Private 2-Day Gallipoli & Troy Tour from Istanbul

2 Days

Group Size

1

Overview

Step onto the windswept ridges where history was forged and legend was born. This intimate two-day private journey from Istanbul carries you across the rolling Thracian countryside to two of Turkey's most evocative landscapes — the solemn battlefields of Gallipoli and the mythic ruins of Troy. Walk the quiet sands of ANZAC Cove where the first landings broke at dawn in 1915, trace the preserved trenches of Johnston's Jolly, and stand in contemplation at the Lone Pine Memorial as your private guide unfolds the human stories behind the headlines. The next morning, cross the Dardanelles into the world of Homer, where 3,700-year-old walls still rise from the earth and the replica Trojan Horse waits beside the layered remains of nine cities stacked across three millennia. With your private guide, driver, comfortable hotel in Çanakkale, and every transfer tailored entirely to your pace, you trade group itineraries for the freedom to linger, ask, and reflect. You leave with more than photographs — you leave carrying the weight of myth and memory, drawn from soil that has shaped the imagination of the world.

Trip Highlights

Walk the hallowed sands of ANZAC Cove at your own pace
Pay respects at the Beach Cemetery and Lone Pine Memorial
Step through the preserved trenches of Johnston's Jolly
Gaze across the Dardanelles from the Gallipoli ridges
Climb inside the iconic replica Trojan Horse
Trace the 3,700-year-old walls of ancient Troy
Uncover Homer's Iliad with your private guide
Savour a Dardanelles-side lunch in historic Eceabat
Travel exclusively with private driver and tailored pacing

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day
1

Istanbul to Gallipoli Peninsula Battlefields Tour

Between 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM, your private guide and driver will collect you from your hotel in Istanbul for the scenic drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula. The journey takes approximately 5 hours through the rolling Thracian countryside, with comfort stops along the way.
Arrive in Eceabat around 12:20 PM and pause for a relaxed lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the Dardanelles Strait. At 1:00 PM, begin your fully guided battlefields tour. Walk along Brighton Beach and pay your respects at the Beach Cemetery, where John Simpson rests. Continue to ANZAC Cove and Ari Burnu Cemetery, the site of the first ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915.
Visit the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, walk through the preserved trenches of Johnston's Jolly, and take in the sweeping view over Shrapnel Valley. Stop at the 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, then continue to The Nek, Walker's Ridge, and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. After the tour, transfer across the Dardanelles to Çanakkale for hotel check-in (accommodation not included). Overnight in Çanakkale.
Day
2

Ancient City of Troy Tour & Return to Istanbul

After breakfast, around 8:30 AM, meet your private guide for a half-day exploration of the legendary Ancient City of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site immortalised in Homer's Iliad. The drive from Çanakkale takes roughly 40 minutes through olive groves and farmland.
Begin at the iconic replica Trojan Horse, where you can climb inside and enjoy a photo stop. Your guide will lead you through the Sacrificial Altars, the imposing 3,700-year-old city walls, and the Houses of Troy I dating from 3000-2500 B.C. Learn about the Bouleuterion (Senate Building), the Odeon, ongoing archaeological excavations, and how the nine layered cities of Troy I through Troy IX reveal more than three millennia of continuous habitation.
Around 11:45 AM, you'll be dropped off in Çanakkale city centre, where you can enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant of your choice with views of the strait. At approximately 1:00 PM, begin the return drive to Istanbul (around 5 hours), arriving in the late afternoon or early evening with a private transfer directly to your hotel on the European side. End of tour services.

Inclusions:

Hotel pick-up and drop-off (European side of Istanbul) and Istanbul cruise port transfer
Private air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver
Private licensed English-speaking guide for both touring days
2 lunches at local restaurants (Day 1 and Day 2)
All entrance fees for Gallipoli battlefields and Troy Archaeological Site
Dardanelles ferry crossings as per itinerary
Service charges and local taxes

Exclusions:

Hotel accommodation in Çanakkale (can be arranged on request at additional cost)
Breakfast and dinner
Food and drinks not specified in the itinerary
Optional additional tours or activities during free time
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Gratuities for guide and driver
Travel insurance
Anything not listed under inclusions

