Kusadasi

Kusadasi means "Bird Island" and the town takes its name from the little island that is in the harbour and is now connected by a causeway to the shore.  Although the history of Kusadasi is quite old, hardly any traces of early settlement here remain today other than a section of a cyclopean wall. The town is conveniently located for those wishing to make visits to such famous sites as Ephesus, Miletus and Priene.

The little fort on the island was built in 1834 as a military outpost during the Morean rebellion.  Thanks to the marina and a good harbour, Kusadasi is a favourite calling place for yachts and tour vessels with the result that there are many good shopping opportunities to be found. 

Gallipoli

Anzac Cove is marked by a Turkish monument with AtaturkÍs poignant words uttered in 1934 for the Anzac troops:

'Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives.....you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace.  There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours..... You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.  After having lost their lives on this land, they have become our sons as well.' 

EXT301 Full Day Ephesus Tour

Ephesus was undoubtedly one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. Impressive structures you will see include the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, the Theatre and the Odeon. You can also visit the beautiful Museum of Ephesus with its attractively displayed statuary, mosaics and artefacts, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world. Nearby is the House of the Virgin Mary where she is believed to have spent her last years. In 1961, Pope John XXII proclaimed the House of the Virgin Mary at Ephesus to be sacred.  Also included in todayÍs tour is a visit of the Basilica of St. John, who came here with the Virgin Mary and wrote his Gospel.

EXT302 Full Day Pergamon Tour

Full day tour to the hauntingly beautiful Pergamon, once one of the richest and most powerful small kingdoms in the Middle East.  Among the impressive structures of this city, dating from 399 B.C., you will see the Altar of Zeus, Temple of Dionysus and the 200,000 volume library which was surpassed only by that found in Alexandria at the time. The most spectacular site is the theatre; a remarkable feat of engineering built into an exceptionally steep hillside. The Asclepieum of Pergamon was a famous health centre where methods of treatment included blood transfusions, music therapy and meditation.

EXT 308 Full day Aphrodisias tour

Drive to the magnificent ancient Aphrodisias,  famous throughout the ancient world for her Temple of Aphrodite, and which enjoyed great prosperity during the Roman period. 

Didyma and Priene Tour

Located south of Kusadasi en route to Bodrum (or vice versa) stop on the way to visit the well preserved Apollo Temple with its awesome gigantic pillars & head of Medusa at Didyma, and Priene - the first planned city in the ancient world.

EXD405 2 Day/1night Sardis-Pamukkale-Aphrodisias Tour

Day 1 Visit Sardis, the capital city of ancient Lydians. Visit the largest Synagogue of ancient times, the Marble Road, and the Gymnasium and the Artemis Temple. Thereafter, proceed to Alaşehir to visit Philadelphia. Continue to Pamukkale, once known as Hierapolis. Overnight at Pamukkale.

Day 2 Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis this morning, with its Theatre, Apollo Temple and magnificent Necropolis. Drive to Aphrodisias, one of the most beautiful ancient sites in Turkey, famous throughout the ancient world for her Temple of Aphrodite, and which enjoyed great prosperity during the Roman period.  It was an important centre of medicine and philosophy, sculpture and the arts.  The Stadium, which could hold 30,000 spectators, is one of the finest Graeco-Roman structures in the world.  Continue back to Kusadasi and overnight.

Please note that most of terraces at Pamukkale are presently closed as many have dried up and are currently under regeneration.

Gallipoli Tour

Cross the strategic waterway, the Dardanelles, to Gallipoli, historically famous for being the site of many battles - particularly involving the Allied Forces including Australians and New Zealanders during World War I. Visit Anzac Cove where the Allied Forces landed on 25 April 1915.

Other places of interest to visit are the War Cemeteries (Beach Cemetery, QuinnÍs Post, the Nek) and Anzac Memorials (Lone Pine, Conk Bair, and Hellespont).