Hello dear traveler,
My name is Emre from Izmir, Kusadasi nearby Ephesus. I grew up in the tourism town of Kusadasi with waving hands to cruise passengers in 1980s' while running in the garden of our primary school just across the port. In the high school we started to listen amazing stories of experiences with the tour groups from the first generation of local tour guides who picked groups from the port. Being a tour guide had been a lifetime dream for me. I was lucky with learning English from American and English teachers at the high school. So that there was no language barrier to exchange the culture with travelers visited my hometown as a beginner tourism professional. And finally I became a tour guide after graduation of a tourism faculty in 2003. Today I live with my colleague and wife Nesrin and our two sons. Tour guiding has been my full-time job for last twenty years. After spending 12 years in Istanbul as a tour guide gaining more experiences, we moved back home and took over the A class travel agency called as Phoenicia Travel and started to operate our boutique private tours through our company in different concepts. My wife Nesrin and I recently started to create our new tour itineraries with different concepts and customizing tours in our area. I realized that deep history of Asia Minor meets with different local dishes and good dry wines so well. Travelers should enjoy their time with trying new delicacies and wines. I think traditional dishes represents our country well and helps you to understand better and digest our culture easier. In our tours you don't only visit the historical sites but also you taste the real Turkish food at Turkish local guesthouses, local restaurants around the villages. If you interest in dry wines, we can visit a professional winery with a production of 400 thousand bottles of a year for a wine taste or have our lunch at the winery restaurant with a good selection of dry wines near Ephesus.
As you may know, our area is very rich with Roman history like the other parts of Turkey. I can easily share my historical background with you especially about ancient Roman life routine in those years. But you'll not only listen the Roman history of Ephesus, we will talk about the recent excavations of Ephesus. Tour guides are neither a historian nor an archeologist but we usually have a deep idea about what happened in the past especially in Roman times of Asia Minor with helping you to make connections between the historical facts and myths.
Of course there will be lots of fun together, learning and discover new things in Turkish culture. Actually with that reason, I am so happy with being a tour guide and keep learning so many things from you and sharing my culture. I am sure spending a day with me becomes an experience for you with learning and discoveries.
Just share your intended tour plans, route, needs and interests with me. I'll be doing my best to build a unique tour experience for you. All kind of your questions about your intended tour will be most welcome. I'll try to respond your questions as soon as possible and easily customize the best tour itinerary for you.
So thrilled to meeting you in our beautiful region.
My best wishes.

Emre

*Tour guiding license from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism since 2004.
*Owner and manager of PHOENICIA TRAVEL which is a A class travel agency with the license number of 9598.
*BA degree from Gazi University faculty of tourism education and tour guiding.

Let's design your day together !!!
I love offering this particular customized tour as it gives me the opportunity to have real connection with my guests. I will help you manage your time at best! There will be no line-ups or time wasted.
We will step back in time to learn about the amazing history of Ephesus together. Does the word of Asia Minor reminds you anything? Why is the Domitian Temple super big ?Was there a message behind it?
I will share the facts about Ephesus that you can not find in any regular guide book .
My tour also gives you complete freedom and flexibility to explore Ephesus and its environs at your pace with an itinerary that suits your interests. The must-see place is the ancient city of Ephesus itself. It is a journey through 2000 years of history!
You will have alternates after digesting Ephesus such as; The Basilica of St. John, Ephesus Archeological Museum, and The House of Mary.
Let's enjoy the day and make it unforgettable!

Private Customised Day Tour in Ephesus

This tour doesn't accommodate transportation service.
You must meet me at the lower gate of Ephesus archeological site.
Tour will take approximately 3 hours in the archeological site. We can include terrace houses to the tour on your request.
If you'd have time,  I can take you for an authentic lunch at the nearby farms.

Private Ephesus Tour with a Stopover 

This is the most popular tour in Ephesus among my tours listed.
If you'd like to find out the details of Ephesus with its environs, this tour would be just for you. This tour also offers you a comprehensive visit in Ephesus site. We can spend up to 3 hours in Ephesus including with the terrace houses.

The rich Roman citizens lived between 1st-3rd century AD in terrace houses. I'll share with you different stories from ancient life. We will talk about the ancient Romans, their dress code, daily life, education system, trading, servants, gladiators, merchants.

After Ephesus, we will talk about the expansion of Christianity in Asia Minor, stories of St. John the apostle, St. Paul and Mother Mary. We'll visit also the archeological museum with unearthed first time used coins, see the famous Artemis statues that stood in the temple for centuries.

You'll also have a chance to taste the local Turkish cuisine in the farms as a lunch break farm.

Tour guide in Izmir Emre O.

English, Turkish

Contact the Guide

Delivers tours starting at

Tours by Emre O.

Customize your tour

Traveller reviews for private tours