Military History Tours Australia          The Gallipoli 100 Tour

The Gallipoli 100 Tour

A very special tour is planned for Gallipoli 2015 by Military History Tours Australia Pty Ltd.

A unique opportunity to be present at a 100^th Anniversary commemoration service.  Not many surface in a lifetime.  Join our team of Australian Military Historians as they lead this memorial tour to Gallipoli in Turkey to be at the Dawn Service on that historic day and visit the battlefields of the Dardanelles Campaign.  Our aim is to show you in detail where the Australians stormed ashore on the 1^st ANZAC Day.  We will also walk the ground discussing what occurred at each location, the strategy, tactics and outcome.  We specialise in you being able to locate, visit and pay your respects at that particular site that is dear to your family and friends.

During this memorable time accommodation on the peninsula will be definitely overbooked and under pressure.  This will not be an issue for those travelling with Military History Tours as we will take our accommodation with us.  MSC Lirica or a sister vessel will carry us from Istanbul, down the Bosphorus, across the Sea of Mamara and through the Dardanelles.  We will live on the luxurious ship, disembark to tour the battlefields and attend the memorial services.

Another special for us will be the 100^th Anniversary Memorial Ball that will be held on board  upon our return to Istanbul.

This tour will also feature:

• Exotic Istanbul including:
• Blue Mosque
• Hagia Sophia
• Lunch at the Topkapi Palace
• Conducted tour of the battlefields featuring
• Australian Military Historians
• The Nek
• Pope and Quinn's Posts
• Lone Pine
• Shrapnel Valley
• ANZAC Cove
• Plugges Plateau
• Chanuk Bair
• Canakkale and more

Priced From

Twin Share $(AU)5,995 - Triple Share $(AU)4,995 - Quad Share $(AU)4,395

Tour Price Includes:

• Accommodation on board MSC Lirica, 9 days - 8 nights.
• Full day tour of Istanbul including the Topkapi Palace
• Welcome cocktail party on board
• 5 days touring the Gallipoli Battlefields
• Australian Military Historians
• Special evening function on 23^rd April
• Air conditioned coaches when ashore
• Attendance at the major services on ANZAC Day
• 100^th Anniversary Ball on 26^th April
• All meals indicated in the itinerary.

Exclusions:

• Optional cruising extensions, Venice to Istanbul and/or Istanbul to Venice
• Ait travel from and to Australia
• Airport transfers
• Travel insuranbce
• Laundry and Alcohol
• Tour extensions
• Items of a personal nature
• Gratuities

Itinerary

Day 1, Sunday, 19 April, 2015. Today, boarding of our ship will commence in Istanbul and continue throughout the day. On board, our staff will assist with cabin allocation, distribute briefing notes, and outline the programme for the day. A welcome aboard function will be held early evening. (D)

Day 2, Monday, 20 April, 2015. After breakfast, your coaches will be standing by for your tour of Istanbul. The tour will include visits to the Blue Mosque, Saint Sophia, the underground Cistern, finishing at Topkapi Palace where we will also enjoy lunch. Coaches will return to the ship mid afternoon. You are free after lunch to do your own thing should you wish. Dinner this evening will be on board. (B,L,D,)

Day 3, Tuesday, 21 April, 2015. This morning you will find that we have sailed for Gallipoli. During breakfast, our lead historian will brief everyone on the programme for the next seven days. Later that morning our touring of the battlefields will commence. In view of the likely numbers of people we expect on the Peninsula, our programme will allow three days for visits to every significant Australian site, and others, over the time we will spend here. Lunch will be provided either on board, as a box lunch, or at a location on the Peninsula. The evening will be back on board. (B,L,D,)

Day 4, Wednesday, 22 April, 2015. Our second full day touring. Arrangements for lunch and site visits as with Day 3. Dinner tonight on board. (B,L,D,)

Day 5, Thursday, 23 April, 2015. Today is very special. Whilst you have been touring, the Surf boat crews have been getting ready for the G100 surf boat race from the Dandanelles to Gaba Tepe. (website www.gallipoli100.com.au shows the race course). Also, part of their activities has been demonstrating to the children of the Gallipoli Peninsula the rowing of surf boats, explaining their uses and providing some rides out of Kiyle Bay. Today, for those who wish, you will be taken to vantage points to watch the race. Others may enjoy a change of pace, either relax on board or spend some time in Canakkale on the Asian side of the Dardanelles. We expect a large fleet of fishing boats will also be available to charter for those who want to follow the event on the water.

A special evening activity will be held to congratulate all the crews who finished this memorable event. The location is still to be finalised. (B,L,D,)

Day 6, Friday, 24 April, 2015. After breakfast we comple all final touring of the Peninsula. Their will be time for you to relax on board. Dinner will be early as the Dawn Service requires a very early wake up call. A final briefing will be conducted for all on the programme for ANZAC Day. (B,L,D,).

Day 7, Saturday, 25 April, 2015. An early, early start. Full details will be provided as soon as we can. We will plan to attend the Dawn Service and the morning Lone Pine Service. However, no one can confirm the programme and timings at this time. At the completion of the days ceremonies, we will return to our ship. During the course of this day, we will allow time for individuals to lay wreaths etc., either at the cemeteries where Services are held or at other cemeteries where you need to remember relatives or to lay a poppy or wreath on behalf of Australian or New Zealand organisations or individuals. During the evening, your ship will set sail for Istanbul through the Dardanelles and the Sea of Marmara,(Marble). ( Brunch, D,)

Day 8, Sunday, 26 April, 2015. Today you have a free day in Istanbul to do some more sightseeing, relax, and have our staff reconfirm any onward travel arrangements you may have. This evening will be our last evening of the tour and will finish in grand style with the Gallipoli 100^th Anniversary Ball on our Cruise Liner. (B,L,D,)

Day 9, Monday, 27 April, 2015. A not too early breakfast after a late night. Today we leave our floating accommodation and everyone has the option to move to accommodation in Istanbul for those who wish a few more days in Turkey, or transfer to the airport if flying home or on to another destination. (B).

Notes relevant to above itinerary.

1. During our time off the Gallipoli coast from 20-25 April, we will visit during our touring the following sites.

• ANZAC Cove
• North Beach (Dawn Service)
• Lone Pine
• The Nek,
• Shrapnel Valley
• Quinn’s Post
• Plugges Plateau
• Chunak Bair
• Cape Helles
• 4^th Battalion Cemetery and Parade Ground
• Turkish 57^th Regiment cemetery and memorial (stop to view)
Plus:
• Troy (Optional tour)
• Canakkale (Optional tour)

2. Breakfasts, Lunches and Dinners are shown on itinerary as B,L,D.

 Use the Button to your left to find out more about Australians in the Gallipoli Campaign.

PLEASE NOTE:

When all arrangements are finalised, we will be offering you the option to join the cruise ship in Venice on Thursday, 16 April, 2015, and sail to Istanbul arriving on Sunday, 19 April, 2015. Alternatively, if you join the ship on Sunday, 19 April in Istanbul, you may elect to not disembark on Monday, 27 April in Istanbul but stay on board and sail to Venice, arriving there on Thursday, 30 April, 2015.

Some may even elect to do the cruise Venice to Venice.