When making preparations for a visit to the gallipoli national park in Turkey and you are looking for accommodation you should have a look at this small authentic hotel. The Gallipoli houses offers accommodation for 20 guests and is the most authentic hotel within the gallipoli national park.
No need to say that the main
attraction for those visiting the National Park are the battlefields of the 1915
Gallipoli campaign.
For those with limited time it needs to be said that a few hours on the battlefields
will give you a vague idea only. To cover the major battlefields of
this ill-fated campaign a minimum stay of two days (preferably three) is necessary.
Furthermore some parts of the Dardanelles and the bay of Saroz offer great diving opportunities and underwater experiences.
And last but not least, the famous historical site of Troy is just across the Dardanelles.
The Gallipoli
National Park is the final resting place of thousands of soldiers who gave
their life during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Although burdened with this grim military history, the Gallipoli National Park
today is a peaceful place of great beauty, charm and serenity; a
striking contrast with the bitter fighting that took place
here in 1915.
It is probably this paradox that makes the Gallipoli battlefields
to be considered by many World War I buffs as the most beautiful of all old
battlegrounds.
The Gallipoli National Park, has a great “Aegean” feel, simular to the south of France but remains untouched by the 21st century. So when driving in the Gallipoli National Park and it’s bufferzone, one frequently comes across shepherds herding their flock, donkey and horse charts transporting basic necessities, farmers working the land -the odd tractor being the only sign of modernity- and the welcoming atmosphere in the villages.
Those who want to get the real experience should include a few extra days and walk the battlefields. Hiking in more remote areas such as Schrapnel Valley, the NZ trail, the Kireçtepe Ridge and Gully Ravine & Spur are very rewarding not only because of the historic value but also because of the beautiful scenery and the local fauna and the flora.
Also, the Gallipoli peninsula is home to some of Turkey’s last remaining pristine beaches. These beaches are possibly the best kept secret in Turkey as even in summer they don't get crowded.
A visitor from the UK had the following to say : We were sat there on "A" beach one day when one of our party said "You know this is every bit as good as any Carribean beach I have ever sat on - the only difference is that we've got it to ourselves". (Martin Wills - UK)
drive, walk & watch, swim &
dive, relax & rest,
do all these safely and you'll
have a good time in the Gallipoli Peninsula
In the Gallipoli national
park there is also abondant fauna and flora. Wildflowers bloom in
Spring and give the peninsula a colourful carpet, In summer this carpet turns
yellow with the thousands of
sunflowers that are grown by the farmers.
Birdwatchers will certainly not regret they brought their binocolors : apart
from the resident birds there is a hectic activity near the Suvla salt lake
throughout Spring
and
Autumn.
Looking
for more information on what happened here in 1915 ?
Visit The Gallipoli Houses'
"the Gallipoli
campaign" website. a
large
collection of pictures
taken during numerous walks, complimented with period pictures and
passages from the many books
that have been written on this ill-fated campaign. In no way is this an attempt
to give an overview of the campaign, nor is this an online guidebook, but rather
a
kaleidoscope on the Gallipoli campaign.