*If you have booked the Ephesus+Mary's House option, the tour program includes tickets for Ephesus and Mary's House.* A holy shrine to the supposed death place of St. Mary, the House of the Virgin in Ephesus is a standing testament to the home of the beloved mother of Jesus . Many believe that the house was indeed the place where she spent her final days, and today you can visit the restored stone house, which now serves as a chapel. Serving as sacred territory for Christians and Muslims alike, the Virgin Mary's House has called hundreds of thousands of visitors and pilgrims since its discovery in the 19th-century. Remnants of the chapel date as far back as the 6th-century, and serves as the place where its caretakers, the Lazarist Fathers, conduct mass every day. Despite the altar placed within, the house still contains a bedroom and kitchen, decorated with pictures of Mary and candles.

*All options include Ephesus tickets and the Ephesus tour.*Ephesus is one of the greatest ancient sites in the Mediterranean. During its heyday in the first century BC, it was the second-largest city in the world, with only Rome commanding more power. Many reconstructed structures and ruins, including the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, can be seen here. The Basics This ancient city is home to an incredible number of ruins in varying states. The site is best explored with a guide who can help shed light on the function and significance of the various structures. Guided tours of the site depart from Istanbul, Izmir, , Selçuk, and Kuşadasi. Travelers who want to avoid the stress of making travel arrangements to Ephesus can take tours from Istanbul, which typically include air transport from Istanbul to Izmir, and ground transfers from Izmir to Ephesus.

The Temple of Artemis, or Artemision, was a Greek temple in present-day Turkey dedicated to the goddess Artemis. It was one of the original seven wonders of the ancient world. It was built not far from Ephesus just outside the present-day town of Selcuk. The temple was completely rebuilt several times throughout history after being destroyed on multiple occasions by both nature and human factors. Little remains of the temple in its original location today since archeologists brought much of the ruins to the British Museum. The Temple of Artemis is only a couple of miles from Ephesus, making it an easy attraction to visit. Visitors can still see one tall column and a handful of marble pieces from the foundations of the structure, and the historical location is fascinating. From the site, you can also see the ruins of St. John's Basilica, located on a hill in Selcuk.

*If you have booked the Ephesus+Terrace Houses option, the tour program includes tickets for Ephesus and Terrace Houses.* The Terrace Houses of Ephesus in Ephesus, near Selçuk, unveil a world of luxury: vivid mosaics, colorful frescoes, and ingenious heating systems. Clinging to the slopes, these elite homes bring ancient Roman life to life, revealing comfort, artistry, and the hidden stories of the city’s wealthiest residents.

In the end of our tour, we return to the Kusadasi Cruise Port according to your ONBOARD TIME! PLEASE NOTE THAT: There are several Ships with different arrival and departure times. We carefully check all the timings, confirm with the passengers, and coordinate our return time to Cruise Port.