6-Day Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus & Pamukkale (Self-Launched)
6 days · Turkey
Have A Travel Agency charges £650
No-markup version: ~£313 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of the classic Istanbul–Ephesus–Pamukkale loop, done independently: three nights in Istanbul's old city, a domestic flight or night bus south to Izmir/Kusadasi, a base in Selcuk or Kusadasi for Ephesus and Pamukkale, then back to Istanbul. You skip the private guide and 4* hotels but keep every headline sight — Spice Bazaar, the Bosphorus, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, Hierapolis and the Pamukkale travertines — using public transport, self-booked day tours and hostel/guesthouse stays. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP per person, excluding international flights to Turkey.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Istanbul — old city orientation
Istanbul
Fly into Istanbul (IST or SAW) and take the Havaist airport bus or M11 metro + Marmaray into Sultanahmet (roughly £3–6). Check into a hostel or small guesthouse in Sultanahmet or Sirkeci — this puts Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the tram line on your doorstep. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Hippodrome square, Gulhane Park and the waterfront at Eminonu, where you can grab a balik ekmek (fish sandwich) from the boats for about £3. Buy an Istanbulkart transit card from a kiosk or machine (about £2 card fee, then top up as you go) — it covers trams, metro, ferries and buses at a discount. Evening: cheap meze and tea in Sultanahmet's side streets.
🚌Havaist airport bus or M11 metro + Marmaray, ~£3–6; Istanbulkart for the week
🛏Hostel dorm or small guesthouse in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (£12–20 pp)
- →Hippodrome Square
- →Gulhane Park
- →Eminonu waterfront & balik ekmek
- →Istanbulkart setup
Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus ferry & Galata
Istanbul
Start at the Spice Bazaar in Eminonu (free entry, go early before the tour groups). Instead of a private boat, take the public Bosphorus ferry — the short Eminonu–Anadolu Kavagi commuter run or a 90-minute sightseeing loop from Eminonu pier costs around £2–4 with Istanbulkart and passes under the Bosphorus Bridge with the same views. Hop off at Ortakoy for kumpir (stuffed baked potato, ~£5) and a walk to the mosque and bridge viewpoint. Return by bus or ferry to Karakoy, walk up to Galata Tower (exterior free, tower entry ~£10 if you want the view) and browse Istiklal Caddesi. Evening: street food dinner around Balat or Karakoy, £6–9. Optional upgrade: a sunset Bosphorus dinner cruise booked on GetYourGuide from ~£25 if you want the operator's 'Bosphorus by Night' experience.
🚌Public Bosphorus ferry + tram, ~£4–6 total with Istanbulkart
🛏Hostel dorm or small guesthouse in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (£12–20 pp)
- →Spice Bazaar
- →Public Bosphorus ferry & bridge views
- →Ortakoy & kumpir
- →Galata Tower & Istiklal
- →Optional: GetYourGuide sunset Bosphorus cruise
Fly or night-bus to Izmir, then Selcuk/Kusadasi
Selcuk / Kusadasi
Book a cheap domestic flight Istanbul–Izmir on Pegasus, AJet or Turkish Airlines — booked 3–6 weeks ahead these routinely cost £25–45 one way and take about 1h15. From Izmir airport, take the IZBAN suburban train to Selcuk (~£1.50, roughly 1 hour) or the Havas/IZBAN connection into Izmir Otogar for a bus to Kusadasi. Base yourself in Selcuk (closer to Ephesus, quieter, cheaper) or Kusadasi (beachier, more hostels). Alternative for the very budget-conscious: overnight bus Istanbul–Selcuk/Kusadasi with Pamukkale or Metro Turizm, ~£22–30 and 10–11 hours. Afternoon: Selcuk's Basilica of St John, Isa Bey Mosque and the remains of the Temple of Artemis — all within walking distance and mostly free or a few pounds. Dinner in Selcuk town, £7–10.
