FOR CRUISE GUESTS / Archaeological Ephesus Tour from Kusadasi ( Ephesus ) Port

Good but underwhelmed

Our guide, Emma (Eda), was very friendly and knowledgeable about Turkey's history and the sites we visited. Her English was superb and we really enjoyed her presentations. Her suggestion to meet earlier (8AM) and 1st stop at Mother Mary's house was spot on. When we arrived, no one was in line so we were able to walk right in and took our time to pray. By the time we went out (10 min?) of the house, there was a line a mile long. We were very grateful for the suggestion. We visited only one archaeological site & forfeited the St. John Basilica ruin due to time. Things to know: All admission tix and extraneous fees are not included in the tour pkg. What we paid was only for the driver & the guide. We missed the fine prints and we weren't the only ones. Many other tourists have missed the same details. Other things to watch out for: Emma asked if we would like to visit a Turkish Rug government-owned manufacture and we readily agreed. The manufacture turned out to be a storefront. We got a 10-min presentations on how they are made then ushered into the salesroom. We definitely didn't expect the a full-on sale presentation by very nice but high-pressured salesmen. We ended up buying a rug out of obligation. We may have overpaid for it, too, since we didn't know we should/could have bargained down the price. Since it was billed as a "government owned" factory, we didn't want to insult them. We wasted a lot of time at the factory that costed us precious time. Next stop was the Turkish Pottery factory, which was next door. Again, another storefront with drawn out sale presentation and equally persistent salesmen, but we didn't buy anything there. Although the items were exceptionally beautiful but we weren't willing to pay 3500Euros for a vase. Lunch was mediocre and at the same rug place. Lastly, contrary to Emma's advise, the prices at the port weren't twice as much as what you could find outside. We found them to be very reasonable and you feel free to bargain. I found a vase with similar shape albeit smaller and not quite as intricate as the one at the factory for 50Euros. I'm very happy with my 50Euros vase!!! All is not lost, however. We thoroughly enjoyed the visits to Mother Mary's house and the archaeological site and wish that we could have seen more. The rest of the tour was a waste of time. We could have used the precious time to visit the Grand Bazaar next to the Port and bought similar things for fraction of the cost.

via Viator

Great Guide Sukru

Shukru was an AMAZING ! So informative and kind! We had a full day and he was happy to do what wanted! I loved getting to go to mass at Mary’s house! He took so the pictures of our group r we wanted and took us to a lovely lunch ! Watching the carpets being made is really cool … and yes they want to sell them but up can decline politely … we bought 2 !! Enjoy ! Thank you Shukru

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High pressure sales

Our guide was excellent—very informative, friendly, and efficient. They did a great job getting us in and out of the attractions in a timely manner, and we genuinely appreciated their knowledge and professionalism throughout the tour. Our only complaint was the inclusion of three additional stops—a rug factory, leather store, and pottery shop—that involved high-pressure sales tactics. While it was interesting to learn how these items were made, we felt a lot of pressure to purchase, which was not how we wanted to spend our time. We understand that some of these stops may be part of the local tourism culture, and perhaps even required, but the aggressive sales approach really left a bad taste in our mouths and detracted from an otherwise great experience.

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found your guide informative, friendly, efficient, and professional. Providing our guests with a smooth, educational, and enjoyable experience is always our priority, so it is wonderful to know that the historical sites and the guide’s knowledge helped make your day memorable. We also appreciate your comments regarding the additional stops. We would like to kindly clarify that visits to local rug, leather, and pottery workshops are entirely optional and are included to give visitors an opportunity to experience traditional Turkish craftsmanship and learn about local cultural heritage. These workshops have been part of the region’s culture for generations, and many travelers enjoy seeing how these handmade products are created. At the same time, purchasing anything is always a personal decision, and our guests are under no obligation to buy. Our guides respect each visitor’s preferences, and guests are welcome to simply observe the demonstrations and continue with the tour. Many travelers appreciate these stops as a chance to learn more about local arts, traditions, and daily life beyond the archaeological sites. We are very pleased that the overall quality of the tour, the organization, and the professionalism of your guide stood out positively during your visit. Your feedback is valuable to us, and we will continue working with our local partners to ensure that all guests feel comfortable while enjoying the cultural experiences offered throughout the day. Thank you again for choosing our tour, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to Türkiye in the future.

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Fascinating Day in Ephesus

Spent about 6 hours visiting Ephesus. Among the best preserved ruins we have seen, with interesting background, Our guide, Goksu, was very pleasnat, very knowledgeable and answered our many questions. He also set up a great outdoor lunch for us away from the ruins.

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Terrific day!

We had a splendid day of our desired itinerary, fully complemented by a knowledgeable guide and great driver. This was exactly the experience we had desired and hoped for. Thanks!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your kind feedback. We truly appreciate it and hope to see you again.

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