9 Day Fully escorted and immersive battlefield & cultural tour of the Gallipoli peninsula

04 – 12 OCTOBER 2026
Twin Share – $5,869 per person
Single Room Supplement  – $970

Escorted by Australian military history expert and battlefield guide, Paul Moggach.

Our tours, now in their 29th year, provide you with the most complete understanding of the story of Gallipoli. The itinerary is designed by our experienced and respected historians and tour guides. You will walk the ground, view the terrain and learn of harsh challenges faced by those serving on both sides of the conflict.

This tour explores the strategy and tactics of those who landed on the peninsula in 1915 while learning about the personal stories of those who came and those who never left. It is an educational journey into our past and, for some, a personal pilgrimage.

Your Tour Highlights:

• Our Australian military history and battlefield guide will escort you each day while on tour
• Explore all the sites on the Peninsula including Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, The Nek, Shrapnel Valley and Beach Cemeteries. You will also learn about the British and French landings at Cape Helles and see the magnificent Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial at Morto Bay.
• Walk the ground and view the terrain, including locations such as Plugges Plateau and Rhododendron Ridge, which so dominated the Anzac experience during the campaign.
• Avoid the crowds and infrastructure in place for Anzac Day and enjoy unobstructed access to the key battlefield and commemorative sites on the peninsula.
• Visit local villages including Bigali, located just beyond the Anzac perimeter and learn of their connection to the defence of the peninsula.
• 5 nights at the Kum Hotel, conveniently located just minutes from Anzac Cove, and the only accommodation on the Gallipoli coast. No ‘boxed lunches’ required, or time sacrificed, and with the atmosphere reflecting the region, the stay is always enjoyable for our tour members.
• Gain a full understanding of the military and culture of the Ottomans, explore the must-see sites of Istanbul, a wonderfully colourful ancient and beautiful city not to be missed.
• Conveniently begin and finish the tour in Istanbul, staying in deluxe accommodation centrally located within the Old City of Istanbul
• Should your tour be of a personal pilgrimage, we invite you to advise us of any particular interest, such as relatives who took part in the campaign, for further research to ensure, where possible, that you visit the site and that detailed information be provided for further discussions.
• Experience the friendship shared between our countries firsthand with our local Turkish guide and Australian battlefield guide Paul Moggach, as their combined knowledge provides a comprehensive balance of history and culture.
• Offering personalised service to every tour member, we are the most experienced battlefield tour specialists in Australia having operated tours to Gallipoli for nearly 30 years.

We invite you to contact our expert battlefield tour agents, Michelle and Alyssa on 1800 035 350 to discuss our itinerary and inclusions further. Amendments to the itinerary may be accommodated to suit your travel plans.

To gain a varied aspect of the military campaign and related inclusions in the tour itinerary, you are also most welcome to contact our Australian military battlefield guide, Paul Moggach, directly on 0415122992.

Australian Battlefield Guides

Boronia Travel Centre is the only battlefield tour operator in the country that provides Australian battlefield guides for all of our tours!

Tour Highlights

• Enjoy unobstructed access to the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site without the crowds and infrastructure in place for Anzac Day.
• Walk the landing sites at Anzac Cove and visit the Australian Memorial at Lone Pine.
• Guided tour of the British and French landing sites at Cape Helles and the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial at Morto Bay.
• Visit the Krithia Battlefields, including the high ground at Achi Baba, and Redoubt Cemetery near the old front line.
• Visit key outposts such as Lone Pine, the Nek, Plugge’s Plateau and Quinn’s Post that occupy a unique place in our history.
• Climb the track from Shrapnel Valley Cemetery to Plugges Plateau for all-encompassing views of the now peaceful battlefield
• Enjoy memorable guided walk from the New Zealand Memoria to the Missing at Chunuk Bair down Rhododendron Ridge to the northern outposts.
• Stop at Kilitbahir Fort and the Rumeli Mecidiye gun battery for discussions on the failed naval assaults of early 1915, that led to the Gallipoli landings.
• Cross the famous Dardanelles and explore the nearby ancient city of Troy, before lunch in Çanakkale, and a visit to the naval museum.
• Visit the most important sites of the Old City in Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.
• Farewell dinner overlooking the magnificent lights of Istanbul at night

Your Gallipoli Tour Includes:

• Fully escorted by an experienced Australian military historian / curator guide.
• 3 nights deluxe accommodation in Istanbul
• 5 nights premium accommodation at The Kum – the only hotel on the Gallipoli peninsula, minutes from Anzac Cove.
• All meals as listed on the itinerary. There are no boxed, or “picnic” lunches. All meals will be in the comfort of the Kum Hotel at Gallipoli (and a chance to use the bathroom). A Boronia Travel Exclusive!
• All Gallipoli battlefield excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary.
• Services of a local english speaking Turkish expert guide throughout your tour.
• Ground transport in deluxe air-conditioned coaches.
• All entrance fees as per the itinerary.
• Boronia Travel Centre cap, ticket wallet and luggage tags.

