Turkey Day Trip from Samos: Kusadasi and Ephesus
Description
A great opportunity to visit Kusadasi and Ancient Greek town of Ephesus from Samos in a day cruice of eighteen nautical mile that separate Samos from a completely new world, the world of the East. Kusadasi is a cosmopolitan town in Turkey with its famous bazaar and we offer you a unique one day excursion. Kusadasi in the Turkish language means “Island of the birds” takes its name from the small island found at the entrance of the port. It is one of the most visited towns in Turkey. During your visit to Kusadasi you can join one of the optional trip to Ancient Ephesus, where you can see its streets, houses, stadiums and ancient theatres. Departure from Pythagorio : 8:00 Arrival Kusadasi port (Turkey) 09:30 Departure to Ephesus Return to Kusadasi : 15:00 Free Time Departure from Kusadasi : 17:00 Arrival to Pythagorio :18:30
Tour Options
Itinerary
Experience the oriental flair in the bazaar of Kusadasi. Only eighteen nautical miles and a matter of minutes separate Samos from a completely new world, the world of the East. We offer you a unique one day excursion to KUSADASI, the cosmopolitan town in Turkey with its famous bazaar. Kusadasi, which in the Turkish language means “Island of the birds” takes its name from the small island found at the entrance of the port. It is one of the most visited towns in Turkey. Let the boat take you to another world in only one and a half hours!
You can join an optional trip to Ancient Ephesus. Walk in the footsteps of the past and discover the world-famous excavations of Ephesus where you can see its streets, houses, stadiums, theatres etc.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Meeting point Pithagorion port
- Name of the boat : Venus Location : At the very end side of the right side of Pythagorio port (It’s a small port. Name of the boat "Thalassini" ) Departure time : 08:00 You need to be down to the port 30 minutes in advance for the passport control
- Guests can get their visa from below link: http://evisa.gov.tr
- Bring your passport: The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the intended visit to Turkey
- Passenger details (full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport or ID number) must be submitted before departure in accordance with port regulations and the operating company’s requirements. Failure to provide the required information on time may result in boarding being denied.
Reviews(22)
Ephesus was great but our tour didn’t take us to areas that I saw other guides doing. It was really too short for what is there. Instead we spent some 20-30 minutes on the way back at a Turkish products store. Someone’s cousin? To get there and back you have to go through customs 4 times totaling about 2 hours total to get through the queues. The ferry over to Kusadasi and back was slow and cramped. No amenities. Total of almost 4 hours on the water. It is NOT the typical ferry you ride between Greek islands. There was extra time for walking Kusadasi but it is just a typical Turkish city, nothing special. Ephesus is a must see, but I would look at other options to get there.
Dear Guest, thank you for your detailed feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed Ephesus. Please note, long queues at customs and port are managed by local authorities and can vary, so they’re not under our control. The ferry’s speed or route may also change if weather conditions require it, always prioritizing safety. The brief stop at a local store is part of the itinerary, but entering is completely optional. We appreciate your comments and hope you still took away some memorable moments!
Guide prepared and welcoming Very interesting place Would recommend it.Many things I didn't know and also new
Dear Rosette, Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you enjoyed the beauty of the place and the insights from our knowledgeable guide. We hope to welcome you again soon on another Cretan Holidays excursion!
The boat does not leave from Samos City, but Pythagorio. We ended up having to pay for an expensive taxi bill to get back and forth to Samos. Also keep in mind you have to pay the Turkey-tax in cash which is not told here on the advertisement. Otherwise an average trip. It would have better if we had more time to explore on our own in ephesos rather than to follow the guide all the time.
Dear Jona, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience. We’re sorry to hear that parts of the trip did not meet your expectations. We’d like to kindly clarify that the departure from Pythagorio is clearly mentioned in the Additional Info section, and the €10 per person port tax is also noted in the What’s Included section as not included and payable in cash. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again soon.
