ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

242 Views
11 Days From

$2905

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

11 Days Starting and ending in Istanbul

Visiting: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Cappadocia's Goreme Valley, Pamukkale, Ayvalik, Eceabat & Gallipoli

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

151/AMT

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 32

Age range:

18yrs or 16yrs accompanied by an adult

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

Interests:

Cultural

From: $2905

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

ANZAC Day Gallipoli 2025. Starts: 16th April. Take in the highlights of Turkey and attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli on this 11 day tour. Marvel at the spectacular landscape of Cappadocia and discover the remarkable Roman ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum. See Istanbul's iconic Blue Mosque and paddle in Pammukale's thermal pools. Visit legendary Troy and Gallipoli's WW1 battlefields, before commemorating the brave ANZACs on ANZAC Day in 2025.

Highlights

  • ANZAC Service Site - Attend the ANZAC eve vigil on the Gallipoli Peninsula and as the sun rises, pay your respects at the Dawn Service

  • Gallipoli Peninsula - Learn about the Gallipoli Campaign, explore the WW1 battlefields, memorial sites and ANZAC Cove

  • Istanbul - Take in the highlights of Istanbul including the iconic Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia mosque and the Underground Cistern

  • Cappadocia - Delight in surreal landscapes, hermit cave villages and World Heritage Listed Goreme Valley with its rock cut churches and Zelve Monastery

  • Pamukkale - Paddle in the thermal waters flowing down the white travertine terraces

  • Ephesus & Pergamum - Roam around the Roman ruins of ancient Ephesus, with its spectacular Library of Celsus and the hillside amphitheatre at Pergamum

  • Konya - Visit the Mevlana Museum (or Green Mausoleum) and discover the original home of a mystical Sufi Muslim group and their founder Mevlana

  • Kilitbahir - Admire the imposing fortress on the west side of the Dardanelles built to control the strait at its narrowest point

  • Troy - Enjoy a short tour of the famous city of Homeric legend and see the giant replica Trojan Horse

  • Silk Road from Konya - Stop off at the traditional roadside inn of Sultanhan Caravanserai, a resting point of former weary travellers

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Istanbul

Location: Istanbul

Wed 16th April 2025. Welcome to Turkey and the start of a unforgettable ANZAC experience! Airport to hotel arrival transfer. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. If you are arriving to Istanbul early, we recommend joining our optional Backstreets Of Istanbul Tour taking place today. The tour commences at 9am. For further details of the excursion, please see our tour Trip Notes. This evening meet your guide and fellow travellers at a welcome meeting.

Day 2: Istanbul

Location: Istanbul

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we set off on guided tour of the old city, taking in the stunning Iznik tiled Blue Mosque, historic Hippodrome area, 6th century Hagia Sophia (exterior only), ancient Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace and more. This afternoon, we take a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. Look out for waterside palaces framed by a modern city skyline dotted with expansive domed mosques and towering minarets of traditional Ottoman style. Afterwards there's free time to independently explore. From here you can either stay and discover the old city by night or return with your guide to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.

Day 3: Cappadocia

Location: Cappadocia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Istanbul - Cappadocia. Today we depart Istanbul and begin our lengthy journey across the country towards Cappadocia. We'll make a number of stops on route. After arriving into Cappadocia this afternoon, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 4: Cappadocia's Goreme Valley

Location: Cappadocia's Goreme Valley

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Perhaps the jewel in Turkey’s crown, Cappadocia is an extraordinary national treasure. Gaze in awe at this unbelievable landscape with its cave dwellings and phallic ‘fairy chimneys’ landscape that are the stuff of fables. Whole troglodyte (hermit) villages, subterranean churches and fortresses have been hewn from the soft, porous, eerily eroded rock of Cappadocia. A guided tour of the region takes us to the World Heritage listed Goreme Valley where we’ll see stunning examples of rock-cut Byzantine churches, chapels and temples, and Zelve monastery with its jaw-dropping landscape of towering eroded rocks.

Day 5: Pamukkale

Location: Pamukkale

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale. It's an early departure this morning as we head for Pamukkale. On the way we visit the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece of Sultanhan Caravanserai before arriving in Konya. In Konya we visit the Mevlana Museum also known as the Green Mausoleum which is the original lodge of the Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes. We then continue our drive to Pamukkale for our overnight stay.

