Self-Launched Best of Turkey & Greece with Greek Island Hopping (12 Days)
12 days · Turkey & Greece
Eskapas charges £2,276
No-markup version: ~£1,290 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Eskapas' 12-day "Best of Turkey and Greece" small-group tour with cruise: Istanbul's Ottoman and Byzantine highlights, Ankara's museums, the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, the white terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Ephesus — then swap the packaged cruise for independent ferries and island stays on Patmos (or Samos), Santorini and Mykonos before returning to Istanbul. Expect public transport, hostels/guesthouses/cave pensions and self-booked day tours, all at backpacker rates. Costs are approximate per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Istanbul — old city orientation
Istanbul
Fly into Istanbul (IST or SAW) and take the Havaist airport bus or Metro to Sultanahmet/Fatih (about £3-5). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near the Hippodrome or in Karakoy. Spend the afternoon wandering Sultanahmet Square, the Hippodrome and the exterior of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, then catch sunset from Galata Bridge with a balik ekmek (fish sandwich) from the waterfront stalls.
🚌Havaist airport bus or Metro M1A + tram (~£3-5)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Sultanahmet/Fatih (£15-22)
- →Sultanahmet Square & Hippodrome self-walk
- →Galata Bridge sunset
- →Spice Bazaar browse
Istanbul highlights & Bosphorus
Istanbul
Pre-book a skip-the-line combo ticket direct from the official Hagia Sophia/Topkapi site or via GetYourGuide; arrive at opening time to beat queues. Do Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome in the morning, then take the public Bosphorus ferry (Sehir Hatlari, ~£2-3 return, 1.5 hours) from Eminonu in the afternoon — the same route the tour covers at a fraction of the price. Finish with the Grand Bazaar before it closes at 19:00.
🚌Tram + public ferry (~£5)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Sultanahmet/Fatih (£15-22)
- →Hagia Sophia entry (~£22)
- →Blue Mosque (free)
- →Public Bosphorus ferry (~£3)
- →Grand Bazaar
Topkapi Palace, then overnight bus or train to Ankara
Istanbul → Ankara
Morning at Topkapi Palace including the Harem (buy the combined ticket online, ~£28). After lunch take the high-speed YHT train from Istanbul Pendik to Ankara (about 4.5 hours, £10-15 if booked early on TCDD) or a comparable overnight coach (£15-20). Stay near Ankara's Kizilay or Ulus district.
🚌YHT high-speed train Istanbul–Ankara (~£12)
🛏Budget hotel or hostel, Ankara Kizilay (£20-28)
- →Topkapi Palace & Harem (~£28)
- →High-speed train journey
Ankara museums & on to Cappadocia
Ankara → Cappadocia
Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (about £6) and the Anitkabir/Ataturk Mausoleum (free). In the afternoon take the bus or train onward to Nevsehir/Goreme (roughly 4-5 hours, £10-14). Check into a cave pension in Goreme village. In the evening catch a Whirling Dervishes ceremony at a local han or cultural centre — tickets around £15 booked directly.
🚌Coach Ankara–Nevsehir/Goreme (~£12)
🛏Cave pension in Goreme (£15-25)
- →Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (~£6)
- →Anitkabir (free)
- →Whirling Dervishes ceremony (~£15)
Cappadocia: balloons, valleys and cave villages
Goreme, Cappadocia
Optional sunrise hot air balloon flight — book direct with operators like Butterfly Balloons or Royal rather than through a hotel concierge; expect £120-160 (the tour charged ~£190). Later walk the Goreme Open Air Museum (~£12), hike the Love Valley or Rose Valley trail, and visit Uchisar Castle and Pasabag fairy chimneys by local dolmus minibus (£1-2 per ride). Skip the carpet workshop stop and buy direct if you actually want something.
🚌Local dolmus minibuses (~£4)
🛏Cave pension in Goreme (£15-25)
- →Hot air balloon flight (optional, £120-160)
- →Goreme Open Air Museum (~£12)
- →Rose/Love Valley hike
- →Uchisar Castle
Cappadocia to Pamukkale via Sultanhani
Cappadocia → Pamukkale
This is a long transfer day. Take an early coach from Nevsehir to Denizli (7-9 hours, £18-25), optionally breaking the journey at Sultanhani to see the Seljuk caravanserai on the Konya road. From Denizli, dolmus to Pamukkale village (30 min, ~£2). Settle into a guesthouse and walk the travertine terraces at golden hour when the tour crowds thin out — entry around £12.
🚌Coach Nevsehir–Denizli + dolmus (~£22)
🛏Guesthouse in Pamukkale village (£15-22)
- →Sultanhani Caravanserai stop (if breaking journey)
- →Pamukkale travertines at sunset (~£12)
Hierapolis & Ephesus, then Selcuk
Pamukkale → Selcuk
Morning at the Hierapolis ancient city and Cleopatra's Antique Pool (entry included with the Pamukkale ticket). Midday bus to Selcuk via Denizli or Aydin (about 3-4 hours, £8-12). Base yourself in Selcuk, 3km from Ephesus — cheaper and calmer than Kusadasi. Afternoon free to see the Temple of Artemis remains and St John's Basilica (about £6).
