Commemorative tour of Gallipoli

Your fare excludes:

Day 1 -Istanbul to Gallipoli

Welcome to our journey in the footsteps of the Anzacs! This morning we will meet the group (and our tour guide and driver) in the lobby of our Istanbul hotel, before departing in our air-conditioned vehicle for the four-hour drive to the Gallipoli peninsula. En-route we will pick up our Historian, who lives near Gallipoli, and continue along the shore of the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles, the historic waterway that was the principal objective of the Gallipoli campaign. As the first of our bonus visits, we will tour Chimpe Fort, the deserted fortifications that were part of German commander Liman von Sanders’ headquarters during the Gallipoli campaign. On arrival at the Gallipoli battlefield we will have free time for lunch, and then head straight to Anzac Cove, where we will visit Ari Burnu and Beach Cemeteries and pay our respects at the grave of John Simpson, the ‘man with the donkey’. We will then visit Shrapnel Valley and walk up to Plugge’s Plateau. Before departing we will visit the grave of ‘Bill the Bastard’, a light horse who lies in the only Commonwealth War Grave dedicated to an animal in the world. At the end of this memorable day we will check into our premier-standard hotel, before coming together for a welcome dinner.

• I​ncluded Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - ANZAC Sector

Today we will return to the Gallipoli peninsula to explore the Anzac sector in more detail. We will visit places made famous by courage and sacrifice including Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Shrapnel Valley, Quinn’s Post, the Nek, Chunuk Bair and more. After free time for lunch we will head north and take part in a bonus walk through Taylor’s Gap, where Colonel John Monash’s 4th Brigade fought a bitterly-contested battle in August 1915. We will then explore Hill 60 and Suvla Bay, two of the key sites from the August Offensive. We will return to our hotel where our evening is free.

• I​ncluded Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Helles Sector

The Gallipoli story cannot be truly understood without walking the ground at Cape Helles, the area where British and French troops fought and suffered more than 30,000 casualties, three times as many as the Anzacs. Today we will visit all the key sites at Cape Helles, including the Achi Baba viewpoint, the Abide Turkish Memorial, V Beach, Doughty-Wylie’s grave, the imposing Helles Memorial, the abandoned French guns and W Beach, scene of a bloody landing on April 25, 1915. Our bonus visit today is to Gully Beach, where we will see the wreck of a British naval boat that sank here on the last day of the campaign. We will end our day by visiting the forgotten Anzac battlefield of Krithia, where Anzac troops fought in early-May and suffered more than 2000 casualties. We will visit the last resting place of those who fell at Redoubt Cemetery, before returning to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

• I​ncluded Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Ancient Troy, return to Istanbul

Our last day at Gallipoli will take us to another battlefield from another time, the famous ancient city of Troy. We will enjoy a guided tour of the ruins and hear the fabulous story of ancient battles and the famous Trojan Horse. We will also visit several Turkish gun emplacements from the Gallipoli campaign. Today’s bonus visit is to the wonderful Korfmann Library in a former 19th-century school, to learn about their unique collection of more than 6000 volumes, one of the world’s most important resources about Ancient Troy. In the afternoon we will return to Istanbul, where sadly our tour will end.

• I​ncluded Meals: Breakfast

Please note: Itineraries are subject to change due to operational reasons. In addition, your Historian may alter the sites visited on each day to suit local conditions. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.

Various departures available from May to September 2024

• Twin share from $2,599 per person
• Solo Traveller from $3,174

Call our local travel team on 1300 414 198 to book your place on this unforgettable tour. We can also assist with flights and additional accommodation before or after the tour.

Your tour includes 3 nights’ accommodation in 3-4-star properties

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.