Patterns of Turkey — Self-Launched 13-Day Loop from Istanbul
13 days · Turkey
Tour Altinkum Travel charges £1,905
No-markup version: ~£905 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Tour Altinkum's 13-day "Patterns of Turkey" loop: Istanbul's Sultanahmet highlights and a Bosphorus ferry, a domestic flight to Cappadocia for valleys, cave churches and underground cities, an overnight bus west to Antalya, then Pamukkale's white terraces, Ephesus and Kuşadası, and a bus down the Aegean coast to Bodrum before flying back to Istanbul. You book your own hostel/guesthouse beds, use Turkey's excellent intercity buses and cheap domestic flights, and join small-group day tours or go independently at each site. Costs are backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Istanbul — settle into Sultanahmet
Istanbul
Fly into Istanbul (IST or SAW). Take the Havaist airport bus to Sultanahmet/Sirkeci (roughly £3-4, 60-90 mins) or the M11 metro + Marmaray combination for a couple of pounds. Check into a hostel or small guesthouse in Sultanahmet or Kadıköy — Sultanahmet puts you walking distance from the big sights. Spend the evening wandering the Hippodrome square and grabbing a cheap dinner (balık ekmek, pide, or a lokanta plate for £4-6). Buy an Istanbulkart transport card from a kiosk (about £3 deposit, then top up).
🚌Havaist airport bus ~£3.50; Istanbulkart ~£3 deposit
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Sultanahmet/Kadıköy (~£15-20)
- →Hippodrome square evening stroll
- →Balık ekmek / lokanta dinner
- →Istanbulkart setup
Sultanahmet big hitters on foot
Istanbul
Do the classic old-city circuit yourself, starting early to beat queues. Blue Mosque is free; Hagia Sophia has an entry fee (roughly £22 for the upper gallery/museum area — check current pricing); Topkapı Palace is around £30 with the Harem. The Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar are free to walk. A self-guided audio guide or a small-group walking tour via GetYourGuide (£25-35) can add context if you want it. Lunch at a local esnaf lokantası (£4-6). Finish with çay and baklava in the bazaar.
🚌Walking; tram single ~£0.60 with Istanbulkart
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Sultanahmet (~£15-20)
- →Blue Mosque (free)
- →Hagia Sophia (~£22)
- →Topkapı Palace (~£30)
- →Grand Bazaar & Hippodrome (free)
- →Optional GetYourGuide old-city walking tour ~£30
Spice Bazaar and public Bosphorus ferry
Istanbul
Morning at the Spice Bazaar (free) and Eminönü waterfront. Instead of a private cruise, take the public Şehir Hatları Bosphorus ferry (the short tourist loop from Eminönü is around £2-4, or the full-length Anadolu Kavağı run for a few pounds) — you get the same views of Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Fortress and Yıldız Palace from the water for pocket change. Evening: fly to Kayseri or Nevşehir with Turkish Airlines/Pegasus/AnadoluJet (book early, £25-45 one way). Hostel-arranged or airport shuttle transfer to Göreme (£5-8).
🚌Public Bosphorus ferry ~£3; domestic flight IST/SAW–ASR/NAV ~£25-45; Göreme shuttle ~£6
🛏Cave-style guesthouse or hostel in Göreme (~£18-25)
- →Spice Bazaar
- →Şehir Hatları Bosphorus ferry
- →Evening flight to Cappadocia
Cappadocia red route: Rose Valley, Çavuşin, underground city
Göreme / Cappadocia
Either hire a scooter/bike or use the local dolmuş network, or join a small-group Red Tour via GetYourGuide/Klook (£30-40 including transport and lunch). Highlights: Rose Valley and Red Valley sunset viewpoints, Çavuşin village and its rock-cut churches, Pigeon Valley, and Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu underground city (entry ~£5-8 each). If you're going solo, the Göreme Open Air Museum area plus a hike from Göreme to Çavuşin via Rose Valley is free apart from museum tickets. Dinner in Göreme village testi kebab (£7-10).
