2009 ANZAC Day Tours
"The Major tour"
12 - Day itinerary
15 Apr 2009 to 26 Apr 2009

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. Overnight Istanbul.

After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. Overnight Istanbul. Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, drive to the nation's capital, Ankara, visiting the Mausoleum of Turkey's first President, Ataturk, and learn a little about why he is so revered in this country. With Ankara behind us, we head for the surreal moonscape of Cappadocia. Overnight Cappadocia. Breakfast and Dinner.

Today we tour the Goreme open-air museum, Pasabag and Uchisar castle. Photo opportunities are everywhere so have your cameras ready! Tonight, don't miss the optional Turkish folklore evening featuring folklore and belly dancers... a night you won't forget! Overnight Cappadocia. Breakfast and Dinner.

Today we visit the beautiful Ilhara Valley and the fascinating Derinkuyu underground city, home to early Christians who hid underground from Roman persecution. Overnight Cappadocia. Breakfast and Dinner.

Leaving Cappadocia we head south along an ancient Silk Road for the stunning Mediterranean Coast. Along the way you see a Caravansary in Sultanhani. At Turkey's religious capital Konya, we tour the Mevlana Whirling Dervish Museum. Overnight Pamukkale. Breakfast.

Visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient Roman resort city. Overnight Kusadasi. Breakfast and Dinner.

Stand in awe at the technology once used in Roman times, with a tour of the ancient city of Ephesus. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the city halls and stadium where chariot and horse races were once held. Afterwards, we visit the former Greek village of Sirince, which is famous for its fruit wines, before a leather goods presentation. Turkey produces some of the finest leather goods in the world and many are made here before branding in Italy. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and today we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value. Overnight Kusadasi. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Today we travel towards the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, stopping along the way for a tour of the magnificent acropolis of ancient Pergamum. Overnight Ayvalik. Breakfast and Dinner.

Early morning tour of Troy, the site of the famed Trojan Wars. You then tour the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, visiting Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial and ANZAC Cove if accessible. Straight after the tour we head for the site of the dawn service to get a good spot. Tonight, soak up the vibrant atmosphere under the stars waiting for the break of dawn. Overnight at Dawn Service. Breakfast.

Awake before sun rise to the ANZAC Dawn Service. We become aware of the almost deafening silence as we commemorate our fallen forefathers on this special day. Also attend the Australian &/or New Zealand Memorial services. After the services, we drive back to Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul.

Our tour concludes after breakfast and we bid farewell to our new friends. Breakfast.

Tour includes

o Inbound airport transfer from Ataturk Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport to your hotel
o Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
o Professional English-speaking tour guide for the duration of the tour
o Commemorative gift
o 10 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 6 Dinners
o 10 nights - Hotel accommodation in total.
  - 1 night in Ayvalik
  - 3 nights in Cappadocia
  - 3 nights in Istanbul
  - 2 nights in Kusadasi
  - 1 night in Pamukkale

Tour does not include

o Tips
o Entrance fees to the various sites
o Anything not mentioned above