Wind Surf at Kusadasi: Thursday and Saturday Ephesus by private car

Published 4 October 2026

Wind Surf has one of the most regular rhythms in Kusadasi, but it changes halfway through the season. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) shows 21 calls in 2027: every Thursday from 6 May to 22 July, then every Saturday from 7 August to 2 October. Which half of the season you sail in makes a real difference to how crowded Ephesus will be.

Arrival and departure times have not been announced yet, so the plans below are built on possible lengths of stay. Fill in your own times once the ship’s daily programme is out.

Thursday season versus Saturday season

The Thursday calls (12, May to July) are the calmer ones. Three of them have no other ship listed at all: 13 May, 17 June and 15 July. Most of the rest share the port with just one ship, such as Celebrity Ascent or Celebrity Infinity. Only two Thursdays, 6 May and 20 May, count as busy days with three ships in port.

The Saturday calls (9, August to early October) are a different picture. Celestyal Discovery is listed on every single one of them, and seven of the nine have three or more ships in port. Sat 25 September is the fullest, with Star Legend, Celestyal Discovery, World Traveller and Seven Seas Prestige all listed beside Wind Surf.

So a Thursday passenger can usually keep the classic order of stops. A Saturday passenger gains from reshuffling it.

How much fits: three stay lengths

Each estimate already includes the 60-minute margin before the published departure. The all-aboard time is normally earlier than departure, so check it in the ship’s app.

• About 6 hours in port: Ephesus plus one extra, either the House of the Virgin Mary or a quick look at the Temple of Artemis. Not both.
• About 7 hours: Ephesus, Mary’s House and Artemis are possible, with little slack. Skip the Terrace Houses on this plan.
• About 10 hours: all four, Sirince included, without rushing.

Sample Saturday plan (hypothetical stay: 08:00 to 15:00)

A 7-hour call on a busy Saturday, written to dodge the morning rush at the Ephesus gates. These are invented times for illustration.

That stays comfortably beyond the 60-minute margin before a 15:00 departure. On a quiet Thursday you could just as well start at Ephesus and drive up to Mary’s House afterwards.

The four stops, briefly

Ephesus is the anchor of the day: the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Odeon and the long marble run of Curetes Street. Plan two hours or more, and nearly an hour extra if you want the covered Terrace Houses with their wall paintings.

The House of the Virgin Mary stands in woodland high above the ruins. Christians and Muslim visitors alike come here; outside you find water taps and a wall where people tie written wishes.

The Temple of Artemis is a photo stop. One column remains, and from the field you can see the Basilica of St John and the Isa Bey Mosque on Ayasuluk Hill.

Sirince suits the longer days: steep cobbled lanes, a restored church of St John the Baptist, and shops selling olive oil and fruit wines.

Heat in July and August, comfort in May and October

Twelve of Wind Surf’s calls fall in June, July or August, and those are the months when the bare stone of Ephesus soaks up the sun. The early May Thursdays and the late September and October Saturdays tend to be milder, which makes them the better days for adding the Terrace Houses or a slow wander in Sirince. Whatever the month, wear shoes with good grip; the main route at Ephesus is around 1.5 to 2 km over uneven marble.

Reserving your car and driver

Choose your date on the Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer page. The driver meets you at the cruise port exit, waits during each visit and returns you to the ship. Up to 8 passengers travel in one vehicle. Tell us your extra stops when you book, and we confirm the route with you before the day; you can also ask to be dropped at one Ephesus gate and collected at the other. Entrance tickets are paid separately at each site, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.

Tickets are not included; buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets in advance on our museum tickets page. Planning the visit? See our Ephesus walking guide and when to visit Ephesus.