turkey gallipoli tours

• Australia and Oceania
• Europe & UK

Rest of the World

• Travel Blog
• Festivals and Events
• Food and Drink
• Health and Wellness
• Nature and Wildlife
• Outdoor and Adventure
• Shopping & Markets
• Walks & Hikes
• Places to Stay
• Travel City Guides
• Travel Guides
• Travel Stories & Musings
• Travel Tips
• Trips & Itineraries
• Photography Guides
• Photography Stories & Photo Essays
• Photography Tours
• Travel Photography Gear
• Find The Best Flights
• Find The Best Hotels
• Find the Best Tours

Travel Gear

• Work with us
• Where are we now?

Privacy Policy

Must-Visit Destination Ideas for Your 2024 Travel Plans

Rome italy: 4-day itinerary top things to see, eat & do, balos beach, crete: the hidden paradise you never knew existed, an ultimate guide to touring gallipoli with turkey’s best battlefield historian, recipes around the world: australian traditional anzac biscuits, 20 staycation ideas for being a tourist in your city, review of a hanoi photography sunrise tour, the ultimate six-week 40-days italy road trip itinerary, a photo essay on the vibrant bac ha market in vietnam, find the best tours and activities, find the best flights, find the best hotels.

For those who have a personal connection to the ANZAC history or are a history buff interested in WWI military battlefields. Read our practical guide to visiting Gallipoli and ANZAC Cove, on a fully-escorted battlefield historian private tour.

DISCLOSURE: All views expressed on this site are our own and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which we have been, am now, or will be affiliated. Learn more .

It is not every day you travel far across the globe on an Australian right of passage and pilgrimage tour to Anzac Cove and Gallipoli’s battlefields in Turkey to see where your grandfather fought for our freedoms during the First World War.

In early-July 2019, John and I travelled to Greece , Italy and Turkey for eight weeks, spending six nights in Turkey — from visiting Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to wandering through the colourful Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market to hot-air ballooning over Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys , to name a few activities. One memorable and sombre experience was our full-day historical journey to Gallipoli’s principal battlefields, graveyards and monuments.

John, an ex-military soldier and 21+ year veteran of the Australian Armed Forces, was also keen to learn about the brave and fateful moment in 1915 when 16,000 Australian troops, including my grandfather, landed at Gallipoli.

To do this once-in-a-lifetime experience justice, we hired one of Turkey’s best-leading experts and historians on the Gallipoli Campaign, Kenan Çelik, MA, OAM, booking one of his six-hour Classic Anzac Battlefield tours.

Here is our guide on how we stepped into exploring WWI history on a full-day fully-escorted private tour from Istanbul to Gallipoli.

What we'll be covering

Brief overview of the gallipoli campaign and the anzacs.

At dawn on 25 April 1915, Allied troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in Ottoman Turkey. The Gallipoli campaign was the land-based element of a strategy intended to allow Allied ships to pass through the Dardanelles, capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and ultimately knock Ottoman Turkey out of the war.

In 1915 Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops stormed a quiet Aegean beach to battle Turkish soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

ANZAC Day was first marked on 25 April 1916 in commemoration of the first anniversary of the landing of the ANZACs, marking the brave and fateful moment when 16,000 Australian troops (including Rae’s grandfather, Bertram Hare) landed at Gallipoli of which 2,000 would be killed and wounded on that fateful day alone.

By the time Gallipoli was evacuated in December 1915, 8,709 Australians and 2,779 New Zealanders had been killed.

Places of Pride

Today, many memorials and cemeteries, not only in Turkey, Australia and other countries (see other top battlefields around the world worth visiting further below ), mark the fight and honour those who lost their lives.  

Places of Pride is the National Register of War Memorials and is an Australian War Memorial initiative to record the location and photos of every war memorial across Australia.

The  Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, is also such a place open to the public to visit — designed and built in the 1920s and 1930s to commemorate those who served in the First World War. 

Today, the Australia War Memorial building and its extended surrounding structures tell the stories of the past and honour Australian servicemen and servicewomen involved in other battles of subsequent conflicts and operations, such as World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars and current operations.

Where are Gallipoli and Anzac Cove?

Anzac Cove (Turkish: Anzak Koyu) is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula (Gelibolu in modern Turkey) located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles strait to the east.

Anzac Cove became famous as the site of the World War I landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps on Sunday, 25 April 1915.

Getting There

It is about a 5-hour (about 266 kilometres) one-way drive by a private limousine from Istanbul to Gallipoli.

Combining the road trip with our six-hour fully-escorted guided tour (plus a lunch break in Eceabat) makes for a 16-hour+ full-day excursion.

The nearest towns to the Anzac commemorative sites are Eceabat (20km), Canakkale town centre (30km) and Gelibolu (45km), but there is no public transport available from these towns to the national park. The services take place in the Gallipoli Campaign Historical Site, a protected area in a national park, which is an isolated, remote and exposed location with no permanent infrastructure, facilities or shelter.

Best Time to Visit Gallipoli

The best time to visit Gallipoli is during the spring (March through May) and autumn months. Summer months will mean intense heat and blazing sun. Also, there is very little shade on the battlefield area, in addition to massive crowds, mainly from Turks on holiday. The Winter months are typically cold and rainy.

Days before and during 25 April is an extremely popular and busy period each year for Australians, New Zealanders and Turks. For further information on attending the Anzac Day Gallipoli Dawn Service, Anzac Commemorative Site; and Australian Memorial Service, Lone Pine Cemetery and New Zealand Memorial Service, Chunuk Bair, go to the Australian Government, Department of Veterans Affairs website .

The busiest month for tourism in Gallipoli, Turkey is July, followed by June and May. We visited in early-July 2019, with few tourists, and experienced warm weather (a high of 87°F (30°C)) with clear blue skies and a gentle breeze coming from the Gallipoli peninsula beaches.

What To Pack For Gallipoli

Dress in casual clothing and comfortable walking footwear, especially since all sites of interest at Gallipoli (except for private museums in the area) are outdoors. The variable terrain includes reasonable flat sealed roads, cobblestone paths, sloped and uneven gravel tracks and grassed areas (which can become slippery or muddy when wet), as well as very steep ungraded paths.

In the summertime, come prepared with a hat and sunblock, snacks and bottled water (as the nearest shops are in Eceabat, 20 kilometres away). In the colder months, wear layers.

About Our Expert Battlefield Guide & Historian

Kenan Çelik, MA, OAM, is one of Turkey’s leading English-speaking experts on the Gallipoli Campaign of World War One, having been a certified guide to the battlefields of the Gallipoli Peninsula for more than 30 years.

At that time, Kenan shared his knowledge of the events of 1915 with literally thousands of people from all walks of life.

He has had the privilege of showing Gallipoli battlefields to Presidents, Governors-General and many other dignitaries, as well as visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, India, Turkey, Ireland and Canada.

In 2000, Kenan was awarded the Order of Australia, our highest civil honour, by the Australian government recognising his services to Australian history and becoming the first Turkish citizen to receive this award.

Since retiring as a lecturer in English language and literature, Kenan holds the Turkish states certificate’, qualifying him as a guide for all sites in Turkey — concentrating on introducing visitors to the history of the Gallipoli battlefields and the ancient cities of Troy and Assos.

You can contact Kenan for more information on Gallipoli, Troy and Assos and his expert service as a guide for these places when you plan to visit Turkey.

Gallipoli as an ex-Australian Soldier and Grand-daughter of WWI

As an Australian, visiting Gallipoli is a right of passage and a once-in-a-lifetime historical pilgrimage. However, there are also two personal reasons for John and me why this journey was historically and significantly important.

My grandfather, Bertram Hare, was there as a Corporal on the landing at Anzac Cove and John served 21 years in the Australian Armed Forces with a keen interest in military history.

The most moving part of this Gallipoli tour experience for us was spending time in the cemeteries where thousands of ANZACs lie, and seeing the graves of legendary ANZACs including John Simpson [Kirkpatrick], the ‘man with the donkey’.

My Grandfather, Corporal Bertram Hare — An ANZAC Soldier at Gallipoli

Every family has a WWI family ancestral story and one I’m proud to share. Below is my Grandpa Bert’s military biography and journey to Gallipoli as a veteran and surviving soldier of the First World War, 1914-1918 conflict.

On 22 December 1914, my grandfather on my mother’s side, Corporal Bertram Hare and his Company 15th Battalion embarked a ship bound for the Middle East.

When the 15th Battalion (part of the 4th Brigade) arrived in Egypt two months later, it became part of the New Zealand and Australian Division. Bert and his Battalion left Egypt bound for Gallipoli as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 12 April 1915.

On 25 April 1915, my grandfather and his fellow soldiers landed at ANZAC Cove in the late afternoon. When, on the night of the landing, the troops of the 4th (Monash’s) Infantry Brigade — the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Battalions reached the head of the valley — they found Quinn’s held by a handful of men of the 1st and 3rd Brigades, together with some New Zealanders and a New Zealand machine-gun.

The 16th Battalion was designated a place at Pope’s, and part of the 15th near Courtney’s and Steele’s. The 13th, coming up the next day, mainly strengthened the 16th Battalion on Pope’s, but one of its companies reinforced the remnants of the original garrison at Quinn’s. When the 1st Australian Division was reorganised, the 15th Battalion, scattered through it, was gradually disentangled. On Thursday, the 14th Battalion in Quinn’s Post was relieved by six officers and about 220 men of the 15th under Captain Quinn. (ref Bean diaries vol I, p579). Thousands died the first night.

From May to August, the Battalion was involved heavily in establishing and defending the front line of the ANZAC beachhead. In August, the 14th and 15th Battalions are assigned to the task and seize the high ground between Hill 971 (or Koja Chemen Tepe), the highest point of the Sari Bair Ridge and Chanuk Bair in order to secure a drive across the peninsula to capture the forts which guarded the straits.

In the first months of the Gallipoli campaign, flies were not present to any great extent, but over time, with horse manure and several hundred thousand dead, waste, and polluted water, disease spread, and dysentery became rife. Medical records indicated there were many mistakes with diagnosis and treatment. In the end, hundreds were being shipped out in May-August 1915 to try and prevent the spread of disease.

Bert suffered malaria, loss of vision, gastroenteritis and dysentery. On 30 July 1915, he was shipped out. It was just in the nick of time, for in August, the Company participated in the failed attempt to assault the summit of Hill 971. During the night of 6 August 1915, the 4th Brigade advanced. But, progress was slow due to the difficulty of the terrain. By dawn the following day, the Brigade was well short of its objective. During the failed attempt to assault the summit, most of his Company died.

From 21 August 1915 until 26 September 1915, Bert has hospitalised onboard a ship, at island hospitals Ghezirah, Mena, Helouan, and Zeitoun in Egypt. Later he was discharged on light duties until 19 February 1916, when Bert got transferred to Australia as escort duty on the Nestor. On return, he was promoted to sergeant, discharged on medical grounds and employed as a recruiting officer.

Grandpa Bert luckily survived Gallipoli to settle down as a farmer back in Australia. Unfortunately, he died before I was born, so I never got to thank him personally for his service to our country.

What Does ANZAC Day Mean to Us?

For over a century Australians have served in conflict and peace around the world, protecting the values of freedom and democracy. During John’s 21 years in the military, we have met hundreds of good people who have served, some of whom are still good friends of ours today.

Every ANZAC Day we remember and give thanks for the service of all those who have fought for our freedom, and we give thanks to all those serving our country today.

Whether that’s through wearing rosemary, a red poppy or medals on your chest, marching through the city streets as a collective group, listening to the last post at dawn on our house driveway (during Covid) alongside our neighbours followed by one minute of silence for a time of reflection and as a sign of respect to baking traditional ANZAC biscuits . We all do our part.

What To Expect on the Gallipoli Battlefield Private Tour

At 6:00 am, our private driver picked us up in an air-conditioned car directly from our accommodation, Hotel Amira, located in the historical city centre, the Sultanahmet area, Istanbul, leaving the crowds and traffic behind.

En route in our car, we followed the turquoise shore of the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles viewing the historic waterway the British, French and Anzac troops intended to secure during the Gallipoli campaign.

We stopped for a leg stretch, refreshments and a toilet break around the halfway point of our road trip.

It took us approximately five hours to drive from Istanbul before we finally reached the Gallipoli National Park and our first stop, the Anzac commemorative site — where we met our private tour guide, Kenan Çelik, for the first time.

At first impressions, Kenan is a warm Turkish gentleman with a casual happy demeanour.

As time progressed, the more time we spent with him, the further we admired his sharp intellect, dry wit and compassionate nature.