Extras:

• Single Supplements are available
• Boronia Travel Centre uses Singapore Airlines for all their Gallipoli Tours, and has access to the most competitive discounted Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class airfares available from Australia.
• International Travel Insurance, is strongly recommended and never more so than now

Meals Included: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch (No boxed lunches), D = Dinner

Day 1.  Sunday 04 October – ARRIVAL AND AN INTRODUCTION TO ISTANBUL

Welcome to Istanbul, Türkiye. After checking in to your hotel, join your local tour guide, Australian battlefield historian and fellow tour members for lunch at a local restaurant followed by an afternoon cruise along the Bosphorus, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world, control of which was central to the Gallipoli campaign you are going to explore over the coming days.

With beautiful mosques, palaces, and historic Ottoman-era houses revealed on both the European and Asian shorelines, this is a wonderful introduction to a modern bustling yet ancient city. Afterwards get to know your fellow expeditioners and tour staff at a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: Burdock Hotel, ISTANBUL                                                                            Meals: L D

Day 2.  Monday 05 October – TRAVEL TO GALLIPOLI, THE NAVAL CAMPAIGN & ANZAC COVE

This morning we travel by coach to Gallipoli, with an introductory discussion on the circumstances leading to Australia’s involvement in both the First World War and the Gallipoli campaign. Your destination and home for the next five nights, the Kum Hotel, is the ideal accommodation for touring the battlefields. Located right on the Aegean coast and only minutes from Anzac Cove, all the battlefield sites are within easy reach. After check-in and lunch, we begin our study of the Gallipoli campaigns with a stop at the Rumeli Mecidiye gun battery for discussions on the British and French naval assaults of 1915, the failure of which led to the land campaign. We then turn to the ANZAC story to walk the beach on Anzac Cove, reflecting on the significance of the events that unfolded there and learn what was planned for the morning of 25 April 1915, what happened, and why – the perfect introduction to your explorations over the following days. Later, we return to the hotel for free time to relax and discuss the day’s experience before dinner.

Overnight: Kum Hotel, GALLIPOLI                                                                                 Meals: B L D 

Day 3.  Tuesday 06 October – THE LANDING BEACHES & SECOND RIDGE

We begin today with a focus on the landings and the initial fighting in the hills above the beaches. We visit the striking original landing area cemeteries beginning with Beach Cemetery, where the grave of John Simpson Kirkpatrick (the man with the donkey) lies and Ari Burnu Cemetery where the Dawn Service was held until 2000. Close by is the beautiful Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, and the grave of Major Hugh Quinn after whom Quinn’s Post on Second Ridge was named. Our morning concludes with a walk up onto Plugge’s Plateau, the first ground captured on 25 April 1915. Learn about the actual Ottoman opposition to the landing, with the same views that the defenders had that morning. Then discover the surprising true size of what became the Anzacs’ home for eight grueling months with a panoramic view of the entire beachhead and inland to Second Ridge. After lunch at the hotel, we begin our exploration of Second Ridge and the front line that was established after the first confused days of fighting. Beginning at Lone Pine, we learn of the initial struggle to hold the high ground, taking time to reflect in the cemetery and at the National Memorial. We will then walk the old trench system at Johnston’s Jolly, before following the line to Quinn’s Post. Here we learn why it was considered the most dangerous position on the perimeter. After a stop at Scrubby Knoll, the furthest inland point any soldiers reached at Gallipoli, we return to the hotel for a BBQ dinner.

Overnight: Kum Hotel, GALLIPOLI                                                                                 Meals: B L D

