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anzac silver smoko - 8 days
 Tour Information
Starts & Ends in: Istanbul
Start Date: Sun 19th April
End Date: Sun 26th April
Prices: Click here
Local Payment Required: No
Breakfast: 6, Dinner: 4
Hotel rating: 4  & Special Class
Tour Guide: Yes
Day 1: 19 April - Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey and the start of your awesome ANZAC experience! Choice of shuttle transfers to hotel. Rest of the day free in Istanbul, a city that straddles both Europe and Asia!
Overnight – Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul - breakfast
Today, a classic city tour taking in the Hippodrome area, exotic Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia - Emporer Justinian's grand basilica and more. This afternoon, enjoy an afternoon cruise on the stunning Bosphorus, the body of water which separates European from Asian Istanbul. Afterward you are free to do as you please, maybe hone your bargaining skills at the Egyptian Spice market or famed Grand Bazaar - one of the largest covered markets in the world, boasting more than 4000 stores. Overnight – Istanbul
Day 3: Istanbul - Pamukkale - breakfast
South to Pamukkale, home to the naturally occurring thermal travertine pools. En route, we visit a carpet dyeing, weaving and manufacturing house. Dinner and overnight - Pamukkale
Day 4: Pamukkale - Kusadasi - breakfast
To Roman Hierapolis which sits at the top of Pamukkale’s travertine source, where we enjoy a short tour. Here, perhaps opt for a dip in the Pamukkale Thermal, an amazing pool full of sunken Roman columns. Continuing all things Roman, we enjoy a guided visit at Ephesus - perhaps the best-preserved classical city on the Eastern Med. We’ll also take in a fashion stop at a top-grade leather garment house, before driving to coastal Kusadasi, where we can relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities. Dinner and overnight - Kusadasi.
Day 5: Kusadasi - Ayvalik - breakfast
Driving north, we visit the Roman ruins of Pergamum with it’s steep hillside amphitheatre (good photo call) & neighbouring asclepion (ancient medical centre). We then continue to Ayvalik on the Aegean coast. Dinner and overnight - Ayvalik
Day 6: Ayvalik - Gallipoli - breakfast
Departing early, we enjoy a short visit to Homer’s Troy, famed for its Trojan wooden horse and the fabled Helen. Via a ferry crossing at Canakkale, we continue to the Gallipoli Peninsular. This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the evocative war memorials that dot the region, for example; Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, The Nek and Johnston’s Jolly not to mention the masses of trenches and Kabatepe - the modest ANZAC museum (subject to timing and traffic conditions) and memorial gardens. Tonight, we’ll relax at our exclusive catered ANZAC Eve Turkish BBQ before later grabbing some space at the atmospheric ANZAC Eve vigil. BBQ Dinner and overnight - Dawn Service site (ANZAC Cove)
Day 7: ANZAC day: Gallipoli - Istanbul
First light heralds the Dawn Service. After, with maps in hand, you’re free to explore the many memorials dotted en route as you make your way to Lone Pine or Chunuk Bair for the Australian or New Zealand National services. This afternoon, we return to Istanbul, arriving late tonight. (timings on 25 April subject to coach traffic). Overnight - Istanbul
Day 8: Istanbul - breakfast
Tour ends after breakfast and hotel check out at 12noon.
Note: Istanbul sites are closed on the following days, this in NO WAY affects your touring program: Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market - closed Sunday, Hagia Sofia - closed Monday, Topkapi Palace closed on Tuesday.
HEADING TO EGYPT?
Check out our special 8 day King Tutankhamen & 13 day King Ramses tours, both are perfectly timed to start Sun 26th April 2009, the day your Smoko tour ends!
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