He is passionate about his subject matter and can rattle off battlefield facts and figures, war legends, and battle scenes from these hollowed Turkish grounds from a mental repertoire of three decades of historian knowledge and experience.

Kenan took us on a story-telling journey of discovery to key sites of historical significance, including ANZAC Cove, the Ari Burnu cemetery, the Nek, and the battle sites of Chunuk Bair and Lone Pine.

His in-depth knowledge brought alive the many abandoned battlefields and overgrown trenches and tunnels, where history, myths and legends were born, connecting the past with the present.

Exploring the Gallipoli Peninsula and seeing the scars left by WWI, we paid tribute to the ANZAC, including my grandfather, who survived, his mates and Turkish troops who didn’t and laid down their lives in battle.

After a lovely Turkish-styled all-inclusive lunch with Kenan at a restaurant in Eceabat, the nearest town to the battlefields of Gallipoli, we visited many other places made famous by courage and sacrifice: Shrapnel Valley, Quinn’s Post, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Commemorative Site, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly (Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels), and Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery.

In addition, we walked in the footsteps of soldiers on the infamous battlegrounds where Turkish troops stood off against the ANZACs and admired the memorials at Brighton Beach and Chunuk Bair.

Along the way, we gained insights into the history behind the Battle of Gallipoli — known otherwise as the Battle of Canakkale.

At the end of our tour, we returned during peak-hour traffic to Istanbul around 10 pm to rest and reflect, with emotional feelings and an unforgettable lifetime of memories in our hearts and minds.

Gallipoli met our expectations and has now ticked off our growing travel bucket list .

Six Other Top Battlefields Around the World Worth Visiting

There are other battlefields where the ANZACs proudly served in WW1, WW2 and Vietnam, which we have visited or have plans to visit.

• Western Front: Villers-Bretonneux, France and Belgium
• Long Tan, Vietnam (Visited)
• Honiara, Solomon Islands (Visited)
• Crete, Greece (Visited)
• Kapyong, South Korea

If you are interested in doing a tour, Mat McLachlan offers escorted battlefield tours to these locations.

We thoroughly recommend this Gallipoli fully-escorted private tour with battlefield historian, Kenan Çelik , for those who have a personal connection to the ANZAC history or are a history buff interested in WWI military battlefields.

Gallipoli is a special place to visit – no Australian or New Zealander who goes there will fail to be moved by the unique experience.

Visiting battlefields certainly is not everyone’s idea of a holiday, but for travellers looking for an extra dimension to their overseas journey to Turkey or wanting to connect with history, adding a one-day Gallipoli tour to your holiday itinerary can be a rewarding journey.

Lest We Forget

Alternatively, spend the extra time in Istanbul or Cappadocia , Turkey.

What’s your most life-changing battlefield tour experience and why? Let us know in the comment section below.

Liked this Post ? Pin it for Later!

DISCLOSURE: We were paying guests for this activity. All views, opinions and photos unless otherwise stated are our own and remain copyrighted to Suitcase Escapes. Learn more .

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Follow us on Instagram @suitcaseescapes

The essential guide on how to lease (or hire) a car….

G’Day, we are John and Rae Ronan!

Welcome to SUITCASE ESCAPES—a travel and food blog for the over 50s traveller! We are John and Rae Ronan—an Australian married couple who are members of the over fifty empty nesters club and avid storytellers sharing our tales about our travel and food adventures. We’ve travelled to 34 countries worldwide. We aim to inform, entertain and inspire you, from seeking out new undiscovered locations to meeting the locals to having authentic and once-in-a-lifetime experiences — without the kids! Pack your suitcase and escape with us! Oh! And, don’t forget to YouTube channel and --> go social with us daily. Is this your first time to our travel and food blog? Then, read on…

Explore by destination

Australia + oceania, europe + uk, latest travel stories, staying at lilianfels blue mountains resort and spa in katoomba, australia, popular articles.

• All time popular

Sampling Italian Flavours: Rome Secret Food Tour, Italy

The Best of Greece Five-Week Itinerary

Let’s Stay In Touch

Join our vip suitcase 50+ escapees community.

If you love travel and food and want to be a part of a community of travel dreamers and doers, nearing or over 50 years of age, then subscribe to our newsletter NOW! [Includes a FREE packing printable checklist]

We promise we won’t send you spam. Read our Privacy Policy . Unsubscribe at any time.

Go social with us

Plan your trip.

Staying at Villa Monica B&B in Sorrento, Italy

Staying at Antica Olivaia: An Organic Farmhouse In Orvieto, Italy

G'day. thanks for seeking us out.

Hello there! We are John and Rae, a married couple from Australia who are over 50 and have grown-up children. We love exploring and trying out new travel and food destinations , and we enjoy sharing our experiences with others.

So far, we have visited  36 countries across 5 continents , some of which we have visited more than once because we loved the people, culture, sights, and food.

We always book everything ourselves and feel confident doing so. We believe that it’s possible to travel smartly and enjoy luxury without overspending. We also think that stepping out of your comfort zone can be exciting and liberating.

As avid travellers with a passion for food, beer and wine , we have accumulated over 50 years of travel stories  and unforgettable experiences that we love sharing. We are still financially secure, fit and healthy, and eager to continue exploring the world.

Our goal is to entertain, inspire and inform you. We love discovering new and unexplored locations, meeting locals, and having unique and authentic experiences. We invite you to join us on our journey of self-discovery and exploration of the world.

If you share our passion, then read our story below.

John and Rae Ronan

Suitcase Escapes is a  travel and food blog  designed for  independent travellers over the age of 50. 

Our goal is to provide you with informative, entertaining, and inspirational content that will help you discover new and unexplored locations, meet locals, and have authentic and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

If you think our blog is a good fit for you, then  pack your suitcase and escape with us on our adventures!

Also, make sure to connect with us on social media and subscribe to our VIP Suitcase 50+ Escapees community to enjoy various free benefits.

Countries Visited

Fijian islands, independent travellers with years of experience under our belts.

Their travel journey began with romantic getaways as a couple before expanding into family vacations with friends and relatives. Later, they returned to traveling as a couple again.

Currently, they have reached a point in their lives where their children have grown up and started their own travels. They have both had successful careers and have experienced over 50 years of the earth’s rotation .

Although not everyone can afford to quit their jobs and sell all their possessions to travel the world, John is close to retirement and will soon be able to join Rae on her travels full-time. However, they are still open to the idea of continuing their travels even after John’s retirement.

In 2020, Rae retired and started Suitcase Escapes as one of her major passions. John is still working full-time to maintain their comfortable lifestyle.

John and Rae are two down-to-earth individuals who lead a simple life and strive to maintain a good balance of health and wellness .

When they are not travelling either domestically or abroad, they spend countless hours browsing through online books, YouTube vlogs, website blogs and travel reviews in order to plan their next trip.

Their goal is to strike the perfect balance between travel, food, and culture , with a mix of pampering, health and fitness pursuits, and adrenaline-driven adventures thrown in for good measure. Whether it’s a Thai foot massage after a long day of sightseeing, white water rafting for 13 km in Bali to get their heart racing, or joining locals for a shisha and street food in some back alley, John and Rae are always up for a good time.

John and Rae value their independence when they travel . They prefer to control their itinerary, prioritizing experiences that include some luxuries. To save time and money, they take a DIY approach to planning and booking free self-guided and self-paced sightseeing trips  around local cities and towns. However, they sometimes opt for small group tours to add a social element.

John enjoys going on road trips and driving off the beaten path. When Rae is by his side, they often stop for photos, roadside farmer stalls, or landmarks that catch her attention. Both of them prioritise their health and wellness , and they find excitement in hiking  through a country’s iconic scenery, beautiful national parks, and diverse landscapes.

They sometimes treat themselves to upscale dining or a luxurious hotel, but only when the situation calls for it and their budget permits. At the same time, they are aware that there are people who are not as fortunate as they are, which is why they have gone on journeys to assist and support local ethnic communities, such as the Hmong in Sapa, Vietnam .

Let’s go back over 50 years in time

Viva la holidays {1970-1980}.

Rae received her first passport when she was nine years old and still remembers her first cruise around the South Pacific Islands with her mother and one of her siblings.

It was during the 70s and 80s when overseas holidays were booked through travel agents and only group tours were available. The brochures depicted popular locations like Hong Kong, the Philippines and the Hawaiian Islands which were affordable and value-for-money.

Rae’s mother was a modern independent working woman who saved her money for a yearly two-week holiday to some exotic destination in a faraway land. Rae was fortunate enough to be able to join her on these trips. Every year, Rae would ask her mother, “Where to this year, Mum? South Pacific, Asia or somewhere in Oceania?”.

When Rae reached young adulthood, she set her sights on Europe. It took her almost two years to save up enough money on her minimum wage for a three-month European backpacking holiday. Although she was restricted by her meager budget, she longed for independence and self-discovery. She travelled solo and joined up with other like-minded backpackers around the European countryside. During the 90s, long-distance airfares cost double compared to today.

At the same time, her future husband, John, was developing his interest in travel . He toured the world for more than two decades while serving in the Australian military .

Travelling like a pack of wolves {1990-2010}

Fast forward, Rae met her husband John and they got married. Unfortunately, they couldn’t afford a honeymoon. The couple had two sons and they all shared a mutual love for travel, food, and adventure.

Like a wolf pack, they often went on trips together during school holidays to their next bucket list destination. Even when their eldest son was still a toddler wearing nappies (diapers), they revisited the Pacific Islands.

When the boys started school, the family holidays became a group affair with close relatives joining them. Often, a party of ten would travel together to affordable destinations in Asia, such as Bali, Indonesia  and  Thailand.

The Ronan family believed that “a family that plays together stays together.”

They would sit around the dinner table and reminisce about their travels, laughing at the hilarious antics, hair-raising escapades, and travel scam near misses. They would say things like, “ Hey, remember when! ” and vow to start planning the next holiday before these stories became too old.

Bali Safari Park, Indonesia

Couple suitcase escapes {2010-2020}.

John surprised Rae on her 50th birthday with a romantic holiday to the Maldives .

Both of them had travelled to the Asian continent many times before. However, Europe now became a beckoning destination for them, which was once considered a far-flung location from Australia.

Two years later, Rae reciprocated by taking John on a six-week road trip around Italy . They drove from the Amalfi Coast in the south to Venice in the north, and everywhere in between, including The Dolomites . It was one of the most rewarding, exhilarating, and logistically extensive independent travels they had undertaken at the time.

Since 2019, they have continued their passion for road-tripping around Europe , Australia and the Pacific islands until COVID-19 brought travel to a near standstill. However, now they are making up for the lost time.

They are often asked what their favourite place in Italy is, and…

For them, it is not the places they visited, but the people they met and the little moments in time that made an impression or made them laugh out loud

The Evolution of our Travel and Food Blog

During their trip to Italy, Rae created a daily journal on Instagram and Facebook where she shared her favourite photos and travel stories with her family and friends back home. For countless days, her devoted followers woke up to the sound of their post notifications due to the time zone difference. Rae received overwhelming positive feedback from her friends and followers on her posts. Many of them didn’t want the trip to end. After returning from Italy, Rae turned her social media diaries and photos into coffee table books, as she believes that special memories are worth preserving for generations to come.

The next stickers to add to our suitcase

In 2022, John and Rae decided to start a travel and food blog called SUITCASE ESCAPES .

They plan to fulfil their travel dreams once John retires, and they are excited to explore different destinations and create visually compelling blog stories. From fast-paced city living to slow travel, they want to share their experiences with their readers.

They have been to many destinations and have many stories to share on their blog. If you’re interested in following their journey, subscribe to read the latest posts.

Their next stops are in May 2023 , where they plan to explore Malta, Sardinia, Sicily, and Tuscany in Italy . They are excited to discover the beautiful countryside of Tuscany and explore the stunning Mediterranean islands.

To give you a sneak peek, here is their preliminary 5-week Tuscany and Mediterranean road trip itinerary .

Get in touch with us

We always appreciate hearing from our readers who share our love for travel and food.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment on our posts or contact us directly. If you represent a tourism board, travel company, property, product or service and wish to collaborate with us, please use our Work With Us online form to get in touch.

Join our VIP Suitcase 50+ Escapees Community if you love to travel and explore new cuisines, and want to be a part of a community of travel enthusiasts who are nearing or over 50 years of age.

Stickers to our Suitcase

By subscribing to our newsletter, you will receive a printable packing checklist , and get access to monthly updates where we will take you behind the scenes of our blog. We will inspire you to explore new destinations, share travel tips and tricks, and help you find ways to travel more.

Bonus Suitcase Series

You can also expect to receive a bonus Suitcase Series featuring compelling visual storytelling whenever we travel live-in-action. Our next adventure in 2023 is in Tuscany and the Mediterranean. Click on the link to view our latest itinerary.

