KUŞADASI – EPHESUS & THE HOUSE OF V.MARY - AFRODISIAS - PAMUKKALE  281 KM

You will be meet with your guide at the lobby of the hotel and transfer to first visiting place to Ancient Ephesus, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven churches of Apocalypse. walk on the remarkably preserved wide marble streets,flanked by colomns,temples and fountains. We look at all the famous highlights like the, Celsus Library, Great Theater which is still used for performances and special events today. Next , the House of Virgin Mary beautifully situated in the solmissos Mountains,is considered by the Vatican to be final resting place of the Virgin Mary. After lunch at the local restaurant continue to Afrodisias a Crossroads of the ancient world.

Aphrodisias was primarily known as a center for the arts, specifically sculpture. The Aphrodisias School of Sculpture had a distinctive style and was very well circulated throughout the Greek and Roman world.

The ruins are numerous and well preserved. A two mile long Byzantine wall still surrounds the city. The Temple of Aphrodite, eventually converted to a Christian basilica, is excellently preserved. The Tetrapylon, the gate which was leading people to their great temple, was re-erected by Kenan Erim, where he's buried in front of it with a special permission of the Government after his death. The Baths of Hadrian are still partially standing. The theatre and the stadium are one of the best preserved in all eastern Mediterranean. The nearby museum contains many beautiful statues and portrait sculpture.

In 2017 Aphrodisias archaeological site has entered into the List of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

You arrive in the evening to Pamukkale and Overnight in Pamukkale. .(Breakfast and Dinner)

PAMUKKALE ,HIERAPOLİS,LAODIKEIA ,SALDA LAKE, KIBYRA ANCIENT CITY,  ISPARTA     319 KM

After breakfast departure to Pamukkale,which is UNESCO list, discovery of Travertine terraces and the ancient city of Hierapolis,home of Philip the Evangelist .Pamukkale meaning ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish, is a natural site that contains hot springs and travertines, terraces or carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters. We will have free time to walk on warm water terraces, where people have bathled in for thousands of years. You will visit Hierapolis is the place where you will see the Necropolis, the biggest cemetery of Anatolia with 1.200 graves.

After the visit of Pamukkale and Hierapolis driving to Laodikeia.Laodikeia is an ancient city located in the Lycus River Valley of Anatolia, near Hierapolis in Denizli province. It is one of the largest and most important archaeological sites in Turkey. Laodikeia is the home of unique and magnificent structures dating from the Hellenistic, Roman Imperial and Early Byzantine Periods. The area of the city covers more than five square km.

Then drive to beatiful Salda Lake, which is known as Turkey's Maldives. Salda lake which has the cleanest lake of Turkey is also one of the deepest lakes (184 meters) in Turkey, its natural beauty has been able to protect until today. The nature park of Salda lake has a wonderful combination with white-sanded beach, pine and juniper-covered forests and clear sky blue. The white sands that make Salda lake so attractive resemble the Maldives. Because of that is known as the Maldives in Turkey. You will have the opportunity to walk on the sandy beach and swimm (depending on weather conditions) and have Lunch on the coast of Salda Lake.

After the visiting of Salda Lake you will drive to Kibyra ancient city. Kibyra presents a populous Roman city descending from a remote past going back into the Early Iron Age (8th century BC). Altogether the city planning and buildings present a good example of a Romanized eastern province, with its powerful army and justice system endorsed by the wealth growing out of various industries. Considering the political and financial power held by the city already in its tetrapoleis times during the Hellenistic period, it should not be surprise we are dealing with a cosmopolitan society as indicated by Strabo.

End of the day drive to the Hotel in Isparta and overnighting in Isparta .(Breakfast and Dinner)

ISPARTA ,SAGALASSOS ,ULUBEY CANYON & NATURE PARK, BLAUNDUS  ANCIENT CITY - USAK 321 KM

Morning after Breakfast drive to the magnificent city of Sagalassos of the Pisidians located at 9000 feet, one of the highest Roman grand cities. The recent excavations have shed light onto some breathtaking colossal sculptures (not visible) and well preserved buildings such as the state agora, fountains, theater, baths, heroon and temples.

After the visit of Sagalassos drive to Ulubey Nature Park and Ulubey Canyon.

The canyon is the second longest in the world after the Grand Canyon in the United States. The park provides suitable habitat for many species of animals and plants and is being developed as a centre for ecotourism.

In 2015, a 135 m2 (1,450 sq ft) glass-floor observation deck in the form of a ship bow, constructed 131 m (430 ft) above the canyon floor, and a cafeteria were opened for tourism purposes.You will have Lunch in this Area

Then you will arrive to the Blaundus ancient city .

