Istanbul to Paris with ANZAC Dawn Service

30-Day  Istanbul to Paris with ANZAC Dawn Service

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pay tribute to our proud heritage, the courage of our forefathers and the ANZAC spirit itself at this emotive and poignant service. Join the Dawn Service at ANZAC Cove before embarking on a luxury cruise from Rousse in Bulgaria to Trier in Germany. Travel on board the newly built ms Amalyra along the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers, completing your holiday with three indulgent nights in romantic Paris.

*Tour notes:
   Port charges —-add $385 per person.  
   Arrival and departure transfers included on the first and last day of the tour.
   Gratuities for cruise staff and land touring included.

Itinerary 

Day 1 (Wed. April 22). Arrive Istanbul.
On arrival in Istanbul be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, with the rest of the day free. This evening meet your travelling companions, Tour Director and Special Guest Lecturer John Basarin, an author and well-known expert on Gallipoli, at a Welcome Cocktail Party.
Two Night Stay: Istanbul, Ritz-Carlton, located close to Taksim Square.

Day 2 (Thu. April 23). Istanbul Sightseeing.
Today a city tour of Istanbul will show you the old city, with its Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments. Admire the mighty defensive walls, the Roman aqueduct and the hippodrome. See the Galata Tower and visit the Blue Mosque. This evening, enjoy Istanbul by Night, where you will enjoy a belly dancing show with dinner.

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Day 3 (Fri. April 24). Istanbul – Anzac Cove – Gallipoli.
Leave Istanbul early this morning and travel via Tekirdag to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Enjoy lunch in the town centre of Gelibolu then drive to the national park area for a guided sightseeing tour of the war memorials. The tour includes the landing beach and Anzac Cove as well as the British, New Zealand and Australian cemeteries. You will also visit the war museum, exhibiting war items such as pictures, letters and the armour of the soldiers. After dinner in the national park area, head to Anzac Cove for the Dawn Ceremony. Here, you will be accommodated in a secure outdoor area featuring entertainment such as live broadcasting from Australia and New Zealand, interviews and musical performances. Our experienced guides will accompany you throughout the evening.
Stay: Gallipoli Peninsula (facilities are extremely limited and crowds here will be large. Your Tour Director will advise you on how to best prepare for spending tonight outdoors).
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The Dawn Service, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair.
The trip from Çanakkale to the ANZAC Commemorative Site occurs late in the evening on Day 3 to allow for road closures and traffic caused by the huge number of people that attend the event. You will arrive at the site in advance of the service and find yourself under the stars, surrounded by a truly international gathering who have also come to pay their respects. After the conclusion of the main service, for those who wish, there is the option to walk to Lone Pine for the dedicated Australian service then continue to Chunuk Bair for the New Zealand service, before returning by foot to our coach in the afternoon. This special experience is simply unforgettable and well worth the effort, though we would advise that because of the evening outdoors and the amount of walking involved, a basic level of fitness is required. Your experienced Tour Director will be present at all times to ensure your comfort and safety.

Day 4 (Sat. April 25). ANZAC Dawn Service, Anzac Cove, Gallipoli Peninsula.
Still at Anzac Cove, this morning at 4.30am, take part in the sombre occasion of the traditional ANZAC Dawn Service. For those who wish, take the opportunity to walk (approximately one hour) to Lone Pine for the Australian Service and/or Chunuk Bair for the New Zealand Service afterwards (the Commonwealth War Grave Commission run a shuttle for those who are handicapped or have medical difficulties walking). A picnic breakfast is supplied for you to enjoy at leisure at the site. Regather and board your coach for the trip to Assos via the ancient city of Troy, a place of mythology and legend. On arrival in Assos, check in to your hotel for dinner and a well-deserved rest. Perhaps visit Assos and the Temple of Athena overlooking the Greek island of Lesbos.
Stay: Assos.
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Day 5 (Sun. April 26). Sofia.
This morning depart early from your hotel and travel via Çanakkale to Edirne. Here, enjoy lunch then continue across the Turkish border into Bulgaria, heading for its beautiful capital, Sofia.
Stay: Sofia.
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Day 6 (Mon. April 27). Veliko Turnovo – Rousse, Embark Ship.
Travel to Bulgaria’s ancient capital, Veliko Turnovo. Tour Tsarevets Hill, see the fortress walls, the Patriarchal Church and the Royal Palace. After a Bulgarian lunch, continue to Rousse and board the ship.

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Day 7 (Tue. April 28). Giurgiu – Bucharest.
Travel via Giurgiu to Romania’s capital, Bucharest, known for its Belle Époque era buildings dating from the 19th century. On a city tour, see the Athenaeum and Library, the Arch of Triumph, the Soseaua Kiseleff and visit Parliament Palace the world’s largest palace and second largest building. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant then free time or a visit to the Open Air Museum.

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Day 8 (Wed. April 29). Vidin.
Enjoy a leisurely day cruising the Danube, arriving late afternoon in Vidin with its Baba Vida fortress guarding the Danube. Here, take an excursion to the beautifully restored 6th century Belogradchik Castle before dinner on board.

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Day 9 (Thu. April 30). Cruising the Iron Gates.
Today enjoy a full day of cruising through one of Europe’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders, the Iron Gates. Here the Danube narrows as it winds through a range of majestic gorges between the southern Carpathian Mountains and the north western foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Forming a natural border between Serbia and Romania, today’s passage will be an unforgettable highlight of your cruise.

