Kusadasi, Turkey Shore Excursions - Ancient Ephesus & Sirince

Cruise ships dock at Kusadasi cruise port, a short walk from the town centre and the waterfront castle on Pigeon Island. There is no tendering - you walk straight off the ship. Your licensed guide and private driver meet you at a designated location included with your confirmation. The drive to Ephesus takes about 20 minutes.

A standard Ephesus tour covering the main archaeological site and the House of the Virgin Mary takes about five to six hours including travel time. Adding the Terrace Houses, the Basilica of St. John and the Temple of Artemis extends the tour to roughly eight hours.

The Terrace Houses are a separately ticketed section within Ephesus containing the excavated private residences of the city's wealthiest Roman citizens - remarkably well-preserved mosaic floors, painted frescoes, marble walls and underfloor heating systems dating back nearly two thousand years. The visit adds about 45 minutes and is highly recommended.

Yes. The House of the Virgin Mary is a small stone chapel on Nightingale Mountain above Ephesus, traditionally believed to be where Mary spent her final years. The site has been visited by three popes and is a recognized Catholic pilgrimage destination. It takes about 30 minutes including the drive up the mountain and is included in most of our Ephesus tours.

Turkish law requires a licensed guide at all major archaeological and historical sites. All of our Kusadasi guides hold credentials issued by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Our back-to-ship guarantee means that if an unforeseen delay during your private Kusadasi shore excursion prevents you from returning to the cruise port before your ship departs, we will arrange and cover the cost of transportation to your next port of call. This guarantee applies to all private shore excursions booked through us from Kusadasi. Your tour must be scheduled to return to the ship 1.5 hours prior to ship departure.