ITINERARY
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ANZAC DAY-A 8 Days DAY 1 - Thursday, April 22, - WELCOME TO ISTANBUL - MERHABA Arrive at Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport. Walk to the Immigration area, find the VISA desk and buy your visa before getting in one of the lines for passport control. After passport control, pick up your bags and proceed to Customs. We use the Red Line/Green Line system; so if you have nothing to declare, proceed to the Green Line. Usually you walk straight through, though the officials occasional do spot-check bags. After Customs, walk through the doors and into the arrivals hall, were our representative will meet and assist you with hotel transfers and check-ins. Early arrivals can participate in our orientation tour at 14:00 offered by Matiana for our guests. Welcome drinks at 18.30, followed by dinner at Hotel. Overnight - Istanbul Taksim area, (4Stars Deluxe) |
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DAY 2
– Friday, April 23 - ISTANBUL Begin your day with a visit to the fascinating and impressive Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), with its beautiful blue Iznik tiles, unique architecture and marble latticework and the Hippodrome, the center of Byzantine life for 1000 years. Visit the Topkapi Palace, the palace of the Ottoman Sultans between 16th and 19th centuries. Optional visits to the treasure room & Harem quarters. The treasure room displays priceless world-class collections of jewelry, porcelain and costumes of the Sultans. The Harem quarters is an absolute highlight. Afternoon visit to the magnificent Haghia Sophia built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century. It is one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Visit the underground Basilica Cistern, Yerebatan Saray – the largest Byzantine cistern in Istanbul. Evening, window-shopping at the district of Beyoglu and Dinner at "Kebab World".. Overnight - Istanbul Taksim area, (4Stars Deluxe) |
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(*) Morning departure for Gallipoli to visit the battlefields, visit the Anzac Cove, The Lone Pine cemetery, The Canuk bair and continue to Canakkale for dinner and a brief rest. * Please be aware that tonight we will accommodate you in a Boarding House for a brief rest, because of the early departure for the Anzac dawn service. |
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DAY 4 – Sunday, April 25 - ANZAC COVE - "THE DAWN SERVICE" Depart at 01.00 am from the Hotel. Attend "The Anzac Dawn Service", an event that will remain in your memory for years to come. After the service cross the Dardanelles to Canakkale and if time permits visit Troy. Later continue to Ayvalik for overnight. 4 Stars hotel |
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DAY 5
– Monday, April 26 - PERGAMON – BURSA Have a relaxing morning. And leave for Bursa. En route visit the ancient city of Pergamon, once a powerful and cultured kingdom, whose Asclepion (medical school) grew famous and whose library rivaled that of Alexandria in Egypt. The most stunning of the attractions are the Acropolis and the Great Theatre, which retains its astounding acoustics.. Continue to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. In the evening enjoy a warm mineral bath at your hotel, one of the renowned features of this town. Overnight Bursa (5 Stars) |
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DAY 6
– Tuesday, April 27 - BURSA – ISTANBUL In the morning, we visit the city of Bursa, with a rich Imperial past. It has many fine examples of Islamic architecture, and remains also an important centre of the Silk Trade. Enjoy a visit to the fascinating silk markets and the amazing Green Mosque Complex. Continue to the city of Iznik (Ancient Nicaea), founded in 1000BC and famous for its ceramics. Travel to Hereke, world famous as a production centre for Turkey’s finest silk carpets. Continue to Istanbul and visit the main workshops where exquisite designs from the Ottoman period are transposed and sold throughout the world. Experience the huge traffic before check-in to hotel for overnight. Evening at your leisure. Overnight at the historical district of Sultanahmet, (4Stars) |
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DAY 7 – Wednesday, April 28 - ISTANBUL
After
breakfast we depart at 09:00 for a short Bosphorus ferry cruise,
visit Dolmabahce Palace and the covered Bazaar, hosting 4000
shops under one roof. A full day of a intensive visits and last
minute shopping. Evening at leisure.(4 Stars) DAY 8 – Thursday, April 29 – ISTANBUL “GULE GULE”
Your
tour guide and driver escorts you to the airport for your
homeward flight. |