Gallipoli Battlefields

Gallipoli Battlefields

The haunting Gallipoli battlefields,located in the Dardanelles, are the grave of more than 30,000 British and Commonwealth troops. Today it is a vast National Park commemorating those of both sides who fell

“Damn The Dardanelles, they will be our grave.” Admiral Fisher to Winston Churchill, 1915there in 1915. Time has almost stood still in more than 90 years, with the ground very little changed; trenches and positions from WW1 visible everywhere. For 2008 we have updated our popular in-depth tour to this important battlefield of the First World War. The tour will look at the key locations connected with the 1915 campaign, and see many of the more off the beaten track sites not normally seen; add to this some beautiful scenery, and this has become one of our most popular and sought after tours! Also, unlike many similar tours we actually stay on Gallipoli– at the Kum Hotel located between ANZAC and Cape Helles. Truly a unique experience for any serious battlefield enthusiast!

Our itinerary
Day 1 Fly to Istanbul where we are met and transferred to our overnight hotel.
Day 2 Gabatepe and HellesMemorial (included). Early departure for Gallipoli, with comfort stops en-route; the journey is around four hours from Istanbul and we have lunch in Gallipoli town, overlooking the Dardanelles. Following check-in at our hotel, we visit the Helles Memorial to the Missing –where the vast majority of those who fell in 1915 are commemorated, seeing the Turkish gun battery. We also go into Seddul Bair and see the grave of Doughty-Wylie VC. B,D
Day 3 British Landings CapeHelles – Krithia (included). We begin our look at Gallipoli by focussing on the landings on 25th April 1915. We start on the British sector, seeing where the River Clyde landed the men of the 29th Division on V Beach, Seddul Bair, and the nearby V Beach Cemetery. We then move on to Lancashire Landing, where the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers won six VCs before breakfast: this visit requires some walking as the roads to the beach are not accessible in a coach. At X Beach we see where HMS Implacable landed 2nd Royal Fusiliers, and have a picnic lunch before we look at the ground fought over by the British in the second phase of the campaign, seeing Krithia and the Vineyard, plus the war museum in Krithia and nearby Redoubt Cemetery. B,D
Day 4 ANZAC Beach – Lone Pine (included). Continuing with our look at the 25th April landings we move north to ANZAC – where the Australians and New Zealanders landed. We visit ANZAC itself, spending the morning walking along
the landing beach and seeing the battlefield and nearby military cemeteries. Picnic lunch at Lone Pine, where we look at the Australian attack and see the Lone Pine Memorial and Cemetery, and nearby preserved trenches and tunnels. We see where Albert Jacka became the first Australian to win the VC in WW1, and go to the Nek, where the Australian Light Horse suffered heavily in the August offensives – as graphically illustrated in the 1980s film ‘Gallipoli’. The day ends on the New Zealand battlefield at Chunuk Bair, seeing preserved Turkish trenches and the Memorial. B,D
Day 5 Suvla Bay – Shell Green (included). In the morning we go up to Suvla Bay, seeing where some of the first British ‘Pals’ battalions came into action in August 1915. Here we study the landings and also look at the history of the ‘Lost Battalion’, the 1/5th Norfolks: the men from the Sandringham Royal estate who disappeared during the fighting at Suvla. We also visit the new Suvla Bay Museum in Anafarta, seeing an incredible amount of relics recovered from the battlefield. A picnic lunch will be available. In the afternoon we return to ANZAC and see the peaceful Shrapnel Valley Cemetery and take a walk up to Shell Green where the Australians played a game of cricket in full view of the Turks! B,D
Day 6 Channakale – Troy (included). We cross the Dardenelles to visit Channakale, seeing the military cemetery, with freetime for some shopping and lunch. In the afternoon we travel to Troy, visiting the site of the famous siege and seeing the archaeological remains, before returning to Gallipoli. B,D
Day 7 Istanbul (included). We depart our hotel and arrive at Istanbul at lunchtime. The afternoon is free to visit Istanbul city centre. B
Day 8 Fly back to the UK from Istanbul. B
Included Meals: B=Breakfast, D=Dinner

Please note due to the nature of this tour some walking is involved.

Your hotels
Your first and last night will be at the 4-star Hotel All Seasons in Istanbul. The hotel has a restaurant and bar.All bedrooms have a T.V., telephone,hairdryer plus air-conditioning. You will stay for 5 nights at the 2-star Hotel Kum in Eceabat/Gelibolu, centrally located on the Gallipoli peninsula, close to the WW1 battlefields. The hotel has a restaurant with terrace, café, bar, beach bar, disco and swimming pool. All bedrooms have a T.V., telephone, hairdryer.

Flights
Flights are by British Airways from London Heathrow and Manchester to Istanbul (Manchester flight supplement from £100 per person). All prices are subject to availability. Flight supplements may apply. Call for more details of flight prices/times.

8 days from only £849

What’s Included?
• 7 nights’ accommodation with continental breakfast
• 5 evening meals
• 6 Battlefield visits and excursions: Gabatepe and Helles Memorial; British Landings Cape Helles – Krithia; ANZAC Beach – Lone Pine; Suvla Bay – Shell Green; Channakale – Troy; Istanbul
• Return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow to Istanbul
• Supplement for flights from Manchester £100 per person
• British Battlefield Guide
• Air-conditioned coach -conditioned coach

Prices are per person, based on two sharing.
Extras • Optional excursions • Single room supplement £159

Book your Leger Holiday through First4Breaks and receive 7% discount off the prices below
Call us on 0191 514 5511 or click on the enquire button below to check availability or book