Three Lands, One Journey: Türkiye, Egypt & Jordan — Self-Launched (14 Days)
14 days · Turkey, Egypt & Jordan
Itaca Holiday charges £2,060
No-markup version: ~£960 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of Itaca Holiday's 14-day three-country tour: Istanbul's Ottoman mosques and bazaars, Giza and Saqqara, a Nile cruise-lite run from Aswan to Luxor by train, then Petra and Jerash in Jordan. You book your own flights (the operator's price bundles them in — we've costed the key regional flights separately), sleep in hostels and simple hotels, use trams, trains and shared minibuses instead of private transfers, and join cheap local or GetYourGuide day tours where a guide genuinely adds value. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP per person sharing a dorm or twin; single supplements and peak-season prices will be higher.
Day-by-day
Arrive Istanbul — Sultanahmet orientation
Istanbul
Land at Istanbul Airport (IST) and take the Havaist bus or M11 metro + Marmaray to Sultanahmet (~£3-5) rather than a private transfer. Check into a hostel in Sultanahmet or Karaköy. Spend the evening walking the Hippodrome and getting a sunset look at the Blue Mosque from Sultanahmet Park, then dinner at a cheap lokanta (set-menu canteen) near Sirkeci.
🚌Istanbul Airport to city: Havaist bus ~£4 or metro ~£2. Arrive any time.
🛏Hostel dorm or simple guesthouse, Sultanahmet/Karaköy (£12-18)
- →Havaist shuttle/metro into the city
- →Sultanahmet Square orientation walk
- →Cheap lokanta dinner in Sirkeci
Sultanahmet classics: Blue Mosque, Topkapi, bazaars
Istanbul
Hit the historic peninsula on foot — everything here is walkable. Blue Mosque is free (dress modestly, avoid prayer times). Topkapi Palace needs a timed ticket — book on the official muze.gov.tr site in advance (~£22, Harem extra). Wander the Grand Bazaar, walk down to the Spice Bazaar and Eminönü for a balık ekmek (fish sandwich) by the water, then cross the Galata Bridge at sunset with the fishermen.
🚌All on foot + T1 tram single ride ~£0.60
🛏Hostel dorm or simple guesthouse, Sultanahmet/Karaköy (£12-18)
- →Blue Mosque (free)
- →Topkapi Palace Gardens & courtyards (book on muze.gov.tr)
- →Grand Bazaar wander
- →Süleymaniye Mosque
- →Spice Bazaar & Eminönü Square
- →Galata Bridge sunset walk
Asian side & Golden Horn: Çamlıca, Üsküdar, Eyüp
Istanbul
Ride the Marmaray under the Bosphorus to Üsküdar and explore the Asian-side neighbourhood, then taxi or bus up to Büyük Çamlıca Mosque and its viewpoint. Cross back for Beylerbeyi Palace (small ticket ~£4). In the afternoon take the T5 tram or bus to Eyüp, see Eyüp Sultan Mosque, then ride the Pierre Loti cable car (~£1) for the classic Golden Horn view with tea at the top. Ferries are ~£0.60 each — the cheapest Bosphorus cruise you'll find.
🚌Marmaray + public ferry + tram + cable car, ~£6 total
🛏Hostel dorm or simple guesthouse (£12-18)
- →Üsküdar district walk
- →Büyük Çamlıca Mosque & viewpoint
- →Beylerbeyi Palace
- →Eyüp Sultan Mosque
- →Pierre Loti cable car & viewpoint
Fly Istanbul to Cairo
Cairo
Fly IST/SAW to Cairo (book ahead — Turkish, Pegasus, Egyptair and AJet all run this route; budget £90-150 one way). At Cairo airport buy a visa on arrival for most Western passports (~£20-25) or apply for the e-visa in advance. Take theCareem/Uber to your hostel in Downtown or Zamalek (~£4-6) instead of an airport transfer. Evening: walk the Nile Corniche or grab koshari (Egypt's cheapest, best street meal) at Abou Tarek.
