Best of Turkey with ANZAC day

08:30 Tour the beautiful city of Istanbul, beginning with the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome together in stunning grounds. Visit the Hagia Sophia and the Sultans treasure Topkapi Palace where history was born.

08:30 Begin today with a tour of the twin traditional markets Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. You will continue with a cruise of the Bosphorus, visiting Rumeli Fortress and Dolmabahce Palace and view both Asian and Europe side of the city.

The quiet streets of Istanbul welcome you, beginning at Taksim Square you will walk along Istiklal Street, passing Galata Tower you will come to Karakoy district with the tour ending at Galata Bridge and the view of the Bosphorus.

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

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.

07:30 Breakfast at the hotel

08:00 Depart on 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

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.

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

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.

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.

There will be plenty of time for swimming as we slowly make our way towards the charismatic town of Kas, renowned for its cobblestoned old town and artisan boutiques. You will have the option to go diving on its fascinating wrecks to explore the myriad of marine life, with Kas one of the best places to dive in Turkey. Alternatively, spend the afternoon wandering the charming streets and harbour of this seaside town before boarding your gulet again in the evening.

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.

10.30 am This morning you will disembark your gulet and travel to the ancient city of Olympos where your tour will end, with the option to book into one of its famous treehouse hotels.