What are the key highlights of an Anzac Day tour in Turkey?

The heart of every Anzac Day tour is the moving Dawn Service at Anzac Cove, which you'll experience after visiting the important WWI sites across Gallipoli. You'll walk through the actual trenches and visit meaningful spots like Beach Cemetery, Johnston's Jolly, and the Turkish Memorial. One traveler shared, "We were in complete awe of the occasion and taken to an emotive state in the presence of such bravery and courage." Before heading to Gallipoli, you'll spend time in Istanbul seeing the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, typically staying at places like the Kent Hotel.

What kind of accommodation can I expect on an Anzac Day tour?

You'll stay in 3-5 star hotels in cities like Istanbul and Canakkale for most nights. The Kent Hotel Istanbul is a common choice. The most memorable night is spent outdoors at Anzac Cove to get a good spot for the Dawn Service. As one traveler put it, "The hotels were comfortable, though the real experience was spending that special night at Anzac Cove." Most tours include 4-5 nights in hotels plus that one special night under the stars. Breakfast is usually included at the hotels.

What is the best time to arrive for an Anzac Day tour?

Plan to arrive 3-4 days before April 25th. This gives you time to see Istanbul before heading to Gallipoli. The Dawn Service starts at 5:30 AM on Anzac Day, so you'll need to be at Anzac Cove the night before. Most groups leave Istanbul around 9-10 AM on April 24th and get to Gallipoli in the late afternoon to set up for the night.

How long do Anzac Day tours typically last?

Tours run between 4 and 12 days, with most people choosing 6-8 day trips. A popular choice is the 6-day tour with On The Go Tours for about $1,384, which covers Istanbul and the Anzac events. If you want to see more of Turkey, like Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus, look for the longer 10-12 day options.

What meals are included in Anzac Day tours?

Your tour usually covers daily breakfast at your hotel and a few dinners along the way. For instance, on a 6-day tour, you'll get 4 breakfasts and 1-2 dinners. For the Dawn Service, you'll get packed meals. One traveler mentioned, "The meal arrangements worked well, though you need to be prepared with snacks for the overnight vigil at Anzac Cove."

What kind of transportation is used during Anzac Day tours?

You'll travel in comfortable buses with air conditioning, and some longer trips include flights within Turkey. When you need to cross the Dardanelles Strait, you'll take a ferry between Eceabat and Çanakkale. The nicer tours, like those with Trafalgar, offer buses with Wi-Fi. Most travelers really like the transportation, especially for those early morning rides to the Dawn Service.

What are the key highlights of an Anzac Day tour beyond the Dawn Service?

There's plenty to see besides the Dawn Service. You can visit the ancient city of Troy and check out its famous wooden horse and new museum. Many tours also take you to the Roman ruins at Ephesus and Istanbul's famous sites like the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. If you're on a longer tour, you might see the white terraces of Pamukkale or the cave churches in Cappadocia. One traveler said, "the whole experience was incredible with our guide Ekrem providing extensive information about Turkey's history throughout the journey."

Anzac Day Tours & Trips

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10 best Anzac Day tour packages

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Festival & Events Family Sightseeing Historical +2
ANZAC Day - Major Tour
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Çanakkale, Troy, Kusadasi, Kuşadası,Selcuk,Sirince,Pamukkale,Konya,Cappadocia,Sultanhani,Goreme,Ankara+8 more
Age Range
up to 99 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Fez Travel
Duration
11 days
From
NZ$4,925
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In-depth Cultural Family Sightseeing Historical +2
ANZAC Day - Corporal Tour
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Çanakkale, Troy, Kusadasi, Kuşadası,Selcuk,Sirince,Pamukkale+3 more
Age Range
up to 99 year olds
Country Region
Western Turkey
Operated in
English
Operator
Fez Travel
Duration
8 days
From
NZ$3,660
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In-depth Cultural Family Christmas & New Year +1
3 Days Gallipoli, Troy & Pergamon and Ephesus Private Tour from Istanbul
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamum, Selcuk
Age Range
up to 99 year olds
Country Region
Western Turkey
Operated in
English
Operator
Iglesias Tour Turkey
Duration
3 days
From
NZ$2,943
$885 now + easy payments of $138
Payment plans
No fees, no interest, no credit checks. For departure 23 Jan 2026
Pay today$885
15 easy payments$138
Payment plans
No fees, no interest, no credit checks. For departure 23 Jan 2026
Pay today$885
15 easy payments$138
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Festival & Events Explorer
ANZAC Day Dawn Service
4.5 (2 traveler reviews)
"The whole experience was incredible and being in Gallipoli for the dawn service was surreal."
Chelsea, traveled in April
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli
Age Range
18 to 99 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
Duration
2 days
From
NZ$510
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In-depth Cultural Family Coach / Bus Sightseeing Historical +3
Best of Turkey (Summer, 14 Days) (17 destinations)
4.3 (12 traveler reviews)
Destinations
Istanbul, Troy, Eceabat, Çanakkale, Gallipoli, Izmir,Ephesus Archaeological Museum,Pamukkale,Antalya,Aspendos,Konya,Cappadocia,Goreme,Ankara+8 more
Age Range
up to 99 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Trafalgar
Duration
14 days
From
NZ$5,695
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Festival & Events Explorer
Anzac Day Tour-10 Days
4.8 (6 traveler reviews)
"The scenery, culture, food, shisha and incredibly moving ANZAC dawn service made this a trip i will never forget."
P.Beech, traveled in September
Destinations
Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Ihlara, Pamukkale, Selcuk,Kusadasi,Pergamum,Ayvalik,Troy,Gallipoli,Kucukkuyu+6 more
Age Range
18 to 59 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Travel Talk
40% Off
Duration
10 days
From $3,421
NZ$2,053
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Festival & Events Explorer
Anzac Day Tour – 6 Days
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"We were in complete awe of the occasion and taken to an emotive state in the presence of such brave."
Antony, traveled in April
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy
Age Range
18 to 59 year olds
Country Region
MarmaraWestern Turkey+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Travel Talk
40% Off
Duration
6 days
From $2,065
NZ$1,239
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In-depth Cultural Coach / Bus
ANZAC on the Western Front: Dawn Service (Northbound) 2026
Destinations
Lille, Ypres, Fromelles, Arras, Somme, Amiens,Villers-Bretonneux,Longueval+2 more
Age Range
up to 80 year olds
Country Region
Northern France
Operated in
English
Operator
Back-Roads Touring
40% Off
Duration
7 days
From
NZ$3,969
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In-depth Cultural Coach / Bus
ANZAC on the Western Front: Dawn Service (Southbound) 2026
Destinations
Lille, Villers-Bretonneux, Amiens, Somme, Longueval, Arras,Fromelles,Ypres+2 more
Age Range
up to 80 year olds
Country Region
Northern France
Operated in
English
Operator
Back-Roads Touring
40% Off
Duration
7 days
From
NZ$3,969
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Festival & Events Family Historical +1
ANZAC DAY 2025 - 11 day
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Çanakkale, Troy, Kusadasi, Pamukkale,Konya,Cappadocia,Ankara+3 more
Age Range
up to 99 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Encounters Travel
40% Off
Duration
11 days
From
NZ$5,945
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events Family
ANZAC DAY 2025 - 8 day
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Çanakkale, Troy, Kusadasi,Ephesus Archaeological Museum,Pamukkale+2 more
Age Range
up to 99 year olds
Country Region
Western Turkey
Operated in
English
Operator
Encounters Travel
40% Off
Duration
8 days
From
NZ$4,410
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Festival & Events Family
ANZAC Day - Trooper Tour
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Çanakkale
Age Range
8 to 99 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Fez Travel
40% Off
Duration
2 days
From
NZ$971
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Festival & Events Explorer
Anzac Day Tour-11 Days
5.0 (3 traveler reviews)
"I absolutely loved that I had him as my tour guide! Egypt would not have been the same with anyone else in charge."
Eleanor, traveled in April
Destinations
Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Ihlara, Pamukkale, Selcuk,Kusadasi,Pergamum,Ayvalik,Troy,Gallipoli+5 more
Age Range
18 to 59 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Travel Talk
40% Off
Duration
11 days
From $3,755
NZ$2,253
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Festival & Events Explorer
Anzac Day Tour-12 Days
4.0 (1 traveler review)
"The only thing we found a bit disappointing was the overall quality of the hotels with exception of the Ramada."
Shayne, traveled in April
Destinations
Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Ihlara, Pamukkale, Selcuk,Kusadasi,Pergamum,Ayvalik,Troy,Gallipoli+5 more
Age Range
18 to 59 year olds
Operated in
English
Operator
Travel Talk
40% Off
Duration
12 days
From $4,111
NZ$2,467
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Festival & Events Explorer
Anzac Day Tour-4 Days
Destinations
Istanbul, Gallipoli
Age Range
18 to 59 year olds
Country Region
MarmaraWestern TurkeyThrace+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Travel Talk
40% Off
Duration
4 days
From $1,354
NZ$812
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