Countryside in Izmir
Day Trip to Greek Island of Samos
A quick hop over the sea from Kusadasi, and you'll find yourself on the Greek Island of Samos. Spend a day at your own pace in either Vathy or Pythagoreio, with your return ferry, taxes and round trip transfers in Kusadasi covered.Depending on the day, you'll dock in either Vathy or Pythagoreio. From there, you'll have the rest of the day to spend exactly as you please. In Vathy, you can visit the famous Archaeological Museum, browse for souvenirs at the main square, amble along its cobblestone streets and relax into the island pace of life. Set around a horseshoe bay, you'll be able to stroll along the bustling quayside filled with tavernas and cafés, where you can watch the world go by.Or if you dock in Pythagoreio, you can relax on the nearby pebble beach, wander around the quaint harbour or head up to the rooftop pool at Samos Hotel – the choice is yours. After a busy day exploring, you'll head back to Kusadasi by ferry in the early evening.
A natural masterpiece combines with ancient ruins for this full day tour. You'll head to Pamukkale – which means 'cotton castle' in Turkish – as well as the adjacent city of Hierapolis. Both are UNESCO-listed, so it's a two-for-one deal on Turkey's historical gems. Muzaffer, one of our local guides, says, ‘Pamukkale is like something out of a fairytale – a spectacle of terraces formed over thousands of years that look like a cascading snowy waterfall. Legend has it, the hot thermal springs here have healing properties'.On arrival, you'll stop by the Pam Hotel for a spot of lunch, before we make our way to the main event. A sight to behold, Pamukkale's natural springs solidified into chalk-white stalactites and cliffs long ago, resulting in a winter-like wonderland of petrified tiers and pools. People have bathed here for thousands of years, including Roman emperors. Follow in their footsteps and bathe in one of the thermal pools or simply make your way to the top and drink in the magnificent views.Next up is the ancient spa town of Hierapolis. You'll have free time to explore its well-preserved ruins, including ancient streets, a 13,000-seat theatre and the thermal baths – known as Cleopatra's pool due to her reputation of eternal youth. A dip is extra but well worth forking out for the experience of bathing in an oasis scattered with Roman artefacts. What's more, for every sale of this experience, there's a donation to CYDD, a charity that helps in the education of underprivileged children in Turkey.
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Three of ancient Iona's most important archaeological sites lie conveniently within a 25km radius. This guided tour of the ruins of Priene, Milet and Didyma will give you great insight into the treasures of Ionian antiquity.
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