Day One: 21st April - Arrival in Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey! You will be greeted with hospitality
at the Atatürk International Airport by
our
representative and driven into the heart of the old city where
you can rest and relax for the remainder of the day. Tonight
at ‘Welcome Drinks’ in your hotel you can meet you’re the rest
of your tour group.
Overnight:
Istanbul
Day Two: 22nd April - Istanbul City Tour
This morning after breakfast we partake in a fully guided tour
of the only city to span two continents. We will visit the
Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Museum, Hippodrome and the underground
cistern. Today you may wish to view the wonders of Istanbul
from the water on an optional Bosphorus Cruise
(15:30pm). Also tonight you have the option of attending a
special Turkish Gala Evening (19:30pm) where you will
enjoy amazing Turkish food and world famous Turkish
entertainment.
Overnight:
Istanbul
Meals:
Breakfast
Day Three: 23rd April - Istanbul to Gallipoli
After breakfast we drive to the World War I Battlefield of
Gallipoli stopping along the way to pick up refreshments for
lunch. You will also have an
opportunity to watch “Gallipoli” the movie so you get a feel
for the type of people who fought in this war and to help you
picture conditions 92 years ago. This afternoon on a
fully guided tour, you will visit the Kabatepe War Museum,
Anzac Cove, Hell Spit Cemetery, Lone Pine, The Nek, and Chunuk
Bair War memorial. Your guide will reveal stories of battle
woes and will bring alive the legend of the Anzac's. By
visiting the peninsula on the 23rd April we get to
spend more time exploring without the crowds from other tours
that arrive on the 24th. This evening we will travel approx 2
hrs to our luxurious resort hotel, where an all-you-can-eat
buffet dinner awaits.
Overnight:
Edremit
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day Four: 24th April - Relax at Artemis Resort Hotel
Sleep till late and rise to a full breakfast. Then the day is
yours to partake in number of the many activities offered at
this resort. Activities include; bathing in the waters of the
outdoor pool, relaxing at the beach. Play football, tennis,
basketball, valleyball or just strolling aroundthe gardens and
parks. You will have the chance to swim in the nearby thermal
water pool at Adramis Thermal Hotel. Make sure you get plenty
of rest because ANZAC day will be a long busy day. A buffet
dinner will be served at 5:00pm so we can fill up before
leaving for Gallipoli at 6:30pm.
We arrive at the dawn service to get a good spot on the grass,
already, here are several hundred people about. There are big
screens and music to entertain you and to thank you, the
people who have made the pilgrimage to Gallipoli for ANZAC
Day. War veterans, military personal and media are everywhere
and the atmosphere is electric. There is a unique feeling in
the air, a celebration of peace subdued by a cloud of
commemoration. Within 3 hours, the site will appear like a sea
of colour with thousands of Aussies and Kiwis sprawling out on
the grass, warmly wrapped up sleeping bags, National flags and
rugby tops. Get a few hours rest/sleep on the grass because by
9pm the MC will be asking you to squash forward to try and
make space for the thousands more people still to come. The
buzzing atmosphere will permeate the whole night. Well before
the grey light of dawn signals the start of the dawn service,
speakers and entertainers begian their addresses, folk songs
and stories. The local Turks also sell a great variety of
Turkish Kebabs, pancakes and fast hot foods.
Overnight:
Anzac
Cove
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day Five: 25th
April - Anzac Day at Gallipoli
We arrive at Gallipoli on the evening of the 24th
to ensure we get a good spot for the dawn service. Don't
forget your sleeping bags, warm clothes, wet weather gear and
torches because Gallipoli is still as dark and cold today as
it was 92 years ago when your ancestors landed. The day begins
with the Dawn Service held at the ANZAC Commemorative Site,
which will be followed by the Australian and New Zealand
memorial services held at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair
respectively. Today is the reason you came to Turkey, to
commemorate the sacrifice your forefathers have made. Emotions
run high and this evening you will travel back to Istanbul,
arriving there in the late evening.
Overnight:
Edremit
Meals:
Lunchbox & Dinner
Day Six: 26th April - Edremit to Kusadasi
After waking feeling recharged we depart for the seaside town
of Kusadasi. As this area boasts a reputation as one of the
most important carpet weaving regions we will stop at Selçuk
for a demonstration of this ancient and traditional craft.
Once you are checked in to your Kusadasi hotel.
Today you may have an optional a traditional Turkish bath
to be washed and massaged by a pair of expert hands.
Overnight:
Kusadasi
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day
Seven: 27th April -
Ephesus Tour
Today we will visit one of the best-preserved ruins in the
world....Ephesus. We tour this amazing site and wonder at the
people who built and walked through this ancient city. We will
also visit the House of Virgin Mary, (supposedly where St.
