Start Date: 22/04/08
Finish Date: 27/04/08
Starts: Istanbul
Finish: Istanbul
Places Visited: Istanbul – Gallipoli - Edremit
Duration: 6 Days – 5 Nights
Price:  Double/Twin/Triple: £219.00 – Single : £269.00

Our tours have a range of inclusions “Your peace of mind” and Enjoyment

· Includes all entrance fees,
· Free Arrival Transfer to Ataturk International Airport (certain days only – see      below)
· Transportation in a fully Air-Conditioned, Non-Smoking new model Luxury Coach, 
· Fluent English speaking professional tour guide for the duration of the tour,
· FREE Anzac T-Shirt,
· A range of Gallipoli documentaries & movies to watch during bus journeys,
· FREE Souvenir,
· FREE Flashlight for the dark night at the Dawn Service and to take home with you,
· FREE Documentary CD to watch after your tour has finished
· Anzac Day memorial services at Gallipoli,
· All accommodation as per itinerary in 3 & 4 star hotels including Thermal Resort and Holiday Village
· EARLY ARRIVAL TO THE DAWN SERVICE,
· We have Turkish, Australian and New Zealand staff who have good knowledge of Gallipoli and Turkey,
· Private Security and we have Doctor traveling with us,
· No camping! No hidden extra costs. Don't wake up to Nightmares,
· GET A GOOD SPOT AT DAWN SERVICE,
· We have been running Anzac tours for many years and know what Anzac day in Gallipoli is all about.

Day One: Tuesday 22nd April - Arrival in Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey! You will be greeted with hospitality at the Atatürk International Airport by a Sammys Travel representative and driven into the heart of the old city where you can rest and relax for the remainder of the day. Today you may have an optional Bosphorus Cruise (2:30pm) where you can view the wonders of Istanbul from the water. Also tonight you have the option of attending a special Turkish Gala Evening (7:30pm) where you will enjoy amazing Turkish food and world famous Turkish entertainment.
Overnight: Istanbul

Day Two: Wednesday 23rd April - Istanbul to Gallipoli
After an early breakfast we drive to the World War I Battlefield of Gallipoli stopping along the way to pick up refreshments for lunch. You will also have an opportunity to watch “Gallipoli” the movie so you get a feel for the type of people who fought in this war and to help you picture conditions 93 years ago. This afternoon on a fully guided tour, you will visit the Kabatepe War Museum, Anzac Cove, Hell Spit Cemetery, Lone Pine, The Nek, and Chunuk Bair War memorial.  Your guide will reveal stories of battle woes and will bring alive the legend of the Anzac's. By visiting the peninsula on the 23 rd April we get to spend more time exploring without the crowds from other tours that arrive on the 24th. This evening we will travel to our luxurious accommodation, where an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner awaits.
Overnight: Edremit
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner


Day Three: Thursday 24th April - Relax at Thermal Resort
Today you have the opportunity to see and enjoy the rural side of Turkey. You don’t need to wake up early in the morning as we will leave after breakfast for Tahtakuşlar. Here you can observe the ideal Turkish village life of nomads as you look around the only village museum in Turkey (awarded by Unesco).  In this museum there are objects about the fauna & flora of Turkey and all the handcrafted nomadic arts are displayed. Turkish people are Nomadic in origin but today most of them have settled on the top of mountains. There are more than 40,000 nomadic villages and tribes in Turkey and one of them is the picturesque village of Çamlibel which is on the skirts of mythological Olympos Mountain (today’s Mount Ida).  They are waiting for you here to show you the famous Turkish hospitality and friendship. A guest is a king in Turkey therefore you will be made welcome with food and drink while you relax.  In the afternoon we head back to the hotel to enjoy the rest of the day. Make sure you get plenty of rest because ANZAC day will be a long busy day. A buffet dinner will be served so you can fill up before departing for Gallipoli late afternoon. We arrive at Anzac Cove to ensure we get a good spot for the dawn service. Don't forget your sleeping bags, warm clothes, wet weather gear and torches because Gallipoli is still as dark and cold tonight as it was 93 years ago when your ancestors landed.
Overnight: Anzac Cove
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner


Day Four: Friday 25th April - Anzac Day at Gallipoli
At first light the day begins with the Dawn Service held at the ANZAC Commemorative Site, which will be followed by the Australian and New Zealand memorial services held at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair respectively. Today is the reason you came to Turkey, to commemorate the sacrifice your forefathers have made. Emotions run high and this afternoon you will travel back to Istanbul, arriving there in the late evening.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Lunchbox


