Gallipoli and the Splendours of Turkey and Greece

Day 1 – Tue 21 Apr 15, Arrive Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey – a land rich in archaeological sites, historic monuments, warm-hearted people and an enormous variety of spectacular scenery. On arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for your two-night stay. This evening, get together with your Turkish Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Drink. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2 – Wed 22 Apr 15, Istanbul Sightseeing
Get your cameras ready today. Visit the Blue Mosque with its beautiful tiles and the Hippodrome where Roman chariot races were held, and visit St Sophia, at one time a cathedral and a Mosque, and now a magnificent museum. Move on to visit the fabulous Topkapi Palace, a walled city perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Next visit the Basilica
Cistern, also known as the “Sunken Palace”, the underground waterway constructed by Justinian in 532, which was used as a reservoir for water storage for the Great Palace and other buildings. Then it’s on to the famous Grand Bazaar where – all under cover – there are more than 4,000 shops, cafes and tea houses. Consider sampling some traditional apple tea, or spending the evening watching some belly-dancing. (BB)

Day 3 – Thu 23 Apr 15, Istanbul – Peninsular Tour – Canakkale or Assos
Drive along the shores of the Sea of Marmara to the peninsula of Gelibolu, better known in the west as Gallipoli. Here are the battlefields where, for nine disastrous months during the Great War, Anzac troops fought unsuccessfully to gain control of the strategic Dardanelle Straits. Then, from Eceabat, we take a 30-minute sea crossing to Canakkale, which takes you from one continent to another as you leave Europe for Asia. Continue to our hotel where we spend the next 3 nights. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight. (BB,D)

Day 4 – Fri 24 Apr 15, Excursion to Troy & Assos
Today drive to Homers’ legendary city of Troy, where archaeological excavation has established nine levels of habitation. See an enormous reconstruction of the famous Trojan wooden horse. Will continue to explore Assos. View the ruins of the Doric-style Temple of Athena (530 BC) on a hill top surrounded by olive groves. Nearby is the 14th-century Ottoman Murad Hüdavendigar Mosque. The hill offers spectacular views of the Aegean Sea and the nearby Greek island of Lesvos. A leisurely evening tonight to prepare for an early morning start, for those who are attending the commemorative services held at Gallipoli (ticket holders only). Dinner is included at the hotel tonight. (BB,D)

Day 5 – Sat 25 Apr 15, Anzac Day Dawn Service
For those ticket holders a very early start this morning, as you board a ferry (time to be advised), to cross the Dardanelles Strait and travel to Anzac Cove, where you attend the 100th year anniversary Anzac Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli. Pay your respects and absorb the atmosphere of this once in a lifetime important event. (Further details to be advised when announced). After the commemoration, you are transferred back to the ferry pier to travel back our hotel, where the remainder of the day is then free. *A boxed
breakfast will be provided this day for ticket holders. Dinner is included at our hotel tonight. (* BB,D)

Day 6 – Sun 26 Apr 15, Canakkale or Assos – Kusadasi
Today you travel to Pergamon, the seat of anancient kingdom. Visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena and the famous library, which is said to have contained 200,000 volumes. View the Red Courtyard and visit the ruins of the Asklepion, one of the most famous shrines and therapeutic centres in the ancient world. Continue to Ephesus, one of the world’s finest archaeological sites. Visit the colonnaded Arcadian Way, the splendid façade of the Library of Celsus and see the Amphitheatre, the largest and most impressive structure to survive from Hellenistic Ephesus. Head to the lively coastal town of Kusadasi for an overnight stay. At your hotel relax with a cool drink and take advantage of the hotel’s indoor pool, Turkish bath and fitness centre. Dinner is included at your hotel tonight. (BB,D)

Day 7 – Mon 27 Apr 15, Kusadasi – Pamukkale
After breakfast at the hotel, proceed with the visits of the Basilica of Saint John and visit the House of the Virgin Mary, spectacularly situated above the Ephesus ruins. Drive inland to Pamukkale, famous for its ‘Cotton Castle’, a dazzling chalk-white array of fantastically shaped limestone terraces. Visit the ruins of ancient Hierapolis and the fairyland terraces and see the glistening pools and cascades in scallop-shell basins. The rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy the blissfully warm thermal pools at the hotel. Dinner is included at your hotel tonight. (BB,D)

Day 8 – Tue 28 Apr 15, Pamukkale – Cappadocia
Head to Konya, the old capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire, now Turkey’s most religious city and home to the mystic Whirling Dervish sect. Visit the Mevlana Tekke, a museum and national Gallipoli 2015 Pamukkale 100 Year Anniversary & the Splendours of Turkey monument, with its beautiful fluted turquoise dome, which contains the tomb of the Whirling Dervishes’ founder. See the Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret before driving on to the historic region of Nevsehir in Cappadocia. Dinner is included at your hotel tonight. (BB,D)

