Day 1 - 23rd of April
Check In Istanbul and Welcome Meeting
Check In at your leisure throughout the day. We will have a welcome meeting tonight at the hotel at 6.30pm which is essential and runs for about half an hour. If you're at the hostel early today, why not check in and then head to the Grand Bazaar?
Day 2 - 24th of April
Depart for Gallipoli
Enjoy breakfast before we depart Cheers Hostel at 9am. On the drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula you will learn of the fate of over 10,000 Australians and New Zealanders. We visit the memorial sites at Anzac Cove, Shrapnel Valley, Conkbay Hill, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair as well as other cemeteries as time and conditions permit.
Our tour aims to show the entire Gallipoli Peninsula, including the British landings at Cape Helles, helping you obtain a thorough knowledge of this ill-fated campaign. You then have the opportunity to secure your spot for the dawn service as we drop you at Anzac Cove around sunset giving you plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere and witness first hand the ANZAC spirit and comraderie as you meet thousands of other Aussies and Kiwi's who are also here on the same pilgrimage. You will want to bring sleeping bag and warm clothes as it gets very cold in the early hours.
Note: Our tour of Gallipoli is subject to road closures by the Turkish authorities.
Day 3 - 25th of April
Gallipoli - Memorial Service - Return to Istanbul
This special day starts very early for the dawn service. It is a good idea to bring sleeping bag and warm clothes, as it can get very cold in the early hours. After the Dawn Service you are free to attend the Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine and the New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair. We leave the Anzac area after these services are completed - probably late afternoon - and drive back to Istanbul arriving late evening.
Day 4 - 26th of April
Istanbul hotel Departure
If you are staying on, we can also arrange for you to go on the Bosphorus cruise - not an overpriced "optional" offered by many others - those who want to join in will be escorted by the PP crew to the very economical but excellent public cruise.
* Please note that the night of the 24th of April is spent at North Beach outside where it can get very cold. You should make yourself aware of the detailed information provided by the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs - https://www.dva.gov.au/commemorations-memorials-and-war-graves/commemorations-and-anniversaries/anzac-day-gallipoli
