Gallipoli / Eceabat (Ayjahbaht), Turkey

If you visit Gallipoli from Istanbul as a day trip it is around 16-18 hours return. Huge day and not cheap either for only 4-5 hours in Gallipoli itself. I was staying in the nearby town so it wasn't so bad. Bus from Istanbul departed at 6am and arrived in Eceabat around 12 pm. Lunch was included and was quite reasonable. We didn't get to the first stop of the tour until after 1pm.

- Brighton Beach - where the Anzacs should have landed but due to strong currents and some miscommunication landed further north, scattered all over the coast.
- Anzac Cove - primary landing of the Anzacs. A shallow beach at the base of steep, rugged hills. Sitting ducks.
- Johnston's Jolly - A short wander through them, surprisingly shallow.
- Lone Pine - Australian War Memorial
- NZ War Memorial
- Turkish War Memorial

Take-aways:
- A better appreciation of the terrain and conditions the battle was fought in
- Slightly better understanding of the war but nothing an hour of research couldn't achieve

Not sure how I feel about the tour itself (Crowded House Tour). Was ok. Undecided as to whether I'd recommend going. Would be a totally different experience on Anzac Day I imagine. I suppose it is one of those things that different people get different things out of.

Eceabat town

Brighton Beach

Anzac Cove - Turkish gunner tower

The trenches and tunnels at Lone Pine