Important Information

This tour involves a long driving day (approximately 5 hours each way). Departure from your Istanbul hotel is between and, so we recommend an early night before the tour.
Hotel accommodation in Çanakkale is not included. We can arrange a 3-star or 4-star hotel near the waterfront on request — please confirm at the time of booking.
Pickup and drop-off are available from hotels on the European side of Istanbul only. Travellers staying on the Asian side should arrange to be at a European-side meeting point.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential. The Gallipoli battlefields involve uneven terrain, gravel paths, and several short walks between memorials.
Dress respectfully when visiting cemeteries and memorials. The Gallipoli Peninsula is a place of remembrance for both Allied and Turkish soldiers.
Weather on the peninsula can be windy and cooler than Istanbul, even in summer. Bring a light jacket, sun protection, and a refillable water bottle.
The tour operates year-round, but ANZAC Day (25 April) has special commemorative arrangements and restricted access — please book well in advance for that period.
Return to Istanbul is typically in the late afternoon or early evening. Avoid scheduling outbound international flights on the same day.

FAQs

Is hotel accommodation in Çanakkale included in the tour price?

No, accommodation on the night between Day 1 and Day 2 is not included. We can arrange a hotel in Çanakkale on request at an additional cost. Just let us know your preferred category when booking.

What time does the tour start and finish?

Pickup from your Istanbul hotel is between 6:00 AM and 6:30 AM on Day 1. You'll be dropped back at your hotel in Istanbul in the late afternoon or early evening on Day 2, depending on traffic.

Is this tour suitable for travellers with limited mobility?

The Gallipoli battlefields and Troy involve walking on uneven terrain, gravel, and some inclines. The tour is best suited to travellers with average mobility. Please contact us before booking if you have specific accessibility concerns.

Can you pick me up from my cruise ship in Istanbul?

Yes, we offer pickup and drop-off at the Istanbul cruise port (Galataport) as well as hotels on the European side of Istanbul at no extra charge.

How long is the drive from Istanbul to Gallipoli?

The drive from Istanbul to the Gallipoli Peninsula takes approximately 5 hours one way, including a short comfort stop. Travel is by private air-conditioned vehicle.

Will I have an English-speaking guide?

Yes. A professional licensed English-speaking guide accompanies you for both touring days at Gallipoli and Troy. Guides in other languages may be available on request.

What is the cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, notify One Nation Travel at least 5 days before the tour starts. For requests received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from your paid balance. For requests received less than 5 days before the tour starts, and for no-shows, the full amount paid is non-refundable.

Do I need to pay the full amount when booking?

The deposit or full-payment requirement, currency, balance due date and any disclosed payment-processing charge vary by booking and are stated on the current booking page and in the written confirmation before payment. Flight and bus tickets are issued only under the confirmed booking terms and, once issued, are non-refundable. If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, notify One Nation Travel at least 5 days before the tour starts. For requests received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from your paid balance. For requests received less than 5 days before the tour starts, and for no-shows, the full amount paid is non-refundable.

Is the tour available on ANZAC Day (25 April)?

ANZAC Day commemorations on 25 April operate under special arrangements with restricted vehicle access and assigned viewing areas. We recommend booking several months in advance for that period as availability is limited.

Can the tour be customised or extended?

Yes. As this is a private tour, the itinerary can be adjusted to your interests. We can also extend it with additional nights in Çanakkale or onward travel to Ephesus, Pamukkale, or Cappadocia. Just ask our team.

Will I travel with the same group and guide throughout the tour?

Our multi-day Turkey packages are regular group/shared tour arrangements, not fully escorted tours with one tour leader and the same guests from arrival to departure. Sightseeing tours are shared and usually operate with about 15-20 guests, but group size and participants may change by city or day as travelers join or leave different scheduled tours. Licensed English-speaking guides lead scheduled sightseeing visits only. Guides do not travel with guests on domestic flights, intercity buses, airport transfers, hotel transfers, or free-time periods unless this is specifically stated in the itinerary. For flights, buses, and transfers, guests are met by our driver or local representative at airports, bus terminals, or hotels and assisted with the planned transfer. One Nation Travel coordinates the full itinerary, hotels, domestic tickets, transfers, local guides, and support throughout the trip.