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Turkey ANZAC Day commemorations 2022 Gallipoli.
We are sure that your visit to the Gallipoli Peninsula will be a memorable one. However, it is important for visitors to understand that limited facilities are available at the commemorative sites. The memorial sites are located in a national park with no permanent infrastructure or any kind of shelter…

All seating, lighting & toilet facilities must be brought in from outside the park. The Anzac Commemorative Site is very small. Grassed space at the Anzac Commemorative Site is limited & fills up very quickly after the site opens. Security at the site is managed by the Turkish authorities. Visitors can expect delays entering the site for security screening (airport type screening).

The weather at Gallipoli can get very cold overnight (below freezing) & there may be rain. Visitors must come prepared for these conditions as there is no shelter at the Commemorative sites. This website will be updated as current information changes. Due to changes that occur in the international travel environment, potential travellers to Turkey should refer to the latest travel advice on the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade “Smart Traveller” website. See travel hints & a consular information card for Australians travelling to Turkey to attend the 2020 ANZAC Day commemorations. Please also register here to receive updates should circumstances change or vital information needs to be sent to visitors.

Anzac Day commemorations 2022
Anzac Day services on the Gallipoli Peninsula are conducted by Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Britain & France. In 2022 services will be held on Wednesday 24th & Thursday 25th April. The service times listed below are based on 2011 start times & may change closer to the service period.

Friday, 24 April 2022
09:00 – 10:50 Turkish International Service, Mehmetcik Abidesi
11:15 – 11:40 French Memorial Service, Morto Bay
12:00 – 12:25 Commonwealth Memorial Service, Cape Helles

Saturday, 25 April 2022
05:30 – 06:15 Dawn Service, Anzac Commemorative Site, North Beach
09:30 – 10:00 Australian Memorial Service, Lone Pine
10:30 – 11:00 Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial Service, Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial
11:30 – 12:00 New Zealand Memorial Service, Chunuk Bair

The Anzac Commemorative Site is expected to be closed to visitor entry from approximately late morning to early evening on Wednesday 24 April. The road leading to the Anzac Commemorative Site will be closed from 3am on Thursday 25 April until the start of the Dawn Service.

Preparing to attend Anzac Day commemorations
You should have a moderate level of fitness if you plan to attend the Anzac Day commemorations. To attend the services you can expect to walk up to 8 kms on uneven surfaces. The walk from the Dawn Service to Lone Pine where the Australian service is held is approximately 3 kms & includes a section of 1.5 kms of uneven dirt surface with a very steep incline. The walk from Lone Pine to Chunuk Bair where the New Zealand service is held is 3.2kms up a steep bitumen surfaced road.

What to expect
-All commemorative services are held in a National Park.
-All commemorative services are open to the public however seating is not reserved nor guaranteed.
-You will arrive in the early evening or at night when it may be extremely cold & windy, & it may rain.
-The weather during the day may be warm & windy.
-You will need to pass through security at Anzac Commemorative Site & again at Lone Pine. -Considerable delays can be expected due to the large numbers of people attending.
-You can expect to be on site exposed to the elements for between 12 & 30 hours.
-There is no shelter at any of the commemorative sites or within the Anzac area.
-Temporary tiered seating is installed at the Anzac Commemorative site, Lone Pine & Chunuk -Bair for the Anzac Day Services. In addition to the tiered seating, the grassed areas within the site also provide seating areas. As many visitors attend services seating is neither reserved nor guaranteed.
-The site is likely to be crowded & as the grassed areas fill quickly there may not be room to stretch out & fall asleep.
-Warm & wet weather protective clothing, as well as a hat/cap & sunscreen are necessary to ensure your wellbeing & comfort at the ceremonies.
-You will walk considerable distances from the time of your arrival to attend the services until your departure from the Anzac area – these walks are uphill including on very steep, graded dirt surfaces. You must have a moderate level of fitness & mobility to walk these distances.
-Food & refreshments are available for purchase from the Turkish food sellers on site. You may bring in your own food. Alcohol is NOT allowed at the commemorations & will be confiscated.
-Limited basic facilities including toilets, lighting & non-drinking water are brought in to the commemorative sites for the Anzac Day commemorations on 24 & 25 April.
-Swimming in the waters off the Anzac area is prohibited.

