Ephesus Tour Guides
Ephesus Tour GuidesEphesus Travel Guide offers private guided tours of Ephesus with licensed and expert Ephesus tour guides. Ephesus Travel Guide offers nothing else but, and specializes in private Ephesus tours. We provide a very friendly and professional service allowing you to relax and enjoy your tour to Ephesus and to wherever your destination may lead. Our goal is to provide a good service, with competent and professional tour guides. Our Ephesus tour guides will help you from the moment you arrive until your departure. They will be at your entire service, flexible and tactful as you would expect them to be.
The image we project must reflect your own high standards and expectations. Our Ephesus tour guides are carefully chosen for their personal standards, reliability, appearance and guiding skills and extensive knowledge. Each customer has different requirements. Our professional Ephesus tour guide will provide you with a custom Ephesus tour, tailored to your individual needs.
One advantage to our business is that our Ephesus tour guides get to know the destinations we serve extremely well. These tours can range from a half-day, pre-set tour all the way up to a multi-day tour customized to your request. We offer no guarantees regarding the weather, except that it is rarely as awful as you may have been led to believe, but we do guarantee you will enjoy the company of your knowledgeable and skillful Ephesus tour guide. Their mission, which they take very seriously, is to send you home with unforgettable memories. Below please find some of our Ephesus tour guides in our team: Yesim
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Popular Ephesus attractions:
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I booked a half day tour for my wife and myself at short notice, before leaving the UK. I had reservations about booking a tour over the internet, but I needn't have worried. Denizhan knew our ships arrival time in port and when we stepped ashore at Kusadasi our guide Yesim was waiting to escort us to our car. She spoke excellent English and gave us a commentary on the short drive to Ephesus, telling us about what we were going to see at Ephesus, Turkish life and her family. We had plenty of free time there to get photos [a passion of mine] away from the crowds and we took our time strolling down through the site, all the while with Yesims excellent commentary. We had her undivided attention, something we'd have struggled to get in a larger group - and we took the tour at our pace. In hindsight I'd probably have asked for longer at Ephesus and skipped the visit to the carpet weaving, but we were asked if we'd like to go there and accepted so have no complaints about that. On our return to Kusadasi Yesim offered to suggest places for us to eat/shop if we wanted, and she also took a few photos of us during our tour - so what more could we have asked for! Overall really pleased with our tour and would recommend it to others.
“Private guided tour”
Four of us enjoyed a full day tour to Ephesus , our third visit ,but the most informative ,since our guide Yesim was very knowledgable. We also visited a lovely Mosque .We opted not to take the included lunch sponsored by the carpet factory and had a fabulous lunch (at our own expense )high up in a mountain village ,where we watched our food being prepared and cooked in an open oven. We did however visit a carpet and a ceramic factory and enjoyed both ,we didn't feel under any obligation to purchase ,and seeing the silk worms and manufacturing process was fascinating . We were collected promptly,and travelled very comfortably and safely in a six seat Merzedes van.We would all recommend TranBalkan tours. Much less expensive than a Shore Excursion from the ship.
“Great service”
I booked through this company because they provided the fastest response and the best prices for what I wanted. Kudos to Denizhan Pekoz for being so efficient. I strongly recommend using this small company. Everything is above-board, no hidden prices, etc. So nice to rely upon something when traveling abroad!
I was traveling with two female friends, and we thought having a female guide would give us an opportunity to learn a perspective that was missing from all of the other public interactions we had (male store keepers, male waiters, male clerks at the hotel, male drivers, etc.) We loved Yesim Kulak, our guide, who was very open (in an appropriate way) about her life, her education, and the process of becoming a certified tour guide. She met us at the airport, as requested, and took us to the sites we had agreed upon, keeping in mind the timing of the huge cruise ship tour buses and trying to avoid them by re-ordering our itinerary. We had a very pleasant (and delicious) lunch with her that was included in the price of the tour.
Yesim was completely responsive to our feedback - we weren't that excited about two of the things on our itinerary and we were tired, so we drove to them to see them from afar without going in (perfect!). She took us to two shops - one is a co-op of types for women making rugs, the other was a family-run company for ceramics. The materials are beautiful, the prices are not cheap, but everything is hand-made and shipping and insurance are subsidized by the Turkish government in order to facilitate buying from certified artisans. DO negotiate.
We were dropped at our hotel after a very full day. I really recommend using this service (and requesting Yesim)!
On a recent ship cruise stopover at Izmir, we were collected by a charming guide Yeshim sent to us by this company. She was patient and fine tuned the trip to suit our needs along the way. She also took us to a small place for lunch that served delicious kebabs.
