Ephesus is a world-famous historical attraction. Ancient City of Ephesus on the shores of the Aegean Sea is one of the most popular travel destinations of Turkey, welcomes millions of visitors every year. Ephesus houses a large number of Christian heritage sites. 
Discover exciting shore excursions, day trips to Ephesus and Ephesus Walking Tour.
​High value tours. 
Browse our collection of Ephesus private tours.

We are offering %20 discounts for
Private Ephesus Tours with English speaking tour guides
and
Private Ephesus Tour Guide Services with English-speaking tour guides
at the following dates: 
For more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Book early and save more!

We organize private tours of Ephesus and Pamukkale and private transfers to Izmir Airport for Celestyal Cruises Passengers who will be cruising and embarking and disembarking to/from the Celestyal Olympia, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Crystal at Kusadasi Cruise Port.

Cost of Private Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi Port: 180 Euro (Total to be paid for 1-6 people)
* On certain dates, we offer %20 discount. Dates for Discounted Private Ephesus Tours 
​
Rates Cover:
- Services of an excellent English speaking tour Guide
-  A/C vehicle.
- All transportation costs.
- Tax, service charges
- Parking fees to the sites.

Rates Do Not Cover:
- Entrance fees to the sites.

* Above rate is NOT a per person rate. It is total to be paid for your group.
​* In addition to private tours with English speaking tour guides, we also provide private tours with Spanish, German, Portuguese, Russian, Bulgarian, French and ​Italian speaking licensed tour guides. There is a surcharge for non-English speaking tours. For costs please contact us.

There is no prepayment required for the reservation. 
Payment can be made in Euro, Turkish Liras or US Dollar cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required for the booking

Cancellation Policy
You can cancel a tour 72 hours in advance of your tour departure without any charges. If you would like to cancel a tour, simply send us an email and we will  be happy to assist you. Once you are within the 24 hour tour departure window,  the tour becomes non-refundable. This is because our guide and vehicle have set  aside space to accommodate your request and will often not be able to  fill that  space with another customer so close to departure. For cruise passengers, there is no cancellation fee if your ship does not call to the port in any reason.

* We offer %20 discount on certain dates. Book early and save more. To see the discounted dates for private Ephesus tours please visit: Ephesus Discounted Tours
​
If you have questions or need more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

​Smyrna (Izmir) - Pergamon (Bergama) - Laodicea - 
​Hierapolis (Pamukkale) - Ephesus - Sardis - Philadephia - Thyatira

For many generations Christians, or those who simply have an interest in Christian history and traditions, have traveled to the western part of Turkey which was known as Asia Minor in the biblical times, filled with the incredible Christian history and background. The Asia Minor is known for the 7 churches of the Book of Revelation. On top of that St. Paul travelled to the area several times. Near Ephesus, there is a possible house where Virgin Mary spent her last years. Ephesus and the surrounding areas had a history of spiritual awakening and Christian revival.
We offer private biblical tours of the 7 Churches of Revelation visiting the Biblical Sites in Western Turkey.

7 Churches of Revelation Tour is operated between November and April months.
For available dates, please contact us.

We have a background in sharing the Western Part of Turkey's Christian Heritage with others, having worked with a broad selection of churches and mission organisations over the years. We are always pleased to organise Biblical Tours of Western Turkey, visiting ​seven churches of revelation and beyond.  We are sure that you will find them interesting whether you are a Christian or religious person or simply interested.

There are many possibilities for these tours, depending on how long you area able to tour for. A 1 day tour can take you to many sights of Christian interest in Ephesus. If you have 2 or more days there are many more possibilities such as a tour incorporating ancient cities of Pergamon, Laodicea, Hierapolis (Pamukkale) etc. Get in touch for more details.

The Seven Churches of Revelation are ancient churches that St John wrote about in The book of Revelation of the New Testament. All the 7 churches mentioned are located at the western part of modern Turkey. Biblical sites in Western Turkey:

1. Ephesus - Selcuk, Izmir
2. Smyrna -  Izmir City Center
3. Pergamon - Bergama, Izmir
4. Thyateira - Akhisar, Manisa
5. Sardis - Sart, Salihli, Manisa
6. Philadelphia - Alaşehir, Manisa
7. Laodicea - Denizli

Below please find suggested tour program:

Day 1 - Basilica of St. John, House of Virgin Mary, Ephesus
After meeting your guide at Izmir Airport or at an Izmir airport hotel, drive through the fertile lands. Your first stop will be the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards proceed to the mountain where Virgin Mary is believed to spent her 9 years. The house is approximately 1000 feet above sea level and running as an active chapel. Roman Catholics believe that Virgin Mary came to Ephesus with Saint. John 5 years after the crucification. At the age of 63 she is assumed to heaven. Although there is no fact that Virgin Mary lived here approximately 1.5 million people visit the site each year. After 30 minutes visit to the House of Mary, drive to ancient city of Ephesus. You will be dropped at the upper gate of Ephesus with your tour guide. Start exploring the city. You will be walking down the hill approximately 1.5hrs. You will see the Odeon, the basilica, domitian square, fountain of Trajan, Celcus library, Terrace Houses (optional), Marble street, the Grand Theater of Ephesus and the Harbour Street. You will be endng your tour at the bottom gate. Drive approximately 3 hours to Pamukkale. Ovenight in Pamukkale.

Tour Timings:
08.00am - Depart Izmir Airport or an Izmir Airport Hotel.
09.00am - Visit Basilica of St. John
10.00am - Visit House of Virgin Mary
11.30pm - Visit Ephesus
2.00pm - Lunch and see the local handcrafts
4.00pm - Depart Selcuk Town
7.00pm - Arrive Pamukkale for overnight.

Day 2 - Laodicea - Hierapolis (Pamukkale) - Sardis - Philadephia - Thyatira
After leaving your hotel, drive south east through the fertile lands. Your first stop will be Laodicea. Once a trade city which was known with glossy black wool and eye salve trade. Mentioned in the Book  of Revelation as the luke warm city. Afterwards visit ancient Hierapolis which is known as Pamukkale today. Natural thermal springs which has high density of chalk inside formed glacier looking terraces on the areas where flowed for thousands of years. Walk on the white terraces of Pamukkale. After lunch drive to the ancient Philadelphia Church at Alasehir, the youngest of the Seven Churches of Revelation, visiting the remains of an early church and the city walls. Continue to Sardis, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia. Walk the Royal Avenue and see the site of the Church of Sardis.  Finally at Akhisar we visit the Church of ancient Thyatira, another one of the 7 churches, set in an ancient commercial town with strong ties to Troy and Sardis.  Drive to Bergama for overnight.

Tour Timings:
08.00am - Depart your hotel in Pamukkale
8.30am - Visit Laodicea
10.00am, - Visit Hierapolis (Pamukkale)
12.15pm - Lunch
2.00pm - Visit Philadelphia
3.00pm - Visit Sardes
6.00pm - Visit Thyatra
8.00pm - Arive Bergama for overnight.

Day 3 -  Pergamon (Bergama) - Smyrna (Izmir)
Depart from your hotel for the ancient city of Pergamon. Mentioned in the book of revelation in the new testament among the seven churches of asia minor. The city was known as the city where the throne of satan is located. Visit acropolis and asklepion, the ancient famous hospital. After lunch drive to Izmir, the third largest city of Turkey. Known as Smyrna in the biblical times. Visit the remains of Ancient Agora in Smyrna. From ancient Smyrna there is not much left. The remains of the ancient city is under the modern buildings.  Smyrna is mentioned in the Book of Revelation known as the city of prosecution. Your tour will end at Izmir airport. 