Packing
Bring:
Wet weather jacket & pants, Warm, thermal clothing, jacket, beanie, hat or cap, gloves, scarf
Warm blanket, Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes, Prescription medications (if necessary), Food/snacks, Drinking water (opened bottles will not be permitted), Sunscreen, Torch, Camera, A small day pack may be useful to carry these items.

What NOT to bring
The following items are prohibited in the commemorative areas: large backpacks (eg luggage sized), camping equipment, opened bottles of liquids, alcohol*, flammable liquids, weapons or sharp objects, *Intoxicated persons will be refused entry. These items MUST be left on your coach/minibus. All visitors to the commemorative services are screened on entry to the sites, & all bags are searched.

Arriving at the commemorations
People generally travel to the Gallipoli Peninsula by coach or minibus as part of a tour group. People may travel to the commemorations in private motor vehicles. However, depending on the location of the parking area designated by Turkish authorities, visitors travelling by private vehicle may have to walk several kilometres along unlit or poorly lit roads before reaching the Anzac Commemorative Site.

Private vehicles are prohibited from travelling to the Lone Pine, 57th Regiment Memorial or Chunuk Bair commemorative sites.
Several kilometres from the Anzac Commemorative Site, coaches & their passengers are welcomed by a member of the visitor services team & issued with coach identification information – a Coach Identification Number & individual tags for each passenger with their coach number on it. This will help visitors to identify their coach at the end of the day.

Coaches set down their passengers at Beach Cemetery, which is about one kilometre (15 minutes walk on a graded dirt road) from the Anzac Commemorative Site where the Dawn Service is held. All visitors will pass through a security screening point before entering the site, then walk approximately half a kilometre to the ceremonial area.

When you disembark from your coach you must ensure that you have everything you will need during the evening & next day, including medication. To assist with security screening we suggest that keys, phones & coins are placed in your day pack or bag. You will not be able to go back to your coach if you forget anything or to return items that are prohibited on site. Coaches will depart the set down area after they have disembarked passengers & will not return to collect passengers until after all commemorative services are completed on the afternoon of 25 April.

Seating at the commemorative sites is available on grassed areas & in stands. Seating cannot be reserved. Once open on 24 April, the Anzac Commemorative Site fills quickly. People may end up sitting very close to each other &, if the site reaches capacity, people will be asked to stand. Large groups who arrive later may not be able to find room to be seated as a group & should be prepared to split up & stand if there are no seats available.

Weather
The weather in April can be warm during the day & extremely cold overnight (temperatures may be below 0 degrees celsius). Rain & very cold winds are possible. Visitors should ensure they are adequately equipped for these extremes by ensuring that they take appropriate warm & protective clothing. There is no shelter at any of the commemorative sites & visitors will be exposed to the weather for the entire period they are on site, which can be up to 24 hours. Large crowds, limited public utilities, & traffic & security arrangements can result in long waiting periods.

Getting about on the day
Each of the commemorative services is open to the public. Those attending the Dawn Service at the Anzac Commemorative Site may go on to attend the Australian Service at Lone Pine, the Turkish 57th Regiment Service at the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial or the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair. However, due to the walking distances & terrain between the commemorative sites & the number of visitors walking to each service it may not be possible to attend all four services.