🚌Bus Denizli–Selcuk (~£10)
🛏Hostel or pension in Selcuk (£15-22)
- →Hierapolis ruins
- →St John's Basilica (~£6)
- →Temple of Artemis
Ephesus ruins & ferry to the Greek islands
Selcuk → Kusadasi → Samos/Patmos
Get to Ephesus at 08:00 opening (entry ~£18, or buy the Museum Pass). Self-walk the Library of Celsus, the Odeon, Temple of Hadrian and the Great Theatre; the House of the Virgin Mary is a short dolmus ride uphill (about £3). In the afternoon head to Kusadasi and take the ferry to Samos (Vathy/Pythagoreio, roughly £35-45, 1.5-3 hours) — from Samos, local ferries connect onward to Patmos (£15-20). Alternatively, book a one-way ferry to Patmos via Samos and stay the night there to see the Monastery of St John and the Cave of the Apocalypse next morning.
🚌Dolmus + Kusadasi–Samos ferry (~£45)
🛏Guesthouse on Samos or Patmos (£22-30)
- →Ephesus ruins (~£18)
- →House of the Virgin Mary (~£3)
- →Ferry crossing to Greece
Patmos monastery, then sail toward Santorini
Patmos → Santorini (via ferry)
Morning at the Monastery of St John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse (combined entry about £8), then wander Hora's whitewashed lanes. Take the afternoon or overnight Blue Star ferry south toward Santorini via Naxos/Paros (Patmos–Santorini is long, roughly 8-11 hours, £45-60; an overnight ferry saves a night's accommodation). Book on bluestarferries.com or Ferryhopper well in advance for May-September.
🚌Blue Star ferry Patmos–Santorini (~£52)
🛏Overnight ferry or budget room in Perissa/Karterados (£20-35)
- →Monastery of St John & Cave of the Apocalypse (~£8)
- →Hora village walk
- →Scenic island ferry
Santorini: caldera villages and sunset
Santorini
Stay in Perissa or Karterados rather than Fira/Oia to keep costs down. Take the local KTEL bus to Fira (£1.80), walk the caldera rim path toward Oia or take the bus (£1.80). Optional half-day excursion to Akrotiri excavation or a caldera catamaran cruise booked on GetYourGuide (£50-90). Sunset in Oia is free if you arrive early; alternatively watch it from Imerovigli with far fewer crowds.
🚌KTEL island buses (~£4)
🛏Budget studio/guesthouse, Perissa or Karterados (£25-38)
- →Fira–Oia caldera walk
- →Akrotiri archaeological site (~£12, optional)
- →Oia sunset
Ferry to Mykonos and Chora exploring
Santorini → Mykonos
Morning ferry Santorini–Mykonos (2-3 hours, £40-55, book ahead). Drop bags at a hostel in Mykonos Town and explore Chora's whitewashed lanes, Little Venice and the windmills on the hill — all free. Skip the expensive beach clubs; Paraga and Elia are reachable by local bus (£2) and are cheaper. If you'd rather see Athens, swap this for a Santorini–Piraeus ferry and do the Acropolis instead.
🚌Ferry Santorini–Mykonos (~£46) + local bus
🛏Hostel in Mykonos Town (£25-38)
- →Little Venice
- →Mykonos windmills
- →Chora old town walk
Mykonos to Athens, then fly back to Istanbul
Mykonos → Athens → Istanbul
Take a morning fast ferry or flight to Athens (ferry 3-5 hrs, £40-55; budget flight from Mykonos to Athens often £30-60). If time allows, squeeze in the Acropolis (booked direct, ~£12-18) and the Acropolis Museum before your evening flight to Istanbul. Alternatively fly directly from Mykonos to Istanbul via Athens with Aegean/Pegasus. Allow 3 hours for the connection and check whether your Istanbul flight is from IST or SAW.
🚌Ferry or flight Mykonos–Athens + flight to Istanbul (~£110)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Acropolis & Parthenon (optional, ~£15)
- →Acropolis Museum (optional, ~£10)
Self-launched vs. Eskapas
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Eskapas | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,290 | £2,276 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £986 per person (43%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Eskapas-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,290
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 Self-Launched Best of Turkey & Greece with Greek Island Hopping (12 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,290 per person for 12 days in Turkey & Greece. 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 Eskapas?+
Yes — Eskapas charges around £2,276 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,290 — a saving of roughly £986 (43%) per person.
How long is the Turkey & Greece trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Turkey & Greece.
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, beaches trip through Turkey & Greece, 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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