ANZAC Day Memorial Tour — Self-Launched
3 days · Turkey
G Adventures charges £450
No-markup version: ~£190 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of the classic 3-day Istanbul–Gallipoli–Troy ANZAC Day trip. Instead of a private minibus and group CEO, you use Turkey's excellent intercity buses and dolmuşes, book a budget hotel in Çanakkale, and join the same publicly accessible ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Anzac Cove (free, but you must register in advance for a ticket). You'll still tour the battlefields with a local guide, visit Troy, and spend the night under the stars at the commemoration site — just booking it all yourself for a fraction of the group tour price. All costs are rough estimates and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Istanbul to Çanakkale & Gallipoli battlefields
Istanbul → Çanakkale
Leave Sultanahmet early (7–8am) and make your own way to Istanbul's Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) via metro/tram, or catch a direct Eceabat/Çanakkale bus from the city. Metro Turizm, Pamukkale and Kamil Koç all run comfortable coaches to Çanakkale in roughly 5.5–6 hours for around £12–16. Drop your bag at a budget hotel or hostel near the harbour, then in the afternoon head to the Gallipoli peninsula. Easiest self-launch option: book a half-day Gallipoli battlefields tour through GetYourGuide or a local Çanakkale agency (roughly £30–45 including transport, guide and museum entries), covering Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and the war cemeteries. Alternatively take the ferry to Eceabat and use local dolmuş/minibus services between sites. Evening back in Çanakkale: eat mezes and grilled fish along the waterfront.
🚌Public coach Istanbul→Çanakkale ~£12–16 (5.5–6 hrs); local minibus/dolmuş to peninsula or tour pickup included
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Çanakkale old town (~£20–30/night for a twin/private; dorms cheaper)
- →Coach from Istanbul to Çanakkale
- →Gallipoli battlefields guided tour (GetYourGuide/local agency)
- →Anzac Cove, Lone Pine & Chunuk Bair
- →Çanakkale harbour waterfront evening
Troy and the overnight vigil at Gallipoli
Çanakkale / Troy / Gallipoli
Morning visit to the ruins of Troy (Truva), about 30km south of Çanakkale. Reach it by local minibus from the Çanakkale otogar (around £2–3 each way, 30–40 mins) or hop on a cheap half-day Troy tour from a local agency (~£20–25 with entry). See the reconstructed Trojan Horse, the city walls and excavation layers, then return to Çanakkale for a free afternoon exploring the harbour, student cafés and markets. In the evening, make your own way to the Gallipoli commemoration site (pre-arranged shuttle/coach transfers are usually sold by local operators or included in Dawn Service packages; expect ~£10–15). Note: TONIGHT THERE IS NO HOTEL — you sleep outdoors on the grass/terraces at the site alongside thousands of other visitors. Bring warm layers, a hat, gloves and a sleep sheet; cheap sleeping bags can be bought in Çanakkale if needed. Most people arrive late evening to secure a spot.
🚌Local minibus to Troy ~£2–3 each way; evening shuttle/coach to Gallipoli site ~£10–15
🛏No hotel — overnight at the Gallipoli commemoration site (bring sleeping bag/sleep sheet and warm clothes)
- →Troy archaeological site visit
- →Free afternoon in Çanakkale
- →Evening transfer to Gallipoli commemoration site
- →Overnight outdoors at Anzac Cove site
ANZAC Day Dawn Service & return to Istanbul
Anzac Cove → Istanbul
Rise before dawn for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Anzac Cove (free to attend, but you MUST register online in advance with the Turkish/Australian/NZ authorities and carry a printed ticket). Stay on for the New Zealand and Turkish memorial services through the morning. Bring water, snacks and warm layers — food stalls on site are pricey. Mid-morning, transfer back to Eceabat/Çanakkale (coaches or the Çanakkale ferry, ~£5–10) and catch an afternoon coach back to Istanbul (~£12–16, arriving late afternoon/evening). Don't book any onward flight before about 11pm to allow for delays. If you have time and energy, an optional Istanbul walking tour and Bosphorus ferry (public ferry is only a few pounds) rounds the trip off nicely.
🚌Shuttle/ferry back to Çanakkale ~£5–10; coach Çanakkale→Istanbul ~£12–16
🛏None included — onward travel or optional extra night in Istanbul (~£25–35)
- →ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Anzac Cove
- →New Zealand & Turkish memorial services
- →Coach back to Istanbul
- →Optional Bosphorus public ferry & old-city walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£190 | £450 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £260 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£190
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does ANZAC Day Memorial Tour — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £190 per person for 3 days in Turkey. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £190 — a saving of roughly £260 (58%) per person.
How long is the Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Turkey.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Turkey, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
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