Tour Itinerary
5 DAYS BUDGET ANZAC DAY TOUR ITINERARY:
Day 1 - Istanbul Arrival Day - Sunday, 22nd April 2012
(Airport transfer from IST, welcome cocktail and ANZAC conference inclusive)
Welcome to Istanbul! We are waiting for you directly at the gate behind passport control / immigration at Ataturk International Airport (IST). Watch out for the TravelShop Turkey sign. Arrival airport transfer from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) can be arranged at additional expenses. Transfer to your 3 star hotel, you will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul until 6:00 pm
At 6:00 pm we will start our conference about ANZAC Dawn Service and Turkey (Duration approx 1 hour). The conference is held by ANZAC experts from Australia and New Zealand and by our professional Turkish ANZAC tour guides. Welcome cocktail, coffee, tea and snacks are included. You will meet your fellow ANZAC Day Gallipoli tour members and the TravelShop Turkey staff. We recommend you to arrange your international flights, to be at Ataturk airport in time and check-in your hotel prior our ANZAC conference starts.
Traditional 1001 Turkish nights departs optional from hotel lobby at 8:00 pm The show includes all meals, two local drinks, belly dancers, Anatolian Folklore groups, featuring popular instruments and Turkish singers. Return transfer to your hotel around midnight. Overnight Hamidiye Hotel in Istanbul.
Day 2 - Gallipoli Tour - Monday, 23rd April 2012
(Breakfast inclusive)
We depart for Gallipoli at 7:00am (4.5 hours distance). On the way we will watch the latest documentaries about the Gallipoli campaign. A stop will be provided on the way down for supplies.
We start our tour of the Gallipoli peninsula a little after midday. The Gallipoli tour includes the Kabatepe War Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine (Australias Memorial and Cemetery), Quinns Post, Turkish 57th Regiment Cemetery, the Nek and Chunuk Bair (New Zealands Memorial and Cemetery). Overnight at the famous ANZAC Hotel in Canakkale.
Day 3 - Troy Tour and ANZAC Cove - Tuesday, 24th April 2012
(Breakfast inclusive - BBQ buffet dinner optional)
The governments of Australia and New Zealand have announced that the Gallipoli peninsula will be closed on 24th April 2012 for safety and security purposes, cemeteries and memorials cannot be visited as in previous years. Therefore, we have visited the Gallipoli peninsula and done our guided Gallipoli tour yesterday already.
Today we will visit the ancient city of Troy, located on the other side of the Dardanelles (approx. 1 hour distance).
Troy is one of the most famous cities in the history, remembering us Hector, Achilles and Achaean Greeks, the sake of Helen, Paris, Agamemnon and Priam. Your guide will explain the mythology surrounding Troy, the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy.
After your guided Troy tour we drive to the coast of Gabatepe for our optional ANZAC BBQ and buffet dinner. At approx 9:30pm we depart to ANZAC Cove to get a good spot for the ANZAC Dawn Service. Overnight at ANZAC Cove Commemorative Site.
If you do not wish to stay outside at the ANZAC Commemorative Site overnight, we provide optional hotel accommodation at ANZAC hotel in Canakkale. This option is not available after your arrival in Turkey, pre-booking is required.
Day 4 - Dawn Service at Commemorative Site Gallipoli
Wednesday, 25th April 2012
Don't forget your warm clothes, sleeping bags, wet weather gear, torches, hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes because Gallipoli is still as cold and dark as it was 96 years ago! Optional we provide sleepings bags, please let us know at time of booking.
05:30-06:15 Dawn Service, ANZAC Commemorative Site, North Beach
10:00-10:45 Australian Memorial Service, Lone Pine
11:15-12:00 Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial Service
12:30-13:15 New Zealand Memorial Service, Chunuk Bair
After attending the ANZAC services, at approx 3:00 pm we will travel back to Istanbul (4.5 hours distance). Overnight Hamidiye Hotel in Istanbul.
Day 5 - Istanbul - End of ANZAC Tour - Thursday, 26th April 2012
(Breakfast inclusive)
After breakfast, check out from your hotel as we will not be back in time. Your luggage will be stored. We depart at 8:30am for your guided Istanbul city tour.
Topkapi Palace: Beginning from the Mehmed the Conqueror, the Topkapi Palace which was the official residential of the Ottoman Sultans until the Sultan Abdulmecid the thirty-first Sultan's time has been used as a center for the state administration, education and art of the Empire approximately 400 years. The palace is full of examples of Ottoman architecture and also contains large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as a display of Ottoman treasure and jewelry.
Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque: The mosque, built between 1609 and 1616, is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. With its six minarets and a great cascade of domes, the mosque is a worthy sibling to Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia). Pope Benedict XVI visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque on 30th November 2006 during his visit to Turkey. It marks only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship.
Hippodrome: Today the area is officially called Sultan Ahmet Square, and is carefully maintained by the Turkish authorities. The course of the old racetrack has been indicated with paving, although the actual track is some 2 m below the present surface. The surviving monuments of the Spina, the two obelisks and the Serpentine Column, now sit in holes in a landscaped garden. The German Fountain, an octagonal domed fountain in neo-Byzantine style, which was constructed by the German government in 1900 to mark the German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul in 1898, is located at the northern entrance to the Hippodrome area, right in front of the Blue Mosque.
Spice Bazaar: The Spice Bazaar, or Egyptian Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars in the city. Located in Eminonu, it is the second largest covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar. The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.
Please make your own arrangements for departure transfers or simply ask TravelShop Turkey staff.
We hope you had a memorable ANZAC day tour and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another TravelShop Turkey Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Turkey.
5 DAYS BUDGET ANZAC DAY TOUR INCLUDES:
Arrival airport transfer between 8:00am and 11:00 pm (every two hours)
Welcome Cocktail
ANZAC Conference in Istanbul
A range of Gallipoli documentaries
2 nights at Hamidiye hotel in Istanbul
1 night at ANZAC hotel in Canakkale
3 breakfasts
Guided Istanbul City Tour
Guided Gallipoli Tour
Guided Troy Tour
Dawn and National Services (Australian & New Zealand)
Professional English-speaking tour guides
Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
Travel insurance according to TURSAB law 1618
NEW: Due to a change in the law no 1618 regulation of Turkish Travel Agencies Association, a travel insurance became obligatory. When you book your ANZAC Day tour, your insurance will be arranged and send to you via email. Please note that this insurance is different from the one you have in your country and we advise you to arrange your own travel insurance additionally.
5 DAYS BUDGET ANZAC DAY TOUR PRICES IN EURO:
Per Person
3 Star Hotel
Shared Double € 359.00
Single € 459.00