GET IN TOUCH OR SAY G'DAY

We love receiving questions and feedback from our fellow travel and food readers. Please, keep them coming!

Located on the east coast of Australia, GMT+10, we check our emails once per day. Unless we are on the move travelling , expect an email response within a couple of days.

Sign up to receive the many FREE benefits of belonging to our VIP Suitcase 50+ Escapees community . If you love to travel and food and want to be a part of a community of travel dreamers and doers, nearing or over 50 years of age, then subscribe to our e-newsletter NOW!

PS:  We give special priority to our email subscribers.

Connect with us on Social Media

Connect with us for regular social updates, photos and anecdotal travel and food-related stories.

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

Are you a reader with a personal question about the places that we have been to?  Get in touch by using our contact us form to:

• submit specific travel and food questions
• send comments and suggestions (please keep your message less than two paragraphs)
• report any website issues.

If you are a fellow blogger, PR rep or brand go to our Work with us page.  We love collaborating with brands and bloggers who align with Suitcase Escape’s core values.

Alternatively, contact us via our email: info @ suitcaseescapes dot com

We would love to know what information you found most useful and why, and what other types of food and travel information you would like to see featured on our blog. Help us to help you!

View our About us page to get to know us and our travel experiences. If you haven’t heard from us straight away we may be on one of our travel jaunts.

See our Where Are We Now page for our current and future travel plans.

Sorry, we are not looking for guest posts.

Contact us form

• Sign me up now!

Overview – Who We Are

Suitcase Escapes operated as Suitcase Escapes ABN 77 303 398 792 and found at https://www.suitcaseescapes.com (also referred to within as “Suitcase Escapes”, “we”, “us”, “our”, or “Website”) is governed by the following privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it. The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to inform you what personally identifiable information (“Personal Data”) we may collect and how it may be used. This statement only applies to this Website.

Suitcase Escapes is owned by John and Raeleen Ronan (also referred to as the “owner(s)”).

What Information Do We Collect and How is it Used?

Information you voluntarily submit to our website.

Wherever possible, you can elect to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym in interacting with us e.g. when making an enquiry.

We may collect Personal Data from you such as, but is not limited to, your name and email address, or your website URL and name, when you voluntarily submit information to Suitcase Escapes by leaving a comment, subscribing to our newsletter, joining us on social media or when contacting us for enquiries.

The following are situations in which you may provide Personal Data to us:

• When you fill out forms or fields through Suitcase Escapes.
• When you sign up for any newsletters or other materials through Suitcase Escapes.
• When you provide information to us through a third-party provider, service or website.
• When you communicate with us or request information about us or our products and services, whether via email, hard copy document or other means.
• When you participate in online surveys, polls or market research.
• When you participate in any of our marketing initiatives, including, contests, events, or promotions.
• When you participate in forums, submit comments, and provide user-generated content or submissions.
• Other circumstances where collecting personal information is reasonable and permitted by the laws of Queensland, Australia.
• How we collect, store, use and secure Personal Data is in line with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (‘Privacy Act’).

Our legal basis for processing this information is your consent, and by voluntarily providing us with Personal Data, you are consenting to our use of it in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you provide Personal Data to us, you acknowledge and agree that such Personal Data may be transferred and stored from your current location to the office and servers of Suitcase Escapes and the authorised third parties referenced below.

Contact Forms

Information submitted through the contact forms on our Website is sent to our Suitcase Escapes email account, hosted by Gmail , in accordance with Google and its EU “Privacy Shield” policy .

We keep these submissions for customer service purposes only. They are never used for marketing purposes or shared with any third parties.

Sensitive Personal Information

At no time are you to submit sensitive personal information to this Website. Furthermore, under no circumstances will we request any information from you that may disclose your:

• political, religious or philosophical opinions, beliefs, associations or affiliations
• health and sexuality
• racial or ethnic origin
• membership of a trade union, or a professional or trade association
• criminal records.

If you elect to submit such information to us, it will be subject to this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect from Others

We may receive information about you from other sources, such as from social media websites (i.e., Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or others), blogs and other users. Suitcase Escapes utilises social media commenting systems. Therefore, if you choose to comment on a Suitcase Escape post, shared on social media, your comment may appear on the blog post as well.

Automatically-Collected Information

We automatically collect certain information about you and the device with which you access Suitcase Escapes. For example, when you use Suitcase Escapes, your IP address, operating system type, browser type, referring website, pages you viewed, and the dates/times when you accessed our Website may be logged. We may also collect information about actions you take when using Suitcase Escapes, such as links clicked.

Use of Cookies

A cookie is a piece of text that is saved to your browser by a website to enable that website to save certain information to your machine so that it can later be retrieved. We do not use cookies to collect Personal Data about you.

We may log information using cookies, which are small data files stored on your browser by Suitcase Escapes. We may use both session cookies, which expire when you close your browser, and persistent cookies, which stay on your browser until deleted, to provide you with a more personalised experience on our Website. For more information about our use of cookies, please see the Cookies section below.

If you leave a comment on our Website you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.

Embedded Content from Other Websites

Articles on Suitcase Escapes may include embedded content (e.g. YouTube videos). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.

These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

How Your Information May Be Used

Suitcase Escapes may use your personal information in the following ways:

• To operate and maintain our Website.
• To create your account, identify yourself as a user of our Website, and customise our Website to your account.
• To send you promotional information, such as newsletters and ad-hoc notifications. Each email newsletter will provide information on how to opt out of future mailings by unsubscribing.
• To send you administrative communications, such as administrative emails, confirmation emails, technical notices, updates on policies, or security alerts.
• To respond to your comments or enquiries.
• To provide you with user support.
• To track and measure Website performance.
• To process payment for purchases, you make through Suitcase Escapes.
• To protect, investigate, and deter unauthorized or illegal activity.
• To review the effectiveness of our marketing programs and analyze other general demographic trends.

How Comments are Managed

Comments are welcomed and encouraged on this Website, but there are some instances where comments will be edited or deleted as follows:

• Comments deemed to be spam or solely promotional in nature will be deleted. Including a link to relevant content is permitted, but comments should be relevant to the post topic.
• Comments including profanity will be deleted.
• Comments containing language or concepts that could be deemed offensive will be deleted. Note this may include abusive, threatening, pornographic, offensive, misleading or libellous language.
• Comments that attack an individual directly will be deleted.
• Comments that harass other people will be deleted. Please be respectful toward other contributors.
• Anonymous comments will be deleted. We only accept comments from people who identify themselves.

Suitcase Escapes reserves the right to edit or delete any comments submitted to our Website without notice. This comment policy is subject to change at any time. If you have any questions about the commenting policy, please let us know by contacting us .

When visitors leave comments on our Website we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.

An anonymised string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service, in accordance with the Gravatar service policy . After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.

Third-Party Use of Information

We may share your information with third parties when you explicitly authorise us to share your information.

Additionally, Suitcase Escapes may use third-party service providers to service various aspects of our Website. Each third-party service provider’s use of your Personal Data is dictated by their respective privacy policies.

Our Third-Party Partners

Our Third-Party Partners who may place cookies and tracking technology on your computer or device include:

Google Analytics and MonsterInsights

These services track Suitcase Escapes usage and provides information such as referring websites and visitor actions on this Website. Google Analytics and MonsterInsights may capture non-personally identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. But no other Personal Data is captured by Google Analytics or MonsterInsights, in accordance with Google Analytics’ privacy policy and MonsterInsights’ Privacy Policy .

MonsterInsights Google Analytics application uses the Google Analytics Reporting API to gather analytics about our Website.

Google Analytics Opt-Out . To provide Website visitors with the ability to prevent their data from being used by Google Analytics, Google has developed the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on for the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, dc.js).

If you want to opt-out, download and install the add-on for your web browser. The Google Analytics opt-out add-on is designed to be compatible with Chrome, Internet Explorer 11, Safari, Firefox and Opera. In order to function, the opt-out add-on must be able to load and execute properly on your browser. For Internet Explorer, 3rd-party cookies must be enabled. Learn more about the opt-out and how to properly install the browser add-on .

Newsletters

Suitcase Escapes uses Vision6 as its email service provider. Through Vision6, we collect contact information, distribute our newsletter, and track actions you take that assist us in measuring the performance of our Website and newsletters. Upon subscription, we also track the pages you visit on our Website through Vision6.

Our newsletters contain tracking pixels. This pixel is embedded in emails and allows us to analyze the success of our newsletters. Because of these tracking pixels, we may see if and when you open an email, which links within the email you click, and the pages you visit on our Website. This behaviour is not passed on to third parties. All data submitted at the time of subscription to our newsletter is stored on Vision6’s servers. Access Vision6’s privacy policy and anti-spam policy . At any time, you may be removed from our newsletter list by clicking on the unsubscribe link provided in each email.

Suitcase Escapes uses Akismet and its anti-spam service to make it easy for you to leave comments on our Website blog posts. Personal information that you enter for comments is securely stored on Akismet’s server, in accordance with Akismet’s privacy policy .

Surveys and Polls

We may also conduct surveys, polls or market research and may seek other information from you on a periodic basis. These surveys will provide us with information that allows improvement in the types and quality of services offered to you, and the manner in which those services are offered to you.

Periodically, Suitcase Escapes may invite you to complete a voluntary survey. These surveys may be completed through Survey Monkey or Vision6 . All survey responses may be submitted anonymously and only your IP address is stored. You may voluntarily enter your name and email address. All data submitted through Survey Monkey and Vision6 are stored on their servers and are subject to the Survey Monkey privacy policy and Vision6 privacy policy .

Anonymous Data

From time to time, we may use anonymous data, which does not identify you alone, or when combined with data from other parties. This type of anonymous data may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses. Examples of this anonymous data may include analytics or information collected from cookies.

Publicly Visible Information

If you leave a comment on Suitcase Escapes, the name you choose may be publicly visible. Your email address will never be available publicly.

Suitcase Escapes uses cookies to store visitors’ preferences, record user-specific information on what pages users access or visit, ensure that visitors are not repeatedly sent the same banner ads, and customise Website content based on visitors’ browser type or other information that the visitor sends. Cookies may also be used by third-party services, such as Google Analytics or Affiliate Program Participation , as described herein.

Users may, at any time, prevent the setting of cookies, by our Website, by using a corresponding setting of your internet browser and may thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Furthermore, already set cookies may be deleted at any time via an Internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all popular Internet browsers. However, if users deactivate the setting of cookies in their Internet browser, not all functions of our Website may be entirely usable.

At this time, your Personal Data is not shared with any other third-party applications. This list may be amended from time to time at Suitcase Escapes’ sole discretion.

Except when required by law, we will not sell, distribute, or reveal your email addresses or other Personal Data without your consent; however, we may disclose or transfer Personal Data collected through Suitcase Escapes to third parties who acquire all or a portion of our business, which may be the result of a merger, consolidation, or purchase of all or a portion of our assets, or in connection with any bankruptcy or reorganisation proceeding brought by or against us.

Advertising

Display ads.

We may use third-party advertising companies to serve content, and advertisements and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our Website. These companies may use non-Personal Data (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this Website and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioural advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit networkadvertising.org .

Remarketing Ads

From time to time, Suitcase Escapes may engage in remarketing efforts, using remarketing tracking cookies and conversion pixels from third-party providers, such as Google, Facebook, or Instagram, in order to market our Website. These providers use cookies to serve ads based on someone’s past visits to our Website. This allows us to present special offers for our products and services to you via Facebook and Google. However, your Personal Data is not used by any remarketing service other than to present you with special offers from us. We use the following third-party service providers for remarketing: Facebook: Opt-out of Facebook remarketing Google: Opt-out of Google remarketing

Affiliate Program Participation

In some instances, Suitcase Escapes may include affiliate links in posts where we recommend specific products and services we deem to be travel-related, such as gear, tours, or activities. If you purchase something through one of our affiliate links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These links are always disclosed.

On our Website, you may subscribe to our newsletter, which may be used for advertising purposes. All newsletters sent may contain tracking pixels. The pixel is embedded in emails and enables us to analyse the success of any of our online marketing campaigns. Because of these tracking pixels, we may see if and when you open an email and which links within the email you click. This allows our Website to adapt the content of future newsletters to the interests of the user. This behaviour will not be passed on to third parties.

Children's Information

Suitcase Escapes does not knowingly collect any personally identifiable information from children under the age of 16. If a parent or guardian believes that our Website has personally identifiable information of a child under the age of 16 in its database, please contact us immediately and we will remove such information from our records as soon as possible.

