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Day 1 - 21st April 2011
Istanbul
(Welcome cocktail and ANZAC conference included)
Meet at the Ataturk international airport, transfer to your 5 star hotel. Transfers from Sabiha Gokcen airport can be arranged at extra cost. You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul til 06:00pm. Between 06:00pm - 7:00pm we will have a conference about ANZAC Dawn Service and Turkey. The conference will be given by ANZAC experts who will come from Australia and New Zealand and by our professional Turkish ANZAC guides. Welcome cocktail, tea, coffee and snacks are included. You will meet with the other ANZAC participants and Alaturka Turkey team. We recommend you to arrange your flights, to be at the hotel prior the conference starts.
Traditional Traditional 1001 Turkish nights departs optional from hotel lobby at 08:00pm. Includes Turkish dinner, drinks and entertainment. Enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night. Enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night. Overnight 5 star hotel in Istanbul.
Day 2 - 22nd April 2011
Istanbul City Tour
(Breakfast included)
We depart from the hotel at 08:30am for the Istanbul city tour.
TOPKAPI PALACE: The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.
SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE: Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.
HIPPODROME: Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Lunch break and then we head to the SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.
After the Istanbul city tour you have the option to experience a Bosphorus cruise, you will have the chance to enjoy magnificent views of the Bosphorus straigt which is connecting Asia to Europe. Overnight 5 star hotel in Istanbul.
Day 3 - 23rd April 2011
Gallipoli and Troy Tour
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
We depart for Gallipoli at 07:00am (4.5 hours drive). On the way we will have the chance to watch the latest documentary on the Gallipoli Campaign. We arrive in Gallipoli for lunch on the coast of Gabatepe. After lunch we start our tour of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Visit Kabatepe War Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australias Memorial and Cemetery, Quinns Post, Turkish 57th Regiment Cemetery, the Nek, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial and Cemetery. After the Gallipoli tour, we depart at for the ancient city of Troy (approx. 1.5 hours drive including ferry).
Your guide will explain the mythology surrounding Troy, the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy. After Troy we drive to your boutique hotel in Assos (1 hour drive). Overnight at boutique hotel in Assos.
Day 4 - 24th April 2011
Free Day in Assos and ANZAC Cove
(Breakfast and buffet dinner included)
The day is yours to enjoy, relax and have fun with your new friends, or get some sleep before the Dawn Service! There is also much to see in Assos. Your tour guide will provide you with ideas of where to visit. Luggage can be kept at your hotel as you will return to stay here tomorrow night again. If you wish to buy snacks for the overnight camp, today is best time to do it. There are also some food and drink stalls available at ANZAC Cove. Tonight at 5:30pm we will meet at the hotel for our buffet dinner before heading to ANZAC Cove for the Dawn Service. Overnight at ANZAC Cove. If you dont want to stay outside at the ANZAC Commemorative Site overnight, we provide optional hotel accomodation at Gallipoli. This option is not available after your arrival in Turkey, pre-booking is required.
Day 5 - 25th April 2011
Gallipoli Dawn Service
(Dinner included)
Don't forget your sleeping bags, warm clothes, wet weather gear and torches because Gallipoli is still as dark and as cold today as it was 95 years ago when our ancestors landed. Please bring your hat, sunscreen and good walking shoes! Optional we provide sleepings bags, please let us know at time of booking.
04:30am ANZAC Day Dawn Service
10:30am Australian National Service
11.45am Turkish National Service
01:00pm New Zealand National Service
After the services at approx 03:00pm we will drive back to your boutique hotel in Assos. The night is yours to relax, dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight at boutique hotel in Assos.
Day 6 - 26th April 2011
Pergamon Tour and Kusadasi
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Drive to Pergamom (45 minutes drive) - see Asklepion, Zeus's alter, the Red Bassilcia etc. BERGAMA is the site of the Hellenistic - and later Roman city of Pergamon, ruled for several centuries by a powerful local dynasty. Its foremost attraction is the Kizil Avlu or "Red Basilica", a huge edifice on the river not far from the acropolis, originally built as a temple to the Egyptian god Osiris and converted to a basilica by the early Christians, when it was one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor addressed by St John in the book of Revelation - though sadly it's now a crumbling ruin with a mosque in one of its towers. After Pergamon we continue towards the city of Kusadasi. On the way, we will visit a place which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet weaving centre, followed by an optional Turkish Bath. After a good scrub down we will check into our hotel in time for dinner. Overnight 5 star hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 7 - 27th April 2011
Ephesus & Kusadasi
(Breakfast and dinner included)
At 08:30am we depart for Ephesus (20 minutes drive) - once the commercial centre of the ancient world - is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, once considered one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times, dates in its latest form from the third century B.C. The tour of the ruins also includes a theatre, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus. After lunch, we will make a shopping tour in which you will be aware of the ancient arts of Turkey like leather manufacturing and jewellery. As this will be a guided tour, you will avoid the constant nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey. Enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. Overnight 5 star hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 8 - 28th April 2011
Pamukkale Tour
(Breakfast and dinner included)
At 08:30 we leave Kusadasi for Pamukkale (2.5 hours drive). In Pamukkale we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, walking around this natural phenomenon gives you the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs that flow down the calcium terraces. After our days activities we will check into our hotel intime for dinner and the rest of the evening is yours to explore the small village or relax around the pool bar. Overnight 5 star hotel in Pamukkale.
Day 9 - 29th April 2011
Pamukkale & Istanbul
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast, you can enjoy the thermal pool and sun till 10:00am, then departure for Istanbul. (8.5 hours drive).The night is yours to Istanbul. Overnight 5 star hotel in Istanbul.
Day 10 - 30th April 2011
Istanbul - The End
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast, please check out from your room before 11:00am, as your ANZAC day tour ends today. Please make your own arrangements for departure or simply ask us.
We hope you had a memorable tour and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another Alaturka Turkey Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing Alaturka Turkey.
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