Classical Turkey with Anzac Commemorations 2024

Morning at leisure. In the afternoon you will be picked up from your hotel and driven west to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Dinner (own arrangements) in Canakkale, followed by a late evening departure to Anzac Cove, where you will join the gathering crowd and immerse yourself in the atmosphere. It is a night filled with anticipation and a night where sleep is not on the agenda. (There is no accommodation tonight).

This profoundly emotional day begins at dawn. Participate in the commemorative Dawn Service to remember and honour the countless lives lost. Following the Dawn Service, pay your respects at the battlefields and join the international services. In the afternoon drive back to Istanbul where accommodation is reserved for two nights.  

Today is at leisure, a time to rest and reflect.

Embark on a full day guided tour of some of the best sites of Istanbul, the city where east meets west. Originally founded as Byzantium, then known as Constantinople, after Constantine the Great, Istanbul is home to many fascinating sites. The first stop on your tour is Topkapi Palace Museum, residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1453 to 1852 (excluding the harem). Continue to the Blue Mosque built between 1609 and 1616 and famous for its blue ceramic tiles; the Hippodrome which was once the centre of life where chariot racing and other public events took place; and the incredible Hagia Sophia Mosque (view from the outside) - originally built in 537ad this marvel of engineering is famed for the giant dome, an incredible feat for the time period and considered as one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Your last stop will be the famous Grand Bazaar. With over 60 streets and 4000 shops, there is a bargain to be found for everyone here.

After breakfast depart for Cappadocia. Take a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake, one of the largest hypersaline lakes in the world, before arriving in Cappadocia for an overnight stay.

Optional: Early morning Balloon tour (supplement applies).

Embark on a full day excursion in Cappadocia, famous for its distinctive rock formations (referred to as 'fairy chimneys'), amazing caves and historical history. Visit the Kaymakli Underground City, the Open Air Museum in Goreme and the incredible natural fortress in Uchisar. Lunch today in a cave restaurant to taste famous pottery Kebab (made using an Avanos pot). There will be an opportunity to discover and understand the rich history behind local handicrafts like hand-made carpets, Turkish tiles, onyx, and potteries. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Optional: Night Tour with a Turkish Show and dinner (supplement applies).

Early departure for Pamukkale. Pamukkale, meaning "Cotton Castle" in Turkish, derived its name from the striking natural landscape and is famous for its travertine terraces made from minerals deposited by thermal waters. En-route visit the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece, Sultanhan Caravanserai - one of the best examples of Seljuk architecture in Turkey and one of the largest medieval caravanserai in the country. These caravanserai were built to shelter the caravaneers, their animals and cargo and keep them safe from highwaymen as they travelled along the ancient Silk Route. Proceed to Konya where you will visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, housing the tomb of Mevlana Rumi the great 13th-century Sufi poet and founder of the Mevlevi (Whirling) Dervish order. Continue to Pamukkale for an overnight stay.

Explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, with its spectacular ruins and magnificent Necropolis, one of the best preserved in Turkey offering an insight into the funerary practices of the Greco-Roman era. Marvel at the spectacular lime terraces cascading down the side of the hill before travelling on to Selcuk to visit the Temple of Artemis ''one of the seven wonders of the ancient world''. Proceed to Kusadasi for a two night stay.

Today discover the ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Turkey's most significant ancient cities. Explore its marbled streets, visit the magnificent Library of Celsus, the impressive open air Amphitheatre, and the Temple of Hadrian dating back to the 2nd Century. Lunch today will be in a nomadic tent in Selcuk to taste Turkish Gozleme. Continue to the village of Sirince, where you can experience one of the most beautiful villages in Turkey and take the opportunity to taste their delicious wines, before returning to Kusadasi. Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

Early departure for Bergama to visit the Asklepion with its well preserved remains before you step into mythology with a visit to Troy, the scene of heroic deeds from such legends as Achilles, Paris, Ulysses, Priam, and the incomparably beautiful Helen – “the face that launched a thousand ships.” Immortalised by Homer in his epic The Iliad, Troy was thought to be entirely fictitious until it was discovered by pioneering archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in the 1870’s. The replica wooden horse adds further depth to the experience. Later continue to Canakkale for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, cross the Dardanelles and continue to Gallipoli. On arrival, visit Anzac Cove, Nek, Chunuk Bair, Lone Pine Cemetery and the 57th Regiment Memorial. The doomed assault on Gallipoli by New Zealand and Australian forces, in their own contingents for the first time in foreign service, is considered by many to have been the birth of national consciousness for these two countries. For the Turks, then part of the Ottoman Empire, the victory is regarded as the defining moment in the birth of the Turkish nation, with independence following just 8 years later. Continue on to Istanbul for an overnight stay.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

• Arrival transfer from Istanbul (IST) Airport only on Day 1 (supplement applies fo transfer from Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) Airport)
• Moderate First and First Class hotels with private facilities
• Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
• Complimentary 4G Wi-fi internet service onboard the coach
• Meals and sightseeing as indicated on the itinerary
• Professional English speaking guides
• Entrance fees
• Porterage at hotels
• Departure transfer to Istanbul (IST) airport only on Day 13 - shuttles at 9.00am or 1.00pm (supplement applies for transfer to Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) Airport
• Turkey Travel Notes – issued by Innovative Travel

• International airfares
• Optional tours and excursions
• Port Taxes and fuel surcharges
• Porterage
• Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
• Personal Expenses
• Departure taxes
• Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
• Visas (unless specified)
• Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above

DOUBLE BEDS
Please note a double bedded room can be requested but cannot be guaranteed. In Turkey double rooms are very limited.

PORTERAGE
Porterage for one suitcase is included in the tour price. Due to limited coach capacity, the single bag should not exceed the dimensions of 30”x18”x10” and not weigh more than 50lbs (25kg).