anzac bonzer - 11 days

Tour Information
Starts & Ends in: Istanbul
Start Date: Thu 23rd April
End Date: Sun 3rd May
Prices: Click here
Local Payment Required: No 
Breakfast: 9, Dinner: 6
Hotel rating: 3 - 4  & Special Class
Tour Guide: Yes

Day 1 - 23 april - Istanbul Thursday 2009. Welcome to Turkey and a memorable ANZAC experience! Choice of shuttle transfers to hotel. The remainder of the day at leisure, in Istanbul – a city that straddles both Europe and Asia! Overnight – Istanbul Day 2 - Gallipoli Istanbul - Gallipoli - breakfast. Very early departure 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 and memorial gardens (subject to timing and traffic conditions). This afternoon we’ll relax at our exclusive, catered ANZAC Eve Turkish BBQ before later taking our places at the packed Dawn Service site for the atmospheric ANZAC Eve vigil. BBQ Dinner and overnight – Dawn Service site (ANZAC Cove).

Cappadocia by night • 3 course dinner • beer and wine • belly dancing • folklore show • a top night out!  Tickets can only be purchased before arriving in Turkey. Prices

Day 3 - ANZAC Day - Gallipoli
Gallipoli - Ayvalik. First light heralds a poignant bugle call and the start of the Dawn Service. Afterwards, armed with your maps, independently explore more of the many 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 depart Gallipoli for the Aegean coast. On arrival at Ayvalik we check-in to our hotel for a well-earned rest after a day filled with emotion (Timing on 25 April subject to coach traffic). Dinner and overnight – Ayvalik.

Day 4: Kusadasi
Ayvalik - Kusadasi - breakfast. Today, we drive south. Set on a high hill are the Roman ruins of Pergamum and awesome hill-side amphitheatre. We also visit the neighbouring asclepion - a Roman precursor to modern-day hospitals! Continuing to coastal Kusadasi, relax after an exciting day. Dinner and overnight – Kusadasi

Day 5: Ephesus
Kusadasi - breakfast. Today, we enjoy a guided tour at the legendary Roman ruins of Ephesus. Positively the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, Ephesus, under the Romans was a vast city with a population nearing 250,000. Rumoured to have been founded in the 13th century BC, it became the Roman capital of Asia Minor. It revelled in its prosperity from commerce and visiting pilgrims who came to see the its great Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Exemplifying the finesse of Roman urban life, Ephesus boasts carefully restored elements within the huge archaeological area include the Great Theatre once capable of seating 25,000 spectators at one time, Curetes Way (one of the main thoroughfares) the Temple of Serapis, the elegant façades of the Temple of Hadrian and the awesome Library of Celsus. Off Curetes Way, are ancient public toilets, a brothel, remains of fountains and various temples. Dinner and overnight - Kusadasi

Day 6 - Pamukkale
Kusadasi - Pamukkale - breakfast. Driving east, a short stop is made at a leather factory before arriving at Pamukkale - famed for its unique cascades of natural mineral rich pools. Here we can paddle our feet in the warm water flowing over the terraces or perhaps opt for a swim at the Pamukkale Thermal Baths. Dinner and overnight – Pamukkale (basic hotel).

Days 7 - Cappadocia
Pamukkale - Cappadocia - breakfast. Today, we travel north-east to the famed fairy castles of Cappadocia. En route we break at Konya and visit the Mevlana Whirling Dervish Museum and an old caravanserai in Sultanhani. Dinner and overnight – Cappadocia

Day 8: Cappadocia
Cappadocia - breakfast. Whole troglodyte villages, subterranean churches and fortresses hewn from the soft, eroded volcanic  rock have made Cappadocia one of Turkey’s finest attractions. Guided tour of the Goreme Valley, Zelve with its phallic-like eroded landscape of so-called ‘fairy chimneys’ and notable rock formations within the region. Tonight, it's our optional 'Cappadocia by night! With dinner, beer, wine, belly dancers and entertainment its a top night out! See box text above more info. Overnight – Cappadocia

Day 9 - Cappadocia
Cappadocia - Istanbul - breakfast. Today, we return to Istanbul via Ankara, the nation’s capital. Here, we visit the mausoleum of Atatürk - the founding father of modern Turkey. Arriving Istanbul late evening, we check into our hotel. Overnight – Istanbul

Day 11 - 03 May - Istanbul
Sunday 2009. 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 GOBUS! Go Freestyle! Our great 9 day Egyptian Express & 15 day Pyramids & Beaches tours, are light on the pocket and perfectly timed to start the day your Bonzer tour ends!