Highlights
- 2-day SAW flight package: Turn the full Ephesus heritage route into an overnight air-connected program with a dedicated heritage day in the Selcuk region.
- House of the Virgin Mary: Visit one of the region's most recognized Christian pilgrimage sites before the main Ephesus visit on day two.
- Ephesus Ancient City: Walk marble streets, public monuments and major Roman remains in one of Turkiye's leading archaeological sites.
- Terrace Houses: Add preserved mosaics, frescoes and upper-class Roman domestic life to the core Ephesus route.
- Basilica of St. John: Continue the heritage day with early Christian history on Ayasoluk Hill above Selcuk.
- Temple of Artemis: Complete the program with the symbolic remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Why You Will Love This Tour
- The overnight flight structure helps you reach the broader Ephesus heritage circuit from Sabiha Gokcen Airport without compressing the full route into a same-day return.
- Combining House of Virgin Mary, Ephesus, Terrace Houses, St. John Basilica and Artemis gives this package stronger archaeological and religious depth than a lighter overnight version.
- Flying in on the first day and touring on the second keeps the main sightseeing focused on the core Selcuk highlights instead of splitting attention between transfer and visits.
- It works well for travelers looking for a SAW Ephesus flight package with fuller route coverage and a calmer overall flow.
Overview
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Day 1
Istanbul to Kusadasi / Selcuk Region
Flight connection from Istanbul to Izmir and transfer to the overnight area.
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Start the package from Istanbul, connect by domestic flight to Izmir, and continue to the Kusadasi / Selcuk overnight area.
This Day Physical Rating: Moderate This Day Intensity: Extreme DaySabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) Meeting PointMeet at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) for the domestic flight to Izmir.
Meet at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) and prepare for the Izmir flight connection.
TicketsFlight ticket (Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to Izmir Airport (ADB)) IncludedIzmir AirportArrive at Izmir Airport and continue to the overnight area.
Arrive at Izmir Airport and continue by vehicle to the Kusadasi / Selcuk overnight area.
Hotel Check-in (Kusadasi / Selcuk Area)Check in for the overnight stay in the Kusadasi hotel area.
Check in to your hotel in the Kusadasi area and rest before the Ephesus touring day.
Accommodation & Hotel MealsOvernight accommodation IncludedHotel dinner Included -
Day 2
Ephesus / Selcuk Region and Sabiha Gokcen Airport Return
Complete the complete Ephesus route and return to Sabiha Gokcen Airport by flight.
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Different tour end?
Tour the Ephesus / Selcuk region, return to Izmir Airport, and fly back to Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
This Day Physical Rating: Moderate This Day Intensity: Extreme Day
Mary Statue on the Olive Road
Nativity Scene Inside House of Virgin Mary
Historic Stonework at Celsus Library
Site View at the Library of Celsus
Cultural View Near Celsus Library
Urban Heritage View at Celsus Library
Hadrian Temple Carved Detail
Archaeological Layers of Terrace Houses
Cultural Stonework at St. John Basilica
Historic Detail of Temple of Artemis Hotel Check-out / DepartureCheck out and begin the Ephesus touring route.
Check out from the hotel and continue to the Ephesus / Selcuk touring route.
House of Virgin MaryVisit the pilgrimage site on Bulbul Mountain near Ephesus.
Start the sightseeing route at the House of Virgin Mary, one of the region's most important Christian heritage sites.
Entrance FeesHouse of Virgin Mary , €13.5 IncludedHouse of Virgin Mary gives the sightseeing day a quiet and devotional beginning before the larger ruins of Ephesus come into view. Set in the wooded hills above the ancient city, the site is valued for pilgrimage tradition, spiritual atmosphere and sacred association far more than for monumental scale.
Its calm setting helps frame the region as a place shaped by faith and memory as well as archaeology. For many visitors, that reflective tone becomes an important part of how the entire day is remembered.
Ephesus Ancient CityGuided highlights walk through the main archaeological areas.
Continue to Ephesus Ancient City and explore the most important monuments and marble streets with your licensed guide.
