Welcome to Istanbul, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, meet your guide and the rest of your group.

After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace (including Hagia Irene and the Harem), the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar. Tonight don’t miss the optional Turkish Folklore evening.

On 24 April, due to official restrictions and security measures related to high-level attendance, it is very likely that a full Gallipoli tour will not be permitted on this day. We will depart from Istanbul in the morning and travel to Çanakkale.

Upon arrival, your guide will organise a flexible programme depending on conditions and group preference.

After hotel check-in and some rest, we will depart around midnight, cross by ferry, and proceed to Anzac Cove, arriving at approximately 1:00am to secure a place for the overnight stay in preparation for the Dawn Service.

Awake before sun rise for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service. We become aware of the almost deafening silence as the moving service to commemorate our fallen forefathers on this special day begins. You will then have the chance to attend the Australian or New Zealand Memorial service before returning to the hotel in the afternoon.
Morning Commemorations
1:30 am: Pre-Service program begins.

3:00 am: Final entry deadline. Site access closes and temporary road closures take effect.

5:00 am: “Spirit of Place” introductory segment.

5:30 am: Anzac Day Dawn Service officially commences.

National Memorial Services
10:00 am: Australian Memorial Service (Lone Pine).

11:30 am: New Zealand Memorial Service (Chunuk Bair).

Departure
1:00 pm: Coach boarding begins at Chunuk Bair/Hill 261.

Depart from Canakkale and head towards Troy where we will explore the and award-winning Troy Museum and the ancient city of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the legendary city walls, stand where heroes like Achilles and Hector once battled, and marvel at the remnants of temples and theatres that whisper stories of a glorious past.

Absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the ancient city and theatre before continuing to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at the carpet village we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value.

This morning we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before heading to the magnificent white calcium terraces, known as Travertines, in Pamukkale where we also tour the ancient city of Hierapolis. Take a dip, amongst ancient columns, in the hot springs that were used in Roman times for their therapeutic powers.

After breakfast we head for the resort town of Antalya, stopping along the way to visit isit the Laodicea which was the chief city of the Lycus River Valley region. The full name of the city was Laodicea ad Lyceum (Laodicea on the Lycus). The city was originally known as Diospolis (“the City of Zeus”). The Greek deity considered to be the greatest of the Olympian gods. Then, we will head to resort town, Antalya. We will visit Antalya Arecheological Museum in the afternoon.

Full day tour of the ancient ruins of Perge and Aspendos. In Aspendos, you can see the Roman Theatre built in the 2nd century and seating 15,000 people. Side is one of the best classical sites in Turkey with its Temple of Apollo and ancient ruins.

We will visit the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the great 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet, whose teachings continue to inspire people worldwide. Inside the Mevlana Museum, we will explore his beautifully adorned tomb, ancient manuscripts, and exhibits on the Whirling Dervishes and their spiritual traditions.Continuing our journey along the legendary Silk Road, we will visit the Çatalhöyük Museum, which brings to life the fascinating history of one of the world’s oldest and most advanced Neolithic settlements.

Today we head to Cappadocia, visiting Sultanhani Caravansary, an ancient Silk Road stop off for merchants and traders. Later we explore the many levels of an underground city. After checking into our hotel we visit a traditional Turkish home for dinner. Here you can do a course and help cook if you wish.

Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia today as we visit the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys. We then visit Pigeon and Red Valley, followed by Cavusin village and lastly Avanos town where we will learn about hand-made pottery.

We depart from Cappadocia early in the morning and drive to the charming town of Safranbolu, known for its well-preserved Ottoman architecture. Upon arrival, we explore the historical Cinci Han and its nearby hamam, stroll around the iconic Safranbolu Clock Tower (Saat Kulesi), and visit the beautifully restored Kaymakamlar Evi to get a glimpse of traditional Ottoman lifestyle. We’ll also wander through the cobbled streets of the old town, stopping by local shops in a historical setting. Overnight stay in Safranbolu.

After breakfast, we set off for Istanbul, enjoying scenic views along the way. Overnight in Istanbul

After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.