For travellers and cruise passengers who have been to Ephesus we offer the following private tour from Kusadasi and Selcuk. We recommend this tour only for travellers who been to Ephesus and do not want to go to Ephesus again. Below tour do not include visit to Ephesus.

For more information and costs please contact us.

Today we had wonderful tour with Hall Family. I picked them from Istanbul Port where Norwegian Jade docked. Since the family had 2 adults and 2 kids to give us more freedom and cost effective I offered them a guide only service.

After meeting them from the Port of Istanbul we took a cab and went to Sultanahmet district. (We paid 10 Turkish Liras to the cab). Our first stop was the Hipodrome, Saw the obelisk, Serpentine column. Continued to Blue Mosque and afterwards Church of Hagia Sophia. One of the recent movies Argo was scened in this magnificent building.

After the visit to the Church of Hagia Sophia we stopped at a pastry shop. Had a liiitle rest and sampled Simit (Circle Bread with sesame seeds) and enjoyed some Turkish Tea. Walked througn some old Ottoman Royal Family cemetery and visited Grand Bazaar. Walked through the colorful shops and maze streets of Grand Bazaar.

Continued through Mahmutpasa Street. Saw where the locals shop. Showed them some of the buildings scened in the last James Bond movie: Skyfall. Visited Spice Market. Stopped at one of my high school friends shop and tasted Turkish Delight. Walked around Spice Market saw the Ottoman pet shops that has been running over 400 years. Stopped and enjoyed Baklava with wallnuts.

Crossed over Galata Bridge. Saw the boats making fish sandwiches and fisherman catching sardines. Walked through the 19th century bank neigbourhood and Jewish residential area of Karakoy. Took pictures of the narrow streets and Genoise Tower of Galata.

Reached the crowded local shopping street of Istiklal. Stopped by the Church of St. Anthony. Sampled hot halva by Koska and had lunch in Pera Diner Cafe at Nevizade. Kids were tired but they did very well. Mr. Hall wanted to continue to the tour but wanted to drop the kids back to the ship to the kids club. We took a cab back to the ship and dropped the kids to the kids club and continued to our tour.

We walked to Kabatas and took a public ferry to Uskudar. Enjoyed a 15 minute cruise on the Bosphorus passing by Dolmabahce Palace. Walked in Uskudar Market and Antique stores. Sampled Sahlep (White Chocolate Taste Hot Drink with Cinnamon). Walked by the Maiden`s Tower which is one the symbols of Istanbul and scened in James Bond World is Not Enough Movie. Had great pictures of Bosphorus, Norwegian Jade and Maidens Tower. Finally we took a public boat back to Kabatas and walked bavk to the ship.

The Hall Family enjoyed the tour very much. By walking they saw much more than their fellow passengers and by getting a guide only service they paid much less than their fellow passengers.

If you would like me to do a smillar walking tour of Istanbul for you. I will be in Istanbul till April 21, 2013. My Fullday (8 Hours) Guide only charge is 100 Euro. Please click here to contact me.

This week with my wife Ezgi we spent two wonderful days in Dalyan. It takes 3.5 hours one way from Kusadasi to Dalyan driving through Aydin City Center, Cine, Gokova Bay, Koycegiz...

Dalyan is a unique site. You do not really feel like being in Turkey but somewhere in Amazons. Breathtaking king tombs of Royal Lycian Kings carved into rocky hills. Dalyan houses the ancient Lycian city of Kaunos. Today Dalyan is a popular tourist town but not spoiled unlike many others like Kusadasi. You may enjoy great walks by the lake. It is located between two popular resort towns Marmaris and Fethiye. Nearby Iztuzu beach is a protected area for caretta caretta turtles (loggerhead sea turtle). Turtles are the symbols for Dalyan. With the river boats it is possible to see the turtles. On the way to Iztuzu beach your river boat will meander through bushes and 4th century BC Lycian King tombs.

Recommended for travellers:
- Lunch by one of the riverside restaurants. The area is known with blue crabs.
- Visit the ancient city of Kaunos. From town center there are shared river boats which will take you to the ancient city of Kaunos.
- Visit Iztuzu beach. Enjoy a great swim at the clear waters of this beach. Watchout turtle eggs and crabs.
- There is a mud bath opportunity but I do not really recommend it. It is stinky. It is the same mud thousands of people go in.

