The Best of Turkey with Istanbul City Stay — Self-Launched
11 days · Turkey
G Adventures charges £1,425
No-markup version: ~£495 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 11-day self-launched loop from Istanbul covering the Old City, Gallipoli's WWI battlefields, legendary Troy, Ephesus, the white terraces of Pamukkale, and a return to Istanbul's bazaars and tea houses. Booking everything yourself — hostel/budget-guesthouse beds, overnight and intercity buses, and self-bookable guided day trips — cuts the cost of the equivalent small-group tour dramatically. Prices are approximate backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Istanbul — Old Town street food stroll
Istanbul
Arrive at any time and check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu. Spend the afternoon wandering the Old Town on foot. In the evening, self-launch a street-food crawl through Eminönü and the Spice Bazaar area — balık ekmek (fish sandwich), simit, roasted chestnuts, and künefe. Istanbul Public Transport card (Istanbulkart) works on trams, ferries and metro.
🚌Airport to city centre on Metro/Tram, ~£1.50 (Istanbulkart)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Sultanahmet/Beyoğlu (~£15-22)
- →Sultanahmet Old Town wander
- →Eminönü street-food crawl
- →Spice Bazaar
Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome & hidden Byzantine ruins
Istanbul
Tour the Hagia Sophia (timed entry ticket, ~£22 payable direct). Then explore the lesser-known side of the Old City: the Hippodrome, the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, and the subterranean Basilica Cistern (~£10). In the evening, opt for a traditional hammam — Çemberlitaş Hamamı or a more affordable neighbourhood one (~£20-35).
🚌Walk / tram within Sultanahmet, ~£1 per ride
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£15-22)
- →Hagia Sophia entry
- →Hippodrome & Little Hagia Sophia Mosque
- →Basilica Cistern
- →Optional hammam
Culinary walking tour of Taksim, Karaköy & Kadıköy
Istanbul
Self-launch a foodie day: walk Taksim Square and Karaköy sampling baklava, Turkish coffee and street bites, then catch the commuter ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadıköy on the Asian side for a mezze lunch and the bustling market streets. A self-guided food tour costs a fraction of the operator's CEO-led version — or book a small-group Klook food tour from ~£20.
🚌Tram + Bosphorus ferry ~£2-3 total
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£15-22)
- →Taksim Square & İstiklal Avenue
- →Karaköy food stops
- →Ferry to Kadıköy
- →Kadıköy market & mezze lunch
Free day in Istanbul — Bosphorus or bazaars
Istanbul
A free day for deeper sightseeing. Options: Topkapı Palace (~£25), the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, a cheap public Bosphorus ferry cruise (~£2-3), Galata Tower, or the neighbourhoods of Balat and Fener. Return to Sultanahmet. This is the final night of the Istanbul city-stay before heading south.
🚌Walk / tram / ferry, ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (~£15-22)
- →Topkapı Palace (optional)
- →Grand Bazaar
- →Public Bosphorus ferry cruise
- →Galata Tower & Balat/Fener
Gallipoli battlefields
Gallipoli / Eceabat
Travel southwest to the Gallipoli peninsula. Take a morning intercity bus from Istanbul's Esenler or Otogar bus station to Eceabat/Çanakkale (~5-6 hrs, ~£12-15). Join a self-bookable guided Gallipoli battlefield tour (bookable via GetYourGuide/Klook or on arrival, ~£30-40) covering Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair, with moving context on the WWI campaign.
🚌Intercity bus Istanbul–Eceabat ~£12-15
🛏Budget guesthouse in Eceabat or Çanakkale (~£15-22)
- →Gallipoli battlefields guided tour
- →Anzac Cove
- →Lone Pine & Chunuk Bair
Legendary Troy
Troy / Çanakkale
Visit the ruins of Troy, long regarded as myth until excavated in the 19th century — don't miss a photo with the reconstructed Trojan horse. Reach it by dolmuş (shared minibus) from Çanakkale (~£1-2) plus entry (~£15). Continuing travellers then move south toward Selçuk/Ephesus, either by overnight bus or a connection through Izmir.
🚌Dolmuş to Troy ~£2; onward bus Çanakkale–Selçuk ~£15
🛏Overnight bus toward Selçuk, or guesthouse in Çanakkale (~£15-22)
- →Troy ruins & Trojan horse
- →Çanakkale waterfront
Ancient Ephesus
Selçuk / Ephesus
Tour the ruins of ancient Ephesus and get a feel for Roman life — the Library of Celsus and the massive theatre dominating Harbour Street are the highlights. Ephesus entry ~£17; reach the site by dolmuş from Selçuk (~£1). Base yourself in Selçuk, a relaxed budget-traveller town 4 km from the ruins.
🚌Dolmuş Selçuk–Ephesus ~£1
🛏Budget guesthouse in Selçuk (~£15-20)
- →Ephesus ruins self-guided visit
- →Library of Celsus & Great Theatre
Şirince village & optional Pide lunch
Şirince / Selçuk
Head out to scenic Şirince, a Turkish-Greek village settled when Ephesus was abandoned and now a small hill town full of craft stalls, olive oil, and fruit wine. A shared service minibus from Selçuk runs regularly (~£1). Optional: a pide-making demonstration and lunch (~£20-25, bookable locally) or a hands-on Turkish cooking class.
🚌Service minibus Selçuk–Şirince ~£1
🛏Budget guesthouse in Selçuk (~£15-20)
- →Şirince village wander
- →Wine & olive-oil tasting
- →Optional pide demonstration lunch
Pamukkale & Hierapolis white terraces
Pamukkale
Journey inland to the World Heritage-listed white cliffs of Pamukkale, formed by 17 calcium-rich hot springs. Combine the terraces with the adjacent ruins of Hierapolis (single combined ticket ~£20, swim in Cleopatra's Antique Pool optional ~£15). Reach Pamukkale by bus via Denizli from Selçuk/Aydın (~£8-10, ~3-4 hrs).
🚌Bus Selçuk–Denizli–Pamukkale ~£8-10
🛏Budget guesthouse/pension in Pamukkale (~£15-20)
- →Pamukkale travertine terraces
- →Hierapolis ruins
- →Optional Cleopatra's Antique Pool
Return to Istanbul — Old City orientation
Istanbul
Return to Istanbul by bus or (bought well in advance) a budget flight from Denizli/İzmir. Settle back into Sultanahmet and take a self-guided orientation walk past the Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque exteriors. Finish with tea in a rooftop tea house overlooking the Bosphorus.
🚌Bus or budget flight Denizli/İzmir–Istanbul ~£18-30
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Sultanahmet (~£15-22)
- →Topkapı Palace & Blue Mosque exteriors
- →Sultanahmet orientation walk
- →Rooftop tea house
Final Istanbul day & departure
Istanbul
Optional final morning: go deeper into Istanbul's lesser-visited districts on a self-booked small-group walking tour with a Bosphorus cruise (~£25-35 on GetYourGuide/Klook), or simply revisit the Grand Bazaar for souvenirs and a last simit. Depart at any time.
🚌Metro/Tram to airport ~£1.50
🛏—
- →Optional Istanbul walking tour & Bosphorus cruise
- →Grand Bazaar souvenir shopping
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£495 | £1,425 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £930 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£495
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 with Istanbul City Stay — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £495 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,425 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £495 — a saving of roughly £930 (65%) 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, city-breaks 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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