The communication with pick ups was a positive as a solo traveller in a new country. The transport was pn time,comfortable and spacious, with enough room to bring my suitcase. Everything was well organised and well prepared. I visited Gallipoli and Troy, so stayed in the comfortable Artur hotel over night in Canakkale. Our tour guide Hasan is very knowledgeable He gave the facts and explained the myths and great stories which had evolved over the years. The experience was well worth the time and money. 5 🌟 's Ken 🇦🇺

Magnificent Travels orchestrated our tour to Ephesus and Pamukkale through Crowded House Tours, and we were thoroughly impressed by the exceptional level of organization. From the moment we were picked up at the scheduled time, it was clear that we were in the hands of professionals. The guides were not only exceptionally knowledgeable but also passionate about sharing their insights, enhancing our experience at every turn. The transportation provided was of the highest standard, ensuring comfort throughout our journey. It was evident that Crowded House Tours prioritizes the needs of their travelers, always ready to assist with a smile. We wholeheartedly recommend Crowded House for anyone seeking to book unforgettable tours.

Excellent day, every aspect of the day was very good. We were driven to the sight after a breakfast stop and lunch which was included. We had a very well researched guide who was very familiar with Australia and our history. It was interesting to hear from the Turkish perspective as well. Our guide obviously has a passion for the history of the battle and the area and explained what happened in many different areas and showed original photos of many places we visited. Would highly recommend.

This tour helped me understand a little of what happened in Gallipoli . our first visit to Türkiye and felt compelled to go and see what we hear about all our lives in Australia. The tour was highly organized , informative and educational Our transport from Istanbul was in a modern large van / coach , our English guide Borat(k) was passionate,detailed and very engaged with this tour . Overall an excellent experience highly recommended

We had a fantastic time on this Crowded House tour. Everything was very well organised with a pick up from our hotel in Istanbul in the morning, a transfer to Eceabat for lunch, then on to Gallipoli. Our tour guide was excellent and provided a thorough and interesting history of the area. It was especially poignant for us as Kiwis, to visit Chunuk Bair. Then on to Cannakkale by ferry, staying the night in a good hotel and then on to Troy the next day. We booked the tour which included the museum of Troy, which was well worth it for a history buff and gave a good background of Troy before we took the tour itself. After the tour, a transfer back to Istanbul straight back to our hotel. An excellent trip to a fascinating area with a lot of history, we would highly recommend!

Fantastic experience on the ANZAC tour, bus was reasonable for a 4.5-5 hour drive and driver was accommodating. I will note the driver always used the indicator stalk, did not take any incoming or outgoing calls, and also didn’t stop the bus mid trip for cigarette breaks. (A previous review mentioned this) Our guide, Chali, was fantastic, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what he was doing.

Just did this tour today, with my adult son. We are both history buffs and have read much on Gallipoli - however we discovered that a) it is very different when you are actually physically standing there, and b) our guide Charie was passionate, grounded, and excellent at communicating to enthusiast and novice equally. It is amazing that so much trench work still exists 100 years after the battles. And many battlefield remnants such as spent bullets too! Be aware that the van trip from Istanbul takes about 3.5hrs each way. Would highly recommend this tour!

With the help of a wonderful travel agency in Istanbul (Shashot Travel) we crafted a 4-day/3-night excursion that exactly fit our wishes. Crowded House guided up throughout from Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Pergamon, Selcuk, and Ephesus. At each stop we had expert guides (with 5-year degrees in guiding) who were also just fun and friendly people to be around. We would have never learned as much on our own. Besides the archaeological and historical sites, we also enjoyed great lunches in local restaurants, and stops at places like a carpet-making coop and small mountain village along the way.

From our pick up to drop off, the tour was top notch. Drivers were excellent. The tour guide was able to present well researched information in an interesting and professional way.

My husband and I had a fantastic time on the 2 Days, 1 Night Gallipoli and Troy Tour, and the team went out of their way to accommodate us. Since we were staying at an Airbnb in a hilly area in Taksim, they pre-emptively arranged for us to be picked up at a nearer hotel (even closer than the one advertised in the tour description), which made things much easier for us. On the first day, our driver, Tamer, was incredible, handling really thick fog on the way to Eceabat with confidence and skill. Once we tried speaking a bit of basic Turkish, his personality really came alive, and we had some lovely (albeit broken!) exchanges. Half way, we stopped at a Shell station that had the cleanest and most high-tech toilets we’ve ever seen (seriously, Japanese toilets pale in comparison), along with affordable snacks and drinks. The lunch that was included on the day was nothing special in term of Turkish best of the best cuisine but fine for a much needed quick meal. At Gallipoli, our guide, Burak, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and his explanations brought the site’s history to life for us, particularly through his clever use of visual aids. A true animal lover too, who introduced us to all the local dogs (whom he had a bag of dog food to feed), foxes and even a jackal at the tour stops! A truly memorable moment too was when Tamer found some old bullets in one of the trenches and generously gave them to us as a keepsake, which was really touching and for which we are very grateful. The 3* Arthur Hotel we stayed in was surprisingly good and very well located. Clean and comfortable, with a great breakfast featuring a proper Turkish spread. Staff were super kind and polite. The only downside was that the room was a bit too warm even for winter (we could not figure out how to reduce the temperature although I’m sure front desk could have helped) - and as non-smokers, we could faintly smell tobacco from previous guests, though it wasn’t a big deal (so maybe that’s one thing to check with guests beforehand, if they would prefer a smoking or non-smoking room if available). On the second day, the Troy museum was great. At Troy itself, our guide, Charu, was full of fascinating insights and really made the ancient city’s history easy to connect with and picture. Through a game he made the different layers of the city over the centuries really easy to remember. Our driver for the return leg, Süleyman, was just as wonderful, and after dropping off the other passengers, once he saw we learnt some very basic Turkish, he got super enthused and gave us a surprise “mini-tour” of Istanbul as we made our way to our accomodation, kindly pointing out landmarks and chatting with us as my husband and I happily fumbled through some more Turkish. Overall, the tour was smooth and well-organised, and the drivers and guides made it a truly memorable trip that we’d happily recommend to anyone. My one tip is that during this part of our trip we purposefully booked the cheapest of our Airbnbs in Istanbul so we could leave our bags safely in our accomodation there, whilst just taking a light overnight bag with us. The vans had space for the suitcases people brought with them, but some of our fellow tour members looked well and truly miserable with their numerous big bags! It made the early start and late return much easier too as we had left stuff for dinner in the fridge there, waiting for us on our return after day 2.

