Fatima was terrific! She is knowledgeable, cheerful, organized & hard working. A pleasure to have spent a few informative hours with. A+
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Cruise Port/Hotel Pick-up & Drop-Off (mentioned on the details)
- GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS
- Museum Entrance Tickets (you can include or exclude the ticket according to the option)
- Private transportation with modern, A/C minivans, each operated by a dedicated professional driver
- Professional LICENSED LOCAL TOUR GUIDE
- PRIVATE TOUR that ensures more personalized service
Excludes
- Museum Entrance Tickets (you can include or exclude the ticket according to the option)
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- IMPORTANT NOTICE: ⚠️ Entrance Tickets of Ephesus Ruins and Mary's House are included if the included option is chosen. On the day of the tour, if you would like to visit any other place, you are responsible with the entrance ticket of that place. ⚠️ ⛔️ GROUP TOURS force you to follow fixed schedules and visit places based on their timing, regardless of your interests! You’re stuck with fast and slow travelers alike, having to keep up with the group. Plus, you have to pay all ENTRY FEES IN ADVANCE, whether you're interested in the sites or not. Why pay for places you don't want to visit and feel obligated to go just because you paid? ⛔️ ⚠️ Our PRIVATE TOURS give you the flexibility you need. Entry fees are not included, so you only pay for the places that genuinely interest you. In the morning, we discuss your interests and tailor the itinerary accordingly. ⚠️ ✳️ With our PRIVATE TOURS, you have complete control, visiting only the places you want to see. Would you rather spend your day WAITING FOR OTHER TRAVELERS and FOLLOWING A FIXED ITINERARY, or ENJOY A PRIVATE TOUR CUSTOMIZED JUST FOR YOUR FAMILY? The choice is yours! ✳️ *****CRUISE PASSENGERS WHO WILL JOIN FROM THE CRUISE PORT***** • Upon your ship's arrival at the port, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to meet with our team WITHIN 30 to 45 MINUTES. By doing so, you can bypass the crowds, school busses, and hot weather, ensuring an enhanced and MORE ENJOYABLE TOUR EXPERIENCE OF EPHESUS. • WHY CHOOSE OUR PRIVATE TOURS OVER THE GROUP TOURS? Your time is valuable, don't waste it in the Group Tours by waiting for other fellow travelers! NOTE: ADDITIONAL FEES APPLY FOR PICK-UPS FROM IZMIR, BODRUM, OR OTHER PORTS THEN KUSADASI.
Itinerary
We will meet you at the Cruise Port! Once your tour is booked, we’ll reach out promptly with your customised meeting time and precise meeting location, arranged according to your cruise ship’s arrival & departure.
Ephesus Ruins is the largest open-air museum in Turkey, reflecting the grandeur of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations at their peak. As you walk through this extraordinary archaeological site, you step back in time while discovering the Senate Building, the Ancient Hospital, the Temple of Domitian, the famous Nike Statue, Hercules Gate, the Trajan Fountain, the beautifully preserved Temple of Hadrian, the world-renowned Celsus Library, and the magnificent Grand Theatre of Ephesus—along with many other remarkable remains that bring history vividly to life.
The House of the Virgin Mary is one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites, believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary spent her final years and passed away. The shrine gained worldwide recognition after Pope Paul VI visited in 1967 and informally affirmed its authenticity. It was later visited by Pope John Paul II in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. During their visits, each offered special gifts to the sanctuary, many of which can still be seen today.
Artemis was the Greek goddess of the hunt, a virginal protector and the twin sister of Apollo, who eventually replaced the Titan Selene as the Goddess of the Moon. Her ancient temple, built around 650 BC in honor of the cult of Artemis, stood on a site that had long been sacred to the Anatolian Mother Goddess Cybele. The construction was funded by the wealthy King of Lydia, and the marshy ground was deliberately chosen to help cushion the structure against future earthquakes. Over the centuries, however, the temple was repeatedly damaged and destroyed by natural disasters, leading to several reconstructions and collapses throughout its history.
Terrace Houses were the houses of rich & upper class people in Ephesus City have been lived, famed with gorgeous mosaics, frescoes and wall paintings. One of the best preserved site in the Ephesus in which archeological works still continue. *OPTIONAL VISIT depending on request* Please be aware that the entry ticket of this place is not included in the cost of the tour. If you are interested in visiting this place, you are responsible with the entry ticket of it. You can pay it ON-SITE to the Museum.