Recommended Hotel to Stay in Dalyan:
We stayed in BC Spa Hotel in Dalyan. We made our hotel booking throughbooking.com. We truely enjoyed our stay in BC Spa Hotel which is in walking distance to Dalyan town center. Right outside the hotel there is a beautiful walking track where we enjoyed a walk at knight by the Koycegiz river. We recommend BC Spa Hotel for travellers.

Make sure you add Dalyan stop during your tour to Turkey. This is a must see site. For more information, hotel recommendations and transport enquiries please do not hesitate contact me

Below please find some pictures of our trip to Dalyan:

Today with my wife. We had a walk through Galata neighbourhood on our own. Once again we were impressed with the beauty of 19th century NeoBaroque and NeoRenaissance style buildings. Once the richest in Istanbul lived. Noble Greeks, Jews, Armenians and Turks lived together happily. Each building has an individual story. Unfortunately so many of them are not in good condition. Some are turned into trendy cafes, restaurants and designer stores.

First settlement to Galata is made by Genoese trade colonies representing Republic of Genoa in 1273 during the Byzantine Era of the city. The Genoese built the famous Galata tower in 1348. After the city, conquered by the Ottomans, Latin and Catholic population continued living in the neighbourhood. Greeks and Jews started moving to the area. In the 19th century Galata and Karakoy became major business center. Gatala became a finance center with its bankers and stock exchange. Karakoy harbor was one of the busiest harbors of Europe.

There are 3 theories regarding the origin of Galata word. According to Italian historians the word is derived from Calata meaning downward slope. According to Greek Historians, the word is derived from Galaktos meaning milk. There is a possibility that the area might be used by the ancient shepherds in the ancient times. According to the last theory Celtic tribe, Galatians may have camped here in the Hellenistic period.

The nearby Grand Rue de Pera (today known as Istiklal Avenue) became a shopping center second only to the Grand Bazaar. An entertainment center with its cafes, theaters, bars, restaurants and pastry shops. 

Galata had a cosmopolitan population. Mainly French, but also almost all other European languages were spoken there. Italians , Germans, French, British, Armenians, Greeks, Jews, Hungarians, Poles and Russians had their own communities. Each community had its own places of worship, not only based on its religion but also based on its different sects. Therefore, many churches and synagouges of different groups were located close to each other. There were quite many Muslim structures at Galata such as Galata Mevlevi Convent, Arab Mosque, Asmali Mosque, and Aga Mosque. 

There were many foreign schools in Galata. French, British, Italians, Germans and Austrians opened high schools in
Galata. All these schools are still running. The rich and noble muslim families also send their children to these schools. Most of the Ottoman and Turkish scholars were educated in these schools.

Below please find some of the must see highlights of the area. During your visit to Istanbul make sure you see these sites besides the historical highlights like Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, Grand Bazaar... Let us organize you a private walking tour of Istanbul.

Galata Tower
Original name is Christea Turris, meaning Tower of Christ. Built by the Genoese in 1348. Galata Tower was the tallest building in the city at that time. Used as an observation tower for spotting fires. According to the legend in the 17th century an Ottoman genius Hazarfen Ahmet Celebi flew from this tower with artificial wings over the Bosphorus. Today the tower is running as a night club with Turkish Belly Dance shows. It is possible to see great views of Istanbul from the top balcony. There is an elevator. The cost to take this elevator is 10 Turkish Liras.

Bereketzade Mosque
First mosque built in Istanbul in 1453 right after the conquest of the city. Named after Bereketzade Ali Efendi who is assigned as the governor of Galata by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conquorer. In the premises there is a small cemetery.

British Seamen Hospital
It was built by a British artchitect as a quarantine hospital for British sailors during the Crimean War. Looks like a fort and having a tower which can be noticed in a far distance. Today runing by the Turkish government as an Eye Hospital.

Serdar-i Ekrem Street
The busiest, liveliest and the most popular street in Galata. Has many fancy designer boutiques, vintage shops, cafes,  jewelry stores...
Named after a pasha of Ottoman Empire who has an Austrian origin, served as an high ranking officer for Ottoman State in the 19th century.

