Highlights of Turkey — Self-Launched Independent Route
15 days · Turkey
Exodus charges £2,699
No-markup version: ~£1,450 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 15-day self-launched version of Exodus's Highlights of Turkey, covering Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ayvalik, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Kaş, Antalya, Konya and Cappadocia. Instead of a guided group coach tour with upgraded hotels, this route uses Turkey's excellent intercity buses, domestic flights and a couple of trains, staying in family-run guesthouses, stone cave hotels and budget pensions. All activities are self-bookable: museum passes, dolmuş rides, cable cars and local boat trips. Expect roughly £1,300-1,600 per person including accommodation, food, transport and activities — a fraction of the guided Superior-class price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Istanbul — Old City orientation
Istanbul
Fly into Istanbul (IST or SAW) and take the Metro or Havaist bus to Sultanahmet (Metro ~£1, Havaist ~£4). Check into a Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu hostel/guesthouse. Wander the Hippodrome square at dusk, grab a balık ekmek (fish sandwich) by Eminönü and get your bearings before the big sightseeing day tomorrow.
🚌Istanbul Metro or Havaist airport bus (~£1-4)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Sultanahmet/Beyoğlu (~£20-28/night)
- →Arrival transfer by public Metro/bus
- →Evening wander around Sultanahmet and Eminönü
- →Street food dinner
Istanbul — Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar
Istanbul
Cover the classic highlights independently. Hagia Sophia entry is free; the Blue Mosque is free (dress modestly). Buy a Museum Pass Istanbul (~£40) if you plan on several sites. In the afternoon get lost in the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. Optional: cross the Bosphorus on the public ferry to Kadıköy (~£1) for a cheap and very local evening of meyhanes and street food.
🚌Tram + local ferry (~£3)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Sultanahmet/Beyoğlu
- →Blue Mosque and Hippodrome
- →Hagia Sophia
- →Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
- →Optional Bosphorus ferry to the Asian side
Istanbul — Topkapı, Basilica Cistern and hammam
Istanbul
Morning at Topkapı Palace and the Basilica Cistern (book skip-the-line via GetYourGuide, ~£25-30 combined). Afternoon free — either the Istanbul Modern, the Galata Tower or a traditional Turkish bath (Çemberlitaş or Kılıç Ali Paşa hammam, ~£25). Evening: rooftop views over the Golden Horn.
🚌Tram and walking (~£2)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Sultanahmet/Beyoğlu
- →Topkapı Palace
- →Basilica Cistern
- →Optional Turkish hammam
- →Galata Tower viewpoint
Istanbul to Çanakkale via Gallipoli
Çanakkale
Take a morning bus from Istanbul Otogar to Eceabat (~6 hours, ~£18, several departures daily). From Eceabat, join a half-day Gallipoli battlefield tour (bookable locally or via GetYourGuide, ~£30) covering ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Then hop the short ferry across the Dardanelles to Çanakkale (~£1) and check into a pension near the waterfront.
🚌Bus ~£18 + ferry ~£1
🛏Pension/hostel in Çanakkale (~£20-25/night)
- →Intercity bus Istanbul to Eceabat
- →Gallipoli battlefield tour
- →Dardanelles ferry crossing
Troy, then on to Ayvalık
Ayvalık
Morning dolmuş or taxi to the Troy archaeological site (~30 min, ~£2), entry ~£12. See the reconstructed wooden horse and the excavated layers of nine cities. Afternoon bus to Ayvalık via İzmir (~4 hours, ~£12). Wander the cobbled Cunda causeway, sample local olive oil and Ayvalık tost for dinner.
🚌Dolmuş ~£2 + intercity bus ~£12
🛏Guesthouse in Ayvalık (~£20-28/night)
- →Troy archaeological site
- →Bus Çanakkale to Ayvalık
- →Cunda Island evening walk
Pergamon Acropolis, then Selçuk
Selçuk
Morning bus to Bergama (~2 hours, ~£6). Take the cable car up to the Pergamon Acropolis (~£8, entry ~£12) — temples, the steep theatre and the famous library. Consider the Asklepion too. Afternoon bus to Selçuk (~2.5 hours, ~£8). Check into a Selçuk pension and enjoy a quiet evening near St John's Basilica.
🚌Two intercity buses ~£14
🛏Pension in Selçuk (~£20-28/night)
- →Cable car to Pergamon Acropolis
- →Pergamon and Asklepion ruins
- →Bus to Selçuk
Ephesus and Selçuk
Selçuk
Walk or take a dolmuş to Ephesus (~10 min, ~£1). Entry ~£14; book a small-group or audio guide via GetYourGuide (~£10-15). Cover the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses. Afternoon back in Selçuk: İsa Bey Mosque, St John's Basilica and the excellent Ephesus Archaeological Museum (~£5).
