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