6 Day ANZAC Day Tour ; Gallipoli, Troy & Istanbul with Dawn Service

(Airport transfer from IST)
Welcome to Istanbul! We are waiting for you directly at the gate behind passport control / immigration at Istanbul International Airport (IST). Arrival airport transfer from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) can be arranged at additional expenses. Transfer to your five star hotel, you will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast, welcome cocktail and ANZAC conference included )
We depart from your hotel, after breakfast at 08:30 for your guided Istanbul City Tour.
Visit to 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. Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque: The mosque, built between 1609 and 1616, is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. With its six minarets and a great cascade of domes, the mosque is a worthy sibling to Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia). Pope Benedict XVI visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque on 30th November 2006 during his visit to Turkey. It marks only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship. Hippodrome: Today, the area is officially called Sultan Ahmet Square, and is carefully maintained by the Turkish authorities. The course of the old racetrack has been indicated with paving, although the actual track is some 2 m below the present surface. The surviving monuments of the Spina, the two obelisks and the Serpentine Column, now sit in holes in a landscaped garden. The German Fountain, an octagonal domed fountain in neo-Byzantine style, which was constructed by the German government in 1900 to mark the German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul in 1898, is located at the northern entrance to the Hippodrome area, right in front of the Blue Mosque. Spice Bazaar: The Spice Bazaar, or Egyptian Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars in the city. Located in Eminonu, it is the second largest covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar. The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.

After your Istanbul city Tour, there is an option to experience a Bosphorus boat cruise, enjoy the magnificent views of the Bosphorus which connects Asia to Europe, the best way of seeing the Bosphorus in all its beauty. With the shores rising to heights up to 200m, lined with palaces, ruins, villages, and gardens, this is one of the most beautiful stretches of scenery in Turkey. 

At 18:00, we will start our conference about ANZAC Dawn Service and Turkey (Duration of approx 1 hour). The conference is held by ANZAC experts from Australia and New Zealand and by our professional Turkish ANZAC tour guides. Welcome cocktail, coffee, tea and snacks are included. You will meet your fellow ANZAC Day Gallipoli tour members and the TravelShop Booking staff.  Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
We depart for Gallipoli at 7:00am (4.5 hour distance). On the way, we will watch the latest documentaries about the Gallipoli campaign. We arrive in Gallipoli for lunch on the coast of Gabatepe. After lunch, we start our tour of the Gallipoli peninsula. Visit Kabatepe War Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australias Memorial and Cemetery, Quinns Post, Turkish 57th Regiment Cemetery, the Nek, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial and Cemetery. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

(Breakfast and buffet dinner included)
The governments of Australia and New Zealand have announced that the Gallipoli peninsula will be closed on 24th April 2024&2025 for safety and security purposes, cemeteries and memorials cannot be visited as in previous years. Therefore, we have visited the Gallipoli peninsula and done our guided Gallipoli Tour yesterday, already. Today, we will visit the Trojan horse and the ancient city of Troy, located on the other side of the Dardanelles (approx. 1.5 hour distance including ferry).Troy is one of the most famous cities in the history, recalling us Hector, Achilles and Achaean Greeks, the sake of Helen, Paris, Agamemnon and Priam. Your guide will explain the mythology surrounding Troy, the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy. If you wish to buy snacks for the overnight camp, today is best time to do it. There are also some food and drink stalls available at ANZAC Cove. Tonight at 17:30, we will meet at the hotel for our buffet dinner before heading to ANZAC Cove for the Dawn Service. Overnight at ANZAC Cove. If you dont wish to stay outside at the ANZAC Commemorative Site overnight, we provide optional hotel accommodation in Canakkale. This option is not available after your arrival in Turkey, so pre-booking is required.

Please Note: In 2026, the ANZAC Commemorative Site will open later than it has in previous years. The new opening time will be decided later on and before guests arrival we will inform you. The ANZAC Commemorative Site will not open before the designated opening time.  Please, all the guests should be registered for attendance passes.

(Dinner included)
Don't forget your warm clothes, sleeping bags, wet weather gear, torches, hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes because Gallipoli is still as cold and dark as it was 99 years ago! Optionally, we provide sleepings bags, please let us know at time of booking.
05:30-06:15 Dawn Service, ANZAC Commemorative Site, North Beach
09:30 – 10:15 Australian Memorial Service, Lone Pine
11:30 - 12:15 New Zealand Memorial Service, Chunuk Bair
After attending the ANZAC services, at approx. 15:00, we will travel to Istanbul. The bus trip will be around 5 – 6 hour ride. So, approximately at 21:00, you will be back to hotel. Dinner and overnight at in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)
Check out from your hotel and transfer to Airport. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the