Self-Launched Seven Wonders of Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale & Cappadocia
8 days · Turkey
Turkey Tour Booking charges £1,220
No-markup version: ~£560 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Turkey Tour Booking's 8-day Seven Wonders tour, hitting Istanbul's Ottoman and Byzantine highlights, Ephesus, Pamukkale/Hierapolis and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Instead of a partially guided group tour with private transfers and domestic flights, you'll use Turkey's excellent intercity buses and one cheap domestic flight, join small-group day tours bookable on GetYourGuide/Klook for the archaeology-heavy bits, and stay in hostels and family-run cave guesthouses. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume shared dorm or basic double rooms.
Day-by-day
Arrive Istanbul – Sultanahmet on foot
Istanbul
Fly into Istanbul Airport (IST) and take the Havaist bus to Sultanahmet (about £4, 60-90 min) or the Metro to Yenikapı plus tram. Check into a hostel in Sultanahmet or Karaköy. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Hippodrome square and the exterior of the Blue Mosque, then eat a cheap dinner of balık ekmek (fish sandwich) or a meyhane meal in Kumkapı. Optional evening: a Bosphorus sunset ferry on the public Şehir Hatları line from Eminönü (about £1.50) — far cheaper than the tour's dinner cruise.
🚌Havaist airport bus ~£4; Istanbulkart loaded with ~£8 credit for trams/ferries
🛏Hostel dorm in Sultanahmet/Karaköy, £12-18
- →Hippodrome Square (free)
- →Blue Mosque exterior and courtyard (free)
- →Public Bosphorus ferry sunset ride
Ottoman & Byzantine Istanbul self-launched walking day
Istanbul
Do the tour's guided day independently. Start at Hagia Sophia at opening (book a timed ticket online via the official muze.gov.tr portal, ~£22). Cross to Topkapı Palace (combined ticket ~£35 including the Harem — worth it). Walk to the Blue Mosque for interior visits outside prayer times (free), then into the Grand Bazaar for lunch and bargaining. Finish with the Basilica Cistern (~£13) if time allows. A licensed guide isn't needed but a GetYourGuide audio/small-group tour (~£30) is a good substitute if you want context.
🚌Tram T1 between stops ~£1 per ride; most of the day is walkable
🛏Hostel dorm in Sultanahmet/Karaköy, £12-18
- →Hagia Sophia entry
- →Topkapı Palace + Harem
- →Blue Mosque
- →Grand Bazaar
- →Basilica Cistern (optional)
Overnight bus to Selçuk – Ephesus & the House of the Virgin Mary
Selçuk / Kuşadası
Take an evening intercity bus from Istanbul's Esenler or Alibeyköy otogar to Selçuk (about £20-25, 10-11 hours, Pamukkale or Kamil Koç). Alternatively, fly Istanbul-İzmir with Pegasus/AJet (~£25-35) and take the İzmir-Selçuk train (~£2.50). Base yourself in Selçuk rather than Kuşadası — it's cheaper and walkable to Ephesus. Join a GetYourGuide half-day Ephesus small-group tour (~£35-45) covering the Odeon, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian and Arcadian Way, with a stop at the House of the Virgin Mary (~£10 entry) and the Temple of Artemis (free).
🚌Overnight intercity bus Istanbul–Selçuk ~£22 (or flight + train ~£30)
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Selçuk, £15-20
- →Guided Ephesus small-group tour
- →House of the Virgin Mary
- →Temple of Artemis
- →Isa Bey Mosque (free)
Pamukkale & Hierapolis day trip
Pamukkale / Selçuk
Take the morning dolmuş or local bus from Selçuk otogar to Denizli/Pamukkale (~£4, 2.5-3 hours). Walk the white travertine terraces and explore Hierapolis' theatre, Roman baths and necropolis on the same ticket (~£22). Bring a swimsuit for the Antique Pools (Cleopatra's Pool) if you fancy it — extra ~£12. Late afternoon bus back to Selçuk (~£4). Cheaper and more flexible than staying in Pamukkale overnight, though a night in Pamukkale village (~£20) works if you'd rather catch sunrise on the terraces.