🚌Dolmuş ~£0.80-1.50 per ride, or small-group tour transport included
🛏Cave-style guesthouse or hostel in Göreme (~£18-25)
- →Rose & Red Valley viewpoints
- →Çavuşin rock churches
- →Pigeon Valley walk
- →Kaymaklı/Derinkuyu underground city (~£6)
- →Optional small-group Red Tour ~£35
Göreme Open Air Museum, Devrent, Paşabağ, Avanos pottery
Göreme / Cappadocia
Sunrise optional: hot air balloon flights book direct with operators or through GetYourGuide for roughly £130-170 — the single biggest optional splurge, and worth booking ahead in peak season. Afterwards, Göreme Open Air Museum (£8-10) with its frescoed rock churches, then Devrent (Imagination) Valley and Paşabağ/Monks Valley fairy chimneys (small entry fee). Walk or dolmuş to Avanos for a pottery workshop — many ateliers offer free or £5-10 demonstrations where you can throw a pot on the kick wheel. Finish at Göreme panorama and Uçhisar castle (entry ~£4).
🚌Dolmuş/hitch-hike between valleys ~£2-4 total
🛏Cave-style guesthouse or hostel in Göreme (~£18-25)
- →Göreme Open Air Museum (~£9)
- →Devrent Valley & Paşabağ (~£3)
- →Avanos pottery workshop (~£7)
- →Uçhisar Castle (~£4)
- →Optional hot air balloon ~£130-170
Overnight bus Cappadocia to Antalya
Cappadocia → Antalya
Slow morning in Göreme: breakfast, a last wander, maybe a hammam or a Turkish coffee. Take an afternoon dolmuş to Nevşehir otogar, then an overnight intercity bus to Antalya (Süha/Nevşehir Seyahat/Metro, roughly 9-10 hours, £18-25). Metro Turizm and Kamil Koç both run comfortable reclining-seat coaches with wifi and tea service. You'll arrive Antalya early morning; check in to a Kaleiçi (old town) hostel and nap.
🚌Dolmuş to Nevşehir ~£2; overnight coach to Antalya ~£20
🛏Overnight bus, then Kaleiçi hostel/pension (~£15-20)
- →Hammam or Turkish coffee morning
- →Nevşehir otogar bus
- →Arrive Antalya Kaleiçi
Antalya old town, harbour and waterfalls
Antalya
Free day in Antalya. Wander Kaleiçi's cobbled lanes, Hadrian's Gate, the old harbour and the Roman fortifications; the Antalya Museum (£5-7) is excellent for regional archaeology. Take the tram or a local bus to Düden or Karpuzkaldıran waterfalls (entry ~£2-3). Swim off Konyaaltı or Lara beach (free). Optional boat trip around the bay (£15-20) or a day trip to Termessos/Perge via local bus. Cheap eats: Antalya piyaz, seafood at the harbour market, or a £5 pide.
🚌Tram/local bus ~£2 total
🛏Kaleiçi hostel/pension (~£15-20)
- →Kaleiçi old town & Hadrian's Gate
- →Antalya Museum (~£6)
- →Düden Waterfalls (~£3)
- →Optional bay boat trip ~£18
Bus to Pamukkale — terraces, Hierapolis and the Sacred Pool
Pamukkale → Kuşadası
Early intercity bus from Antalya otogar to Denizli (about 3.5-4 hours, £8-12), then dolmuş up to Pamukkale village (£1). Entry to the Pamukkale/Hierapolis site is around £12-15; walk the travertine terraces barefoot (bring a bag for shoes), explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, its theatre and necropolis, and optionally swim in the Antique Pool/Sacred Pool with sunken Roman columns (~£10-12). Late afternoon bus from Denizli to Kuşadası via Aydın (2.5-3 hours, £7-10). Check into a guesthouse near the seafront.
🚌Antalya–Denizli coach ~£10; dolmuş ~£1; Denizli–Kuşadası coach ~£8
🛏Kuşadası guesthouse/budget hotel near the seafront (~£18-25)
- →Pamukkale travertine terraces
- →Hierapolis ruins & theatre
- →Optional Antique Pool swim ~£11
Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary and Temple of Artemis
Kuşadası / Selçuk
Take a dolmuş from Kuşadası to Selçuk (£1.50, 30 mins) — far cheaper than a tour. Ephesus entry is roughly £15-18; the House of the Virgin Mary on Nightingale Hill is a separate ~£5. Rent the audio guide or join a small-group Ephesus tour from Kuşadası via GetYourGuide (£30-45 including entry and transfers) if you want the stories. See the Temple of Artemis remains, the Terrace Houses (small supplement) and the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk. Dolmuş back; evening meze and raki by the Kuşadası marina.
