8 DAY ANZAC DAY TOUR
The eight day Anzac tour is ideal for those people who have enough time to attend the Anzac Day Commemorations and get a really good taste of what Turkey has to offer!
This tour ends in Kusadasi. The Greek Islands are near!
Start Date: Tuesday 21/04/2009
Finish Date: Tuesday 28/04/2009
Start: Istanbul
Finish: Kusadasi
Places Visited: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Anzac Cove, Edremit, Pergamon, Ephesus, Kusadasi
Duration: 8 Days
Price: Double - Triple: 309.00 Pound - PP | Single: 379.00 Pound - PP
"If you are
travelling alone and would prefer to pay the lower rate, then we can match you up with someone of the same gender to share a twin/triple room during the tour (Subject to Availability). For pre & post accommodation only single rooms available."
Day One: Tuesday 21st April
Arrival in Istanbul
Arrival in to Istanbul. Welcome to Turkey!
Fee transfer from Ataturk Airport between 08:00 - 24:00. Check into your 3 star hotel. Meeting at 19:00 information about the tour and welcome drink.
Note: Paid airport transfers from Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul on the 21st April are also available. For customers arriving on the Easy Jet Flight from London Luton we can meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for £15 per person.
Important Note: Please provide your full arrival flight details (full flight details including airline name, flight number, terminal number, arrival time) no later than the 7th April 2009 if you wish to use our free airport transfer service. If you do not provide these then we cannot guarantee an airport transfer.
Day Two: Wednesday 22nd April
Guided Tour of Istanbul
Breakfast included.
This morning we partake in a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents.
TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.
HAGIA SOPHIA One of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed under Emperor Justinianus in the 6th century as a basilica. Later a church, a mosque and finally a museum.
SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine.
The rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul or you can join us on the optional Bosphorus Cruise at 14:30 or/and the Turkish Night at 19:30. There is also an optional Anzac Party that starts at 21:00!
Day Three: Thursday 23rd April
Istanbul – Guided Tour of Gallipoli
Breakfast and dinner included.
After an early breakfast we depart to Gallipoli (4.5 hrs drive) and stop under the way to pick up supplies for lunch. On the way we will have the chance to watch the latest documentary on the Gallipoli Campaign.
In Gallipoli we will have a fully guided tour : the Kabatepe War Museum, Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, The Nek and the Chunuk Bair War memorial.
Exploring the peninsular is a real highlight of the tour and we will be one of the first groups to arrive here as the other travel companies arrive on 24th April only!
In the evening we head to our luxurious accommodation in Edremit. An open buffet dinner is included!
Day Four: Friday 24th April
Relax
Breakfast and dinner included.
Sleep in today and enjoy a full breakfast. Then the day is yours : activities offered at this resort include swimming in the outdoor pool, relaxing at the beach, playing football, tennis, basketball, volleyball or just strolling around the gardens and parks.
Plenty of rest today as ANZAC Day will be a long night and day!
We enjoy another open buffet dinner before heading to Anzac Cove to get a good spot for the Dawn Service.
Day Five: Saturday 25th April
ANZAC Day (Gallipoli to Istanbul)
Lunchbox and dinner included.
At first light the Dawn Service starts, a truly moving experience.
After the Dawn Service you have the option to walk up to the memorial sites.
04:30 Dawn Service.
10:30 Australian National service.
11.45 Turkish National Service.
13:00 New Zealand National service.
After the NZ service you will be collected from either Lone Pine or Chunuk Bair. We bus back to our hotel in Edremit.
Day Six: Sunday 26th April
Pergamon – Kusadasi
Breakfast and dinner included.
Today we depart for Bergama where your guide will show you around the Acropolis Ruins of the ancient Greek City of Pergamon. There will be time for a lunch break before we continue on the way to the seaside town of Kusadasi. As this area boasts a reputation as one of the most important carpet weaving regions we will stop at Selçuk for a demonstration of this ancient and traditional craft. After you have checked in to your Kusadasi hotel you may have an optional traditional Turkish bath to be washed and massaged by a pair of expert hands and the rest of the day is yours to relax.
