Ephesus Private Tours
House of the Virgin Mary Ephesus — private sacred tour
CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE TOURS · EPHESUS & WESTERN TURKEY

Ephesus & House of the Virgin Mary: Private Christian Pilgrimages from Kusadasi

PhD-level guides, groups of 15 or fewer, and unhurried time for prayer at Mary's house — from €85 per person.

TÜRSAB Licensed
PhD-Level Guides
Small Groups Only (max 15)
ON-TIME RETURN GUARANTEED

WHY THIS TOUR IS DIFFERENT

More Than a Sightseeing Stop. A Sacred Journey, Your Way.

Most tours rush you through Ephesus alone. We build private pilgrimages around what matters to you: the House of the Virgin Mary, the Christian sites of Ephesus, the Seven Churches of Revelation, or a full biblical journey across western Turkey. Unhurried, and with time for reflection.

TYPICAL GROUP TOUR

  • Takes you to Ephesus only — House of Virgin Mary not included
  • 40+ passengers on a bus. Same script. Same rushed pace.
  • Forced shopping stops. No time for sacred reflection.

History without meaning. Movement without spirit.

TUNCHER PRIVATE TOUR

  • Ephesus + House of Virgin Mary in one day — same private vehicle
  • Your group only (max 15). Unhurried. PhD-level guide.
  • A direct itinerary with time for quiet prayer at Mary's house.

History and faith, experienced the way they deserve.

Explore Ephesus

Layers of history. One private guide.

Library of Celsus facade at sunset, private Ephesus tour
01

Library of Celsus

The icon of Ephesus

Great Theatre of Ephesus aerial view, Kusadasi shore excursion
02

The Great Theatre

25,000 spectators. Still standing.

Terrace Houses Ephesus mosaic floor, exclusive private tour access
03

Terrace Houses

Where the elite lived

Curetes Street Ephesus marble columns in morning light, private tour
04

Curetes Street

The spine of ancient Ephesus

Temple of Hadrian Ephesus carved facade detail, private guide tour
05

Temple of Hadrian

Carved in perfect detail

Ancient marble road Ephesus long perspective, Kusadasi shore excursion
06

The Marble Road

Two thousand years underfoot

House of Virgin Mary Ephesus forest shrine exterior, private tour
07

House of the Virgin Mary

A place of quiet pilgrimage

CHOOSE YOUR TOUR

Tour Options

All options are completely private — just your group, your pace.

FIRST PILGRIMAGE OPTIONS

Start with Ephesus & Virgin Mary

Best for cruise guests and first-time pilgrims who want the sacred essentials without rushing.

BEST FOR CRUISE GUESTS

Ephesus, Virgin Mary & Temple of Artemis

€115€90per person
5 hours
15

A private tour of the Ephesus archaeological site, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the remains of the Temple of Artemis. Covers three of the most visited sacred sites in western Turkey.

Digital Museum Included

Stops

  1. Pickup
  2. 2
    Arrive at Ephesus
  3. 3
    Harbour Street
  4. 4
    Grand Theatre
  5. 5
    Marble Street

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Skip-the-line tickets
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
FULL-DAY PILGRIMAGE

Daily Pilgrimage Tour for Cruisers

€125€100per person
8 hours
15

A full-day private pilgrimage through the most important Christian sites in Ephesus: the House of the Virgin Mary, St. Luke's Grave, the Church of St. Mary, and more. Designed for cruise passengers with guaranteed ship return.

Stops

  1. Pickup
  2. 2
    House of Virgin Mary
  3. 3
    St Luke's Grave
  4. 4
    Agora
  5. 5
    Grand Theatre

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Skip-the-line tickets
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
PRAYER-FOCUSED

The Prayers

€75€60per person
6 hours
15

A private devotional tour covering the House of the Virgin Mary, Seven Sleepers Cave, St. John Basilica, and St. Luke's Grave, with a licensed guide. Suitable for individuals and small groups.

Stops

  1. Pickup
  2. 2
    House of Virgin Mary
  3. 3
    St Luke's Grave
  4. 4
    Seven Sleepers
  5. 5
    St. John Basilica

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Skip-the-line tickets
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses

CHRISTIAN EPHESUS

Go Deeper into Christian Ephesus

Add St John Basilica, hidden shrines, mountain churches, and lesser-known early Christian sites.

