If you are looking for a private guide in Turkey, look no further than Emre! From start to finish, he was an absolute pleasure to work with. His communication prior to and during our trip was top-notch—clear, prompt, and thoroughly organized, which made the whole experience effortless and completely stress-free.
Emre is incredibly warm, friendly, and knowledgeable. He put together a flawless day for our family that balanced local culture, hands-on experiences, and wonderful hospitality. The hands-on cooking class in the countryside was a absolute highlight, allowing us to learn authentic Turkish cooking techniques and enjoy an incredible meal. Visiting the traditional rug weaving cooperative and the local pottery shop added so much rich cultural context and allowed us to see incredible artisan craftsmanship up close.
Emre went above and beyond to ensure everyone had a fantastic time. We couldn't have asked for a better guide to show us the beauty and culture of Turkey. Highly, highly recommended!
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claudiaaC4175SS
July 27, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Ozlem was a great host. Brilliant!
It was so great learning about the background of all the dishes. We got to enjoy the delicious dishes we prepared together, which made it even more special. This was probably our favourite activity in Turkey, and we would definitely recommend it to friends and family, as well as to others making the trip to Turkey!
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Kim S
November 18, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
We loved our guide. She was excellent and gave a good overview of the biblical history of this area.
We voted this our favorite tour. We had a group of 9 and visited Ephesus and then did a cooking class and had lunch at a private restaurant. Later we visited a ceramic studio and rug merchant.
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T7595LLisabeller
November 16, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Incredible Tour - informative and fun!
Nesrin was an incredible tour guide! She brought a sweet, calm, and professional energy and had so much information and passion to share. We learned a lot about Ephesus on the tour. Her communication was timely and the van was impeccably clean. The cooking class was super fun and Nesrin was willing to cater the day to my family’s preferences. A highlight of our trip, you will not regret this experience! She shows you the true culture of Turkey.
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608kelleyr
November 15, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
The Highlight of our trip!
This experience was a major highlight of my family’s trip! It was perfect from the beginning to the end. We loved the nice van that picked us up and our guide was so very friendly and informative. The experience was fun for everyone in our group from ages 25-84!! I loved the cooking experience and then eating the food together was perfect! The restaurant we were in was beautiful!! I also loved learning about Ephesus as well as the small pottery shop and the craft of rug making!
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mattluckley
July 28, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Ephesus trip and cooking school
Great tour, very relaxed and Nesrin, our guide, was super knowledgeable. She allowed us to take our time with each element of the tour and even adapt it during the day. Would have no hesitation recommending this company and Nesrin as a guide. Cooking school was fabulous - off the beaten track and completely unique.
1人が参考になったと回答
事業者からの返答
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour with Nesrin and had fun at the cooking class experience. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’d love to welcome you back to Turkey soon!
Warm regards,
Phoenicia Travel
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lindaeG566WZ
July 9, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
A Lovely Day We Will Always Remember
We had a wonderful day with our tour guide Nesrin Ozkara. Nesrin was so knowledgeable and passionate about Ephesus, it really made the city come alive for us. We loved the cooking class with a warm and inviting Turkish family. It was so fun with lots of hugs all around when we left. Nesrin also helped us do some shopping for beautiful textiles. The highlight of the shopping was learning about Turkish carpet making; we even got to help weave a carpet! Of course, we had to buy one of those beautiful carpets. It was very apparent that Nesrin loves her beautiful city and loves to share it with others. We would highly recommend Nesrin and this tour to anyone that would like to get a real sense of Izmir and Ephesus.
事業者からの返答
Dear Linda,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that Nesrin helped make your visit to Ephesus so special. Her passion for sharing the region’s history and culture always shines through, and we’re so glad you felt it too.
From the cooking class to carpet weaving, it sounds like a truly memorable day—and we’re grateful to have been part of it. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Warm regards,
Emre Ozkara
Phoenicia Travel
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carolwV9399YU
June 20, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
A vacation of Turkish delight
Our trip started with the warmest welcome and a pristine vehicle big enough for my entire family to ride in comfort to Ephesus. Nesrin was so knowledgeable about the local region and the history of Ephesus. We then went to an amazing workshop for carpets. We learned so much about the hand made carpets. Our last part of journey was to learn to cook some delicious Turkish dishes in a beautiful home. Our host let us tour her garden and met her amazing family. What a wonderful day this is a must do tour.
事業者からの返答
Dear Carol,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear that you and your family had such a memorable day with Nesrin. From Ephesus to the carpet workshop and the cooking class, it sounds like a perfect blend of culture, history, and hospitality.
We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation. We’d love to welcome you back anytime!
Warm regards,
Emre Ozkara
Phoenicia Travel
J
JodiDH503
June 17, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Authentic Experience in Turkey
What an amazing day with Nesrin and Emre! The town, coffee and quick wine tasting was so enjoyable. But the cooking class was a highlight!! I can’t wait to try the recipes at home. Nesrin is a joy to be around! Highly recommend!!
事業者からの返答
Dear Jodi,
Thank you for your lovely review!
We both had such a fun day with you and are so glad you enjoyed every part—from the town stroll and coffee to the wine tasting and especially the cooking class! It was a joy sharing these special experiences with you.
We can’t wait for you to try the recipes at home—please think of us when you do! 😊
Thank you again for your lovely energy and for choosing to spend the day with us.
Warmest wishes,
Nesrin & Emre Ozkara
Phoenicia Travel
L
LizM007
July 25, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Great family experience
This was a great experience. As we have been to Ephesus before, we started off with a visit to the Ephesus Museum, then to a local glass and pottery shop, and then the focus of the experience was the cooking class. My husband, 10 year-old son and I all participated. We made zucchini (courgette for Brits) fritters, stuffed peppers and a chicken stew (casserole for Brits). Everything was delicious and what we learned will be very replicable at home— which is great because we don’t have any Turkish restaurants in town but we love Turkish food. The hosts also treat you to fresh peaches, melon and plums they grow on their property. The vegetables used in the dishes are also grown on-site. There’s also a really nice pool onsite, so bring your swimsuits!
1人が参考になったと回答
事業者からの返答
🍽️ 💫 Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you and your family had a great time during your visit to Ephesus. It's fantastic that you enjoyed the Ephesus Museum and the local glass and pottery shop before diving into our cooking class.
We're delighted that everyone enjoyed making and tasting the zucchini fritters, stuffed peppers, and chicken stew. Knowing that you found the recipes replicable at home is music to our ears. It's our goal to bring the flavors of Turkish cuisine to your kitchen!
Our team takes great pride in using fresh, homegrown ingredients, and we're glad you enjoyed the peaches, melon, and plums from our garden.
We hope to welcome you and your family back to Ephesus for more culinary adventures and unforgettable experiences!