Highlights of Turkey: 18-Day ANZAC Day, Gulet Cruise & Exploration

Highlights of Turkey with ANZAC Day; 18 days Anzac day tour from Istanbul include Anzac Day Dawn Service, and Gallipoli, Troy, Pergammon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Fethiye, Gulet cruise, Olympos, Cappadocia, Istanbul

Uncover the fascinating history and spectacular natural beauty of Turkey on this 18-days Anzac tour from Istanbul. Attend the Dawn Service at Gallipoli honouring the Australian, New Zealand and Turkish soldiers who fought here during World War I before touring the battlefields, memorials and cemeteries of the peninsula. Visit the legendary city of Troy and witness one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World at Ephesus, together with the breathtaking travertine terraces of Pamukkale. You’ll have the opportunity to relax onboard a traditional gulet as you cruise along the Turkish Riviera, as well as go walking amidst the surreal natural landmarks of Cappadocia.

Itinerary

You will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your accommodation in Istanbul, with the afternoon and evening free to explore at your leisure.

08:30 Today will see you begin your tour with a visit to the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. Followed by a cruise on the Bosphorus where you will stop at Rumeli Fortress and Dolmabahce Palace while experiencing Istanbul from a new perspective.

A walking tour takes you to the quieter streets of Istanbul. Begin at the famous Taksim Square where you walk along Istiklal Street passing Galata Tower. Karakoy waterfront district leads onto Galata Bridge where your tour will end with a view of Istanbul.

Important: Lunch is not included this day as there are a wide variety of food vendors to choose from as you tour the city.

Meals included: Breakfast

08:30 Today you will tour Istanbul visiting some of the best highlights. Start with the Blue Mosque and Hippodromes set in beautiful grounds. Head to Hagia Sophia and the popular Topkapi Palace.

During the tour you will stop for lunch, returning to your hotel to end the tour at 17:00

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

06.30 – 07.00 You will be picked up from your accommodation and depart for Eceabat

12.00 Arrive in Eceabat and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

13.00 Depart on a fully-guided Gallipoli tour to visit Brighton Beach and its cemetery, as well as the ANZAC Commemorative Site and the Respect to Mehmetcik Statue. Stop at the Ariburnu Cemetery in ANZAC Cove and the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, then visit the Allied and Turkish trenches at Johnston’s Jolly. We will also visit the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial and the Turkish 57. Infantry Regiment Cemetery at The Nek.

18.00 Check in to your Eceabat hotel where we will spend the night, with free time in the evening to have dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Meals included: Lunch

07:30 Breakfast at the hotel

08:00 Depart for a fully-guided tour of Troy, exploring the 3,700-year-old city walls, the Houses of Troy and the Sacrificial Altars. Admire the Bouleuterion (Senate Building) and the Odeon (Concert Hall) and uncover the mystery of the Trojan Horse.

20:00 Depart for our sleep-out at the Anzac Commemorative Site where the Dawn Service will take place.

Meals included: Breakfast

05:30 Dawn Service (breakfast box provided)

10:00 Australian National Ceremony at Lone Pine where one of the most famous battles of the Gallipoli campaign took place between the Anzacs and Turkish forces.

11:45 New Zealand National Ceremony at Chunuk Bair where a memorial and ceremony honours those who lost their lives in the battle here.

Transfer back to Eceabat and depart for Selcuk where you will spend the night.

Meals included: Breakfast

10:00 am – Pick up from Accommodation and depart for Bergama (Pergamum / Pergamon Ancient city)

13:30 pm – Lunch in Bergama & depart for Fully guided Pergamon Acropolis tour

Visiting
– The Acropolis
– The ancient Library of Pergamom, which once held over 200.000 books
– The Temple of Athena,
– the Alter of Zeus
– Gymnasium situated on terraces
– The lower Agora
– The Hellenistic Theater with a seating capacity of 10,000
– Temple of Dionysus (god of wine)

17:30 pm – End of the tour & depart for Selcuk / Kusadasi

20:30 pm – Arrive at your hotel in Selcuk

21:30 pm – Arrive at your hotel in Kusadasi

Overnight in Ephesus region. (Selcuk or Kusadasi)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

8.30 You will be picked up from your accommodation to explore the wonders of Selcuk, including one of the most beautifully preserved ancient cities in the world at Ephesus. Dating to the 10th century BC, it includes the famous Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), the Library of Celsus and one of the most advanced aqueduct systems in the ancient world. Visit the Temple of Hadrian and the Terraced Houses, then stop at the House of the Virgin Mary where the Mother of Christ is believed to have lived her final days.

Overnight in Selcuk

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

08.30 You will be picked up from your accommodation to visit the spectacular travertine terraces of Pamukkale, which cascade down a hill below the ancient Roman ruins of Hierapolis. Enjoy a guided tour of this natural wonder and the historical streets of the Roman spa town, with the option to bathe in the mineral-rich, therapeutic waters.

We will then continue our journey to the picturesque seaside town of Fethiye where you will spend the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

09.45 After breakfast, you will be picked up from your accommodation in Fethiye   and board one of our Alaturka Gulets to begin a four-day cruise along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline. Explore Butterfly Valley and the Oludeniz Lagoon, then watch an incredible sunset while anchored at St. Nicholas Island.

