Gallipoli Day Trip from Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey

A visit to Gallipoli is a moving experience for all visitors to Turkey, particularly for those from the ANZAC nations of Australia and New Zealand. If you are short on time but do not want to miss out on visiting this famous part of the country, a day trip from Istanbul is the perfect option for you.

Depart Istanbul in the early morning for the drive to Gallipoli (approx. 5 hours). On the way your English speaking host will tell you the history of the ANZACs and prepare you to make the most of your time during your visit. Visit ANZAC Cove, the site of the famous battle between Allied and Turkish troops where heavy casualties were suffered on both sides. See the Turkish and Allied Trenches at Johnston's Jolly. See The Nek, a narrow stretch of ridge in the battlefield on the Gallipoli peninsula and the New Zealand Memorial at Chunuk Bair, site of one of New Zealand's epic stands on the Gallipoli peninsula in August 1915.

There will also be a visit to Lone Pine Cemetery and Memorial named after the solitary pine tree that grew here. The beautiful landscape and quiet atmosphere of the site hides its horrific past. On the memorial you will find the names of 4221 Australian and 709 New Zealand soldiers who have no known grave.

At around 6:00pm you will board your bus for the return journey to Istanbul

USD $131.25

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Tamara C	October 2011
We had a great time on this trip - was great to see in person a piece of Aussie/Kiwi history. It was a long day, but we were given so much information from a wonderful tour guide once there in Gallipoli. Don't expect too much on the bus trip - we were hardly given any information to or from Gallipoli which we were hoping for. We did however have the opportunity to watch a Gallipoli documentary on the way back in the bus which was good. Would definitely recommend this if you have any interest - it is a very informative, educational and eye opening day.

Review by: Rowan T	October 2011
Our guide was ok, but struggled with English and repeated himself a lot. Apart from that, the trip was well organised and worth doing.

Review by: Samo T	October 2011
Excellent trip, but exhausting. Guide, who lives in Canakkale, was nice and very informative. I recommend this trip, but be prepared because the whole trip takes about 17 hours.

Review by: terrence l d	October 2011
A very long day , but most informative and a memory that will last forever thanks Terry and Karen

Review by: Michelle L	September 2011
I was very much looking forward to seeing Gallipoli desipute the long drive to do it in one day, particularly to see the site where my great-grand father had fought. _br/_ We were picked up late from our hotel even though our booking and we had received no communication we would be travelling under another tour company. _br/_ The transport was most definately not an air conditioned coach as the booking form says, but rather a mini-van with air conditioning that leaked water on us, bad suspension and a driver who drove very inappropriately (speeding, swerving, braking hard etc) that even my hoon of a husband felt like complaining then and there! For such a long journey I expected something a little more comfortable._br/_ The food was average, lunch was reasonable but dinner we just stopped at a service station which really only had one hot food option - I would recomend bringing your own dinner!_br/_ Now all that aside, down to the actual tour of Gallipoli. Our guide was good, but not fantastic. He gave us a good overview but not too much detail - he said he didn't want to bore us with detail but that is exactly what we were there for! Being Australian we already knew the overview fairly well, although to his credit he gave a very good wider explanation of WW1. I mentioned by great-grathers squadran to him, but he basically just said "oh OK" and offered no further informaiton._br/_ The reason I rate this "worth doing" is that we still enjoyed visited Gallipoli very much as it is a special place. _br/_ There are alot of good reviews about a female guide, perhaps these people actual did travel.

Review by: Wayne L	September 2011
This was a very long day but well worth the travel time . Well organised .

Review by: Anna H	September 2011
Well organized trip, well-informed and friendly guide, good atmosphere, travelled with a small group of people which was good. _br/_ unfortunately the trip is very long (5h drive one way), but it is definetely worth seeing!

Review by: David C B	August 2011
Our Gallipoli trip started later than forecast by the operator but other than that small issue the trip went asa described. The bus was comfortable, the guide was professional, the tour covered all the key points of the battlefield from both sides. Be aware the drivers in Istanbul survive by inches do not be alarmed they are very good.

Review by: Jessica U	August 2011
An early

Review by: Jessica U	August 2011
An

Review by: Jeremy R	August 2011
We were a party of 6 with 2 small children, and 4 adults. We found the tour amazing. Every New Zelander or Australian must do this tour. Although it is a long day the kids coped really well with many stops along the way for them to explore. Our guide was very knowledgable and friendly. We were picked up from our hotel on time and dropped off at the end of the tour. The only thing lacking was a decent place to eat on the way home, the road side stops or petrol stations dont really provide excellent food. Transportation to and from Gallipoli was comfortable and safe.

Review by: Brendan R	August 2011
Fantastic tour with a wonderful and very knowledgeable tour guide. The day was long but the overall experience was well worth the time and cost. Good value for money. Would recommend to anyone.

Review by: Robyn	July 2011
Bus was 50 minutes late to pick us up. It is a very long, rushed day but well worth it, if your time in Istanbul is short. Gallipoli was the main reason for our 3 day stay in Istanbul and we weren't disappointed. Guide was also knowledgable.