Famous Dogan Apartment (built 1895) is also located in this street. Many Turkish celebrities live here. The u shape building has breathtaking views of Istanbul.

Crimea Memorial Church
Built in 1858 in the memory of British soldiers who had participated in the Crimean War. All the stones are supplied from the island of Malta. It is the largest active protestant chuch in Istanbul. Weekly mass services on sundays are provided in this magnificent neo-gothic structure.

We provide private Ephesus Tours for Russian speaking travelers. These tours are conducted by Russian speaking local tour guides. 
Since we only provide private tours,  you will be the only ones in the car besides your personal tour guide and driver.

The tours can be modified depending on guests interest, needs and timings. All our Russian speaking tour guides are licensed by the Ministry of Tourism.

For more information, about Private Ephesus Tours with Russian speaking tour guides please visit:
Частные Эфес туры с русским Гиды

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - 1963
From Russia with Love is the second spy film in the James Bond series, and the  second to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. In the film, James Bond is sent to assist in the defection of Soviet consulate clerk Tatiana Romanova in Istanbul.

TOPKAPI - 1964
Elizabeth Lipp (Melina Mercouri) visits Istanbul. In Topkapi Palace, she was fascinated by Topkapi dagger. She plans to steal the original dagger from Topkapi Palace in Istanbul.

The World is not enough -1999
The nineteenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the third to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's plot revolves around the assassination of billionaire Sir Robert King by the terrorist Renard and Bond's subsequent assignment to protect King's daughter, Elektra, who had previously been held for ransom by Renard. During his assignment, Bond unravels a scheme to increase petroleum prices by triggering a nuclear meltdown in the waters of Istanbul..

Taken 2 - 2012
After the events in Paris in Taken, relatives of the criminals whom Bryan Mills  (Liam Neeson) killed while searching for his daughter,start searching for Bryan Mills (an CIA agent)  Bryan`s ex wife having relationship problems with her new husband. Bryan suggests that Kim (daughter) and ex-wife to join him in Istanbul after he has finished a work assignment there.

Argo -2012
Militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979. More than 50 of  the embassy staff are taken as hostages, but six escape and hide in the home of  the Canadian ambassador. With the escapees' situation kept secret, the US State Department begins to explore options for "exfiltrating" them from Iran. Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), a CIA specialist is assigned to abduct them from Tehran.  He meets a CIA agent at Istanbul's Hagia Sophia before going to Iran.

Skyfall - 2012
Skyfall is the twenty-third James Bond film. In Istanbul, MI6 agents James Bond and Eve chase a mercenary, Patrice, who has stolen a computer hard drive containing details of undercover agents placed in terrorist organisations by NATO states.

Мы рады сообщить Вам, что мы недавно опубликовали русский сайт для частного Эфес экскурсии. В связи с высоким спросом на личное Эфес экскурсии с русскими гидами говоря. Мы решили опубликовать отдельный веб-сайт.

Все эти частные экскурсии Эфес специально разработаны для пассажиров круизных судов, которые приезжают в Кушадасы и Измир порт и туристов, останавливающихся Кушадасы и Измир отели.


Для получения дополнительной информации посетите: http://www.KusadasiEphesusTours.com

Below review is written and published on tripadvisor by one of our clients: Dalia Garces that we served June 27th. We were delighted to see the below comments about our tours leaded by one of our best guides  in our team: Mr. Semih Tazegul.

Imagine a land where you can find a blend of Christian, Muslim, Agnostic and Jewish faiths are all accepted. Now imagine an area so diverse that it holds many summer resorts, some of the most important places in all of Antiquity AND the final resting places (or assumptions into heavenly glory, as we were corrected) of St John and the Virgin Mary... I bet you didn't think we would be describing Ephesus,Turkey.

The Ephesus and the Kusadasi area completely shocked and pleasantly surprised us. We arranged for a private tour through Trip Advisor reviews with a company that sent us a tour guide named Samiy. We were in for a treat. Samiy is a linguistics professor with a Masters in Archaeology and History. Can you get any more knowledgeable? We felt like we were Indiana Jones himself!