Dawn Service to Lone Pine
From approximately 6:30am (after completion of the Dawn Service) visitors walk along the Anzac Cove Road & up Artillery Road to Lone Pine Cemetery for the 09:30am Australian Memorial Service. This 3.1km walk takes visitors past the Ari Burnu, Shrapnel Valley & Beach Cemeteries. Shortly after Beach Cemetery, the route follows Artillery Road inland as it slopes uphill past Shell Green Cemetery to Lone Pine. Artillery Road is a dirt road & is very steep & uneven in places. The road can be extremely difficult to walk. The route is well signposted. A moderate level of fitness is required. The walk to Lone Pine can be challenging & is very steep. ACS to Lone Pine is approximately 3km. Artillery road is 1.42km long, with a height gain of 118 meters. From Lone Pine to Chunuk Bair is another 3.3km uphill. If you are elderly or have a disability which may prevent you being able to make this climb you may be eligible for special needs assistance.

Lone Pine to Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial
After the conclusion of the service at Lone Pine at 10:00am, there is little time to walk from Lone Pine to the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial service, a distance of 1.2kms along an uphill bitumen road. The Turkish service starts at 10:00am, thirty minutes after the conclusion of the Lone Pine service.

Lone Pine to Chunuk Bair
The New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair commences at 11:30pm. The route slopes uphill past the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial & is approximately 3.3kms. As you walk to Chunuk Bair, please respect the Turkish service in progress at the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial. The walking time between Lone Pine & Chunuk Bair is approximately one hour & fifteen minutes.

Toilets
Permanent toilets are only available at the Kabatepe Museum, which is some distance from the commemorative sites. Temporary chemical toilets & hand washing facilities are available on 24 & 25 April at the Anzac Commemorative Site, Lone Pine & Chunuk Bair. The water at these locations is not potable & must not be used as drinking water.

Water & Power
There is no running water, power or lighting except for that in use for the services. Bottled water is available for purchase from Turkish vendors at each of the commemorative sites, but we do encourage you to bring your own. Opened bottles of liquid will not be allowed onto the site, including open water bottles.

Refreshments
Local Turkish food & drink vendors sell limited quantities of their products within the Gallipoli Park. Consuming alcohol within the National Park is not permitted. The ban on alcohol is strictly enforced – alcohol brought on site will be confiscated & intoxicated people will be denied entry.

Rubbish
Rubbish disposal facilities are provided & visitors are asked to dispose of rubbish thoughtfully or, where possible, take rubbish with them. All visitors to the Dawn Service are provided with a biodegradable rubbish bag (as part of an information kit). Additional rubbish bags are available from commemorative services staff.

Lost Property
If you lose or find property during the commemorations, please take it to the information tent & notify event staff. Following the commemorations, lost property enquiries can be directed to gallipoli@dva.gov.au. Property is only retained for a month & is held in Turkey. Arrangements for & costs of shipping are the responsibility of individuals claiming lost items.

Safety & security
The Australian & New Zealand Embassies in Ankara & the Australian Consulate in Canakkale work closely with Turkish authorities who are responsible for security for the commemorations. Security & crowd management measures include a ban on lighting fires, restrictions on entry points, individual searches & site security. Crowd control barriers are used as a means of directing public access & protecting the surrounding environment. You should follow instructions issued by Turkish security personnel. Allow sufficient time to travel between the commemorative sites including time to pass through each site’s security checkpoint. Visitors will most likely be separated into male & female lines to go through the security check-points for cultural & religious reasons. On passing the security check-point at the Anzac Commemorative Site, all visitors will be given a security wristband. This wristband MUST be worn on the wrist until you leave the Gallipoli Historical National Park at the conclusion of the services. Visitors will be screened again on entering the Lone Pine site for the Australian Service & Chunuk Bair for the New Zealand service. Security measures may be in place several days in advance of the services. Certain areas of the Anzac Commemorative Site (including the beach & ceremonial area) will be inaccessible to members the public for extended periods on 24 April & 25 April.