Day 6: Pamukkale

Location: Pamukkale

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Pamukkale - Ephesus - Kusadasi. Famed for its unique cascades of natural mineral rich pools, Pammukale captures the heart of any traveller. Here we can paddle our feet in the warm water flowing over the terraces or take a relaxing dip in the Pamukkale Thermal Baths. Just beyond the thermal pools we make a stop at the Roman ruins of Hierapolis.





This afternoon we continue to the legendary Roman ruins of Ephesus. Easily the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, Ephesus stood as a vast Roman city with a population nearing 250,000. Rumoured to have been founded in the 13th century BC, it became the Roman capital of Asia Minor and enjoyed prosperity thanks to commerce and visiting pilgrims who flocked for a glimpse of the magnificent Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Strong archeological remains can be seen at Ephesus including the Great Theatre (once capable of seating 25,000 spectators at one time), Curetes Way (one of the main thoroughfares) the Temple of Serapis, the elegant façades of the Temple of Hadrian and the awesome Library of Celsus - underlining its status as a centre point for Roman urban life. Off Curetes Way are ancient public toilets, a brothel, remains of fountains and various temples. We end our day at our hotel in Kusadasi.

Day 7: Ayvalik

Location: Ayvalik

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Assos

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kusadasi - Pergamum - Assos. This morning we drive north, stopping at the Roman ruins of Pergamum and its impressive hillside amphitheatre. We also visit the neighbouring Asclepion - a Roman precursor to modern-day hospitals - before continuing onto to Assos.

Day 8: Eceabat & Gallipoli

Location: Eceabat & Gallipoli

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Assos / Canakkale

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we explore ANZAC Cove and the many memorials dotted across the WW1 battlefields. Our guided tour takes in sights including ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Bair Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.

Day 9: Cappadocia

Location: Cappadocia

Accommodation Name: Overnight: Dawn Service site (ANZAC Cove)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Assos – Troy - Kilitbahir - Gallipoli. After a morning at leisure we enjoy a short-guided tour of Troy. The legend of the lost city of Troy and Homer’s poetry was brought to life by its rediscovery in 1863. We then continue to the village of Kilitbahir, situated on the eastern shore of the Gallipoli peninsula and dominated by the fortress of the same name. After exploring Kilitbahir we stop in the town of Eceabat for dinner (at your own expense) before entering the Cove. Once we're in Anzac Cove you are free to visit the memorials and trenches in the area before taking our places among the many at the Dawn Service site for the atmosphere-charged ANZAC Eve vigil.

Day 10: Anzac Day - Gallipoli 2025

Location: ANZAC Day - Gallipoli 2025

Gallipoli - Istanbul. Today, the 25th April is the reason we came to Turkey and Gallipoli. Dawn and first light signals the commencement of the annual Dawn Service, attended by Australian, New Zealand and other foreign dignitaries, military personnel and a strong following of regular Australian and New Zealand folk. The poignant and emotive service commemorating this important and historical date gives us time to reflect. Lest we forget.





The service lasts for an hour and public wreath laying at the ANZAC Memorial site is possible afterwards. Later this morning Australians have the opportunity to pay their respects at the Lone Pine Memorial Service, while New Zealanders can attend the service at Chunuk Bair. After the Chunuk Bair service we anticipate an early afternoon departure time from Gallipoli, for our return journey to Istanbul. Please note: the 2025 national memorial services at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair are subject to confirmation.

Day 11: Istanbul

Location: Istanbul

Meals Included: Breakfast

Sat 26th April 2025. You tour ends after breakfast and hotel check out. We hope you have had a wonderful holiday in Turkey and a memorable ANZAC Day 2025 experience.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    4 - 5 star

  • 9 breakfasts and 4 dinners

  • 9 nights 4 - 5 star hotels

  • 1 night at the Dawn Service site

  • Guided sightseeing of Ephesus, Pergamum, Pammukale/Hierapolis and Cappadocia

  • Guided sightseeing of Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Hagia Sophia (exterior), Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome area and Egyptian Spice Market

  • Guided sightseeing of Gallipoli, battlefields and war memorials (subject to site opening times set by the Anzac Day Organising Committee)

  • Cruise along Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul

  • English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide

  • Airport arrival transfer on day 1 from Istanbul International Airport at any time, or from Sabiha Gokcen Airport at 11am and 3pm only