Review by: Frank P. L	July 2011
Our guide picked us up early from the hotel. Our trip down to Gallipoli was long but enjoyable. Our guide was good but not great. She spent too much time on her cell phone and talking to the driver. Once we got there she didn't spend enough time with us. The trip back was on a different bus and driver. He did not want to take us back. He complained about us the whole trip back and was rude and unfriendly. He picked up a friend on one stop and drove slowly back talking to him and complaining. Very unprofessional.

Review by: Donald D	July 2011
Absolute fulfilling day. Was long but totally rewarding. Sites visited were all memorable and relevant to Australia's Gallipoli campaign. At no time were we asked to move along - our guide allowed us to stay at each site for as long as the group needed. Congratulaions for providing us with an insight and understanding of the battles fought and the impact each had on both the Australian and Turkish troops. Would recommend the trip to any person considering a visit to Gallipoli.

Review by: Kirsten F	June 2011
Fantastic trip! Tour guide had great knowledge food was excellent as well.

Review by: Marcus L	June 2011
Our tour guide was a lady named Elif who was amazing. So much knowledge and went way above and beyond for us. A great day, wonderful a moving and a great view on both perspectives of the war. Elif talked about the war for all countries involved. I would highly recommend this tour. Thanks.

Review by: Greg T	October 2010
Fantastic tour. The tour respects both allied and Turkish soldiers. Very informative. Would highly recommend.

Review by: Jodie W	September 2010
Amazing experience!!!!! The tour guide was fantastic and full of so much information. The tour itself was excellent - a great way to fully understand the Anzac experience.

Review by: Barry T	September 2010
Punctual pickup, comfortable coach for a long day, the quality of the guide at Gallipoli was excellent and presented the complete picture in an unbiased way enjoyed the day, the morning and evening stop for meals were average but overall a worthwile trip

Review by: Gary C	September 2010
Long trip, but worth it with excellent guide.

Review by: Kay L	July 2010
A very worthwhile trip to visit a scene not too well know about the British during the first World War when concentration was on the trenches of Belgium. Also good as a scene to locate the geography of the area and reiterate the istrategice mportance of the entrance to the Dardenelles. It is a long day but if you are at all interested in learning about modern Turkey and not just about sunbathing etc this is a must visit.

Review by: Mark P	July 2010
Great trip to experience without the crowds around the time of ANZAC Day.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	June 2010
A long distance to travel but worth the investment in time to vist and pay repects to this historical and tragic site. The guide was very knowledgeable and you spend a reasonable time visiting the battle and landing sites. I would suggest though - if possible - to do the 2 day trip rather than as a one day trip from Istanbul visiting Gallipoli and Troy. As a one day tour - it was over 17 hours of travel and tour.

Review by: Kathy-Maree H, Australia	August 2009
My mother and I went to Gallipoli with the express purpose of visiting a family member buried at Lone Pine. Our Turkish guide was the most respectful person we had come across in a long time. Although we only had 20 minutes at the Lone Pine Cemetery at no time were we given the rush and the other people on our tour shared our moment as we laid flowers and a flag. The day was a very long 18 hours 10 hours in traveling time but worth every dollar and hour, especially if you are an Aussie. I would definitely recommend this trip as a must do!

Review by: Julie D, Australia	May 2009
A great experience, but our guide didn't know much of the ANZAC history. The bus driver was too fast. Very nice people with some more knowledge would add another star. Yes, you can do it in one day and should!

Review by: Dianne M, Australia	October 2008
Value for money ! Unfortunately our pickup was an hour late, which took an hour out of the time we could spend onsite and made it rushed. Our guide was very informative. Plenty of stops along the 5 hour trip to refresh, which was nice. Would recommend to anyone.

Review by: Tony M	October 2008
Value for money ! Unfortunately our pickup was an hour late, which took an hour out of the time we could spend onsite and made it rushed. Our guide was very informative. Plenty of stops along the 5 hour trip to refresh, which was nice. Would recommend to anyone.

Review by: Janet A, New Zealand	September 2008
A moving experience. I'm a Kiwi with some strong family connections to Gallipoli. This tour was something I had been looking forward to for many years. Definitely recommended.

Review by: Philippa B, Australia	September 2008
My grandfather was one of the last to evacuate Gallipoli, just before Christmas 1915. We have his war letters, neatly copied into an exercise book by his aunt; his official army photographs of Anzac Cove and the trenches, and the blue cloth-backed map he carried in his pocket, faded and worn at the folds. And of course, we have his medals. My time was limited so I did a one day Gallipoli tour with a driver and a guide. It's a four and a half hour drive from Istanbul to the Gallipoli Peninsula so we only had about three hours actually there. Our guide was a smiling, friendly man in his 40s, who makes his living through a passion for and knowledge of a great tragedy. A Turk teaching Australians and New Zealanders their history. And giving some understanding of the other side of the story, as well.

Review by: Anonymous	September 2008
A moving experience. I'm a Kiwi with some strong family connections to Gallipoli. This tour was something I had been looking forward to for many years. Definitely recommended.

Review by: Anonymous	September 2008
_strong_Note from Viator:_/strong_ This review is from Philippa Burne, who toured Gallipoli on a one-day tour from Istanbul and wrote about _a href="http://travelblog.viator.com/gallipoli-a-personal-tour/"_her experiences at Gallipoli_/a_ over on the Viator Travel Blog.