Explora II's 2027 Kuşadası calls: when the 16:00 safari works

Explora II has no Kuşadası calls left this year. The port schedule as of early October 2026 picks her up again on Friday 9 April 2027, and from there lists seven calls through to Saturday 11 September 2027.

What makes her schedule worth a closer look is the departure time. On four calls she sails at 19:00, and on three she stays until 21:00. That two-hour difference decides if you are limited to the morning ride or can pick between morning and late afternoon. The rest of this post explains how, and the Explora II calls page always carries the current dates and times.

Explora II sails for Explora Journeys and entered service in 2024.

Two kinds of Explora II day

Here are the seven calls, grouped by what our safaris can do with them.

Morning ride only (09:00 to 19:00):

• Friday 9 April 2027
• Wednesday 9 June 2027
• Wednesday 30 June 2027
• Wednesday 21 July 2027

Morning or late-afternoon ride:

• Saturday 15 May 2027, 09:00 to 21:00
• Wednesday 11 August 2027, 08:00 to 21:00
• Saturday 11 September 2027, 09:00 to 21:00

The arithmetic behind it

Our rule is that you are back at the port at least 60 minutes before the ship sails. The 16:00 safari returns between 18:45 and 19:15. Against a 19:00 departure that leaves, at most, 15 minutes, and at worst it puts you back after she has left. So on those four days we offer only the 11:00 ride.

Against a 21:00 departure, the same return leaves between 1 hour 45 minutes and 2 hours 15 minutes. That clears the hour comfortably. In general terms, the afternoon session needs the ship in port by 15:10 and leaving at 20:15 or later, and her three 21:00 calls meet both conditions.

The 11:00 ride works on every one of the seven calls. It needs her in port by 10:10 and leaving at 15:15 or later, which all of them do with hours to spare.

The late-afternoon option, step by step

On the three 21:00 days, the 16:00 ride turns the day around. You can take the morning slowly, wander the harbour front or stay on board until early afternoon, and head out for the ride in the late afternoon.

• 15:10: meet us at Kervansaray (The Big Ottoman Palace), about 50 m from the cruise port exit. Map of the meeting point.
• About 15 minutes by vehicle to the start of the trails behind Pamucak beach.
• 16:00: around two hours on pine-forest tracks, including a 30-minute stop at Pamucak beach.
• 18:45 to 19:15: back at the port.
• 21:00: Explora II sails.

The all-aboard time in your daily programme is usually earlier than the departure time, so compare it with 19:15 before you choose the afternoon. If it looks tight on your date, the morning ride is the safer choice.

The morning ride, for the other four days

On a 09:00 to 19:00 day the plan is the reverse. You have a little over an hour after arrival to get ashore and reach Kervansaray by 10:10. The ride starts at 11:00, follows the same route with the same beach break, and brings you back between 13:45 and 14:15. With the ship leaving at 19:00, that leaves between 4 hours 45 minutes and 5 hours 15 minutes for the rest of the afternoon.

On the August call she arrives an hour earlier, at 08:00, which makes the morning option even more relaxed if you prefer it to the late ride.

Engine or horse

The quad safari and buggy safari are self-drive. You do not need a driving licence, but drivers must be 16 or over. Vehicles come as singles or doubles, and everyone gets a helmet, goggles and a safety briefing before riding in convoy behind the guide. Children under about 2 years cannot take part.

The horse safari is suitable for beginners from age 8, with younger children accompanied by an experienced adult companion. It is a small group led by a riding guide, and helmets are provided. Swimming at the beach stop on this tour depends on the season.

All three tours run at both 11:00 and 16:00, so the choice of ride does not limit the choice of session.

Booking your Explora II date

With the first call in April, there is no need to decide anything yet. Friday 9 April falls just after our reopening, as the trails are closed from 1 December to 31 March and the first safaris of the year go out on 1 April. When you are ready, the cruise day planner will take Explora II and your date, show which session or sessions fit, and fill in the booking form.

Port times can change between now and your sailing. If a 21:00 departure is brought forward, the afternoon ride may no longer work; if a 19:00 call is extended to 20:15 or later, it would open up. Check the full list of Explora II calls again shortly before you sail.