Hosgeldinz. Welcome to Turkey!
Your Gallipoli Pilgrimage starts this morning. You will be picked up from the Manesol Galata Hotel at 6AM - 6.30AM (Please call and reconfirm with the office at least 24 hours prior to pick up on +90 530 442 60 09). This tour in not accompanied by an Intrepid group leader.
You will then travel by minibus to Eceabat. Please note that the vehicle used for the transfer is on a share basis and you will share this bus with other travellers visiting Gallipoli. The journey will take approx 6 hours.
After a light lunch you will be met for a fully guided Gallipoli tour visiting the following sites on the Battle Fields of the Gallipoli Peninsula:
~ Brighton Beach
~ ANZAC Cove
~ ANZAC Commemorative Site
~ Ariburnu & Beach Cemetery
~ Respect to Mehmetcik Statue
~ Lone Pine Australian Memorial
~ Johnston's Jolly (Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels)
~ Quinn's Post
~ The Nek and Walker's Ridge
~ Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial
For any Australian or New Zealander visiting the shores of Turkey, a visit to the battle fields of the Gallipoli Peninsula is a must. The battle at Gallipoli in WW1 is seen as the turning point in the history both of these nations (and also the Republic of Turkey). It was the moment when the nations' characters were defined and the core value of mateship was embedded in their psyche. The names of ANZAC Cove, the Nek and Lone Pine have a special place in the hearts of Antipodeans and are just some of the places you will visit first hand on this trip. You will be struck by the beauty and serenity of the place, in stark contrast to the stories your guide will tell you of the events that unfolded here. You will walk through the trenches and be transported to a place in history.
Pride will swell in the stories of heroism and camaraderie, not only amongst one's own troops but also with the enemy, making this a truly unique battlefield. There are opportunities to visit the war graves to seek out those from your town or area.
You will stay overnight in Canakkale. Our accommodation tonight is in a bed and breakfast.