ANZAC Day Gallipoli 2020. Starts: 21st April. Kicking off in Istanbul, visit Pamukkale, Roman ruins and hear ancient stories before commemorating the brave fallen soldiers at the ANZAC dawn service. Continue to Egypt to take in the amazing highlights including the Pyramids and a relaxing cruise on the Nile.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Istanbul - Gateway to the East
21st April 2020. Welcome to Turkey and the start of an exciting ANZAC experience! Airport to hotel arrival transfer. Rest of the day free in Istanbul, a city that straddles both Europe and Asia.
If you are arriving to Istanbul early, you may wish to consider joining our Optional Backstreets Of Istanbul Tour taking place today. The tour commences at 9am. For further details of the excursion, please see our tour Trip Notes.
Overnight: Istanbul
Istanbul Old City Tour
This morning we spend a couple of hours cruising the Bosphorus before embarking on a guided sightseeing tour of the old city, taking in the stunning Iznik tiled Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome area, the 6th century Hagia Sofia, the ancient Underground Cistern and more. This afternoon time is given for you to explore the mammoth Grand Bazaar and exotic Egyptian Spice Market, the latter is located opposite the ferry terminal. Afterwards, you can opt to stay and discover the old city by night or return to the hotel.
Overnight: Istanbul | Breakfast, Dinner
Gallipoli - WW1 Battlefields
Istanbul - Gallipoli - Canakkale/Ayvalik. Today we explore ANZAC Cove and the many memorials dotted across the WW1 battlefields. Our guided tour takes in sights including ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Bair Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.
Overnight: Ayvalik/ Canakkale | Breakfast
Troy and Anzac Cove
Ayvalik – Troy - Kilitbahir - Gallipoli. This morning we enjoy a short-guided tour of Troy. The legend of the lost city of Troy and Homer’s poetry was brought to life by its rediscovery in 1863. We then continue to the village of Kilitbahir, situated on the eastern shore of the Gallipoli peninsula, and dominated by the fortress of the same name. We have some free this afternoon before early this evening we make our way to Anzac Cove. Once we're in Anzac Cove you are free to visit the memorials and trenches that dot the area before taking our places amongst the many at the Dawn Service site for the atmosphere-charged ANZAC Eve vigil.
Overnight: Dawn Service Site (Anzac Cove) | Breakfast
ANZAC Day - Gallipoli 2020
Gallipoli - Istanbul. Today the 25th April is the reason we came to Turkey and Gallipoli. Dawn and first light signals the commencement of the annual Dawn Service, attended by Australian, New Zealand and other foreign dignitaries, military personnel and a strong following of regular Australian and New Zealand folk. The poignant and emotive service commemorating this important and historical date allows us time to reflect. Lest we forget.
The service lasts for an hour and public wreath laying at the ANZAC Memorial site is possible afterwards. Later this morning Australian’s have the opportunity to visit the Lone Pine Memorial Service. Our New Zealanders are invited to attend the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair later on in the morning. Everyone will be picked up after the service at Chunuk Bair (exact time and location to be confirmed with your guide). We anticipate an early afternoon departure time from Gallipoli for onward travel to Istanbul. Crossing the Dardanelles by ferry we arrive into Istanbul later this afternoon.
Overnight: Istanbul
Istanbul to Cairo
26th April 2020. This morning the Turkish section of your tour comes to an end. We need to make your own way to the airport in order to catch our flight to Egypt. The flight to Cairo isn't included in the cost of the tour. Turkish Airlines offers open jaw flights between London, Cairo and Istanbul, check their website for more details or we can arrange flights on your behalf! If you provide us with your incoming flight details to Egypt we meet you at Cairo airport and transfer you to our hotel!
Overnight: Cairo | Breakfast
Pyramids of Giza
Today see the incredible pyramids and the iconic Sphinx at The Giza Plateau. We continue to a government supervised papyrus emporium, and then continue to Saqqara, to explore the myriad of tombs and temples at the site and see Zhoser's step pyramid - constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh's chief architect, in 2700 BC.