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The Dardanelles gets regular winds. This is why all parts of the Strait but especially Guzelyali are suitable for windsurfing lovers. Bozcaada, with its clean & shallow waters, is an alternative destination for windsurfing. Be sure to spend plenty of time experiencing the outdoor activities of the region…

Diving
The Dardanelles, the Gulf of Saroz, Bozcaada & Gokceada are home to many wrecks that divers would be interested in. At the southern or Aegean mouth of the Dardanelles there is the wreck of the Kaptan Franko, while the Lundy lies in 30 metres off of Kemikli point in the Gulf of Saroz. Both wrecks can be dived on. At Gokceada’s Kuzu Port there are the remains of wreck dating from WW1. Kuzu Port & its surrounded have been declared an Underwater National Park & present a great alternative for divers. In the region between the Mermer Lighthouse & the Anatolian side you across giant anchors & ship wrecks. Around Esek island between Orfoz & Karayer islands there is a diving point where you can see all types of life forms. In Bozcaada the south coastline of Mermer Point & the Tuz Point are suitable for free diving.

Handcrafts & shopping
Working clay In the recent years Canakkale’s traditional handcrafted pottery work has been regenerated & clay vases, pots, jars, carafes, cups slat shakers & etc are being made. These are marketed as souvenirs. Handcraft souvenirs made of ceramics that symbolise the Trojan horse & so forth are sold in shops around the Canakkale wharf & the shops at historical sites. In the villages of Ezine, Bayramic & Ayvacik among the yoruks (nomads) the weaving of carpets & rugs is common. The carpets with traditional Anatolian motives are made from % 100 wool. The main colours used in carpets here are red, yellow, green & blue. The red & blue is applied in large design patterns & in the background of the carpet while green & yellow is applied in the design or bordering pattern. The products generally are in the sizes of a praying mat & have intricate designs. In co-operatives formed here great importance is given to preserving the traditional carpets of the region. Other woven products; In the villages of Bayramic & Biga strong coarse wool cloth & thin wool material is made & in the villages of the Eceabat district macramé & female baggy trousers from local wool are woven. Throughout the region traditional socks & bath flannel material is common.

Trekking & jeep safari in Mount Ida
Some parts of Mount Ida are a national park & you need permission to enter this zone. Personal request are not approved. This is necessary both for the safety of the mountain & the person. The best solution is to take a tour from the one of the big cities or from the local agencies.

Jeep safaris
For the trekking there are numerous routes. The degree of hardness of the route varies. Some are tours that go up to the summit & set up tents there & some are soft daily tours. There are also tours where you are take a tractor trailer to a certain point & then walk up to the peak. During these tours lighting fires is forbidden so meals are served cold. Due to its very rich fauna & flora there used to be herb collecting tours in the past. There are 26 species endemic to Mount Ida & 15 types of vegetation that only grow on Mount Ida in Turkey that are not endemic. This vegetation is a part of the world heritage. These tours were not allowed anymore by the threat of having these plantations uprooted intentionally or not. Tours in the company of a guide are allowed. Photographing, filming or watching of the vegetation is allowed. Mount Ida is rich in terms of plants used for healing & as part of the local culture, many plants are used in various ways to cure diseases. Here it is necessary to lend your ears to the experts. The plants were being used for treatment purposes from very ancient times. Today, most of the modern drugs are made by using plants but in the region one should be careful about other plants than those used in cooking that are used by treatment. Even very common & well known herb teas when taken too much can pose problems. In the mythological it said that Zeus turned into an eagle & brought the handsome Ganymedes to Mount Olympus & the handsome boy ate ambrossia & drank the nectar just like gods. The story goes that he became immortal but one should remember that it is worth leaving the last say to medicine.

The post Activities first appeared on Anzac Gallipoli Tours.

Istanbul is truly a world city, an enchanting blend of Eastern & Western culture, a vibrant, modern city, with a unique identity. Its rich past coexists alongside its youthful exuberance. Although no longer the capital of Turkey, Istanbul still remains the country’s cultural & business centre…

Edirne
Edirne’s former name is Adrianople (Hadrianoupolis) “City of Hadrianus”, named after the Roman emperor who founded the city on the site of Thracian village of Uskudama. Between 1700 & 1750, Edirne was the 4th biggest city in Europe, with an estimated population of about 350,000 people. Although it is quite a lively city, especially compared to other Turkish cities of this size, however all you see today is just a fraction of its former glory. Selimiye Mosque which dominates the skyline of the city, is considered the zenith of Ottoman architecture.

Tekridag
Tekirdag is a city of 108,000 in European Turkey, on the northern shoreline of the Sea of Marmara & is 132 km west of Istanbul. First founded by Thracians, its actual location is what is now Barbaros, a village 9 km southwest of Tekirdag. It was then colonised by Greeks from the Aegean island of Samos. Tekirdag since 1923 is a part of the Republic of Turkey. The city is surrounded by the Sea of Marmara on one side & by sunflower & grain fields on the other. On the hillsides to the southwest, viniculture is an important activity.

Troy
Immortalized by the writings of Homer, the legendary city of Troy invites the wanderlust with its picturesque settings & historical ruins. While on vacation in Turkey, an excursion to this ancient city will give you the opportunity to savor the striking scenery & wealth of archaeological sites of a long lost kingdom. If mythology is what intrigues you or if you are an avid literature lover, Troy is the perfect choice for a day tour. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site & has recently been declared a national park.

Assos
Assos, also known as Behramkale (or, rarely, as Behram, as it appears on some old maps), is a village in northern Aegean Region, Turkey. It’s located on the northern coast of Gulf of Edremit, just opposite the northern coast of the Greek island of Lesvos. This is a village that is consisted of two parts: the ‘real’ village on the top of a hill overlooking the sea & a coastal part right down by the shore (which was the harbour of the village in the past). Both parts are equally old & full of stone buildings with traditional Mediterranean architecture.

Gokceada
Gokceada is the largest island of Turkey with a surface of 279 square kilometers. The island is very mountainous. Cape Avlaka, near Ugurlu, is the westernmost point of the island, and of Turkey as well. In ancient times, it was believed that Greek sea god Poseidon rested his horses in the deep sea between Gokceada and the Greek island of Samothrace, which is to the north of Gokceada. The former name of the island, İmroz, which derived from its Greek name (Imvros), was officially changed to Gokceada.

Bursa
Bursa lies in the northwestern part of Turkey near the Sea of Marmara, about 20 km inland. Bursa was the first capital of the Ottomans, who started as a small emirate in the countryside just east of Bursa & within 2 centuries had set foot on3 continents. Today, with a population of more than 2,500,000, Bursa is the fourth largest city in Turkey after Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. It is famous for its peach, chestnut & silk, although lately, heavy industry located in the outskirts of the city has surpassed these traditional industries.

Ayvalik
Ayvalik was an important trade centre during Ottoman times, it had an autonomous status & even many European powers set up consulates. The city then was almost completely inhabited by Greeks, who were exchanged with Turks from Crete when a population swap was mandated between governments of Turkey & Greece in 1923. The fusion of local Greek & Cretan cultures formes the character of today’s Ayvalik. While most of the physical historical heritage is clearly Greek, the everyday culture alive on the streets is mainly Cretan.

The post Nearby Attractions first appeared on Anzac Gallipoli Tours.

Istanbul to Gallipoli by coach, private transfer.
The city of Canakkale lies at the narrow, 1200 meter entrance to the Canakkale Strait (the Dardanelles) that connects the Sea of Marmara & the Aegean. Passenger & car ferries run daily between Canakkale on the Asian side & Eceabat & Kilitbahir on the European side…

TJ’s can book any travel route for you. Whether it be a charter flight, local bus or rent a car, just email us with your requirements & we can take the stress out of organizing it for you.

From Istanbul
By plane: Turkish Airlines, who intervened after that Atlasjet Company served out the flights between Istanbul & Canakkale, began flights on the same route with an Airbus A-319. Turkish Airlines is now operating these flights under its own low cost carrier Anadolu Jet (no thrills airline). Please note that this flight departs from Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian Side, for those who will be staying around Sultanahmet & Taksim area hotels this would mean apx. 1½ hrs driving time to the airport. Turkish Airlines flight details are: 21:50 Istanbul – 22:50 Canakkale everyday & 07:15 Canakkale – 08:15 Istanbul everyday, (Please check before planning as this might not have stayed current informartion). Arriving in Canakkale, we have a service to get you from the airport to the ferry port where you cross the Dardanelles, reaching Eceabat in 25min. The plane now has just 90 seats so email us for a booking as soon as possible to ensure availability in peak season. The price is very reasonable but varies according to time of purchase. So get in quick for the best offers.

By bus : Coaches, no less than two years old depart Istanbul hourly for Eceabat. Each coach has a host or hostess who serves drinks & nibblies free of charge. The journey takes approx 5hrs. Make sure you have Eceabat written on your ticket before departure to ensure you are not dropped off in the town of Gelibolu, 45km north of the battlefields. Or you can email us & we can organise it for you & have the ticket delivered to your accommodation. This way, you can choose the public shuttle or you can ask us for a private transfer to the bus station & a car & driver will collect you.

Chauffered car : We can organise a private vehicle with English speaking driver on request.

Self drive : Driving in Turkey can be very hazardous, so we suggest self-drive only for the very confident & experienced driver. When driving from Istanbul to Eceabat, it’s important to stick to the main highways rather than take what seems to be the scenic route on the map following the coastline, as the coast road is military owned & is basically a graded track in some areas with only one car width & steep cliff edges.

From rest of Turkey
By plane: You can catch a charter flight from many places down south such as Izmir, Bodrum, Dalaman, Antalya, Kayseri (Cappadocia) direct to Istanbul, where you can transfer to the 21:50 flight heading to Canakkale from Sabiha Gokcen Airport domestic terminal. You must be careful to make sure the flight you are on is landing at the Sabiha Gokcen airport as some companies do not fly to Sabiha Gokcen Airport at all. Arriving in Canakkale, we have a service to get you from the airport to the ferry port where you cross the Dardanelles, reaching Eceabat in 25min.

By bus : Turkey has a very sophistaced, modern, comfortable & efficient bus system. Most buses are only a few years old with air conditioning, entertainment, a steward to bring you snacks & drinks & even free Wifi Internet connections (on some buses (more in the bus terminals). Turkish buses are not usually equipped with onboard toilets, so use the facilities in the terminal before your board & at the mola (rest stops) about every 2 to 2-1/2 hours along the way. Drinks, snacks & meals are avilable at the stops & smokers light up (no smoking is allowed on public buses). Buses run almost hourly if not less between Turkey’s major cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Ankara, Bursa, Gaziantep, Adana etc.. There are also frequent buses from the smaller provinces to Canakkale of which some also go through Eceabat. Make sure you have Eceabat written on your ticket before departure to ensure you are not dropped off in the town of Gelibolu, 45km north of the battlefields. You can email us & we can organise it for you & have the ticket delivered to your accommodation. Or ask at your place of accommodation & they can help you out.

Chauffered car : We can organise a private vehicle with English speaking driver on request.

Self drive : Driving in Turkey can be very hazardous, so we suggest self-drive only for the very confident & experienced driver. If you decide to self drive, email us & we’ll send through some route details for you.

The distance between Canakkale to neighbouring provinces & important centres:
Ankara 659 km / Istanbul 310 km / Izmir 331 km / Bursa 303 km / Balıkesir 210 km / Tekirdag 171 km / Edirne 217 km

Transport to Gokceada
Ferryboats run from Canakkale & the Gallipoli Peninsula Kabatepe wharves to Gokceada.The timetables change in summer & winter months. For information on schedules please contact us or The Canakkale Port Authority +286 212 9876 Eceabat Port : 0286 814 1033
Do not forget that speed limits inside the city are 50 km/hour & out of city 90 km/hour.

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