My wife and I recently hired a Rick Steeves recommended guide, Mert Taner, for a day trip to Ephesus, Turkey. The day was one of the top 2 or 3 highlights of our three-week trip to the eastern Mediterranean, and we can honestly say that we've never had a better tour guide than Mert Taner. Met met us at the pier at Kusadasi, and we rode in a very comfortable Mercedes van with a driver to the Ephesus area. Mert's knowledge of the area was excellent, due in part to the fact that he has not only a Masters degree in archeology, but also a Masters in Biblical Studies (I believe from Trinity College in Dublin). He not only educated us on the historical elements and significance of the sites, but also the religious significance to Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, which added a totally new dimension to the tour. We started with a visit to Mary's House and then spent a great deal of time touring the site a Ephesus, all richly enhanced by Mert's comments and observations. We then had an excellent lunch at a wonderful little restaurant in nearby Selcuk, sampling local foods. Following lunch, we saw some other sights in the area before returning to Kusadasi. Since we had some time left before the ship departed, Mert gave us some guidance and advice on shopping in the waterfront area as he dropped us off.
Mert told us he does tours throughout Turkey. My wife and I highly recommend Mert Taner ([email protected]) for any tours in Turkey. Best tour guide we've ever had.