Despite all the fears that there might be organisational difficulties, everything went well. We took the ferry *Efesus Express". The journey to Kusadasi took two hours as indicated. Our tour was conducted by Okeanos travel and we loved it. Ihsan, who speaks fluent English, Turkish and Greek, did a very good job and was very nice to us. He introduced Kusadasi and Ephesus with a lot of knowledge, humor and enthusiasm. The entire tour was in English as stated. The ancient city of Ephesus was very impressive. You felt like you were diving into antiquity. Every item there has a little story to tell. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed it. My tip: Be sure to take enough water with you! And sturdy footwear must not be missing. The paths in Ephesus, which are partly made of marble, are very slippery. All in all, it was a very nice trip that was worth its time and money!
This is a wonderful trip. Our guide was amazing and very informative. She was great to keep up with group members and answer all questions. The one negative was many school groups were there so a weekend visit this time of year may be better.
Dear Patricia, Thank you for your kind words! We're glad you had a wonderful time and appreciated the guide’s attention and knowledge. We hope to assist you again with your bookings soon!
Once you are through customs then you load up on a small boat and head to Turkey. Once through customs on the Turkish side then it’s off to Ephesus on a big bus. After a short ten minute ride, the upper city awaits. A very thoughtful touch, starting in the upper city so the tour is down hill. Our tour guide, Begum, was first rate and had many interesting facts to share on the tour and in the bus. She had the pace perfect…not too much time but enough so that you could hear about the culture then take pictures or buy souvenirs with never much waiting.
Dear Allen, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your trip to Ephesus and that the itinerary was well planned. It's wonderful to know that you found the pacing just right, allowing for both learning and exploration. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back soon!
It was easy to find boat on Samos - you have to go through customs at the very end of the pier. Most people on the boat were also on this tour. There is a small port fee paid as you disembark, so bring cash (also for toilets and lunch). In Ephesus, Euro and US dollar were accepted everywhere we went. The guide (Meander Tours) met us at the exit, straight after we went through customs at Ephesus, so that was very easy. We had our hotel print out the tour ticket to give him, which they sent a couple days before. The tour guide was excellent, and everything was well organized. The church of Mary and the museum was not visited on this tour, which we didn't realize, but the site itself was well explained. There was a bit of time for shopping at the end, but this tour seems most geared towards people who want to see the ancient site. It is a really nice day trip for those interested in ancient history.
Dear Lisa, Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear that finding the boat and navigating customs was easy. The excursion to Ephesus truly is a beautiful and enriching experience, especially for those interested in ancient history. While we understand the itinerary may have missed a couple of spots, we’re happy to know that the tour offered a great opportunity to explore such a fascinating site. It’s definitely worth the visit, and we hope to see you on another trip soon!
The ferry was pleasant; easy finding the boat. The Meander tours guide in Ephesus was excellent and very well informed.
Dear LIsa, Thank you so much for your review! We are glad to hear that finding the boat was easy and that you enjoyed the ferry ride. We’d love to have you join us on another adventure in the future!
The event was stunning and all we had been led to expect however, we were somewhat dissapointed with the directions and information Samos side on how to meet the ferry! No rep to tell us where when and how long and details to come back. Rep in Turkey excellent .
Dear Gbuckna, Thank you for sharing your feedback! We're glad to hear that the event met your expectations. We apologize for any confusion on the Samos side. For clarity, there is only one boat at the port for Turkey, but we'll make sure to improve our directions and communication for a smoother experience in the future. We hope to welcome you back again!
We were not told when we arrived in Kusadasi that as Australian passport holders we require a visa and had to go to another office and pay 50 Euros each in cash. Also check which day you go as we went on a Sunday and the day before there were 7 cruise ships with 10,000 passengers going to Ephesus. Our guide was a professor in archaeology and very good. The boat from Pythagoras to Kusadasi does not serve any food or drinks and seats really uncomfortable and it's a slow trip of 2 hours.
Dear Lisa, Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear that your guide in Ephesus provided you with an insightful experience. We apologize for the inconvenience regarding the visa information. Your comments are valuable, and we'll work to improve communication and comfort for future travelers. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to Greece and ensure a smoother experience.