Blaundus was a Roman episcopal city in Asia Minor, presently Anatolia (Asian Turkey), and is now a Latin Catholic titular bishopric. The ancient city left ruins at Sülümenli , near Ulubey in Uşak Province of modern Turkey. It was in the Roman province of Lydia.

Then drive to Uşak , overnighting in Usak. .(Breakfast and Dinner)

UŞAK- AIZONAI ,PHRYGIAN VALLEY -KÜTAHYA 295 KM

Morning you will start to visit the Archaeological Museum of Uşak, where the famous Lydian or Karun Treasure has finally come to rest. More than 350 pieces from the tomb of a wealthy 7th-century BC Lydian, possibly King Croesus himself (Karun is Persian for Croesus )

Then drive to Aizonai ancient city to Çavdarhisar. The ancient city experienced its golden age in the second and third centuries AD and became the centre of episcopacy in the Byzantine era. The city has a temple built for Zeus which is the best-preserved temple in all of Anatolia. There is also a large theatre and a stadium adjacent to theatre. There are two Turkish-style baths, one of them decorated with mosaics, plus a gymnasium, five bridges on Kocaçay which are still used today, an old dam, a trading building, and avenues with columns on both sides, necropolis areas and the sacred cave of Metre Steunene.

Then continuing to Kütahya for Lunch.After Lunch you will arrive to Phrygian Valley

Most people are familiar with the stunning Cappadocian landscape,but far fewer visit the almost equally beautiful Phrygian Valley(Frig Vadisi) in western Anatolia even thought it harbours the finest relics of the lost civilization of King Midas ,the king with the famous golden touch.

The Phrygian valley is not really so much one valley as an area spread out between Seyitgazi,Kütahya and Afyon,with its focal point at Midas Sehri(Yazılıkaya village).this was the heartland of Phrygians ,an Indo-European people who seem to have moved into Anatolia from Thrace c.1200 BC and who flourised especially in the seventh and sixth centuries BC

End of the day you will arrive the city of Kutahya ,where the famous Ceramic tile in Turkey and in the World.you will see here Ceramic Bazaar an done of the historical Mosque of Kütahya (Ulu Camii)

Overnight in Kütahya .(Breakfast and Dinner)

KÜTAHYA– KULADOCCIA - KULA, SARDES ANCIENT CITY- SALİHLİ 252 KM

First you will visit the Arcaeological Museum of Kütahya then drive to Kula app.178 km to see Kula volcanic Geopark.This Area was accepted and certificated by UNESCO on 6 September 2013 at 37th UNESCO general conference in Naples. So that Kula Volcanic Geopark joined UNESCO Global Geopark Network. Also this patent became the first geopark of Turkey, 58th geopark in Europe, and 96th geopark in the world.

Then you are going to visit Kula old houses , which are products of an Ottoman architectural tradition that has continued in the 19th century as well, carry the typical Ottoman urban pattern to our day quite successfully.

After Lunch you arrive ( app 75 km) from Kula to Sardes or which is called Sardis by Lydians, was the capital of a state with major economic and political power in the 6th and 7th centuries BC .The ancient city of Sardis contains many historical values from Lydians and Romans, under the rule of which it has gotten after Lydians.

The Temple of Artemis, one of Anatolia's seven temples and Sardis Synagogue, which one of the most impotant evidences of the Jewish presence in Western Anatolia in ancient times, which are located in historical conservation area are quite prominent and unique cultural artifacts in respect of ruins of Bath-Gymnasium Complex of the Roman period.

Many typical mausoleums of the ancient age, which are called tumulus and located in Bintepeler territory near Sart which is thought to be the acropolis of Sardis Ancient City, are in this region as an ancient memory of the rich and glorious history of Lydians.

Overnight in Salihli (Breakfast and Dinner)

SALIHLI- AIGAI , MANİSA- FOKAI - İZMİR 256 KM

You will drive after Breakfast to Archaeological site of Aigai (Aiolis) ( app.118 km).

Aigai is one of the 12 poleis founded by the Aeolians who came to Anatolia after 1100 BC. Inside the city, in addition to public buildings – namely the theatre, the council house (bouleuterion), the agora with a well maintained market building, a macellum, stoai, baths, a gymnasium and temples – there are also other elements of an ancient city like city walls, domestic buildings, an industrial area and the necropolis.

After the Visit of Aigai you will go to Fokai ,named after the seals living in Foça Islands ,was founded by the Aiolians in the 11th century BC.Ionian settlement in Phokaia,one of the most important settlements of Ionia at that time,started in the 9th century BC.You will see here the monument of Kybele and have Lunch in this fishingtown and free time

End of the day drive to İzmir.Overnight in İzmir .(Breakfast and Dinner)

TRANSFER TO THE İZMİR ADB AIR PORT 17 KM

Transfer to the Aırport İzmir depending on the flight time.