Cooking Experience with Winery Visit

Dear traveler, I am local tour guide and cyclist from Izmir, near the ancient port town of Ephesus. I grew up in Izmir and Kusadası in the 1980s, waving to cruise passengers while playing in the garden of our primary school. Even as a child, I was surrounded by the energy of travel and different cultures. During high school, I was inspired by the first generation of local tour guides who shared fascinating stories from their experiences with international travelers. From that moment on, becoming a tour guide became my lifelong dream. During my childhood I was fortunate to receive a strong English education from American and British teachers, which allowed me to connect with visitors from around the world. After graduating from the Faculty of Tourism in 2003, I officially became a licensed tour guide. Today, I live with my wife and colleague, Nesrin who is another Toursbylocals guide, and our two beautiful sons. Tour guiding has been my full-time profession for over 20 years. After spending 12 years in Istanbul, where I gained extensive experience guiding diverse groups, we returned to our hometown and took over our family-owned A-class travel agency, Phoenicia Travel. Since then, we have been specializing in boutique, private tours with unique concepts tailored to each guest. So when you choose one of my tours you will be secured and operated under my own travel agency of Phoenicia Travel with using our luxury minivans. We have brand new Mercedes Benz minivan fleet with great drivers. My Approach to tours, Over the years, I have come to realize that the rich history of Asia Minor blends perfectly with local cuisine and fine dry wines. Besides my interests of gastronomy and cycling, I offer bike tours in our area. I offer a cycling opportunity for my guests besides visiting Ephesus archeological site. That’s why my tours are designed not just to show you historical sites, but to offer a complete cultural experience. In my tours, you will: Explore iconic sites such as Ephesus and the House of Virgin Mary Taste authentic Turkish cuisine in carefully selected local guesthouses and village restaurants Experience premium olive oils and discover how they are produced Enjoy high-quality local wines, with optional visits to boutique wineries If you are interested in wine, we can visit a professional winery and even enjoy lunch paired with a selection of excellent dry wines. I believe that food is one of the best ways to understand a culture. Traditional dishes tell the story of our land, our history, and our people — making your experience both enjoyable and meaningful. History with Context, Our region is incredibly rich in history, especially from the Roman period. I take great pleasure in sharing not only the well-known stories of Ephesus but also insights into daily life in ancient times, along with updates from recent excavations. While tour guides are not historians or archaeologists, we are trained to connect historical facts, daily life, and mythology in a way that brings the past to life and makes it easy to understand. A Personal Experience, My goal is to create more than just a tour — I aim to offer a memorable day filled with discovery, learning, and enjoyment. I also genuinely enjoy learning from my guests and sharing perspectives, which makes every tour unique. I would be delighted to design a personalized itinerary based on your interests, travel plans, and expectations. Whether you are looking for history, food, wine, or a combination of all, I will do my best to create a truly special experience for you. Please feel free to reach out with any questions — I will be happy to assist you and customize the perfect tour. I look forward to meeting you in our beautiful region. *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.