Today’s first included excursion sees you board the coach for a short journey to the ruined city of Ephesus, one of the most important Roman, then Byzantine, cities in the Eastern Mediterranean, and witness to the preaching of St Paul in the First Century AD. The ruins are considered (after those at Pompeii) the finest in the Mediterranean, and include churches, bathhouses, fountains, temples and gymnasia, the great Roman Amphitheatre, the facade of the Library of Celsus and the colonnade of the Arcadian Way. It's easy to imagine the past glories of this city that was once invaded by Croesus of Lydia and, later, by Alexander the Great. You’ll return to Kusadasi later this afternoon, after a fascinating journey into the ancient past.

Spend another day enjoying the facilities at your hotel and exploring the town. Why not take a stroll along the harbour promenade, wander around the medieval Kale district, or visit tiny Pigeon Island, which is connected to the town by a narrow walkway?

On our second included excursion you’ll visit the geological wonder of Pamukkale (Turkish for Cotton Castle). The hot springs here carry white calcium carbonate deposits down a gentle slope, creating a 100m-high slow-moving, ever-changing cascade with hundreds of terraces, pools and little channels of gleaming white travertine that give the site its name. The spring emerges on the site of Hierapolis, an ancient spa once frequented by Roman Emperors. The ruins of this once-great city are still visible, ranged around the Thermal Baths, and you’ll be able to visit its Temple of Apollo and restored Roman theatre. En route to Pamukkale you’ll stop at the “red water” springs of Karahayit, which are famed for their curative powers, and on your way back to Kusadasi there’ll be a chance to soak in the waters and enjoy an included lunch at the luxurious Pam Thermal Hotel, a five-star establishment with a spa fed by 35°C water from a natural spring below. You’ll return to Kusadasi in the early evening.

Enjoy another day of rest and relaxation in Kusadasi and its surroundings. On especially fine days, the nearby beaches, such as Ladies, Paradise and the slightly more distant Tusan, are easily reached by taxi or dolmus (a shared minibus taxi typical in Turkey) and offer a delightful contrast to the bustle of the resort. If the water is calm, why not take a boat trip from the harbour to explore some of the remoter stretches of the coastline?

Our final included excursion takes you inland to the remarkably preserved, Greek-built hill village of Sirince. Take a stroll through the idyllic streets, past pretty houses surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and orchards, and perhaps browse the village shops looking for gifts from their ranges of handicrafts and locally produced wines. Your day continues with lunch and time to explore at Camlik Steam Locomotive Museum. This open-air museum boasts a fascinating collection of historic engines from around Europe and even the USA. You’ll return to Kusadasi and your hotel to enjoy a last evening and dinner, during which you'll, no doubt, spend some time reliving the memories of the past fascinating few days.

Bid farewell to your hosts and return to Izmir to board your flight home at the end of a blissful week by the blue Aegean Sea.