Kusadasi independent tours -- anyone with 2022 experience?

[cruisemom42]

I know a few ships have started calling on Kusadasi again. I'm looking for current (post-COVID) experience. 

 

I've been to Kusadasi numerous times and have used various agencies for private tours. It's one place where the costs are relatively low and worth it due to the spread out nature of the sites. I have never found one service to be significantly better than another in the past. 

 

On this upcoming visit I want to basically find a guide/driver to take me quite a distance -- to Hierapolis. I visited on a land trip a long time ago and want to see it again. It's not offered as a regular option due to the 2.5 hour driver, but I have a long day and I'm willing to spend the time in transit to get back there and see certain things again.

 

Before I start contacting agencies, I wanted to find out if anyone has recent experience and can recommend a particular one?  Honestly I am more interested in reliable transportation than in the guiding, as I already know all about the site.

 

[Hlitner]

Wish you luck with this idea :).  We have rented cars and driven a long way from Kusadasi (Didyma, Priene , etc) but never had enough ambition to go the distance to Pamakkule.  We considered doing it on one Prinsendam visit when the ship overnighted in Kusadasi, but chickened out :(.    

 

Hank

[cruisemom42]

I wouldn't really consider Didyma, Priene or Miletus very far from Kusadasi.  I've been as far as Aphrodisias on a port day, a drive of about 2 hrs 10 mins. 

[Hlitner]

On 7/17/2022 at 5:20 PM, cruisemom42 said:

I wouldn't really consider Didyma, Priene or Miletus very far from Kusadasi.  I've been as far as Aphrodisias on a port day, a drive of about 2 hrs 10 mins. 

LOL.  This is why I respect your posts 🙂   We actually did that drive on a Tuesday after driving out of our way to the town of "Tire" where they have an amazing outdoor market with what is claimed to be over 7000 stands.  Not sure it was quite that big, but finding DW a "rest room" was the challenge of the day :).  If you are ever in Kusadasi on the Tuesday, going to Tire is quite interesting (but nothing historic or no ruins for you).  

 

Most here on CC would classify is both as nutz for doing crazy things :).  I suspect it keeps us both young and always loving travel.

 

Hank

[jbdawg]

we were there last week, we went to Ephesus though, we used this company

 

https://www.curiotravel.com/

 

did tour for two, they are first class, Mercedes small van, great guide. they seem very flexible, they might be able to meet your needs

[cruisemom42]

On 7/19/2022 at 6:14 AM, jbdawg said:

we were there last week, we went to Ephesus though, we used this company

 

https://www.curiotravel.com/

 

did tour for two, they are first class, Mercedes small van, great guide. they seem very flexible, they might be able to meet your needs

 

thanks jbdawg, I'll give them a try.  Glad to hear you enjoyed your day with them.

[CRUIS4ME]

Levant Solmaz gave a wonderful thorough tour for us…he does small groups 10-12 and managed the bookings individually so no one had to collect info…fabulous tour guide.  

[bebe81]

On 7/19/2022 at 6:14 AM, jbdawg said:

we were there last week, we went to Ephesus though, we used this company

 

https://www.curiotravel.com/

 

did tour for two, they are first class, Mercedes small van, great guide. they seem very flexible, they might be able to meet your needs

@jbdawg Thank you so much for this, I'm in the pre planning stage and just wanted more information about shore excursions, we still thinking about a cruise with NCL. At this moment, your information is helpful every other excursion place/company is like very $$$!

[tj_shopper]

We will also be going to Ephesus in May.  Someone on one of my Facebook groups recommended this tour company https://www.bestturkeytour.com/travel-packages/best-of-ephesus-tour/.  I'm still in the planning stages, so I will be checking out this place and https://www.curiotravel.com/.

 

If anyone has done a tour with bestturkeytour, please give us your reviews.  Thank you!

[mkaalong]

On 1/20/2023 at 11:01 AM, tj_shopper said:

We will also be going to Ephesus in May.  Someone on one of my Facebook groups recommended this tour company https://www.bestturkeytour.com/travel-packages/best-of-ephesus-tour/.  I'm still in the planning stages, so I will be checking out this place and https://www.curiotravel.com/.

 

If anyone has done a tour with bestturkeytour, please give us your reviews.  Thank you!

@tj_shopper-I have come across Best Turkey Tour also in my reserach.  Did you find out any additional info or recommendations?  Did you book them? Thanks!

 

[tj_shopper]

21 hours ago, mkaalong said:

@tj_shopper-I have come across Best Turkey Tour also in my reserach.  Did you find out any additional info or recommendations?  Did you book them? Thanks!

 

@mkaalong - I reached out to the company (Best Turkey Tour) and they were very responsive.  There are 30 of us and we will be taking this tour at $25 per person.  They will craft the tour any way you like.  I messaged them through Facebook and gave them my email address.  They sent me all the information and I booked with them.

[BCJO]

On 10/3/2022 at 4:17 PM, CRUIS4ME said:

Levant Solmaz gave a wonderful thorough tour for us…he does small groups 10-12 and managed the bookings individually so no one had to collect info…fabulous tour guide.  

Can you please share contact info for Levant? I sent an email but haven’t received a reply. Thank you.