Azamara
Private Ephesus Shore Excursions for Azamara Guests
For guests sailing with Azamara, a private Ephesus shore excursion makes the most of the line's long port calls: your own licensed guide and vehicle, the full region at an unhurried pace, and the evening still yours.
Azamara guests choose the line for its port time, and Kuşadası repays that choice better than almost anywhere. The ancient city of Ephesus is a 20 minute drive from the berth, and on this season’s schedule Azamara’s calls here run deep into the evening, which turns a shore excursion into something closer to a full travel day.
We run it privately: one licensed local guide, one comfortable vehicle, your party alone. The long call means nothing competes for time; Ephesus, the Terrace Houses, a village lunch and the House of the Virgin Mary all fit, unhurried, with the evening left for the town.
Why cruise passengers choose us
Five reasons guests book a private day with us instead of the excursion sold on board.
Award-winning, not just experienced
Eight TripAdvisor awards since 2013, from Certificate of Excellence to Travelers’ Choice, voted by real guests rather than marketing teams.
Exclusively your group
Up to 8 guests from your own party. We never combine strangers into a tour and call it private.
We work around your ship, not the other way
We build the day backwards from your all-aboard time and keep a comfortable buffer, so the return to the ship stays calm rather than a race.
Tickets bought before you arrive
Your guide pre-purchases every entrance ticket, so you walk straight past the queues. At peak season that can save up to two hours, time you spend inside Ephesus rather than waiting outside.
Your language, your pace
Guided in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Japanese by a licensed expert, never a memorised script.
Recognised by travellers
Eight TripAdvisor awards across a decade.
Certificate of Excellence six times between 2013 and 2019, then Travelers’ Choice in 2021 and 2023. Voted by real guests, not marketing teams.
Certificate of Excellence2013 to 2019The private experience
What every guest sailing with Azamara gets as standard, on every private tour.
- Private licensed guideYour own licensed local guide, never a shared coach group.
- Private vehicle, matched to your partyA private, air-conditioned vehicle sized to your group.
- Senior-friendly pacingA gentle pace with rests whenever your group needs them.
- Ship-aware return planningThe day is timed to your ship, with a comfortable buffer before all-aboard.
- No forced shoppingNo carpet or jewellery stops. Your hours ashore stay at Ephesus.
- All listed admissions includedClear, transparent pricing with the listed entries covered.
The destination-immersion port
A long call here is a whole travel day, not a stop.
Ephesus and the Terrace Houses in the morning, Şirince at lunch, the Virgin Mary house after, and Kuşadası’s old town still waiting in the evening.
Who this is for
This page is for Azamara guests who treat a port as a destination rather than a stop: travellers who read up before they arrive, stay ashore longer than the crowd, and would rather finish the day with a walk through a living town than a queue at the gangway. It suits couples and small groups of friends.
However you shape the day, the pace is yours; where it helps, we walk Ephesus gently downhill from the Upper Gate with rests whenever you like.
Ships we serve
Ship-specific pages are added only after we confirm a Kuşadası call and can write genuinely original, ship-specific content. If you are sailing with Azamara, message us with your exact ship and date and we will plan around it.
Private Ephesus tours for your call
- Grand Private Ephesus Tour, Five StopsEvery major site in one unhurried day, built for long calls.View tour
Ephesus & House of the Virgin MaryThe fuller day, adding the hillside shrine above the ancient city.View tour
Private Ephesus & Temple of ArtemisThe classic private half-day, leaving the rest of the call free.View tour
Common questions
Stay longer, see it properly, eat well.
Tours of Ephesus is an independent local operator and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of Azamara.