Entrance FeesEphesus Ancient City , €40 IncludedEphesus Ancient City is the central historical focus of the flight package and one of the clearest places to understand how a major ancient city once functioned. Streets, monuments and public spaces remain connected in a way that lets visitors read civic life, trade, movement and ceremony directly through the surviving urban layout.
That coherence is what makes Ephesus especially powerful. Guests are not simply seeing famous ruins, but moving through a city structure that still explains how a complex urban world once operated as a whole.
Terrace HousesVisit the Terrace Houses section of Ephesus to see Roman residences, mosaics, and wall paintings.
Continue inside the Ephesus archaeological zone to the Terrace Houses and see the preserved Roman residences, mosaics, and wall paintings. This section involves stairs and uneven surfaces.
Entrance FeesTerrace Houses of Ephesus , €15 IncludedTerrace Houses add a more intimate and residential layer to the Ephesus visit by shifting attention from public grandeur to elite domestic life. Their preserved interiors, decorative details and room organization show how comfort, status and refinement were expressed inside private homes.
This stop helps the city feel inhabited rather than purely monumental. It reminds visitors that Ephesus was not only a civic center of public buildings, but also a lived environment shaped by households and everyday routine.
Lunch Stop (Selcuk) LLunch break near Selcuk before the final heritage stops.
Take a planned lunch stop near Selcuk before continuing to the final heritage stops of the day.
MealsLunch meal IncludedLunch Stop in Selcuk usually reflects the practical food culture of the inland Aegean, where olive oil dishes, grilled foods, vegetables and simple regional cooking are common. Meals in this area often feel balanced and satisfying, shaped more by freshness and local habit than by formal presentation.
As part of the day route, the stop offers a natural break between major historical visits. It also gives guests a more everyday connection to the region beyond its famous archaeological landmarks.
St. John BasilicaVisit the landmark basilica in Selcuk.
Continue to the Basilica of St. John in Selcuk and learn about its significance and the surrounding historical setting.
Entrance FeesSt. John Basilica , €6 IncludedSt. John Basilica broadens the route into the Christian and Byzantine history of Selcuk, showing that the area remained important long after the classical height of Ephesus. Its association with John the Apostle and its later sacred prestige give the site significance beyond the surviving remains alone.
The stop also helps the surrounding landscape make more historical sense. Here, faith, memory and archaeology begin to read as parts of one connected regional story.
Temple of ArtemisShort stop at the Temple of Artemis area for photos and context.
See the Temple of Artemis heritage zone and hear why it is remembered as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Temple of Artemis is best approached today as a place of immense historical reputation rather than as a complete standing monument. Even in fragmentary form, it represents one of the most celebrated sanctuaries of the ancient world and reminds visitors how far the prestige of this region once reached.
The stop completes the route by adding another layer of significance to the day. Alongside urban archaeology and Christian heritage, it preserves the memory of one of antiquity's great sacred landmarks.
Izmir AirportReturn to Izmir Airport for the Istanbul flight.
Transfer back to Izmir Airport and prepare for the return flight to Istanbul.
TicketsFlight ticket (Izmir Airport (ADB) to Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)) IncludedSabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) Drop-off Different tour end?End the package at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).
The package ends at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) after the return flight.
Different tour end?Accommodation & Hotel MealsHotel breakfast Included
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Reach out to our travel experts.
What's Included
- Day 1: Overnight accommodation (Hotel Check-in (Kusadasi / Selcuk Area)).
- Day 1: Hotel Dinner meal.
- Day 2: Hotel Breakfast meal, Lunch meal.
- House of Virgin Mary.
- Ephesus Ancient City.
- Terrace Houses of Ephesus.
- St. John Basilica.
- Day 1: Flight ticket (Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to Izmir Airport (ADB)).
- Day 2: Flight ticket (Izmir Airport (ADB) to Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)).
- Licensed professional tour guide.
- Air-conditioned tour vehicle.
- Transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- Parking fees.
- Pick-up from your hotel or meeting point.
- Drop-off at your hotel or meeting point.
- Local taxes.