You will also have the chance to explore authentic local handicrafts and, if you choose, enjoy a truly genuine shopping experience. Your professional local tour guide will be by your side to offer valuable insights—highlighting the finest traditional crafts, recommending the most reputable places to visit, and providing expert tips to ensure a smooth, enjoyable, and completely hassle-free experience.
Also known as Pigeon Island, it is one of the earliest settled areas of modern Kusadasi. We will pass by and have the chance to see it from a distance. Since it is located very close to the port, you may have time to visit it on your own after the tour if you’re interested.
We will drive through Kusadasi Town and will have a panoramic view while listening the key informations from our Local Tour Guide.
At the end of the tour, we will return to the Kusadasi Cruise Port according to your exact onboard time. PLEASE NOTE: Multiple cruise ships often dock on the same day with different arrival and departure schedules. We carefully monitor all timings, confirm the details directly with our guests, and coordinate the return accordingly. OUR TOURS PROVIDE A GUARANTEED ON-TIME RETURN TO YOUR SHIP!
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Fatima was a wonderful guide and Iglesias Tour Turkey was easy to work with. We were told in advance where to meet and we were so happy with the quality of our experience. We were on the Viking Star cruise and wanted a small, private tour. This was a perfect solution
Great experience! This was our first time in Turkey and we had an amazing day visiting the sites such as Ephesus and the home of the Virgin Mary. We met him right off the cruise ship and started our journey before the crowds formed. I highly recommend Ozzy, who was our guide and very knowledgeable about the history and the country. He kept us engaged the whole time. Thank you!
Great experience! This was our first time in Turkey and we had an amazing day visiting the sites such as Ephesus and the home of the Virgin Mary. We met him right off the cruise ship and started our journey before the crowds formed. I highly recommend Ozzy, who was our guide and very knowledgeable about the history and the country. He kept us engaged the whole time. Thank you!
Prompt , Professional, Courteous, and a very knowledgeable, enthusiastic tour guide. Ozzy is the best :)
Beautiful and educational experience. Fatima was amazing and a pleasure to spend the day with.
Our tour with Fatima was spectacular! The sites are beautiful, the history is rich, and Fatima tied it all together into a fantastic tour. Thank you for a wonderful time!!
Everything worked smoothly from the beginning, from pick up at the port and an immediate introduction to my marvelous guide by the name of Nil. She is very knowledgeable, has a positive personality, and offered great hospitality. The tour had flexibility and I enjoyed everything from the tour of Ephesus to an informational visit to a carpet weaving facility and then an extraordinary lunch. The tour wasn't over yet then we headed back to the Virgin Mary's home, Artemis temple and more. Thank you to Nil and the travel agency for a great experiences.
Fatima was very knowledgeable and very friendly. This tour is very informative.
Fatima was absolutely fantastic as our guide to Ephesus! She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and pleasant, making the entire experience both enjoyable and memorable. Her passion for the history and her ability to bring this ancient city to life made our visit even more special. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Thank you, Fatima, for such a wonderful experience! Highly recommend! Shout out to our driver as well!!
We went with Wozy, very informative and respectful guide!
Excellent tour and great knowledge of sites and Turkish culture
The guide spoke excellent English. He was very polite organized and very knowledgeable. We were able to see Ephesus which was amazing. We also went to the Virgin Mary house and he had a very plausible story of it. We enjoyed the tour and learned a lot.
Fatima C was an excellent guide who was both knowledgeable and courteous. She was aware of our limitations and walked at our pace to insure everyone could keep up.
Fatima C is a very good guide. She was waiting for us when we got off the ship. Her communication was good before the tour. Fatima gave us cultural and historic information as we walked. At the carpet factory she helped us negotiate a deal. Very pleasant and personable.
Ozzy was an excellent guide explaining in depth all the sites we visited. I would recommend him highly.
Great tour with Fatima C. She tailored tour program very well nice lady. I will advise tour to everyone
Fatima C. is an excellent guide. We enjoyed our tour with her very much. Even though it was our third time to Ephasus we learned a lot more with Fatima C.
What a great tour!! Knowledgeable guide. Izzy was fantastic, and would recommend him and our driver to anyone! Patient articulate and more than friendly. Definitely lol them up!
Had a fantastic tour with Ozzy. Knowledgeable and personable, he gave us great information. Was very patient with some of our mobility challenged people
Very informative. Great Guide. Izzy.
Peri did very good job, she is very knowledgeable about history. I definitely will recommend her.