Tour Timings:
08.00am - Depart your hotel in Bergama
08.30am - Visit Acropolis
11.30am - Visit Asklepion
12.15pm - Lunch
3.00pm - Visit Smyrna
5.00pm - Arrive Izmir Airport

Ephesus walking Tours with local tour guides from Selcuk.
Explore Ephesus on foot with an exceptional guided walking tour. Discover the highlights of Ephesus on a walking tour with a local expert guide.

Hi, my team and I offer private walking tours of Ephesus Ancient City, Basilica of St. John, Temple of Artemis, and the Terrace Houses. We are passionate about Ephesus and love helping visitors learn about this fascinating city.

Is Ephesus walkable?
Ephesus is walkable from Selcuk Town. It is approximately 30 minutes walking distance from Selcuk Town. Ephesus ruins cover quite a lot of space, and there is much walking involved, much of the time on very uneven surfaces. If you are in the area in the summer months we recommend that you start walking early in the morning since it gets too hot during the day. The site opens at 8am during the summer months. We recommend guests to wear non slip walking shoes because you will be walking on marble and it is slippery.

Selcuk Walking Tour
Selcuk is the modern name of Ephesus. This walking tour is recommended for travelers staying in the hotels of Selcuk and for travelers you are traveling to Selcuk Train Station by train. The walking tour can also start from Selcuk Train Station.

Is Ephesus worth visiting?
Even if you are not a history buff, ancient Ephesus is worth a visit. It is an amazing sight. A person can easily spend half a day here wandering the ancient streets. The place holds so much meaning when you know what you're viewing. Highlights are the theater, terrace houses, temple of Hadrian, the library of Celsus, the mosaics, frescoes, and graffiti are all so interesting. What a beautiful sight! Great with a professional tour guide who can tell you all about what you are seeing, make sure you see all the relevant places, and answer every question. Amazing to see it all and walk the same streets that they did so many years ago! Archeological excavations have only uncovered a part of the known city, but it is enough to require a half-day to explore everything. If you have a knowledgeable tour guide, you can see the highlights in a couple of hours ... but bring plenty of water if it's a sunny summer day as you'll be surrounded by stone with little shade for most of your stay. 

Can you tour Ephesus on your own?
​You can easily visit Ephesus on your own from Selcuk. There are audio guides that you can rent and they talk about the sights of Ephesus. But if you prefer to go on guided tour, you will be accompanied by an experienced Ephesus tour guide and you will be able to skip all lines.

How long does it take to tour Ephesus?
Our walking tour covers not only the ancient city of Ephesus, but also some other important sights such as St. John's Basilica, Isa Bey Baths and the Temple of Artemis. The walking tour takes approximately 5-6 hours depending on your pace. Our visit to the ancient city of Ephesus and the terrace houses takes about 3 hours.
​
What should I wear to Ephesus?
We recommend that you wear comfortable, non-slip walking shoes. Ephesus has many uneven marble and slippery areas. Between June and October you can get a bottle of water, sun hat, sun cream. Opportunities for shades in Ephesus are very limited. Between November and May, it is recommended to use an umbrella for rainy days. There are no restrictions on cameras in Ephesus, but tripods are prohibited.

For travelers who will be staying in Selcuk Hotels or coming to Selcuk by train and do not have a car. We offer private Ephesus walking tours. Ephesus Ancient City and the surrounding sites and monuments are our areas of expertise. We have been one of the top-ranked tour operators in Selcuk. We constantly receive excellent feedback from our guests, we have been awarded by TripAdvisor, 
We have excellently trained, licensed, and experienced tour guides. We know Ephesus as the back of our hand and we introduce its highlights but also its hidden gems to you.

Duration: 5-6 hours
* This is an intensive walking tour. Participants are expected to walk approximately 6 kilometers.
Meet with your Ephesus tour guide at Selcuk Train Station or your hotel in Selcuk or in front of Basilica of St, John. Start your walking tour, exploring the remains of the Basilica of St. John, which was built on the tomb of John the Apostle. Learn about the 5000 years of history of Ephesus. See the earlier settlement locations and Isa Bey Mosque. After you visit the Basilica of St. John, walk through the old Greek homes and see the remains of a Turkish Bath from the 14th century. Stop at a local pottery workshop and learn how the pottery has been made in the Ephesus area by a local artist. Enjoy Turkish Coffee or Tea, before walking to the Temple of Artemis. Visit the remains of one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterward, enter Ephesus Ancient City from the North Gate, see the remains of the ancient city of walls, the stadium of Ephesus, Grand Theater of Ephesus, Library of Ephesus, Latrines. Explore the Terrace Houses, the Roman Villas of the super-rich Romans who lived in Ephesus between the 1st and 3rd century AD. Afterward see the Temple of Hadrian, Trajan Fountain, and many more. Exit the site from the south gate. Board a taxi which will take you back to Selcuk town center.

Cost for Private Walking Tour of Ephesus: 100 Euro (Total be paid for groups 1-5 people)
* For groups over 5 people, please contact us.
* Above rate is NOT a per person rate. It is total to be paid for your party.
* We offer %20 discount on certain dates: Discounted Ephesus Tour Dates 
* For travelers, who do not want to walk 6km, we can assign them a vehicle. For more information, please contact us.

Rates Cover:

• Services of an excellent English speaking tour Guide 
• Tax, service charges.
• Taxi cost from Ephesus South Gate to Selcuk town.

Rates Do Not Cover:

• Entrance fees to the sites.
• Lunch

​
* There is no prepayment required for the reservation. To avoid disappointment, we recommend making your private tour reservation at the earliest possible.​

Payment Terms:
Payment can be made in Euros, Turkish Liras, British Pounds, and US Dollars cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required for the booking. We only accept cash payments.

* Ephesus Walking Tour is not operated in June, July and August due to the hot weather.

For more information and availability, please contact us.

There are daily ferries from Samos to Kusadasi. It takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to reach from Pythagorio, Samos to Kusadasi. The highlight of the Aegean region is the Ancient City of Ephesus which is 25 minutes drive from Kusadasi. For travellers who are staying in Samos Hotels, we recommend to visit Ancient City of Ephesus. We offer private tours of Ephesus from Kusadasi Port for travellers who are travelling to Kusadasi from Samos. These private tours are operated with fluent English, German, Russian Spanish and Portuguese speaking licensed tour guides.

It costs 60 Euros per person for a same day return trip from Pythagorio, Samos to Kusadasi. Ferries operate between May and October. Ferries depart from Pythagorio port at 8.00am and 8.30am and arrive Kusadasi at 9.30am and 10.00am. Return ferry is at 5.00pm which will arrive back to Pythagorio at 6.30pm. This will give you approx. 7 hours to visit Ephesus and surrounding areas.

​To book ferries from Pythagorion to Kusadasi, please visit: 
https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/samos-kusadasi
Select: Departure as Pythagoreio, Samos and Destination as Kusadasi

When you book your ferry ticket, please contact us for your  Ephesus Private Tour.

jSuggested private tour program is as follows:
FullDay (6 hours) Temple of Artemis + Ephesus  + House of Mary + Traditional Turkish Lunch
After meeting your guide at Kusadasi Cruise Port, drive through the fertile lands. Your first stop will be the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards proceed to the mountain where Virgin Mary is believed to spent her 9 years. The house is approximately 1000 feet above sea level and running as an active chapel. Roman Catholics believe that Virgin Mary came to Ephesus with Saint. John 5 years after the crucification. At the age of 63 she is assumed to heaven. Although there is no fact that Virgin Mary lived here approximately 1.5 million people visit the site each year. After 30 minutes visit to the House of Mary, drive to ancient city of Ephesus. You will be dropped at the upper gate of Ephesus with yourtour guide. Start exploring the city. You will be walking down the hill approximately 1.5hrs. You will see the Odeon, the basilica, domitian square, fountain of Trajan, Celcus library, Terrace Houses (optional),Marble street, the Grand Theater of Ephesus and the Harbour Street. You will be endng your tour at the bottom gate. Enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch in the grounds of a country house. Here you will see a private demonstration of the traditional carpet making process from dying to spinning to weaving at a school where young  girls are trained in the craft. Return back to Kusadasi Port.
* Please note that the House of Virgin Mary visit can be substituted with Terrace Houses or Archaeological Museum of Ephesus or the Basilica of St. John.

For more information, availability and Private Ephesus Tour costs please contact us.

Selcuk is the nearest town to the ancient city of Ephesus.
Selcuk is the modern name of Ephesus. A small agricultural town, having a population of 35000 people. Due to the proximity to the ancient city of Ephesus, some travelers prefer to stay in Selcuk town. Selcuk has many small hotels. For travelers who will stay overnight in Selcuk town, we recommend visiting the farmers market on Saturdays.

Ephesus Ancient City is the highlight of the area. Ephesus is an incredible place and worth visiting, an Ancient Greco-Roman city. A person can easily spend half a day here just wandering around the ancient streets. Ephesus is a remarkably preserved UNESCO world heritage site.

Selcuk is accessible by trains from Izmir or Denizli (Pamukkale). Modern trains are operating between İzmir – Izmir Airport – Selcuk – Denizli. It is a comfortable and cheap way to travel on this route. For more information about the trains schedules to Selcuk, please visit the following link: 
Izmir, Izmir Airport - Selcuk Town (Ephesus) Train Schedules

How do you get from Selcuk to Ephesus?
Ephesus is 4 km walking distance from Selcuk. It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk from Selcuk to Ephesus Ancient City. We recommend entering from the North gate and exit from the south gate. Walking back would be tough therefore the best is to take a taxi back to Selcuk town. For the travelers who are interested we offer private walking tours of Selcuk Ephesus.

Can I tour Ephesus on my own?
Yes, you can tour Ephesus on your own. Kindly note that there is very little information in Ephesus describing what you are looking at. If you want to know more about what you see, you really need a tour guide or an audio guide.

Is Selcuk worth visiting?
​Selcuk is one of the most beautiful, perhaps world-renowned towns of Izmir. Of course, the fact that it is home to the Ancient City of Ephesus has a big share in this. But not only that, Selcuk is the place to visit and its beauties. It is a complete getaway with many historical attractions nearby.

For travelers who stay in Selcuk town or travel to Selcuk by train, we offer private airport transfers from Izmir airport and private Ephesus tours and private walking tours of Selcuk Ephesus.. For travelers who travel with rent a car, we also provide tour guide only services where our tour guide meets you in your hotel in Selcuk or in front of Basilica of St. John or Selcuk Bus Station or Selcuk Train Station. 
​For Ephesus tour guide only services, please visit: Ephesus Tour Guide Only

On certain dates we offer %20 discount. To see these dates please visit: Discounted Ephesus Tours

* If you do not have a rental car and staying in Selcuk or coming to Selcuk with train. We offer private walking tours of Ephesus, including visits to Basilica of St. John, Temple of Artemis and Ancient City of Ephesus. For more information, please visit Ephesus Walking Tours and contact us.

Suggested Ephesus Tours from Selcuk are as follows:

SELCUK - No:1
Half-Day Ephesus Tour from Selcuk​ (4 hours)
Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, House of Mary
After meeting your Ephesus local guide, drive through the fertile lands. Your first stop will be the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards proceed to the mountain where Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her 9 years. The house is approximately 1000 feet above sea level and runs as an active chapel. Roman Catholics believe that Virgin Mary came to Ephesus with Saint. John 5 years after the crucifixion. At the age of 63 she was taken to heaven. Although there is no fact that Virgin Mary lived here, approximately 1.5 million people visit the site each year. After a 30 minute visit to the House of Mary, drive to the ancient city of Ephesus. You will be dropped at the upper gate of Ephesus with your tour guide. Start your Ephesus Walking Tour exploring the ruins. You will be walking down the hill approximately 2 hours. You will see the Odeon, the basilica, Domitian square, fountain of Trajan, Celcus library, Terrace Houses (optional), Marble street, the Grand Theater of Ephesus and Harbor Street. You will be ending your tour at the bottom gate. Your tour guide will take you to another site or drop you at the desired location.

SELCUK - No:2
Full day Ephesus Tour from Selcuk - Christian Ephesus (6 hours)
Meet with your guide in Selcuk. After a short drive, your first stop on this fascinating tour is the Basilica of St. John. From the Basilica of St. John, see the earlier settlements of Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the remains of the tomb of John the Apostle. Afterwards, you will continue on to visit the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world. See the Agoras, Odeon, the Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath, Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theater with a seating capacity of 24,000 people. Continue to the House of Virgin Mary where Virgin Mary is believed to spend her last 9 years.
​
SELCUK - No:3
Full day Ephesus Tour from Selcuk
Ephesus and Sirince Village (7 hours) 
Meet with your guide in Selcuk. Drive to one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world: Temple of Artemis. After seeing the Temple of Artemis drive to the magnificent ancient site of  Ephesus. Ephesus is the best preserved of the Greek/Roman cities in Anatolia  and  while you are visiting the ancient ruins of this magnificent site, your tour guide  will bring them alive. You will see the beautiful Celsus Library, restored and reconstructed according to its original form by the architect Friedmund Hueber  in the 1970's. The most spectacular building of Ephesus is the Grand Theater,  built during the Hellenistic age to hold 25,000 spectators. It is there that St. Paul preached. Opposite the Temple of Hadrian are the Terrace Houses, homes of  Ephesus' wealthy citizens. The city was also the hometown of great philosopher  Heraclitus. After a visit to Ephesus Antique Site, you will arrive at Sirince Village. This old Orthodox Village, 10 km from Selcuk, was once "Cirkince"(ugly). Indeed its inhabitants gave this name on the purpose as they  did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly and called it "Sirince" (pretty). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920's; after the Turkish Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all those typical Greek  houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received  the local layout inside. At Sirince Village you will have a chance to see the  local life at a village and purchase some small local souvenirs and  handicrafts. The village is also famous for its local grape and other fruit wines. 

For more information and private Ephesus tour costs and availability please contact us.

Train travel to Ephesus (Selcuk)
* For travellers who will be staying at hotels in Basmane district in Izmir, we recommend them to take the 7.10am train from Basmane train station which will arrive to Selcuk at 8.34am. Our tour guide and vehicle can meet you at Selcuk train startion. After the tour you will be dropped back to Selcuk train station for your return journey. Return train will leave Selcuk at 4.04pm and arrive Izmir Basmane Train station at 5.30pm. Fortrain schedule between Izmir and Selcuk, please visit: 
Izmir, Izmir Airport - Selcuk Town (Ephesus) Train Schedules

Most of the travelers who come to Turkey, visit Istanbul.  Istanbul is the most visited destination in Turkey. If you are in Istanbul and have time, a visit to Ephesus would be worth doing. Doing an Ephesus Day Trip from Istanbul is possible.
We offer private day trips of Ephesus from Izmir Airport for travelers who stay in Istanbul. These private tours include pick up and drop off from/to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport.

Is Ephesus worth visiting?
Ephesus is an incredible place to visit, an ancient Greco-Roman city. Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth a visit. The ancient city of Ephesus is one of the best preserved World Heritage Sites in the world. Ephesus takes you to the past, very far back in time. The city grew and prospered under Roman rule. The presence of many luxurious villas in Ephesus clearly indicates that the city was rich and wealthy. Walking the streets of Ephesus, entering ancient temples and markets, and exploring ornate mansions, we get a rich picture of life over 2,000 years ago. It is not only exciting, but also a very rewarding experience. The city of Ephesus was huge. It covered an area of 400 acres. At its peak, the city had 200,000 inhabitants. If you visit Ephesus, you will see one of the largest ancient cities in the world.

How far is it from Istanbul to Ephesus?
Ephesus is 450 miles south of Istanbul and is 7 hours away by car. There is no direct train from Istanbul to Ephesus. There are trains from Istanbul to Izmir Alsancak train station and from Izmir Basmane Train Station to Selcuk (Ephesus) you need to get on another train. Transportation by train in Turkey is slow and not in high standards. Our recommendation would be to take a flight from Istanbul to Izmir Airport and fly to Ephesus from Izmir Airport.

You can book your domestic flight on your own from Istanbul and we will meet you at the domestic terminal at Izmir Airport. At Izmir Airport, our tour guide will meet you. After the tour you will be taken back to Izmir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. 

Full Day tour of Ephesus,  House of Mary & Basilica of St. John 
At Izmir airport you will be met by your Ephesus local tour guide. As your vehicle makes its way along the Aegean Coast, you will pass some of the regions fertile lands. As you reach the silted  valley, time seems to come to a halt and then reverse. After a steep drive up  Mt. Pagus, you will arrive at a stone chapel. This converted house probably  dates from the 1st century and was envisioned by a German nun as the site where  the Virgin Mary spent her last days. Continuing to Ephesus, leave your vehicle at  the parking area and start your Ephesus Walking Tour through Magnesia Gate. As you stroll along  the old marble streets, you will pass the Odeon and Upper Agora. You will also  see the ornate Hadrian Temple, the remains of some Byzantine houses, the  beautifully restored facade of the Celsus Library,  the Thermal Baths of Scholastica, the Commercial Agora and the theater, which  accommodates 25,000 spectators and is still used for occasional performances. After your  visit to Ephesus, re-board your vehicle for an enjoyable lunch.  Afterwards enjoy a presentation about Turkish weavings, see the girls at the looms  knotting carpets  and kilims. Learn about the natural dyes and learn the  differences between Silk, flosh , wool and cotton weavings for handmade rugs.  The proprietors will give  a fascinating demonstration of the local traditional  crafts. Next is the  Basilica of St. John, one of the seven churches of Asia  Minor, is your final  stop before your return to Izmir airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

Private Ephesus Tour Costs (starting and ending at Izmir Airport) 
Up to 6 people - MPV + Tour Guide: 215 Euro (Total amount to be paid for your party of 1-6)
Up to 12 people - Mercedes Minibus + Tour Guide: 250 Euro (Total amount to be paid for your party of 7-12)
* Above Rates are NOT per person rates. They are total to be paid for your group.
* We offer %20 Discount on certain dates. Discounted Ephesus Tour Dates
​
Rates Cover:
- Services of an excellent English speaking tour Guide 
- A/C Vehicle.
- All transportation costs.
- Tax, service charges
- Traditional Turkish Lunch
- Pick up and drop off from/to Izmir Airport..

Rates Do Not Cover:
- Entrance & Parking fees to the sites.
- Domestic Flights
- Drinks during lunch

Approximate cost of entrance fees:
Ephesus: 23.5 Euro per person (700 TL)
House of Mary: 8.5 Euro p.p. (250 TL)
Temple of Artemis: Free of Charge
St. John's Basilica: 4,5 Euro p.p.(130 TL)​

Important Notice :
We do not issue flight tickets. Therefore for Ephesus day trip from Istanbul we recommend the travelers to book the following flights:

Pegasus : http://www.flypgs.com/
Istanbul > Izmir : PC2811 depart Istanbul at 9.10am
Izmir > Istanbul : PC2816 depart Izmir at 6.15pm

Turkish Airlines : http://www.turkishairlines.com/tr
Istanbul > Izmir  TK2312 depart Istanbul at 8.00am
Izmir > Istanbul : TK2329 depart Izmir at  6.00pm

For more information and availability, please contact us.

Day 1
Private Tour of  Pamukkale (Hierapolis) starting and ending in Kusadasi.
After departing from your hotel, drive east approx. 3 hours. Enter the site from North Gate and walk through the Ancient Necropolis (Cemetery). So far Italian archaeologists excavated over 1200 tombs in the area. The total number is expected to exceed 3000.  No where in the world you can see such a gigantic ancient cemetery. Afterwards see the Roman Bath,  walk through Domitian Gate, Frantinus Avenue to see the other remains. View the huge Roman theater having a capacity of 10000. Walk on the calcium deposit terraces of Pamukkale. Enjoy the stunning views. The water temperature is 32 degrees.  For the ones interested there is an opportunity to swim at the ancient pools of Cleopatra.  Kindly note there is an extra entrance fee approximately 8 Euros per person. 

Day 2
Private Tour of Priene, Miletus and Didyma starting and ending at Kusadasi
Following the departure from your hotel, the first stop will be PRIENE. The ancient harbor city of Priene probably changed its location when the silt of the Meander River threatened to bury it. Now it is nearly 16km away from the sea. The original place of the city has never been found but it was probably a peninsula with two harbors. Priene was laid out on a Hippodamian system of grid plan at the foot of a spectacular cliff on mount Mycale and contained many famous examples of Hellenistic art and architecture. All the streets intersect at right angles. Next visit MILETUS, an ancient city located near the mouth of the Meandros River. Miletus owed its importance to its position on the trade routes. It was one of the largest cities in Anatolia. Highly prosperous, it founded many colonies and was the home of the ancient philosophers Anaximander, Anaximenes and Thales, the town planner Hippodamus and architect Isidorus. Having a prominent position, Miletus became the most important port in this area and it was the most active member of the twelve cities of the Ionian Confederation. From the 7th century B.C. the city has been controlled in turn by the Persians, Roman and Seljuk Turks. The last visit in the tour will be DIDYMA. The world Didyma meant "twins" and it was associated by some as being the meeting place of Zeus and Leto to have their twins Apollo and Artemis. Didyma was famed as a prophecy center dedicated to Apollo, which served a similar purpose as the Delphi of Anatolia. It was not a city but a sanctuary linked to Miletus by Milesians with a 12 mile sacred road.

Day 3
Private Tour of Ephesus, Haouse of Virgin Mary, Basilica of St. John 
Meet with your guide in front of the Kusadasi port passenger terminal. Drive  to the country. Your first stop on this fascinating tour is at the Hourse of Virgin Mary. Then, you will continue on to visit ancient Ephesus, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world. See the Odeion, the Market Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath,Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theater with a seating capacity of 25,000 people. Afterwards visit the  BASILICA OF ST. JOHNand see the Temple of Artemis, one of the wonders of the  ancient world. En-route to Kusadasi enjoy the scenery or shopping opportunity

MSC Splendida and MSC Musica of MSC Cruises will call at the Kusadasi Port in 2023.
We have been receiving enquiries for private tours of Ephesus from Kusadasi Cruise Port from MSC Lirica Cruise passengers.

MSC Splendida will be making 28 calls to Kusadasi Port during Mediterranean Cruises in 2023.
The first call of MSC Spendida to Kusadasi Port in 2023 will be April 12th 2023.

MSC Cruises has announced that it will deploy its MSC Splendida to the Eastern Mediterranean market in the summer of 2023. According to a press release, the ship will be homeported in Piraeus, the port of the Greek capital, Athens, for the entire season. 

Splendida will offer a newly designed seven-night itinerary with 28 sailings between April and October 2023 from Piraeus to Kusadasi, Turkey; Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus and the Greek islands of Rhodes and Santorini before returning to Piraeus. Ship guests can also begin their seven-night cruises with embarkation in Kusadasi, Haifa and Limassol, as well as Piraeus.

For MSC Cruises passengers, who will be embarking or disembarking to/from MSC Splendida, we offer private tours of Ephesus starting or ending at Izmir Airport.

We offer private tours of Ephesus, Temple of Artemis and House of Virgin Mary with excellent licensed tour guides from Kusadasi Cruise Port

For more information please visit: Private Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi or contact us.

Kusadasi is a popular port of call for Holland America Line. Many Holland America Line cruise ships have been calling to Kusadasi Port many years. In 2023 Kusadasi Port will welcome Holland America Ships: Oosterdam and Nieuw Statendam. Holand America Line will have  will have 16 port of calls to Kusadasi Cruise port in 2023.
​
We have been providing exclusive private tours of Ephesus for Holland America Line passengers. It would be our pleasure to be in service to you. For more information please visit: Private Ephesus Tours from Kusadasi page or contact us.

We have just completed 2 Days Custom Tour of Western Turkey for Oeler Family from Dubai. They had wonderful time with our tour guide.

We offer private tours of Western Turkey. These tours can start from Izmir airport, Izmir hotels, Kusadasi hotels, Pamukkale hotels or any other desired location nearby. 

Suggested tour program is as follows:
​
Day 1 - Fullday Tour of Ephesus
Meet with your guide in front of  your hotel in Kusadasi. Drive  to the country. Your first stop on this fascinating tour is at the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY. Then, you will continue on to visit ancient EPHESUS, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world. See the Odeion, the Market Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath,Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theater with a seating capacity of 25,000 people. Afterwards visit the  BASILICA OF ST. JOHN and see the TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS, one of the wonders of the  ancient world. En-route to Kusadasi enjoy the scenery or shopping opportunity. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 2 - Fullday Tour of Pamukkale and Aphrodisias
After departing from Kusadasi, drive east approx. 3 hours. Visit Aphrodisias, see the finest works of marble from Roman Period and the 30.000 spectator capacity gigantic roman stadium. Continue to Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Enter the site from North Gate and walk through the Ancient Necropolis (Cemetery). So far Italian archaeologists excavated over 1200 tombs in the area. The total number is expected to exceed 3000.  No where in the world you can see such a gigantic ancient cemetery. Afterwards see the Roman Bath,  walk through Domitian Gate, Frantinus Avenue to see the other remains. View the huge Roman theater having a capacity of 10000.  Walk on the calcium deposit terraces of Pamukkale. Enjoy the stunning views. The water temperature is 32 degrees.  At the end of the tour we can drop you at a hotel in Pamukkale or drive you back to Kusadasi.


Cost: 585 Euro (Total to be paid for your party of 1-6 people)


Rates Cover:

• Services of an excellent English speaking tour Guide 
• A/C Mercedes MPV
• All transportation costs.
• Tax, service charges.
• Pick up and drop off from/to Hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk
• Lunches
• Parking fees

Rates Do Not Cover:

• Entrance fees to the sites.
• Drinks during lunches.

There is no prepayment required for the reservation. To avoid disappointment, we recommend to make your private tour reservation at earliest possible.

Payment Terms:
Payment can be made in Euro or US Dollar cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required.

We recommend you to overnight in Kusadasi.
Recommended hotels to stay in Kusadasi:

• Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel - 4 Stars
• LaVista Boutique Hotel
• Charisma Deluxe Hotel - 5 Stars
• Double Tree by Hilton Hotel - 4 Stars
• Korumar Deluxe Hotel - 5 Stars

• Hotel Ilayda - 3 Stars

We offer custom private tours of Western Turkey such as above.
For more information, please contact us.

Aphrodisias was the most famous ancient city that was named after the Goddess Aphrodite. The ancient city of Aphrodisias is one of the most important archaeological sites of modern Turkey. Discover the famous UNESCO world heritage sites of Turkey with a licensed knowledgeable tour guide. We offer Private Aprhodisias Tours from Kusadasi, Selcuk, Sirince Hotels and Kusadasi Port. Aphrodisias, is one of the top archaeological attractions of Western Turkey. You will be enchanted by the beauty of Aphrodisias.

Aphrodisias is located in southwestern Turkey, in the province of Aydin. It takes approximately 2.5 hours drive from Kusadasi to Aphrodisias. The distance between Kusadasi and Aphrodisias is 155km. There is no direct transportation from Kusadasi to Aphrodisias.

Aphrodisias History
Aphrodisias was a small Greek city in the province of Caria. The current ancient city is located nearby the village of Geyre. It takes approx. 2.5 hours drive (140 miles) from Kusadasi to reach Aphrodisias. Aphrodisias, unlike Ephesus has never been a port city. The city is 62 miles inland from the coast. Aphrodisias is 2000 feet above sea level and located by the 8000 feet mountain called Babadag (known as Salbakos in the ancient times). The city before adopting the name ''Aphrodisias'', it was named as Lelegeopolis, Megapolis and Ninoi. The name "Ninoi" is given by the Asyrians who settled this area. Ninoi is also the name of a city located in Asyria. Asyrians introduced Ishtar culture to the city. Probably, the words Star and Easter is derived from the goddess Ishtar. Aphrodisias, covers an area of 200 acres and generally is a flat city.

Unlike many other ancient cities in Anatolia, Aphrodisias was discovered by a famous Turkish photographer Mr. Ara Guler in 1958. He was travelling through villages and towns. He was in the village of Geyre and noted a village that has so many ancient remains that the villagers live without knowing their importance. Afterwards Ara Guler was in touch with the Turkish Archaeologist Mr. Kenan Erim from New York University. Excavations began in the 1960s. Kenan Erim devoted his life to excavate this ancient city. Since this city is lately discovered, you do not see any remains from this city in British Museum or any other museums outside Turkey.

Aphrodisias became an artistic center with a famous school of sculpture. The city was also famous with ceremonies made in Aphrodite Temple in the name of Aphrodite. Ruined because of the earthquakes. In the 4th and 7th century. Major earthquakes happened and changed the route of the rivers nearby. The City was under flood due to change of route of water. After 7th century earthquakes, the city lost its importance. In the 6th century. The name of Aphrodisias was changed to Stauroupolis, meaning the city of the Cross, to erase the pagan goddess of love from peoples minds. As the capital of Caria, Aphrodisias was finally called Caria which then became Geyre in Turkish. Later in the 13th century, the city was abandoned.  

Aphrodisias was founded near a marble quarry that was extensively used in the Hellenistic and Roman times. The closest quarry was half a mile away from Aphrodisias. The marble sculptures of Aphrodisias became very famous during the Roman period. Many examples have been excavated in Aphrodisias. The sculptors of Aphrodisias became famous and benefited from a great supply of quality marble nearby. There was a famous school of sculpture here which was very productive. A lot of sculpture can be seen today around the ancient city and in the museum. Many finished and unfinished statues discovered in the area. Unfinished statues prove the existence of a Sculpturing School. Many sarcophagi were excavated at several locations in site, frequently decorated with designs of garland, columns, figures of people, birds and animals. Names of many sculptors from Aphrodisias have been seen in lots of works in Italy, Greece and elsewhere.   

Excavations in the theater hill have revealed layers of settlement going back to the Bronze Age. Aphrodisias was founded in the 5800 BC and flourished under the Roman Empire. First settlers were Carians, Pelasgians and Lelegians. Aphrodisias is mentioned in the 1st century BC by geographer Strabo.

Aphrodisias was named after Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Aphrodite was known to Romans as Venus. The name of the city has the same root as the word "aphrodisiac". Both words derive from the Greek name Aphrodite, the goddess of love, Aphrodisias was one of several ancient cities dedicated to the goddess of love. Within the borders of Caria, during the Roman period, following the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. The assassins, Brutus and Cassius fled to Asia Minor where they invaded many cities. Aphrodisias, remained loyal to Caesar. There is evidence that the city was attacked by the supporters of Cassius and Brutus. The main reason, keeping the city loyal to Caesar is because of Zoilos, the former slave of Caesar who was freed by Octavian. Mark Antony recognized the autonomy of Aphrodisias in the 1st century BC.   
​

Fame of Aphrodisias is not only limited to arts. It also had a number of renowned scholars and writers as well as philosophers, of whom the most notable ones were Xenocrates and Alexander of Aphrodisias. Alexander was a famous philosopher from Aphrodisias. He followed the teachings of Aristotle. Born in Aphrodisias and lived and taught in Athens at the beginning of the 3rd century, where he held a position as head of the Peripatetic school that is founded by Aristotle. He wrote many commentaries on the works of Aristotle (Aristotle, was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century BC. One of the students of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great.)

Statues were carved from the local white, grayish blue Carian marble, mostly from Babadag (Salbakos), nearby mountain. Sculptors from other areas came to Aphrodisias for annual sculpture competitions. The eyes of the statues found here are full of expression and vitality and the bodies seem capable of moving. The public monuments in Aphrodisias were decorated with "peopled scrolls" which were one of the characteristics of stone carving produced by the school of sculpture in Aphrodisias. Some masterpieces have the signatures of their creators who are especially experts in relief and sarcophagus production. Many sarcophagi were decorated with lively reliefs, symbolizing the desire to deny the emptiness of death and its eternal darkness. These sculptors imposed their creative mastery over iron and marble. Iron tools and instruments were to achieve victory and greatness not only in battle fields but in the field of sculpture as well. Anatolia was in a period when matchless works of sculpture were created. The old traditions of Anatolian sculpture reached a phase of lively fineness and beauty of expression. 

Aphrodisias was a special city and beloved by Augustus. Due to this it was exempted from paying taxes. There could be several reasons for this:

• The connection between the goddess and the imperial house was also a particularly politic one at the time, as the family of Julius Caesar, Octavian Augustus, and their successors claimed divine descent from Venus/Aphrodite. Aphrodite was the mother of Aeneas from Troy. After the Trojan war, Aeneas fled away from Troy. Romans believed that they are descendants of Aeneas and royal Trojans. In Roman inscription Troy is mentioned as Ilius. It is believed that the name Julius is derived from Ilius.
• Zoilos a good friend and a former slave of Augustus was from this city.
• Aphrodisias, was an artisan city. Sculptors from Aphrodisias made statues for emperors and commanders from all over the Roman Empire.

In a letter written by Emperor Augustus to Stephanus (governor of Laodicea), Aphoridisias is privileged:
​

With the tax-free status Aphrodisias became a popular pilgrimage destination. Starting from 1st century BC, in Aphrodisias, a long period of prosperity began. The city gained a reputation of being an artistic, cultural center and as well as a center for religious activity. Many important writers and philosophers like Alexander of Aphrodisias lived in this city.

Tetrapylon was a monumental gateway that leaded entrance to the Temple of Aphrodite. The gateway was built in the late 2nd century AD during the reign of Hadrian. It had 4 rows of 4 columns. It is thought to have marked the intersection of a major street with a sacred way heading toward the sanctuary of Aphrodite.

The Temple of Aphrodite was the main attraction of the Ancient City of Aphrodisias. Historians think that before this temple was built here, there was an earlier cult for Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar who is known as goddess of fertility and sex. There were festivals in the name Ishtar at the beginning of spring. These celebrations are made for the arrival of spring in the name of Ishtar. The name Ishtar is also associated with the word Easter. The building was converted into a church during the Byzantine period. From this church, historians mention twenty bishops from Aphrodisias who attended the ecumenical councils in the early times of Christianity. The building was originally designed as an Ionic temple with 40 columns arranged in an 8 by 13 rectangle shape. Once it was converted into a church, the columns at each end were removed, an apse was built in the eastern section, and a baptistery and an atrium were added to the west. On some columns donor names are being noted. Life in the city was concentrated on the Temple of Aphrodite. The cult of Aphrodite was so popular that it took some time before Christianity was fully accepted by Aphrodisians.  The temple was founded here in the 1st century BC with the funding made by Zoilos.

Worship to Aphrodite goes back to 7th century BC to Assyrians who came here from Mesopotamia and settled here and worshiped to a goddess named as Ishtar who is also the goddess of love. The similarities between Aphrodite and Ishtar are generally well-recognized. In Mesopotamian mythology, Ishtar was the principal goddess of the Babylonians and Assyrians. She was both the compassionate mother of all life, who brought fertility and relief from sickness, and the lustful goddess of sexual love and war.  
​

Stadium of Aphrodisias, is one of the best preserved stadium in Anatolia with a 30,000 spectator capacity. Originally it had a blind arcade on top of the highest row surrounding all the seats. The stadium was used for gladiatorial fights, chariot races, sporting, musical and dramatic events. The eastern part of the arena was for gladiatorial fights. This is a hybrid structure, a mixture of a Greek stadium and a Roman Arena. Therefore, it was used for sport events, executions and gladiatorial fights. Reserved seat carvings on seats can still be noticed at the seats of the stadium. Women were not attending athletic events since all the men was competing nude. The Stadium was double size of the population of Aphrodisias. Probably, a smaller type of Olympic Games in the name of Aphrodite was held here.

Bouleuterion (senate house), is located at the north side of the North Agora. The original building was vaulted.
Seating capacity is expected to be about 1750. Archaeologists found many unfinished statue pieces and sculpturing tools during the excavations done in the area between Bouleterion and Aphrodite temple. For this reason the place is considered as the famous sculpture school of Aphrodite in archaic ages. The school was actively used from 1st century BC until 6th century AD, Some historians believe that there were some sculpturing artists moved to the city from Pergamon after the death of Attalus 3rd who inherited his empire and treasure to the Roman Empire in the second century BC. The artists who were left without work moved to Aphrodisias. The reputation of the artists of Aphrodisias was beyond Anatolia and Rome.

Baths of Hadrian were built under Hadrian in the 2C AD. Hadrian visited the city of Aphrodisias and these roman baths were constructed in the memory of his visit. There were two pairs of large rooms on either side of a huge central hall called the caldarium.  Total 4 sections as Apodyterium (Chaging rooms), Fridgiderium (Cold Rooms), Tepiderium (Luke warm/tepid room) and Caldarium (Hot/Steam Room). 

During the excavations in the villa of Hadrian in Tivoli, Italy. Archeologists discovered many statues made in Aphrodisas.

South Agora also known as the Portico of Tiberius, had an Ionic colonnade which has partially been restored, was started during the reign of Tiberius, 1st century AD. The central area of the portico is occupied by a huge basin or pool, with two semicircular extremities at the north and east ends. The portico may well have been a gymnasium or a palaestra with an exercise area between the colonnade and the pool.

North Agora, was mainly used for commercial reasons. This was the marketplace. In the middle of North Agora. The Monumental Tomb of Zoilos was located.

