ANZAC Memorial Tour of Turkey
Take in the highlights of Turkey and attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli on this 11 day tour. Marvel at the spectacular landscape of Cappadocia and discover the remarkable Roman ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum. See Istanbul's iconic Blue Mosque and paddle in Pammukale's thermal pools. Visit legendary Troy and Gallipoli's WW1 battlefields, before commemorating the brave ANZACs on ANZAC Day.
Tour Highlights
- Attend the ANZAC eve vigil on the Gallipoli Peninsula and as the sun rises, pay your respects at the Dawn Service
- Learn about the Gallipoli Campaign, explore the WW1 battlefields, memorial sites and ANZAC Cove
- Take in the highlights of Istanbul including the iconic Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia mosque and the Underground Cistern
- Delight in surreal landscapes, hermit cave villages and World Heritage Listed Goreme Valley with its rock cut churches and Zelve Monastery
- Paddle in the thermal waters flowing down the white travertine terraces
- Roam around the Roman ruins of ancient Ephesus, with its spectacular Library of Celsus and the hillside amphitheatre at Pergamum
- Visit the Mevlana Museum (or Green Mausoleum) and discover the original home of a mystical Sufi Muslim group and their founder Mevlana
- Admire the imposing fortress on the west side of the Dardanelles built to control the strait at its narrowest point
- Enjoy a short tour of the famous city of Homeric legend and see the giant replica Trojan Horse
- Stop off at the traditional roadside inn of Sultanhan Caravanserai, a resting point of former weary travellers
- 9 nights 4 - 5 star hotels
- 1 night at the Dawn Service site
- 9 breakfasts and 4 dinners
- Guided sightseeing of Ephesus, Pergamum, Pammukale/Hierapolis and Cappadocia
- Guided sightseeing of Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Hagia Sophia (exterior), Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome area and Egyptian Spice Market
- Guided sightseeing of Gallipoli, battlefields and war memorials (subject to site opening times set by the Anzac Day Organising Committee)
- Cruise along Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul
- English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide
- Airport arrival transfer on day 1 from Istanbul International Airport at any time, or from Sabiha Gokcen Airport at 11am and 3pm only
- All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles
- Maximum Group Size: 32 people
Your fare excludes:
- International flights and visa
- Attendance Pass for ANZAC. Please see the below for information on how to obtain your attendance pass - these are free of charge but need to be registered for in advance
- Tip for your tour guide and driver: as a guideline we recommend you budget EUR €5 - 7 per day, per traveller for your guide and EUR €2 per day, per traveller for your driver. Tipping your tour guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture
- Entrance Fees: EUR€265-285pp, paid in EUR
- Tipping Kitty: EUR€55-65pp, paid in EUR
Day 1 - Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey and the start of a unforgettable ANZAC experience! Airport to hotel arrival transfer. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. This evening meet your guide and fellow travellers at a welcome meeting.
- Overnight: Istanbul
Day 2 - Istanbul - Old City Tour
Today we set off on guided tour of the old city, taking in the stunning Iznik tiled Blue Mosque, historic Hippodrome area, 6th century Hagia Sophia (exterior only), ancient Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace and more. This afternoon, we take a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. Look out for waterside palaces framed by a modern city skyline dotted with expansive domed mosques and towering minarets of traditional Ottoman style. Afterwards there's free time to independently explore. From here you can either stay and discover the old city by night or return with your guide to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.
- Overnight: Istanbul
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Cappadocia
Today we depart Istanbul and begin our lengthy journey across the country towards Cappadocia. We'll make a number of stops on route. After arriving into Cappadocia this afternoon, the rest of the day is at leisure.
- Overnight: Cappadocia
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Cappadocia's Goreme Valley
Perhaps the jewel in Turkey’s crown, Cappadocia is an extraordinary national treasure. Gaze in awe at this unbelievable landscape with its cave dwellings and phallic ‘fairy chimneys’ landscape that are the stuff of fables. Whole troglodyte (hermit) villages, subterranean churches and fortresses have been hewn from the soft, porous, eerily eroded rock of Cappadocia. A guided tour of the region takes us to the World Heritage listed Goreme Valley where we’ll see stunning examples of rock-cut Byzantine churches, chapels and temples, and Zelve monastery with its jaw-dropping landscape of towering eroded rocks.