Spam Policy

Suitcase Escapes is strongly opposed to spam. We will only send emails to users that have explicitly requested to receive an email from Suitcase Escapes. Examples may include:

• Opt-in subscribers to the Suitcase Escapes Newsletter.
• Users that complete a contact form.
• All communications that are related and relevant to what you have requested.

Suitcase Escapes may contain hyperlinks and other pointers to other websites operated by third parties (“Linked Websites”). We do not control Linked Websites and are therefore not responsible for the content of any Linked Website or any hyperlink contained in a Linked Website.

Occasionally, at our discretion, we may include or offer third-party products or services on this Website.

Suitcase Escapes, therefore, has no responsibility or liability for the content, activities and privacy practices of these Linked Websites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our Website to read the privacy policies of each and every website that collects personally identifiable information. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by Suitcase Escapes. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of this Website and welcome any feedback about these websites.

Email Communications

If you send us an email with questions or comments, we may use your personally identifiable information to respond to your questions or comments, and we may save your questions or comments for future reference.

For security reasons, we do not recommend that you send non-public personal information, such as passwords, social security numbers, or bank account information, to us by email.

You may opt-out of receiving future commercial email communications from us by clicking the unsubscribe link included at the bottom of most emails we send, however, we reserve the right to send you transactional emails.

Social Media

Suitcase Escapes may use social media and social networking services in order to market our Website and its products and services. These applications require the use of third-party service providers. Notably, we have a Facebook page, Facebook private group page, Twitter feed, Instagram feed, TikTok channel and YouTube channel.

The Facebook page and Facebook Private Group page are administered by Facebook , in accordance with Facebook’s Data Policy , and is accessible by Facebook users who have already consented to Facebook’s Data Policy. The Facebook Group page is administered and moderated by Suitcase Escapes. We do not export information about our followers from the Facebook platform.

The Twitter account we use is administered by Twitter, in accordance with Twitter’s Privacy Policy .

The Instagram account we use is administered by Instagram (as one of Facebook’s products), in accordance with Instagram’s and Facebook’s Privacy Policies .

The TikTok account we use is provided and controlled by TikTok Pte. Ltd , in accordance with TikTok’s Privacy Policy .

The YouTube channel is administered by YouTube , in accordance with YouTube’s privacy policy .

Suitcase Escapes may use direct messaging over social media on occasion when users contact us on Facebook by leaving messages in our Inbox or by sending us Direct Messages on Twitter. We aim to delete these messages as soon as we have responded to the enquiries.

How Long Do We Retain Your Personal Data

Suitcase Escapes ensures Personal Data is retained only for as long as necessary in accordance with the above purposes and applicable laws. We may be required to retain your Personal Data for a number of years in order to satisfy legal or contractual obligations, or in order to establish, exercise or defend legal claims. When your Personal Data is no longer necessary for these purposes, the Personal Data will be deleted.

If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognise and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.

If you subscribe to our Website newsletter, your Personal Data will be retained until you unsubscribe or are removed from the third-party service provider database, at the administrative discretion of Suitcase Escapes.

For users that register on our Website (if any), we also store the Personal Data they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.

Rights Related To Your Personal Data

If you have left comments on this Website, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any Personal Data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes. Refer to our Comments section above.

Opt-out You may opt-out of our newsletter subscription service and future email communications by following the unsubscribe links in our emails. You may also contact us to be removed from our mailing list.

Access You may access the personal information we have about you by contacting us .

Amend You may contact us to amend or update your personal information.

Forget In certain situations, you may request that we erase or forget your personal information. To do so, please submit a request via our contact us form.

Please note that we may need to retain certain information for recordkeeping purposes or to complete transactions, or when required by law.

Where We Send Your Personal Data

Visitor comments may be checked through our third-party service provider automated spam detection service.

How We Protect Your Personal Data

We protect your Personal Data with the following site features:

• We use an SSL/HTTPS certificate throughout this Website. This encrypts our user communications with the servers so Personal Data is never captured by third parties without authorisation.
• This Website is scanned on a regular basis for security holes and known vulnerabilities in order to make your visit as safe as possible. We use regular Malware Scanning.

No personal information is stored on the site or its backend at any time.

How You May Contact Suitcase Escapes

If you have any questions, concerns or ideas about how we could improve our Privacy Policy, please contact us . Where you provide suggestions, materials or feedback it is considered non-confidential and we may, at our complete discretion, use it to improve our Website, service and/or how we handle personal information without any obligation to compensate you regardless of how we use, implement, copy, modify, display, distribute and/or otherwise benefit from your suggestions, materials or feedback.

Changes and Revisions to Suitcase Escapes’ Privacy Policy

We are obligated to regularly review and update this Privacy Policy. We, therefore, reserve the right to amend this Website Privacy Policy at any time.

At a minimum, we will update this Privacy Policy once per year. We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time and from time to time without prior notice.

Please review this policy periodically, especially before you provide any Personal Data. Your continued use of our Website after any changes or revisions to this Privacy Policy shall indicate your agreement with the terms of such revised Privacy Policy.

Last updated: 02 December 2022

For the purposes of this Disclaimer:

• Suitcase Escapes operated as Suitcase Escapes ABN 77 303 398 792 and found at https://www.suitcaseescapes.com is a personal collaborative blog created, written and edited by John and Raeleen Ronan (also referred to within as “we”, “us”, “our”, “Suitcase Escapes”, or the “owner(s)”).
• Website refers to Suitcase Escapes, accessible from https://www.suitcaseescapes.com
• “You” means the individual user accessing the Website, Suitcase Escapes, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using the Website, as applicable.

The content available on or through this Website is distributed by Suitcase Escapes for general information purposes only. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Suitcase Escapes makes no statement, representation, or warranty about the quality, accuracy, context, completeness, availability or suitability for any purpose of, and you should not rely on, any content available on or through this Website. Despite our best efforts, Suitcase Escapes makes no warranties that the content available on or through this Website is free of infection by computer viruses or other contamination, to the maximum extent permitted by law. Suitcase Escapes disclaims, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you or any other person might incur for any reason including as a result of the content available on or through this Website is in any way inaccurate, out of context, incomplete, unavailable, not up to date or unsuitable for any purpose. Suitcase Escapes reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the content on the Website at any time without prior notice.

This disclaimer also covers the below social media channels owned, managed and administered by John and Raeleen Ronan, under the business operated as Suitcase Escapes ABN 77 303 398 792.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuitcaseEscapesTravelBloggers
• Facebook Private Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/693229532068877
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suitcaseescapes/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/suitcaseescapes/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suitcaseescapes
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuitcaseEscapes
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Y0N8NA_5v3JVE1U8Cu9hA

These social media channels strive to abide by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Guidelines for online influencers. For questions about this Website and its related social media channels, please contact us .

Errors and Omissions

The information given by Suitcase Escapes is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Even if Suitcase Escapes takes every precaution to ensure that the content of the Website is both current and accurate, errors can occur. Plus, given the changing nature of laws, rules and regulations, there may be delays, omissions or inaccuracies in the information contained on the Website.

Suitcase Escapes is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information.

External Links

The Website may contain links to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or in any way affiliated with Suitcase Escapes. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites, nor does Suitcase Escapes guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any information on these external websites.

These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we could remove a link that may have gone ‘bad’.

Please be also aware that when you leave the Website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms that are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their “Terms of Service” before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

Views Expressed

The Website (and its social media channels) may contain views expressed by Suitcase Escapes.

The Website (and its social media channels) may also contain views and opinions which are those of you, as the user or author, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other author, agency, affiliates, organisation, employer or company, including Suitcase Escapes.

Comments that are published by you are your sole responsibility and you will take full responsibility, liability and blame for any libel or litigation that results from something written in or as a direct result of something written in a comment. Suitcase Escapes is not liable for any comment published by you and reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason whatsoever.

Compensation

This Website does accept forms of paid advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. It may also accept free products, services, travel, event tickets and other forms of compensation from third parties. This Website and our social media channels abide by word-of-mouth marketing standards. We believe in transparency of opinion, association, and source. Any compensation received may influence the content, advertising space, sponsorships, topics or posts presented on this Website and made to our social media channels. Such content, topics or posts will be clearly identified as non-paid, paid or sponsored content. For example:

DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post brought to you by XYZ. The opinions are completely our own honest and unbiased reviews based on our personal experience.

The owner(s) of this Website and these social media channels may be compensated (cash or in-kind payment) to provide opinions on or review products, services, websites and various other topics. However, irrespective of receiving compensation or not, we always give our honest and unbiased opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those products, services, websites and various other topics. Such content, topics or posts will be clearly identified as non-paid, paid or sponsored content. For example:

The views and opinions expressed on this Website and through these social media channels are those of the owner(s). Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

Affiliate Links

• CJ Affiliate by Conversant
• Awin (Affiliate Window)
• Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (refer further below)

These affiliate links are always disclosed as follows:

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate link(s). An affiliate link means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through our link, without any extra cost to you . It helps towards funding this site and our future travels. Thanks for your support. Learn more .

However, all reviews, recommendations and opinions are our own honest and unbiased opinions and we only endorse or link to products and services that we genuinely recommend.

Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

Conflicts of interest.

This Website does contain content that may represent a conflict of interest. However such content will always be clearly identified.

Refer also to our Privacy Policy regarding this Website and its privacy and spam policy guidelines.

By using the Website, you hereby consent to our disclaimer and agree to its terms.

Should we update, amend or make any changes to this Disclaimer, those changes will be prominently posted here.

If you have any questions about this Disclaimer, please contact us .

THE 10 BEST Gallipoli Tours & Excursions

Tours in gallipoli.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Skip-the-Line Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Istanbul to Gallipoli Full Day Tour with Lunch and Transfers

2. Istanbul E-pass: Top Istanbul Attractions with Skip The Ticket Line

3. Istanbul to Gallipoli, Canakkale and Troy. 2 Day Tour with Hotel

4. Full Day Troy & Gallipoli Tour ( From Canakkale )

5. Daily Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul

6. Small-Group Full Day Gallipoli & ANZAC Battlefields from Istanbul

7. 2-Days Gallipoli Troy Pergamon Acropolis Tour From Istanbul to Kusadasi

8. Gallipoli Tour from Eceabat, Canakkale

9. 2 days 1 night gallipoli & troy tour from ıstanbul (new museum of troy included).

10. Turkey Highlights 6 Day Small-Group Tour with Hotels and Flights

11. Private Troy & Gallipoli Tour from Canakkale

12. 2 Days 1 night Gallipoli Troy Landing Beaches Tour From Istanbul

13. Gallipoli Peninsula Day Tour from Istanbul

14. Troy and Gallipoli Day Trip from Canakkale

15. Grand Turkey Tour

16. Pearl's of Turkey - 8 Days

17. 3 Day Gallipoli in Depth Tour from Istanbul with Troy

18. Private Gallipoli Full-Day Trip from Istanbul

19. Full Day Private Tour of Helles and Anzac

20. 12-Day Istanbul-Gallipoli-Ephesus-Pamukkale-Konya-Cappadocia Tour

21. Private Helles Gallipoli Tour From Eceabat, Canakkale

22. 12-Day Magic Explorer Tour from Istanbul

23. Private 12 Day Tour of Turkey From Istanbul

24. Private Anzac Trail Tour Walk In Their Footsteps

25. Full-Day Private Tour for Gallipoli from Istanbul

26. Wonders of Turkey - Gulet: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Fethiye

27. From Istanbul: Gallipoli Private Full-Day Tour

28. Discover The Beauties of Turkey's 11-Day Package Tour.

29. 2 days anzac tour DAWN SERVICE FROM ISTANBUL

30. Aegean Explorer&Blue Escape - 11 Days

What travellers are saying.

• One Day Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul: Lunch Included
• Istanbul E-pass: Top Istanbul Attractions with Skip The Ticket Line
• 2 days 1 night Gallipoli and Troy Tour from / to Istanbul
• Daily Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul
• Small-Group Full Day Gallipoli & ANZAC Battlefields from Istanbul
• All Tours Istanbul-Azure
• Gallipoli Anzac Day Tours
• PaddleGallipoli

No products in the cart.

Gallipoli Day Tour (Starts from Istanbul and Ends in Çanakkale)

$ 120.00   per person

Discover the rich history of Gallipoli on our immersive day tour, departing from Istanbul and concluding in Çanakkale. Journey through time as we explore iconic battlefields, pay homage to fallen heroes and learn about the strategic importance of the Gallipoli Peninsula. With expert guides and comfortable transportation, this is the perfect way to experience a piece of WWI history.

Obtain your tour price in USD by selecting tour dates and specifics below:

Please Pick a Tour start Date

• Detailed Itinerary
• Inquire About This Trip
• Reviews (0)

This tour starts by picking you up from your hotel in Istanbul and ends in Çanakkale.

