Military History Tours Australia Gallipoli - Swim the Dardanelles and August Offensive Anniversary Tour
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In 1915, Gallipoli was an arena for heroes, and it will be again…Grandfathers from many countries came here for war, now the grandsons and granddaughters will compete in peace! 97 years after the Gallipoli Campaign, the battlefield will challenge the athletes of the world. August is also the month when in 1915 our forces went on the offensive to draw Turkish attention from the British Suvla Bay landings. Be at Lone Pine, Pope's Post, Quinn's Post and Chunuk Bair to commemorate the anniversary.
Join this tour as a swimmer or as a supporter August 2012.
Europe to Asia!
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During August
2012, one of the busiest commercial waterways in the word will be closed to shipping for just 4 hours to allow for an open water swim across the Dardanelles.
There will be a competition swim across the Dardanelles, 4 km with the current. This is also an opportunity just to attend this historical event as a supporter/spectator or simply tour the ANZAC battlefields on the anniversary of the August offensive. All of the festival activities at the time and the swim itself are open to all participants.
For the four (4) nights of our programme as detailed below we invite you to be part of the ANZAC Team as a swimmer or supporter. Australian and New Zealand reservations for this historic event must be made through Military History Tours.
Tour Costs:
5 days/4 nights tour package. Based on share twin or share double, $(AU)1,500.00, single supplement, $(AU)450.00.
Included in the Price:
• Transportation by air-conditioned deluxe vehicle.
• Australian Historian and English speaking Turkish Professional guide.
• Entrance fees to the museums and sites mentioned in the itinerary.
• Accommodation.
• Transfers.
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary B = Breakfast, L = Lunch D = Dinner
Not included in this price:
• Air travel to/from Australia.
• Travel insurance.
• Laundry and alcohol.
• Tour extensions.
• Personal expenses.
• Swim registration (swimmers only).
• Visa cost on entry to Turkey, (US$20/€15 to pay by cash on arrival).
* Conditions apply, costs subject to change.
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Day 1. Monday, 27th August 2012 - Istanbul 
On arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. You will be met and transferred to the nearby hotel (Point Hotel Tacsim). The rest of the day is at leisure.
Evening: Yours to enjoy and maybe dinner at one of the City of Light’s many fine dining establishments.
Day 2. Tuesday, 28th August 2012 - Istanbul / Gallipoli
After breakfast we say farewell to Istanbul as we drive out to the Gallipoli Peninsula. The drive will take us around the Sea of Marmara to Gelibolou on the shores of the Dardanelles where we will have lunch in one of the fish restaurants that are located on the water’s edge.
After lunch we will head into the battlefields and proceed to Chunuk Bair for our ground brief and strategic brief. Following those initial presentations and a visit to the Gaba Tepe Museum (if redevelopment is complete), we will move to our accommodation at Kum Beach 8 km south of ANZAC Cove arriving at about 16:00 for those participating in the swim to practice in the Aegean, or our hotel's pool. Dinner in our hotel. BLD
Day 3. Wednesday, 29th August 2012 - Gallipoli
Breakfast at 7:00 am before we venture back up to the battlefields for a most memorable and moving day.
We will drive to the Battlefields, where we visit ANZAC Cove, Beach Cemetery, Shrapnel Valley, Plugges
Plateaux and a walk up Artillery track to Lone Pine via Shell Green.
After a visit to Lone Pine, we will have our lunch back at the hotel followed by presentations at
Quinn’s Post, Pope's Post and the Nek. We will return to our hotel at 16:00.
For those swimming tomorrow, this will offer another opportunity to prepare with a swim in the Aegean, or our hotel's pool. Dinner in our hotel. BLD
Important Note: Today, the Competition Committee will organise a briefing meeting in Çanakkale. If possible all swimmers should attend this. Should a participant choose not to attend, Military History Tours will send a representative and a special briefing will be conducted. In addition, all details will be confirmed for those who will not be actually participating in the swim but will be participating as a supporter/spectator.
