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This excursion provides you with the opportunity to visit one of the world's most famous and important historical sites and we are extremely luck to have one of Turkey's top guides to show us around, those with a specialist interest in archeology will not be disappointed.

The journey to Ephesus includes a couple of stops, the first at the Selcuk Bridge and the second a stop for refreshments.

Our first visit is to the House of the Virgin Mary, according to tradition Mary died at the age of 63 in Jerusalem but at the Third Ecumenical Council of 431 in Ephesus it was claimed that Mary lived and died here, in 1892 the house was declared a place of pilgrimage.

Plan of Ephesus(Efes)

We then move on to the main site of Ephesus, during the visit you will walk in the footsteps of people whose names are still familiar - Mark Antony, Cleopatra, Hadrian, Alexander the Great, the disciple St John accompanied by the Virgin Mary and many others. In the amphitheatre with its seating for 25,000 you will be visiting the same building from which St. Paul read his famous Letter to the Ephesians.

After a stop for lunch we stop at the Artemission, the remains of the temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (Much now housed in the British Museum!)

A visit to the magnificent Selcuk Museum allows the chance to see the astounding finds from Ephesus (and to sample the most delicious ice cream) and before heading home we stop at the Basilica of St. John, established as a centre of Christian pilgrimage in the 5th Century AD.

This trip is best done with a tour as you have the added advantage of walking downhill through the site (and not having to make the return walk uphill!!) and the immense knowledge of a specially trained site guide. Do not worry about taking children on this tour, experience has shown that youngsters always enjoy and appreciate the day.

It can be particularly hot walking around so please do remember to take a hat and a small bottle of water.

The Theater at Ephesus

Day: Friday
Depart: 7.30am Return: Approximately 8.00pm
Price: £33.00