From Istanbul: Gallipoli Private Full-day Tour

Very punctual. Both driver and guide were very knowledgeable and helpful and spoke very good English. The tour gave us a great sense of the hardship and sacrifice of this campaign for both sides. Ataturk’s 1934 message so succinctly bonding us all. A very special day for us that I would highly recommend to anyone considering it.

This tour is well worth it! Although a long drive to and from Istanbul, both our driver and our guide Apo, were excellent. The information was so valuable and the experience amazing! As two females from Australia, this tour continued our experience in Türkiye - feeling comfortable and safe. Highly recommend!!

Whilst it's a long day trip from Istanbul, it's well worth taking the time, and travelling in the comfort of private transport, to visit an area of such historical significance to the Australian, New Zealand, and Turkish people. Our guide Apo provided a very well researched and indepth commentary for each of the sites we visited. As a private tour, ample time was given to observe and reflect at each location. Our driver Ömer provided courteous door to door service and escorted us throughout the day. Rest breaks were included, as required. Highly recommend this tour.

We had the most amazing day. Apo was brilliant. Very knowledgeable but also able to explain the history throughout tye day.

From the moment we met Boz, we knew we were in the best hands. His warm personality, genuine care, and deep respect for the history of Gallipoli made our private tour truly unforgettable and worth the price paid. Boz didn’t just guide us - he brought the stories of the past to life with incredible detail, passion (which sometimes drives his wife crazy) and knowledge (worth every penny spent on his books) that went far beyond what we expected. He made sure we were comfortable at every step (something my husband really needed), tailoring the pace and focus to our interests. His thoughtful explanations and ability to connect historical events to the human stories behind them left us deeply moved. His photos were also very informative. If you want a guide who is not only incredibly informative but also truly cares about your experience, Boz is the one to choose. We left Gallipoli with full hearts, a deeper understanding, and immense gratitude for his dedication. This was our reason for visiting the country and we truly were not disappointed.

I had some trepidation doing a 15 hr day trip to Gallipoli from Istanbul but it was very comfortable. Apo our guide was excellent. The trip was well structured and comprehensive. His attention to detail and balance was remarkable. Fully recommended.

Our guide for this tour, Apo, was excellent and extremely knowledgeable on all facets of the campaign here. I have read many books on Gallipoli over the years but nothing replaces being on the beaches and visiting the battlefields for perspective. Apo was also able to fill in some of my knowledge gaps with fresh information which added to the experience. I highly recommend this tour for anyone, especially Aussies and Kiwis, wanting to visit this sacred place where so many lives were lost, including brave Turkish lives. This was amongst the best tours we have been on anywhere. Thank you.

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!!

Our guide Apo, has a great depth of knowledge of the key players, their stories and the battlefields of Gallipoli. The tour was very interesting despite the inclement weather. Lunch was delicious. Highly recommend.

Our Gallipoli Guide was APO Abdurrahim Boz We booked a private tour for my husband and I, we started the day with a pick up from hotel in Istanbul, comfortable, quality vehicle and our driver ÖMER was very accommodating, we were able to grab a coffee along the way as it is 4 1/2 drive. We picked up APO our guide closer to Gallipoli. APO’s knowledge and story telling to bring the story of Gallipoli the ANZACS, Allied forces and the Turkish journey was brought together over the whole time we were together. The private tour allows you to ask questions and clarify what is being spoken about. Connecting what we saw from different areas during the day and bringing their stories to life .APO displayed care and compassion for the content he was sharing with us. We were able to walk in the ANZAC trenches which you can’t do in larger groups. Very special experience. Yes it is long day but so worth it.

If you're traveling from Istanbul to tour Gallipoli, spoil yourself: Hire Simon to drive and let Apo take you back to 1915. Imagine what it was like to land at ANZAC Cove and understand from a Turkish perspective how it might have felt to have your homeland invaded. Both stories are compelling... It is a significant drive, but the van is comfortable and Simon breaks up the trip well with restroom and coffee stops. Lunch is included and you'll enjoy feeling like a local while you munch a gozleme (savory Turkish stuffed turnover). Simon and Apo even took us to Suvla Winery at the end of the tour to pick up a bottle for our dinner in Istanbul. They are polite and passionate hosts. As a guide, Apo was exceptional. He knowlegeably weaves an 8-month campaign into a 4 hour narrative, demonstrating respect for the bravery and valor of those who served and died in the Gallipoli Campaign. There are 31 cemeteries around the monument and you'll visit several of them while you re-live some of the most important decisions made by British and Turkish military leaders. A visit to "The Nek" shows you what was re-created as one of the last scenes in the film Gallipoli - 27 meters separating ANZAC and Turkish troops and what it must have been like to charge from the trenches into Turkish fire defending Hill #700. 110 year-old shrapnel and a bullet casing from that battle we're found as we walked through trenches... The pace is balanced...Apo answers your questions along the way and gives you plenty of time to absorb the information. Because of his guidance, we truly understood the history of the location from a completely different perspective than you can find in a history book. I'm glad we went. We will always remember the story so much more vividly than our pictures can convey.

The day was seamless, arrived on time for pickup, loads of information given by Simon who drove us to and from the site. We were then joined by APO who provided us with great information at every site. In general both APO and Simon made the day enjoyable and informative, highly recommend them to everyone.

We had a great tour of Gallipoli today. The driver , Simon , picked us up from our hotel on time, and we made our way to the peninsula with a stop half way both there and back. Our guide, Apo, was well prepared with information, photos and commentary on both allies and Turkish perspectives. The lunch was ready when we arrived, and more than we could eat. We definitely recommend this tour. There was a bonus fox visit whilst.