🚌Dolmuş Kuşadası–Selçuk ~£1.50 each way
🛏Kuşadası guesthouse/budget hotel (~£18-25)
- →Ancient Ephesus (~£16)
- →House of the Virgin Mary (~£5)
- →Temple of Artemis & Ephesus Museum
- →Optional small-group Ephesus tour ~£35
Coast bus to Bodrum
Kuşadası → Bodrum
Morning coach or dolmuş connection from Kuşadası to Bodrum (about 3-3.5 hours, £8-12, often via Söke or Aydın). Bodrum is a whitewashed harbour town with a compact old town. Check into a hostel or pensiyon in or near the bazaar quarter rather than an out-of-town resort. Afternoon: walk the marina, the Myndos Gate and the old streets, and swim off one of the small town beaches or take a dolmuş to Bitez/Gümbet (£1-2).
🚌Intercity coach Kuşadası–Bodrum ~£10; local dolmuş ~£2
🛏Bodrum pensiyon/hostel in the old town (~£20-28)
- →Bodrum marina & old town
- →Myndos Gate
- →Bitez/Gümbet beach swim
Bodrum Castle and a boat day
Bodrum
Bodrum Castle (Castle of St Peter) houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology — entry around £12-15, and genuinely one of Turkey's best small museums. Alternatively, join a full-day Blue Cruise on a traditional gulet from Bodrum harbour (£20-30 including lunch) for coves and swimming stops. Evenings: seafood at the bazaar, or a cheap dürüm. If you're in town in late October, check for the Bodrum Cup or local festival dates.
🚌Walking; optional dolmuş ~£1
🛏Bodrum pensiyon/hostel (~£20-28)
- →Bodrum Castle & Museum of Underwater Archaeology (~£13)
- →Optional gulet Blue Cruise ~£25
- →Bodrum bazaar & seafood dinner
Fly Bodrum to Istanbul
Bodrum → Istanbul
Morning swim or last coffee, then the Havaş shuttle from Bodrum otogar to Milas-Bodrum Airport (about 40 mins, £3-4). Fly to Istanbul SAW or IST (Turkish Airlines/Pegasus/AJet, £25-45 one way if booked ahead). Take the Havaist bus or metro back into the city and check into a hostel for your final night — Kadıköy makes a fun change of scene with its bars and food streets, or stay in Sultanahmet for convenience. Evening: rooftop çay, a final meze dinner, maybe a whirling dervish show or a Bosphorus sunset ferry (£1-2 with Istanbulkart).
🚌Havaş to Milas airport ~£4; domestic flight ~£25-45; Havaist into Istanbul ~£3.50
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Istanbul (~£15-22)
- →Milas-Bodrum airport transfer
- →Domestic flight to Istanbul
- →Kadıköy food streets or Bosphorus sunset ferry
Last morning in Istanbul and departure
Istanbul
Depending on flight time: Basilica Cistern (~£10-12 — the one sight the tour reviews wished had been included), Süleymaniye Mosque and its view terrace (free), the Fener/Balat neighbourhoods, or a final simit-and-cheese breakfast. Then Havaist bus or metro to IST/SAW for your international flight home.
🚌Havaist airport bus ~£3.50 or M11+Marmaray ~£2
🛏—
- →Basilica Cistern (~£11)
- →Süleymaniye Mosque & Balat walk
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Tour Altinkum Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Tour Altinkum Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£905 | £1,905 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,000 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Tour Altinkum Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£905
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Patterns of Turkey — Self-Launched 13-Day Loop from Istanbul cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £905 per person for 13 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 Tour Altinkum Travel?+
Yes — Tour Altinkum Travel charges around £1,905 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £905 — a saving of roughly £1,000 (52%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 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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