🚌Flight ~£110; airport to city by Uber/Careem ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Downtown Cairo/Zamalek (£10-16)
- →Flight Istanbul to Cairo
- →Visa on arrival / e-visa
- →Downtown Cairo evening walk
- →Koshari dinner
Giza pyramids, Sphinx & Egyptian Museum
Cairo
Get to Giza early by Uber (~£4) or the metro to Giza then a microbus. Buy the site ticket at the gate (~£13; Great Pyramid interior extra ~£10 — worth it). Walk the plateau between Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, see the Sphinx from the viewing platform, and optionally hire a camel for a short loop (~£10 after haggling). Afternoon: Egyptian Museum in Tahrir (~£10 to enter, Tutankhamun galleries included). A GetYourGuide guide for Giza is ~£20-30 if you want the history explained.
🚌Uber to Giza ~£4, metro ~£0.30
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Downtown Cairo (£10-16)
- →Great Pyramid of Khufu
- →Pyramids of Khafre & Menkaure
- →Great Sphinx
- →Egyptian Museum, Tahrir
Saqqara, Djoser & the Grand Egyptian Museum
Cairo
Take an Uber or shared microbus to Saqqara (~£6-8) and see the Step Pyramid of Djoser complex and the surrounding necropolis; a local site guide costs ~£8-12. Then head to the Grand Egyptian Museum by Giza — pre-book a timed slot online (~£20) as numbers are capped, and allow 3-4 hours for the Tutankhamun and grand-staircase galleries. Evening back in Downtown, or a cheap Nile felucca ride at sunset (~£8 per boat).
🚌Uber/shared microbus to Saqqara and GEM ~£10
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Downtown Cairo (£10-16)
- →Step Pyramid of Djoser
- →Saqqara necropolis
- →Grand Egyptian Museum (pre-book online)
- →Optional sunset felucca
Overnight train to Aswan — Philae Temple & High Dam
Aswan
Book the Cairo–Aswan sleeper train with Watania (wagonlit) in advance (~£55-75 for a single-berth or shared cabin) — it leaves in the evening and arrives late morning, saving a hotel night. Alternatively fly (~£60-90). On arrival, drop bags and take a taxi to the Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk (~£8 combined ticket), then a boat across to Philae Temple (~£12 site ticket + ~£8 boat). Sunsets over the Nile from the corniche are free.
🚌Sleeper train ~£65; local taxis/boat ~£16
🛏Guesthouse, Aswan (£10-16)
- →Watania sleeper train Cairo–Aswan
- →Aswan High Dam
- →Unfinished Obelisk
- →Philae Temple by boat
Kom Ombo & Edfu — or an Abu Simbel day trip
Edfu
Skip the organised cruise and use the local system: either hire a shared taxi/minibus up the Nile road from Aswan to Kom Ombo (~£8-12), see the twin temple and mummified crocodile museum (~£7), then continue to Edfu (~£5). Alternatively, do the classic 4am Abu Simbel convoy by shared minibus (~£25-35 with a seat bought through any Aswan hotel) before heading north. Overnight in Edfu town, which is cheap and untouristy.
🚌Shared taxi/minibus Aswan–Kom Ombo–Edfu ~£15
🛏Simple hotel, Edfu (£10-15)
- →Optional Abu Simbel temples day trip
- →Kom Ombo Temple & Crocodile Museum
- →Nile-valley road journey
Edfu Temple by calèche, then Luxor's east bank
Luxor
Take a horse-drawn calèche to Edfu Temple (~£3-5, haggle) and see the best-preserved temple in Egypt (~£7). Continue to Luxor by train (~£3-5, 1.5 hrs) or shared minibus. In Luxor, check into a West Bank or Nile-side hostel. Late afternoon: Karnak Temple Complex (~£10) and, after dark, Luxor Temple floodlit (~£7 — buy a combined Luxor pass if you're doing a lot of sites).
🚌Calèche ~£4, train ~£4
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Luxor West Bank (£10-16)
- →Edfu Temple by calèche
- →Train Edfu–Luxor
- →Karnak Temple Complex
- →Luxor Temple at night
Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Memnon
Luxor
Cross by public ferry (~£0.50) and hire a bicycle (~£3) or share a taxi with other travellers (~£10 for the loop). Valley of the Kings ticket covers 3 tombs (~£11; Tutankhamun/Ramses VI extra), then Temple of Hatshepsut (~£7) and the Colossi of Memnon (free). Optional dawn hot-air balloon flight booked with any Luxor operator (~£75-110) — the one splurge worth considering. Evening train or flight back to Cairo (sleeper ~£55-70, flight ~£50-90).