06:00 AM – Pick up from hostel or hotel from Taksim area 06:30 AM – Pick up from hostel or hotel from Sultanahmet area 12:15 PM – Upon arriving in Eceabat, take a lunch break 12:50 PM – Depart on a fully guided Gallipoli Tour

On the tour you will be able to see:

– Brighton Beach – Beach Cemetery (John Simpson’s Grave) – ANZAC Cove – Ari Burnu (First ANZAC landing place) – Lone Pine Cemetery (Australian Memorial) – Johnston’s Jolly (walk in the ANZAC trenches) – View of Shrapnel Valley – Turkish Memorial – The Nek and Walker´s Ridge – Chunuk Bair (Main New Zealand Memorial)

At the end of the tour at around 6:00 pm, you will be transferred to Çanakkale. End of tour and services.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick up from Istanbul Hotels for departure to Gallipoli (on the European side of Istanbul only)
• Transport by air-conditioned Vehicles
• English-speaking tour guide during the tour
• Lunch (Vegetarian lunch option available upon request).
• Entrance fees
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• End of the Tour in Gallipoli, bus and/or flight tickets are not included
• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and drinks, unless specified

IMPORTANT INFO:

• This is a regular shared group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour Round-trip ground transportation via air-conditioned vans, mini-buses or buses (depending on the number of passengers traveling)
• We strongly urge you not to book travel arrangements from Istanbul to your home destination on the day of your tour. We cannot be responsible for common or uncommon travel delays in our arrival time back to Istanbul.

Inquire About this Trip

Please fill out the information below and we will be in touch shortly with your personalized quote.

There are no reviews yet.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your review  *

Name  *

Email  *

Other itineraries you may be interested in

6 Days Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia Tour

3 Days Tour of Gallipoli, Troy & Ephesus (Tour starts from Istanbul and ends in Kusadasi or Izmir)

5 Days Istanbul, Gallipoli and Troy Tour

Start planning your trip.

Our team of experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you plan your adventure of a lifetime.

Gallipoli Tours

Embark on a poignant journey through history with our Gallipoli Tours. Situated on the Dardanelles Strait, the Gallipoli Peninsula is not just a beautiful landscape but also a hallowed ground that has witnessed some of the most significant battles of World War I. Our tours are designed to offer a deep and respectful understanding of the events, places, and figures that shaped the Gallipoli Campaign.

Showing 1–20 of 31 results

Gallipoli Day Trip from Istanbul

Private Gallipoli Day Trip from Istanbul

Private Troy and Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul

2-day gallipoli and troy tour from istanbul.

3-Day Ancient Turkey Tour: Pamukkale, Ephesus, Troy & Gallipoli

3-Day Tour of Pamukkale, Ephesus, Troy and Gallipoli

6 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Troy and Gallipoli Tour

6-Day Istanbul, Cappadocia and Gallipoli Tour

Troy Day Trip from Istanbul

3 Days Cappadocia, Troy and Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul

9-Day Tour of Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia

Gallipoli Day Tour (Starts from Istanbul and Ends in Çanakkale)

4-Day Tour of Gallipoli, Troy, Pamukkale and Ephesus (Tour will start from Istanbul and will end in Kusadasi or Izmir)

4 Days Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour

4 Days Cappadocia, Ephesus, Troy and Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul

6 Days Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Gallipoli & Troy Budget Tour from Istanbul by Bus

Troy and Gallipoli Day Trip from Çanakkale

Gallipoli day tour from canakkale.

2 Day Tour of Gallipoli, Troy and Pergamon (Tour starts from Istanbul and ends in Kusadasi)

2 Days Pergamon, Gallipoli and Troy Tour from Kusadasi or Izmir

Gallipoli tour.

Gallipoli Tour is a professional tour operator in Istanbul and has been licensed by TURSAB and the Turkey Tourism Ministry under license number A-6073.

QUICK LINKS

Contact information.

• Copyright © 2024 Gallipoli Tour. All Rights Reserved. TÜRSAB - Turkey Travel Agencies Association Licence Number# 6073

Top Tours in Gallipoli, Türkiye

Gallipoli tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Multi-day Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Skip-the-Line Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Istanbul to Gallipoli Full Day Tour with Lunch and Transfers

2. Istanbul E-pass: Top Istanbul Attractions with Skip The Ticket Line

3. Istanbul to Gallipoli, Canakkale and Troy. 2 Day Tour with Hotel

4. Full Day Troy & Gallipoli Tour ( From Canakkale )

5. Daily Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul

6. Small-Group Full Day Gallipoli & ANZAC Battlefields from Istanbul

7. 2-Days Gallipoli Troy Pergamon Acropolis Tour From Istanbul to Kusadasi

8. Private Anzac Trail Tour Walk In Their Footsteps

9. Gallipoli Tour from Eceabat, Canakkale

10. 2 days 1 night gallipoli & troy tour from ıstanbul (new museum of troy included).

11. Turkey Highlights 6 Day Small-Group Tour with Hotels and Flights

12. 2 Days 1 night Gallipoli Troy Landing Beaches Tour From Istanbul

13. Gallipoli Peninsula Day Tour from Istanbul

14. Troy and Gallipoli Day Trip from Canakkale

15. Grand Turkey Tour

16. Pearl's of Turkey - 8 Days

17. 3 Day Gallipoli in Depth Tour from Istanbul with Troy

18. Private Gallipoli Full-Day Trip from Istanbul

19. Full Day Private Tour of Helles and Anzac

20. 12-Day Istanbul-Gallipoli-Ephesus-Pamukkale-Konya-Cappadocia Tour

21. Private Helles Gallipoli Tour From Eceabat, Canakkale

22. 12-Day Magic Explorer Tour from Istanbul

23. Private 12 Day Tour of Turkey From Istanbul

24. Full-Day Private Tour for Gallipoli from Istanbul

25. Wonders of Turkey - Gulet: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Fethiye

26. From Istanbul: Gallipoli Private Full-Day Tour

27. Discover The Beauties of Turkey's 11-Day Package Tour.

28. 2 days anzac tour DAWN SERVICE FROM ISTANBUL

29. Aegean Explorer&Blue Escape - 11 Days

30. Combined Troy and Gallipoli Tour from Canakkale with onwards transfer to Istanbul

What travellers are saying.

• One Day Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul: Lunch Included
• Istanbul E-pass: Top Istanbul Attractions with Skip The Ticket Line
• 2 days 1 night Gallipoli and Troy Tour from / to Istanbul
• Daily Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul
• Small-Group Full Day Gallipoli & ANZAC Battlefields from Istanbul
• All Tours Istanbul-Azure
• Gallipoli Anzac Day Tours
• PaddleGallipoli

Gallipoli Tours

The name Gallipoli has long been associated with sacrifice and heroism, a place where history and legend have combined, with the events of 1915 leaving their mark on many nations. Let us to take you back to where history was made and myths were born, connecting the past with the present

Destination

Best Gallipoli and Troy tour from istanbul

Duration :   2 days 1 night, the price :    € 165,00, max people :    18, start location:   from your hotel in istanbul, total seats :  62 /72.

Embark on a captivating journey with Regular Turkey Tours as we take you on a remarkable excursion to two of Turkey’s most iconic destinations: Gallipoli and Troy.

Departing from Istanbul, our expertly crafted tour promises an unforgettable experience steeped in history, culture, and adventure.

Regular Gallipoli and Troy Tour from Istanbul with Regular Turkey Tours

What shall i bring with me during the gallipoli and troy tour, after gallipoli and troy where can i continue, reviews for gallipoli and troy tour.

Our Gallipoli and Troy tour begins with a scenic drive through the picturesque countryside of Turkey, offering glimpses of rural life and breathtaking landscapes along the way.

As we arrive at the Gallipoli Peninsula, prepare to be transported back in time to one of the most significant battlefields of World War I.

Our knowledgeable guides will lead you through the historic sites, sharing poignant stories and insights into the events that unfolded here. Pay tribute to the brave soldiers who fought and sacrificed their lives in the Gallipoli Campaign as you explore the meticulously preserved trenches, memorials, and cemeteries.

Next, we journey to the legendary city of Troy, immortalized in ancient mythology and Homer’s epic poems. Step back in time as you wander through the ruins of this ancient city, where the legendary Trojan War was fought over love, honor, and power.

Marvel at the iconic landmarks, including the ancient city walls, the Temple of Athena, and the legendary Trojan Horse, as our expert guides unravel the myths and legends of Troy.

Throughout the tour, enjoy the convenience of comfortable transportation, expert guidance, and seamless logistics provided by Regular Turkey Tours. With our carefully curated itinerary and personalized service, we ensure an enriching and unforgettable experience for all our guests.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the legends of Gallipoli and Troy with Regular Turkey Tours. Join us on a journey of exploration, discovery, and adventure as we delve into the heart of Turkey’s rich history and heritage

When embarking on a Gallipoli and Troy tour, it’s essential to pack wisely to ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Here’s a list of items to consider bringing with you:

Comfortable Clothing : Wear lightweight and breathable clothing suitable for the season. In summer, opt for light-colored, loose-fitting clothes to stay cool. In cooler months, bring layers to adjust to changing temperatures.

Comfortable Footwear : Choose comfortable walking shoes or sneakers with good support, as you’ll be exploring archaeological sites and walking on uneven terrain.

Sun Protection : Pack sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Don’t forget sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and a lightweight scarf or shawl to shield your face and neck.

Water Bottle : Stay hydrated throughout the tour by bringing a refillable water bottle. Consider packing electrolyte tablets or sports drinks to replenish lost fluids, especially during hot weather.

Snacks : Bring along some energy-boosting snacks such as nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, or fresh fruit to keep you fueled during the tour.

Camera or Smartphone : Capture memories of your tour by bringing a camera or smartphone with a good quality camera. Don’t forget to bring extra memory cards or ensure your device has enough storage space for photos and videos.

Guidebook or Map : Consider bringing a guidebook or map of Gallipoli and Troy to supplement the information provided by your tour guide and to help navigate the sites.

Cash and Credit Card : Bring some cash in the local currency for small purchases, tips, or emergencies. It’s also a good idea to carry a credit card for larger purchases or in case of unexpected expenses.

Daypack or Bag : Carry your essentials in a lightweight daypack or bag, including water, snacks, sunscreen, camera, guidebook, and any personal items you may need.

Rain Gear : Depending on the season and weather forecast, it’s advisable to bring a lightweight waterproof jacket or poncho in case of rain.

Personal Items : Don’t forget to pack any personal items you may need, such as medication, hand sanitizer, tissues, and a small first aid kit.

By packing these essential items, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy your Gallipoli and Troy tour to the fullest, ensuring a comfortable and memorable experience

How can I book Gallipoli and Troy tour from istanbul?

Booking a Gallipoli and Troy tour from Istanbul is relatively straightforward, this way  you can do it:

• Our Online Booking Website : Regular Turkey tour offer Gallipoli and Troy tours from Istanbul through our website. You can browse through different tour options, compare prices, read reviews, and make reservations directly online.

Or if you need more informations about this Gallipoli and Troy Package tour you can Contact 7/24  from Whatsapp: + 90 531 378 9262 to our Experienced tour operator

Once you’ve selected a tour from our website Regular Turkey Tours and booked your Gallipoli and Troy tour, be sure to confirm the details of your reservation, including the date, itinerary, pickup location, and any additional inclusions or requirements.

With proper planning and booking, you can look forward to an enriching and memorable experience exploring these historic sites from Istanbul.

Also you Can combine this tour package with Ephesus day tour, Pamukkale Day tour and Cappadocia day tours and activities as Hot air Balloon Tour.

After Gallipoli and Troy tour you can continue by lopcal bus and Conbine with Cappadocia tour , Pamukkale tour, Ephesus tour and istanbul daily city tours. For more information and perfect itinerary you can contact our Tour operators 7/ 24   Whatsapp: +90 531 378 9262

• Read Reviews
• Write a Review

There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.

Your review Your overall rating Select a Rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star Title of your review Your review Your name Your email This review is based on my own experience and is my genuine opinion. ​ Submit your review

Places You’ll See :

Anzac cove gallipoli, 1 anzac cove, lone pine gallipoli, 2 lone pine, new zealand memorial ( chunuk bair ), 3 chunuk bair, the nek gallipoli.

• Ariburnu Cemetery

5 Ariburnu Cemetery

Helen of troy, 6 ancient city troy, day -1- istanbul -eceabat- gallipoli tour.