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Day 10 (Fri. May 1). Belgrade.
Arrive in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital. During a city tour, see the home of the Patriarch and St Sava’s, Tito’s Memorial, the Town Hall, Parliament Building, Belgrade Fort and Kalemegdan Fortress.

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Day 11 (Sat. May 2). Novi Sad – Vukovar.
Today disembark the ship for a tour of the impressive Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, then cruise to Vukovar in Croatia for a city tour.

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Day 12 (Sun. May 3). Mohács – Pécs.
Today the ship arrives in Mohács, where you depart for an excursion to Old Pécs. Here, take a walking tour to the Synagogue, the former Turkish Mosque and the Christian Basilica.

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Day 13 (Mon. May 4). APT EXCLUSIVE! Budapest, State Opera House Performance.
Take a tour of Budapest. Then see a private music recital at the State Opera House. Later, re-board the ship for dinner.

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Day 14 (Tue. May 5). Bratislava.
Relax this morning as you cruise to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where an afternoon walking tour reveals the city’s major sights.

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Day 15 (Wed. May 6). Vienna, Freedom of Choice Touring.
Today choose between a guided city sightseeing tour of the Austrian capital or pay a visit to the majestic Schönbrunn Palace. After an afternoon free, perhaps take in an optional Mozart and Strauss concert tonight (own expense).

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Day 16 (Thu. May 7). Dürnstein – Melk.
This morning stop in Dürnstein for a tour. At lunch, cruise to Melk and tour Melk’s Benedictine Abbey, one of the world’s most famous monastic sites, before an evening wine tasting.

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Day 17 (Fri. May 8). Linz – Passau, Freedom of Choice Touring.
Today perhaps join a day tour to Salzburg and its ‘Sound of Music’ sights (lunch at own expense), take a day tour to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic (lunch at own expense) or join a scenic cruise to Passau and take an intriguing tour of the historic city, where the Inn and Ilz join the Danube.

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Day 18 (Sat. May 9). Regensburg.
Arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval cities, where a sightseeing tour includes the Old Town Hall and the Porta Pretoria – gates to an ancient Roman fort.

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Day 19 (Sun. May 10). Nuremberg, Freedom of Choice Touring.
Today enter the Main-Danube Canal and arrive in Nuremberg. Here, choose from a medieval tour or visit a number of significant World War II sites.

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Day 20 (Mon. May 11). Nuremberg – Bamberg.
Today enjoy free time in Nuremberg before cruising towards Bamberg.

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Day 21 (Tue. May 12). Bamberg.
In Bamberg this morning, enjoy a tour then free time. Later, continue cruising, now on the Main River.

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Day 22 (Wed. May 13). Würzburg.
Arrive in Würzburg, surrounded by green hills covered with vineyards. Take a town tour, before time at leisure. Perhaps join an optional tour to Rothenburg on the Romantic Road (own expense).

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Day 23 (Thu. May 14). Wertheim – Miltenberg.
Disembark for a look at Wertheim, a pretty town strategically located where the Main and Tauber rivers meet. Back on board, witness a fascinating local glass-blowing performance then relax over lunch while you cruise through the valleys of the meandering Main to Miltenberg. Here, enjoy a walking tour of this picturesque Franconian town, revealing narrow cobblestone streets and gabled, half-timbered houses. Tonight as the ship sails, we leave Bavaria, Franconia and the Main River behind.

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Day 24 (Fri. May 15). Mainz – Heidelberg – Rüdesheim – Koblenz.
Today travel by coach to Heidelberg for a walking tour, then drive to Frankfurt and rejoin the ship. Or perhaps take a walking tour of Mainz and the Roman Ship Museum, then cruise to Rüdesheim and visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum. Later, cruise the most beautiful part of the Rhine River, passing castles and the infamous Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Koblenz after dinner.

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Day 25 (Sat. May 16). Cochem – Zell.
After breakfast enjoy a visit to Reichsburg Castle, situated above Cochem with spectacular views of the Moselle River, then continue to Zell.

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Day 26 (Sun. May 17). Bernkastel – Trier.
This morning take a walking tour of quaint Bernkastel. Then it’s on to Trier, Germany’s oldest city, where a tour will highlight the city’s ancient Roman past.

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Day 27 (Mon. May 18). Trier, Disembark Ship – Luxembourg – Paris.
Disembark and head to Luxembourg. On arrival, take a tour then enjoy some free time to further explore. After lunch, your coach continues to Paris.
Three Night Stay: Paris, Hotel du Louvre, Hotel Lutetia or Hotel Concorde Saint-Lazare.
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Day 28 (Tue. May 19). Paris Sightseeing.
Discover the French capital’s famous sights during our guided tour. Visit the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral, pass the unique Louvre Museum with its extensive collection of artworks, the commemorative Arc de Triomphe for views over Paris’ magnificent boulevards, Opera House, Madeleine, Champs Elysées and much more. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the sights.

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Day 29 (Wed. May 20). Paris.
Today is yours to spend at leisure, exploring the amazing City of Light. Perhaps stroll along the boutique-lined boulevards, visit the top of the iconic Eiffel Tower, sip coffee in the bohemian Latin Quarter, go shopping at Rue Mouffetard or take a relaxing walk along the pretty Seine River. Tonight gather for a Farewell Dinner.

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Day 30 (Thu. May 21). Depart Paris.
After breakfast your tour concludes as you transfer to the airport.

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