Theater was built in the late Hellenistic period and later restored in the 1st century BC, and according to its inscription it was dedicated to Aphrodite and the people of the city by Gaius Julius Zoilos, a former slave of Gaius Julius Caesar and later on inherited to Octavian. Octavian gave freedom to Zoilos.  The seating capacity was 8,000. The stage building consisted of six vaulted dressing or storage rooms out of which four opened into the corridor behind the proskene. The stage building wall in the north parados had Greek inscriptions of important documents related to the history of the city such as letters of emperors to the city or senatorial decrees. The orchestra and the stage building were restored in the 2nd century AD in order to make the building more suitable for animal or gladiatorial fights. The theater was seriously damaged in the 7th century, and the Byzantines built houses on top of the cavea and converted the hill into a fortress by circling it with walls and towers. In the excavations an inscription is found saying that Julius Galius Caesar gifted a Golden Eros statue to Aphrodite. The statue is later stolen from the city and taken to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. From the inscription it is thought that Caesar was in the city of Aphrodisias. The levelled seat rows show that there were gladiatorial games played in the theater.

Tetrastoon, originally surrounded by four (tetra) colonnades on all sides with a round fountain in the center, had several functions in the Roman and Byzantine city. First it was a meeting place for the citizens and also by having surrounding small shops served as a marketplace. Finally, it gave access to the theater. To the south of the tetrastoon was the Imperial Hall with theater baths which have not been completely excavated. 

Sebasteion, was a early 1st century AD shrine in which the emperor was worshiped. The building was built after the death of Zoilos in 20 AD, to have good relations with Rome the capital. Sebasteion derived from the Ancient Greek  word "Sebastos", which is the Greek equivalent of "Augustus". The structure had 3 stories. Each story was decorated with three different column orders, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The building was first unearthed in 1979 it appeared to have no relation to any other building but, as excavations were carried down to deeper levels, it became apparent that this consisted of a temple dedicated to the cult of the Emperor Augustus (Sebastos is the Greek equivalent of the Latin Augustus). Excavations yielded a quite extraordinary quantity of reliefs and decorative panels. Second story display famous stories from the Greek Mythology. Third story the success stories of Julius Caesar and his dynasty. The most remarkable of these included depictions of the birth of Eros, the Three Graces, Apollo in Delphi, Meleager, Achilles and Penthesilea, Nyssa and the child Dionysus. There are also reliefs of some members of the imperial family and mythological figures. Those identified include Augustus, Germanicus, Lucius, Gaius Caesar, Claudius and Agrippa, together with Prometheus and Aeneas fleeing from Troy. There is also a fascinating group of reliefs symbolizing Claudius's conquest of Britain and Nero's conquest of Armenia. There are also a number of fragments depicting the peoples of the various countries with which Augustus had waged war or formed other types of relationships but these have suffered severe earthquake damage.

The longest Jewish inscription from the Classical world was also discovered by the Archaeolgists in Aphrodisias. The inscription written on a pillar is dating back to 3rd century AD and describing 126 donors. Probably the donors of a synagogue in Aphrodisias. According to the inscription excavated in Aphrodisias we know there was major Jewish community living in the city and descriptions of the synagogue. In the inscriptions names of the Jews, the people who have sympathy to Jews and their occupations were noted. 54 of the donors were named as Theosebeis. People who had sympathy to Jews were named as 'Theosebeis' meaning Godfearers. Theosebeis people were gentiles who had sympathy to Jews and Judaism but did not change their pagan faith.

Aphrodisias was, in ancient terms, a medium-sized town (90 
hectares, with a population of maybe 15,000-20.000 inhabitants), but one
with a typically metropolitan grandeur of architectural design. The 
monuments and marble sculptures show a distinctive period of
 ancient city life. The most prosperous days of Aphrodisias was between 1st century BC and 2nd century AD. The city lost its tax-free status after 3rd century AD due to administrative and political changes.  

​Cost of Private Aphrodisias Tour from Kusadasi:
Mercedes V-Class (1-6 people) + English Speaking Tour Guide: 280 Euro
(For groups over 6 people, please contact us for the cost.)
* Above rate is not a per person rate, it is per group.

Rates Cover:
- Services of an excellent English speaking Guide
-  A/C MPV
- All transportation costs.
- Tax, service charges
- Parking fees

Rates Do Not Cover:
- Entrance to the sites. (Cost of Entrance Fee: 140 Turkish LIras = 6.5 Euro per person)

If requested a day tour of Aphrodisias tour can be combined with Pamukkale (Hierapolis).
We offer 2 and 3 days private tours of Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale and more:
2 Days Western Turkey Tour - Ephesus, Pamukkale, Aphrodisias...
3 Days West Turkey Tour - Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Aphrodisias...
​
For more information please contact us.

For travelers who are travelling Turkey with a rent a car, we offer tour guide only services. Your expert Ephesus tour guide can meet you in front of Basilica of St. John or at your hotel in Selcuk or Kusadasi. Seeing the sights with your own private guide is the best way to fully appreciate the richness of Ephesus.

Are there tour guides in Ephesus?
Guides are often waiting at the entrance to Ephesus. But there is no guarantee. We recommend that you book your Ephesus guide in advance to avoid disappointment. A tour of Ephesus with an experienced licensed guide is well worth it because it's the best way to explore this iconic architectural marvel and learn all about its history. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey and a must visit while you are in Turkey.

​Hire a local private tour guide in Ephesus !

• Referenced rate is for tour guide only and does not include entrance fees and parking fees to the sites. 
• The tour is limited with Ephesus and surroundings for 7-8 hours. Your tour guide can meet you at any time you like. 
• ​Meeting point in Selcuk town with your tour guide will be in front of Basilica of St. John.
• Payment can be made in Euros, Turkish Liras, British Pounds and US Dollars cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required for the booking.

Suggested Tour Program (Duration: 5-6 Hours)
Meet with your guide in front of Basilica of St. John in Selcuk town. Visit the remains of the Basilica of St. John, see the tomb of St. John, Selcuk Castle and the remains of the Temple of Artemis. Afterwards drive to Bulbul Mountain to visit the House of Virgin Mary. It is believed that Virgin Mary and John the Apostle came to the Ancient City of Ephesus, after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Mary possibly spent her last years on top of a mountain near Ephesus. Then, you will continue on to visit ancient Ephesus, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world. See the Odeon, the Market Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath, Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theater with a seating capacity of 25,000 people. 

The western region of Turkey is an easy place to drive a rental car. If you are planning to rent a car at Izmir Airport, make sure that your rental car has a toll sticker or a toll transponder to pay the highway tolls. You cannot pay the tolls any other way  Note that you can not pay tolls with cash!  As you exit from Izmir airport, follow the green signs for Aydın (not Izmir). Green sign is for toll road. The toll for the drive from the Izmir airport to Selcuk (Ephesus) is about 3 Turkish Liras. In the toll road there are no signs here for Selcuk or Ephesus, so follow the signs for Aydın. After 30 minutes drive from Izmir airport is the Selcuk turn, Leave the toll road by this exit, following signs to Selcuk and Efes (Ephesus). After passing the tollgates in 10 minutes you will reach Selcuk (Ephesus). If you are going to use our tour guide only service, you will meet your tour guide in front of Basilica of St. John, therefore look for a brown sign as ''Basilica of St. John''

If you do not have a rental car and staying in Selcuk or getting to Selcuk with a train. We offer private walking tours of Ephesus, visiting the Basilica of St. John, Temple of Artemis, Ancient City of Ephesus and the Terrace Houses. This tour includes 6km walking. Guests meet the tour guide in front of Basilica of St. John or Selcuk Train Station and start exploring Selcuk and the ruins. For more information, please visit: Ephesus Walking Tour

Ephesus Tour Guides
Ephesus Tours from Selcuk
Ephesus Walking Tour

Explore two of Turkey’s highlights which are listed in the UNESCO world heritage list.
​2 Days Private Tour from Izmir.

First day, depart for Ephesus to explore the Greco-Roman ruins. Overnight in Pamukkale.
On the second day visit Pamukkale (Hierapolis), which is known with the white travertine terraces and pools that are formed by calcium carbonate. Walk on the terraces and visit the ruins of ancient city of Hierapolis. 

