Ephesus Shuttle - We recently vacationed on a cruise which stopped in Kusadasi and booked (independently from cruise ship) this tour from the port: Ephesus – Terrace Houses – House of Virgin Mary – Artemis Temple. The tour company immediately confirmed our reservation and responded to our questions. Very reliable and efficient, we had no difficultly finding our tour, prices were reasonable. This was an exceptional tour, which my husband and I truly enjoyed!....Our tour guide was Simon, and was very personable, knowledgeable, patient, respectful, exhibiting true appreciation and love for the sites and his country. His English was excellent. This was our first visit, and very memorable. I would highly recommend this tour/tour company. I would repeat this tour if I ever returned to Turkey because it was that amazing!

Best Tour of Ephesus! Better Than the Cruise Options! - To begin with, I found this tour based on other reviews from people who have visited Kusadasi and went to Ephesus all recommended to do this tour. We are so grateful we did because we couldn’t have asked for a better day. Our tour guide Salda was fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned about the process to become a tour guide in Turkey and it takes so much including a 4-year degree, certification through a big test, multiple week trip throughout the country learning and visiting all the historical and cultural sites and yearly continued education with archeologists to learn the latest discoveries. Truly impressive and it all showed in our tour. One huge benefit over the cruise tours is that we paid the price of a regular tour and had a private tour for the four of us. The van was incredibly comfortable and we could go and see whatever we wanted and curate the tour based on what we wanted. This was truly an immersive cultural experience learning about Turkish culture and ancient culture of the region. Regardless of you choose this tour or not, make sure the tour you do choose includes the terrace houses in Ephesus. I was in awe throughout them because they are preserved and restored homes of wealthy individuals from ancient Ephesus built into the hillside. These homes were massive and you get to explore them. Everything about Ephesus was amazing and a must see for history buffs or anyone that wants to learn more about how others lived. From there we got time to shop the little market at Ephesus which we were told has must better prices than the areas by the port or grand bazaar. We got to try fresh squeezed pomegranate and orange juice (as recommended by our guide Salda) and it was the perfect treat after walking in the fest and heat for a couple hours. The beauty of this tour is you can have as much or as little time as you want there exploring the ruins. As someone who loves to soak in everything and can take a bit of time moving and absorbing everything, this was perfect for me. Compared to the large cruise ship groups that are being here’s around at a fast pace and with a big group of people. We also went to the temple of Artemis which for those who know is only one pillar left standing as it has been raided for supplies over the centuries. We also had a view of saint John’s basilica which is under reconstruction. There is a great view of three different religions all in one place. I believe you have the option of asking to see the home of the Virgin Mary, but that didn’t interest. It was hard finding a tour that didn’t include it and this was the perfect one for us and our wants. After Ephesus we were taken to and official carpet making factory run by the government to support the dying art of handmade carpet weaving. We were given demonstrations and the opportunity to try our hand a weaving. You never felt pressured to buy anything and it felt more like a learning experience than a shopping stop. Of course there was the option to buy a carpet and know they were authentic and that the money went back fit eh local artisans who spent 9-16 months making just one carpet. Absolutely amazing. An important part of Turkish hospitality, as we learned from Salda is that Turks will always offer you a beverage of choice whether at their store or home and it is impolite to decline. Definitely try their apple tea or Turkish coffee. Many will even offer wine or beer as well. It was truly so welcoming and kind. I felt very safe of every portion of the journey and am inspired to come back and explore more of Turkey! My last bit is that you can’t beat the price of this tour. For $77 a person you get a private curated tour around Ephesus and the local area with tickets for Ephesus and the terrace houses included in the price. That’s at least half of not a third of the cruise ship prices and would cost the ride of a taxi to and from Ephesus alone not including the tickets. It’s an incredible deal and worth every penny.

Great Tour Guide and Good Value Tour of Ephesus - Erşan was very polite and knowledgeable. He was able to answer all questions asked by patrons of the tour. Highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in Ephesus.

Informative and entertaining - Ersan was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable with plenty of local info . We really enjoyed our day. Would highly recommend this tour.

Amazing tour of the terrace houses. Guide was terrific - What a wonderful experience we had on our tour. Our guide, Selda was amazing Her knowledge and love for her country was so evident We toured the terrace houses. We arrived before the crowds. Selda met us at our cruise ship and the whole day was perfect. Would highly recommend!

Ephesus Tour - We had a great experience with our guide, Tansu! Most of the time was spent at the ruins in Ephesus. Tansu was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and personable. We then went to the Temple of Artemis, and ended with a tour of Turkish rugs. I wasn't interested in making the stop with the weaving, but I'm glad my wife said we would. The information was very interesting, and the rugs were amazing!

Incredible history - lots of information - interesting and fun tour - We were a group of 4 couples on a cruise, and this was our first time in Turkey. We were all amazed at the sites and the history of the area. Since we only had a short day, we decided to focus on Ephesus, where there is so much history. Our guide Tansu, was sweet and funny and quite knowledgeable about the area and the history. She made the tour fun by sharing some fun facts about herself, and asking us questions about our homes and experiences. She pointed out many of the areas highlights, and expertly guided us through ruins and the Terrace Houses. The Terrace Houses were definitely a highlight for much of the group. So amazing to see how people with means lived so many years ago, and to trace their footsteps. The only issue we had was when the driver couldn't get the AC to work in the van. It was a hot day, and that made the ride a bit uncomfortable for a short time. Eventually it was resolved, but that was one thing that wasn't ideal. Otherwise the van was quite comfortable.

Great experience - We had a wonderful experience with our guide Rosie and our wonderful driver, touring Ephesus and the Terrace Houses. Rosie was friendly and knowledgeable - so much history we can't remember it all but she emphasized the most important. We highly recommend the Terrace Houses to see the mansions of their day, complete with mosaics and frescoes. Afterwards she offered a choice to stop and see carpet making or pottery. We chose pottery and it was amazing! A multi-generational family business, UNESCO aligned, making the highest quality artistic vases and other pottery. They explained the whole process start to finish and then we toured their gallery. We had a much better experience than others who booked through the cruise line. In addition, the tour operator responded quickly to all questions and inquiries. Highly recommend.

Excellent Tour Guide - Ozzy was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and personable and his English was excellent. We would not hesitate to use his again. We highly recommend him.

Worth booking on a cruise and has carpet tour - The tour was excellent and its worth seeing Ephesus if your into history. Tour guide Tansu was a good guide explaining the history of the region during the drive as well as explaining the history of the ruins. Also after asking for an authentic restaurant she took us to one in kusadasi. Was a great tour for the price from the port with everything organised for you. Would be a 5/5 tour if they mentioned they would visit he carpet place but they failed to mention that stop. However the carpet place was surprisingly interesting and if you have the time would recommend it as they seem to not be pushy anymore with sales. Also be aware you are paying for transport and the tour guide but will have to pay for entry tickets afterwards