Itinerary
20th April: Arrive in Istanbul
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.
21st April: Istanbul
Today you will begin with a visit to the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. After your time shopping, you will take a cruise along the Bosphorus, where you will experience the Rumeli Fortress and Dolmabahce Palace.
You will explore more of Istanbul by taking a relaxing walk along the quiet streets, beginning at Taksim Square you will walk along Istiklal Street to pass Galata Tower. Your time walking will bring you to Karakoy to end on Galata Bridge.
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
22nd April: Istanbul
08:30 Today you will tour the highlights of Istanbul. Staring off at the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome. The Hagia Sophia offers a look at two types of worship and a look into history followed by the Sultans treasure Topkapi Palace.
17:00 will see you travelling through the city back to your hotel for the end of your tour.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
23th April: Gallipoli
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 or Canakkale 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
24th April: Troy
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
25th April: ANZAC Day Dawn Service at ANZAC Cove
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 (picnic box)
26th April: Pergamon Acropolis tour
10:00 am – Pick up from Accommodation and depart for Bergama (Pergamum / Pergamon Ancient city)
Pergamon Tour: 13:00 – 17:30
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 Altar of Zeus
The 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
27th April: Ephesus, Selcuk
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
28th April: Pamukkale and Hierapolis
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.
21:00 This evening you will board a comfortable overnight bus for the journey to Cappadocia.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
29th April: Cappadocia
This morning you have the option to wake early for a sunrise hot air balloon tour (not included) to witness the magnificent landscapes of Cappadocia from above. This is a bucket list experience for many and not to be missed!
09.30 After breakfast back at the hotel, you will be picked up for a tour of the Cappadocia region, visiting the Underground City, Uchisar Castle and Cavusin Village. Enjoy a scenic walk through the Rose Valley and Pigeon Valley as you explore some of Cappadocia’s most breathtaking natural landmarks.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
30th April: South Cappadocia
Optional: Hot Air Balloon Flight
09.30 After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up for your final day in Cappadocia, visiting some of its oldest settlements and traditional villages. Shop for local handicrafts and spend time exploring the Goreme Open Air Museum, Monks Valley, Devrent Valley and Avanos.
20.00 This evening you will board an overnight bus bound for Istanbul.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
1st May: North Cappadocia
09:30 am – Pick up from accommodation in Cappadocia.
North Cappadocia Tour
Sights Visited: Goreme Esentepe for Panoramic View, Goreme Open Air Museum, Pasabag – Monks Valley, Devrent Valley,
Overnight Bus to Istanbul
20.00 – Tonight you will board an overnight bus bound for Istanbul.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
2nd May: Istanbul
09.00 You will arrive early into Istanbul this morning where your tour ends.
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
- 6 breakfasts and 6 lunches
- 3 nights accommodation in Istanbul
- 1 night accommodation in Gallipoli
- 2 nights accommodation in Selcuk
- 2 nights accommodation in Cappadocia
- Entrance fees per itinerary
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 30 Euros per person/per transfer.
Excluded
- Meals that are not specified on itinerary.
- Sleeping bags or blankets at commemorative site.