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