Day 4.  Wednesday 07 October – THE AUGUST OFFENSIVE & BIGALI

Today we examine the August Offensive, the last attempt to break out of the Anzac beachhead in conjunction with a new British landing at Suvla Bay. We begin at Lone Pine, with the attack by the Australian 1st Brigade. Planned originally as a feint to attract Ottoman attention away from activities further north, the fighting here was intense, lasting four days.  Next we move to Russell’s Top to view the northern sector of the Anzac Beachhead before walking to The Nek via Walkers Ridge Cemetery. From there we walk through the old Australian trenches to the Nek, learning the circumstances of the disastrous attack by the 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade on 7 August 1915, while appreciating the natural beauty of such a sad place. Last stop for the morning is Chunuk Bair, the New Zealand objective and site of bitter fighting from 7 to 10 August. It is now the site of the New Zealand memorial at Gallipoli and the location of their national service on Anzac Day. From there we get a personal understanding of the effects of the terrain on operations at Gallipoli, with a guided walk from Chunuk Bair down the spectacular Rhododendron Ridge to the northern outposts close to the coast. This is the ground covered by the New Zealanders in their attack on the heights in August 1915. After lunch at the hotel, you learn about the last major Australian action in the campaign, at Hill 60, where the only Victoria Cross was awarded to a member of the Australian Light Horse in the First World War. We finish the afternoon with a stop for a Turkish coffee or apple tea in Bigali, an original Gallipoli village which housed Mustafa Kemal’s Divisional Headquarters on the morning of 25 April 1915. His Division, the 19^th, was based in the surrounding area and from here he launched the counterattack that stopped the Anzac advance inland on 25 April. The house he occupied in the village is now a museum. We will then return to the hotel for dinner.

Overnight: Kum Hotel, GALLIPOLI
Meals: B L D

Day 5.  Thursday 08 October – CAPE HELLES AND THE BATTLE OF KRITHIA

This morning we head to the southern tip of the Peninsula to discuss the British and French landing areas. We begin at Achi Baba, geographically one of the key points on the Peninsula and at once bot a British objective and an Ottoman stronghold on 25 April 1915. Discussion here provides an understanding of the British landing plan and the problems they subsequently encountered, while the view gives us a sense of the scale of the peninsular campaign and the nature of the terrain. Moving further south, we visit the impressive Turkish Memorial at Morto Bay which reveals the horrendous cost to the Ottoman defenders at Gallipoli. After a stop nearby at the only French cemetery at Gallipoli, we will visit the main British landings at ‘V’ and ‘W’ Beaches and walk up to the Commonwealth Memorial at Cape Helles. Although considered a British and French area of operations, Cape Helles also is of significant interest to Australians. In May, the 2nd Australian Brigade and the New Zealand Brigade were sent down from the ANZAC sector to reinforce a further attack on the village of Krithia. Despite heroic efforts by both ANZAC formations the attack failed, with heavy casualties. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Alçıtepe (Krithia). The afternoon begins with a discussion of the Australian attack in the 2^nd Battle of Krithia and a stop at Redoubt Cemetery, the furthest point reached by the Australian advance. We then return to the hotel for relaxation before travelling into the nearby village of Eceabat to explore a local winery and enjoy a lovely dinner.

Overnight: Kum Hotel, GALLIPOLI
Meals: B L D

Day 6.  Friday 09 October – TROY & ÇANAKKALE

Today, after breakfast we cross the Dardanelles to Asian Türkiye, to explore the ancient city of Troy, made famous for the setting of the legendry Trojan War in Homer’s epic poems the IIiad and the Odyssey. A relaxed walk through this UNESCO World Heritage site will reveal the history of the nine cities destroyed and rebuilt here over 4000 years.  We then return to Çanakkale for lunch and afterwards explore Fort Çimenlik and the Naval museum or enjoy free time along the waterfront promenade and surrounding lane ways to take in the local culture, before returning to the hotel for dinner and our last night on the Gallipoli peninsula.

Overnight: Kum Hotel, GALLIPOLI
Meals: B L D                                                                    

Day 7.  Saturday 10 October – TRAVEL TO ISTANBUL

Following breakfast, and check out, we return to Istanbul via a short stop at the Gallipoli War Museum in Gelibolu. We will stop for lunch enroute to Istanbul. After checking into your hotel, we visit the famous Grand Bazaar to browse some of the 5,000 shops selling gold, silver, leather, carpets, ceramics, Turkish delight and all kinds of souvenirs. Dinner tonight will be at leisure, with the chance to enjoy one of the many restaurants or cafes in the surrounding lively laneways.

Overnight: Vogue Supreme Hotel, ISTANBUL                                                                Meals: B L  

Day 8.  Sunday 11 October – ISTANBUL ‘OLD CITY’ WALKING TOUR

After breakfast, we have a full day guided walking tour of the famous sights of the old city. Visit Hagia Sophia, one of the great marvels of architecture and the most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul, followed by a tour of the Hippodrome and the beautiful Blue Mosque, with its immense interior lined with 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles. Following lunch, we tour the sixth century Basilica Cistern, the largest of Istanbul’s ancient water storages and featured in many movies and novels. At just under 10,000 square meters in size with 336 marble columns supporting the ceiling, two depicting the Medusa head, it is an impressive site to explore. Later, we return to the hotel to freshen up before the tour farewell dinner in a restaurant with the most spectacular views of Istanbul at night.

