The Best of Turkey — Self-Launched (8 Days, Istanbul to Istanbul)
8 days · Turkey
G Adventures charges £770
No-markup version: ~£505 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 8-day "Best of Turkey" loop — the same Gallipoli battlefields, Troy, Ephesus, and the white terraces of Pamukkale, done independently. Travel by overnight/local buses and a cheap domestic flight back to Istanbul, stay in hostels and pensions, and book day tours or go it alone at each ancient site. All costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Istanbul
Istanbul
Fly or arrive into Istanbul at any time and settle into a hostel in Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu. Spend the evening wandering the Galata Bridge area, grabbing a balık ekmek (fish sandwich) from a boat vendor, and orienting yourself with the tram network. Pick up an Istanbulkart transit card. Optional add-on: a walking tour + Bosphorus cruise booked via GetYourGuide (roughly £25-35).
🚌Public tram/Metro from airport or Havataş shuttle
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Sultanahmet (approx £15-25)
- →Self-guided wander of Sultanahmet/Beyoğlu
- →Optional Istanbul walking tour & Bosphorus cruise (GetYourGuide)
Istanbul to Çanakkale via Gallipoli
Çanakkale
Take an early bus from Istanbul's Esenler or Alibeyköy otogar to Eceabat/Çanakkale (roughly 5-6 hrs, £15-20). Join an afternoon guided Gallipoli battlefields tour covering ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, and the war cemeteries — day tours run from Çanakkale and Eceabat and can be booked locally or via GetYourGuide (approx £30-40). Continue to Çanakkale harbour for the night.
🚌Intercity bus Istanbul-Çanakkale (~£15-20); tour minibus for Gallipoli loop
🛏Pension or hostel in Çanakkale (approx £15-22)
- →Gallipoli battlefields guided tour (ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, war cemeteries)
Çanakkale to Ayvalık via Troy
Ayvalık
Morning guided or self-guided visit to Troy (Truva), the legendary site with its replica Trojan horse — reachable by dolmuş from Çanakkale and easily walkable round the ruins (entry approx £10, guides optional). Continue by bus to the pretty Aegean town of Ayvalık (approx £8-12). Wander the old Greek quarter, and opt for a half-day boat trip around the islands if time allows. Visit local women's handicraft co-ops — many are community-run.
🚌Dolmuş Çanakkale-Troy; intercity bus Troy/Çanakkale-Ayvalık (~£8-12)
🛏Pension or hostel in Ayvalık (approx £15-22)
- →Troy (Truva) archaeological site visit
- →Ayvalık old town wander
- →Optional half-day boat trip
Ayvalık to Selçuk via Ephesus
Selçuk
Bus down the coast toward Selçuk/Izmir (approx £10-15), then onward to the ancient city of Ephesus. Explore the ruins — the Library of Celsus, Grand Theatre, and Harbour Street — independently with an audio guide or book a small-group tour (entry approx £12-15, audio guide extra). Stay overnight in Selçuk, a walkable little town near the site.
🚌Intercity bus Ayvalık-Selçuk/Izmir (~£10-15); local dolmuş to Ephesus
🛏Hostel or pension in Selçuk (approx £15-22)
- →Ephesus ancient city (self-guided or small-group tour)
Selçuk — St John's Basilica, Şirince & free day
Selçuk
A flexible day in Selçuk. Visit St John's Basilica and the nearby İsa Bey Mosque, then take a dolmuş to the hillside village of Şirince (approx £2-3), a Turkish-Greek village known for handicrafts, olive oil, and local fruit wine. Optional pide lunch and demonstration (bookable locally, approx £20). Evening back in Selçuk.
🚌Dolmuş to Şirince (~£2-3)
🛏Hostel or pension in Selçuk (approx £15-22)
- →St John's Basilica
- →İsa Bey Mosque
- →Şirince village visit
- →Optional pide lunch & demonstration
Selçuk to Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Pamukkale
Bus from Selçuk to Denizli/Pamukkale (approx £8-12, 3-4 hrs). Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hierapolis and the gleaming white travertine terraces — 17 hot springs have carved these calcium-carbonate pools over millennia. Bring swimwear if you want to bathe in the ancient Antique Pool (extra fee). Watch sunset from the terraces.
🚌Intercity bus Selçuk-Denizli/Pamukkale (~£8-12)
🛏Pension or hostel in Pamukkale village (approx £15-22)
- →Hierapolis & Pamukkale travertine terraces
- →Optional Antique Pool swim
Pamukkale to Istanbul
Istanbul
Take a morning bus or local flight from Denizli/Çardak Airport back to Istanbul (flights are often cheap on Turkish low-cost carriers — book early for £25-40; buses run overnight for approx £20-25). Back in Istanbul, join a free or low-cost walking orientation through Sultanahmet: Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque are all within a few minutes of each other.
🚌Domestic flight Denizli-Istanbul (~£25-40) or overnight bus (~£20-25)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Sultanahmet (approx £15-25)
- →Istanbul orientation walk (Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque exteriors)
- →Free/tipped walking tour
Istanbul — bazaars, mosques and departure
Istanbul
Final morning for the Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, and a cup of çay in a tea house. If time allows, pre-book the optional Istanbul walking tour and Bosphorus cruise (approx £25-35) before heading to the airport. Depart at any time.
🚌Tram/Metro/Havataş shuttle to airport
🛏—
- →Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar
- →Optional Istanbul walking tour & Bosphorus cruise
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£505 | £770 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £265 per person (34%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£505
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 The Best of Turkey — Self-Launched (8 Days, Istanbul to Istanbul) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £505 per person for 8 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £770 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £505 — a saving of roughly £265 (34%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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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