Peri was amazing tour guide she gave lots of information about Ephesus and other sites. Thanks peri
Let me say first. It was a good tour. We had a good time. Josh was our tour guide. We enjoyed him. He was very knowledgeable. But.... There was no talk of a carpet weaving demonstration in the itinerary or a sales pitch at the leather store. Lunch were sort of mandatory that you do and that wasn't mentioned either. Lunch was good. I enjoyed it, but again I felt a little pressured it that it was really the only option. I felt like if that was the only choice, include lunch in the tour and add the $20 to the price. We enjoyed the weaving demonstration and again I felt like it should have been in the description. The leather store was just uncomfortable as we had no interest in buying and felt bad about wasting their time
What a great tour with an interesting history to learn about. Ozzy was very knowledgeable, answered all of our questions and spoke perfect English. He was quite engaging. What a fantastic tour and value!
Fantastic tour by Ozzy! He was very knowledgeable, professional and nice! Delicious lunch. One of the best tours ever! We never felt rushed or unsafe. Prompt and easy pick up from the cruise terminal.
Ozzy is a fantastic tour guide. We enjoyed very much. He is very knowledgeable and experienced. We like him a lot
Such a lovely guide Fatima. So very informative. Loved the experience.
The whole experience. Fatima was very knowledgeable and personable. She tailored the tour to what we were interested in and were able to navigate. Her understanding of the history, culture, and archaeology of the sites were great and she did not get excessively pedantic or academic--a great balance.
Fatima was an excellent and extremely professional representative of the company! She made the experience delightful and fun! Further kudos would be over the top.
Good enjoyed Josh as a guide gg
Our guide Nilay was amazing! She was so knowledgeable about her country about and Ephesus. The ruins were in bigger and better than ewe imagined. She took many pictures of us.
A private tour is the way to go. Nilay was our guide today. She is quite local and very knowledgeable and passionate about the local culture and history. We had a great time and got a lot more out of the tour since we did not have to wait around for a bunch of people.
A private tour is the way to go. Nilay was our guide today. She is quite local and very knowledgeable and passionate about the local culture and history. We had a great time and got a lot more out of the tour since we did not have to wait around for a bunch of people.
Ozzy is a great guide and educated about the Ephesus Archaeological history of the place. He’s informative and always watch and account all the guests. The rug place was interesting but it’s definitely expensive, we went to the leather shop and I ended up getting one just because it’s comfortable and light, and you can switch side of the leather jacket.
I really appreciated our guide Ozzy; he was knowledgeable and provides relevant information on the sites. He’s fun too. I really appreciated the fact that they accommodated me and my husband on the day of the tour itself outside the cruise ship.
Ozzi is a good tour leader. Thanks very much!
Ozzy was our tour guide, he was very professional knowledgable, we had unforgettable time.
Ozzy is very professional and knowledgeable.
Peri was an amazing guide. She was very knowledgeable on so many different places that we saw and visited. I would highly recommend touring with her.
Peri was a great guide for our private tour of Ephesus and the surrounding area. We had our mother with us who has mobility limitations, and Peri adjusted the tour to accommodate her. She is very knowledgeable of Turkish history and the area and kept us entertained the entire time. We highly recommend her as a tour guide.
Mert was very knowledgable and excellent
Fatima was the most gracious and wonderful guide. I learned so much today and feel like I made a friend for life. The day was so much more than I expected.
Fatima was exceptional. We met with her at cruise terminal on time. The lunch was excellent
This tour was everything it said it would be and much much more!!! Ecem was the best guide we have ever had!!!
Nilay is such a wonderful guide, she made our experience wonderful. She is so sweet and very informed. Her English is incredible. Highly recommend her!
Nil is very knowledgeable and professional guide .He explained everything very well .History knowledge was amazing she explained in detail.highly recommended
It was very easy to find our guide, Canan. She was very clear about what we could expect on our trip. The van was very nice. On the way to Ephesus, Canan shared the history of Turkiey this region, and Ephesus. Arriving at Ephesus was easy access, and Canan shared many helpful insights on the layout and purpose of each area. We traveled to and enjoyed a cooperative rug shop and wonderful lunch of local foods.
Its was extremely easy to locate our guide at the port. It was very organized, so ease of finding guide was very much appreciated. Really enjoyed Canan, she was really nice and patient with me as I was slower than my friend. She took the time to explain everything, was extremely knowledgeable. She made us feel.comfortable in a new place. We stopped at the Rug school and were amazed at the weavers and the amount of time and expertise that goes into making one of these carpets. Amazing. We then had a fabulous lunch with all the local cuisine. It was excellent! Thank you Canan for a wonderful day exploring Ephesus and Turkey.
Fatima was fabulous 🤩❤️Our driver was excellent !!! It was a fabulous time in Turkey!! Special memories made!I will tell everyone about this special time:)
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