Itinerary and Contacts Whilst on Tour.

Contacting the Tour Group whilst they are on tour.

At all times, except when flying, the group can be contacted on the school mobile. 

Phone 0011+Country Code+403 365 365 (drop the 0) from a land line.

If phoning from a mobile use the “+”and the country code followed by the school number. 

SMS is cheaper and we will only check messages on the phones and reply accordingly.

Country Codes: 

90 for Canakkale; Istanbul

33 for Paris; Arras

32 for Ypres

Travel Itinerary 

COLLIE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

TURKEY TOUR – APRIL 2015

Day 1:                      PERTH Departure

Wed 8^th Apr

Travel from Perth

Qatar Airlines QR 901 

Departing at 2330.

Day 2:

Thu 9^th Apr                                                                     

Arrive                      Doha                                          0550

Depart                   Doha QR239                               0750

Arrive                      Istanbul                                      1220

We will transfer to our coach and then travel for a further 6 hours to Cannakale where we will check into the Grand Anzac Hotel. Dinner will be at a local restaurant close to the Sea of Marmara.

Canakkale

ANZAC Hotel

0011+90 286 217 2018

Day 3                         

Fri 10^th Apr

Canakkale

Today we will go on a guided tour of Gallipoli by Mr Izzet Yildirm. Be prepared for some heavy walking. We will visit as many sites as we can at Anzac including North Beach, Hill 60, Lone Pine, Shell Green, The Nek, Plugge’s Plateau, Beach Cemetery, Quinn’s Post and many more. We will conduct our own memorial service at North Beach and read a number of poems today at places of significance. We will also try to visit Cape Helles and the Turkish memorial. We will need to take our lunch with us. Dinner at a Restaurant chosen by two of the adults.

Day 4                       

Sat 11^th Apr          

Canakkale

We may head back to Gallipoli if we are unable to cover all areas sufficiently yesterday. Otherwise we will leave early to visit the ancient city of Troy. When we return the rest of the day will be spent exploring the city of Cannakale before an early dinner (selected by two of the adults) and bed.

Day 5     

Sun 12^th Apr

Canakkale –Istanbul

We will depart early again for the return journey to Istanbul where we will stay until the 15^th. 

Istanbul

Golden Horn Hotel

0011+90 212 518 1717

Once checked into our hotel we will head straight out to visit the Blue Mosque, The Hippodrome and possibly the underground cisterns. We will have a dinner close to our hotel and then retire early for a good night’s rest.

Dinner will be at a restaurant located close to the hotel sourced by two of the adults.

                 

Day 6

Istanbul                                                    

Mon 13^th Apr      

A big day ahead. We will start early and visit Sophia Hagia. From there we will head off to the Grand Bazaar. Returning to the hotel briefly (to drop off shopping) we will head for the Galata Bridge for lunch. Then into Asia, where we will catch the funicular to Taksim Square and walk down Istiklal Cadesi back to the Galata Bridge. From there we will head to the Spice Markets and more shopping. (Be warned- we have a long way to go and what you buy needs to be carried by you!) Dinner will be at a restaurant chosen by two of the adults.

Day 7                         

Tue 14^th Apr

Istanbul

Today we will visit the Tokapi Palace and the Archaeology Museum. We will also visit the underground cistern if we were not able to visit this on the first day in Istanbul. There may be a chance to visit the Spice Markets once more or the Galata Bridge.

Dinner will be in a restaurant chosen by Mr Croft.

Day 8:                                                                                             

Wed 15^th Apr 

Istanbul – Paris

It will be an early check-out - 7.00am. We catch our 

Turkish Airlines flight TK1823 

Departing at 1115 to Paris

Arriving at 1355 At Charles de Gaulle Airport. 

We will board a bus to our hotel (Ibis Paris La Villette) 

Paris Ibis Hotel La Villette

57-63, Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 – PARIS

0011 + 33 892680891

and then head straight out again for a look at the Montmartre area of Paris. We will have dinner in a restaurant previously booked (The Cadet de Gascogne, if possible) and then head for the Sacre Coer Basilica. From there we will take the funicular down the hill to pass by the Moulin Rouge for a photo opportunity and then head back to the hotel.  

Day 9:   

Thu 16^th Apr

Paris

Today will be huge. We will start early and head for the area of the Lourve where we will start with a tour of the oldest Fire Station in Paris, "Caserne ROUSSEAU", 21 rue du Jour, 75001 PARIS. From there we will proceed to the Lourve and if possible visit. After this we will make our way to Notre Dame. We will stop for lunch somewhere and then attempt to visit the Pantheon. From there we need to proceed to the Eiffel Tower where we have two groups booked. One at 1630 and the other at 1730. We will have to decide how we will manage this and it may mean the first group waits at the top for the others to catch up. Dinner will be close to the hotel.

