Type: Antiquities, Culture
Length: 8 Hours
Walking: Difficult - uneven surfaces
Mobility: NO wheelchairs
Guide: Licensed Guide
Language: English

Kusadasi Shore Excursion - This off the beaten path option is wonderful for those who love archaeological sites and have already been to Ephesus. While no one of these sites alone can be compared to Ephesus, combined the three make for a fascinating shore tour.

Your driver and licensed guide will meet you at the port in Kusadasi where you'll depart into the Turkish countryside. Your first stop is Priene. The ancient city of Priene was once a harbor city, but silt from the Meander River filled in its bay and cut off its livelihood. Today the site is nearly 10 miles away from the sea. The original city was a peninsula with a harbor on either side. Priene was laid out on a grid plan system with all streets at right angles to one another. The amazingly large site sits at the foot of a spectacular cliff (Mt. Mycale) and contains many superb examples of Hellenistic art and architecture.

Next visit Miletus, an ancient city located near the present Akkoy at the mouth of the Meander River. Highly prosperous, it was one of the largest cities in Anatolia and founded many colonies. It was the home of the ancient philosophers Anaximander, Anaximenes and Thales, the town planner Hippodamus and architect Isidorus. Having a prominent position on trade routes, Miletus became the most important port in this area and was the most active member of the twelve cities of the Ionian Confederation. From the 7th century B.C. the city has been controlled in turn by Persians, Romans and Seljuk Turks.

After a stop for lunch (not included) you continue to your last visit of the day, Didyma. The world Didyma meant "twins" and this place was believed to be the meeting place of Zeus and Leto who gave birth to their twins Apollo and Artemis. In the ancient world, Didyma was famed as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo, and served a purpose in Anatolia similar to the oracle at Delphi in Greece. It was not a city but a sanctuary linked to Miletus with a 12 mile sacred road. Today the large scale of the standing columns will impress even the most well traveled visitors.

At the end of this fascinating tour, you return to the pier in Kusadasi.

Tips on visiting Turkey:

Shopping - If additional time is available during your tour, many guides will ask if you are interested in seeing how Turkish carpets are made or if you wish to shop. These free demonstrations are very interesting and quite informative, but they are also a selling opportunity. Decide on your interest and tell your tour guide clearly whether shopping interests you or not. You should never feel obligated to make a purchase on any tour.