🚌Local bus Selçuk–Pamukkale return ~£8
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Selçuk, £15-20
- →Pamukkale travertines entry
- →Hierapolis ancient city
- →Antique Pools swim (optional)
Travel day: Selçuk to Cappadocia via Konya or flight
Cappadocia (Göreme)
The scenic option: bus Selçuk–Konya (~£10, 3.5 hrs), a few hours to see the Mevlana Museum (~£4) and eat Konya's famous etli ekmek, then overnight bus Konya–Göreme (~£12, 7 hrs, arriving early morning). The fast option: bus to İzmir and fly İzmir–Kayseri with Pegasus/AJet (~£30-40), then the airport shuttle to Göreme (~£5). Check into a cave hostel in Göreme (~£15-20 per dorm night).
🚌Bus Selçuk–Konya–Göreme ~£22 (or flight route ~£40)
🛏Cave hostel dorm in Göreme, £15-20
- →Mevlana Museum, Konya (optional stop)
- →Göreme village sunset viewpoint (free)
North Cappadocia: Devrent, Paşabağ, Avanos & Göreme Open-Air Museum
Cappadocia (Göreme)
Join a bookable Red/North Cappadocia small-group day tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£30-35 including lunch) covering Devrent Valley's fairy chimneys, Paşabağ Monk's Valley, Avanos pottery workshops, Göreme Open-Air Museum (~£8 entry, sometimes included) and Uçhisar Castle viewpoint. If you want the hot-air balloon, book direct with a licensed operator (e.g. via GetYourGuide, ~£130-160 for standard flights) — it's the single biggest optional splurge and needs booking a few days ahead.
🚌Included in day tour pickup
🛏Cave hostel dorm in Göreme, £15-20
- →North Cappadocia small-group tour
- →Göreme Open-Air Museum
- →Uçhisar Castle
- →Hot-air balloon flight (optional extra)
Rose & Red Valley hike and underground city
Cappadocia (Göreme)
Do the tour's hiking day independently: catch the local dolmuş from Göreme to Çavuşin (~£1) and walk the marked 5km Rose/Red Valley trail past rock-cut churches back toward Göreme (free, 3-4 hrs, bring water). In the afternoon take a dolmuş to Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu underground city (~£2 each way, ~£5 entry) — Kaymaklı is the deeper, quieter choice. Finish with çay and gözleme in Göreme and watch the sunset from the Kızılçukur viewpoint.
🚌Local dolmuşes ~£4 total
🛏Cave hostel dorm in Göreme, £15-20
- →Rose/Red Valley self-guided hike
- →Çavuşin village
- →Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu underground city
- →Kızılçukur sunset viewpoint
Cappadocia to Istanbul and home
Cappadocia / Istanbul
Depending on your flight home, either fly Kayseri–Istanbul (IST or SAW, ~£30-45 with Pegasus/AJet, plus ~£5 shuttle) or take the long-distance bus to Istanbul (~£22, 11-12 hrs) if you're on a tight budget and not time-pressed. Allow 3+ hours between domestic arrival and your international departure.
🚌Kayseri/Nevşehir airport shuttle ~£5 + domestic flight ~£35 (or bus ~£22)
🛏—
- →Early-morning balloon viewing from Göreme (free)
- →Souvenir shopping in Göreme
Self-launched vs. Turkey Tour Booking
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Turkey Tour Booking | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£560 | £1,220 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £660 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Turkey Tour Booking-style trips? Check them out here.~£560
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 Self-Launched Seven Wonders of Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale & Cappadocia cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £560 per person for 8 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 Turkey Tour Booking?+
Yes — Turkey Tour Booking charges around £1,220 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £560 — a saving of roughly £660 (54%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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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