The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 9 am on DAY ONE of your tour. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting.

Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:

1. Passport.

2. Vaccination Certificate.

3. Travel Voucher.

4. Travel Insurance Policy.

On this tour you will combine exploration of Istanbul, the memorial sites, battlefield and Anzac Peninsular with the memorial service. The Anzac service is held at dawn, traditionally the favoured time for attack among soldiers. What should have been a quick campaign at Gallipoli in 1915 became a long drawn out battle and Australians and New Zealanders now mark 25 April as their Remembrance Day.

Gallipoli. This morning we drive to the famous site of Gallipoli. We have most of the day to visits the battlefield sites of Chunuk Bair, Anzac Cove and the 57th Battalion. Please be aware that there will be many tourist buses and possible delays over the Anzac event. We then drive back to Keshan for free time and to have dinner and then we drive south to Anzac.

Tonight is the night we head out to the night vigil spot close to ANZAC Cove and Ataturk’s memorial. Expect to walk most of the way as the roads will be closed to all traffic. We have a full night here that culminates in a six o’clock morning service in memory of the soldiers that died on this peninsular between 1915 and 1916 in one of WW1’s most tragic offensives.

Keshan to Istanbul. Today we say farewell to the Anzac Peninsular and head back to Istanbul along the north coast of the Sea or Marmara. We arrive back in Istanbul where this tour ends.

NO accommodation on Day 4.

There is now further time to explore this ancient city at your leisure. For further information about sites to visit consult your tour leader who will be only too happy to offer suggestions.

A real highlight of the tour will be exploring the Gallipoli peninsular, though we would like you to be aware that there will be many tourist buses and delays over the Anzac event are inevitable and to be expected. Timings will be approximate due to the volume of people and tour buses and also the National Parks road restrictions and walking and waiting times will vary. Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs smoothly.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are compulsory in Turkey however we do advise that you are up-to-date with your tetanus and polio vaccines. You may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information.

We also recommend:

- A dental check-up prior to travelling.

- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.

That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.

You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.

Medical Supplies:

Your tour coach has a well-equipped medical kit that by law must remain sealed and can only be used in an emergency. We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items:

Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.

A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

Turkey, like the rest of the world, is no stranger to theft. You must exercise extreme care with wallets, cameras and other valuables especially in towns or busy tourist areas. We advise that you make copies of your passport, credit cards, airline tickets and your insurance policy and that you keep a careful note of both used and unused traveller’s cheque numbers.

At times when you are unable to store your valuables in safety deposit boxes in hotels we recommend that you carry some sort of money belt or hidden pouch for safekeeping of valuable items.

We recommend an average of US$15-20 per day. This of course depends on your own spending habits, the number of optional excursions you wish to take and the amount of additional snacks, souvenirs and drinks you wish to buy along the way. Be aware that some places are more expensive than others and your expenses will vary enormously.

· US dollars cash is more widely accepted than pounds sterling.

· Carry most of your money in Traveller’s cheques - small denominations are preferable.

· It is often a good idea to have a small amount of the currency of the country you are visiting prior to arrival. This will cover you for any initial expenses at or from the airport.

· Credit cards are accepted in the larger cities. You can also get money from ATMs. Do not however depend on using your credit card as your major source of funds.

· Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where this is possible.

Generally conditions will be warm and dry however do account for long sleeves and long trousers in religious or more remote areas. Also remember that you are sleeping under the stars on the evening before Anzac Day and evenings can get a very chilly so don’t forget to pack a jumper. You may also find a hat, gloves and thermals useful if you feel the cold!

Personal Effects:

Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music cassettes/CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

Turkish is the official language although English is widely spoken as a second language in the larger towns. English will be widely spoken in the major tourist attractions of the main cities. Take the time before your trip to read up on the country you will be visiting and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and will make your trip all the more enjoyable.

How much should I take?

·          A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards Travellers Cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

·          On the trip you will require a sleeping bag for camping at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and you may find it useful to have a ground sheet or tarpaulin to protect you from early morning dew. It can be very cool and rain is a possibility, be prepared.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

We choose our hotels and our guesthouses for their location, comfort, security and hygiene standards. All are located near the city centre usually within easy walking distance of services and facilities.The rooms are on a twin share basis.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.

KUMUKA WORLDWIDE

UK OFFICE

Hillswood Business Park 3000
Hillswood Drive Chertsey KT16 0RS
Tel: +4420 7937 8855 Fax: +442075043782

Email: sales@kumuka.com
www.kumuka.com

AUSTRALIAN OFFICE

Level 5, 387 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9279 0491 Fax: 02 9279 0492
Email: sales@kumuka.com.au
www.kumuka.com.au