Absolute Turkey: Winter — Self-Launched Version
15 days · Turkey
G Adventures charges £1,180
No-markup version: ~£679 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 15-day self-launched loop of western and central Turkey covering exactly what the G Adventures winter tour covers — Istanbul's palaces and mosques, the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, Konya's Sufi heritage, the Turquoise Coast at Antalya, the white terraces of Pamukkale, ancient Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy and the Gallipoli battlefields — but using Turkey's excellent intercity bus network, overnight coaches and a couple of cheap domestic flights instead of a private van and a tour leader. Winter means low-season prices, empty ruins and hostel dorms from £10-14 a night. Costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP at backpacker/budget rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Istanbul
Istanbul
Land at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and take the Havaist airport bus to Sultanahmet or Taksim (about £3-4; a taxi is £18-25). Check into a hostel in Sultanahmet or Karaköy. Spend the evening getting your bearings: a simit from a street cart, çay in a tulip glass, and an early night after the flight. Buy an Istanbulkart transport card at the airport or any metro station (about £2 deposit, then top up as you go) — it covers metro, tram, ferry and bus.
🚌Havaist airport bus ~£3-4
🛏Hostel dorm in Sultanahmet/Karaköy, £12-16
- →Airport transfer by Havaist bus
- →Buy Istanbulkart
- →Evening wander around Sultanahmet
Istanbul highlights on foot
Istanbul
Do the orientation walk yourself: start at Sultanahmet Square, see the Blue Mosque from outside (free), then the Hippodrome. Buy a ticket for Hagia Sophia (roughly £22-25 in winter; book on the official muze.gov.tr site or GetYourGuide to skip the queue) and wander the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. In the late afternoon walk down to Eminönü and take the public ferry up the Bosphorus toward Anadolu Kavağı (about £1.50 each way with Istanbulkart — a fraction of the £70 tour cruise) or just cross to Kadıköy for dinner on the Asian side. Book your onward bus to Bolu tonight (Istanbul otogar, ~4 hrs, £10-14 with Metro or Kamil Koç).
🚌Tram, ferry and walking ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm in Sultanahmet/Karaköy, £12-16
- →Hagia Sophia entry
- →Blue Mosque and Hippodrome
- →Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
- →Public Bosphorus ferry
Istanbul to Bolu
Bolu
Morning metro/tram to Esenler or Alibeyköy otogar and catch a comfortable intercity coach to Bolu (about 4 hours, £10-14; Metro Turizm and Kamil Koç run hourly, with reclining seats, wifi and free çay). Drop bags at a small pansiyon near the old town and stretch your legs around Bolu's lake (Gölcük) or the Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque. Bolu is a working Anatolian town rather than a tourist stop, so it's cheap and very local — expect a pide dinner for £4-5.
🚌Intercity coach Istanbul-Bolu ~£12
🛏Pansiyon/small hotel, £15-20
- →Bolu old town and mosque
- →Lake Gölcük walk
Anıtkabir and on to Cappadocia
Göreme
Take a morning coach to Ankara (about 3 hrs, £8-10) and spend two hours at Anıtkabir, Atatürk's monumental mausoleum (free entry, allow time for the museum). From Ankara's AŞTİ otogar take an afternoon coach to Nevşehir or Göreme (about 5 hrs, £12-15). Most Göreme hostels will arrange a free or £3 shuttle from the otogar — message ahead. Check into a cave dorm or small cave hotel in Göreme village.
🚌Coaches Bolu-Ankara ~£9 and Ankara-Göreme ~£13
🛏Cave hostel dorm in Göreme, £12-16
- →Anıtkabir and Atatürk museum (free)
- →Evening in Göreme village
Göreme Open Air Museum and valleys
Göreme
Walk 20 minutes to the Göreme Open Air Museum and buy the entry ticket (about £12-14; the Dark Church frescoes are worth the small extra). In the afternoon hike the Rose and Red Valleys on the well-marked trail from Çavuşin or the Göreme end (free, 2-3 hrs) — winter light on the rock is fantastic and you'll have it almost to yourself.
🚌Walking
🛏Cave hostel dorm in Göreme, £12-16
- →Göreme Open Air Museum
- →Rose and Red Valley hike
Underground city, balloon option and local dinner
Göreme
Book a half-day Green Line style tour or, cheaper, take the local dolmuş to Derinkuyu and explore the underground city on your own ticket (about £5 entry plus £2 dolmuş each way). Optional: hot air balloons run year-round in Cappadocia — winter flights are often discounted to £120-160 booked via GetYourGuide or direct with the operators in Göreme, versus the €290 quoted by the tour operator. In the evening, cook or eat in a family-run lokanta in Çavuşin or Göreme — a home-style set menu is £6-8.
🚌Dolmuş ~£4 return
🛏Cave hostel dorm in Göreme, £12-16
- →Derinkuyu underground city
- →Optional hot air balloon flight
- →Home-style dinner in a family lokanta
Göreme to Konya and Beyşehir
Konya
Morning bus to Konya (about 3 hrs, £8-10). Visit the Mevlana Museum (free or a few lira) and the Selimiye Mosque, then take a local bus or dolmuş out to Beyşehir to see the Eşrefoğlu Mosque, a rare wooden-columned Seljuk mosque on the lake shore (free entry; about 1.5 hrs each way, £5 return). Or stay in Konya and catch an evening whirling dervish sema at the cultural centre (often free or £5-8 — many of the commercially priced 'shows' are just this).
