ANZAC DAY SPECIAL TOUR 1 – 10 Nights / 11 Days

The beginning of this tour follows the basic ANZAC Day with the cultural day included and then the group takes off for their Turkey trip. This trip includes everything from archaeology to mythology. You’ll see the varied landscapes, traditions and magical scenery from Turkey’s lush west coast, to the desert surroundings of Cappadocia.

Your Turkish/English speaking guide will be with you on your bus for the whole trip, ready to explain or answer any questions you might have on your journey.

Accommodation is all hotel style. Different places are chosen for specific reasons, be it the quality of the rooms, the standard of service, the friendliness of the staff, or the amazing hospitality of the owners.

This tour brings together the most popular of sites with some added extras of great value but less travelled places by western tourists.

24th April 2024, Istanbul – Gallipoli Peninsula

It is important that you inform us one week prior to the start of your package if you intend to forfeit your bus trip and intend getting to Eceabat on your own from another destination. We ask that people who have already stated this in previous emails still contact us one week prior to confirm their plans.

Pick-up in Istanbul : 06:00 : Meet your bus group in front of the Hagia Sofia Mosque (pink mosque), opposite the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet, Istanbul. Look for our representative holding the TJs TOURS sign. Bus times are essential. The buses can wait for no-one.

Please be on your bus at least 10 minutes prior to stated times for immediate departure.                                                      The offsiders will mark your attendance for boarding purposes.

07:00 Depart for Eceabat from Istanbul.

There will be a comfort stop half way at a station/cafeteria, where you can buy lunch.

13:00 Enter the town of Eceabat where we will grab our Gallipoli goodies bag.

Showings of Gallipoli documentary, “The Fatal Shore” & the movie “Gallipoli”.

19:00 Join the convoy of TJs TOURS buses for departure to the Dawn Service site where we will grab a space in the large crowd and wait, listening to the pre dawn program.

25th April 2024, ANZAC Day Services
05:30 Dawn Service commences as the sun breaks the skyline behind the Turkish Sphinx.
07:30 While waiting for your bus to transfer you to the next service you can eat breakfast on the grass with the group

Australian and/or New Zealand National services. (Service times for these have yet to be released)
back in town.
Late afternoon Buses depart for Eceabat, where you will check into your accommodation, have a shower and a well-deserved sleep.
19.30 Screening of the Gallipoli movie. And parties around town if you wish to attend.

26th April 2024, Gallipoli Peninsula
8.30–10.30 Breakfast awaits.
9.30 Documentary: The Fatal Shore
12:00 Restaurant lunch to start off the tour.
Departure for Gallipoli battlefield tour of the ANZAC area.
5 hour tour visiting:

• Gallipoli – Kabatepe War Museum & Simulation Centre
• Beach Cemetery (John Simpson’s grave).
• ANZAC Cove.
• Ari Burnu – first ANZAC landing place.
• Lone Pine – main Australian memorial.
• Johnson’s Jolly – walk in the original ANZAC & Turkish trenches and view the tunnels.
• Turkish memorial.
• The Nek – main scene depicted in the movie Gallipoli.
• Chunuk Bair – main memorial for the New Zealand soldiers.

Return to TJs TOURS Agency & Hotel in Eceabat.

Please tell us before tour if you would like us to research or locate an ANZAC  grave. There are no registers out on the peninsula.

27th April 2024, Gallipoli Peninsula

7:00 Breakfast

8:00 Depart for a day of culture and sites. Fully guided tour of the ruins of Troy. Off to Assos, an amazing village with hand-built rock houses. Here you can buy your lunch at the harbour and eat with the view of the island of Lesvos in front of you. A stop off at TJs home village to see the real Turkey. And then back to Eceabat for your farewell dinner and show at 8pm. Say goodbye to those you’ve met on the basic tour. Overnight Gallipoli Peninsula.

28th April 2024, Assos – Bergama – Efesus

8.00 Breakfast awaits.

9.00 Depart for Efesus, stopping at Bergama on the way. Bergama’s site is home to a long history going back to Hellenistic and Roman origins. The acropolis was home to many a famous person from the history books. Evening arrival to your accommodation near Efesus.

29th April 2024, Ephesus Ruins

Morning tour of the Efesus ruins. Efesus is the largest and best-preserved ancient city in Turkey. Option of visiting Mary’s house, the location of which is believed to be the house of the Virgn Mary from biblical scripture. Free afternoon. Overnight near Efesus.

30th April 2024, Pamukkale

Early morning drive to Pamukkale where we’ll check in to our accommodation and head off for a guided tour of the ruins of the Heiropolis and visit the traventines, a natural wonder of spectacular white rock terraces with scatterings of rock pools. Overnight Pamukkale.

1st May 2024, Pamukkale – Cappadoccia

A scenic drive to Cappadoccia, taking you from the interior of Turkey, through the mountsins and on to the desert scenery.

Overnight Cappadoccia.

2nd May 2024, Cappadoccia

Fully guided day tour of Cappadoccia. Lunch included. On tour you’ll go down into an underground city with many levels and see the way people lived during the time of the crusades. Hike through Ilhara Valley, a rock monastery hidden away in a lush valley, filled with cave churches and visit the amazing rock formations of the area.

Overnight Cappadoccia.

3rd May 2024, Cappadoccia

Free day. Option of taking a sunrise balloon ride over the area, hiring a scooter, walk the may valleys or shop in the many trinket shops in the town centre.

Overnight Cappadoccia.

4th May 2024, Cappadoccia – Ankara

Morning drive to Ankara to visit Ataturk’s mousaleum and the arcgaeological museum. Then off to Istanbul for evening check in. Overnight Istanbul.

Included : 10 Nights / 11 days : £990 GBP

ANZAC Day services

Gallipoli tour

Gallipoli museum entrance

Troy tour with entrance included

Turkish/English speaking guide on bus

Private coach, return Istanbul

10 nights hotel style accommodation

10 breakfasts

2 restaurant lunches

Video screenings

Dinner and show

Not included :

Entrance fees, unless stated.

Meals, unless stated.

WARNING!!

There are very few toilets in the battlefield area. Go before tour!
There are also very few bins so please collect your rubbish & put it back on the bus so we can dispose of it responsibly later on.
Take your bathers/togs/cossies/swimmers for a swim at lunchtime when & if time & weather permits.
There are no shops at the battlefields, so remember to buy water & nibblies before you leave Eceabat.
Remember to take sunscreen & a hat if you’re not fond of direct sunlight as there is minimal shade available. Shorts are fine to wear on the peninsula but remember to wear sensible shoes as you will be walking on uneven ground at times & there are snakes in the area.

PLEASE NOTE
Times change according to the season & weather conditions.