06:30 AM - 07:00 AM  Pick up from hotel around Sultanahmet area

Depart for Eceabat by non smoking, A/C minibus

12:00 AM Arrive in Eceabat Lunch at a local restaurant in Eceabat

13:00 PM  Depart for Fully Guided Gallipoli Tour

• Brighton Beach
• Beach Cemetery
• ANZAC Commemorative Site
• Respect to Mehmetcik Statue
• Lone Pine Australian Memorial
• Johnston's Jolly, (Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels)
• Turkish 57. Infantry Regiment Cemetery
• Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial

17:30 pm Gallipoli Tour ends

Stay Overnight Eceabat / Canakkale

DAY -2 - Troy tour - Istanbul

Free Morning in Canakkale

12:40 PM Pick up from the hotel in Canakkale

Depart for fully guided Troy Tour

• The Trojan Horse
• Sacrificial Altars
• The 3700 year old city walls
• Houses of Troy I, 3000 B.C. - 2500 B.C
• The Bouleuterion (Senate Building)
• The Odeon (Concert Hall)
• Remains of the various cities from Troy I through to Troy IX,

16:45 PM End of Troy tour

17:30 PM Depart to Istanbul

22:30 PM Arrive in istanbul and drop you to your Hotel

FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is included in the gallipoli and troytour.

The Gallipoli and Troy Tour is includes transportation from Istanbul to Gallipoli and back, guided visits to key sites on the Gallipoli Peninsula and Troy, and Accomodation on your choose.

How do I book the Gallipoli and Troy tour?

We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing (layers are advisable), sunscreen, a hat, a water bottle, and any personal items you may need for the day. It's also a good idea to bring a camera or smartphone to capture memories of the experience.

Is food and drink provided during the tour?

Our Gallipoli and Troy tour include Lunch at local restaurant, Drinks are extra

Can I bring children on the tour?

While children are welcome to join the tour, please keep in mind that the Gallipoli and Troy tour has walking in the regions

Is there an age limit for the tour?

There is typically no strict age limit for the tour, but participants should be in good health and able to manage the physical demands of the itinerary,

What happens in case of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances?

While every effort will be made to ensure the tour proceeds as planned, unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather or logistical issues may arise. In such cases, our tour operators will do their best to provide alternative arrangements or refunds as appropriate.

How do I contact Tour operators easiest way?

If you have any further questions or concerns not addressed in this FAQ, please don't hesitate to contact our tour operators online  7/24  Whatsapp  + 90 531 378 9262   for assistance.

What's Included

• Accommodation
• Entrance Fees
• Gallipoli Tour
• Pick up /Drop of

What's Excluded

• Additional Services
• Drinks at Lunch
• Tips for driver and Guide

Why Book With Us?

• * We are Local Travel Agency
• *We speak your Language
• * Flexible customisable tour and Activity options

Got a Question?

• Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you. and we can solve your travel troubles with a most reasonable way
• +90 531 378 9262
• [email protected]

YOU MAY LIKE THIS TOURS

Best gallipoli troy and pergamon tour from istanbul, best day tour to troy from istanbul, best day tour to gallipoli from istanbul.

Rated 98% based on 1029 reviews

UK   0345 475 1815   USA (toll free)   877‑209‑5620   International   00 44 345 475 1815 [email protected] Rated 98% on feefo

Sign-in Latest News Subscribe Request Brochure

• Future Planning
• Military History and Battlefield Tours
• Classical History and Archaeological Tours
• Holocaust Tours
• General History Tours
• Experience Tours
• Walking Tours
• Early Periods
• 17th & 18th Century
• Victorian Era
• First World War
• Second World War
• Cross-Periods
• Destinations
• Our Expert Historians
• Historians Q&A
• Historical Tailor Made Tours
• School Tours
• Battlefield Studies
• Testimonials
• What to Expect
• Activity Levels
• Tour Diaries & Images
• Our Library
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Work For TCE
• General Booking Conditions
• Download Booking Form
• Tours by Date
• Tours by Theme
• Tours by Period
• Tours by Destination
• Latest News
• Request Brochure

The Gallipoli Campaign

Damn the dardanelles: this will be our grave.

Military History and Battlefield Tours

1st - 9th May 2024 (9 Days)

Expert Historian : Dr Bruce Cherry

Tour price: £3,000

click here to book

Your Holiday Essentials

1st - 9th May 2024 (9 Days)

Activity Level : 2

Standard price: £2,550

Incl. travel from UK: £3,000 Room sole occupancy supplement: £250 Non-refundable deposit: £500

Booking open

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Introduction

During this wonderful tour to Turkey we will visit and examine the main aspects of the Gallipoli campaign: the naval assault, the problems of landing against defended beaches at Cape Helles, the command, control and communication issues, the miracle that was ANZAC, the Turkish perspective, the conditions at Gallipoli, the Suvla Bay fiasco and discuss whether it was all worthwhile. All this is set against the exotic backdrop of Turkish history, culture, scenic beauty and cuisine - all of which we will have ample opportunity to explore. We will also soak up the culture with visits to the ruins of legendary Troy and a full day exploring the beguiling and bustling city of Istanbul, the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

Gallipoli was the scene of one of the great Allied failures of the First World War. In attempting to take Turkey out of the war, the assault on the Dardanelles ended in disastrous failure following a campaign that lasted from April 1915 to January 1916. The campaign saw some thirteen British and Empire divisions involved in a struggle against twenty Turkish divisions, with a total cost of 500,000 casualties.

• British & ANZAC landings, at Cape Helles & Sulva Bay
• A detailed examination of the Turkish coastal defences
• Spend some quiet time at the Helles Memorial for the Missing
• S, V, W, X and Y Beaches
• Visit the museum at Gaba Tepe
• Explore Anzac Cove
• Climb up to Plugge’s Plateau, scene of fierce fighting, with its overview of ANZAC Cove
• Walk a section of Gully Ravine
• The extraordinary naval museum and the Turkish gun positions at Ephez
• The ancient ruins of Troy
• A full day in Sultanahmet

What's Included

• Expert historian throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
• Return flights from London (optional)
• 4 Star Hotel
• Buffet breakfast each morning
• Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
• Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening
• Dedicated Tour Manager
• Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
• Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned coach
• Tour information booklet
• Helpful and friendly travel advice
• The company of like-minded travelers

"Bruce Cherry is an exceptional guide & tries to personalise the tour for everyone. I also appreciated the excellent hotels and food on the tour"

Day 1: Arrival

Fly London to Istanbul or join the tour in Istanbul. Transfer to central Istanbul hotel. Pre-dinner drinks and introductory talk. (D)

Day 2: Sultanahmet

Explore the imperial quarter of Istanbul including the extraordinary Haghia Sophia, the imperial Topkapi Palace, the graceful Blue Mosque and the enchanting Grand Bazaar. This evening we enjoy dinner overlooking the Bosphorus. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Canakkale

This morning we visit Istanbul Military Museum with over 50 rooms of collections, those of particular interest being on Gallipoli and Ataturk. This afternoon we drive to Canakkale where we check-in to our hotel for the remainder of the tour. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Naval and Amphibious Operations

This morning, following a detailed examination of the Turkish coastal defences from Kilitbahir to the hugely impressive national Turkish memorial, we visit the French-held sector before moving onto the 25th April landing points – S, V, W, X and Y Beaches; each with its own poignant story, including the ill-fated SS Clyde landings at V Beach, and the “six VCs before breakfast” won at W beach by the Lancashire Fusiliers. We’ll also spend some quiet time at the Helles Memorial for the Missing. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Helles Peninsula

We will walk a section of Gully Ravine, perhaps the most atmospheric yet least visited part of the battlefield. Our day will also see us studying the battles around the ‘Vineyard’. We’ll shift our focus to the Turkish perspective visiting some amazing memorials and the small village of Bigali where we find a museum dedicated to Ataturk. This afternoon we visit to the extraordinary naval museum and the Turkish gun positions at Ephez. (B,L,D)

Day 6: ANZAC

Today’s highlights include the museum at Gaba Tepe and Anzac Cove, a climb up to Plugge’s Plateau, scene of fierce fighting, with its overview of ANZAC Cove and key features such as Razor Back, Shrapnel Valley and Lone Pine Ridge, where seven VCs were won. We also tour one of the many front-line ANZAC positions, such as Johnstone’s Jolly and Quinn’s Post. We visit the important sites of the August offensive such Sari Bair, Walker’s Ridge, the Gurkhas battle for Hill ‘Q’ and end our day at the Nek, the site of the ill-fated attack of the Australian Light Horse, immortalised in the film ‘Gallipoli’. This evening dinner you are free to find the restaurant of your choice but at your own expense. (B,L)

Day 7: Suvla Bay

Drive to beautiful Suvla Bay and examine the landings of August 6th 1915 at Nibrunesi Point and the baptism of fire for the Kitchener battalions such as the 6th Green Howards and the King’s Sandringham Company. Depending on weather conditions, we will take a short but telling walk to Lala Baba, or along a stretch of Kiretch Tepe; follow the failed attempt to break out at Hill 10, Chocolate Hill and Green Hill and the subsequent struggle for Scimitar Hill and Hill 60. We’ll also visit a small private museum at the village of Büyükanafarta. Finally we shall examine one of the most successful phases of the operation, the evacuation at Suvla Bay. Return to hotel and a final farewell dinner on the harbour-side. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Kumkale and Troy

From Kumkale, weather permitting, we will obtain great views over the Dardenelles towards Cape Helles and discuss the naval operations. But most of our day is spent exploring the layered archaeological remains of Troy and its fabulous museum which reveal over 1000 years of continuous habitation. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Home

Drive to Istanbul to catch our flight to London. (B) Gallery Category If a new tour a gallery of pictures needs to be created. These images should be of past experiences of the tour. They will scroll along the bottom of the tour page (optional)

Recommended Reading List

• Gallipoli (Wordsworth Military Library)
• Gallipoli: A Soldier’s Story
• The Spirit of Gallipoli

Dr Bruce Cherry

A former university lecturer with his PhD in military history, Bruce has been guiding on the Western Front since the late 1980s. Indeed for many years he operated a range of First and Second World War tours out of Lille. Amongst other titles, he is the author of ’They Didn't Want to Die Virgins; a study of Sex and Morale on the Western Front'. As an academic, his tours very much emphasise the learning aspect that is to be gained from battlefield touring.

Photo Gallery

• Our 2019 Tour Group
• X Beach Gallipoli
• W Beach Gallipoli
• V Beach from Helles
• Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery
• Lancashire Cemetery
• Gully Ravine monument

Tour Reviews

Take a look at some of the images taken on our most recent tour

Take a look at some independent reviews of this tour by previous participants here

direct link

Subscribe to Our E-Newsletter

For up to date news as well as details about all of our tours please subscribe to our fortnightly e-newsletter

Quick Links

Military History and Battlefield Tours Classical History and Archaeological Tours Holocaust Tours General History Tours Experience Tours Walking Tours Future Planning Request Brochure Site Map

The Cultural Experience 11B Mansfield Park Four Marks Alton GU34 5PZ United Kingdom

UK: 0345 475 1815 USA (toll free): 877 209 5620 International: 00 44 345 475 1815

[email protected]

© 2015 - 2024 Midas Tours Ltd - Hosted by SWD  -  Legal Info  -  Terms of Use  -  Privacy Policy / Cookies  -  Sign-in

Best Travel Agencies

Search turkeytravelplanner.com, what cities.

• Aegean Coastal Cities
• Mediterranean Coastal Cities

Gallipoli Battlefield Tours, Turkey

Last Updated on May 3, 2019

Several companies in  Çanakkale  and Eceabat run guided tours by car or minibus of the  Gallipoli battlefields  ( map ). A seat in the minibus costs about  TL 45; a private tour for one to three people costs about  TL 220.

