Gallipoli Ephesus Pamukkale from Istanbul

Day 1 – Istanbul to Gallipoli
In the early morning we will drive west, heading towards the Aegean Sea. We will visit Gallipoli on the way 
*Gallipoli and The Dardanelles — After our lunch we will stop to visit Gallipoli, a place of fierce World War 1 fighting between Allied forces and the Turks. At ANZAC Cove thousands lost their lives in one fateful dawn morning. We will also see other famous battle sites of World War 1 in this area, such as Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. From here we go to a ferry and cross the Dardanelle. For World War 1 buffs, you will know the Dardanelle Straits were a strategic crossing point for the allied armies to cross from Europe to Asia Minor. 
*Canakkale will be our final destination for today and where we will spend the evening. After dinner, you might want to stroll the harbor walk and experience the local culture. Overnight in CANAKKALE

Day 2 – Gallipoli to Kusadasi
We continue our scenic drive along the Aegean, stopping for photo opportunities and perhaps to indulge the taste buds at one of the many farmer road side stands that sell olives, figs, seasonal fruit and pistachios. We then will head east towards our first site of the day. 
Sites you’ll see today 
*Troy –is the ancient site written about by Homer in the Iliad. It dates back as far as 3000 BC and has been the site of nine different cities through the thousands of years it has existed. As you enter the site a large wooden Trojan horse dominates your view. You will definitely want to climb up and get your picture taken! 
After lunch you will depart from Canakkale, driving along the Aegean Sea down to Kusadasi, evening arrival in Kusadasi, Check in the hotel, Overnight stay.

Anzac Centenary

Between 2014 and 2018 Australia will commemorate the Anzac Centenary, marking 100 years since our involvement in the First World War.

Just as the first Anzacs helped define our national character, the Anzac Centenary will be an important time to honour and reflect upon the service and sacrifice made by members of our Defence Force, past and present.

Anzac Day at Gallipoli

The largest gathering of Australians on Anzac Day, outside of Australia, continues to be at Gallipoli.  Each year, Australia and New Zealand conduct three Anzac Day services at Gallipoli.  The Dawn Service at the Anzac Commemorative Site is conducted jointly by both countries and is followed by an Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine, and a New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair.

Visitors have a very clear expectation of their involvement in services, which includes resting over night at the Anzac Commemorative Site, participating in the Dawn Service which commemorates the ANZAC landings, and then walking up Artillery Road in the morning to attend another service.  These are highly valued elements of the Anzac Day experience and visitors will expect this to continue in 2015.

The Anzac Commemorative Site is located in the Gallipoli Historical National Park, which is approximately 5 hours drive from Istanbul. There is no public transport available to and from the Gallipoli Peninsula. For this reason, the majority of visitors travel to the annual Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli on an organised tour.

Gallipoli Campaign

The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli or the Battle of Çanakkale (Turkish: Çanakkale Savaşı), took place on the Gallipoli peninsula in the Ottoman Empire (now Gelibolu in modern day Turkey) between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during World War I. A joint British and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (Istanbul) and secure a sea route to Russia.[6] Following an unsuccessful naval campaign to force a passage through the Dardanelles, an amphibious landing was undertaken on the Gallipoli peninsula. The attempt failed, and after eight months of heavy fighting and many casualties on both sides the invasion force was finally evacuated. The campaign was one of the greatest victories of the Ottomans during the war and is considered a major failure by the Allies.