Thank you for arranging our tour of Ephesus. Yasem was an excellent and informative guide and kindly made appropriate adjustments to the schedule so that my wife could sit and sketch whilst I saw the wonderful Terrace Houses and the other sites of Ephesus.
Umit
Traveler Reviews about Umit :
“Kudasai-Ephesus Tour”
I would like to share our experience when we booked our tour last October 24, 32014. Our guide, Umit, was very nice and very pleasant and knowledgeable in answering our questions about the sites. He speaks very clearly as well. Our service van was very comfortable (there were 8 of us) and the van was clean and well kept. The tour was the one of the best tours we've had and the sites we visited were one of the nicest we've been. Your city is very rich in History. All praises to you and the whole of Kusadasi/Ephesus. Thank you for accommodating us.
I highly recommend booking a tour with Denizhan and his group. Our tour guide, Umit, was absolutely wonderful - knowledgeable, kind, funny, and sincere - I can not say enough good things about him and our tour. Booking the tour via the internet was also very easy, and Umit was already waiting for us when we disembarked our cruise ship. There were no hidden fees, and the van we were in was in great condition and air conditioned. It was definitely a stress-free visit to Ephesus. We received A++ service from Umit, and we would not hesitate to book with him again.
Umet was our guide in Ephesus and not only knew the history, but made it a fun day for our family. He made sure we saw and did everything on our list and added some of his own favorites which we really enjoyed. It was a perfect day from start to finish.
Our guide, Umit, was wonderfully informative. He had a driver for us so that he could focus on us and the great sites we had pre-arranged to see. Our ship had to change the itinerary due to strikes in Greece (and therefore our Turkey tour date) but we were still able to have the tour! They were wonderfully accommodating. Our particular tour was Christian-based, since we wanted to see where Paul preached about Jesus, and where Mary lived after Jesus was crucified. We also enjoyed seeing the process for making the lovely Turkish rugs, and also had the absolute best lunch ever at the same place. This tour company is safe, very knowledgable, attentive, and flexible. They are the best!
Ozlem
Traveler Reviews about Ozlem:
“Great value and great tour”
All communication with Transbalkan Tours was clear and well done and our guide Ozlem was very sweet and knowledgeable. My wife and I were able to see what we wanted and spend time in places the cruise ship group could not. Because we had a driver and a guide, we could get in and out of places easily and spend our time enjoying Ephesus, the Ephesus museum, the Saint John Basilica and other sights at our leisure. Ozlem and the driver met us right at the cruise ship port with a sign and we were off for the day. The price was what we negotiated in advance and the only addition was the tip we left with the guide and driver. Very well done. I would use this Tour company again for a longer tour in Turkey. .A nice lunch was also included in the tour price!
“Private Tour Ephesus”
Denizhan was terrific in coordinating our tour. The guide, Ozlem, and AC mini-bus van he provided for our transportation in/around Ephesus exceeded our expectations. Ozlem met us at the Port entrance as the designated time and place and from the very beginning made us feel welcomed. She adapted the tour to meet our needs and interests. Ozlem was very knowledgeable --herself a former student of the archeologists who are working at the Terrace Houses even today to further uncover and to peel back the history of generations past. The House of Mary and Ephesus are must see tour stops and they were made even more memorable by her insights into the history and importance to not only Greek culture to modern civilization. We (4 grandparents, 2 adults and 2 teenage girls) finished our 5 hour magnificent private tour at the House of Kabob,--Oz Urfa, located about 2 blocks from the Port. The kebob, gyros and desserts were exceptional. What a day and thanks to Denizhan and Ozlem for making it happen !
Kusadasi was one of the stops on a recent cruise and after some online research, we determined that a private guided tour would be the best way to go. We chose Ephesus Travel Guide and we couldn't be happier with the experience. Our guide was Ozlem (sorry I can't add those two little dots over the O) and she was great. She conveyed a lot of interesting information about Ephesus, and Turkey generally, and had excellent English skills. Unlike some guides who might want to get things over with as quickly as possible, she was focused on what WE wanted and she stayed with us substantially longer than the time called for by the tour description. BTW, if you don't pay a little extra and visit the Terrace Houses within Ephesus, you will have missed the most spectacular element of the entire site. And the cost for a private tour for two was little more than what it would have been had we joined a busload. We saw much more with Ozlem and it was a highlight of our trip. Highest recommendation.