🚌Domestic flight Istanbul–Izmir ~£25–45 plus IZBAN train ~£1.50; or overnight bus ~£22–30
🛏Selcuk or Kusadasi guesthouse/hostel (£12–20 pp)
- →Domestic flight or overnight bus to Izmir
- →IZBAN train to Selcuk
- →Basilica of St John
- →Isa Bey Mosque
- →Temple of Artemis site
Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary & carpet weaving
Selcuk / Kusadasi
Get to Ephesus early — the site opens around 08:00 and the cruise crowds arrive by 10:00. Buy your ticket at the gate or via the official site (about £12–15; Museum Pass options exist if you're doing several sites). Walk the Curetes Way, the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses (small supplement, worth it). From Selcuk you can walk to Ephesus' lower gate in about 30–40 minutes or take a dolmus/taxi for a few pounds. Combine with the House of the Virgin Mary, 8 km up the hill — reachable by taxi (~£10–15 return, split between travellers) or a shared shuttle from Selcuk. For the carpet-weaving demo the operator includes, either drop into a cooperative near Selcuk for a free demonstration (and be ready to politely decline a hard sell — reviews of this exact tour flag aggressive sales tactics) or skip it entirely. Alternatively pre-book a small-group Ephesus day tour on GetYourGuide from about £30–40 including transport if you want a guide's context. Evening: dinner in Selcuk, £7–10.
🚌Walk, dolmus or shared taxi to Ephesus/House of Virgin Mary, ~£5–8
🛏Selcuk or Kusadasi guesthouse/hostel (£12–20 pp)
- →Ancient City of Ephesus & Library of Celsus
- →Great Theatre and Terrace Houses
- →House of the Virgin Mary
- →Carpet weaving demonstration (optional, independent)
- →Optional: GetYourGuide small-group Ephesus tour ~£30–40
Pamukkale & Hierapolis day trip
Pamukkale / Selcuk
Take a local bus or dolmus from Selcuk or Kusadasi to Denizli/Pamukkale — roughly 3 hours each way and about £8–12 return; buses leave through the morning. Alternatively, a pre-booked Pamukkale day tour from Kusadasi/Selcuk on GetYourGuide or Klook runs from about £35–50 including transport, lunch and a guide — often the better value than piecing together local buses. At Pamukkale, the Hierapolis ticket (about £12–15) covers both the ancient city and the travertines: walk the white terraces barefoot, see the theatre, the Necropolis and the Antique Pool area. Cleopatra's Pool swim is a separate ~£7–9 if you want it. Back in Selcuk by evening, or consider spending the night in Pamukkale village to break up the drive. Optional splurge: sunrise hot air balloon over Pamukkale, booked direct with operators like Anatolian Balloons, from around £90–130 — a fraction of Cappadocia prices.
🚌Local bus/dolmus Selcuk–Pamukkale ~£8–12 return, or day tour ~£35–50 all-in
🛏Selcuk or Kusadasi guesthouse/hostel (£12–20 pp)
- →Pamukkale travertines
- →Ancient city of Hierapolis & theatre
- →Cleopatra's Pool (optional)
- →Optional: Pamukkale hot air balloon ~£90–130
Back to Istanbul — Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Cistern, Grand Bazaar
Istanbul
Fly Izmir–Istanbul in the morning (again £25–45 if booked ahead) or take the overnight bus if you're on a tight budget — either way you're back in Sultanahmet by midday. Use your Istanbulkart and hit the classics on foot: the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque (free, dress modestly, closed at prayer times), Hagia Sophia (about £22 entry as a visitor — book your timed slot online in advance), and the Basilica Cistern (about £12–15, self-guided). Finish with a wander through the Grand Bazaar — free to enter, and the best place to practise your haggling for tea glasses and textiles. Cheap farewell dinner in Sultanahmet, £8–12. Optional add-ons if you have time: Topkapi Palace Harem (~£15–20 extra) or a traditional hamam (local neighbourhood baths from about £20, versus tourist-belt ones at £35+).
🚌Domestic flight Izmir–Istanbul ~£25–45, or overnight bus ~£22–30; tram with Istanbulkart
🛏Hostel dorm or small guesthouse in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (£12–20 pp), or depart same day
- →Blue Mosque
- →Hagia Sophia
- →Basilica Cistern
- →Grand Bazaar
- →Hippodrome
- →Optional: Topkapi Palace Harem, Turkish bath
Self-launched vs. Have A Travel Agency
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Have A Travel Agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£313 | £650 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £337 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Have A Travel Agency-style trips? Check them out here.~£313
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 6-Day Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus & Pamukkale (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £313 per person for 6 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 Have A Travel Agency?+
Yes — Have A Travel Agency charges around £650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £313 — a saving of roughly £337 (52%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 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, budget, 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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