greece.

The fun begins as soon as you board a private minibus for a scenic and picturesque journey away from the island's coast to the small, unspoiled mountainous village of Apollona nestled in the foothills of Profitis Ilias.

Stop for a brief visit to an agricultural co-op operated by a group of proud, resourceful women. You'll observe how the enterprise is run and get a closer look at the traditional methods used to produce a local delicacy.

From there you will take a short walk through the village on your way to one of the best-loved restaurants on the island. The highlight of the tour, which takes place here, will be a personal cooking class from a cook from the village who will share her secrets in making traditional, famous Greek fare including tzatziki, cheese pies, and aubergine salad. You will also learn how to make Ntolmadakia (stuffed wine leaves with rice)!

After cooking you will visit a winemaker and learn about the various local grape varieties as well as the wine-making process.While here, bring a glass of delicious wine to your lips and understand firsthand why Rhodes produces some of the world's most award-winning wines.

Having enjoyed the winetasting we return to savour the fruits of your culinary labors by sitting down to a homemade lunch that you and your fellow cooks have lovingly prepared. Included in your meal is a fresh seasonal salad and Apollona's local delicacy - roasted goat with chickpeas!

Conclude your time in Apollona enjoying a visit to a traditional Kefeneion (cafe) in the village. You will travel back in time by admiring the antiques of the Italian Era in the interior of the building and also learn the secrets of the strong aromatic Greek coffee prepared on the hot sand - Hovoli in Greek.

This popular culinary tour is a perfect introduction to the flavors and culture of Rhodes, sign up today as this tour is very popular and has limited space.