Istanbul to the Med: Self-Launched 7-Day Turkey & Rhodes Adventure
7 days · Turkey
On The Go Tours charges £1,955
No-markup version: ~£520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of On The Go Tours' "Istanbul to the Med" — same big-hitters (Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Marmaris) but built with public buses, local dolmuş minibuses, self-booked entry tickets and hostel/guesthouse beds. Where the original uses a guided coach, this route leans on Turkey's excellent intercity bus network (Pamukkale, Kâmil Koç, Metro), affordable domestic flights, and GetYourGuide day tours for the Gallipoli and Ephesus sections where a guide genuinely adds value. Budget roughly £450–550 all-in for seven days excluding international flights — assuming you travel with a friend or pick up dorm beds.
Day-by-day
Arrive Istanbul — Sultanahmet on foot
Istanbul
Fly into Istanbul (IST or SAW) and take the Havaist airport bus or M11 metro + tram to Sultanahmet (roughly 60–90 mins, £2–4). Check into a hostel in Sultanahmet or Karaköy. Spend the afternoon wandering: Hippodrome square, the outside of Hagia Sophia, Gülhane Park, and a sunset stroll across the Galata Bridge to Karaköy for cheap balık ekmek (fish sandwich) and çay. Grab an Istanbulkart from any tram station kiosk — it makes all public transport half-price.
🚌Airport bus/metro to Sultanahmet approx £3; tram & ferry hops £1–2 each
🛏Hostel dorm in Sultanahmet or Karaköy (£14–20/night)
- →Hippodrome & Sultanahmet orientation walk
- →Galata Bridge sunset & Karaköy street food
- →Buy an Istanbulkart transit card
Istanbul's imperial core — self-guided
Istanbul
Start early at the Blue Mosque (free, dress modestly, closed during prayers). Walk to Topkapı Palace and buy your ticket direct at the gate or via the official muze.gov.tr site (approx £28 for the combined ticket) — arrive at opening to beat the crowds. In the afternoon either pay to enter Hagia Sophia's upper galleries or just admire the exterior and head to the Basilica Cistern (£8). Finish with a hamam if you fancy it, or a cheap meyhane dinner in Kumkapı.
🚌All walkable within Sultanahmet; tram if heading to Eminönü
🛏Hostel dorm in Sultanahmet (£14–20/night)
- →Blue Mosque
- →Topkapı Palace (self-guided with audio guide)
- →Hagia Sophia exterior / optional gallery entry
- →Optional: Basilica Cistern, Turkish bath
Istanbul → Gallipoli (Çanakkale)
Çanakkale / Gallipoli
Overnight bus from Istanbul's Esenler or Alibeyköy otogar to Çanakkale with Pamukkale or Kâmil Koç (approx 6–7 hrs, £15–20). Book a small-group Gallipoli day tour from Çanakkale with a local operator (Crowded House, Hassle Free, or similar) via GetYourGuide — £35–45 including ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, the Nek and Johnston's Jolly. Alternatively rent a car in Çanakkale and drive the peninsula yourself. Sleep in Çanakkale's compact centre.
🚌Overnight bus £15–20; local minibus to peninsula included in tour
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Çanakkale (£18–25)
- →Overnight intercity bus Istanbul–Çanakkale
- →Guided Gallipoli battlefields day tour (ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, the Nek)
Troy & Pergamon en route to Selçuk/Kuşadası
Selçuk / Kuşadası
Morning dolmuş to Troy (Truva) — 30 mins from Çanakkale, £2 — and explore the ruins and replica Trojan Horse yourself with the site map and audio guide (£10 entry). Back to Çanakkale, then inland bus south via Bergama (İzmir direction). Stop for Pergamon's Acropolis and Asklepion (£12 combined). Continue to Selçuk or Kuşadası in the evening by bus (Pamukkale/Kâmil Koç, ~4 hrs, £12). Staying in Selçuk keeps you walking distance from Ephesus.
🚌Dolmuş to Troy £2; regional buses to Bergama and on to Selçuk approx £15 total
🛏Hostel or family guesthouse in Selçuk (£15–22)
- →Troy archaeological site & Trojan Horse
- →Pergamon Acropolis & Asklepion
Ephesus & Şirince village
Selçuk
Walk or take the 15-minute dolmuş to Ephesus' upper gate at opening (£4 transport, £25 entry, or buy the Müzekart Plus £50 covering multiple sites for the week). Wander Curetes Way, the Library of Celsus, Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses (extra £8). Skip the carpet demonstration and head uphill instead to Şirince — a hillside village of wine-tasting rooms and stone houses, 20 mins by dolmuş (£2). Evening back in Selçuk: stroll past the Artemis temple and St John's Basilica.
🚌Local dolmuş hops £2 each
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Selçuk (£15–22)
- →Ephesus ruins self-guided (Great Theatre, Library of Celsus, Terrace Houses)
- →Şirince village & wine tasting
- →Temple of Artemis & Basilica of St John at sunset
Pamukkale travertines & Hierapolis
Pamukkale / Denizli
Bus from Selçuk to Denizli (2.5 hrs, £8), then dolmuş 20 mins to Pamukkale village (£1). Enter the site via the south gate and walk down the travertine terraces barefoot — bring a swim bag, the terraces are shallow pools you paddle in. Explore the Roman city of Hierapolis, the theatre and the Antique Pool (Cleopatra's Pool) if you want to swim among submerged columns (£12 extra). Late afternoon bus on to Marmaris via Muğla or Aydın (~4 hrs, £15) — arrive in the evening and find a guesthouse harbour-side.
🚌Selçuk–Denizli £8; dolmuş to Pamukkale £1; Denizli/Muğla–Marmaris £15
🛏Guesthouse or hostel dorm in Marmaris (£15–25)
- →Pamukkale travertines
- →Hierapolis Roman ruins & theatre
- →Optional: Antique/thermal pool swim
Marmaris harbour & optional Rhodes ferry
Marmaris
Slow morning on Marmaris beach and a wander around the old bazaar and castle. Two options from here: (1) hop on the fast ferry/catamaran to Rhodes (approx 1 hr, £40–55 return, book direct with the operator at the harbour or online) for a day in the Greek island's old town — remember your passport and Schengen entry; or (2) stay put, hike the Marmaris–İçmeler coastal path and enjoy a final fish dinner. Extra nights in Marmaris are cheap enough to add a small beach stay before flying home from Dalaman (bus ~1 hr 45) or Bodrum.
🚌Ferry to Rhodes £40–55 return (optional); local bus to Dalaman airport £6
🛏Guesthouse or hostel dorm in Marmaris (£15–25)
- →Marmaris beach & harbour walk
- →Optional day trip to Rhodes by catamaran
- →Optional: Marmaris–İçmeler coastal walk
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£520 | £1,955 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,435 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£520
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 Istanbul to the Med: Self-Launched 7-Day Turkey & Rhodes Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £520 per person for 7 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 On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,955 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £520 — a saving of roughly £1,435 (73%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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, budget 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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