Coming from  Istanbul ,  Efendi Travel , a  TurkeyTravelPlanner.com  partner, has a variety of tours from Istanbul to  Gallipoli  and  Troy , from budget to top-class, same-day to overnight:

Day Excursion to Gallipoli

This is the way to tour Gallipoli in the shortest time for the least money. You depart Istanbul early in the morning and drive to  Eceabat  on the  Gallipoli peninsula . You’re met in Eceabat in late morning by your tour guide. After lunch, you tour the peninsula, stopping at all the major historical locations. In the early evening your motorcoach departs for  Istanbul , arriving at bedtime. This is the most efficient way to go, and allows you to visit Gallipoli from Istanbul in one (long) day.  More…

Overnight Tours to Gallipoli & Troy

A 2-day tour that’s less rushed, and you get to see  Troy as well. Transport is the same as for the aforementioned  Day Excursion  (above), but you stay overnight near Gallipoli at a comfortable, budget-priced  hostel  or in a  3-star hotel , as you choose. By staying overnight you’ll have time to visit  Troy  as well.  More…

Private Gallipoli Tour

Your group is driven by  professional chauffeur  from Istanbul to Gallipoli in a comfortable air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz  van, with plenty of time to see whatever you like, at your own pace.  More…

4-Day Gallipoli & Aegean Turkey Tour

Efendi Travel  also offers a very efficient, high-comfort tour from Istanbul showing you the  Gallipoli battlefields ,  Troy ,  Pergamum ,  Ephesus ,  Aphrodisias  and  Pamukkale  in only 4 days (3 nights) by  private car with driver-guide .  More…

Anzac Day Tours

Here’s how to attend the  dawn commemoration ceremonies  on  ANZAC Day  (April 25th) without the many hassles that are often part of Gallipoli tours.  More…

6-Day Self-Drive Tour

You can also visit the Gallipoli battlefields from  Istanbul on an  overnight excursion by rental car , or on a  six-day self-drive tour  that includes  Gallipoli ,  Troy  and  Mount Ida ,  Bergama (Pergamum) ,  Ephesus  and  Kuşadası . More…

—by  Tom Brosnahan

Gallipoli Battlefields

Transport for Gallipoli

Anzac Day Commemorations

Gallipoli & Çanakkale Maps

About Çanakkale

Sea of Marmara Car Ferries

Thrace & the Dardanelles

Sea of Marmara

Aegean Turkey

Visit our Facebook group:

• Maps of Turkey
• Best Guided Tours
• Travel Agents
• Private Tour Guides
• Turkish Money
• What it Costs
• Photo Gallery
• Special Interests
• Trip Consulations
• Travel Details FAQs

APRIL SALE:   Book now and get   up to 60% off!

7 Days Gallipoli & Turkey Classics Tour

• In-depth Cultural
• Fully Guided
• Personalized
• Christmas & New Year

Places You’ll See

Ready-to-book adventures, personalized

Make your adventure more you

Enjoy a tour focused solely on your travel group

Professional

Access our Travel Experts’ insider knowledge

Travel within your own bubble

• Introduction
• Day 1 Gallipoli Battlefields
• Day 2 Troy, Pergamum and Kusadasi
• Day 3 Ephesus Tour
• Day 4 Pamukkale & Hierapolis Ancient City
• Day 5 Pamukkale to Cappadocia via Konya
• Day 6 Cappadocia Tour
• Day 7 Istanbul

Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Adventure Type

• Group of 8 travelers max.
• Fast booking confirmation
• Carefully planned itineraries
• Travel with like-minded people
• Travel with your own group of min. 2 travelers
• Choose your preferred dates and duration
• Upgrade your accommodation
• Customize the itineraries

Operated by Turkey Escapades

Turkey Escapades is a tour operator specialized in customized and Small Group Escorted Tours, covering every part of Turkey. Our focus is to make your trip the experience of a lifetime. We combine the classics with the off-the-beaten-track experiences like a traditional homestay, visiting local families, staying in a cave hotel and visiting Hagia Sophia at night and etc... Our main aim is constantly improving the level of our services and always trying to introduce new products and fresh ideas and offer always a high level of travel and tourism services, consult you based on your special needs and interests, adjust to each traveler’s requirements.

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 5.0
• Itinerary Excellent 5.0
• Guide Good 4.0
• Transport Excellent 5.0
• Accommodation Excellent 5.0
• Food Good 4.0
• Tour Operator Turkey Escapades 4.7

Dates & Availability

Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• August 2024
• September 2024
• October 2024
• November 2024
• December 2024
• Sunday 5 May, 2024 Saturday 11 May, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 12 May, 2024 Saturday 18 May, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 19 May, 2024 Saturday 25 May, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 26 May, 2024 Saturday 1 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 2 Jun, 2024 Saturday 8 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 9 Jun, 2024 Saturday 15 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 16 Jun, 2024 Saturday 22 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 23 Jun, 2024 Saturday 29 Jun, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 30 Jun, 2024 Saturday 6 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Only Pay €100 Deposit Confirm Dates
• Get Instant Confirmation Sunday 7 Jul, 2024 Saturday 13 Jul, 2024 English Multiple Room Types €1,236 Only Pay €100 Deposit Confirm Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

We are there for you! If you have any questions about this tour, then please don't hesitate to contact us 24/7 and we will get back to you latest within 2 hours!

Got a question about this tour?

Reach out to our travel experts.

Good to Know

• Currency $ US Dollar

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Typhoid - Recommended for Turkey. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis A - Recommended for Turkey. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Turkey. Ideally 2 months before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 28th June 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 28th June 2024, a minimum payment of €100 is required to confirm your booking with Turkey Escapades. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Turkey Escapades will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Turkey Escapades" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
• Laos Highlands April 2024 tours
• Caribbean Coast Colombia Fall-Autumn tours
• Golden Triangle Southeast Asia September 2025…
• 'Essential As' Golden Triangle Trip with Raja…
• Rajasthan, Mumbai & Goa
• Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Safari…
• Bali Tour Itinerary: from 3 to 7 Days (with A…

Similar Tours

Keep Exploring Turkey

• Turkey Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Best 3 Weeks Europe Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)
• 10 Best Cultural Travel Companies
• 10 Best Cultural Experiences in The World 2024/2025
• Turkey from Istanbul
• Turkey In-depth Cultural
• Small group tour
• 7 days Turkey
• Operators in Europe
• 7 Days Gallipoli & Turkey Classics Tour Tours in Turkey
• In-depth Cultural Tours
• Western Turkey Tours
• Turkey Tours
• Europe Tours
• Family Tours
• Custom Tours
• Group Tours
• Fully Guided Tours
• Personalized Tours
• Historical Tours
• Christmas & New Year Tours
• Western Turkey
• Turkey tours

Gallipoli Pilgrimage

2 days | travel to the gallipoli peninsula and pay your respects to the fallen soldiers.

Travel to a region associated with one of the most significant military battles of our time. Be guided through Anzac Cove to the battlefields, the Nek and Lone Pine and share the stories of heroism and camaraderie that unfolded among the tragedies of what has become a defining moment in Australian and New Zealand history. Many say that the struggles of Gallipoli marked the birth of a national consciousness among Australians and New Zealanders. This journey provides a great opportunity to pay respect to those who lost their lives and to reflect on what they fought for, and you'll be able to take time out to explore Troy before returning to Istanbul.

Trip overview

• A moving and educational experience regardless of your age or background.
• Listen to stories of bravery and comradeship.
• A quintessential Antipodean pilgrimage, to reflect and pay your respects.
• By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, CYDD (Çağdaş Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği). Donations help them provide scholarships and educational programs for economically disadvantaged youth in Turkey.
• Being a Short Break Adventure, this trip packs a lot into just a few days, including some early starts and late finishes. If you prefer to explore at a more leisurely pace this may not be the best trip for you. Please carefully read the itinerary before making onward travel plans.
• On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.
• Being an independent traveller, you will have to carry your own bag on and off the bus or ferry, and into the hotel.

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.

Hotel (1 night)

• Gallipoli - Fully guided Gallipoli tour & visit to the Commonwealth graveyards

Today we will have a free morning in Canakkale.  Why not consider taking an optional guided tour of the historical site of Troy. We will be learning a lot about the famous archaeological site of Troy and see a replica statue of the Trojan Horse. Then, delve into the interesting era’s of Troy and discover how this settlement transformed over time. The tour finishes around 5:30 pm, after which our  transfer returns to Istanbul. This service will drop you door to door, at which point this trip finishes upon arrival. Arrival back into Istanbul is scheduled to be at around 11:30 pm, but may vary depending on traffic conditions.

We recommend you arrange an additional night's accommodation for the evening of day 2. Extra accommodation pre and post tour can be requested, please ask your agent at the time of booking. Accommodation can also be requested for Canakkale if planning to stay longer on the peninsula. If you have an arranged transfer with Intrepid, pick up time for the airport will be 4 hours prior to your flight from Manesol Galata Hotel.

• Troy Guided Visit - EUR55

Transport on this trip is by way of shared mini bus service. The service includes pick up and drop off within the greater Istanbul area. 

1 breakfast, 1 lunch

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1. This Short Break Adventure is a ‘join in’ group departure, which means you are not accompanied by an Intrepid group leader – our local representative fills this role – and the configuration of any fellow travelers in the group might change during the trip. This trip is operated by one of our local partners in Turkey and therefore you may be joined by a mixture of Intrepid-booked passengers and other travelers during activities.

2. Please refer to the joining instructions in our Essential Trip Information for the pick-up point for this tour. If you would like to be collected from an alternative hotel in the greater Istanbul area please advise your booking agent 15 days prior to departure. Please call and reconfirm with the office at least 24 hours prior to pick up on +90 530 442 60 09. Transport is on a shared basis with pick up and drop off to your nominated hotel. Whilst we endeavor to pick you up at the agreed meeting time of 06:00 - 06:30, depending on the location and the number of passengers on this departure pick up time may be from 06:30 to 07:15. We ask that you be ready at 06:00 and we apologize in advance if your pick up is delayed.

3. Extra accommodation pre and post tour can be requested, please ask your agent at the time of booking. Accommodation can also be requested for Canakkale if planning to stay longer on the peninsula.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Filter by rating

Gallipoli Tours from Istanbul: How to find the Best One

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 16/02/2024

As an Australian who was living in London for 12 years, it had gotten to the point that I felt like a bit of a disgrace for never having visited Gallipoli.

The battle at Gallipoli took place in 1915 and is a story known by all Australians and New Zealanders. Today there are memorials and cemeteries in the area that allow visitors to pay tribute to the many young men who lost their lives.

So I investigated Gallipoli Tours from Istanbul and came up with the following.

➡️ Book Your Istanbul to Gallipoli Tour Now

Things to Book Before You Leave Home Few things are more frustrating on vacation than missing out on that amazing hotel or tour because it is sold out. Here are our top things to book before your vacation. 🕌 Most Popular Tours in Turkey: 1. Skip the line ticket for Hagia Sophia -my top pick 2. Skip the line tickets for Topkapi Palace – Instagram heaven 3. Gallipoli Day Trip from Istanbul – an unforgettable and moving day 4. Cappadocia Balloon Ride – Do not miss this!!! 🛏️ Where to Stay in Turkey : 1. Empress Zoe – stylish boutique hotel in the heart of Istanbul & where I stayed 2. Four Seasons Sultanahmet – super luxurious in a former prison 3. Argos in Cappadocia – super stylish boutique cave hotel & where I stayed

Gallipoli Tours from Istanbul – Getting there and Getting Around

It isn’t easy to get to Gallipoli – particularly if you are only interested in going for one day. One option is to fly to Alexandroupolis in Greece. It is then 2 1/2 hours by car to the Gallipoli Peninsula.

However, there are no direct flights to Alexandroupolis Greece from London and there aren’t loads of good options.

The nearest airport to Gallipoli is Canakkale . There are no direct flights from London and even with just one stop the shortest total journey is about 10 hours.

Also, there are flights from Istanbul and Ankara to Canakkale (you’ll have to change airports in Istanbul) but they seem to always be terrible flight times like 23:55 departures.

After quite a bit of research, I decided that the best option was to fly to Istanbu l. Also, Istanbul is a fantastic city with loads of interesting things to do – and I was planning on heading on to Cappadocia afterwards and it is quite easy to get from Istanbul to Kayseri, the main airport in Cappadocia.

British Airways and Air France both fly from London to Istanbul. Next up was figuring out how to get to the Gallipoli Peninsula from Istanbul.

Public buses are an option but the average journey time is 8 hours. Driving was by far the best option but again it is a 4-hour drive each way.

Personally, I wouldn’t be keen to drive in Istanbul, and driving for 8 hours in one day didn’t appeal to me at all. So a Gallipoli tour from Istanbul was definitely the best option.

⇒ Turkey is a fascinating blend of east and west. Check out my Turkey Itinerary 7 days , Istanbul 3 day itinerary and my Cappadocia Itinerary.

Choosing your Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul

There are several options when it comes to taking a Gallipoli tour from Istanbul:

⇒ A classic one day visit to the Gallipoli Peninsula and the key sites such as Lone Pine and ANZAC cove

⇒ Combining the Gallipoli Peninsula and ANZAC battlefields with nearby Troy in one day trip

⇒ Taking a 2-day trip covering both Gallipoli and Troy

⇒ Private Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul

Within all of those options, there will then be choices around whether or not your trip includes meals, a pick-up and drop-off at your hotel etc.

Also, for the one-day trips from Istanbul the tours do vary in time. The shortest option is about 14 hours but several run for 20 hours so do make sure you check the duration of the tour.

Most tours will pick up and drop off at your hotel. Of course, the more people on the tour the longer the pick-up and drop-offs will take – one to remember.