Day 4. Thursday, 30th August 2012 - Swim the Dardanelles
This is the big day. After breakfast in our hotel we depart the hotel by 08:30, unless otherwise advised, catch the ferry to the assembly area at Çanakkale where we will then be under the control of the Swim the Dardanelles Competition Committee. Following this historic swim we will attend the Award Ceremony and then in late afternoon we will return to our hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure. In the evening we will move to the beach at Gallipoli for a Farewell Barbeque Dinner. BLD
Day 5. Friday, 31st August 2012 - Gallipoli / Istanbul Following breakfast in the hotel, we say farewell to the Gallipoli Peninsula as we head back to Istanbul and transfer to Istanbul airport for onward flights, or to your hotel should you wish to stay-on and visit this beautiful city. B
Use the Button to your left to find out more about Australians in the Gallipoli Campaign.
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1. GENERAL This tour has been prepared by Military History Tours Australia Ltd (MHT).
2. Military History Tours Australia Ltd (MHT), urges you to read the booking terms and conditions and contact us or your travel agent if you need any clarification. At the time of publishing this on the internet, the arrangements outlined in it, the price and the inclusions were all confirmed. However, MHT reserves the right to make amendments to the program and the price, should conditions beyond the control of MHT change.
3. DEPOSITS A deposit of AUD $500.00 per person is required to secure a booking on the tour.
4. BOOKINGS Bookings can be made direct with MHT, or through your local travel agent. If your travel agent is not aware of this program, have them contact us and we will provide them with the details they require. The registration form must reach
MHT, together with the deposit, to secure a reservation.
5. FINAL PAYMENT AND CANCELLATIONS Final payment will be required NLT Friday 11 May 2012 (except in the case of a late booking - bookings will usually be taken up to one month before tour commences). Any cancellations prior to this date will be entitled to a full refund. After 11 May 2012 any cancellation will be subject to the cancellation policy of the hotels and other service providers. You should consider cancellation insurance if you believe you may have to cancel arrangements close to these dates.
6. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS If you are travelling on an Australian or New Zealand passport, you will not need to obtain a visa prior to leaving for Turkey as your visa is obtained at the airport upon arrival.. However, we recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity at the time of your departure from Australia/New Zealand. If you are travelling on other than an Australian passport you should check with MHT on the requirements.
7. ACCOMMODATION All hotels used in this both tours are 3 star standard. They are located at Istanbul and Kum Beach on the Gallipoli Peninsular.
8. CHILDREN AND INFANTS No deposits are required for children under 12 years of age. However, they should be detailed on the registration form so that appropriate accommodation is provided. The cost for children and infants, under 3, will be provided on request.
9. SPECIAL REQUESTS Should you have special food requirements or a disability that will require special handling please detail it on the registration form.
10. INSURANCE It is not acceptable for MHT to accept people on its tours who are not holding appropriate travel insurance.
11. INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS A list of the inclusions and exclusions is detailed above. If you are not certain of anything, clarify with your travel agent or MHT.
12. TOUR CANCELLATION MHT reserves the right to cancel this tour at any time prior to commencement should booking numbers be insufficient to cover costs. Should the tour be cancelled subject to this clause, all payments made to MHT will be refunded.
13. SUMMARY MHT has run battlefield tours for nearly 20 years. If you join this tour, MHT guarantee that should you have a specific Australian grave site to visit for family or other reasons, and providing it is registered with Australian war graves, we will make sure you visit the site and have time to lay a wreath or poppy.
14. LAW OF CONTRACT The contract for the "Swim the Dardanelles" tour is governed in all aspects by the law in the state of NSW and any legal action arising under the contract shall be litigated only in the appropriate court having jurisdiction in that state.
15. TRAVELLING WITH MEDALS
For those who wish to display their own or a relative's medals when showing their respects, the airline security situation must be recognised. Due to the pin at the rear of all medal displays, it is no longer possible to carry them as hand luggage and they must be deposited in your main luggage (cargo hold bag). Valuable original medals in your cargo hold bag could be lost. Insurance can cover the cost to replace your clothing, not your great grandfather's original World War 1 medals. It is recommended that you purchase a duplicate replica set, and put it in your cargo hold bag.
Leave your valuable original medals at home.
