Memorial statue in honour of ANZAC troops

Trips and Tours to Gallipoli & Anzac Cove

About Gallipoli & Anzac Cove

Facing the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles strait to the east, the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey is synonymous with the World War I Gallipoli Campaign and the thousands of soldiers that lost their life. With the intention of capturing and securing the Ottoman capital of Istanbul to open the road to Eastern Europe, Winston Churchill, British First Lord of the Admiralty, organised a naval assault on the strait. On 25th April 1915, British, Australian, New Zealand and Indian troops landed on Gallipoli at what is now known as ANZAC Cove. Arriving here the Allies were forced to advance inland up and over the steep cliffs where they were met by Turkish troops ready to engage in ferocious battle with the partly unsuspecting Allies. After nine months of ferocious and oft futile battle whilst trying to push forth, the Allied forces were withdrawn in January 1916.

In the nine months of this bitterly fought campaign more than 36,000 Commonwealth servicemen died. The 31 war cemeteries on the Peninsular contain 22,000 graves though it has only been possible to identify some 9,000 of these. There are a further 27,000 remembered in unidentified graves and on memorials. The largest memorials are Helles Memorial where British, Australian and Indian soldiers are remembered, and Lone Pine Memorial where Australian and New Zealand soldiers are memorialised. Every year people from around the world visit Gallipoli for the ANZAC Day memorial service, which is held on the 25th April 2015.

Gallipoli & Anzac Cove Tours

Here are some popular itineraries that include a visit to Gallipoli & Anzac Cove. Alternatively, if you would like to include a visit to Gallipoli & Anzac Cove on a bespoke touring itinerary to Turkey, take a look at our tailor-made holiday planning section.