Ab Istanbul: Private Ganztagestour nach Gallipoli

Well worth the drive. Excellent tour and very good english. Definitely knows alot about Gallipoli.

This trip isn’t just a must for Australian, New Zealand’s and Turkish people but for everyone. While it hold significant history for those 3 countries it is a life lesson for all. Don’t save money on the bus with 40 other people where you only stop at 2-3 locations, pay the extra and get the private tour with a great driver and experienced guide. Our guide Abdurrahim Boz Aka APO, was amazing, his history knowledge and sharing photos from the time really gave us a sense of what it was like at the time and how hard the men at the time fought to survive through port decision making from those in command. We were able to visit all the historical sites we wanted to see and more! We were able to spend as much or as little time as we wanted at each.

This trip isn’t just a must for Australian, New Zealand’s and Turkish people but for everyone. While it hold significant history for those 3 countries it is a life lesson for all. Don’t save money on the bus with 40 other people where you only stop at 2-3 locations, pay the extra and get the private tour with a great driver and experienced guide. Our guide Abdurrahim Boz Aka APO, was amazing, his history knowledge and sharing photos from the time really gave us a sense of what it was like at the time and how hard the men at the time fought to survive through port decision making from those in command. We were able to visit all the historical sites we wanted to see and more! We were able to spend as much or as little time as we wanted at each.

What an amazing tour. Our guide, Abdurrahim Boz (aka Apo) and driver, Kerim Durmas, provided us with a great day. Kerim’s driving was smooth and efficient and Apo’s deep knowledge of the overall Gallipoli campaign was very impressive. He could elaborate on the events and perspectives of ANZAC, Turk, British and French forces whenever “off script” questions were asked. His passion comes from witnessing an ANZAC anniversary ceremony years ago and being curious about why so many people would travel halfway around the world to sleep outdoors before a pre-dawn ceremony. His genuine friendliness is typical of most of the people we have met in Türkiye so far. If your budget allows, this private tour is highly recommended. It will take a couple of hours less than a group tour while enabling you to visit about twice as many sites as a group tour. This is because of the logistics and time involved with pick ups, disembarking and embarking at stops, etc. Thank you Kerim and Apo for an unforgettable experience!

This was a 13 hour round trip tour from our hotel in Sultanahmet, Istanbul with a 7 am pick up and 8 pm drop off. The vehicle was a chauffeur driven Mercedes Vito Tourer, so very comfortable, although the aircon seemed to struggle a bit for our trip on the way back on a wqrm day. It was a long drive (4 hours each way), but a good option if you do not want to shift from your Istanbul accommodation in order to visit the Gallipoli sites. Plenty of water was available in the vehicle and there was a comfort break each way. A light Turkish lunch was included which was perfectly fine, and we took about 45 minutes for this. The guide joined us at Ecebat, near the ANZAC sites. The guide was excellent. He was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, had excellent English and had plenty of additional aids in the form of large format photos, maps and overviews. His delivery included a number of anecdotes about individuals which gave this a personal touch. The guide was happy to engage in debate about the campaign and particular actions. We visited Z Beach generally, and Brighton Beach and ANZAC Cove specifically, Lone Pine, The Nek, Johnsons Jolly, Chunuk Bair and someTurkish sites, one for their 57th Regiment and their operations generally. The Turkish strategy, the role of Ataturk and the Turkish response were also explained in some detail. This is a very ANZAC centic tour and touches on the British and French operations only briefly. You do not visit the British and French areas at all. This suited us but British and French visitors should be aware. It does cover the naval operations that preceded the land forces landings on 25 April in a bit more detail, which provided good context. It is not a cheap tour but it was still good value. I am easily pleased with this genre of tour, so the real test was my wife’s reaction as she is not a military tourist nuffy, and she was very complimentary, which says a lot after a very long day.

Our amazing guide, Apo, and his incredible driver and co-guide, Sukru, provided the most extraordinary exploration of Gallipoli and the ANZAC/Turkish conflict. It was an incredibly moving and sombre tour which brought to life the unthinkable sacrifices both sides endured during the First World War conflict. We will be forever indebted to Apo who not only directed us to the commemoration of a great uncle at Lone Pine but also respected our grief through a rendition of the Last Post and showed us the ground upon which he lost his life. This detail was beyond what we could ever have imagined and the thought and care provided by our guide will never be forgotten. Apo and Sukru treated us so kindly particularly given one of us had limited physical mobility and required care above and beyond what would be usually needed, we will be forever in their debt. This private tour was incredibly special and the care and attention will never be forgotten.

My husband and I organised a full day tour from Istanbul to Gallipolli and were so fortunate to have an amazing guide, Apo and driver Shukra. We had a fantastic day and visited all of the sites of significance to Australians. Apo had an exceptional knowledge of the area and was able to relay incredible information about what happened at various locations, such as Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, the trenches where Australians and Turks fought, a row boat that was sunk as the Anzacs landed and the shadow in the water where it remains. The day was a really special day and the memories of what we saw, will stay with us for a long time. Thank you Apo and Shukra

Apo was a first class and well informed guide which made our visit to Gallipoli extremely worthwhile and rewarding. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in learning about the campaign from both the ANZAC and Turkish perspectives. Thank you Apo. Well done.

Apo and Simon provide an incredible ANZAC experience. Both Gelibolu natives with a passion for history, Apo's knowledge of Australian and NZ command, operations, field conditions, times and dates put me to shame. This was a pure, clinical, minute by horrendous minute history lesson. Added to that, his insight into the operations and losses of his ancestors in defending their nation told us a story from both sides with passion, honesty and devotion to the memory of the fallen. 5 stars from us and we'll be back to learn more. So grateful to have these men keeping our treasured memories alive.

APO was our Tour Guide for the day. His in-depth knowledge of the Anzac Campaign was excellent! His print out visual aids (photographs, maps and diagrams) really helped with a clearer understanding of the different situations that were faced. Being able to walk the Battlefields and trenches was a highlight. The lunch at the Local Tavern was delicious. Our drive from Istanbul to Gallipoli with Hasan was very safe and comfortable. Over all the Tour was well worth it! Thanks Apo!!