The dynamic gateway between Europe and Asia, Istanbul straddles the two continents with grace. Open-air markets, little changed since the Ottoman Empire, offer silks, carpets, and spices, while cars speed past the modern hotels, cafés, and skyscrapers catering to the city’s newfound popularity as a tourist destination. Domes and minarets still dot the skyline, however, from the immense church of Hagia Sophia -- the absolute masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and the fourth-largest church in the world, with a dome 180 feet high -- to the beautiful Blue Mosque, designed for the 19-year-old Sultan Ahmet in 1609.

With its six staggering minarets that salute its eight cascading domes, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque may appear to be a dominating piece of architecture from the outside. But visitors have given it the friendly nickname, the Blue Mosque, because of its beautiful blue handmade Iznik tiles that grace the interior. Look carefully and you’ll even spot some that are decorated with cypresses, fruits and flowers. As one of the last mosques of the classical period, visiting the Blue Mosque is a must. And those who come in summer will be wowed by a light show and historical narrative held every evening.

Archaeological Site of Troy is a UNESCO World Heritage destination whose 4,000 years of history include the first contact between the people of Anatolia and the Mediterranean. (It’s also the inspiration for Homer’s Iliad.) Glimpse into the development of European civilization from as far back as the Bronze Age. Excavations have unearthed arrowheads, human remains and even houses and defense walls that suggest nine cities were built one on top the other at this site.

This panoramic tour will take you to Istanbul’s greatest monuments, offering insight into this city‘s long and rich history.

In the heart of Istanbul, overlooking the historic Sultanahmet Square, stands one of the world’s most extraordinary wonders, the Hagia Sophia. This architectural masterpiece, with over 1,500 years of history, has transformed through empires, religions, and revolutions, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s skyline.

The Grand Bazaar has been a key trading centre in the Middle East since 1461. Today, it offers a captivating blend of history and culture, where visitors can wander through centuries-old corridors, discover unique treasures, and absorb the vibrant atmosphere that defines this iconic marketplace.

In Polygon Wood, the group is expected to reach the other side of Polygon Wood independently via four locations. However, they do not have a ready-made itinerary. In small groups they need to use codes, carry out hands-on tasks and use British, Australian or New Zealand identity cards of fallen soldiers to find their way. Please note: Activity is only logistically feasible with a minimum of 20 participating students.

Step into the new immersive experience ‘Passchendaele 1917’ and find yourself right in the middle of the landscape of 1917. By means of powerful visualizations, appropriate music and historical images projected several metres tall, the Battle of Passchendaele is presented chronologically. A total experience in which young and old are completely immersed in the story and landscape of 1917.

During the Battle of Messines, the work of Commonwealth tunnellers played a significant role in not only battle, but in physically changing the landscape of Flanders Fields. In the summer of 1917, 19 massive underground mines were detonated, the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. Evidence of these massive explosions can be seen at the Caterpillar Crater (Hill 60).

The artificial hill from 1850 lies about 60 meters above sea-level, hence the name. Countless soldiers worked in the cold and the dark of the mine tunnels. Some of them have never left. In this sense, Hill 60 is their cemetery.

Before joining the Battle of the Somme, Canadian troops fought hard to defend this area, a small part of Belgium still controlled by the Allies. The advances made by these troops were an unqualified success, according the official British historical reports, but Canada suffered 8,430 casualties in the process.

In Flanders Fields Museum presents the story of the First World War from the invasion of Belgium, to 4 years of trench warfare and peace in the region since. Visit the Museum and honor over 600,000 who fell

The Last Post, the traditional final salute to the fallen, is played by the buglers of the Last Post Association in honour of the memory of the soldiers of the former British Empire and its allies, who died in the Ypres Salient during the First World War (1914-1918).

The Battle of Fromelles took place on 19 and 20 July 1916. It was a fierce confrontation, with nearly 8,500 victims in less than 24 hours. The bodies of many of those killed on the battlefield were never found until 2009, when a team of archaeologists unearthed the bodies of 250 British and Australian soldiers. A major identification campaign began, and with each new identity, the story of soldier came to light.

Buried in this cemetery near the museum are the bodies of the 250 British and Australian soldiers found in 2009 in Pheasant Wood, Fromelles.

V.C. Corner is the only exclusively Australian First World War cemetery in France. Four hundred Australian soldiers killed in the Battle of Fromelles are buried here. As none of the bodies were able to be identified, instead of individual gravestones a memorial was erected bearing the names of all the Australian soldiers killed on the battlefields around Fromelles with no known grave. Some were identified following the discovery of the mass graves in 2009 and have since been buried in Pheasant Wood Cemetery.

Travel twenty metres below the streets of Arras to the Wellington Quarry, where thousands of soldiers hid underground before a surprise attack on the German front lines on April 9, 1917. Learn about the Battle of Arras and the troops who built and lived in the tunnels below the town. Discover the military strategy behind the tunnels and how it helped win the First World War.

This is a significant site commemorating one of the Australian Imperial Force’s greatest victories during World War I. Located near Peronne, this memorial honors the 2nd Australian Division, which played a crucial role in capturing Mont St Quentin from German forces between August 31 and September 2, 1918.

This small town in France, was the site of the First and Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux during the First World War in 1918. The heroic recapture of this town and the sacrifice of the young Australians will forever be remembered. Today, the Australian flag still flies over Villers-Bretonneux and memorials and cemeteries pay tribute to the twelve hundred Australian soldiers who tragically lost their lives.

The Australian National Memorial, located behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery honours the Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium, and who lie under the battlefields. The memorial commemorates the 10,719 Australian casualties who died in France and who have no known grave.

The Sir John Monash Centre tells Australia’s story of the Western Front in the words of those who served. Set on the grounds of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery in northern France, the Sir John Monash Centre is designed so visitors gain a better understanding of the journey of ordinary Australians, told in their own voices through letters, diaries and life-size images and connect with the places they fought and died. The centre is a moving experience that leaves a lasting impression.

The world's largest art museum, the Louvre is housed in a Medieval fortress-turned-castle so grand it's worth a tour itself. You walk through the 71-foot glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei and added in 1989, and step into another world--one with carved ceilings, deep-set windows, and so many architectural details you could spend a week just admiring the rooms. The Mona Lisa is here, as well as the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory (the headless statue, circa 200 BC, discovered at Samothrace). The Louvre has seven different departments of paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and antiquities. Don't miss the Egyptian collection, complete with creepy sarcophagi, or the collection of Greek ceramics, one of the largest in the world. (Please note the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.)

This city was made for walking. Stroll grand boulevards with sweeping views of the city, pristine parks with trees planted in perfect rows, and narrow streets crowded with vendors selling flowers, pastries and cheese. Then head to the Île de la Cité, a small island in the Seine, to see Notre Dame Cathedral.

View the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Work began in 1163 on a spot that had been a holy shrine since Roman times. Over the centuries, the cathedral has been the scene of some of France's most momentous occasions, including the coronation of Napoleon.

See the city from the water on an hour-long cruise along the River Seine. The Seine cuts right through Paris, dividing the city in half. See the Eiffel tower rising up on the Left Bank, the walls of the Louvre on the Right Bank. A guide will point out other monuments and architectural marvels as you pass, many of which are illuminated by clear white light at night.

The ultimate palace, Versailles was built by Louis XIII, and housed the royal family and its groveling court from 1682, when Louis XIV the Sun King moved in, to the French Revolution. