2-Day Gallipoli & Troy Tour from Istanbul with Canakkale Hotel
Overview
2-Day Gallipoli & Troy Tour from Istanbul with Canakkale Hotel
Two wars, 3,200 years apart, were fought within 50 kilometres of each other on the Dardanelles. This 2-day tour from Istanbul gives each one proper guided time: the ANZAC memorials and landing beaches on Day 1, then the Bronze Age walls and legends of Troy on Day 2, with a night in a Canakkale hotel in between.
An early bus pickup in Istanbul brings you to a guided afternoon at Lone Pine, Shrapnel Valley, the Turkish Memorial, The Nek and Chunuk Bair. On the second day you walk through Troy, past the Trojan Horse replica, the sacrificial altars and the agora, before the bus takes you back. It is a good fit for history lovers who want every site explained on the spot.
Relax and enjoy Turkey while we look after the arrangements.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Istanbul to Gallipoli & WWI Battlefield Tour
Included today: lunch, entrance fees, transfers and accommodation. An early pickup in Istanbul is followed by lunch in Eceabat, a guided afternoon on the First World War battlefield and a night in Canakkale.
- 06:00 - 07:00 – Pickup from your central Istanbul hotel. Guests are collected within this window and head west by air-conditioned bus toward Eceabat and the Gallipoli Peninsula. The pickup time can vary with the location of your hotel.
- 07:30 – Bus to the Dardanelles region (about 5 hours). The road follows the route to the Dardanelles, with one comfort stop before Eceabat.
- 12:30 – Lunch in Eceabat. The group stops for lunch before the afternoon program.
- 13:00 – Guided battlefield route begins. Your guide takes you through ANZAC memorial areas, landing beaches, cemeteries and Turkish remembrance sites across the peninsula.
The battlefield stops, in order:
- Gallipoli Battlefield Areas – the peninsula holds some of the most moving WWI sites anywhere, from trenches on the cliffs to large Allied cemeteries.
- Brighton Beach – narrow and backed by high bluffs, it was among the first stretches of Gallipoli that the landing forces reached.
- Beach Cemetery – white headstones stand in rows within earshot of the sea, one of the most intimate burial grounds on the peninsula.
- ANZAC Cove – this is where Australia and New Zealand mark their shared national identity, with dawn services every April 25.
- Ari Burnu – historical records place the very first ANZAC landing craft here, the real starting point of the April 1915 campaign.
- Lone Pine Cemetery – the battle fought here from August 6 to 10, 1915 produced seven Victoria Crosses and more than 7,000 casualties on both sides.
- Johnston's Jolly – rebuilt sections of trench let you stand in the narrow channels where soldiers lived, waited and fought.
- Shrapnel Valley – for the whole eight-month campaign, this was the main supply route between ANZAC Cove and the front lines.
- Turkish Memorial – Ataturk's words to the Allied mothers whose sons are buried here rank among the most generous war inscriptions in history.
- The Nek – about as wide as a tennis court, this is where the 8th and 10th Australian Light Horse Regiments made a disastrous frontal charge.
- Chunuk Bair – New Zealand troops captured the summit on August 8, 1915 and held it for a short time before Ottoman counterattacks drove them off.
17:00 – Transfer to your hotel in Canakkale. After the battlefield route you check in for the night; accommodation is included.
Day 2 – Troy Half-Day Tour & Bus Back to Istanbul
Included today: breakfast, entrance fees and transfers. After breakfast and a check-out before noon in Canakkale, you join a half-day guided visit to the Troy Archaeological Site and then travel back to Istanbul by bus.
- 08:30 – Breakfast at your hotel in Canakkale. Breakfast is included before check-out and the Troy program. Check-out is before noon.
- 12:45 – Check-out and drive to Troy. You leave Canakkale for the Troy region and the guided visit.
- 13:30 – Guided Troy route begins. Your guide explains the settlement layers, the city walls, the legends, the Trojan Horse replica and why the site matters so much to archaeology.
The Troy stops, in order:
- Troy Ancient City – on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1998, Troy has nine separate settlement layers, from the early Bronze Age to the Roman period.
- Trojan Horse (Movie Replica) – children and adults line up to climb into this big wooden horse, which also works as a viewing platform above the entrance area.
- Sacrificial Altars – the Trojans made offerings at stone altars in the sanctuary areas, asking for the favour of the gods of war, harvest and fate.
- 3700-Year-Old City Walls – built without mortar from huge stacked stone blocks, a method that has kept them standing for 3,700 years.
- Houses of Troy I (3000-2500 B.C.) – Troy I is the earliest known settlement on Hisarlik hill, dating from the early Bronze Age, roughly 3000 to 2500 BC.
- The Agora of Troy – colonnaded walkways and open paving reflect the Greek and Roman town planning of the city's later phases.
- Around 17:30 – Bus back to Istanbul. The departure time can vary with local operations.