Includes excellent English speaking tour guide, lunches, luxury transport,
If requested airport pickup and drop-off.
Optional visits to Ancient cities of Aphrodisias, Laodicea and Sardis. 

Tour program and  private tour cost are as follows:

Day 1 - Private Tour of Ephesus starting from Izmir and ending in Pamukkale.
Meet your licensed tour guide and air-conditioned vehicle at your hotel in Izmir or Izmir Airport. Depart for Ephesus, Drive approximately 1.5 hours to see the remains of what was once ancient Rome’s capital in Asia Minor. Your first stop will be the ancient city of Ephesus which was the home to over 200,000 people. The peak time of the city was between the 1st and 2nd century AD. Modern-day excavations have revealed an incredible collection of ruins. See the highlights of the ancient city and visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Enjoy lunch at see the traditional local handicrafts, and make a final stop at the ruined Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Afterwards, drive to Pamukkale. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 2 - Private Pamukkale Tour starting from Pamukkale and ending in Izmir
After breakfast, Drive to Pamukkale, a natural and historical site listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy Pamukkale’s white travertine terraces, formed by natural hot springs that has high calcium carbonate. Visit the ruins of ancient city of  Hierapolis. Optional visits to Ancient cities of Apjrodisias, Laodicea or Sardis before returning to Izmir.

Private Tour Cost: 550 Euro (Total to be paid for a group 1-6 people)

Rates Cover:

• Services of an excellent English speaking tour Guide 
• A/C MPV
• All transportation costs.
• Tax, service charges.
• Pick up and drop off from/to Hotel / Airport in Izmir.
• Traditional Turkish Lunches
• Parking Fees to the sites

Rates Do Not Cover:

• Entrance fees to the sites.
• Drinks during lunch
• Hotel accomodation in Pamukkale

There is no prepayment required for the reservation. To avoid disappointment, we recommend to make your private tour reservation at earliest possible.

Payment Terms:
Payment can be made in Euro, Turkish Liras or US Dollar cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required for the booking.

* If requested we can pick you or drop you to Izmir airport. There is no surcharge for these services.
* If requested guests can be transported to Denizli Cardak Airport at the end of Day 2. There is a surcharge of 50 Euros for this private transfer service.

Cancellation Policy
You can cancel a tour 72 hours in advance of your tour departure without any charges. If you would like to cancel a tour, simply send us an email and we will  be happy to assist you. Once you are within the 24 hour tour departure window,  the tour becomes non-refundable. This is because our guide and vehicle have set  aside space to accommodate your request and will often not be able to  fill that  space with another customer so close to departure.

For more information, contact us.

Q1 - I understand that we would be responsible for our overnight accommodation in Pamukkale.
> We do not make hotel bookings. You make your hotel booking directly.
We recommend the following hotels: (booking.com links)

• Venus Suite Hotel
• Venus Hotel
• Doga Thermal Health and Spa
• Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal

Q2 - How long will we have free for swimming in Pamukkale?
> You will have approximately one hour for swimming in Pamukkale antique pool.

Q3 - We would anticipate being dropped off at the Ismir Airport for our flight.
> In the second day you will be dropped off to Izmir airport approximately at 7.30pm.

Q4 - So we would be safe booking a flight departing Izmir at 10:00 PM if we are expected to arrive at 7:30PM?  The guide will ensure we stay on schedule?
> Yes, no problem.

Q5 -  If we skip the visit to either Laodicea and Sardis would we have more time to spend swimming in Pamukkale?  Is there one you'd recommend skipping over the other?
> Yes, skipping one site will give more time for you at Pamukkale. In this case recommend you to skip Sardes. In this way you would have 1.5 hours more in Pamukkale and can spend 3.5 hours.

Q6 - How do we book our trip with you?  How does payment work?
> For the booking, all we need is both of your names and the pick up address.
Payment can be made in Euros, Turkish Liras, British Pounds and US Dollars cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required for the booking.

​For travelers who has limited time in Turkey, we offer private tours of Ephesus and Pamukkale in one day from Kusadasi, Selcuk and Sirince Village. Combine two of Turkey's must-see highlights into one day.  You will be spending approximately 1.5-2 hours in Ephesus and approximately 2.5 hours in Pamukkale. At the end of your private tour we can take you back to Kusadasi, Selcuk Sirince Village or drop you at a hotel in Pamukkale. Kindly note that it takes 3 hours drive from Ephesus to Pamukkale. This is a long tour. We recommend to visit Pamukkale and Ephesus in two days.  This tour is offered for travelers who has limited time. 

Suggested Pamukkale and Ephesus in one day tour program is as follows:
Meet with your guide in front of your hotel in Kusadasi, Selcuk or Sirince Village. (Recommended time to start the tour is 8am) Drive  to the country. Your first stop on this fascinating tour is the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient would, afterwards see the remians of Basilica of St. John from outside. Continue to the HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY. Drive to visit ancient EPHESUS, one of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient sites in the world. See the Odeion, the Market Basilica, Curetes Street, Bath,Celsus Library, Marble Street and the Great Theater with a seating capacity of 25,000 people. After the visit to the ancient city of Ephesus, drive to Pamukkale. On the way to Pamukkale, stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Upon arrival to Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Enter the site from North Gate and walk through the Ancient Necropolis (Cemetery). So far Italian archaeologists excavated over 1200 tombs in the area. The total number is expected to exceed 3000.  No where in the world you can see such a gigantic ancient cemetery. Afterwards see the Roman Bath,  walk through Domitian Gate, Frantinus Avenue to see the other remains. View the huge Roman theater having a capacity of 10000.  Walk on the calcium deposit terraces of Pamukkale. Enjoy the stunning views. The water temperature is 32 degrees.  At the end of the tour we can drop you at a hotel in Pamukkale or drive you back to Kusadasi, Selcuk or Sirince Village.

* This tour can also be offered for travellers who are staying in Pamukkkale hotels. We can pick you up from your hotel in Pamukkale and at the end of your Pamukkale and Ephesus tour, we can drop you at your hotel in  Kusadasi, Selcuk or Sirince Village.

Tour timings are as follows:
8.00 - Depart Kusadasi
8.30 - Arrive Ephesus and visit
10.30 - Depart Ephesus
13.30 - Lunch 
14.30 - Enter Pamukkale
17.00 - Depart Pamukkale
20.00 - Arrive back to Kusadasi.

Cost of private tour Ephesus and Pamukkale starting and ending in Kusadasi: 350 Euro (Total to be paid for your party of 1-6)
* Above rate is NOT a per person rate. It is total to be paid for your group.

Rates Cover:

• Services of an excellent English speaking tour Guide 
• A/C MPV
• All transportation costs.
• Tax, service charges.
• Pick up and drop off from/to as indicated.
• Traditional Turkish Lunch 
• Parking fees to the sites.

Rates Do Not Cover:

• Entrance fees to the sites.
• Drinks during lunch​

* Except Terrace Houses, there is no admission fee for children under 8 years old. For the proof of age, please bring passport copies with you.

​* There is no prepayment required for the reservation. To avoid disappointment, we recommend to make your private tour reservation at earliest possible.

Payment Terms:
Payment can be made in Euros, Turkish Liras, British Pounds and US Dollars cash at the end of the tour. There is no prepayment required for the booking.

Cancellation Policy
You can cancel a tour 72 hours in advance of your tour departure without any charges. If you would like to cancel a tour, simply send us an email and we will  be happy to assist you. Once you are within the 24 hour tour departure window,  the tour becomes non-refundable. This is because our guide and vehicle have set  aside space to accommodate your request and will often not be able to  fill that  space with another customer so close to departure. 

For more information and costs please contact us.