Gulcan
Traveler Reviews about Gulcan:
We arrived in Izmir on a cruise ship so excited to finally see a bit of Turkey. Our driver and tour guide, Gulcan, met us as we got off the boat. While our driver kept us safe, Gulcan kept us intrigued telling us about the history and culture as we drove to Ephesus. We just could not have had a better experience. The sites were very interesting and Gulcan could answer all our questions. We had a wonderful time at the rug factory - I wish I'd taken a few more photos of the weaving of the rugs (the ladies outside). Seeing how they harvest the silk from the silkworms was fascinating! We bought a beautiful rug - which we had planned to do. The factory shipped it to us in Texas without a hitch. We really enjoyed getting to know Gulcan and would absolutely do another tour with TransBalkan Tours!
We recently booked a tour through Denizhan. Our friendly and very knowledgeable travel guide, Gulce (Gulja) and our driver met us at the pier. She answered all of our questions and had so much to tell us about! We drove to Ephesus, then to a small town, Selcuk, to see a rug-weaving facility. We also had the chance to shop for leather, see the House of Mary, and the Temple of Artemis. What a fun day! It was definitely the highlight of our cruise to the Eastern Meditteranean. We learned so much - and saw so many things - all at our own pace. Gulce and our driver (I feel so bad I can't remember his name) were very patient and flexible with us, even doing a couple U-turns to run us back to a better priced leather item we wanted! Turkey itself was so beautiful - you definitely need to get outside the city of Izmir to truly see what the country is like. We highly recommend Transbalkan tours and feel that we got an excellent price on our day trip. Thanks so much to all of you at Transbalkan! Give Gulce a big hug for us!
Ezgi
Ezgi with our group from Kazakhistan
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We had just one afternoon to see Ephesus and did not want to loose time and be driven to carpet and pottery shops. |
My family and I toured Ephesus with Ezgi and we were very pleased. She is very kind, knowledgeable and accommodating. As expected the place was packed and it was extremely hot. We had sunscreen and water and some also brought umbrellas for more shade. The guide made our trip wonderful and I would recommend everyone take her tour.
My husband and I had the pleasure of taking a half day tour with Ezgi. I chose to use this company due to their fast responses, accommodating and flexible style and overall enthusiasm and we are both so happy we did. We were picked up exactly on time and saw the Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, and the Terrace Houses. We learned a wealth of knowledge about each place through Ezgi's guidance, making everything mean so much more with historical context. It was amazing to learn and understand what even the smallest detail meant when pointed out. She was extremely kind in accommodating me, as I have a knee injury and couldn't walk as quickly. After the tour we were enjoyed a lunch with her at a family owned restaurant. I cannot recommend our experience or guide, Ezgi, more highly. We hope to enjoy more tours with them in our time here! Tips for visiting: try to go early as it will get very hot with little shade, sunglasses, good footwear, sunscreen, and water are musts. Ezgi did a great job steering us around crowds, but it is a very popular place, so expect that.
My family and I are very glad we decided to stick with this private tour! We flew to Izmir and had our tour guide, Ezgi, pick us up from the airport. From there we drove to Selçuk in a (very comfortable) new Mercedes van; about a 45 minute drive one-way. Ezgi sat with us (family of three) in the back while our driver navigated us around. Our first visit was the Temple of Artemis, then Ephesus (about 2 hours), afterwards had lunch, and then visited the Isa Bey Mosque.
Ephesus itself was breathtaking. After arriving to the site, we took note how many tourists were there, including big tour groups. We immediately realized how thankful we were to have a private tour arranged to beat the crowds and move at our own pace. Lunch was at a small family owned restaurant. If we weren't on a schedule I could sit there for hours enjoying the scenery. The seating was outdoors and we already had a table for four set up by the time we arrived. Everyone there was so friendly, including the animals that they raised (as pets). One of the highlights of our trips was feeding watermelons to two baby ducks! So adorable. After our visit to Isa Bey Mosque, we were dropped off in front of the Hilton back in Izmir.
Overall we were very satisfied with our private tour. Ezgi was very friendly and she spoke excellent English. She even gave us a free Ephesus book and some goodies to take home with us!
Ezgi was a delight and out of the 10 guides we used on our cruise she was easily the most enjoyable to be with and most thoughtful to our desires. it was as if we were touring with a friend. everyone enjoyed the time with her and the sites she took us too. If we ever go back to Ephesus we will use her or her husband again.
Our private half-day tour of Ephesus with tour guide Ezgi Kayan Pekoz was terrific. She was extremely knowledgable about the area and created a most enjoyable experience. The vehicle, driver, and punctual arrangements added to the overall experience. Best guide of our cruise.
