2009 ANZAC Day Tours
"The Captain tour"
9 - Day itinerary
18 Apr 2009 to 26 Apr 2009

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.

After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. Tonight don’t miss the optional Turkish Folklore evening. Overnight Istanbul. Breakfast and Lunch. Overnight Istanbul. Breakfast and Lunch

Today you head south to Pamukkale, passing through rural Turkey and ancient Kutahya. Overnight Pamukkale. Breakfast and Dinner

Visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient Roman resort city. Afterwards a leather goods presentation. Turkey produces some of the finest leather goods in the world and many are made here before branding in Italy. Overnight Kusadasi. Breakfast and Dinner.

Stand in awe at the technology once used in Roman times, with a tour of the ancient city of Ephesus. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the city halls and stadium where chariot and horse races were once held. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and today we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value. Overnight Kusadasi. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Today we travel towards the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, stopping along the way for a tour of the magnificent acropolis of ancient Pergamum. Overnight Ayvalik. Breakfast and Dinner.

Early morning tour of Troy, the site of the famed Trojan Wars. Continue on to the Gallipoli battlefields and visit Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial and ANZAC Cove if accessible. 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. Breakfast.

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. After the services, we drive back to Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul.

Our tour concludes after breakfast and we bid farewell to our new friends. This afternoon, perhaps try your hand at bargaining in the famous Grand Bazaar. Breakfast.

Tour includes

o Inbound airport transfer from Ataturk Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport to your hotel
o Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
o Professional English-speaking tour guide for the duration of the tour
o Commemorative gift
o 7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Dinners
o 7 nights - Hotel accommodation in total.
  - 1 night in Ayvalik
  - 3 nights in Istanbul
  - 2 nights in Kusadasi
  - 1 night in Pamukkale

Tour does not include

o Tips
o Anything not mentioned above
o Entrance fees to the various sites