Izmir is the 3rd biggest city in Turkey. It’s a modern and beautiful harbour city with lots of sightseeing, shopping and entertainment opportunities within.
Tour Details
Day 1 – Well off the beaten path – a feast today!
Welcome to Izmir! Upon arrival you will be met by a Unison Turkey representative at the airport and escorted to your hotel. Make sure to have a light breakfast today as today we will be enjoying a great barbeque as the locals do. We will first start with a panoramic tour of Izmir City. Izmir is a modern city famous with its open minded people and culture. We will drive around the historical parts and important sights. Then we will head to a picnic area. On our way, we will stop by the local farmer’s stalls along the road and will buy our vegetables and meat. The picnic area is called “Kendin Pişir Kendin Ye”, which means “You Cook You Eat”. There will be a lot of locals in this area enjoying their day. After our relaxing picnic, we will head to ancient city of Klazomenai where excavations are still going on and we will learn about ancient olive oil making in the region. One of the oldest Olive Oil production centers of Anatolia (from 2600 years ago) was found here and is being renovated to start producing again. We will also visit Teos Ancient City. Along the way we will learn about the local olive oil produce and will be able to purchase some of the best olive oils in the world.
Day 2 – Ephesus – Cooking Class – Wine Tasting
After breakfast in the hotel, we will drive to Selcuk. This is a small town where famous Ephesus Ancient City is located. Our first stop is House of Virgin Mary, where she is believed to have lived her last days. We will then proceed to beautifully preserved Ephesus Ancient City. Ephesus is probably the best combination of Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilizations. With the mythological stories and spectacular ruins you will feel the life in ancient city. See the Fountains of Trojan, Polio, the Temples of Hadrian and Domition, Private House, the Library of Celsius, Various and Scholastic Baths, Bouloterion and the Great Theatre with capacity of 24,000 spectators. Now we are ready to learn to cook a Turkish meal for ourselves. Our first stop is the street market of the town (available only on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays – on other days ingredients will be provided by the restaurant) and do our shopping for fresh vegetables and other ingredients. Our menu may vary depending on season and your taste. We may learn to cook a nice vegetable cassarole, or a Turkish style pizza or some stuffed eggplants. After preparing, we will be using a stone oven to cook our food. While lunch is being cooked, you will have a chance to visit a nearby carpet center in order to learn and understand about this very important and traditional local handicrafts. After lunch, we will proceed to small and beautiful village of Sirince located up the hill. This village is famous with it’s fruit wines. You will have a chance to learn how fruit wines (cherry, peach, raspberry, melon, etc) are made and will also have a tasting session. You will also have a chance to walk around it’s narrow streets and shop from locals selling olive oil, soap, wine, food and souvenirs.
Day 3 – Aegean Breakfast – Pergamon
Skip breakfast at the hotel today because we will be enjoying a real Aegean breakfast in a village house along our way. Aegean breakfast is very tasty and healthy with fresh tomatoes, cheese, tasty olives, home made bread, home made jams and lots of olive oil mixed with oregano. After taking our time with breakfast and also getting to know the villagers who host us, we will head to Pergamum. Pergamum is one of the finest archaeological sites in Turkey. The city was a great center of culture and the capital of East Roman Empire. On the Acropolis there are numerous remains including the celebrated Library, the steepest theatre of Anatolia, the Temples of Trojan and Dionysos, the place of the monumental Altar of Zeus famous with the relief of God and devils, the Sanctuary of Demeter, the Gymnasium situated on terraces and the lower Agora. You will visit the Archaeological Museum of Bergama. Proceed to the Medical Center of the ancient world, Asklepion where the first psychological treatment had been used and which was dedicated to the God of Health, Asklepios. This afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the next destination.
Price Details
Prices include 4 star accommodation in each destination. We can change the hotel standard according to clients' preference and budget.
Rates are based on private services and include transportation, guide services and entrance fees as per itinerary.
Rates do not include meals as we assume the clients would rather order from ala carte menu than being limited by set menus.
All prices are in EUR and NET.
Domestic flights are not included in above prices. Domestic flight rates are to be added on top of the tour rate. As prices vary due to availability, domestic flight rates will be advised at the time of enquiry.
Above prices are given for guidance only. Prices may change according to the changes in the programs according to clients’ wishes, when preparing tailor made itineraries.