What's Not Included
Informations
- Please wear comfortable walking shoes and casual clothing.
- Please dress according to the season and weather conditions.
- Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses are recommended in sunny weather.
- Bring water, especially on hot days.
- Cameras are welcome, but tripods may not be permitted in some museums and archaeological sites.
- Guests should watch their step at all times to avoid injuries.
- Please check the weather forecast before your tour.
- Respectful clothing is recommended for visits to mosques and churches.
- Please bring your passport or ID card.
- This tour involves walking on uneven and cobblestone surfaces.
- The exact pick-up time will be confirmed after booking.
- The tour route may be adjusted due to weather, traffic, or site conditions.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Please be ready at your confirmed pick-up or meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
- Entrance fees may be paid by credit card or Turkish Lira.
- Flight times are confirmed after booking and may affect the final pickup or meeting time.
Your Peace of Mind Options
Cancellation Policy
A transparent overview of applicable fees.
Tour Reminder!
You can create a reminder for yourself for this tour. We will send you a reminder e-mail/sms about this tour on the date you specify.
FAQs
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Is this a 2-day Ephesus tour from Sabiha Gokcen Airport by flight?
Yes. This group package is a 2-day Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Izmir flight-based route with an overnight stay in the Kusadasi or Selcuk area and the full Ephesus sightseeing program on the second day. -
Is this a shared group tour?
Yes. This version is the shared group flight package, so the sightseeing route is organized as a group program rather than a private tour. -
Which places are included in the route?
The route covers House of Virgin Mary, Ephesus Ancient City, Terrace Houses, St. John Basilica and the Temple of Artemis, with the overnight package structure built around the full Selcuk circuit. -
Does this package include an overnight stay?
Yes. This is an overnight package and the route includes hotel accommodation in the Kusadasi or Selcuk area between the outbound and return flight legs. -
Are flights included in the base group package?
Yes. In the current base group structure, the Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Izmir flight connections are included as part of the package setup. -
What is included in the base group package price?
The current base group structure supports the guided sightseeing route, hotel stay, domestic flight connections, lunch on the sightseeing day and the linked entrance fees for the included sites. -
How long does the full package usually take?
This is a 2-day flight package. The full route spans two calendar days with flight connections, hotel stay, airport transfers and the complete Selcuk sightseeing program. -
Is this route suitable for travelers starting at Sabiha Gokcen Airport?
Yes. The route is designed for Sabiha Gokcen Airport starts and works as an airport-to-airport overnight Ephesus package rather than a city-center departure product. -
What is the entrance fee for House of Virgin Mary on this tour?
The current entrance fee is shown with the latest linked fee data. On this group package, that entrance fee is included in the base tour structure. House of Virgin Mary entry fee is €13.5. -
What is the entrance fee for Ephesus Ancient City on this tour?
The current entrance fee is shown with the latest linked fee data. On this group package, that entrance fee is included in the base tour structure. Ephesus Ancient City entry fee is €40. -
What is the entrance fee for Terrace Houses on this tour?
The current entrance fee is shown with the latest linked fee data. On this group package, that entrance fee is included in the base tour structure. Terrace Houses of Ephesus entry fee is €15. -
What is the entrance fee for St. John Basilica on this tour?
The current entrance fee is shown with the latest linked fee data. On this group package, that entrance fee is included in the base tour structure. St. John Basilica entry fee is €6.
Good to Know
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Overnight package structure
This is an overnight flight package, so guests should be prepared for two travel days that combine flights, hotel stay and the main sightseeing route. -
Walking conditions
Ephesus, Terrace Houses and St. John Basilica involve walking on stone surfaces, slopes and uneven archaeological ground, so comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended. -
Site preparation
Open sections such as Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis can be hot and exposed, so sun protection, water and season-appropriate clothing are useful during the sightseeing day. -
Religious-site awareness
House of Virgin Mary is an active religious stop, so modest and respectful site behavior is recommended during the visit. -
Pickup and flight coordination
Guests should re-check final airport meeting and flight coordination details before service, because package timing depends on airport operations and route logistics.
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