Anzac Day Tours Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: Are Arrival Airport Transfers Available with these tours?

Ataturk International Airport – Most International Flights

9 Day Tour Customers - Tour Start Date: 18th April 2015
If you arrive at Ataturk Airport from 8am until midnight then we will meet you and transfer you for FREE to your hotel.  If arriving outside these times or to Sabiha Gokcen Airport you will need to make your own way to the hotel or use our optional transfer service which has a cost involved and is explained below.

8 Days, 16 Day Customers - Tour Start Date: 21st April 2015
If you arrive at Ataturk Airport from 8am until midnight on the 21st April then we will meet you and transfer you for FREE to your hotel.  If arriving outside these times or to Sabiha Gokcen Airport you will need to make your own way to the hotel or use our optional transfer service which has a cost involved and is explained below.

5 Days, 6 Days (excluding 6 Day Kusadasi) Customers - Tour Start Date: 22nd April 2015
If you arrive at Ataturk Airport from 8am until midnight on the 22nd April then we will meet you and transfer you for FREE to your hotel.  If arriving outside these times or to Sabiha Gokcen Airport you will need to make your own way to the hotel or use our optional transfer service which has a cost involved and is explained below.

4 Day Customers - Tour Start Date: 23rd April 2015
If you arrive at Ataturk Airport from 8am until midnight on the 23rd April then we will meet you and transfer you for FREE to your hotel.  If arriving outside these times you will need to make your own way to the hotel or use our optional transfer service which has a cost involved and is explained below.  In early April you will be provided with full details of how to get to your hotel.

Optional Paid Airport Transfer Service - Ataturk International Airport
If arriving at Ataturk International Airport outside of the above times of the free airport arrival transfers then you can either make your own way to the hotel or make use of our optional Airport Transfer Service.  The cost is based on the number of people we transport from the airport at the same time as you

Pricing Schedule for Transfers - To be paid in cash on board the transfer coach.

1 Passenger                 £30 per person
2 Passengers               £15 per person
3+ Passengers             £10 per person

Optional Paid Airport Transfer Service - Sabiha Gokcen International Airport

Easy Jet, Pegasus and Turkish Airlines run flights from London to Sabiha Gokcen Airport and if arriving on these flights then there is a set transfer cost of £15 per person.  This can be paid on board the transfer coach in cash.

Easy Jet Flight Schedule
9 Day Tour - 18th April
London Gatwick - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 12:20pm
London Luton - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 15:30pm

8 Day & 16 Day Tours - 21st April
London Gatwick - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 12:20pm
London Luton - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 15:30pm

5 Day & 6 Day (excluding 6 Day Kusadasi) Tours- 22nd April
London Gatwick - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 12:20pm
London Luton - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 15:30pm

4 Day Tour - 23rd April
London Gatwick - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 12:20pm
London Luton - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 15:30pm

Pegasus Airlines Flight Schedule
9 Day Tour - 18th April
London Stanstead - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 18:25pm

8 Day & 16 Day Tours - 21st April
London Stanstead - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 18:25pm

5 Day & 6 Day (excluding 6 Day Kusadasi) Tours- 22nd April
London Stanstead - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 18:25pm

4 Day Tour- 23rd April
London Stanstead - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 18:25pm

Turkish Airlines Flight Schedule
9 Day Tour - 18th April
London Stanstead - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 04:25am

8 Day & 16 Day Tours - 21st April
London Stanstead - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 04:25am

5 Day & 6 Day (excluding 6 Day Kusadasi) Tours- 22nd April
London Stanstead - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 04:25am

4 Day Tour - 23rd April
London Stanstead - Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: Arrival Time 04:25am

If you arrive on a different day or at a different time then we can arrange a transfer for you but there is a cost involved and it is based on the number of people we transfer at the same time.

1 Passenger                 £60 per person
2 Passengers               £30 per person
3 passengers               £20 per person
4+ passengers             £15 per person

Pre-Tour Accommodation & Arrival Flight Transfers
If you book pre-tour accommodation through Samyeli Travel then we are able to offer you an airport transfer service as per the details below.

Ataturk International Airport
If arriving 21st April between 8am and Midnight = Free
If arriving 22nd April between 8am and Midnight = Free 
If arriving 23rd April between 8am and Midnight = Free

If arriving outside of these dates and times we can arrange a transfer for you from Ataturk International Airport and the cost is based on the number of people we transport from the airport at the same time.

