Priene, Miletus And Didyma: Ancient Sites

Priene, Miletus And Didyma: Ancient Sites Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Best tour for second time visitors.

If this is your second visit to Kusadasi, we recommend this tour.

Following your departure from the pier, your first stop will be Priene. This ancient harbor city probably changed its location when the silt of the Meander River threatened to bury it; now it is nearly 16km away from the sea. The original place of the city has never been found, but it is believed to be a peninsula with two harbors. Priene, which was laid out on a Hippodamian system of grid plans at the foot of a spectacular cliff on mount Mycale, contained many famous examples of Hellenistic art and architecture. All of the streets intersect at right angles.

Next, you'll visit Miletus, an ancient city located near the present Akköy at the mouth of the Buyuk Menderes (meander) River. Miletus, one of the largest cities in Anatolia, owed its importance to its position on the trade routes. Highly prosperous, it founded many colonies and was the home of the ancient philosophers Anaximander, Anaximenes, and Thales; the town planner Hippodamus; and architect Isidorus. Due to its prominent position, Miletus became the most important port in this area and it was the most active member of the 12 cities of the Ionian Confederation. From the 7th century B.C., the city has been controlled, in turn, by Persians, Romans, and Seljuk Turks.

Your last stop will be Didyma. The world Didyma, meaning "twins," was associated by some as being the meeting place of Zeus and Leto to have their twins Apollo and Artemis. Didyma was famed as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo, which served a similar purpose as the Delphi of Anatolia. It was not a city, but a sanctuary, linked to Miletus by Milesians by a 12-mile sacred road.

- The price of this trip includes a driver and air-conditioned vehicle, all transportation costs, an English-speaking guide, lunch, and entrance and parking fees to all sites. Any drinks you may choose to order during lunch are not included.
- Always communicate your needs and expectations to your driver/guide. They are there to take care of you in any situation, and are more than willing to adjust the day accordingly, upon immediate request. Do not feel that you have to rush through your tour, take your time. Ask questions and you may logically determine by the middle of your tour the amount of time you should need to return to the starting point. If you are taken to a shop or school, you may leave at anytime. You are not required to purchase anything.

- This trip requires a minimum of 2 passengers.
- This tour has a lot of walking. You must be physically fit.

Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 08:00 AM, duration: 8 hours
• 09:00 AM, duration: 8 hours