  • All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles

show more

What's Not Included

  • International flights and visa

  • Attendance Pass for ANZAC. Please see the Trip Notes for information on how to obtain your attendance pass - these are free of charge but need to be registered for in advance

  • Tip for your tour guide and driver: as a guideline we recommend you budget EUR €5 - 7 per day, per traveller for your guide and EUR €2 per day, per traveller for your driver. Tipping your tour guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture

  • Entrance Fees: EUR€265-285pp, paid in EUR

Age Policy

18yrs or 16yrs accompanied by an adult

Check out our Q&As

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Charmaine Keir-Ward  

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

25-Apr-2015

Reggie was amazing, he was extremely informative, fun and nothing was to much trouble for him. He really made us feel very comfortable and safe. I loved all the local eating,I would never normally risk eating local food when travelling............I truly got to experience the entirety of Turkey. I am going to miss his cheeriness when I go home xxxxx

Mark John Andrews  

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

30-Apr-2024

The tour, guide and driver were fantastic. The Blue Mosque was closed on the day of the tour which was disappointing. I also would ask On the Go tours admin to review the pre tour options ie the spice market and cruise as they are duplicated again in other tours. The back street tours goes to the spice markets and the cruise is undertaken during the main tour. The guide however for the spice market tour and cruise was very good. Also some consideration should be given to the ballooning operator and people were getting better prices independently sometimes up to $400 cheaper

Leanne Keating  

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

06-May-2024

Wonderful tour and fantastic tour guide, couldn’t have wished for more. The only disappointment was the accommodation in Cappadocia, apparently we were upgraded however the accommodation (guest rooms) were absolutely filthy, also the air con didn’t work or the fridge. There was no ventilation so we had to leave our door open with chain on which is not acceptable. The floor was so filthy we had to wear jandles at all times. Talking to the other guests they thought their rooms, especially the floors were filthy and also had issues with amenities. Our bathroom/toilet also had an awful smell, smelt like a men’s public urinal. We had to spend 2 nights in this accommodation, all the other accommodations were wonderful however this particular one certainly let the tour down. Would also like to say our guide and bus driver were absolutely amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour, it was just a shame about the Cappadocia accommodation or the tour would have been perfect.

Robyn & Nathan Harris  

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

16-Jun-2016

Yesterday I received two hoodies regarding the celebration of the above mentioned Tour. I wish to thank you for your follow up of these items. On the tour our bus only had S, M, and a few L, which only fitted a few people. Disappointing at the time. Having received your correspondence previously regarding the tour (which I thought was excellent) I will now be shouting your praises as to the fact that your company followed through completing our experience of our holiday. And leaving us with a wonderful memento of our trip. Again many thanks and every success with your Tours of Turkey. Kind regards, Robyn Harris Mt. Waverley Vic. 3149

Marissa Horton  

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

19-May-2016

Metin was a fantastic guide! He was not only informative and knew so much about this history of the places we were visiting but was also hilarious and fun! We loved our time on the tour and don't think it would have been the same without Metin.

Melissa Jones  

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

22-Jun-2016

Murat was a fabulous tour guide - the right mix of detailed information also mixed with personal and cultural information. He was very organised, extremely pleasant to deal with - nothing was ever a problem. He went above and beyond many times, serving us meals at some very bus restaurants to help out. The ancient sites were incredible - my only complaint was that I could not stay longer! Some of the hotels were not very comfortable but I think this being a very busy time with the Anzac Centenary there was a shortage of accommodation of this standard.

David Rivett  

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

09-Jun-2015

I thought the tour was great, we saw a lot of the country & Murat was a very good guide who made sure we were looked after and went out of his way to help u & to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. The only problem with the tour it was that it was NOT long enough, it would have been great to spend more time in soem places so we migth have to go back again in a few years to see it again.

Melissa Suckley  

ANZAC 2025 Memorial Tour of Turkey - 11 days

18-May-2015

I had a fantastic time!! 2 weeks went by so fast because we were having such a good time, everyone on my tour (bus C) was friendly, on time, and easy to get along with. Loved all the sights we saw & felt very well looked after by tour guide & driver - had not travelled with on the go before, was very impressed with every aspect.

Read all 8 reviews

1 Select your preferred date

Wednesday - Saturday

Apr 16, 2025 - Apr 26, 2025
$2905

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

Similar Tours