Visit Istanbul and Gallipoli on this incredible school trip to Turkey. Visit religious sites, cultural landmarks and explore the cosmopolitan atmosphere on this jam-packed sightseeing tour.
Istanbul & Gallipoli - History School Trip
- 6 days
- +2
- Turkey
- Approx. 4hrs
- Troy and Gelibolu sightseeing tour
- Bosphorus Strait boat cruise
- Fatih guided walking tour
- Sultanahmet guided walking tour
- Spice Bazaar
- Beyoğlu district
For the latest travel advice, including passport and visa information, visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website
Sample itinerary
This sample itinerary is offered as a guideline. The trip focus, length and itinerary/activities can be tailored to meet your learning objectives.
- Day
Day 1 - Fly to Istanbul
Fly to Istanbul before transferring to your first hotel by coach. Have dinner at the hotel then get ready for tomorrow’s full day of sightseeing.
Day 2 - Gallipoli peninsula
An early start this morning, ready for a full day sightseeing tour of Troy and Gelibolu. This incredible tour is led by your expert local guide and begins in the ancient city of Troy and its museum. From here, take the ferry across to Gelibolu National Park, allowing you to explore the Gallipoli peninsula and the sites of the WW1 conflict between the Allies and the Ottoman Empire, including Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, An Burnu, Lone Pine Cemetery, Johnston’s Jolly, Shrapnel Valley, Turkish Memorial, The Nek, Walker’s Ridge, and Chunuk Bair.
Later on, transfer to Istanbul, enjoying a delicious dinner en route. Check into your Istanbul hotel where you will stay for the remainder of your trip.
Day 3 - Sightseeing Tour and Bosphorus Strait Cruise
Today, your Istanbul cultural immersion begins by jumping on to the coach and heading straight to Fatih. With your expert local tour guide, you will learn about the many ways of life in this historic city. Highlights include the Old City Walls, the Yedikule Fortress commissioned by Sultan Mehmed II, and the Porphyrogenitus Palace, a rare example of late 13th-century Byzantine secular architecture.
This afternoon, if time, why not experience a Bosphorus cruise, taking in sights including the Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Fortress, the Haydarpaşa Cemetery, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Ortaköy Mosque. This Istanbul boat trip offers both incredible natural beauty and impressive architecture.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 4 - Guided sightseeing tour of Sultanahmet
For Day 4 of your educational trip to Istanbul, hop on the coach for a short trip to Sultanahmet. A very walkable district, students will be taken on a guided sightseeing tour of Sultanahmet’s cultural treasures. Learn about the history of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and the Blue Mosque, one of the most breathtaking and majestic Ottoman mosques; visit the German Fountain in Sultanahmet Square, constructed for the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II’s visit, and marvel at the Hippodrome, the circus at the centre of Constantinople’s sporting and social calendar. Journey below to visit the Serefiye Cistern (Theodosius Cistern), the subterranean water store built by Roman Emperor Theodosius II.
Pause for lunch and sample Turkish cuisine.
This afternoon, continue your tour of Sultanahmet’s religious sites by visiting the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, Hagia Irene Church, and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. From here, grab a snack whilst exploring the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), the centre of the spice trade in Istanbul.
Finish with a visit to the Topkapi Palace, once the main residence of sultans, it is now a large museum and library.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 5 - Guided sightseeing tour of Beşiktaş, Ortaköy and Beyoğlu districts
Depart from the hotel by coach, heading out to Dolmabahçe Palace in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. The palace has twice served as the administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire. It was built to provide the sultans with the luxury and comfort that the medieval Topkapi Palace lacked.
Next, take a walk in the Ortaköy district, now one of Istanbul's coolest and most picturesque neighbourhoods. Explore trendy boutiques and quirky cafés in this multicultural area, home to Greeks, Armenians, Jews, and Muslims. Within a short walk of each other are the Ortaköy Mosque, Hagia Sophia (Greek Orthodox) Church, and Etz Hayim Synagogue, a testament to the cosmopolitan nature of this neighbourhood. Have lunch here.
This afternoon, continue your guided sightseeing tour, heading onwards to the Beyoğlu district on the European side of Istanbul. Visit the Galata Tower, built at the highest part of the (lost) Walls of Galata. This old Genoese tower is now an exhibition space and museum.
Have dinner in this fantastic part of town.
Day 6 - Souvenir shopping, fly home
Spend your final morning at leisure, with that last moment for souvenir shopping. Transfer to the airport by coach before flying home.
What’s included
Full TCBC support from the moment you book until you return home
Full itinerary flexibility to ensure the perfect tour for your students
We'll source the best available flights based on your school's location
You'll have all our necessary contact details to hand should the need arise
Knowledgeable TCBC guide ready to bring your walking tours to life
Detailed itinerary, with all entrance fees included, no hidden costs
Return flights, 1 item of either cabin/hold luggage per person, airport taxes and air passenger duty at current rates, ATOL Protection Contribution
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure. UK airport transfers upon request
Experienced local TCBC guide for your included walking tours
Coach for arrival/departure airport transfers and where stated in itinerary
4 nights' accommodation, with multi rooms for students and single rooms for teachers
Breakfasts and dinners at hotel or local restaurants. Lunches can be included too
All excursions as per your itinerary
No hidden costs on tour, everything clearly explained before departure
Details of your personally assigned 24-hour TCBC emergency contact
Free teacher place ratio of 1:10 but we can work to whichever ratio you require
Included in all tours, with Endsleigh Insurance, unless you expressly opt out
If you feel you have received excellent service, then our local guides and drivers will appreciate being tipped
Event availability isn't usually known at the time of booking. We will inform you of options and ticket prices closer to departure
Reasons to travel with us
We honestly believe we are the best in what we do. We'd love the opportunity to show you.
Safety & reliability
The safety of all our travellers is our number 1 priority. We have a robust Safety Management System in place to ensure that our tours are run to the high levels you expect.
Experience & expertise
We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
TCBC local guides
Our guides are our greatest assets and consistently lauded. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy, most are hand-picked and have worked with us for years.
Complete peace of mind
Our accreditations (ATOL, ABTA, STF, LOtC) provide you with the reliability, assurance and financial security expected from a specialist tour operator.
Customer
service
Our dedicated team is on hand to offer help and advice at every stage. We are positive you will be impressed with the high level of service you receive from us.
Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
The personal touch
Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
Total transparency
We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
Pre-departure support
We understand how much work goes into planning a school trip. You will be dealing with the same people throughout the pre-departure process allowing us to respond quickly and accurately.
Repeat business
99.9% of teachers are so happy with our tours and our service that there is no need to travel with anyone else. We are confident you will feel the same way.
An invaluable experience for our students, that both brought our history courses to life, as well as gave many fond memories for the students.