First stop, the Church & final resting place of St John. This was a very peaceful area, which overlooked the farmlands of Ephesus, as well as one of the local Mosques. In the distance, we saw what remained of the Temple of Artemis, which had been taken apart as the popularity of Christianity grew. The Church of St John actually had some of the marble and stone from the Temple of Artemis used for its structure. Turkey is surprisingly religious and rich in Christian history. The area is constantly being excavated and more things are discovered as the years go by.

Next stop was a local pottery shop. The artisan pottery maker created three pieces before our very eyes within 4 minutes. Craftsmanship and Originality are very important to the Turks. No "Made in China" pieces... LOL. The Turkish people are also very welcoming. I must have heard "this is your home" over a dozen times. Everyone speaks English too. The American influence is very prevalent. Almost everything is in both Turkish and English. They also accept the USD and the Euro as currency, along with the Turkish Lira.

The House of Mother Mary (House of the Virgin Mary) was a revering experience. This is where Mother Mary, the mother of Christ, was believed to have spent the last years of her life before being assumed into heavenly glory. Sidebar: Nelson asked Samiy at what age did Mary pass away, and he was immediately corrected. "She was assumed into heavenly glory, its not said that she died". BUT, the short answer was 65 or 66. It was very interesting to hear his reverence for the religion, history and beliefs that he held. We WILL be coming back to Ephesus to see him. I know it.

Then came Ancient Ephesus...
Imagine a place so old (over 3000-4000 years) with so much life and history still within its walls that it actually gives you chills when you walk down one of the avenues because the structures came to life in your mind... Well, at least in our minds. We took so many pictures, but nothing can describe the works of art and the history trapped within the stones. For the next two hours we slowly walked and listened to the stories of the ancient pieces that had been trapped in rubble, buried under catastrophic earthquakes, and only recently (in the last 100 years) brought to life once more by many teams of skilled archaeologists.The Greek Theatre, Hadrians temple and the Library of Celsius are only a few of the pieces that we came across. The pictures tell the story much better than I can.

Samiy is your guy... Ask for him, he'll make the experience unforgettable

Below review is written by one of our clients Ms. Nancy Beaurivage whom we served in early june. The clients took a cruise on Celebrity Mediterranean Cruise. We had the pleasure being in service to the referenced guest in Kusadasi (Ephesus), Istanbul and Rome.

Dear Denizhan,

We booked a walking tour with you for the 4 of us in early June during a stop on a Celebrity Mediterranean cruise and a private tour with car, driver and guide in Ephesus. I apologize for the delay in contacting you regarding our experiences on these tours. Your advice concerning the walking tour was right on - every major site that we wanted to see was in a relatively small area. Our tour guide Delek(sp?) was a personable, well-educated guide and we enjoyed the tour. The only slight negative was that she seemed distracted at times and would take take phone calls. All of us can not say enough good things about our Ephesus guide, John Gurel. His command of the English language, in-depth personal knowledge of the site, concern for our comfort, love of Turkey and wanting to share his country with us far exceeded our expectations. We learned so much from him about Turkey- ancient history, current events, culture, daily life, food, drink, art and even more. He stimulated such an interest that all of us want to go back to Turkey for a longer visit in the near future. And not the least, he was fun to spend time with- the time we spent with him was a high-light of our cruise. I truly believe most American visitors would feel the same way and I hope you will consider utilizing his talents as frequently as possible. You also arranged transfer from the ship in Rome to the airport and a short tour along the way. Our driver, guide, there was Lucca and he was great, as well! It was a pleasure to work with you :it was easy, a great value compared with the ship's tours, excellent guides, you were very responsive- getting back to us almost immediately when we e-mailed you, every thing was organized and there were no problems. I have been recommending your company when I tell others about our vacation. Also, I will be posting my thoughts on Cruise Critic, as well. Wishing you continued success,

Nancy Beaurivage

Turkey is  becoming popular for Indian filmmakers. One of the main reasons that Indian filmmakers are so excited about Turkey is because it has several new things to offer to the Indian audience, besides of-course the ease of shooting at the locations.

Vaada Raha (2009) and Pehli Dafa (2017) are the only two Bollywood movies which some parts of the movies are filmed in Kusadasi and Ancient City of Ephesus. 

