Istanbul, Gallipoli, ANZAC Day - Dawn Service and ANZAC Memorial Services, Istanbul City Tour
Highlights
Istanbul, Gallipoli, ANZAC Day - Dawn Service and ANZAC Memorial Services, Istanbul City Tour to the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar;
Itinerary
Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Istanbul for the start of your trip.
OVERNIGHT:
Istanbul hotel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
Extra day in Istanbul - pre-tour
Following breakfast, you will enjoy a fully guided tour of Istanbul, the magnificent city that uniquely spans two continents. Your day of exploration includes visits to some of its most iconic landmarks, featuring the Blue Mosque, the St. Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, the historic Hippodrome, and the vibrant Grand Bazaar.
OVERNIGHT:
Istanbul hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
None
Please be advised that on 24 April, official restrictions and security protocols relating to high-level attendance mean a full tour of Gallipoli is highly unlikely to be permitted. Therefore, we will depart from Istanbul in the morning and travel directly to Çanakkale. Once we arrive, your guide will organise a flexible programme tailored to the prevailing conditions and the preferences of the group. After checking into the hotel and having some time to rest, we will depart at approximately midnight. We will take the ferry across to Anzac Cove, aiming to arrive at 1:00 am to secure a prime location for the overnight wait ahead of the Dawn Service.
OVERNIGHT:
Çanakkale hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast, Dinner
EXTRAS:
None
Awaken before sunrise to attend the poignant ANZAC Day Dawn Service. As the commemorative service begins, you will experience the almost deafening, reverent silence dedicated to our fallen forefathers. The morning's schedule commences with a pre-service programme at 1:30 am. Please note that the final entry deadline is at 3:00 am, at which point site access closes and temporary road closures are enforced. The 'Spirit of Place' introductory segment starts at 5:00 am, leading up to the official commencement of the Dawn Service at 5:30 am.
Following these early morning commemorations, you will have the opportunity to attend the national services. The Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine takes place at 10:00 am, followed by the New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair at 11:30 am. Finally, coach boarding for our departure will begin at 1:00 pm at Chunuk Bair and Hill 261, before you return to Istanbul in the afternoon.
OVERNIGHT:
Istanbul hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
None
Your time is free today for some last minute sightseeing and shopping in Istanbul before we transfer you to the airport for your flight home.
OVERNIGHT:
N/A
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Extra day in Istanbul - post-tour
included with
All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
All transport and transfers
Arrival and Departure Airport Transfers
Services of a local tour leader throughout
Entrance fees for included sightseeing
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Tipping kitty
excluded by
International flights (available on request)
Visa fees
Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
Tips for guide & driver
Any other items not mentioned above
Extras /
Upgrades
Single Room Supplement
This option guarantees you a single room in hotels throughout the tour. If you are a single traveller who would like to share, let us know and we will see if we can pair you up. The single supplement is payable if a room share cannot be arranged.
Extra night pre-tour
This option adds an extra night to the start of your tour, staying in the same hotel as the main tour itself (subject to availability at the time of booking). Your airport arrival transfer is still included.
Extra night post-tour - Price from £30.00
This option adds an extra night to the end of your tour, staying in the same hotel as the main tour itself (subject to availability at the time of booking). Your airport departure transfer is still included
Detailed Description
This 5-day tour departs from and returns to Istanbul. It includes a visit to the Gallipoli Peninsula to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service, followed by either the Australian or New Zealand memorial service, before heading back to Istanbul where you'll explore the city on an included city tour.
This five-day tour begins with your arrival in Istanbul and a warm welcome at the airport. After settling into your hotel, you'll meet your fellow travelers and guide, setting the stage for an unforgettable journey. The heart of the tour lies in the solemn remembrance of ANZAC Day at Gallipoli, where you'll visit poignant sites like Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, ANZAC Cove, and The Nek, tracing the footsteps of history amidst the original trenches and tunnels.
The highlight of the trip is undoubtedly the ANZAC Day Dawn Service, a deeply moving tribute to the fallen soldiers. You'll then have the opportunity to attend either the Australian or New Zealand Memorial service before returning to Istanbul. The final full day of hte tour offers a glimpse into Istanbul's rich past and vibrant present with a guided tour of iconic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Bazaar. As the tour concludes, you'll bid farewell to newfound friends and the enchanting city of Istanbul