Day Seven: Monday 27th April
Visit to Ephesus Ruins & Village of Sirince
Breakfast and dinner included.
Today we will visit one of the best-preserved ruins in the world.... Ephesus. First we will visit the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world where your guide will explain to you the significance of this important site. Following this we will make our way to Ephesus which was one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient word. We will visit the Ephesus ruins, Odeon, Celcus Library and the Theatre which is still in use today for concerts and has an amazing capacity of 25,000. As we walk through this ancient site you will notice the streets paved with marble which gives a hint to this city's great wealth many years ago. Then we will drive to the scenic mountain side Village of Sirince and we will visit the Antique Church, Mosque and Typical Turkish Houses. Sirince is very popular for its style of building, streets and hand made fruit wines and is a nice relaxing way to finish your day. After the tour, we will stop at Selcuk for a fashion parade and information on Turkey's famous leather production.
Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Day Eight: Tuesday 28th April
End of Tour
Breakfast included.
After breakfast our tour finishes and we bid farewell to our new found friends. Wherever you are heading to next, you will take unforgettable memories and a new understanding of this country that plays such an important part in your history. If you would like us to arrange your onward travel from Kusadasi or ferries to Samos then V-GO Travel can assist you with this so please let us know at time of booking.
We hope that your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another V-GO Turkey Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing V-GO Travel Turkey!
Important Note
Please bring a day pack for the stay at Anzac Cove and the next day in Gallipoli and leave your main luggage in your room in Edremit.
Please note that Gallipoli is still as dark and as cold today as it was years ago when your ancestors landed.
We suggest that you bring sleeping bags, blankets and warm clothes and even wet weather gear in the event that it rains. You might also bring a torch.
Tour Includes:
Airport transfer from Ataturk Airport 23/04/09 between 08:00-24:00.
Accommodation:
2 X Night Istanbul (3 Star), 3 X Night Edremit (4 Star) + Anzac Cove, 2 X Night Kusadasi (3 Star)
Meals:
6 X Breakfasts, 5 X Dinners, 1 X Lunchbox.
Transport:
Air Conditioned (Non Smoking) Coach.
All Entrance Fees.
Professional English speaking Guide.
Istanbul City Tour.
Gallipoli Tour.
Pergamon Acropolis Tour.
Ephesus Tour. (including Sirince Village and Temple of Artemis)
Anzac Day Memorial Services.
Tour does not include:
Meals unless stated.
Departure Airport Transfers.
Drinks.
Flight Tickets.
Personal Expenses.
Tips for Guides and Drivers.
Optional Activities available to 8 Day Tour:
1. Traditional Turkish Night - 1001Nights: 22/04/08 19:30
2. Bosphorus Cruise: 22/04/08 14:30
3. Turkish Bath: 26/04/08
| Start Date |
Double - Triple |
Single |
| Tuesday 21/04/2009 |
309.00 |
379.00 |
| |
|
[ Enquiry Form ] |
General Travel Information:
When booking an Anzac tour it is important to ensure that your tour operator is a member of TURSAB which is the Turkish regulatory body of tourist activities. It is illegal for non-members to operate tours in Turkey without a TURSAB license and membership number.
V-GO's Travel is a member of TURSAB (License No:4563).
Notice:
Before you book with any agency, it is most important that you check all the details of the services offered. Low budget offers usually don't cover many services, such as: quality, entrance fees, standard of the coaches, accommodation in Gallipoli, professional lecture about Gallipoli, private security, professional guide (not an escort or
offside), references of the agency & background.
The Australian Dept of Veteran Affairs is making special arrangements for those with special needs in an effort to assist aged and infirm visitors.
Read more about this at:
Australian Government.
Also note from their website: "Travel by passenger car to these services is not allowed and on completion of the Dawn Service, official coaches will depart before public coach departures to meet Turkish protocol requirements."
Please, Read the notice from Australian Embassy at
Australian Embassy.
A brief warning from the Australian Embassy web site: "Accommodation in the Gallipoli area, particularly for the night of 24 April, is very heavily booked well in advance of
ANZAC Day. Intending travellers will need to make bookings as early as possible to secure accommodation."