- Around 22:00 – Arrival in Istanbul. The tour ends on arrival; traffic and the season can affect the exact time.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓1 night accommodation in Canakkale
- ✓1 breakfast at the hotel on Day 2
- ✓1 lunch on Gallipoli tour on Day 1
- ✓Professional English-speaking licensed guide
- ✓All entrance fees for scheduled sites
- ✓Round-trip land transportation from Istanbul by air-conditioned bus
- ✓All local transfers by vehicle on both days
- ✓All local taxes and service charges
- ✕Personal expenses
- ✕Dinner
- ✕Drinks at lunch
- ✕Lunch on the Troy tour
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2-day Gallipoli and Troy tour from Istanbul: the key facts
This group tour covers the two great historical sites on the Dardanelles in two days. On Day 1 you travel from Istanbul to Eceabat, have lunch and spend the afternoon on a guided route through the First World War battlefields of Gallipoli, from ANZAC Cove and Lone Pine to The Nek and Chunuk Bair, before a night in a hotel in Canakkale. On Day 2 you visit the ancient city of Troy with a guide, then take the bus back to Istanbul.
It suits history lovers who want both sites explained on the spot without driving there and back in a single day, including visitors from Australia and New Zealand. The price is from $289 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 days / 1 night |
| Route | Istanbul - Eceabat - Gallipoli battlefields - Canakkale - Troy - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour with a licensed English-speaking guide, daily, no minimum group size |
| Start / end | 06:00-07:00 pick-up at a central Istanbul hotel / arrival in Istanbul around 22:00 on Day 2 |
| Included | Round-trip air-conditioned bus, local transfers, 1 night in Canakkale, breakfast on Day 2, lunch on Day 1, guide, entrance fees, taxes |
| Extra | Lunch on Day 2, dinner, drinks at lunch, personal expenses |
What does the battlefield day look like?
Pick-up at your central Istanbul hotel is between 06:00 and 07:00. The bus leaves for the Dardanelles at 07:30, a drive of about five hours with one comfort stop, and lunch in Eceabat is at 12:30. From 13:00 your guide takes you along Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ari Burnu, Lone Pine Cemetery, Johnston's Jolly, Shrapnel Valley, the Turkish Memorial, The Nek and Chunuk Bair. Around 17:00 you check in at your Canakkale hotel. Our Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site guide gives more background.
What happens at Troy on Day 2?
Breakfast at the hotel is at 08:30. The guided visit to Troy starts at 13:30 and covers the site's nine settlement layers, the Trojan Horse replica, the sacrificial altars, the city walls, the houses of Troy I and the agora. Troy has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1998. Around 17:30 the bus leaves for Istanbul, arriving at about 22:00 depending on traffic. Lunch on Day 2 is not included, so plan a meal in Canakkale before the visit. Read our Troy Ancient City guide before you go.
When is check-out on Day 2?
The page is not consistent here. The Day 2 summary and the breakfast note say check-out is "before noon", while the timed itinerary gives "12:45 – Check-out and drive to Troy". In practice this leaves a free morning in Canakkale, but you should know where to keep your bags between check-out and departure. Ask us to confirm the check-out time, where luggage is stored and the meeting point for the Troy drive in writing before you pay.
Where do we sleep, and what is the hotel like?
One night is spent at a hotel in Canakkale, with breakfast. The FAQ refers to a Hotels section listing hotels by class, but no hotel name or category is shown, so ask us which hotel is planned for your date. Dinner in Canakkale is not included. The evening is free for a walk and a meal in town. Single travellers should ask about the single supplement when booking.
How do we travel: hotel pick-up or bus?
The itinerary says you are collected from your central Istanbul hotel, while the inclusions describe "round-trip land transportation from Istanbul by air-conditioned bus" and the FAQ mentions "one intercity bus". In practice that means a hotel pick-up followed by a long bus ride each way. Ask us in writing whether the pick-up is at your hotel or at a meeting point, and whether the return drops you at your hotel or a central stop, since you arrive late at night. The booking form's start times of 08:00 to 14:00 do not match the 06:00 pick-up.
How demanding are the two days, and what should we wear?
The long drives are the hardest part: about five hours each way. At Gallipoli you get in and out of the vehicle at each stop, with short walks on uneven paths and slopes, and there is little shade on the ridges. Troy is a walk of an hour or two on paths and wooden walkways. Bring a hat, sun cream and water in warm months and a warm, wind-proof layer in cooler ones. These are war cemeteries, so dress plainly and keep voices low.
Can we go around Anzac Day, 25 April?
You can ask, but plan carefully. Australian government guidance says Turkish authorities set temporary restrictions on 24 and 25 April that can block access to cemeteries and memorials in the ANZAC and Helles sectors, and private vehicles cannot park near the Anzac Commemorative Site. A standard group tour on those dates may not follow the usual route or times. Tell us before booking if you want to attend the dawn service. Our guide to Gallipoli tours from Istanbul compares day trips and overnight options.
Are there private or shorter alternatives?
Yes. The private 2-day Gallipoli and Troy tour gives you your own guide and vehicle. If you only have one day, the Gallipoli day tour from Istanbul and the Troy day tour from Istanbul cover each site separately. If you are heading south rather than back to Istanbul, the Troy and Pergamon tour from Canakkale to Kusadasi continues towards Ephesus. See all options on our Troy destination page.
How do we book the Gallipoli and Troy tour?
Choose your date and the number of guests in the booking form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. Tell us your Istanbul hotel so we can confirm the pick-up time. We send the pick-up details, the Canakkale hotel, the Day 2 check-out arrangements and the final price in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is licensed by TÜRSAB under number A-15751.
Frequently Asked Questions
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