Anzac Day 2023 - 5 Day Tour - 22-26 April

Inclusions

• Inbound transfer from Istanbul Ataturk, Istanbul New or Sabiha Gökçen airports
  
• Anzac Day memorial services at Gallipoli
  
• Two nights Istanbul hostel or hotel accommodation with breakfast
  
• One night Gallipoli-area twin-share hotel with breakfast
  
• Fully guided tour of Gallipoli battlefields & memorials on 23 April before the crowds arrive
  
• Guided visit to ruins of Troy
  
• Walking tour of Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district
  
• Professional English speaking Turkish tour guide
  
• Experienced Fanatics Anzac Day tour leader
  
• Fanatics Anzac Day hoodie - Aussie gold or Kiwi black

Entry Fees & Meals

The tour price does not include entrance fees to museums. No entry fee is required at the Gallipoli battlefields or Anzac services.

Turkey's currency is the Lira and exchange rates are approximately 10TL = AUD 0.81 / NZD 0.90 / GBP 0.47 / EUR 0.56 (as at mid-2022).

Some examples of entry fees to visit the main sites the tour takes in are:

• Blue Mosque - FREE
  
• Hagia Sophia - FREE
  
• Topkapi Palace - 320 TL
  
• Underground Cisterns - 100 TL
  
• Troy - 75 TL

Breakfasts are included each morning of the tour (apart from Anzac Day). At other times there are a range of options for you to eat on the cheap. The ever-popular Turkish kebab is around 50 TL, or you can opt for western style restaurants - it's really up to you!

Itinerary

Saturday 22 April - Arrival in Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey! If you are arriving today we have an airport transfer to our accommodation included in the tour. Email tours@thefanatics.com with your flight arrival information at least one month before your tour to arrange your arrival transfer.

Those already in Istanbul or arriving by any means other than flight will need to make their own way to our Istanbul meeting point (details will be emailed to you at the start of April).

This evening at 6pm we enjoy a guided walking tour of Istanbul’s fascinating old city. Istanbul is the only city to span two continents, Europe and Asia. Sights include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, the Underground Cistern and the Hippodrome.

Tonight we have our opening night get together - a great way to break the ice with your fellow tourists & year after year ends up being a great night out.

Overnight: Istanbul

Sunday 23 April - Gallipoli Tour

We depart this morning and head towards the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli where we enjoy a fully guided tour of this now serene site. We visit all the famous battle sites including the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, Anzac Cove, the Nek and the Turkish 57th Regiment memorial - all before the Anzac Day crowds have arrived.

Overnight: Canakkale

Monday 24 April - Troy & Gallipoli

This morning we enjoy a tour of the famous ruins of Troy. The ruins are an incredible mix of settlements dating back as far as 3,000 BC though to 500 AD.

This afternoon we return to Gallipoli and take up our position at North Beach in preparation for tomorrow's dawn service. Sit back and watch the video documentaries on the big screens to get in the mood for the moving experience to follow in the small hours of tomorrow morning.

Keep warm in your sleeping bag under the stars with the thousands of others while waiting for sunrise. Food and drinks are available to purchase near the dawn service site.

Please note: all our tours observe the sanctity of Gallipoli by not drinking around the battleground site. Once we get to Gallipoli there’s no drinking until we get back to Istanbul. We trust you understand this position.

Overnight: under the stars at Anzac Cove

Tuesday 25 April - Anzac Day at Gallipoli

Awake before sunrise to the Anzac dawn service and commemorate our fallen forefathers on this special day.

Following the dawn service we spend more time visiting the Gallipoli battlefields and memorials before the Australian Lone Pine ceremony takes place later in the morning while Kiwis will attend the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair.

We then board our coach at Chunuk Bair ready for our return drive back to Istanbul and a chance to reflect on the whole Gallipoli experience. You’ll be leaving a different person, no two ways about it.

Back in Istanbul we check into our accommodation before heading out for a night out with your fellow travellers including a few games of two-up!

Overnight: Istanbul

Wednesday 26 April - Depart Istanbul

This morning we check-out from our accommodation and say goodbye to our new mates.

Note: Tour does not include entrance fees to museums & historical sites as required at some venues. No entry fee is required at the Gallipoli battlefields or Anzac services.

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