Cruise excursion · Bible-oriented guide
Private Biblical Ephesus Tour with Bible-Oriented Guide
"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" Ephesus is not merely near the Bible; it is inside it. This tour reads the city through Acts, Ephesians and Revelation, with a specialist guide and lunch included.
- Approx. 5 hours, lunch included
- Starbucks at Kuşadası cruise plaza
Why cruise guests choose us
Why Cruise Guests Recommend Us
We are not the cheapest Ephesus tour, we are the calmest and most reliable one. Everything below is standard on every private tour, never an upsell.
- Pay after the tourNo deposit, no prepayment. You settle up at the end, in cash or by card.
- Private tour onlyJust your party, your guide, and your vehicle. Never a shared coach group.
- No compulsory shoppingNo carpet or jewellery stops. Your hours ashore stay at Ephesus.
- Licensed local guidesMinistry-licensed guides who live here, not a script read from a card.
- Easy port meeting pointMeet at the Starbucks in the port plaza, a two-minute walk from the gangway.
- Return-to-ship priorityThe day is timed to your ship, with a comfortable buffer before all aboard.
The short answer
The Private Biblical Ephesus Tour is a 5-hour shore excursion from Kusadasi Cruise Port that reads Ephesus through Acts 19, Ephesians and Revelation with a licensed Bible-oriented guide, then visits the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John. From USD 109 per person with entrance fees and a traditional lunch included (2026 rates), no pre-payment.
Overview
About this tour
For two hours the cry of the silversmiths filled the Grand Theatre, the riot St. Luke records in Acts 19, provoked by Paul's preaching in this very city. This tour reads Ephesus through those texts, led by a professional guide who specialises in biblical history. The route is deliberately different from a classical tour: in Ephesus your guide follows Paul, the agora where he worked, Curetes Street as he knew it, the theatre where the riot erupted. Then the two great Johannine sites: the House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Koressos, entrusted to John at the cross, and the Basilica of St. John over the apostle's tomb. Because the tour is private, there is room for questions, readings and reflection, and lunch at a traditional restaurant is already in the rate.
Who this tour is for
Christian travelers, church groups, pilgrims, and anyone who wants Scripture and stones brought together on site. If you have read Paul's letters and want to stand where they landed, or if your group would rather discuss Acts 19 in the theatre where it happened than hear a standard architectural commentary, this is the itinerary written for you. Group sizes from a couple to a full coach are welcome.
Itinerary
Step by step
Times depend on your ship's arrival or your preferred start. Tell us in the booking form and we time everything around it.
- 01
Meet at Starbucks, Kuşadası port plaza
Your guide holds a small sign with your name, at the time you choose.
- 02
Ephesus through the Book of Acts
The first two hours or so, walked downhill from the upper gate with the biblical narrative leading the way.
- 03
House of the Virgin Mary
Up Mount Koressos to the shrine where Mary is believed to have lived in John's care.
- 04
Traditional lunch
A relaxed, unrushed meal at a local restaurant, included in the rate.
- 05
Basilica of St. John
The 6th-century church above Selcuk, over the tomb of the apostle and Gospel author.
- 06
Return to your ship
A 20-minute drive, always with a safe margin.
The handoff, illustrated
How we meet you
Skip the exit-gate scramble. Walk through the shopping plaza, find your guide by name at Starbucks, then step into the private vehicle waiting outside.
The walk, illustrated
Upper Gate in, Lower Gate out
Your private vehicle drops you at the top of Ephesus Ancient City and collects you at the bottom. About 1.5 kilometres of downhill walking, no climbing back.
Guest photos
Shared with us by our guests.
Photographs our guests sent back after their tours, published with their permission. Un-staged and un-retouched: this is what the day actually looks like.
The Grand Theatre from the upper rim, a group on the stage far below. 
The Roman public latrines, reliably the stop with the most questions. 
Reading the colonnaded street with a guide, column by column. 
Lunch in a garden near the ruins, the guide at the table.
What's included
- Licensed professional Bible-oriented guide exclusively for your party
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with separate professional driver
- Traditional lunch at a local restaurant
- All entrance fees (USD 65 per person, pre-paid by your guide)
- Parking fees and local taxes
- Guaranteed on-time return to your ship
Not included
- Drinks at lunch
- Terrace Houses entrance (can be added on the day, approx. 30 extra minutes)
- Tips for guide and driver (optional)
Price by group size
Smaller groups, lower per-person price
Every tour is private, you're not joining a bus group. Tiers below reflect the per-person cost as the private group grows.
| Group size | Per person | Private vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2–4 guests | $149 | 6-seat A/C van |
| 5–8 guests | $129 | 12-seat A/C minibus |
| 9–12 guests | $119 | 16-seat A/C minibus |
| 13–20 guests | $112 | 31-seat A/C midibus |
| 21–29 guests | $109 | 35-seat A/C coach |
| 30-44 guests | Special rate on request | |
Rates are per person and include USD 65 entrance fees, pre-paid by your guide. No hidden costs.
Pay only at the end · Cash or card · No deposit required · Rates reviewed July 2026
Common questions
About this specific tour.
Still unsure? WhatsApp +90 532 324 2489, we usually reply within 10 minutes during port hours.
Why book direct
Specialist guides are a limited resource, and booking direct means we assign you one ourselves rather than passing your request down a reseller chain. You get same-day confirmation, no deposit, and a direct line to the local team, useful when a church group's plans shift. At the port, your guide waits with a named sign at Starbucks inside the shopping plaza.
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Pay after your tour
Ready to book Biblical Ephesus + Lunch?
From $109/person · Approx. 5 hours, lunch included · No deposit, pay at the end of the tour.