Scour hillsides filled with the ruins of ancient Greek cities, scope out the former hometowns of famous philosophers, and listen to engaging commentary about the layouts of these former Ionian towns. Fly from Istanbul to uncover the sites of Priene, Miletos, and Didyma.

Get up early and catch a lift to the airport for your flight to Izmir, where you can transfer to a shuttle and cruise to Priene to kick off your full-day outing. Spend the morning exploring the weather-worn marble of the Temple of Athena, the Altar of Zeus and Cybele, and the bouleuterion, an assembly house used for democratic gatherings.

Continue to Miletos for up-close looks at the complex engineering of the Faustina Baths, and hear about Thales, the Pre-Socratic philosopher who originated from this coastal city. Tuck into a tasty lunch of Turkish dishes before wrapping up your day at Didyma, where the remains of a temple dedicated to Apollo where an oracle used to foretell the future offer reasons to discuss Greek mythology. When you're ready to return, ride back to the airport for your flight to Istanbul.