ANZAC Day Turkey 2023 / Option 2

The dates for this tour will really suit those who wish to avoid the crowds and the hectic atmosphere of the town on the night of the 25th of April.

22^nd April 2023, ……………………………………Istanbul – Gallipoli Peninsula

06:00 Meet your bus group in front of the Hagia Sofia Mosque (pink mosque, opposite the Blue

Mosque in Sultanahmet, Istanbul. Look for TJs TOURS signs with your bus number on it.)

07:00 Depart for the Gallipoli peninsula. There will be a rest stop half way at a station/cafeteria, where you can buy lunch.

12:00 Arrive and check into accommodation.

Lunch in Eceabat

13:00 From here you’ll drive to the ANZAC Battlefield area to start an emotional & memorable tour.5 hour tour visiting:

• Gallipoli – Kabatepe War Museum & Simulation Centre.
• Beach Cemetery (John Simpson’s grave).
• ANZAC Cove.
• 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.

Overnight in Eceabat

23^th April 2023, ..………………………………………………………Troy Tour

Troy is a complex site. It has its own excavations team that returns every year to try to unravel the mystery that is Troy.

This makes it an ongoing site where every year a piece of the puzzle is uncovered and history is made known!

DID THE TROJAN HORSE WAR ACTUALLY HAPPEN?

IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT OF THE TROJAN WAR CITY?

WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE TREASURES UNCOVERED FROM THIS SITE?

GO ON OUR DAILY TROY TOUR AND FIND OUT THE ANSWERS TO THESE MYTHIC QUESTIONS!

ITINERARY:

Tour departs at 07.30am or 1pm, depending on season and other daily tour schedules.

Tour departs from TJs Hotel in Eceabat where you will cross the famous Dardanelle waters and proceed to the ancient site of Troy, 36km south of Çanakkale.

Our local English speaking guide will tour you around the 9 city ruins on the site of Troy explaining the people from the era, their houses and culture and the reason for the final destruction of each city.

The commentary is filled with mythical stories of the site and surrounding areas while filling you in on the history of the excavations, the excavators and their findings.

At the site you’ll be shown around:

• A replica of the wooden horse that you can climb into for a photo.
• Excavation information centre which holds exhibits from the work underway.
• The fortification walls of Troy Vl with its tower and gateway entrance.
• Temple of Athena – the focal point of a great annual festival in honour of the goddess Athena.
• Schliemann’s trench – the discoverer of Troy?
• The entrance ramp to Troy ll.
• The sanctuary – an important religious centre of its time.
• The odeon – intended for the presentation of musical performances.
• Current excavations in progress.
• Return to TJs TOURS Agency & Hotel in Eceabat.

 24^th  April 2023, Gallipoli Peninsula

8.00–10.00 Breakfast awaits.

Today gives you a chance to see the interantional service in Cape Helles.

The rest of the day is free for you to do as you please.

A good sleep in the late afternoon is recommended.

Take the opportunity to experience a traditional Turkish bath, check out the town of Eceabat, walk to the castle in the next village and stock up on munchies for the big day to come.

18:00 Check out of your room and place your bags in the luggage compartment of your bus, ready for your return journey after the services.

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.

25^th April 2023, ……………………..………….………….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 or feel free to tell your leader that you want to go exploring; take your breakfast pack and walk the ridges and old trenches to the next service.

Australian and/or New Zealand National services. (Service times for these have yet to be released)

17: 00 Approx. Buses depart for Istanbul with a stop on the way where you can buy dinner.

Your bus will drop you off in front of the Hagia Sofia Mosque (pink mosque, opposite the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet, Istanbul..

Option 2: 245 GBP/pax: ANZAC Day Tour includes:

ANZAC Day Services
2 nights accommodation
Fully guided Gallipoli tour
3 breakfasts
museum entrance fee
2 lunches
4 day Turkish/English-speaking leader
Video screenings
4 day private a/c coach transport (return Istanbul)