Day 9 – Wed 29 Apr 15, Excursion to Goreme
Enjoy an excursion to Göreme, a unique region of volcanic landscapes and rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings, some of which you can see in the open-air museum. Continue to the Zelve Valley where the scenery is dotted with churches, caves and troglodyte dwellings. Tour the underground city Kaymakli, and see the cone of Uchisar. Enjoy dinner at the hotel followed by a colourful folklore show in an underground cave, featuring dances from different regions. (BB,D)

Day 10 – Thu 30 Apr 15, Cappadocia – Ankara
Visit Agzikarahan, one of the best-preserved Seljuk caravanserais in Anatolia. Continue on to Ankara to visit the Hittite Museum and Anit Kabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, Turkey’s greatest modern leader. Dinner is included at your hotel tonight. (BB,D)

Day 11 – Fri 1 May 15, Ankara – Istanbul
Leaving Ankara, take the highway for a scenic drive through the Turkish countryside to Istanbul. Upon arrival, embark on a superb Highlight cruise along the Bosphorus Waterway. Travelling towards the old city from close to the Black Sea, the scenery complements the grandeur of the Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses. Tonight enjoy dinner in a lively colourful local
restaurant. (BB,HD)

Day 12 – Sat 2 May 15, Depart Istanbul
After breakfast your once in a lifetime tour ends with a transfer to the airport where you bid your Tour Director and Driver farewell and embark your connecting flight. (BB)

Splendours of Greece Option

Day 12 – Sat 2 May 15, Embark Cruise
Today you are transferred to the port where you bid your Turkish Tour Director and Driver Farewell & meet your Greek Tour Director as you embark on the
cruise. Whilst Cruising Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner is served on board daily. (BB,L,D)

Day 13 – Sun 3 May 15, Cruising – Kusadasi.
A pleasant mornings cruising as you arrive at the port of Kusadasi. Time to explore; perhaps some shopping at the local Bazaar? (BB,L,D)

Day 14 – Mon 4 May 15, Cruising – Santorini
The next port of call is the island of Santorini, known for its breathtaking caldera views, blue domed churches and white cuboid houses that cling to the sheer cliffs. A day to absorb this truly
magical place. (BB,L,D)

Day 15 – Tue 5 May 15, Cruising – Crete
You have a day to explore the picturesque island of Crete. Perhaps take an optional excursion to the Palace of King Minos? (BB,L,D)

Day 16 – Wed 6 May 15, Cruising – Rhodes & Symi
Cruise to the harbour at Rhodes. The ‘island of roses’ founded by the Ancient Greeks and then chosen by the Crusaders for their fortified headquarters. Later depart for Symi, one of the most picturesque islands in the Dodecanese. (BB,L,D)

Day 17 – Thu 7 May 15, Chios & Disembark Mykonos
This morning is spent docked at Chios before cruising through to Mykonos. One of the most photographed islands in Greece, here you’ll spend 2 wonderful nights on the Island. On disembarkation
you are transferred to the hotel. (BB,L)

Day 18 – Fri 8 May 15, Mykonos
A full day to enjoy the island of “the rich and the famous”. Explore the town with its winding maze of walkways, white-washed houses, and magnificent windmills. Tonight perhaps enjoy dinner in an outdoor restaurant as the sun sets in “Little Venice”? (BB)

Day 19 – Sat 9 May 15, Mykonos – Athens
This morning more time to shop, maybe take one last dip in the pool and grab your final glimpse over the lustrous Aegean. In the early afternoon transfer to the port to board the high speed ferry which takes you to Athens , the capital of Greece. We transfer to the hotel where you’ll stay for the
next 3 nights. (BB)

Day 20 – Sun 10 May 15, Athens Sightseeing
After breakfast, you will explore Athens. You will begin by enjoying a half-day sightseeing tour of some of the city’s most famous sites, including the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, the Olympic Stadium and more. In the afternoon you will visit the Phaleron War Cemetery, the final resting place of many of the men who were killed during the fighting in Greece in 1941. Then you will enjoy a visit to the WWI battleship “Averof” now transformed as a museum. (BB)

Day 21 – Mon 11 May 15, Excursion to Argolis
This morning you will continue the tour of the Battle of Greece when we depart Athens for the Corinth Canal. We will travel along the coast of the Gulf of Saros visiting the evacuation beaches from which the British and Australian troops were forced from Greece in April 1941 and the airfields the Luftwaffe used to launch the world’s first-ever airborne invasion. You will then visit the spectacular Corinth Canal, site of one of the desperate battles of the Greek campaign. You will continue to visit the site of Mycenae and have free time in the picturesque seaside town of Nafplion. In the evening you will return to Athens for the farewell dinner, spectacularly overlooked by the illuminated Acropolis. (BB,HD)

Day 22 – Tue 12 May 15, Depart Athens
Your memorable tour ends today after breakfast with a transfer to the airport to meet your onward flight. (BB)

*Itinerary to be used as guide and is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control