Day Five: Saturday 26th April - Istanbul City Tour
This morning we partake in a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents. We will visit the Hagia (St.) Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. Hippodrome, center of sportive (chariot races, athletics) events and political activities of the old city. Obelisk of heodosius, Serpentine Column, German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating Hippodrome.  Topkapi Palace The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of cyrstal, 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.  The rest of the day is yours free to explore in Istanbul.
Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast


Day Six: Sunday 27th April - The end of the tour
After breakfast the tour finishes and we bid farewell to our new found friends and exchange e-mails. Wherever you are heading to next you will take unforgettable memories and a new understanding of this country that plays such an important part in your history. If you want to extend your stay or if you need any transport to the airport or bus station please let your guide know.
Meals: Breakfast


Tour Includes:


Arrival Airport Transfers

Arrival airport transfers are free for customers arriving at Ataturk International Airport between 6am on the 21^st April and midnight on the 22^nd April.

For customers arriving at Sabiha Gokcen - SAW on Easyjet flights from London on the 21^st and 22^nd April then we are able to provide an arrival transfer from this airport for £15 per person.  This airport is located a significant distance from the Istanbul city center therefore we have to charge customers for this service.


If arriving at Ataturk International Airport outside of the above times then please contact us at time of booking to discuss your arrival transfer requirements.  In addition if arriving at Sabiha Gokcen on airlines other than Easy Jet then also contact us to discuss your requirements.


IMPORTANT:  It is essential that customers who wish to use our transfer service send us full flight details including airline name, flight number, terminal number, arrival time.  It is your responsibility to ensure we have this information otherwise we cannot guarantee that a transfer will be available.


The check in time at your hotel on day of arrival is 12 noon so if arriving earlier than this time please be aware that you will not be able to check in immediately when getting to the hotel but luggage storage is available and you can relax in the hotel lobby.


Accommodation: 3 X Night Istanbul (3 Star), 2 X Night Edremit (4 Star)
Meals: 4 X Breakfasts, 2 X Dinners, 1 X Lunchbox
Transport: Air Conditioned (Non Smoking) Coach
All Entrance Fees
Professional English speaking Guide
Gallipoli Tour
Nomadic Village Tour
Istanbul City Tour
Anzac Day Memorial Services


Tour Excludes:
Meals unless stated
Drinks
Flight Tickets
Personal Expenses
Tips for Guides and Drivers


Important Information:
If you wish to arrive in Istanbul earlier than the 22^nd then Sammys Travel can arrange accommodation for you.  The cost of this is £18 for a double or £24 for a single room and please indicate this when making your booking under the ‘Optional Activities’ section.


Optional Activities that may be of interest with this tour:
1. Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Includes one free beer): £20.00 (22^nd April start 2:30pm)
2. Turkish Gala Evening (Includes meal and one free drink): £20.00 (22^nd April start 7:30pm)

Time availability for optional activities may depend on your arrival and departure times.  Please check at time of booking that you have sufficient time available.

If you are travelling alone and would prefer to pay the double rate then we can match you up with someone of the same gender to share a twin/triple room.


General Travel Information:
When booking an Anzac tour it is important to ensure that your tour operator is a member of TURSAB which is the Turkish regulatory body of tourist activities.  It is illegal for non-members to operate tours in Turkey without a TURSAB license and membership number.  Sammys Travel is a member of TURSAB (License No:1714).


Notice: Before you book with any agency, it is most important that you check all the details of the services offered. Low budget offers usually don't cover many services, such as: entrance fees, standard of the coaches, accommodation in Gallipoli, professional lecture about Gallipoli, private security, doctor, professional guide (not an escort or offsider), references of the agency and background.

Australian Govt. Announcement access Gallipoli ANZAC Day 2008 The Australian Dept of Veteran Affairs is making special arrangements for those with special needs in an effort to assist aged and infirm visitors.
Read more about this at:
http://www.dva.gov.au/commem/anzac/gallipoli01.htm#assistance
Also note from their website : "Travel by passenger car to these services is not allowed and on completion of the Dawn Service, official coaches will depart before public coach departures to meet Turkish protocol  requirements." 


Please, Read the notice from Australian Embassy :
A brief warning from the Australian Embassy web site: "Accommodation in the Gallipoli area, particularly for the night of 24 April, is very heavily booked well in advance of ANZAC Day. Intending travellers will need to make bookings as early as possible to secure accommodation.

 

 

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