Overnight: Cairo | Breakfast
Egyptian Museum
Cairo - Luxor. We take a guided tour of the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza this morning. In this incredible 490,000 sq.m complex we discover a mind-boggling array of relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history, including the glistening treasures of King Tutankhamun. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool at the hotel or independently explore before we board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor this evening.
Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast
Luxor & Dendera
We arrive into Luxor this morning and drive to Dendera which is one of Egypt's best preserved temple complexes, located 60km north of Luxor. This vast complex covers 40,000 square meters and its temples, chapels and shrines were gradually built over thousands of years. Dendera's crowning glory is the 2000 year old Temple of Hathor with its exquisitely decorated ceiling. After our guided tour of this incredible site we return to Luxor where the afternoon if free to spend at leisure. Take a stroll around town or enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool and soak up the sunshine.
This evening there is an optional visit to view the beautiful Temple of Luxor at night. Book and pay locally.
Overnight: Luxor | Breakfast
Valley of the Kings & Karnak Temples
4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at its very best and this morning we visit Luxor’s famous West Bank. Our first stop is the famous Valley of the Kings, which is studded with beautifully decorated tombs, including the tombs of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and of course, King Tutankhamen. After exploring this incredible site we travel on to visit the beautiful limestone colonnaded Temple of Hatshepsut, who was one of only three Egyptian ruling queens. On the West Bank we also see the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon, which are all that remains of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III.
Returning to the East Bank we check-in on board a 5 star Nile cruiser which is our home for the next four nights. Enjoy lunch and some rest and relaxation on board before we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak later this afternoon. More than a temple, Karnak is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods and to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdom rulers.
Overnight: Nile Cruising | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nile Cruising
Nile cruising. Today we set sail downstream to Edfu. Relax on deck and go for a swim, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the views as we cruise the River Nile.
Overnight: Nile Cruising | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kom Ombo Temple
Nile cruising. Enjoy another day relaxing on board the cruiser as we sail the Nile to the Temple of Kom Ombo today, which is dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon-headed god. This temple is unusual because everything is architecturally doubled and perfectly symmetrical along the main axis of the temple including twin halls, courts, colonnades, sanctuaries and entrances. After a guided tour of the temple we continue our journey, arriving into Aswan this evening.
Overnight: Nile Cruising | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Aswan, Abu Simbel & the Philae Temple
Consider the optional early morning excursion to the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel today. Please see our Abu Simbel by Road add-on for more info. Alternatively, you can spend the morning at leisure.
This afternoon we take a short motorboat trip to Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. The temple dates from 4th century BC but the Ptolomies and the Romans up to 3rd century AD built most of the existing structures. In danger of being completely submerged by the rising water of Lake Nasser, in 1972 UNESCO stepped in and an 8-year rescue effort was undertaken to relocate the entire temple 20m higher on nearby Agilika Island. Upon returning to Aswan we visit a perfume oil emporium. The use of essential and perfumed oils in Egypt dates back to 2700BC. Perfumed oils were used by women, pharaohs and by temple priests for worship who offered a melange of 6 perfumes called Kyphi to the Sun God at dawn, noon and dusk.
Overnight: Nile Cruising | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Aswan at leisure
Aswan - Cairo. Today offers free time for you to discover Aswan - your way. Consider a visit to the Old Cataract Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote the novel Death on the Nile or opt for a visit to the well-curated Nubian Museum.
Late this afternoon, we board the overnight train (twin berth sleeper cabins provided) for our journey back to Cairo.
Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast
Cairo - Old City tour or relax
Arriving into Cairo this morning, transfer to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the hotel facilities or you can opt to or join us for an optional tour visiting Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo and the Citadel of Saladin (book locally).
Overnight: Cairo | Breakfast
Cairo
Wednesday. Hotel check out and included onward departure transfer to airport.
Breakfast