Overnight: Vogue Supreme Hotel, ISTANBUL                                                                 Meals B L D

Day 9.  Monday 12 October – DEPARTURE

After breakfast the tour concludes with a transfer to Istanbul international airport for your onward journey.

Meals: B

Burdock Hotel, Istanbul

Immerse yourself in luxury, culture, and inspiration at The Burdock Hotel — a boutique escape nestled in the heart of Karaköy, one of the city’s most iconic and artistic districts. More than just a hotel, The Burdock is a sanctuary for curious travellers seeking meaningful connection — with the past, the present, and what’s next. Surrounded by ancient history, artisanal workshops, and cutting-edge design, it’s the perfect base to discover the soul of Istanbul.

Kum Hotel, Gallipoli Peninsula

Boronia Travel Centre is the only tour operator that has exclusive access to the Kum Hotel, which has also been our home away from home ever since we began our Gallipoli tours over 20 years ago. The beach resort style Kum Hotel is centrally located on the Gallipoli Peninsula and only 10 minutes south of Anzac Cove and the areas most visited by Australians at Gallipoli. Every room has a private bathroom, hot water, TV, heating and telephone.

Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul

Centrally located in the Sultan Ahmet district, one of Istanbul’s most important historical centres, this luxurious hotel is surrounded by the important cultural landmarks of the historic city. The hotel is very close to all the historical sites you might want to visit in Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern is 80 meters away. The elegant rooms of Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul are equipped with air conditioning, modern amenities and include free Wi-Fi. Some of the rooms have views of the surrounding streets, and some have spectacular views of Hagia Sophia. Their on-site restaurants serve Turkish and international cuisine. Guests can dine indoors in the stylish restaurant or outdoors on the terrace overlooking the Hagia Sophia.

Gallipoli in Depth Tour – Anzac Day April 2024
I just wanted to pass on our thanks to Boronia Travel on behalf of our group who travelled to Turkey. The trip was an amazing experience that has created lifelong memories for us all. The organisation and experience were faultless.

Rod and Sinan were unbelievable in terms of their knowledge and couldn’t have done a better job to accommodate all of us in a friendly and enjoyable way. We are all so fortunate to be able to experience everything the region had to offer.

We will be sure to recommend this trip to everyone that we know and look forward to experiencing more of Turkey as it truly blew us all away. Most importantly thank you for organising it all for us. Its rare today that you get to experience service like you provide so well done!
Simon Douglas-Denton

Gallipoli – Anzac Day Tour 2019
“We have had one of the most incredible experiences, both individually and collectively over the past 5 days and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your hard work, efforts and support in making it happen. It has been a huge exercise from conception last year to completion yesterday and none of the enormous value that has been gained would have been possible without you.

Rod was magnificent, and the boys appreciated his wealth of knowledge and perspective. Sinan was a true gent, every bit the embodiment of the wonderful Turkish people and country that the boys got a great appreciation for. Peter was a terrific source of support and from a totally different perspective it was lovely for us to be able to spend some time with the lifeblood of our game, those that love, play and coach in the community. Ramazan and Kemal were terrific, it was like greeting and spending time with old friends.

Please thank everyone one of them for us and all who played a role behind the scenes. We have given our young players and (old) staff a once in a lifetime opportunity that is going to leave an indelible mark on them personally and hopefully contribute to a united, proud, courageous, competitive and fighting Australian Team as we seek to claim the World Cup.” 
Gavin Dovey 
Australian Team Manager, Cricket Australia

Gallipoli – Anzac Day Tour 2018
Dear Peter, may we say a huge thank you to your good self for the most wonderful time we have had in Turkey (tour group picture above). You certainly nailed it when you put our trip together and we were very impressed with all aspects of our journey, from the wonderful group with Rod on the Peninsula and the most gracious hospitality of John and Sue Waller in relation to aspects of our visit to Anzac Cove Ceremonies. Please pass on our remarks as it sure was a “class act”. Our extension to several parts of Turkey was most interesting, and exceeded our expectations, and the information we received about the historical sites was very impressive.”
Margaret and Gerard Smith

Gallipoli – Anzac Day Tour 2018
“G’day Peter, Firstly Wendy and I want to thank you for the well organised Gallipoli trip it was first class. The activity went off without fault. Our guides Rod and Sinan were excellent and with some much knowledge and information to share. We had the pleasure of catching up with John and Susan (From Boronia) they are nice people. Can you please forward this email to them so I can say thank you to them and they can see the group photo.”
David Smith

Gallipoli – Anzac Day Tour 2018
“Peter, I wanted to add my thanks to those of the others in our Gallipoli 2018 tour group for a truly wonderful and memorable week. Everything went totally to plan, from the airport reception through to the various hotel arrangements, and of course the 5 days on the Peninsular (except perhaps for the intervention of DVA) with Rod’s thoroughly professional guiding and instruction throughout. I actually thought I knew a bit about our military history, but Rod and Cinan actually showed me that I still have much to learn. We often grow up just accepting many of the myths and stories surrounding our history – even those of us in the military – but this visit was a real eye-opener in terms of putting it all into perspective, with a hefty dose of reality.