                                                                                                                                 

Day 10:                                                                                                                 

Fri 17^th Apr

Paris- Versailles

We will leave early and take the Metro to the nearest RER line and catch the train to Versailles. Here we will tour the Palace of Versailles where the 1919 peace agreement was signed. The Palace needs to be seen to be believed and the grounds are a marvel in themselves. We will return to our hotel to change into our formal uniforms before heading out to the Arc de Triomphe for the lighting of the eternal flame ceremony at 1730 and where we will be singing the French national anthem. Dinner will be pizza on the Champs Elysees.

Day 11:                                                                                                                                     

Sat 18^th Apr

Ypres

Today we will be checking out of the hotel and picked up by our tour guide Mr Colin Gillard. We will travel north and along the way Colin will take us to various sites of significance to Australia along the Western Front. These may include Poziers, Vimy Ridge and Beaumont Hamel as we travel to the border of Belgium. We may have lunch at the border and then see some more sites in Flanders as we approach the town of Ypres (Ieper) as we check into the Zweerd Hotel.

Ypres

Gasthof 't Zweerd

0011 +32 0 5720 0475

Day 12:                                                                                                                   

Sun 19^th Apr

Ypres

Today we will traverse the areas around Ypres and visit some significant sites such as Tyne Cot, Polygon Wood, Messines, Ploegsteert, Hooges Crater. After a day of touring we will return to Ypres where we will prepare for our participation in the Menin Gate Ceremony. We will be joined by students from Pottleberg School and two of their teachers. This is an initiative called the Centenary Schools Link Project which aims to make connections between schools in Belgium and France with schools in Australia. We will be hosting the students and teachers for dinner after the ceremony.

Day 13:                                                                                                                  

Mon 20^th Apr

Ypres

We will be visiting Pottleberg school where our students will be speaking about their efforts to make this journey and what it means to young Australians. After this it is  another day of touring. The day will be spent visiting the many cemeteries and significant places in and around Belgium. We will return for a bit of a rest, though it may be possible to visit the Clothe Hall museum. Some may like to take in the Menin Gate service again. Dinner will be in a local restaurant.

Day 14:                                                                                                                  

Tue 21^st Apr

Arras

Today we leave beautiful Ypres and head south along the Western Front back into France. We will tour sites significant to Australians such as Fromelles, Villiers Bretonneux, Hamel, Bullecourt and Adelaide Cemetery. We will check into our hotel in Arras 

Arras

Moderne Hotel

0011+33 3 2123 3957

and have dinner in a nearby restaurant with snails on the menu. Are you game?

Day 15:                                                                                                                                                       

Wed 22^nd Apr

Arras

Today we have been invited to the official launch of the Centenary Schools Link Project and a civic reception has been organised for us in Peronne presided over by the major of the town. This will be in the morning and will require formal uniforms. French schools will also be in attendance and students will need to be prepared to speak publicly and with confidence and be gracious ambassadors for Australia, our town and school. After this we will look around areas such as Peronne and Mont St Quentin, Theipval, and Mouquet Farm. We will arrive early back to Arras where we will have a special dinner to thank our guide, Mr Colin Gillard as he will be leaving us after today. We will see him on Anzac Day at VB.

Day 16:                                                           

Thu 23^rd Apr

Arras

Today two students and an adult will be taken to Villers Bretonneux for rehearsals for the dawn service.

After dropping them off we will be travelling east to see the 4^th Division memorial at Bellenglise. This is a way out of the more trodden path but important and worthwhile to do. We may also take in the large American cemetery nearby. We will return and perhaps visit Amiens though we may do this tomorrow.

Day 17:                                          

Fri 24^th Apr

Arras

Today we will take a trip into Amiens if we did not do it yesterday. The cathedral here is meant to be something else. Other sites may be taken in along the way, though we aim to be back at the hotel just after lunch. The rest of the day can be spent looking around Arras and doing your washing. We need to prepare for the dawn service which will mean a 1.00am or 2.00am start.

Day 18:                                                                                        

Sat 25^th Apr

Arras (Villiers Bretonneux)

We will be travelling to VB early in the morning. We will need to rug up for this depending on the weather and have our formal uniforms ready for the service later on that morning and the for the service at Bullecourt. Breakfast may be ad hoc, so we will take edibles (nutritious) with us just in case. After this long day we will return to the hotel for a well-earned rest.

Day 19:                                                                       

Sun 26^th Apr

Arras – Rest Day

Today will be a full rest day. You will be entitled to sleep in, do your washing and final shopping in Arras. Tonight will be our final dinner together.

Day 20:                                                                                                           

Mon 27^th Apr

We will leave our hotel in good time to arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

27 April 

Depart                    Paris QR040                          1600

Arrive                     Doha                                      2320

Day 21

Tues 28^th Apr

28 April                   

Depart                    Doha QR900                              0200

Arrive                      Perth                                         1755

We will clear customs and you can be released into the loving arms of your family.

School tomorrow!