Turkey ANZAC Tour: An Unforgettable Journey

Today we begin the sightseeing Turkey tour with a picturesque commute to the famous Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar. We will board a private boat at Eminonu to cruise and sightsee along the Bosphorus, a strait that divides Europe from Asia. During this scenic tour, we will see old and new historical sites such as mosques, castles, and palaces adorning the amazing waterfront. Later, we will dine for lunch at a local Turkish restaurant. Lastly, we will ride via the Bosphorus Bridge to Camlica Hill, one of the largest hills in Istanbul, where we will have some free time to sightsee and enjoy the 360-degree panoramic views of the city. We will be transferred back to the hotel for an overnight stay.

After checking out of the hotel, we will continue our Turkey tour with a 4-hour drive to Eceabat. Upon arrival, we will have lunch in this quaint little town located on the eastern shore of the Gelibolu Peninsula, on the Dardanelles Strait. Here we will have a chance to watch a movie about Gallipoli, so you get a feel for the type of people who fought in this war and to help you picture conditions as there were almost a century ago. Afterwards, we start our touring day with a visit to the historical Gallipoli ANZAC Memorials. During this tour, we will relive the war through such historical sites as the Kabatepe War Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, the Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels (Johnston’s Jolly), and The Nek and Chunuk Bair New Zealand memorial. We end the day with a transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay in Eceabat.

With expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and seamless transportation, our tour package offers an unforgettable journey through the wonders of Turkey.

This is a free day of leisure. You can explore the town of Eceabat on your own or take an optional tour to nearby Troy. We have an overnight stay in Eceabat.

The day begins at first light with the Dawn Service held at the ANZAC Commemorative Site. Later, the Australia memorial service is held at Lone Pine followed by the New Zealand service is held at Chunuk Bair. After the ceremonies, we are transferred back to the hotel in Edremit for an overnight stay.

After checking out of the hotel, we begin our tour of Turkey by heading to Bergama, a city in the Izmir Province, to explore the Hellenistic and later Roman city of Pergamon. This ancient city is known as one of the 7 churches of Asia and was famous for having a large library that rivaled Alexandria in Egypt. After lunch, we travel to Kusadasi, a resort town located approximately 140 kilometers/86 miles away. On the way, we stop in the town of Selcuk, known for its carpet weaving, to learn about the unique and treasured Turkish carpets. We will watch a short demonstration of how these carpets are skillfully and beautifully made. After arriving in Kusadasi, we check into our hotel and the remainder of the day is free for leisure. Kusadasi is one of Turkey’s largest and most cosmopolitan seaside resorts, offering great sandy beaches, excellent shopping, and a lively nightlife. We have an overnight stay in Kusadasi.

After breakfast in Kusadasi, we head over to the historical city of Ephesus, located about 15 kilometers/9 miles away, to proceed with our tour of Turkey. This ancient city is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world. Here, we will see the Agora, Odeon, public toilets, Roman Baths, Grand Theatre, Marble Street, and much more. Then, we will have lunch at a local Turkish restaurant. Next, we tour the House of Virgin Mary and visit the chapel where she is said to have spent her last days. Afterwards, we visit the Artemis Temple site, which is one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Finally, we head to Sirince, an old Greek Orthodox village most famous for its local wine, olive oil, and 19th-century architecture. We end the day with a transfer back to the hotel in Kusadasi for an overnight stay.

After checking out of the hotel, we are transferred to Izmir Airport for a flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, we will be transferred to the hotel for an overnight stay in Istanbul.

Departure After checking out of the hotel, there will be a transfer to Istanbul’s airport for the departure flight.