Grand Turkey Explorer — Self-Launched (11 Days)
11 days · Turkey
Tour Altinkum Travel charges £1,560
No-markup version: ~£1,005 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Tour Altinkum's 11-day "Grand Turkey Explorer" loop: Istanbul's Ottoman and Byzantine heavyweights, the Gallipoli battlefields, Troy and Pergamon, Ephesus, the white terraces of Pamukkale, Antalya's old town and waterfalls, then Cappadocia's valleys and underground cities. Instead of a private minibus and guide, you use Turkey's excellent intercity coaches, one or two cheap domestic flights, and self-booked day tours or public transport for each site. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates — expect to spend roughly a third to half of the packaged price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Istanbul — Sultanahmet base camp
Istanbul
Fly into Istanbul (IST or SAW) and take the Havaist airport bus or M11 metro + Marmaray into Sultanahmet (about £2–4, 60–90 min) — far cheaper than a private transfer. Check into a hostel or small guesthouse in Sultanahmet or Sirkeci, then spend the late afternoon getting your bearings. If you have energy, walk to Eminönü and hop the public ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side (Istanbulkart, ~£0.60) for dinner on the Anatolian shore. Buy an Istanbulkart from any kiosk — it covers trams, ferries and buses for the whole stay.
🚌Havaist bus or metro from airport ~£2–4; Istanbulkart ~£3 card + top-up
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Sultanahmet or Sirkeci (dorm £12–18, private from £30)
- →Settle in Sultanahmet
- →Optional public ferry to Kadıköy
- →Istanbulkart purchase
Istanbul's classics: Hagia Sophia, Topkapı, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar
Istanbul
Do the big four on foot — they're all within ten minutes of each other. Book skip-the-line entry or a small-group walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£18–28) if you want context, otherwise buy timed tickets directly. Start early at Hagia Sophia (€25 entry), then Topkapı Palace (€50, Harem extra), cross to the Blue Mosque (free, modest dress), and finish in the Grand Bazaar. Trams run Sultanahmet–Eminönü every few minutes. Save money by grabbing lunch from a bazaar lokantası rather than a tourist restaurant.
🚌On foot + occasional tram (~£1)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Sultanahmet
- →Hagia Sophia entry €25
- →Topkapı Palace entry €50
- →Blue Mosque (free)
- →Grand Bazaar wander
- →Optional guided walking tour ~£20
Gallipoli battlefields day tour
Eceabat / Çanakkale
Take an early coach or book a GetYourGuide day trip from Istanbul covering ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, Johnston's Jolly and the Turkish 57th Regiment memorial (small-group day tours ~£45–65 including lunch). Or DIY it: Metro Turizm coach Istanbul→Eceabat (~£18, 5 hrs), then a local battlefield tour from Eceabat (~£30). Overnight in Çanakkale or Eceabat in a cheap pansiyon and eat a balık-ekmek by the harbour.
🚌Coach Istanbul→Eceabat/Çanakkale ~£18 (or included in day tour)
🛏Pansiyon/guesthouse in Çanakkale or Eceabat (£15–25)
- →Gallipoli guided battlefield tour ~£40
- →ANZAC Cove
- →Lone Pine Memorial
- →Chunuk Bair
Troy, then cross-country to Bergama (Pergamon)
Çanakkale → Bergama
Morning dolmuş or local bus to Troy (~£2, 30 min each way) and self-guide the archaeological layers and the replica Trojan Horse (entry €15). Back in Çanakkale, take an afternoon coach to Bergama (~£7–9, 3 hrs). In Bergama, walk up to the Pergamon Acropolis (€12 entry) or take the cable car (~£2) — the Hellenistic theatre and Trajan temple are the highlights. Sleep in Bergama's small guesthouses, which are much cheaper than Kuşadası resort hotels.
🚌Local bus/dolmuş to Troy ~£4 return; coach Çanakkale→Bergama ~£8
🛏Bergama guesthouse (£15–22)
- →Troy entry €15
- →Pergamon Acropolis entry €12
- →Pergamon cable car ~£2
Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary
Selçuk / Kuşadası
Coach Bergama→Selçuk (~£7, 2.5 hrs). From Selçuk you can walk or take a 10-min dolmuş to Ephesus' lower gate. Buy Ephesus entry (€40) plus the Terrace Houses add-on if interested, and the House of the Virgin Mary (€15) — either via a shared minibus from Selçuk or a half-day GetYourGuide tour (~£30). See the Library of Celsus, Great Theatre and Temple of Artemis, then overnight in Selçuk (cheaper and more relaxed than Kuşadası). Evening: Selçuk's market restaurants, ~£7 for a full meal.
🚌Coach Bergama→Selçuk ~£7; dolmuş to Ephesus ~£1.50
🛏Selçuk hostel/guesthouse (£12–20)
- →Ephesus entry €40
- →Terrace Houses add-on ~£8
- →House of the Virgin Mary €15
- →Temple of Artemis (free)
Pamukkale terraces and Hierapolis
Pamukkale / Denizli
Morning coach Selçuk→Pamukkale/Denizli (~£9, 3 hrs), drop bags at a village guesthouse, then walk into the site. One combined ticket (€33) covers the white travertines and the Hierapolis ruins — necropolis, theatre and the Sacred Pool (swim in the antique pool costs extra). Go late afternoon when the tour buses leave and the terraces are golden and quiet. Stay in Pamukkale village itself; the family pansiyons are about £15–20 a night.
🚌Coach Selçuk→Pamukkale ~£9
🛏Pamukkale village pansiyon (£15–20)
- →Pamukkale + Hierapolis combined ticket €33
- →Antique Pool swim (optional ~£8)
Antalya: Kaleiçi, waterfalls and the coast
Antalya
Overnight or early coach Pamukkale→Antalya (~£12, 4–5 hrs). Base yourself in or near Kaleiçi old town. Take the local bus or tram to Düden Waterfall and Karpuzkaldıran (both easy by public transport, ~£2 total), then wander Hadrian's Gate, the Clock Tower and the old harbour. A one-hour public boat trip along the cliffs from the old harbour costs about £8–10 — no need to book ahead in low season.
🚌Coach Pamukkale→Antalya ~£12; local bus/tram ~£2
🛏Kaleiçi hostel/guesthouse (£15–25)
- →Düden Waterfall (free/small entry)
- →Karpuzkaldıran Waterfall
- →Kaleiçi old town walk
- →Antalya coastline boat trip ~£9
Antalya → Cappadocia by overnight bus or cheap flight
Göreme, Cappadocia
Cheapest option is the overnight coach Antalya→Nevşehir/Göreme (~£18–22, 9–10 hrs, comfortable with Süha or Metro). Or grab a budget domestic flight Antalya→Kayseri (often £30–50 booked ahead) and take the £3 Havataş shuttle into Göreme. Check into a cave-style hostel or guesthouse (dorms £12–18, private from £30). Afternoon: walk to Göreme Panorama for sunset over the fairy chimneys, then dinner in a local pide salonu for about £5.
🚌Overnight bus ~£20 or flight ~£40 + shuttle ~£3
🛏Göreme cave hostel/guesthouse (£12–30)
- →Göreme Panorama sunset
- →Village wander
Cappadocia's valleys: Göreme Museum, Paşabağ, Avanos
Cappadocia
Book a small-group Red Tour day trip on GetYourGuide (~£30–40 including lunch, transport and guide) covering Göreme Open-Air Museum (€20), Devrent Valley, Paşabağ/Monks Valley, Avanos pottery workshops and Uçhisar Castle. Alternatively DIY: the local minibuses and a rented scooter/bike reach most valleys, and a pottery workshop in Avanos is £5–10. For sunrise, the hot-air balloon flight is the splurge — around £160–200 per person booked direct with operators like Royal or Butterfly (cheaper than the operator's quoted add-on).
🚌Included in day tour or local minibus ~£5
🛏Göreme cave hostel/guesthouse
- →Red Tour ~£35
- →Göreme Open-Air Museum €20
- →Devrent Valley
- →Paşabağ
- →Avanos pottery workshop ~£7
- →Uçhisar Castle
- →Optional hot-air balloon ~£180
Rose Valley, Çavuşin and the underground city
Cappadocia
Self-guided day on foot and by dolmuş. Hike Rose/Red Valley at sunrise (easy 2–3 hr trail from Çavuşin), explore the rock-cut churches and abandoned village of Çavuşin, then take a dolmuş to Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu underground city (entry ~€15) and finish at Pigeon Valley for sunset. Or take a Green Tour small-group trip (~£35) if you'd rather not navigate the buses. Pack a picnic — the valley walks have little food on route.
🚌Dolmuş local buses ~£4 total (or included in Green Tour)
🛏Göreme cave hostel/guesthouse
- →Rose/Red Valley hike
- →Çavuşin village
- →Underground city entry ~€15
- →Pigeon Valley
- →Optional Green Tour ~£35
Return to Istanbul and fly home
Cappadocia → Istanbul
Morning flight Kayseri→Istanbul (Turkish Airlines or AJet, £30–50 if booked in advance) and connect to your international departure from IST or SAW. If you have a late flight, leave bags at the hotel and squeeze in the Basilica Cistern (€25) or a final bazaar browse. Havataş/Havaist buses back to the airports run frequently for £3–5.
🚌Domestic flight Kayseri→Istanbul ~£40; airport bus ~£4
🛏— (departure day)
- →Optional Basilica Cistern €25
- →Last-minute bazaar shopping
Self-launched vs. Tour Altinkum Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Tour Altinkum Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,005 | £1,560 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £555 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Tour Altinkum Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,005
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 Grand Turkey Explorer — Self-Launched (11 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,005 per person for 11 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 Tour Altinkum Travel?+
Yes — Tour Altinkum Travel charges around £1,560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,005 — a saving of roughly £555 (36%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 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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