Turkey, and The Ottomans 15 Fascinating Days – Istanbul to Istanbul – Multiple departures from Istanbul – May to Sept 2015

Albatross gives you more… DAY 1 ISTANBUL You will be met at Istanbul Ataturk airport and transferred to your hotel. Spend 2 nights in Istanbul and visit the Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet This evening join your fellow travelling companions and Turkish Guide for Square, the Underground Cisterns and Topkapi Palace, enjoy Turkish a traditional Turkish kebab dinner in a local restaurant. (D) Tea at the historic Caferaga Medresesi and explore the Grand Bazaar Your Istanbul Hotel – Hotel Dosso Dossi. Located in the historical Sultanahmet Spend 3 nights in the Gallipoli region and explore all the relevant district, this hotel boasts 93 air conditioned rooms, featuring stylish décor, battlefields, memorials and cemeteries on the Gallipoli Peninsula and a location in the heart of Istanbul’s historical old city. See Gain insights into the life of the diggers from our specialist Turkish www.dossodossihotels.com Battlefield Tour Guide, and the Turkish story in an evening DAY 2 ISTANBUL presentation by a Turkish Historian Straddling 2 continents – Europe and Asia – Istanbul dates back thousands Private morning commemoration at of years and its grand monuments bear testament to ancient empires and Visit ancient Troy the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. First stop of the day will be at the Stay 3 nights on the Turquoise Coast at Kusadasi, visit ancient Byzantine Hippodrome, now known as Sultanahmet Square, to visit one of Pergamum, the Temple of Trajan, visit the amazing ruins of Ephesus, the world’s great religious sites - the magnificent Blue Mosque. The highlight the Virgin Mary’s House and Aphrodisias of your day will be a tour of Topkapi Palace (formerly the Sultan’s Palace), Relax over 2 nights in Pamukkale and visit the famous limestone home to the treasures of the Ottoman Empire and visiting the fourth cascades and the tombs of the ancient Necropolis century, Yerabatan underground cisterns which riddle the foundations of the city. Your tour of Istanbul would not be complete without the exotic Savour 3 nights in a stunning cave hotel amongst the rock chapels experience of having Turkish tea at the Caferaga Medresesi (originally a 16th and ‘fairy chimneys’ of Cappadocia, visit a caravanserai, a pottery century Ottoman school of culture, paintings and ceramics). Here you will village and the ‘underground city’ of Kaymakli be able to sample varieties of Turkish coffee, traditional apple tea and, if you Fly high over the lunar like landscape in a hot air balloon ride wish, try a ‘Shisha’ (waterpipe). Your evening is at leisure. (B) DAY 3 GALLIPOLI

The Albatross Difference Departing Istanbul we drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula, where our ‘’ begins. After time at leisure for lunch in Gelibolu (Gallipoli town) we journey to Cape Helles on the remote tip of the Gallipoli peninsula. Here, Genuinely max Inclusive at the most south-westerly corner of Europe, is the British Commonwealth’s main monument to the whole Gallipoli campaign – the Helles Memorial. All Australian & New Zealand units which fought on the peninsula between Less time on Maximum Over $1200 Guaranteed coaches, 30 value of extras to depart April and December 1915 are commemorated here. On the outside walls average 136 passengers already with 7 of the memorial, along with thousands of other Allied servicemen, are the kms travelled included - no or more names of hundreds of Australian and New Zealand infantrymen who died each day hidden costs passengers in battle on this, the Helles Front, and ‘have no known grave’. Theirs is a When talking with fellow Australians Australian and New Zealand travellers in mind, it was obvious to spend and New Zealanders who are three nights in the Gallipoli region to allow time to sensitively explore all planning a Turkish trip, it was quite the relevant sites and properly reflect on the sorrow and heartache at clear that as well as Istanbul, the two Gallipoli. It allows us to include extra visits to places like Cape Helles, and specific areas that really appealed return to ANZAC Cove early one morning for our own moving, private and fascinated them were Gallipoli and Cappadocia. Most mainstream, commemoration. scheduled tours are sold worldwide to people from many nations We did not forget how fantastic the caves and fairy chimneys of who often have little or no understanding of the ANZACs and the Cappadocia are. We know that staying 3 nights in an authentic cave hotel, significance of the Gallipoli campaign. As such, ‘those’ tours allow maybe an including an amazing hot air balloon ride and allowing enough time to hour or two of sightseeing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. properly explore this unique area will be a ‘turkish delight’. Turkey is a very big country. Including three night stops at three vital So what is so different about this Turkey tour? stages of the tour makes absolute sense to allow time to properly enjoy this Since we design and control all aspects of our tours with the needs of intriguing country.

forgotten story of the ANZAC struggle at Gallipoli. From the heights of the DAY 6 KUSADASI spectacular Turkish Memorial – the Canakkale Martyrs Memorial – we view Travelling south down the mountainous coastline of Turkey, our first stop the mouth of the Straits of the Dardanelles, that great waterway which was will be at the ancient Acropolis of Pergamum which is famous for its wealth the primary Allied objective of the Gallipoli campaign. Later we cross the of archaeological ruins. From the Temple of Trajan you will admire the Dardanelles to Canakkale town where we stay for the next three nights, stunning views of the surrounding countryside. We then continue down allowing us to properly immerse ourselves into the conflict and tragedy that the west coast to the popular port of Kusadasi - a resort town for the wealthy evolved almost 100 years ago. This evening we have invited a local historian citizens of Ephesus in ancient times. We stay here three nights. (B, D) to join us and give an interesting overview of the Gallipoli Campaign from Your Kusadasi Hotel – Hotel Korumar Deluxe. The Korumar Hotel is located the Turkish perspective. (B, D) approximately 2.5km from the town centre and commands the most beautiful Your Canakkale Hotel – Truva Hotel. Recently fully refurbished and centrally sea view. This hotel combines style, a high standard of accommodation and a located on the Canakkale town foreshore, the Truva Hotel has a large shady wide range of modern facilities including 2 private beaches, 2 pools and outside café terrace overlooking the narrows of the Dardanelles. extensive spa facilities. See www.korumar.com.tr DAY 4 GALLIPOLI DAY 7 KUSADASI Our Gallipoli Campaign continues today. The peninsula is filled with The highlight of today will be a visit to one of the ancient wonders of the cemeteries, a war museum and many memorials to the tragic events of world, the inspiring ruins of Ephesus. Rated one of the world’s best 1915. As you enter this almost barren land, you can still sense the war and archaeological sites, you will walk along the 2,000 year old marble streets, heartache that once dominated the landscape, breaking the silent air. Our visit the Temple of Hadrian and the famous Library of Celsus. We also visit expert guides have handled numerous special ANZAC Day commemorative the nearby House of the Virgin Mary, nestled high in the hills overlooking tours and worked closely with our team of War Historians. Their intimate the city of Ephesus. (B, D) background knowledge separates fact from fiction and provides numerous DAY 8 KUSADASI fascinating insights into the lifestyle and living conditions of the legendary A wonderful day left at leisure! Your day is completely free to enjoy the ‘ANZAC Diggers’. Our first visits will be to Anzac Cove and Beach Cemetery sights and shopping in this attractive and bustling resort town. (B, D) – now home to one of Australia's most legendary soldiers, Private John Simpson. We will then trace the steps of the ANZACs up into the rugged DAY 9 PAMUKKALE hills to visit the ANZAC Memorials at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Amongst Heading past Mugla we reach Aphrodisias, one of Turkey's most important the numerous sights also visited will be Shrapnel Valley, Walker’s Ridge, the Nek and the surrounding trenches. Our last stop on the Gallipoli Peninsula will be the Kabatepe War Museum with its absorbing collection of war relics and memorabilia. We have included lunch at a nearby hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 5 GALLIPOLI A special day has been planned. Departing early we will cross the 3 nights in Cappadocia gives Dardanelles and gather under the early morning sun for a private wreath you time! Time to explore this laying ceremony to commemorate the tragic events of 25th April 1915. Each intriguing area and time to member of our small group will be welcome to say a few words and express relax and enjoy your their thoughts. It will be your own personal tribute. Maybe a simple ‘thanks’, wonderful, authentic ‘cave a personal poem or a minute of silence. The choice is entirely yours. Mid hotel’. It also provides a wider morning we will return to our hotel for a late breakfast and then visit the window of opportunity to hit perfect weather so we can soar nearby ruins of the ancient city of Troy, the site of the mythological battle silently into the morning sky, drifting peacefully over the amazing Homer immortalised in his Illiad. Archaeologists have proved that there had landscape and weather beaten ‘fairy chimneys’ on our incredible, been nine separate periods of settlement here dating back to 3,000 BC. Your included, hot air balloon ride. afternoon is at leisure in Canakkale. (B, D) archaeological discoveries of recent decades. These marvellous ruins rival Ephesus and include the Temple of Aphrodite with its dazzling white marble ISTANBUL 2 1

and a vast, virtually intact amphitheatre. Later we drive to Pamukkale where we stay two nights. (B, D) Gallipoli battlefields Q ANZAC Cove Your Pamukkale hotel - Hotel Tripolis. Located close by the travertines of 3 CANAKKALE TURKEY Pamukkale, Hotel Tripolis offers air-conditioned rooms and features an Troy Pergamum outdoor thermal pool, an indoor pool, and a traditional hammam. See CAPPADOCIA 3 www.tripolishotel.com Aegean Sea

DAY 10 PAMUKKALE Ephesus KUSADASI 3 Today we visit the petrified white lime cascades of Pamukkale. At the nearby 2 PAMUKKALE Hierapolis we will see the stadium and take a fascinating stroll through the Aphrodisias tombs of the Necropolis. Your afternoon is at leisure to relax in the thermal Tour commences pools and spas at your hotel. (B, D) Overnight stays Included excursions DAY 11 CAPPADOCIA Crossing the Anatolian Plain we visit the Caravanserai Sultanhan on the Silk Road. Entering Cappadocia our first stop will be a visit to the Bronze Age ‘pottery village’of Avanos. Cappadocia is located south of Mount Erciyes, and Tour Inclusions is a volcanic region known for its curious 'fairy chimneys,' cones and strange rock formations that have been sculpted by wind and rain. Over many • All sightseeing, scenic drives, excursions and entrances as centuries people seeking shelter from the conquerors and marauding armies described in the itinerary of the Central Anatolian Plateau settled here, burrowing whole subterranean • Fully escorted by an experienced Turkish Tour Guide • First class coach for transfers and touring towns. We will stay three nights in this remarkable place. (B, D) • One way economy class flight from Cappadocia to Istanbul Your Cappadocia Hotel – Gamirasu Cave Hotel. Gamirasu is the name of an • End of tour tips to Turkish Tour Guide and driver exquisitely restored 30 rooms troglodyte cave house in Ayvali Village near Urgup • 14 nights selected accommodation as described in the heart of Cappadocia. The hotel is located in a restored thousand-year- • Hotel porterage (1 bag per person) old Byzantine monastic retreat which offers modern conveniences without • Arrival and departure airport transfers in Istanbul (Ataturk distracting from the spiritual feeling of the area. Hotel rooms are built into Airport only) volcanic rock with vaulted ceilings and decorated in traditional Turkish style. • Breakfast daily See www.gamirasu.com • 12 dinners including welcome and farewell dinners in DAY 12 CAPPADOCIA Istanbul Enjoy a full day touring the moon-like landscape of Cappadocia. The unique • Hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, Turkish tea at Caferaga scenery of the Goreme Valley (one of the oldest settlements of the region) with Medresesi, lunch at Kum Hotel on Gallipoli Peninsula rock chapels, carved by early Christians, is an unforgettable experience. We see • Private commemoration at ANZAC Cove and evening Uchisar Castle and later we visit the ‘underground city’ of Kaymakli. It is thought presentation by a local Turkish historian that the Hittites originally constructed this city over 3,000 years ago. These • Entrance fees to Topkapi Palace, Underground Cisterns, chambers were later expanded into an extensive troglodytic complex by Kabatepe Museum, Troy, Pergamum Acropolis, Ephesus, Christians escaping the Arab invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. (B, D) House of Virgin Mary, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale Hierapolis, Sultanhan Caravanserai, Goreme Open Air Museum and DAY 13 CAPPADOCIA Kaymakli Underground City This morning we have included a memorable activity that will surely be a highlight of your tour. Boarding a hot air balloon we gently ascend to enjoy a dramatic journey gliding silently over the fairy chimneys of Goreme and 2015 Dates and Prices across the Cappadocia ‘moonscape’ countryside. Later we return to our $ wonderful ‘cave hotel’ to relax. The rest of the day and evening are free to 15 days only 4,389 pp twin share explore this intriguing area at your own pace, and the perfect opportunity Single supplement $1249 (land only prices in Australian Dollars) to discover a local restaurant and experience the regional cuisine. (B)

DAY 14 ISTANBUL STARTS ENDS STARTS ENDS This morning we transfer to the Airport for our flight to Istanbul. On arrival 10 May 24 May 2 August 16 August back in Istanbul we will visit the famous Grand Bazaar, a maze of 65 winding, 31 May 14 June 23 August 6 September covered streets and arguably the most famous ‘covered market’ in the world. 21 June 5 July 6 September 20 September In its 4,000 shops you will find Turkish carpets, glazed tiles and pottery, 12 July 26 July 13 September 27 September copper and brassware, leather clothes and many other treasures. Tonight we have included a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. (B, D) ‘From start to finish our tour was informative and lots of fun! Your Istanbul Hotel – Hotel Dosso Dossi. The highlight for me was the hot-air balloon flight over DAY 15 ISTANBUL Cappadocia. The other would be Gallipoli, especially the Sadly your tour finishes this morning after breakfast with a transfer to private dawn service. ‘ Sue Istanbul Ataturk airport. (B)