🚌Ferry/bike ~£4, sleeper train Luxor–Cairo ~£65
🛏Overnight train to Cairo or budget hotel (£0-16)
- →Valley of the Kings
- →Temple of Hatshepsut
- →Colossi of Memnon
- →Optional sunrise hot-air balloon
Fly to Amman — Madaba, Mt Nebo
Madaba / Amman
Fly Cairo to Amman (Royal Jordanian or Air Cairo/Flynas, ~£90-140 one way). Buy the Jordan Pass online before you fly (~£60-70) — it covers your visa, Petra and Jerash. From Queen Alia airport take the Sariyah airport express bus (~£6) or a shared taxi. Drop bags, then local bus or taxi to Madaba to see St George's Church mosaic map and the Mosaic Museum, and continue to Mt Nebo for the Jordan Valley view (taxi round trip ~£20). Overnight in Madaba or Amman.
🚌Flight ~£110; Sariyah airport bus ~£6; taxi to Mt Nebo ~£20
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Madaba or Amman (£12-20)
- →Flight Cairo–Amman
- →Jordan Pass purchase
- →Madaba & St George's Church
- →Mount Nebo
Petra — full day in the rose-red city
Petra / Wadi Musa
Take the JETT bus from Amman (7am, ~£12, book a day ahead) or the local minibus from Wadi Musa, and stay the night in Wadi Musa rather than day-tripping. Enter Petra early (~£50 single entry, or included in the Jordan Pass) and walk the Siq to the Treasury, then the Street of Facades, Roman theatre, Royal Tombs, colonnaded street and — if your legs hold — the Monastery via 800 steps. Site guides cost ~£40-50 shared; a guidebook or audio app is fine. Evening: cheap falafel in Wadi Musa.
🚌JETT bus Amman–Petra ~£12
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Wadi Musa (£12-20)
- →Petra Siq & Treasury
- →Street of Facades & rock-cut tombs
- →Roman theatre & colonnaded street
- →Optional hike to the Monastery
Back to Amman — Jerash & the Citadel
Amman
Morning bus back to Amman (~£12) or a shared minibus. From Amman take a local bus from Tabarbour station to Jerash (~£2, 1 hr) and walk the Roman ruins — Hadrian's Arch, Oval Plaza, the colonnaded cardo, hippodrome (~£10 entry or Jordan Pass). Return to Amman for the Citadel, the Archaeological Museum and the Folklore Museum (~£3 combined), then eat your body weight at Hashem (falafel, ~£3) and wander Rainbow Street.
🚌Bus Petra–Amman ~£12, local bus to Jerash ~£2
🛏Hostel/budget hotel, Downtown Amman (£12-20)
- →Jerash Roman ruins
- →Amman Citadel
- →Archaeological Museum
- →Folklore Museum
- →Rainbow Street & Hashem falafel
Depart Amman
Amman
Final breakfast, maybe a last souq run for za'atar and olive oil, then take the Sariyah airport express bus to Queen Alia (~£6) or share a taxi (~£20 split). If your flight is late, store bags at the hostel and see the Jordan Museum (~£3).
🚌Airport express bus ~£6
🛏—
- →Souq shopping
- →Sariyah airport bus to Queen Alia
Self-launched vs. Itaca Holiday
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Itaca Holiday | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£960 | £2,060 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,100 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Itaca Holiday-style trips? Check them out here.~£960
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 Three Lands, One Journey: Türkiye, Egypt & Jordan — Self-Launched (14 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £960 per person for 14 days in Turkey, Egypt & Jordan. 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 Itaca Holiday?+
Yes — Itaca Holiday charges around £2,060 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £960 — a saving of roughly £1,100 (53%) per person.
How long is the Turkey, Egypt & Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Turkey, Egypt & Jordan.
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, hiking trip through Turkey, Egypt & Jordan, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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