Anzac day tour 2017 - the colonel tour
Day 1 Friday 21st April
Welcome to Istanbul
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 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel
Day 2 Saturday 22nd April
Istanbul Old City
After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. Late in the afternoon we will drive to Harbiye Military Museum for a short visit.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel (B)
Day 3Sunday 23rd April
Gallipoli Battlefields
Depart for the Gallipoli Peninsula early morning and tour the place where the ANZAC legend was born. Highlights will include the original trenches and tunnels, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, Johnston's Jolly and The Nek. Afterwards we take a short ferry ride across the Dardanelles on the way to our hotel.
Overnight Çanakkale 4 star Ida Kale Resort(B, D)
Day 4 Monday 24th April
Troy
Today, we visit the archaeological ruins of Troy and we will enjoy a BBQ lunch. As soon as we are able we will cross the Dardanelles to the Gallipoli Peninsula and head straight to the Dawn Service area to secure the best spot possible.(B, L)
Day 5 Tuesday 25th April
ANZAC Day at Gallipoli
At first light we will commemorate our fallen forefathers during the moving ANZAC Day Dawn Service. You will also have the chance to attend the New Zealand Memorial Service before we head to our hotel for some well-deserved rest. Unfortunately the Australian service at the Lone Pine memorial has been cancelled.
Overnight Çanakkale 4 star Ida Kale Resort(D)
Day 6 Wednesday 26th April
Pergamum
Today we head south to the resort town of Kusadasi, on the way we enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent acropolis of the ancient city of Pergamum.
Overnight Ku�adas� 5 star Suhan 360 (B, D)
Day 7 Thursday 27th April
Ephesus, Sirince
Absorb yourself in history today with a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis and a guided tour of the ancient city and stadium of Ephesus, before an afternoon visit to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at a local carpet village we learn how carpets are made by hand and what determines their value.
Overnight Ku�adas� 5 star Suhan 360 (B, D)
Day 8 Friday 28th April
Pamukkale, Hierapolis
This morning we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before we drive east to the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castles). Here we will also visit the ruins of the city of Hierapolis, an ancient spa town just above the calcium terraces.
Overnight Pamukkale 5 star Colossae Thermal Hotel(B, D)
Day 9 Saturday 29th April
Saklikent Gorge, Fethiye
Heading south to the Mediterranean coast, we stop at the breath-taking Saklikent Gorge, Turkey's longest and deepest gorge. Here you can tube down the river and explore the awesome canyon.
Overnight Fethiye Boutique Marina Vista - Fethiye (B)
Day 10 Sunday 30th April
Fethiye boat cruise
Today we relax on a leisurely boat cruise around the picturesque 12 islands of Fethiye.
Overnight Fethiye Boutique Marina Vista - Fethiye (B, L)
Day 11Monday 1st May
Termessos, Antalya
After breakfast we head for Antalya, stopping along the way to visit the ancient Lycian city of Termessos which was built at a height of 1050 metres in the beautiful Taurus Mountain range.
Overnight Antalya 4 star Best Western Khan Hotel (B)
Day 12 Tuesday 2nd May
Silk Road, Konya, Cappadocia
Leaving the Mediterranean coast we follow the old Silk Road, heading for the lunar-like landscape of Cappadocia. We stop along the way to visit the Mevlana Dervish Museum in Konya and the Sultanhani Caravansary, a former stop for traders on the Silk Road.
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Ramada Cappadocia (B, D)
Day 13 Wednesday 3rd May
Goreme, Uchisar Castle
Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia through Goreme Valley, the fairy chimneys, Uchisar castle and more. Tonight, don't miss the optional traditional Turkish folkdance evening!
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Ramada Cappadocia (B, D)
Day 14 Thursday 4th May
Ihlara Valley, Underground City
Today we trek the wildly beautiful Ihlara Valley and explore the many levels of an underground city.