🚌Bus Göreme-Konya ~£9; local bus to Beyşehir ~£5 return
🛏Budget hotel/pansiyon in Konya, £15-20
- →Mevlana Museum
- →Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque
- →Optional sema ceremony
Konya to Antalya
Antalya
Bus from Konya to Antalya over the Taurus mountains (about 5-6 hrs, £12-15 — the route through the mountains is genuinely scenic in winter snow). Check into a hostel in Kaleiçi, the old harbour quarter, and wander the cobbled lanes, Hadrian's Gate and the Roman harbour at sunset. Dinner of fresh fish or kebab by the marina, £7-9.
🚌Coach Konya-Antalya ~£13
🛏Hostel dorm/pansiyon in Kaleiçi, £12-18
- →Kaleiçi old town
- →Hadrian's Gate
- →Old harbour sunset
Antalya free day
Antalya
Free day to use the city's cheap public transport. Options: the Antalya Archaeological Museum (about £8-10 entry, take the tram), the Antalya Museum's superb Roman statues, a Turkish hammam in Kaleiçi (£15-25 for a scrub and wash), or a dolmuş out to the Düden or Kursunlu waterfalls (£2 each way, small entry fee). Winter is also the season for the cable car up Mount Tahtalı if the weather is clear.
🚌Tram/dolmuş ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm/pansiyon in Kaleiçi, £12-18
- →Antalya Archaeological Museum
- →Optional hammam
- →Optional waterfalls or cable car
Antalya to Pamukkale
Pamukkale
Morning bus to Denizli (about 4 hrs, £10-12), then a dolmuş up to Pamukkale village (about £1.50, 20 mins). Buy the combined Pamukkale + Hierapolis ticket (roughly £22-25) and walk the white travertine terraces barefoot, then explore the Hierapolis ruins, the Roman theatre and the Antique Pool. Sunset from the top of the terraces is the highlight. Stay in a cheap guesthouse in Pamukkale village, where family-run places include dinner for £5-7.
🚌Bus Antalya-Denizli ~£11; dolmuş ~£3 return
🛏Guesthouse in Pamukkale village, £15-20
- →Pamukkale travertines
- →Hierapolis ancient city
- →Theatre and Antique Pool
Pamukkale to Selçuk and Ephesus
Selçuk
Take a bus or the regional train from Denizli to Selçuk (about 3 hrs, £7-9 — the Denizli-İzmir train stops at Selçuk and is a lovely, cheap ride). Drop bags and head straight to Ephesus: the site is a 20-25 min walk or £2 dolmuş from town, entry about £22-25. Late afternoon is quieter. Back in Selçuk, see the Isa Bey Mosque (free) and the Basilica of St John (£3-4) if time allows. Selçuk hostels are £10-15 in dorm.
🚌Train/bus Denizli-Selçuk ~£8; local dolmuş ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in Selçuk, £10-15
- →Ephesus ruins and Great Theatre
- →Isa Bey Mosque
- →Basilica of St John
Cooking class in a village and Selçuk at ease
Selçuk
Book a half-day Turkish cooking class in a nearby village direct or via GetYourGuide (£25-35 — the operator's version is wrapped into the tour price, but standalone classes are plentiful and often run by village women's cooperatives). You'll make gözleme, mezes or stuffed vegetables and eat the results. Afternoon free for Şirince village (dolmuş £2, a hill town of wine houses) or the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk town.
🚌Dolmuş ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm in Selçuk, £10-15
- →Village Turkish cooking class
- →Optional Şirince village visit
- →Ephesus Museum
Selçuk to Bergama and Pergamon
Bergama
Local bus or dolmuş up to Bergama (about 2.5-3 hrs via İzmir or a direct regional bus, £8-10). Drop bags and take the cable car or walk up to the Acropolis of Pergamon (entry about £10-12) for the steep theatre, the Altar of Zeus site and sweeping views. Also see the Red Basilica in the lower town (about £4) and the Asklepion if time allows. Bergama itself is a wonderfully untouristed market town — dinner £5-6.
🚌Regional bus Selçuk-Bergama ~£9; cable car ~£3
🛏Pansiyon in Bergama, £15-20
- →Pergamon Acropolis
- →Red Basilica
- →Optional Asklepion
Troy, Ayvalık and Gallipoli
Eceabat/Çanakkale
Bus to Çanakkale (about 2.5 hrs, £8-9) via Ayvalık, a Greek-heritage seaside town where you can stop for a couple of hours to see the old stone houses and the women's cooperative workshops the tour visits. From Çanakkale, dolmuş to Troy (about 30 mins, £3; entry £7-8) — see the Trojan horse replica and the nine layers of the ancient city. Then take the ferry across the Dardanelles to Eceabat (£2-3) and stay in a simple guesthouse there or in Çanakkale.
🚌Bus ~£9; dolmuş to Troy ~£6 return; ferry ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Çanakkale/Eceabat, £15-22
- →Troy archaeological site
- →Ayvalık old town stop
- →Dardanelles ferry crossing
Gallipoli battlefields and return to Istanbul
Istanbul
Join a half-day Gallipoli battlefield tour from Çanakkale or Eceabat (about £30-40 with regional operators such as Hassle Free or Crowded House, including the landing beaches, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair) — these are the same sites the group tour visits and are the only practical way to cover them without a car. Alternatively rent a car for a day (£25-35). In the late afternoon take a bus back to Istanbul (about 5-6 hrs, £12-15) and spend your final night in the city, or fly Çanakkale-Istanbul with Turkish Airlines if timing suits (£25-40).
🚌Gallipoli tour ~£35; bus to Istanbul ~£13
🛏Hostel dorm in Istanbul, £12-16
- →Gallipoli battlefields guided half-day tour
- →Return to Istanbul
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£679 | £1,180 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £501 per person (42%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£679
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 Absolute Turkey: Winter — Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £679 per person for 15 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 £1,180 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £679 — a saving of roughly £501 (42%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 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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