9  DAY ANZAC TOUR  

Start  : 22th April – Istanbul

Finish : 30th April - Istanbul

DAY 1 - Welcome to Istanbul – Thursday 22nd April 2010
Welcome to Istanbul, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, meet your guide and the rest of your group. Overnight Istanbul.

DAY 2 - Istanbul Old City Tour –  Friday   23rd April 2010
After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, the Saint Sophia , Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and after lunch we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value. You can enjoy with us the Optional Turkish Night with Dinner meet point, at hotel Lobby at 7:30 pm . Overnight Istanbul)

DAY 3 - Gallipoli Battlefields – Saturday 24th April 2010
This morning your air-conditioned coach will depart Istanbul for Gallipoli. It takes just under 5 hours to reach Gallipoli, then begin your tour of the Gallipoli Peninsula. You visit Gabatepe War Museum, Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Australia's Memorial and Cemetery, Quinn's Post, Turkish 57th Regiment Cemetery, The Nek, Chunuk-Bair New Zealand Memorial and Cemetery. Straight after the tour we head for the site of the dawn service to get a good spot. Tonight, soak up the vibrant atmosphere under the stars waiting for the break of dawn.

Overnight at Dawn Service.

DAY 4 – ANZAC  Day at Gallipoli – Sunday 25th April 2010
Awake before sun rise to the ANZAC Dawn Service. We become aware of the almost deafening silence as we commemorate our fallen forefathers on this special day. Also attend the Australian &/or New Zealand Memorial services.

The  ANZAC Day Dawn Service  at 04:30
The Australian National service at 10:30,
The Turkish National Service at 11.45
The New Zealand National service at 13:00.

After the services with time permitting we will depart for the ancient city of Troy (about an hour drive). Your guide will explain the mythology surrounding Troy, the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy. After Troy, we drive to our hotel (3 hours drive) in Ayvalik where we will have dinner at the fantastic beach front hotel and a comfy bed to rest your weary bodies. Overnight  hotel in Ayvalik.

Day 5 - Bergama Tour & Kusadasi - Monday 26th April 2010
Drive to Pergamum (45 minutes drive) - see Asklepion, Zeus's alter, the Red Bassilcia etc. BERGAMA is the site of the Hellenistic - and later Roman city of Pergamon, ruled for several centuries by a powerful local dynasty. Its foremost attraction is the Kizil Avlu or "Red Basilica", a huge edifice on the river not far from the acropolis, originally built as a temple to the Egyptian god Osiris and converted to a basilica by the early Christians, when it was one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor addressed by St John in the book of Revelation - though sadly it's now a crumbling ruin with a mosque in one of its towers. After Pergamon we continue towards the city of Kusadasi. On the way, we will visit a place which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet weaving centre, we will check into our hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight  hotel in Kusadasi.

Day 6 - Ephesus & Kusadasi - Tuesday 27th April 2010
At 08:30am we depart for Ephesus (20 minutes drive) - once the commercial centre of the ancient world - is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, once considered one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times, dates in its latest form from the third century B.C. The tour of the ruins also includes a theatre, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus. After lunch, we will make a shopping tour in which you will be aware of the ancient arts of Turkey like leather manufacturing and jewellery. As this will be a guided tour, you will avoid the constant nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey. Enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. Overnight  hotel in Kusadasi.

Day 7 - Pamukkale Tour - Wednesday 28th April 2010
At 08:30am we leave Kusadasi for Pamukkale (2.5 hours drive). In Pamukkale we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, walking around this natural phenomenon gives you the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs that flow down the calcium terraces. After our days activities we will check into our hotel intime for dinner and the rest of the evening is yours to explore the small village or relax around the pool bar. Overnight  hotel in Pamukkale.

Day 8 - Pamukkale & Istanbul - Thursday 29th April 2010

Day 9 - Istanbul Tour The End - Friday 30th April 2010 
After breakfast, please check out from your room before 11:00am, as your ANZAC day tour ends today. Please make your own arrangements for departure or simply ask us.

We hope you had a memorable tour and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another tour with us.

9 DAYS ANZAC TOUR INCLUDES:

 *All accommodation as per itinerary in 3 & 4 star hotels,

*7 Breakfasts &  4 Dinners

*Guided Istanbul city tour

*Guided Gallipoli tour

*Guided Troy tour

*Guided Bergamon tour

*Guided Ephesus tour

* Guided Pamukkale tour

*Dawn and National Services (Australian & New Zealand)

*Fluent English speaking professional tour guide for the duration of the tour

*All transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach

*All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary

* Arrival airport transfers from Ataturk Airport between 8:00am and 11:00pm every two hours

9 ANZAC  DAY TOUR   OPTIONAL TOURS / ADDS

   *Gala Dinner  1001 Turkish Show  

*Bosphorus  Cruise  

*Turkish Bath in Kusadasi

*Sleeping Bags for Gallipoli

*Return  Transfer for Ataturk Airport

*Airport Transfer from &to Sabiha Gokcen Airport