Didyma, Miletus & Priene – private day tour from Istanbul incl. flight

Away from the crowds lie three places that shaped the history of the Greek world. Early in the morning we fly from Istanbul to Izmir and head south. We walk through Priene, the model city on the slope of Mount Mykale, stand in the theatre of Miletus, home of the first philosophers, and end before the huge columns of the Temple of Apollo at Didyma. In the evening you fly back to Istanbul.

Highlights

• Domestic flight Istanbul – Izmir and back, departing from IST or SAW
• Priene: Temple of Athena, council house and residential quarter of a planned city
• Miletus: the great theatre, the Baths of Faustina and the harbour where Paul said farewell
• Didyma: one of the largest temples of the ancient world, seat of Apollo's oracle
• Views over the Maeander valley, where the sea once lay
• All transfers and a private guide – nothing to organise yourself

Full description

Priene sits on terraces at the foot of a cliff and shows better than almost any other site how a Greek city was planned: grid streets, a council house with tiers of seats, homes and the Temple of Athena dedicated by Alexander the Great. From above you look across the Maeander valley, silted up by the river over the centuries.

Miletus was once the leading city of Ionia, home of Thales, Anaximander and Hippodamus. Today the great theatre is the highlight. At Miletus Paul called the elders of Ephesus to him and took leave of them (Acts 20). The day ends at Didyma: the Temple of Apollo was never quite finished and yet is one of the largest of the ancient world – here spoke the oracle second only to Delphi in fame.

For you this means: you book everything in one step – flights, transfers and guiding – at one fixed total price.

What we see

We adapt order and selection to weekday, opening hours, weather and your wishes.

• 1 · Flight Istanbul – Izmir
  Early pick-up at your hotel in Istanbul, transfer to IST or SAW airport, flight to Izmir (ADB), drive south.
• 2 · Priene
  Temple of Athena, bouleuterion, theatre, residential quarter and views over the Maeander valley.
• 3 · Miletus
  Great theatre, Baths of Faustina, harbour remains and Lion Bay.
• 4 · Didyma
  Temple of Apollo with the oracle court, Medusa head and Sacred Way.
• 5 · Flight back to Istanbul
  Transfer to Izmir airport (ADB), evening flight (approx. 8 pm), in Istanbul transfer back to your hotel.

Included

• Private, state-licensed tour guide in your language (Mehmet Humayunoğlu or an experienced colleague from his team)
• Domestic flight Istanbul (IST or SAW) – Izmir (ADB) and back
• Transfer hotel Istanbul – airport and back
• Vehicle with driver from and to Izmir airport (ADB) for the day programme
• Planning, coordination and time management of the day

Not included

• Entrance fees (Priene, Miletus, Didyma)
• Lunch, drinks
• Personal expenses, tips

Meeting point

We pick you up early in the morning at your hotel in Istanbul and bring you back there in the evening. Departure airport is either Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW).

You will recognise me by the sign “MeinReiseleiter.de” and the visibly worn guide licence. We confirm meeting point and time with your booking.

Important information

German, English, Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish – 25 more languages on request.

• Names as in your passport – We issue the flight tickets in the names you enter in the booking form. Please write them exactly as in your ID or passport.
• Bring your ID – All travellers need their passport or national ID card for the domestic flight.
• Long day – Early pick-up, back at the hotel late in the evening; the drives between the sites take about 30 to 60 minutes each.
• Flight times – We confirm the exact flight times and your hotel pick-up time with the booking.
• MuseumPass Aegean – Valid for Priene, Miletus and Didyma. Can be added in the booking form; paid in full with the deposit and non-refundable. Children under 8 do not need a pass.
• Sun protection and water – Little shade at all three sites, some steps uphill in Priene.