We flew in to Izmir from Cappadocia in the morning for a day trip to Ephesus. We were picked up from the airport at 10 am by the guide Ezgi and the driver. Ezgi was an excellent guide and highly knowledgeable. We first visited the Temple of Artemis and then the main Ephesus site. The driver dropped us off at the top gate and we walked downhill towards the lower gate which made it easier. The site itself is incredible and absolutely worth the visit. The library is amazing. Carry an umbrella and a couple of bottles of water in the peak of summer. After Ephesus, we drove to the tiny picturesque village of Sirence, where we had lunch in a local restaurant overlooking the olive groves. We then visited the house of Virgin Mary built by St. John which was very calm, serene place. Finally, Ezgi dropped us off to the airport. The tour arrangements were excellent and highly professional. I would highly recommend the service, Sameer B.
“Excellent Private Full Day Tour of Country side in Turkey and Ephesus”
We booked this tour while still at home in Canada given the positive remarks made on Tripadvisor about the TransBalkan Tours.
From the moment we were met at the dock by our lovely young lady Ezgi till we arrived back at the cruise ship driven by Mehme our pleasant and capable careful driver, we had a exciting time because of the well informed english speaking guide who with her cheerful personality and care for our being able to enjoy our day because of our disabilities she made it as memorable as possible.
We started with a delicious Turkish breakfast in the mountains miles from the port of Kusadasi in the shade of vines on a table set with a lovely blue and yellow cloth covered with delicious dishes like organic gozleme (filo dough stuffed with feta cheese and spinach) l fresh tomatoes and olives wonderful breads and farm fresh eggs.Cheeses, honey and preserves. Yogurt & berries. Topped off by hot & delicious Turkish coffee. After this feast we drove through downtown Kirazli village but due to our problems could not wander through the streets of the village, but could see people enjoying their traditional Turkish Village life. A lovely drive through the country side with beautiful vistas of mountains and the Mediterranean Ezgi informing us all the time of ruins or historic things we saw until we arrived at the city of Ephesus. Our driver kept us well supplied with bottles of cold water and made sure the temperature in the car was very comfortable. We decided to enter from the lower gate so Fred with a serious walking problem could see the coliseum. A play with music and dancing greeted us on arrival. He rested there while Ezgi and I made our way up to the famous Library, Hadrian's Gate the Terrace houses and the public toilets. When we arrived back to Harbour Street Fred was waiting for us seated on a pillar from ancient time.. We departed Ephesus for the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world we were not physically able to walk it but happy to see it. The amount of information was told in a informative and fun way that made it more than just a history lesson. A magical day. .we enjoyed an equally delicious lunch in a small town .,before heading back to the Port of Kusadasi. Our driver called for 2 wheel chairs to carry us to the ship from the car and they arrived very quickly.
We cannot say enough positive things about our tour, our driver and our guide who we hated to leave but are keeping in touch with as she is having her 1st baby very soon. Lovely day lovely country and lovely people, highly recommend this company.
No issue with payment or changes we requested. Do wear good walking shoes, hat sunscreen and water it is very hot in the summer we where there in June.
Hakan
“Tour of Ephesus with Hakan”
Our group of 12 experienced a wonderful day learning all about the rich history of Ephesus, seeing the ruins, visiting Mary's home and St John's Basilica. Hakan was extremely knowledgable and friendly. We also visited Turkish rug manufacturer and saw how silk was spun from the silk worm cocoons and watched the rugs knitted, had a wonderful Turkish lunch under the olive trees, shopped for leather and ceramics, rounding out a wonderful day in Turkey
“Excellent guide, excellent value.”
There were four of us on a cruise into Kusadasi to visit Ephesus, in Turkey. For about the same price as TWO people on a shipboard large group tour, we had a private Mercedes van, a driver, and a guide, for the whole day. I can't say enough good things about this. The guide was superb. Perfect, fluent English; depth of knowledge; entertaining; he had it all. Thank you Hakan. We had a delicious lunch, in the gardens of a local family-owned Handcrafts center, followed by the mandatory carpet history and weaving presentation. There was honestly no pressure to buy, but I fell in love with a carpet and bought it. I thought I would get buyer's remorse, but I didn't. I love my carpet! Back to the lunch - it was one of our favorite meals of our whole vacation. Fresh, tasty, aromatic. Why, oh why, didn't I beg for the recipe of that tomato puree?? We would highly recommend this tour to anybody visiting the area. You can't go wrong for the value, the experience of a great guide, and the freedom to choose what you want to see and do.