🚌Dolmuş ~£1
🛏Pension in Selçuk
- →Ephesus ancient city
- →Terrace Houses
- →İsa Bey Mosque and St John's Basilica
- →Ephesus Archaeological Museum
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Pamukkale
Bus or dolmuş to Denizli/Pamukkale (~3 hours, ~£10). Buy the combined Pamukkale + Hierapolis ticket (~£12) and walk barefoot down the white travertine terraces. Swim in the ancient Antique Pool if you fancy (~£15 extra). Explore Hierapolis's theatre and necropolis. Stay overnight in Pamukkale village to catch the terraces at sunset with fewer crowds.
🚌Bus to Denizli ~£10
🛏Family guesthouse in Pamukkale (~£18-25/night)
- →Pamukkale travertine terraces
- →Hierapolis ruins
- →Optional Antique Pool swim
Xanthos and the Turquoise Coast to Kaş
Kaş
Long travel day south to Kaş via Fethiye (~5 hours, ~£14). Break the journey at Xanthos or nearby Letoon, Lycian World Heritage sites (~£8 entry). Arrive in Kaş in the late afternoon — a laid-back harbour town of cobbled lanes, Lycian rock tombs and a small Hellenistic theatre. Dinner by the harbour.
🚌Intercity bus ~£14
🛏Guesthouse in Kaş (~£22-30/night)
- →Xanthos and Letoon Lycian ruins
- →Bus to Kaş
- →Harbour evening
Kaş — Kekova sunken city boat trip
Kaş
Free day on the Turquoise Coast. Join a Kekova boat trip from Üçağız to see the half-submerged Lycian city of Simena (~£25-30, book locally). Swim stops at sunken ruins and the castle. Alternatively hire a kayak, cycle to Kaputaş Beach, or just lounge and eat gözleme. Very cheap, very beautiful.
🚌Local dolmuş/shuttle ~£5
🛏Guesthouse in Kaş
- →Kekova sunken city boat trip
- →Kaputaş Beach
- →Optional kayaking or paragliding
Kaş to Antalya — Kaleiçi old town
Antalya
Morning bus along the coast to Antalya (~3.5 hours, ~£10). Check into a pension in the Kaleiçi district. Afternoon walking tour of the old town: Hadrian's Gate, the old Roman harbour, Ottoman houses and the Antalya Museum if time allows (~£6). Sunset over the marina with a kebap dinner.
🚌Bus ~£10
🛏Pension in Kaleiçi, Antalya (~£20-28/night)
- →Bus to Antalya
- →Kaleiçi old town walk
- →Hadrian's Gate and Roman harbour
- →Antalya Museum
Perge and Aspendos, then to Konya
Konya
Morning local bus/tour to Perge and Aspendos (~£8-12 combined). Perge has a superb Roman stadium and colonnaded street; Aspendos has the best-preserved ancient theatre anywhere, still used for performances. Afternoon overnight bus or train to Konya (~5 hours, ~£14). Konya is the home of the Mevlevi Sufi order — the Whirling Dervishes.
🚌Local bus ~£10 + intercity bus ~£14
🛏Budget hotel near Mevlana area, Konya (~£20-28/night)
- →Perge ancient city
- →Aspendos theatre
- →Evening bus/train to Konya
Konya — Mevlana Museum, then Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Morning at the Mevlana Museum, the turquoise-domed shrine of Rumi and a major pilgrimage site (free entry, donations welcome). Wander the Seljuk Alaeddin Hill and the bazaar. Afternoon bus to Göreme (~5 hours, ~£14). Check into a cave-style pension in Göreme — many budget places still offer the carved-stone experience.
🚌Intercity bus ~£14
🛏Budget cave/stone guesthouse in Göreme (~£25-35/night)
- →Mevlana Museum
- →Alaeddin Hill and Seljuk architecture
- →Bus to Göreme
Cappadocia — Göreme Open-Air Museum and underground city
Cappadocia
Rent a scooter or join a Red Line minibus tour (~£25) covering the Göreme Open-Air Museum (rock-cut churches with frescoes, ~£12), Uçhisar Castle, Pasabag fairy chimneys and Devrent Valley. In the afternoon visit an underground city such as Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu (~£8). Sunset from Rose Valley or the Göreme panorama viewpoint.
🚌Scooter hire or minibus tour ~£20
🛏Budget cave/stone guesthouse in Göreme
- →Göreme Open-Air Museum
- →Fairy chimneys at Pasabag
- →Kaymaklı/Derinkuyu underground city
- →Sunset over Rose Valley
Cappadocia — optional balloon flight and departure
Cappadocia
Optional hot-air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys at dawn (~£150-180, book well ahead via GetYourGuide — this is the one splurge worth it). Then relax, buy local ceramics or wine, and depart. Flights from Kayseri (ASR) or Nevşehir (NAV) back to Istanbul, or night bus to Istanbul (~£20).
🚌Airport shuttle ~£5 or night bus ~£20
🛏None (departure day) — add a night if your flight is early
- →Optional hot-air balloon flight
- →Göreme shopping and cafés
- →Departure by flight or night bus
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,450 | £2,699 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,249 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,450
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Highlights of Turkey — Self-Launched Independent Route cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,450 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,699 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,450 — a saving of roughly £1,249 (46%) 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, adventure, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.