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Ramada Cappadocia (B, D)
Day 15 Friday 5th May
Nation's Capital Ankara
Leaving the surreal landscape of Cappadocia behind, we head for the nation's capital, Ankara to visit the Mausoleum of Turkey's first President, Ataturk, before continuing on to Istanbul.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel (B)
Day 16 Saturday 6th May
Istanbul
After breakfast, our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends. (B)
(B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner)
Day 1 Friday 21st April
Welcome to Istanbul
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 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel
Day 2 Saturday 22nd April
Istanbul Old City
After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. Late in the afternoon we will drive to Harbiye Military Museum for a short visit.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel (B)
Day 3Sunday 23rd April
Gallipoli Battlefields
Depart for the Gallipoli Peninsula early morning and tour the place where the ANZAC legend was born. Highlights will include the original trenches and tunnels, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, Johnston's Jolly and The Nek. Afterwards we take a short ferry ride across the Dardanelles on the way to our hotel.
Overnight Çanakkale 4 star Ida Kale Resort(B, D)
Day 4 Monday 24th April
Troy
Today, we visit the archaeological ruins of Troy and we will enjoy a BBQ lunch. As soon as we are able we will cross the Dardanelles to the Gallipoli Peninsula and head straight to the Dawn Service area to secure the best spot possible.(B, L)
Day 5 Tuesday 25th April
ANZAC Day at Gallipoli
At first light we will commemorate our fallen forefathers during the moving ANZAC Day Dawn Service. You will also have the chance to attend the New Zealand Memorial Service before we head to our hotel for some well-deserved rest. Unfortunately the Australian service at the Lone Pine memorial has been cancelled.
Overnight Çanakkale 4 star Ida Kale Resort(D)
Day 6 Wednesday 26th April
Pergamum
Today we head south to the resort town of Kusadasi, on the way we enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent acropolis of the ancient city of Pergamum.
Overnight Ku�adas� 5 star Suhan 360 (B, D)
Day 7 Thursday 27th April
Ephesus, Sirince
Absorb yourself in history today with a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis and a guided tour of the ancient city and stadium of Ephesus, before an afternoon visit to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at a local carpet village we learn how carpets are made by hand and what determines their value.
Overnight Ku�adas� 5 star Suhan 360 (B, D)
Day 8 Friday 28th April
Pamukkale, Hierapolis
This morning we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before we drive east to the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castles). Here we will also visit the ruins of the city of Hierapolis, an ancient spa town just above the calcium terraces.
Overnight Pamukkale 5 star Colossae Thermal Hotel(B, D)
Day 9 Saturday 29th April
Saklikent Gorge, Fethiye
Heading south to the Mediterranean coast, we stop at the breath-taking Saklikent Gorge, Turkey's longest and deepest gorge. Here you can tube down the river and explore the awesome canyon.
Overnight Fethiye Boutique Marina Vista - Fethiye (B)
Day 10 Sunday 30th April
Fethiye boat cruise
Today we relax on a leisurely boat cruise around the picturesque 12 islands of Fethiye.
Overnight Fethiye Boutique Marina Vista - Fethiye (B, L)
Day 11Monday 1st May
Termessos, Antalya
After breakfast we head for Antalya, stopping along the way to visit the ancient Lycian city of Termessos which was built at a height of 1050 metres in the beautiful Taurus Mountain range.
Overnight Antalya 4 star Best Western Khan Hotel (B)
Day 12 Tuesday 2nd May
Silk Road, Konya, Cappadocia
Leaving the Mediterranean coast we follow the old Silk Road, heading for the lunar-like landscape of Cappadocia. We stop along the way to visit the Mevlana Dervish Museum in Konya and the Sultanhani Caravansary, a former stop for traders on the Silk Road.
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Ramada Cappadocia (B, D)
Day 13 Wednesday 3rd May
Goreme, Uchisar Castle
Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia through Goreme Valley, the fairy chimneys, Uchisar castle and more. Tonight, don't miss the optional traditional Turkish folkdance evening!
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Ramada Cappadocia (B, D)
Day 14 Thursday 4th May
Ihlara Valley, Underground City
Today we trek the wildly beautiful Ihlara Valley and explore the many levels of an underground city.
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Ramada Cappadocia (B, D)
Day 15 Friday 5th May
Nation's Capital Ankara
Leaving the surreal landscape of Cappadocia behind, we head for the nation's capital, Ankara to visit the Mausoleum of Turkey's first President, Ataturk, before continuing on to Istanbul.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Mercure Istanbul Taksim Hotel (B)
Day 16 Saturday 6th May
Istanbul
After breakfast, our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends. (B)
(B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner)