10 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale & Bodrum — Self-Launched
10 days · Turkey
City of Sultans charges £825
No-markup version: ~£742 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of City of Sultans' 10-day Turkey loop — same route, same headline sights, booked independently. Start in Istanbul's Sultanahmet for the big three (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace) on self-booked skip-the-line tickets, fly or overnight-bus to Cappadocia for cave-hostel stays and DIY Red/Green Valley days, then travel south to Selçuk for Ephesus and Pamukkale, finishing on the Bodrum coast. Group coach transfers are swapped for domestic flights, intercity buses and dolmuş minibuses; 4-star hotels become well-reviewed hostels, pensions and cave guesthouses. Costs are approximate, based on current solo backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Istanbul — Sultanahmet orientation
Istanbul, Turkey
Fly into Istanbul Havalimanı (IST) and take the M11 metro + Marmaray or the Havaist bus into Sultanahmet (about £1-3). Check into a hostel or pension in Sultanahmet or nearby Sirkeci — the atmosphere and location are comparable to the operator's Recital Hotel base, just at backpacker prices. Spend the afternoon orienting yourself: walk the Hippodrome, the outer squares of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and grab an early dinner of balık ekmek or a kebab near Eminönü. Buy an Istanbulkart transport card (~£3 deposit, top up ~£5) and pre-book tomorrow's museum tickets online.
🚌IST airport to Sultanahmet via M11 metro + Marmaray or Havaist bus (~£1-3)
🛏Hostel or pension, Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (dorm, ~£15-20)
- →Airport transfer by metro/Havaist bus
- →Sultanahmet & Hippodrome orientation walk
- →Eminönü ferry docks at sunset
- →Istanbulkart purchase
Istanbul old city — Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi, Grand Bazaar
Istanbul, Turkey
Self-launched version of the operator's Day 2, but with tickets you buy yourself. Book a timed entry for Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace (including the Harem if you like) through the official muze.gov.tr site or GetYourGuide; the Blue Mosque is free but dress modestly and avoid prayer times. Wander the Hippodrome and then lose an hour in the Grand Bazaar — haggling is part of the experience. If you want a guide's context, a 2-hour small-group old city walking tour on GetYourGuide costs around £20-30.
🚌Walking or tram within old city (~£1-2)
🛏Hostel or pension, Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (dorm, ~£15-20)
- →Hagia Sophia (timed entry)
- →Blue Mosque (free)
- →Topkapi Palace & Harem
- →Hippodrome
- →Grand Bazaar wander
Fly to Cappadocia — Göreme base & Devrent, Pasabag, Avanos
Göreme, Cappadocia
Fly from Istanbul (IST or SAW) to Kayseri or Nevşehir with a budget carrier like Turkish Airlines, Pegasus or AJet (booked two or more weeks ahead we found fares from £30-50 one way), then take the Havataş or Nevşehir shuttle into Göreme (~£5-8). Check into a cave hostel or guesthouse in Göreme — the backpacker equivalent of the operator's Arte Cave Hotel. In the afternoon rent a scooter or join a shared minibus tour to Devrent (Imagination Valley), Pasabag (Monks Valley), Avanos and the Göreme Panorama viewpoint. Pre-book a hot-air balloon flight for tomorrow morning if you want it, or leave a buffer day — balloons are weather-dependent.
🚌Domestic flight IST/SAW to Kayseri/Nevşehir (£30-50) + Havataş shuttle to Göreme (~£5-8)
🛏Cave hostel or guesthouse, Göreme (dorm, ~£15-22)
- →Domestic flight Istanbul to Kayseri/Nevşehir
- →Göreme cave hostel check-in
- →Devrent Imagination Valley
- →Pasabag Monks Valley
- →Avanos pottery town
- →Göreme Panorama viewpoint
Cappadocia underground city & valleys
Göreme, Cappadocia
Do the operator's Day 4 independently. Either book the popular Green Tour through your hostel (~£30-35 including Derinkuyu, Ihlara Valley and lunch) or take a public dolmuş minibus to Derinkuyu and pay the ~£3 entry yourself for a cheaper, slower day. Add a self-guided walk into Rose Valley or Pigeon Valley in the late afternoon — the light is best an hour or two before sunset and these are fully walkable. Optional early-morning balloon flight from Göreme if you pre-booked (roughly £150-200 per person).
🚌Shared Green Tour minibus (~£30-35) or public dolmuş (~£3-6)
🛏Cave hostel or guesthouse, Göreme (dorm, ~£15-22)
- →Derinkuyu or Kaymakli Underground City
- →Rose Valley sunset walk
- →Pigeon Valley hike
- →Ortahisar Village
- →Optional hot-air balloon (pre-booked)
Cappadocia to Selçuk/Kuşadası — travel day
Selçuk, Turkey
Both the operator's Day 5 and Day 6 are essentially a transfer plus Ephesus — replicate this with an overnight or daytime intercity bus. From Göreme bus station take a Kamil Koç or Süha bus to Selçuk or Kuşadası (~9-11 hrs, £18-25). Book on the company's own site or via the FlixBus app and choose a night bus to save a hotel night if you're on a tight budget. Check into a hostel or pension in Selçuk — much cheaper than Kuşadası and a 15-minute walk from the Ephesus entrance.
🚌Overnight intercity bus Göreme to Selçuk (~9-11 hrs, £18-25)
🛏Hostel or pension, Selçuk (dorm, ~£12-18)
- →Intercity bus Göreme to Selçuk/Kuşadası
- →Selçuk hostel check-in
- →Evening walk to St John's Basilica and the Isabey Mosque
Ephesus ruins & House of the Virgin Mary
Selçuk, Turkey
Walk or take a dolmuş to the Ephesus upper entrance and explore independently — the site is well signposted and audio guides cost only a few pounds. You'll see the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Baths of Scholastica, the Temples of Hadrian and Domitian and the hillside terraces. Then take a shared taxi or dolmuş to the House of the Virgin Mary, about 8 km up the hill. If you want a licensed guide, GetYourGuide and local agencies in Selçuk sell half-day Ephesus tours from around £30 including transport. Buy the combined Museum Pass Turkey (~£40) if you're doing several sites — it pays off on this route.
🚌Walking or dolmuş to Ephesus (~£1) + shared taxi to House of Virgin Mary (~£3-5 return)
🛏Hostel or pension, Selçuk (dorm, ~£12-18)
- →Ephesus Archaeological Site
- →Library of Celsus
- →Great Theatre
- →Temple of Hadrian & Terrace Houses
- →House of the Virgin Mary
Pamukkale travertines & Hierapolis
Pamukkale, Turkey
The operator's Day 7 is a long day trip from Kuşadası — most independent travellers do it as a day trip by dolmuş or local bus via Denizli (about 3 hrs each way, ~£5-8 one way), or break the trip by staying overnight at Pamukkale village. Buy the Pamukkale + Hierapolis combined ticket (~£10-12) and don't miss the Antique Pool thermal baths for a swim if energy permits — the operator includes hot thermal pool access, and you can do the same by paying the pool's own entry (~£8). Walk the travertines, then explore the Hierapolis ruins, theatre and Necropolis on your own time.
🚌Local bus Selçuk to Denizli + dolmuş to Pamukkale (~£5-8 one way)
🛏Hostel or family pension, Pamukkale or Selçuk (dorm/private, ~£15-25)
- →Pamukkale travertine terraces
- →Hierapolis Ancient Site
- →Roman Theatre of Hierapolis
- →Antique Pool thermal swim (optional)
Travel to Bodrum — Aegean coast
Bodrum, Turkey
Replicate the operator's Day 8 transfer independently. From Selçuk or Denizli catch an intercity bus to Bodrum via Aydın and Muğla (~5-6 hrs, £15-20) — buses run several times a day and there's no need to book more than a day ahead. Check into a hostel or small pensiyon in Bodrum's old town, walking distance from the harbour, and spend the evening wandering the waterfront and the narrow Marina streets.
🚌Intercity bus Selçuk/Denizli to Bodrum (~5-6 hrs, £15-20)
🛏Hostel or pensiyon, Bodrum (dorm, ~£18-25)
- →Intercity bus to Bodrum (via Aydın/Muğla)
- →Bodrum harbour sunset walk
- →Bodrum old town bazaar
Free day in Bodrum — castle, beaches, optional boat trip
Bodrum, Turkey
The operator leaves Day 9 free for you — do the same, but choose your own version. Visit the Castle of St Peter and its Museum of Underwater Archaeology (~£8), wander Gumusluk or Bitez Beach, or book a full-day blue cruise around the Bodrum peninsula from the harbour (shared boats ~£25-40 including lunch). If you're after something more active, a day trip to Kos (Greek island, 45-minute hydrofoil from Bodrum, ~£25 each way) is a popular independent add-on most group tours don't include.
🚌Local dolmuş within Bodrum (~£1-3) or walking
🛏Hostel or pensiyon, Bodrum (dorm, ~£18-25)
- →Bodrum Castle & Underwater Archaeology Museum
- →Bitez or Gümbet beach day
- →Optional shared blue cruise around the peninsula
- →Optional Kos day trip by hydrofoil
Bodrum to Istanbul — depart
Bodrum / Istanbul
The commercial tour flies you back to Istanbul on Day 10 — replicate this with a cheap one-way internal flight from Bodrum (BJV) to IST or SAW (~£30-55 with AJet/Pegasus), or take the long intercity bus if you're working to a strict budget (~12 hrs, £20-25). Allow at least three hours before your international departure from Istanbul. If you still have time, head to Kadıköy on the Asian side for one last meal before heading to the airport.
🚌Bodrum BJV to Istanbul IST/SAW flight (£30-55) or intercity bus (£20-25)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Domestic flight Bodrum to Istanbul
- →IST airport departure
Self-launched vs. City of Sultans
| This itinerary (self-launched) | City of Sultans | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£742 | £825 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £83 per person (10%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more City of Sultans-style trips? Check them out here.~£742
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 10 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale & Bodrum — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £742 per person for 10 days in Turkey. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with City of Sultans?+
Yes — City of Sultans charges around £825 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £742 — a saving of roughly £83 (10%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Turkey.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, backpacker trip through Turkey, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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