Pricing Schedule for Transfers
1 Passenger                 £30 per person
2 Passengers               £15 per person
3+ Passengers             £10 per person

Sabiha Gokcen Airport
If arriving 21st April on an Easy Jet or Pegasus Airlines flight from London = £15
If arriving 22nd April on an Easy Jet or Pegasus Airlines flight from London = £15
If arriving 23rd April on an Easy Jet or Pegasus Airlines flight from London = £15

If arriving outside of these dates or with a different airline then we can arrange a transfer for you from Sabiha Gokcen Airport and the cost is based on the number of people we transport from the airport at the same time.

Pricing Schedule for Transfers
1 Passenger                 £60 per person
2 Passengers               £30 per person
3 passengers               £20 per person
4+ passengers             £15 per person

Important Note:  Please ensure we have your arrival flight details no later than the 7th April 2015 if you wish to use either our free or paid airport transfer service.  If you do not provide these then we cannot guarantee an airport transfer.

Q: Do you operate transfers back to the airport at the end of the tours?
A. At the conclusion of your tour in Istanbul you can make your own way to the airport using either taxi or public transport or you can use our Optional Departure Transfer Service.

On the 26th and 27th of April we have departure transfers available to Ataturk  Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport.  In order to arrange an airport transfer for these dates then please ensure we have your departure flight details by no later than the 7th April 2015. 

Departure Airport Transfers cost a set price of £20 per person to Sabiha Gokcen Airport and £10 to Ataturk Airport.  Departures will be at set times from your hotel and you will be advised by your guide of the pick up time that best meets your flight departure time.  These can be paid in cash in the transfer coach on the way to the airport.

Q: What if I am arriving by another form of transport other than air.  How do I get to my hotel and meet my tour?
A. If arriving in Istanbul by train, bus, ferry or car then you will need to make your own way to the Hotel to meet your tour.  You will be provided with the Hotel name and address in early April so you can easily travel by taxi or metro from any point of entry to the hotel.  Likewise if you are departing Istanbul by any means other than flying then you will need to make your way to the relevant port/station at the completion of your tour but your guide can assist you in ordering a taxi or give directions via the metro system.  

Anzac Day in Gallipoli and the Overnight Stay

Q.  Where do we stay on the night of the 24th April before the Dawn Service?
A: We arrive at Gallipoli on the evening of the 24th and spend the night at Anzac Cove. There is temporary seating and a grassed area that you can sit on.  Unfortunately every year people take up more room than they need to by either lying on the grass or over a number of seats in the seating area.  The main organisers from the NZ, Australian & Turkish Governments do all they can to get people to move and make room for those arriving but we suggest that you should not be shy in asking one of your fellow countrymen to sit up or take up less room.  Unfortunately seating and organisation at Anzac Cove and the other memorials is outside the control of Samyeli Travel and other tour companies and we are not allocated any specific areas for seating.

We strongly suggest you take warm clothes and maybe even a sleeping bag and blanket as a minimum.  Once you arrive at Anzac Cove you will not have access to your luggage on the bus so you may like to take a small pack or bag with you with everything you will need until you can access your bags again in Eceabat/Istanbul or Edremit depending which tour you are on.

There are ample toilet and food/beverage facilities at Anzac Cove and near the Australian and New Zealand Memorials.

Q.  Following the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove how do we get to the rest of the services at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair?
A.  The Dawn Service is followed by the Australian service at Lone Pine, the Turkish service at 57th Regiment and the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair.  The timings for these change each year but are published closer to the time and your guide will inform you of these times.  The only way to get to each service is to walk but there are shuttles available for elderly and disabled visitors to the area and if you wish to use these then please let your guide know so they can inform the relevant people and let you know where to access these services.  We recommend that after the Dawn Service that you begin walking as soon as possible to the other services and that New Zealanders wanting to get a good spot at Chunuk Bair head straight there as space is very limited in that area and it is approx a 1.15min walk from Anzac Cove to Chunuk Bair.

Q.  How will we get back to our buses at the end of the day at Gallipoli?
A.  We have two pick up points for collecting customers.  The first is at Lone Pine and the second is at Chunuk Bair.  You will need to look out for our staff at our meeting point at both these places and make sure you are ready at the time they say.  All the coaches from all tour companies will make their way up to the two pick up points in the order in which they arrived the night before and there is a very short time to get people on the buses.  We ask people to be patient during this time as the timing of buses is completely out of our control.