A special thanks to John Waller who really made a great last minute effort to make s comfortable prior to the Dawn Service in response to DVA’s penny-pinching decision to scrap the seating arrangements. I had a letter published in the Canberra Times about that but would be surprised if it has any impact on future arrangements.

And finally, thanks again to Rod – great so see you again mate! Your local knowledge, and appreciation of the details of the campaign, delivered with just a touch of your acerbic wit, really made for a fun trip. Thanks to the whole team.”
Kym MacMillan

Gallipoli – Anzac Day Tour 2018
“Hi Peter, Just a short note to tell you how much I enjoyed my Gallipoli trip. Rod’s boundless knowledge was fantastic, didn’t need to ask many questions as he had already answered most of them with his commentary, Sinan as well was fantastic, not once did either of them have to refer to notes or look up info.

John and Sue also went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable to the point of getting yoga mats and blankets for us for the dawn service when they found there was no seating. Accommodation was adequate, meals were good and beer cheap.

Flights were good with Qatar however my case was damaged on the return flight somewhere between Istanbul and Melbourne. All up an excellent trip, a great group, everyone was at meeting points on time and eager to go, great leaders and a well planned itinerary that allowed some flexibility, all up a great trip, Looking forward to doing a Western Front tour with you in the future.”
Geoff McLeod

“It was a great privilege to meet with first generation descendants of Gallipoli veterans as part of my visit to the Anzac battlefields on 24 April 2015. I am writing to thank you for your role in arranging this.

I was deeply moved to meet the descendants in locations that have so much personal meaning for them. I also learned a lot about the experiences of those who fought at Gallipoli through the stories of their close family members. I am very grateful for Boronia Travel’s work in making such an experience possible.”
The Hon. Tony Abbott. MP, Prime Minister of Australia

“As one who has worked in the Travel industry I want to say that your attention to detail on all accounts was very much noticed and appreciated. Rod handled situations where our fellow passengers needed attention with quiet concern and poise and at no time would those who needed his help have felt uncomfortable. Sinam was so gentle in his ways and his knowledge, was unbelievable  Rod was like a Father figure and teacher to is all and what a wonderful choice you made with these two gentleman  We feel honoured to have been part of a great team for our experience of a lifetime tour to Gallipoli.

Your organisation of the 24th and 25th was so professional and even to where those of us who did not have a pass, were made to feel very comfortable at both the Kum Hotel and Mimosa Park. I could go on but it is easier that we give you a 10/10 and are already telling family and friends that if somebody they know wants to go to the Battlefields that they should look NO further than Boronia Travel. Very warm regards.”
Ruth Nichols

“Hi Ben, Wendy and I just wanted to congratulate Boronia staff for the expertise they showed in making our trip to Gallipoli the most memorable it could possibly be. As you know we were fortunate to be in the best group that you could have put together. You may have called us Grey Group but more Platinum to us. We are interested in going to do a Western Front tour but not till Mid 2017 so please keep us informed. Thank you again.”
Allan & Wendy Kemp

“Hello John, now that I have returned home after a fabulous trip to attend the Gallipoli 2015 services I want to thank you most sincerely for all that you, your family and staff members provided over the duration of the tour.

The incredible amount of work and detail showed in the most meticulous arrangements which you made and each of us who travelled in the various Boronia groups were indeed very blessed.

Thank you specifically for the arrangements you made for Anzac Day itself and for the incredible farewell dinner. This was a trip to remember and I was indeed fortunate to be part of one of your groups. With every good wish.”
Bryan Nicholls

“Dear John, the bags are unpacked, the washing and ironing is done. It’s now time to say thank you to all the members of Boronia Travel for such wonderful arrangements for my recent trip to Gallipoli. One can only start to imagine the “behind the scenes’ work that went into such a mammoth task to get everyone to their appointed hotels and travel arrangements. God bless you all. Until we meet again. P.S. I had to give a short talk to our War Widows today and all were very impressed with the jackets and blankets you provided.”
Hazel Donald