Really enjoyable day. The drive from istanbul was a little long, but had a stop half way to strech our lags and grab a snack. Lunch was delicious and enjoyed an opportunity to chat to the others on the tour. Our guide Burak is an amazing and his experience shows through. He's enthusiastic in telling the story of what happened and making sure all sides where represented. Balanced the sadness of the area with the beauty and a few jokes as well. Would recommend to everyone.

I mean the overall experience the service the treatment and the guides everything was good there is no way I would have had experience any close to this if I drove to both places

"A Moving Journey Through History: Gallipoli Tour with Crowded House Tours" ★★★★★ 5/5 stars For anyone considering a day trip to Gallipoli from Istanbul, look no further than Crowded House Tours. Our experience was nothing short of exceptional, largely thanks to our guide Burak, whose knowledge and larrikin humor made history come alive. The day began early with a 6:30 AM hotel pickup from Sultanahmet. Despite some unexpected excitement with protest-related road closures, our skilled driver navigated the morning Istanbul traffic with impressive calm. The comfortable, air-conditioned minibus made the journey pleasant, and a well-timed coffee and breakfast stop helped ease us into the day. Arriving in Eceabat around lunchtime, we enjoyed a satisfying meal at a local restaurant before beginning the emotional journey through the Gallipoli Peninsula. This is where Burak's expertise truly shone. His storytelling brought the ANZAC legend to life, weaving historical facts with personal accounts that made the events of 1915 feel eerily present. The tour's itinerary is comprehensively planned, covering all the significant sites. From the somber Beach Cemetery to the haunting trenches at Johnston's Jolly, each stop offers a different perspective on the campaign. Standing at ANZAC Cove, hearing the soldiers' letters read aloud, creates an emotional connection that no history book can convey. The visit to Lone Pine Memorial is particularly moving, as is the walk through the preserved trenches where you can still feel the closeness of the opposing forces. What sets this tour apart is the balanced perspective it offers. Burak presented both the ANZAC and Turkish viewpoints with equal respect, particularly evident at the Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery and the Respect to Mehmetcik Statue. His explanation of the Turkish soldiers' experience, including the story of the 57th Regiment's complete sacrifice, was particularly powerful. The climb to Chunuk Bair offers stunning views across the peninsula and serves as a poignant finale to the tour, helping visitors understand the strategic challenges faced by both sides. Practical tips: - Wear comfortable walking shoes as there's considerable walking on uneven terrain - Bring water and weather-appropriate clothing (it can be quite exposed) - Camera is a must for the spectacular views - Bring toilet paper (you are in National parks with toilets but no paper) - The early start is worth it to fit everything in While the day is long, the experience is invaluable. Crowded House Tours has mastered the balance between respect for the solemnity of the sites and engaging historical storytelling. Burak's expertise and genuine passion for sharing this history make this tour an absolute must-do for anyone interested in understanding this crucial chapter of World War I. The tour's organisation was flawless from pickup to drop-off, and the inclusion of lunch and comfortable transport made it excellent value for money. For Australians, New Zealanders, or anyone interested in military history, this tour offers an unforgettable experience that will stay with you long after you leave the peninsula.

It's a memorable trip to Gallipoli driving almost 330 kms in 3 hours one way from Istanbul !! Char(l)ie is an very well informed tourist guide who explained lot more details about each key incidents during WW1. It's a bit disappointing that the tour does not cover the full Gallipoli but just the ANZAC part only. Also surprising that there is no word of 29th Indian Brigade and 14th Sikh Regiment which fought both Cape Helles and Gallipolli !! ( not the issue of tour operator though ! ). Lunch was very nice !!

Our guide Borek, (hope he forgives me if I spelt that wrong), was brilliant his knowledge of the ANZACs and the gallipoli campaign from both sides was encyclopedic he put us Aussies and the 1 kiwi to shame 😊 a very moving and informative tour and experience, thank you Borek