You will also have the option to go paragliding (not included) from Mount Baba Dag that sits high above Oludeniz Beach and boasts magnificent views of the lagoon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we will explore the sunken ruins of Kekova Island that have been left semi-submerged after a devastating earthquake centuries ago. Wander the island’s Lycian tombs and visit Simena Castle for magnificent views of the coastline.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

10.30 am This morning you will disembark your Gulet and travel to the ancient city of Olympos to explore its ruins or go swimming at the beach. In the evening there will be the option to visit the eternal flames at Chimaera.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

10:30 am – Today you farewell your gulet and head onto Olympos by bus.

Here, you enter the National Park where you can explore the ruins of ancient times as you make your way down to the beach for some more sun and swimming.

Overnight Olympos.

Today you get a free day to relax, soak up some more sunshine and have one last swim in the Mediterranean before boarding your overnight bus bound for the Cappadocia region.

7:00 pm – You will leave Olympos in the early evening to meet the overnight bus in Antalya, that will take you directly to Goreme.
10:00 pm – Tonight you will board an overnight bus bound for Cappadocia.

Overnight bus to Cappadocia

This morning you arrive at the unusual and breathtaking scenery of Cappadocia.

Once you check in to your Cave Hotel, you can relax for the day or catch up on some sleep.

OPTIONAL TOUR: ATV (QUAD) BIKE SAFARI.

If you love Adventure and want to see Cappadocia from a different perspective then our fully guided Quad Safari is suited to you. Ride on a sturdy ATV (quad) bike and experience this landscape in a completely different way. Our Safari starts at approximately 5:00 pm a great opportunity to see an amazing view of this ancient valley.

Overnight in Cappadocia

– Early Morning –
OPTIONAL TOUR: CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT
This morning the optional extra of hot air ballooning is on offer. An experience not to miss and to ensure you budget for. You will be picked up just before sunset and taken out to the launch site in time to rise into the air whilst watching the sunrise over one of the most breathtaking sceneries you will ever witness in your life. A once in a lifetime experience and one that is on many people’s bucket lists. Be sure to tick it off yours too.

09:30 am – Pick up from accommodation in Cappadocia.

South Cappadocia Tour
Today you will be picked up from your accommodation after breakfast, to start exploring parts of the Cappadocia region. The highlights of the day will include, Underground City, Pigeon Valley, Uchisar Castle, Cavusin Village, and a beautiful stroll through the Rose Valley to name a few. The day is full of some of the most beautiful sites to see in Cappadocia. There is also a 4 km trek from Mskendir Valley, Rose Valley to Red Valley.

– Evening –
OPTIONAL TOUR: TURKISH NIGHT SHOW & DINNER.
Tonight’s tour is a special evening organized so that you experience Turkish Culture and Traditions you will also be able to relax after your day sightseeing in Cappadocia. You will be picked up from your hotel in the evening and taken to a cave restaurant in the center of Cappadocia, for a night you will never forget.

Overnight Cappadocia

09:30 am – Pick up from accommodation in Cappadocia.

North Cappadocia Tour
You have one more day in this spectacular region to soak up the rest of the sites to see. Today you will be picked up from your accommodation and get to visit some of the oldest settlements in the Cappadocia region. You will visit some small villages, take in some local handicrafts, and also get to soak up the natural wonders and visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, Monks Valley, Devrent Valley, and Avanos.

9:00 pm – Tonight you will board an overnight bus bound for Istanbul.

Overnight bus to Istanbul

09:00 am – You arrive early in Istanbul this morning where the tour ends. If you require any assistance with onward travel within Turkey, accommodation bookings, or have any queries, please let us know & we will be happy to assist.

End Of Tour.

Accommodation

Our accommodation is carefully selected to ensure the most comfortable experience for our guests, as well as immersing them in the local culture. Many of our itineraries include unique homestay experiences, allowing you to connect with local families and enjoy traditional Turkish home-cooked meals.

We offer two different accommodation styles for you to select from:

Original
Standard tourist-class hotels with local guesthouses and homestay experiences on some itineraries.

Comfort
Comfortable hotels designed with local characteristics and private amenities, with some itineraries including homestay experiences.

Included

  • Transfers from Ataturk International Airport on arrival
  • Dawn Service, Australian and New Zealand Ceremonies
  • Guided tour of Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus and Pamukkale
  • All transportation in A/C non-smoking buses
  • 13 breakfasts 10 lunches and 3 dinners
  • 3 nights accommodation in Istanbul
  • 2 night accommodation in Gallipoli
  • 2 nights accommodation in Ephesus
  • 1 night accommodation in Fethiye
  • 3 nights accommodation onboard a Gulet cruise
  • 1 nights accommodation in Olympos
  • 2 nights accommodation in Cappadocia
  • 2 overnight buses
  • Entrance fees per itinerary (Except sights during Gulet cruise)
  • Sail Turkey: 4-day Gulet cruise (non-guided)

Please note that the airport transfers are for Istanbul International Airport only. If you are flying into Sabiha Gokcen Airport, there will be an additional charge of 60 Euros per person/per transfer.

Excluded

  • Meals that are not specified on itinerary.
  • Sleeping bags or blankets at commemorative site
  • Entrance fees to sights during Gulet cruise

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

This contact form is deactivated because you refused to accept Google reCaptcha service which is necessary to validate any messages sent by the form.

© Copyright Anzac Day Tours 2025 - 2026. All rights reserved.
AnzacDay.Tours is a proud part of SAILNSTAY family of brands