INCLUDES ST JOHN

Ephesus Brilliant

€140€110per person
10 hours
15

The most complete private Ephesus experience: the ancient city ruins, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, and St. John Basilica, all in a single day with a licensed historian guide.

Digital Museum Included

Stops

  1. Pickup
  2. 2
    Arrive at Ephesus
  3. 3
    Harbour Street
  4. 4
    Grand Theatre
  5. 5
    Marble Street

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Skip-the-line tickets
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
MARY & MAGDALENE

Shrines of Virgin Mary & Magdalene

€105€85per person
7 hours
15

A private pilgrimage honoring the two most revered women of early Christianity, visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, the Church of St. Mary, and the Seven Sleepers Cave.

Stops

  1. Pickup
  2. 2
    House of Virgin Mary
  3. 3
    The Church of St. Mary
  4. 4
    Seven Sleepers
  5. 5
    Return to Port

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Skip-the-line tickets
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
MOUNTAIN CHURCHES

Epheso Orini

€55€45per person
7 hours
15

A private off-the-beaten-path tour of the mountain churches above Ephesus, ending at the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Stops

  1. Pickup
  2. 2
    Epheso Orini
  3. 3
    The Church of Dimitri
  4. 4
    The Church of John the Baptist
  5. 5
    Temple of Artemis

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses

BIBLICAL TURKEY

Continue Across Biblical Turkey

Extend your journey to Laodicea, the Seven Churches of Revelation, and the footsteps of St Paul.

REVELATION 3

Laodicea Ancient City

€115€90per person
12 hours
15

A full-day private tour to Laodicea, the ancient city cited in the Book of Revelation, with its colonnaded streets, thermal water channels, and the recently restored Byzantine church.

Stops

  1. Pickup
  2. 2
    Laodicea
  3. 3
    Depart Denizli
  4. 4
    Return to Port

Included

  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Tolls and parking
  • Entrance fees

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
2-DAY PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrimage (Overnight)

€445€355per person
2 days
1-15 guests

A two-day private pilgrimage from Ephesus to Pergamon, visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, St. John Basilica, Smyrna, and Pergamon's Red Court.

Stops

  1. PickupDay 1
  2. 2
    House of Virgin Mary
  3. 3
    St Luke's Grave
  4. 4
    Agora
  5. 5
    Grand Theatre

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
3-DAY JOURNEY

Pilgrimage (Two Nights)

€545€435per person
3 days
1-15 guests

Three days tracing the footsteps of early Christianity across western Turkey, visiting Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, and Thyatira with a licensed local guide.

Stops

  1. PickupDay 1
  2. 2
    House of Virgin Mary
  3. 3
    St Luke's Grave
  4. 4
    Agora
  5. 5
    Grand Theatre

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
FROM KUSADASI

Pilgrimage, Seven Churches — Kuşadası (3 Nights)

€665€530per person
4 days
1-15 guests

A four-day private tour of all Seven Churches of Revelation, departing from Kuşadası. Visits Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Stops

  1. PickupDay 1 — Kuşadası
  2. 2
    House of Virgin Mary
  3. 3
    St Luke's Grave
  4. 4
    Agora
  5. 5
    Grand Theatre

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
FROM IZMIR

Pilgrimage, Seven Churches — İzmir (3 Nights)

€665€530per person
4 days
1-15 guests

The complete Seven Churches of Revelation in four days, departing from İzmir port. All seven sites from the Book of Revelation across western Turkey, with a licensed guide.

Stops

  1. PickupDay 1 — İzmir
  2. 2
    House of Virgin Mary
  3. 3
    St Luke's Grave
  4. 4
    Agora
  5. 5
    Grand Theatre

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses
ST PAUL JOURNEY

Pilgrimage - The Footsteps of St Paul

€650per person
14 days
1-15 guests

A 14-day private tour following the footsteps of St. Paul across Turkey, from Istanbul to Ephesus, covering the sites of Paul's three missionary journeys with a licensed guide.

Stops

  1. Arrive Istanbul and TransferDay 1 — Istanbul
  2. 2
    Istanbul Hotel & Dinner
  3. 3
    BreakfastDay 2
  4. 4
    Hippodrome
  5. 5
    Blue Mosque

Included

  • Entrance fees
  • Professional guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Port pickup and drop-off

Not Included

  • Personal expenses

All tours are 100% private. Your pace, your day.

HOW IT WORKS

Three Steps to a Sacred Day

01

You Book

Share your travel date, group size, and preferred tour option. We confirm within 2 hours and handle every detail from there.