John brought her to live out her final days), Temple of
Artemis (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world). After the
tour, we will stop at Selçuk for a fashion parade and
information on Turkey's famous leather production.
Overnight:
Kusadasi
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day Eight: 28th April - Kusadasi to Köycegiz - Pamukkale
We drive east today for the calcium terraces of Pamukkale
(cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis. We stop for lunch
then walk around this natural phenomenon and have the option
of swimming amongst the ruins in a natural spring. We then
carry on for the quiet village of Köycegiz for our night stop.
Overnight:
Köycegiz
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day Nine: 29th April - Köycegiz Boat cruise – Ölüdeniz
After
breakfast we board a boat and cruise across Lake Köycegiz
where we will have numerous opportunities to swim. We head for
Turtle Beach, where the Aegean and Mediterranean meet and on
our return journey back to Köycegiz we visit the mud-bath to
cover ourselves in MUCK, before jumping in the natural thermal
springs. After the cruise we take a short bus trip to our
night stop in Ölüdeniz.
Overnight:
Ölüdeniz
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day Ten: 30th April - Fethiye
Today is a free day in Fethiye, our night stop. There are many
activities such as Paragliding tour available in
Ölüdeniz or you can just laze on the beach.
Overnight:
Fethiye
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day Eleven:
1st May - Fethiye to Olympos
Today we drive for the Saklikent George, a mountain split
formed several years ago. We trek up a short distance and
stop for lunch at the Saklikent River Bar and Cafe. Don’t
forget to bring your bathers with you today because as we
drive along the turquoise coast for Olympos
Valley
we will stop for a swim on the way. After dinner at our night
spot at the treehouses we shall be visiting Yanartas, which
is located at the slopes of Çirali beach at the north of
Olympos and at an altitude of 300 meters.
Overnight:
Olympos
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day Twelve:
2nd May - Cappadocia Tour
After breakfast we set off for Cappadocia and upon arrival
there will be some time to relax in the hotel before dinner.
Later you will have the option of going to a Traditional
Turkish Folklore Evening, which should definitely not be
missed.
Overnight:
Cappadocia
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day Thirteen:
3rd May - Cappadocia Tour
Today we marvel at the phallic-like structures in this one of
a kind region. Our guide will lead us around Avcilar, Goreme
Open
Air
Museum,
Dervent Valley, Uchisar Castle, Zelve and the pottery village
of Avanos.
Cappadocia
is the country of fairy tales. The beautiful horse country "Katpatuka,"
(as the Persians called her) is an unbelievable strip of land;
enchanting and mysterious. There is the option of a fantastic
Cappadocia voyage on a hot air balloon.
Overnight:
Cappadocia
Meals:
Breakfast & Dinner
Day Fourteen:
4th May - Istanbul
After breakfast
we depart for one of the most interesting sites
of Cappadocia;
Derinkuyu Underground City.
The Christians hid from the armies of Rome and the raids of
hostile tribes in these self sufficient cities in which there
were halls for stocks of crop, barns, rooms, kitchens &
ventilation channels.
This afternoon we will depart for Istanbul.
Overnight:
Istanbul
Meals:
Breakfast
Day Fifteen:
5th May - Tour Finishes
After breakfast our tour finishes and we bid farewell to our
new-found friends. Wherever you are heading to next,
undoubtedly you will take with you unforgettable memories and
a new understanding of the country that plays such an
important part in your history.
Meals:
Breakfast
Tour Includes:
Arrivel Transfer:
Arrival Airport Transfer on the 21st April.
(Note: Transfers operate between 08:00am and 23:00pm)
Accommodation:
3 X Night Istanbul (3 Star), 3 X Night Edremit (4 Star), 2 X
Night Kusadasi (3 Star), 1 X Night
Köycegiz
(3 Star), 2 X Night Fethiye (3 Star),
1 X Night Olympos Treehouses, 2 X Night Cappadocia (3 Star)
Meals: 13 X Breakfasts, 11 X Dinners, 1 X Lunch, 1 X
Lunchbox
Transport:
Air Conditioned (Non Smoking) Coach
All Entrance Fees
Professional English speaking Guide
Gallipoli Tour
Nomadic Village Tour
Istanbul City Tour
Ephesus Tour (including Virgin Mary’s House and Temple of
Artemis)
Pamukkale Tour
Köycegiz Tour and Boat Trip
Cappadocia Tours (2)
Anzac Day Memorial Services
Tour Excludes:
Meals unless stated
Drinks
Flight Tickets
Personal Expenses