Vaada Raha... I Promise was filmed in 2009. Some parts of the film was shot in Ephesus, Kusadasi and Istanbul. For Indian travellers and travellers who enjoy Bollywood movies, we recommend you to watch Vaada Raha.

Pehli Dafa Shooting Locations : Pehli Dafa Soundtrack was filmed in Alacati Town Center, Alacati Windmills, Theater of Ephesus and Celsus Library in Ephesus  

Other bollywood movies that are filmed in other parts of Turkey:

• Race 2
• Game
• Guru
• Dil Dhadakne Do
• Baby
• Ek tha Tiger
• Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahan (Filmed in Side and Pamukkale)
• Mission Istaanbul: Darr Ke Aagey Jeet Hai!

We offer private tours of Ephesus and Pamukkale for travelers from India. Let us take you to the destinations where Vaada Raha, Pehli Dafa and Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahan movies are filmed. 
For more information about our private tours of Ephesus and Pamukkale please contact us.
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Below please find a video of one of our guests from India about their travel experience in Ephesus.

 Due to the prximity to the ancient city of Ephesus. A lot of cruise ships prefer to call to the Port of Kusadasi. Cruise ships has a major impact in the growth of Kusadasi. In 1950s Kusadasi was a small, agricultural town having couple of thousand inhabitants. Today we are talking almost 1000 cruise ship calls with thousands of tourists. For you to see the diffrence below please take a look at the below photos. Both of themare taken at the parking area of Kusadasi Port. One was taken in 1956 and the other was taken in 2011. Pictures talk

Wander the magnificent ruins at Ephesus in a guided tour with a knowledgeable tour guide. Experience Ephesus through the eyes of a local private guide. Browse our tour suggestions, each can be customized just for you.

Stroll through the marble streets and along mosaic-paved sidewalks to the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  See the stunning façade of the Celsus Library, one of Ephesus' finest buildings and the Ephesus Terrace Houses. Be sure to pay a visit to the House of Virgin Mary, believed to be the Virgin Mary's House during the last years of her life.

Your private tour guide will happily customize your private Ephesus tour to reflect your unique travel interests in this fascinating part of Turkey.

Tour Guide Legal Requirements:
In Turkey, tour guides must are have a valid license issued by the Ministry of Tourism. Obtaining the license requires
training and passing a set of exams. Licenses must be renewed on an annual basis. Licenses are often reviewed at control points in front of museums or archeological sites.

For more information, contact us.

Ephesus is a large ancient city. The city covers an area of 550 acres (224 hectares). It is the most excavated archaeological site of Turkey. A visit here can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours depending on your interest and pace.  The site has two gates named as the Upper Gate, also known as the South Gate and the lower gate, also known as the North Gate. During the visit to the Ancient City of Ephesus, some guests also tour the Terrace Houses. Terrace Houses visit generally takes approximately 30 minutes.

You can travel back in time by walking through the preserved streets of Ephesus. Some spends an entire day visiting the site, but the average time needed once inside is about two to three hours. Like most Roman-built cities, Touring Ephesus is not difficult, but to avoid wasting time or in the summer days getting cooked under the sun, we recommend the guests to hire a private tour guide. 

In our Private Ephesus Tours, we generally start the tour from the Upper Gate and end at the Lower Gate. If there is a driver waiting for us. This way saves us a lot of energy and time. For solo travelers who want to do this way, there are taxis that charge approximately 5 Euros to take you back to the Upper Gate. 

Bring a hat and sunscreen no matter what season it is, and you can even ask for an umbrella in the summer. There is very little shelter from the sun, and two to three hours outside will make you feel more like exhausted than your healthy state. You'll also want snacks and plenty of water for all these walks. Inside, close to the Close to Celsus Library, there is one small convenience stand. Right outside the site there are numerous vendors who may help you with these necessities. There is no water fountains at the site that you can use to fill your water bottles. In Turkey, we do not drink tap water.

Ephesus was once an entire port city and the site now is huge! If you visit Ephesus with a tour guide, your itinerary will be well planned, so you won't have to worry. If not, plan ahead and come prepared to ensure you have a successful trip. For travelers who need a Ephesus tour guide, we do provide tour guide and private tour services. For more information, contact us.