TAKES 2 MINUTES
02

We Meet & Depart

Your guide meets you at the port or hotel. Your private vehicle heads to Ephesus — before the bus groups arrive — then on to the House of the Virgin Mary.

PRIVATE VEHICLE · DIRECT ROUTE
03

Back Safely

We return you on time, every time. Whether you're a cruise passenger or independent traveller, your schedule is ours to honour.

ON-TIME RETURN GUARANTEED

Seven Churches of Revelation Tours

For those seeking a profound biblical journey, we offer multi-day itineraries covering all Seven Churches of Revelation (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea). Trace the footsteps of early Christianity with our expert scholars on a 3-night or 4-day private pilgrimage, completely tailored to your congregation or family.

EPHESUS

The Christian Sites of Ephesus

Ephesus is one of the most important places in early Christian history. The Apostle Paul lived and preached here for about three years, teaching daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19). The Apostle John is traditionally buried at St John Basilica in nearby Selcuk, and the House of the Virgin Mary rests in the hills above the ancient city. Our guides bring these sites to life with both their history and their scripture.

SEVEN CHURCHES

Laodicea and the Lycus Valley

Laodicea, near modern Denizli, was one of the wealthiest cities of the ancient world and one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Known for its banking, its black wool, and its famous eye salve, the city is addressed directly in Revelation 3 as neither hot nor cold. Today its excavated streets, stadium, and Byzantine church make it a powerful stop for biblical travellers. We offer Laodicea as a full-day private tour or as part of a Seven Churches pilgrimage.

What Faith Travellers Say

“

The tour arranged by Mr Asil Tuncer was one of the most thrilling experience I have had. From the flawless organisation to the guided tour, it was indeed an exhirating timeless moments. The visit to the seven churches as recorded in the Revelation starting with Smyrna…

ibituroko manuel
Google Review
“

Our recent Seven Churches of Revelation tour with Tuncher Tourism was nothing short of extraordinary. From the very first day, everything was organized to absolute perfection, allowing us to truly focus on the profound spiritual and historical weight of these sacred…

Cristi Popescu
Google Review
“

We booked our 7 Churches of Revelation tour with Tuncher Tourism and it exceeded every expectation! The depth of knowledge their team possesses is incredible. They transformed ancient ruins into powerful, living history. The private transport was top-tier, the…

Ela Benga
Google Review
“

Had the most wonderful experience on a Tuncher tour with the brilliant Alpaslan as our guide. He was deeply knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic about his guidance. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and learning from him. It was an incredible…

Arlene Neckles
Google Review

Questions from Faith Travellers

Yes — it's the centerpiece of this tour. We allocate proper time at the site for quiet reflection, prayer, and your guide's historical and spiritual context. We never rush this visit.

Absolutely. The House of the Virgin Mary is an active place of pilgrimage. There is a small chapel inside, outdoor candle stands, and a wishing wall. We give you time for all of this — quietly, without the pressure of a large group tour.

Yes, and we've hosted many. Parish groups, religious retreats, and individual pilgrims all choose this tour. Our guides approach the site with respect for its sacred significance alongside its historical context.

The Half Day (4–5 hours, €85) covers Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary at a comfortable pace — ideal for cruise passengers. The Full Day (7–8 hours, €95) adds deeper exploration of Ephesus (including Terrace Houses), extended time at Mary's house, and optionally the Temple of Artemis.

Yes. Tell us when you book what aspects matter most — whether that's more time at Mary's house, specific Ephesus sites connected to early Christianity, or visiting St. John's Basilica. We build your itinerary around your priorities.

Both. The House of the Virgin Mary is sacred to Catholic and Orthodox pilgrims, while the Seven Churches of Revelation and Laodicea draw Protestant and Evangelical groups. Our guides respect every tradition.

Yes. We host parish groups, congregations, and faith-based tours. Your priest, pastor, or group leader is welcome to lead prayers and readings at each site.

Yes. Alongside our Ephesus and Virgin Mary day tours, we run dedicated Laodicea day trips and multi-day Seven Churches of Revelation pilgrimages from Kusadasi or Izmir.

Reserve Your Pilgrimage Date

We use your details to answer your enquiry and arrange your tour. Privacy Policy

Chat on WhatsApp — Instant Answer

WhatsApp Us+90 542 307 0236
We reply within 2 hours during port season
Operating April – October
Early Bird Offer
Limited discounts available
Chat with us