From the moment our tour began, in Istanbul being picked up by our driver Simon, who was so informative, it was clear this Gallipoli experience was going to be something truly special. Walking in the footsteps of history, visiting the landing sites of the ANZACs, and standing at places I had only ever read about was deeply moving in a way I hadn’t expected. Our guide APO, was exceptional, knowledgeable, passionate, and incredibly respectful of the significance of each location. As we stood at the beaches where the ANZACs first arrived, you could almost feel the weight of that moment in 1915. Hearing the stories while looking out over the same shoreline brought history vividly to life. Lone Pine was particularly powerful. Standing among the memorials, surrounded by such a sense of quiet reflection, was unforgettable. The way the guide shared personal stories of the soldiers made it feel deeply human, not just dates and facts, but real lives, courage, and sacrifice. What made this tour stand out was the perfect balance of education and emotion. It was informative without ever feeling overwhelming, and respectful without losing the personal connection. The pacing was excellent, giving us time to absorb each site, reflect, and truly appreciate where we were. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the region. It’s more than just sightseeing, it’s a profoundly meaningful journey through history that stays with you long after the day ends.

We had an amazing time on our tour to Gallipoli. It was informative, interesting , balanced information. APO was so knowledgeable and accommodating. Thank you for a great day, at times it was emotional but we also had some laughs and also thank you to Simon our driver.

Wow what an amazing experience Our guide APO made the day an absolute experience with his wealth of knowledge Would highly recommend

Our experience with our guide Apo could not have been better. We were staying in Istanbul, and so this was a day trip for my son and I. It is a long day, but so worth it if you are an Australian or New Zealander and grew up with the knowledge of how the Gallipoli Campaign formed our national identities. Apo is more that just a guide, he is a historian. His knowledge of the campaign is encyclopedic, and he has an ability to bring the campaign to life with anecdotes and historical readings from his files. I also feel we got so much more out of the experience than if we had joined a group tour. We were picked up and dropped off at our apartment, and the journey was comfortable and relatively quick. Even lunch was fantastic! This was the best tour experience I have ever had.

This is an excellent tour for those who want the VIP experience. Our tour guide Bozabdurrahim was friendly, organised and an encyclopaedia of Gallipoli knowledge and our driver made the trip from Istanbul safe. The luxury Mercedes people mover was a nice bonus. Would recommend it for someone who doesn’t like mass tour buses

My husband and I had a great day with APO on the Gallipoli Tour. APO was very informative and a great guide for the day. We had a great time learning about the history of the ANZACs thanks to him. We felt very lucky to have him guiding us and we would recommend him to all our friends.

Our driver collected us promptly from the Old City and we drove for 3 1/2 hours in comfort to Ecebat to collect our guide Apo. The car was a comfortable 6 seater van. We were taken from Brighton Beach, to the cemetery on the beach, to Anzac Cove, the memorial cove, and then to lunch at a wonderful family owned gozleme cafe. Following lunch we visited Lone Pine, the Nek, Walker’s Ridge, trenches, and other significant places. Apo’s knowledge of the Gallipoli campaign was exceptional. A truly moving experience.

APO is very knowledgeable but even better is that he explains why the information he provides matters and gives great context. He also knows exactly the best spots to stand to get great views of the sites.

This private Gallipoli tour from Istanbul was nothing short of extraordinary. It was just my husband & I, our driver and our incredible guide APO… whose knowledge, passion and respect for the history made this one of the most meaningful days of our travels. From the moment we arrived on the peninsula, APO brought the stories of Gallipoli to life with such depth and care. His insights, historical knowledge and genuine emotion created a powerful connection to the places we visited. We stopped at Ecebat for lunch, which was delicious. We spent time exploring the Gallipoli Battlefields, Gallipoli National Park, Lone Pine Memorial and ANZAC Cove. There were moments during the day where words completely failed us. The silence, the gravestones, the stillness of the landscape, it was deeply emotional. APO understood this and gave us space to reflect while also gently guiding us through the stories and significance of each site. We left Gallipoli changed, humbled, informed and incredibly grateful. If you’re considering this tour, do not hesitate. And if you’re lucky enough to have APO as your guide, you are in the very best hands. Tip… APO is a great photographer to help capture your day!!!

APO's encyclopaedic passionate knowledge of all things Gallipoli and his excellent clear English. He was objective and logical while also compassionate and diplomatic. Lunch was in a traditional roadside cafe - simple but delicious. Our driver Omar was very steady and capable, with no scary habits, and the vehicle itself was so luxurious we really didn't find the 2 x 4 hours journey at all painful. We were deeply grateful to not be on one of the large crowded tour buses. Highly recommend as great value for money.

Abdurrahim BOZ a.k.a. APO was our private Gallipoli Guide - and I'm so glad we decided to do this! APO has an encyclopaedic knowledge that comes from 20+ years of a genuinely passionate interest in the history of Gallipoli. He was also logical and objective in his explanations with excellent clear English. His humanity and compassion is compelling. We saw the huge crowded tour buses and were so grateful to avoid those, as I don't think we would've absorbed nearly as much, and it would have been a lot more hassle. Lunch was in a pleasant cafe at side of the road, our driver was excellent and the 4 hours each way passed smoothly and in luxury. Thank you!

The best gallopoli tour we could have asked for! APO was unbelievably knowledgeable and painted a superb picture of the war. As NZers that land was as important for our history as it was for the Turks. APO presented a perfect mix of war, courage and respect giving perspectives from both sides! We have recommended this tour to all of our friends