What to Expect on a Day Trip to Gallipoli from Istanbul

When I arrived at my hotel the day before my day trip to Gallipoli the tour company had already called and confirmed my 6 am pick up time – ugh.

If your tour company hasn’t confirmed the day before via email or phone or your hotel I would contact them and double-check. You don’t want to get up that early if you don’t have to.

I was also able to ask my hotel if I could have a coffee before the pick-up and some fruit. If you have chosen a tour option without breakfast I would suggest asking your hotel to put together breakfast for you as there may not be anywhere to stop with takeaway food that you want to eat.

Book these popular Istanbul tours before you leave home to avoid disappointment. 1. Skip the line ticket for Hagia Sophia 2. Skip the line tickets for Topkapi Palace 3. Bosphorous Cruise 4. Skip the line ticket for Basilica Cistern

Expect your bus to be quite high quality. When I went we had a smaller minibus on the way to Gallipoli but a much larger bus on the way back.

I assume some of the tour companies work together and share passenger numbers. If possible I would check what kind of bus will be used.

If the description says luxury bus and the tour costs a bit extra I would take this option as you will be spending a lot of time on the bus.

My tour included breakfast. We made the stop just under 2 hours into the trip. The breakfast and restaurant which it was in were basic but absolutely fine. And importantly there was a clean bathroom.

For most tours, the first stop will be the town of Eceabat and lunch. It is a small town. Nice enough but nothing special. Lunch is normally some type of hot meal/meze etc. Again, the food won’t be amazing but it will be absolutely fine.

Eceabat is a great place to grab some snacks. Remember, by the time you return to Istanbul it will be quite late and not many tours include dinner.  

As an Australian, the highlights of my Gallipoli tours were ANZAC Cove and Lone Pine , the Australian war memorial. It was very moving to see the graves of all these young boys who were most likely naively expecting the adventure of their lives.

Seeing the beach and seeing the landscape brings home how difficult a task was faced. It was a very moving trip and something I think every Australian should do.

My tour also visited the New Zealand memorial, several memorials featuring moving words, and the ANZAC commemorative site (this is where the dawn memorial service is held on Anzac day).

Most of the day is spent driving around the Gallipoli Peninsula and getting out at key sights.

My tour had an outstanding tour guide who really brought the stories of Gallipoli to life. Also, we were given a generous amount of time at each stop.

Finally, we hopped on a much bigger bus for the trip back to Istanbul – which took considerably longer than the trip out as the traffic was bad. I got back to my hotel at about 1030pm.

A 1 day Gallipoli tour from Istanbul is a long day but a great day and so worth doing. The tour company was fantastic and I think it was also excellent value for money.

➡️ Book Your Gallipoli Day Tour from Istanbul Now

Where to stay in Istanbul – Boutique Hotels

Empress zoe.

Empress Zoe is a lovely little boutique hotel in the heart of the historic district of Sultanahmet in Istanbul. There are several reasons to stay here.

First is a fabulous location. When it comes to what to do in Istanbul they are all an easy walk from Hotel Empress Zoe –  the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya, and the Grand Bazaar.

Second is it is a lovely stylish boutique hotel at a very reasonable price. The third is the incredibly lovely staff. And the fourth is the breakfast – Yum.

Fabulous fresh treats and make sure you’re there when the warm savory pastries come out. Finally, it is also fantastic value with rooms starting at just 60 pounds .

⇒ Book Empress Zoe Now

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha

Another lovely boutique option in Sultanahmet is Hotel Ibrahim Pasha . This small hotel has only 24 rooms and features a great balcony with a view of the Blue Mosque. Prices from 100 pounds a night.

⇒ Book Hotel Ibrahim Pasha Now

The Weather on the Gallipoli Peninsula

Summer in Istanbul is hot and generally quite muggy. As the Gallipoli Peninsula is a peninsula the climate is not as muggy as Istanbul in the summer and you may get some sea breezes.

Surprisingly winter can get very cold and the temperature often drops to low single degrees. It is often even colder on the Gallipoli Peninsula with the wind. Grab a forecast for your visit here.

⇒ If you’re planning a trip to Turkey try this terrific 2 Week Turkey Itinerary.

The currency of Turkey is the Turkish Lira. Most large places take credit cards but you will need cash for taxis, public transport, street vendors, water bottles, etc.

And you may be able to negotiate a discount if you are able to pay in cash at places like the Grand Bazaar. There are many ATMs around Istanbul, so getting cash isn’t hard.

When to go on a Gallipoli Day Trip from Istanbul

Spring (April to May) and Autumn (September to mid-November) are generally the nicest times to visit this part of Turkey. The temperature is still warm but not too hot and the skies tend to be clear.

What to pack for Gallipoli day tours from Istanbul

Istanbul and the Gallipoli area are quite relaxed when it comes to dressing and more accepting of tourists wearing fewer clothes than many of its neighbors.

If you’re taking a day trip to Gallipoli from Istanbul dress comfortably as you will be spending quite a few hours sitting on a bus. Once you’ve arrived there will be quite a bit of walking so bring some sensible shoes, a day pack and some water.

I would also definitely bring some type of power bank so you can charge your devices for that long bus journey. Some of the buses have USB ports but I wouldn’t risk my bus having one or it working. And definitely bring a kindle or your favorite book.

Who Paid for What in this Istanbul to Gallipoli Post

I covered all of the costs associated with my Istanbul to Gallipoli day trip myself. However, this Gallipoli Tours from Istanbul post does contain affiliate links. That means if you click through on them and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. I just wanted to make sure that you were aware of this,

READ NEXT: 7 DAY TURKEY ITINERARY

Like this Post? Why Not Pin It!

Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Wednesday 7th of February 2018

I've BEEN HERE! And I have to say my travels through TURKEY has quite possibly been my FAVORITE vacation of all time. SO MUCH HISTORY and SO MUCH AMAZING FOOD!!!! I have been to Greece and Italy too, but Turkey truly sticks out as being THE BEST!

The Boutique Adventurer

Thursday 8th of February 2018

Turkey is brilliant isn't it - I think alot people associate it with just beach holidays but it has so much more on offer! Thanks for the comment Gigi

Sunday 4th of December 2016

Beautiful.I love that break fast.

http://makychurchill.blogspot.ca

Like this post? Why Not Share It?

Thanks for Sharing!

• Destinations
• Blue Cruise
• Plan My Trip

Best Time to Visit April-November

Population 44.598

Airports Canakkale Airport

Best Places to Stay Canakkale

The slender Gelibolu (Gallipoli) Peninsula is a 60 km long and 4-18 km wide tract of land that forms the northwest side of the Dardanelles- the strait connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

It’s one of the most visited locations in the region, primarily due to the bloody military history that now shapes the peninsula.

Gallipoli Peninsula has witnessed legendary battles throughout its history, from the immortalized Battle of Troy to the largely unsuccessful Gallipoli Campaign.

Today, what drew commanders and generals now attracts tourists from all over, who explore the peninsula’s battle memorials day in day out for a glimpse of the human cost of war.

Planning a trip to Gallipoli soon? Answer this trip planner and get your FREE quotation within 24 hours.

The History

Before arrival, what to eat, tips & etiquette.

Did you know that the Dardanelles strait is named after Dardanos- the mythological ancestor of the Trojans? It divides the European and Asian sides of Turkey, and under the Greeks, it was known as Hellespont, meaning ‘Sea of Helle.’ It’s here that the Persian King Xerxes I crossed over using a pontoon bridge on his way to invade Greece in 480 BCE. Another famous crossing was made by Alexander the Great when he visited Troy in 334 BCE.

And speaking of Troy, Gallipoli Peninsula has been occupied from as far back as 4000 BCE, during the bronze age. The ancient settlements discovered here have levels from Troy I to Troy IV with subdivisions. According to Greek authors, the Trojan War played out here somewhere between the 13th and 12th centuries BCE before culminating in the infamous stroke of genius that is the Trojan horse.

This wouldn’t be the last famous war/battle on the peninsula. Over 30 centuries later, when the world had moved far beyond swords and spears to guns and artillery, Gallipoli saw another battle between the Allied forces and the Ottoman Empire. This was the Gallipoli Campaign, and it set the stage for an unknown lieutenant to prove his brilliance and eventually lead the Turkish Republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire.

It takes about a full day or two to explore the best of the peninsula. So, if you’re visiting Gelibolu independently, make arrangements for your accommodation in the neighboring towns before your arrival. Your best bet would be to book a hotel room in Canakkale or Eceabeat in the south of the peninsula; Gelibolu town on the peninsula’s northern end is too far away for a convenient tour.

Alternatively, you can book a guided tour of the battlefields. Depending on the package, this frees you of the responsibility of transport and seeking accommodation. You’ll also enjoy an itinerary designed to give you an outstanding educational experience on the peninsula’s best attractions.

Gallipoli has a Mediterranean climate, meaning its winters are mild and summers are hot and dry. The hottest months are August, July, and June and are best for those looking to enjoy some summer beach time during their visit.

September to November is also a good time to visit the peninsula. The temperatures range between 37℉ and 86℉ while the humidity stands at 79%, creating the perfect climate for a day-long exploration of Gallipoli.

December and January typically have colder temperatures. Thus, they are not popular times to visit the peninsula.

A commemorative service is held on April the 25th every year. This is known as Anzac Day, a day when tourists, war veterans, and Government officials converge at the peninsula to remember the lives lost in the campaign.

If visiting daily from Istanbul, it is better to have a late breakfast/early lunch at Gallipoli town center. If already in Canakkale, there are still facilities serving local food around the national park.

Gallipoli is a vast national park. If you want to explore it entirely, you want to stay in the area for at least one full day.

The national park is open all year round with no entrance fee, and museums are available to visit between 08:00 and 17:00.

However, it’s important to note that alcohol is banned at all cemeteries and memorials.

Discover the best of Gallipoli National Park

The Gallipoli Peninsula stands as an enduring memorial to the horrors of war and the bravery they forced out of the men involved. Thus in 1973, the Turkish government established the Gelibolu Penisula Historical National Park to honor the 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives during the World War I Gallipoli Campaign.

If you have any knowledge of military history, you can pretty much tell why the area has been so hotly contested in history; the Dardanelles strait. It is a strategic waterway that was vital to the success or failure of military campaigns in the region.

For Instance, the Persians needed to cross the strait before they could conquer Greek. Had they failed to do so, the fate of the ancient world and the course of history would have been changed forever.

Imagine hundreds of boats floating across the strait as you stand on Hellenspot and look upon the waters. These boats would act as the base of a bridge that would carry 300,000 men and thousands of horses to where you’re standing. Only then will you appreciate the scale of this achievement.

While at it, take time to appreciate the beauty of the lands sprawled before you and the waters below. Gallipoli may have a tumultuous past, but time has transformed it into a stunning location with beautiful beaches, bays, and an interesting variety of plant life. There is also a salt lake and several geological and geomorphic structures worth a visit.

However, the actual tour begins with the exploration of the memorials of the national park. There are around 37 Turkish memorials, epitaphs, and cemeteries in the peninsula, and a further 33 belong to France, New Zealand, Britain, and Australia. These include:

Martyrs Memorial : Erected in honor of the Turkish soldiers who lost their lives during the campaign. It’s part of a larger complex with a museum of war materials and a symbolic cemetery at the entrance.

Cape Helles Memorial : Erected in honor of 29,761 Australian, British, and Indian soldiers who were never found after the campaign’s battles.

French Cemetery and Memorial : Built on a hill dominating Morto Bay, the memorial was erected to honor 14,382 French and African soldiers who fell during the battles.

Lone Pine Memorial and Cemetery : Erected in honor of the New Zealand and Australian soldiers who died in the battles at Anzac.

New Zealand National Memorial and Cemetry : Erected on the crest of Conkbayiri to honor New Zealand soldiers lost in the campaign.

Ari Burcu Cemetery : This was one of the original cemeteries dug during the battles of 1915. It gets its name from the cape on the Northern side of Anzac Cove.

If you have booked the 2-day Troy & Gallipoli tour with us, you’ll also get to visit the historical site of Troy, where archeological work has revealed nine separate periods of settlement. Nothing much stands on the site, but the chance to walk the ground of the legendary Battle of Troy is an exciting opportunity. There is also a wooden representation of the Trojan horse, which the Greeks used as a means to breach the walls of Troy and win the war from the inside.

Gallipoli Tours

Shifting the Sands of the Aegean

Classical Turkey Tour

Troy and Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul in 2 Days

Where to go next.

If you have time, you’ll want to visit the following attractions in the region: Edirne, Bursa, Tekirdag, or down to the west, visiting Troy, Pergamon, Assos, etc.

Would like to join the other happy travelers?