- Overnight: Cappadocia
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Konya's Whirling Dervish Museum
It's an early departure this morning as we head for Pamukkale. On the way we visit the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece of Sultanhan Caravanserai before arriving in Konya. In Konya we visit the Mevlana Museum also known as the Green Mausoleum which is the original lodge of the Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes. We then continue our drive to Pamukkale for our overnight stay.
- Overnight: Pamukkale
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Pamukkale & Ephesus
Famed for its unique cascades of natural mineral rich pools, Pammukale captures the heart of any traveller. Here we can paddle our feet in the warm water flowing over the terraces or take a relaxing dip in the Pamukkale Thermal Baths. Just beyond the thermal pools we make a stop at the Roman ruins of Hierapolis.
This afternoon we continue to the legendary Roman ruins of Ephesus. Easily the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, Ephesus stood as a vast Roman city with a population nearing 250,000. Rumoured to have been founded in the 13th century BC, it became the Roman capital of Asia Minor and enjoyed prosperity thanks to commerce and visiting pilgrims who flocked for a glimpse of the magnificent Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Strong archeological remains can be seen at Ephesus including the Great Theatre (once capable of seating 25,000 spectators at one time), Curetes Way (one of the main thoroughfares) the Temple of Serapis, the elegant façades of the Temple of Hadrian and the awesome Library of Celsus - underlining its status as a centre point for Roman urban life. Off Curetes Way are ancient public toilets, a brothel, remains of fountains and various temples. We end our day at our hotel in Kusadasi.
- Overnight: Kusadasi
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Roman Ruins of Pergamum
This morning we drive north, stopping at the Roman ruins of Pergamum and its impressive hillside amphitheatre. We also visit the neighbouring Asclepion - a Roman precursor to modern-day hospitals - before continuing onto to Assos.
- Overnight: Assos
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Gallipoli - WW1 Battlefields
Today we explore ANZAC Cove and the many memorials dotted across the WW1 battlefields. Our guided tour takes in sights including ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Bair Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.
- Overnight: Assos / Canakkale
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Troy & ANZAC Eve
After a morning at leisure we enjoy a short-guided tour of Troy. The legend of the lost city of Troy and Homer’s poetry was brought to life by its rediscovery in 1863. We then continue to the village of Kilitbahir, situated on the eastern shore of the Gallipoli peninsula and dominated by the fortress of the same name. After exploring Kilitbahir we stop in the town of Eceabat for dinner (at your own expense) before entering the Cove. Once we're in Anzac Cove you are free to visit the memorials and trenches in the area before taking our places among the many at the Dawn Service site for the atmosphere-charged ANZAC Eve vigil.
- Overnight: Dawn Service site (ANZAC Cove)
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 - ANZAC Day - Gallipoli 2025
Today, the 25th April is the reason we came to Turkey and Gallipoli. Dawn and first light signals the commencement of the annual Dawn Service, attended by Australian, New Zealand and other foreign dignitaries, military personnel and a strong following of regular Australian and New Zealand folk. The poignant and emotive service commemorating this important and historical date gives us time to reflect. Lest we forget.
The service lasts for an hour and public wreath laying at the ANZAC Memorial site is possible afterwards. Later this morning Australians have the opportunity to pay their respects at the Lone Pine Memorial Service, while New Zealanders can attend the service at Chunuk Bair. After the Chunuk Bair service we anticipate an early afternoon departure time from Gallipoli, for our return journey to Istanbul. Please note: the 2025 national memorial services at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair are subject to confirmation.
- Overnight: Istanbul
Day 11 - Istanbul
You tour ends after breakfast and hotel check out. We hope you have had a wonderful holiday in Turkey and a memorable ANZAC Day 2025 experience.
- Meals: Breakfast
*Please note itinerary might be change without prior notice.
16 - 26 April 2025
- Twin share from $5,035 per person
- Sole use from $6,955 per person
Call our local travel team on 1300 414 98 to secure your seat on this popular tour.
*Pricing is subject to change without notice
Your tour includes 9 nights’ staying in 4-5 star accommodation + 1 night at the Dawn Service site
Is Travel Insurance compulsory?
Yes it is a condition of travel on this tour that each passenger is adequately covered by an appropriate travel insurance policy. We strongly advise taking out Travel Insurance at the time of making your booking to provide full cover. If you would like a competitive quote, please call our travel team on 1300 414 198.