Anzac Smoko - 8 days

Starts: 19th April. Kicking off in Istanbul, take a dip in Pammukale's thermal pools, explore the Roman ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum before experiencing the memorable ANZAC Dawn Service at Gallipoli.

Day 1: 19 April - Istanbul
Monday 19th April 2010. 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 old city
Today, a guided classic city tour taking in the Hippodrome area, exotic Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. This afternoon is free for you to explore, perhaps This afternoon, offers free time to explore. Perhaps a visit the behemoth Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market. When the sun sets, enjoy Istanbul by night! With dinner, belly dancers and entertainment at a central Istanbul venue, it’s a top value evening and a great way to meet fellow travellers (transport shuttles provided). Overnight - Istanbul (B)
Anzac Smoko - 8 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
The ancient roman city of Ephesus in Turkey
Day 3: Pamukkale
Istanbul - Pamukkale. South to Pamukkale, home to the naturally occurring thermal travertine pools. En route, we visit a carpet dyeing, weaving and manufacturing house. Overnight - Pamukkale (B, D)
Day 4: Ephesus
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 Overnight - Kusadasi (B, D)
The replica wooden Trojan horse at Troy
Day 5: Roman Pergamum
Kusadasi - Ayvalik. 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. Overnight - Ayvalik (B, D)
Day 6: Gallipoli
Ayvalik - Gallipoli. A very early departure to the WW1 battlefields on Gallipoli Peninsular. This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour (subject to timing and traffic conditions) of the evocative war memorials that dot the region, for example; Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, Johnston’s Jolly, the trenches and Kabatepe - the modest ANZAC museum. Early this evening, we’ll relax at our exclusive ANZAC Eve Turkish BBQ before later taking our places amongst the many at the Dawn Service site for the atmosphere charged ANZAC Eve vigil. Overnight - Dawn Service site (ANZAC Cove) (B, D)
Crowds at the ANZAC day Dawn Service site in Turkey
Day 7: ANZAC Day - Gallipoli
First light heralds a poignant bugle call and commencement of the Dawn Service. After the service and armed with your maps, you’ve a chance to independently explore many of the trenches and memorial sites as you head up to Lone Pine or Chunuk Bair for the Australian or New Zealand National services. Later this afternoon, we return to Istanbul, where upon our late evening arrival, we check into our hotel for a well-earned rest after such an emotion-filled day. (timings on 25 April subject to coach traffic) Overnight - Istanbul
Day 8: 26 April - Istanbul
Monday 26th April 2010. Istanbul. After breakfast, approx 09:00, we’ll enjoy a 2 hour cruise along the Bosphorus - the strait that divides European from Asian Istanbul. Returning for hotel check out at 12noon. This marks the end of a memorable ANZAC experience. (B)

Heading to Egypt?
Combine ANZAC day in Turkey with the best of ancient Egypt - taking in the legendary Pyramids of Giza, treasures of King Tutankhamen and the Valley of the Kings.

Check out our 6 day Pharaohs Adventure or 10 day Egypt Unplugged tours, both perfectly timed to start Tue 27th April 2010, giving you a day to travel from Turkey to Egypt before your Egyptian Adventure begins.

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.