Self-Launched Selcuk to Istanbul: Pergamon, Troy, Gallipoli & Old City
3 days · Western Turkey (Selcuk to Istanbul)
Alaturka Turkey charges £845
No-markup version: ~£252 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of Alaturka Turkey's 3-day Selcuk–Pergamon–Troy–Gallipoli–Istanbul run, rebuilt with public buses, dolmuş minibuses and self-bookable entry tickets/audio guides instead of a guided coach group. You start in Selcuk or Kuşadası, climb the Pergamon Acropolis, overnight in Çanakkale for Troy and the Gallipoli battlefields, then roll into Istanbul for a DIY Old City day (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı, Grand Bazaar). Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and assume hostel/dorm or budget guesthouse beds — expect a slower, more flexible trip than the coach tour, with the trade-off of a little more planning on Gallipoli transport.
Day-by-day
Selcuk → Bergama: Pergamon Acropolis & Asklepion
Selcuk / Bergama (Pergamon)
Start early in Selcuk or Kuşadası. Take a local bus or dolmuş to İzmir Otogar (roughly 1–1.5 hrs, ~£3–4), then an intercity bus north to Bergama (~2.5 hrs, ~£6–8). Drop your bag at a budget pansiyon near the otogar or town centre and ride the cable car (Bergama Teleferik, small fee) or a taxi up to the Pergamon Acropolis. Buy a Museum Pass or single entry ticket at the gate (~£8–12) and walk the site yourself in the order the coach tour does: the Library of Pergamon, Temple of Athena, the steep Pergamon Theatre, Temple of Trajan, the Gymnasium terraces and the Lower Agora — all within the same walled complex. If time allows, take a dolmuş or taxi out to the Asklepion sanctuary. Evening: cheap kebap or pide dinner in Bergama town, early night before a long travel day.
🚌Local dolmuş/bus Selcuk–İzmir Otogar (~£3–4) + intercity bus İzmir–Bergama (~£6–8) + cable car/taxi to Acropolis (~£2–4)
🛏Budget pansiyon/guesthouse in Bergama (private twin or dorm), ~£15–22
- →Pergamon Acropolis self-guided walk (Library, Temple of Athena, Theatre, Temple of Trajan, Gymnasium, Lower Agora)
- →Optional Asklepion visit
- →Bergama Teleferik cable car
- →Bazaar street wander in Bergama
Bergama → Çanakkale: Troy by local dolmuş, then ANZAC sites
Bergama → Çanakkale / Troy / Gallipoli Peninsula
Bus from Bergama back toward İzmir or via Ayvalık to Çanakkale (~4–5 hrs total with a change, ~£10–13). Leave your bags at your Çanakkale guesthouse, then take the local minibus/dolmuş from Çanakkale to Tevfikiye village for Troy (~30–40 mins, ~£2–3) and buy entry at the gate (~£8–10). Wander Troy I–IX layers, the city walls, the Bouleuterion, Odeon and sacrificial altars, and pose with the wooden Trojan Horse replica. Return to Çanakkale and, if you want the Gallipoli battlefields, book a small-group or shared day-tour from a Çanakkale agency (~£35–50) or take a hire car/join a shared minibus to cover ANZAC Cove, Beach and Arıburnu Cemeteries, Lone Pine, Johnston's Jolly, the Nek, Chunuk Bair and the 57th Regiment Memorial — self-driving is the cheapest flexible option if you have a licence, as public transport on the peninsula is very thin. Optional: Çanakkale Naval and Archaeological Museums in the evening.
🚌Intercity bus Bergama–Çanakkale (~£10–13) + dolmuş Çanakkale–Troy return (~£4–5) + shared Gallipoli minibus or split car hire (~£10–15 per person)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in central Çanakkale, ~£18–25
- →Troy archaeological site (walls, Troy I–IX layers, Bouleuterion, Odeon, altars)
- →Trojan Horse replica photo stop
- →Gallipoli ANZAC sites: ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, the Nek, Chunuk Bair, Johnston's Jolly, 57th Regiment Cemetery
- →Optional Çanakkale Naval & Archaeological Museums
Çanakkale → Istanbul: DIY Old City day (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı, Grand Bazaar)
Çanakkale → Istanbul (Sultanahmet)
Morning bus from Çanakkale to Istanbul (~5.5–6.5 hrs, ~£15–20), arriving around midday. Check into a Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu hostel, then do the Old City on foot: the Hippodrome with its obelisks, the Blue Mosque (free, dress modestly), then Hagia Sophia (entry ticket ~£22–25 as of 2025 — book a timed slot online via the official site), Topkapı Palace (~£25–30 or Museum Pass, closed Tuesdays), and finish with a wander and haggling in the Grand Bazaar before it closes (~19:00, closed Sundays). Skip the group guide and use a free audio guide app or a GetYourGuide/Klook self-paced entry ticket. End near your hotel with a cheap balık ekmek or meyhane dinner.
🚌Intercity bus Çanakkale–Istanbul (~£15–20) + Istanbulkart tram/metro top-ups (~£5)
🛏Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu hostel dorm/budget hotel, ~£20–28
- →Hippodrome & Obelisks
- →Blue Mosque
- →Hagia Sophia (timed entry ticket)
- →Topkapı Palace & Harem (optional extra)
- →Grand Bazaar
- →Optional Bosphorus ferry sunset ride (~£1–2)
Self-launched vs. Alaturka Turkey
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Alaturka Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£252 | £845 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £593 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Alaturka Turkey-style trips? Check them out here.~£252
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 Selcuk to Istanbul: Pergamon, Troy, Gallipoli & Old City cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £252 per person for 3 days in Western Turkey (Selcuk to Istanbul). 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 Alaturka Turkey?+
Yes — Alaturka Turkey charges around £845 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £252 — a saving of roughly £593 (70%) per person.
How long is the Western Turkey (Selcuk to Istanbul) trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Western Turkey (Selcuk to Istanbul).
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, budget trip through Western Turkey (Selcuk to Istanbul), 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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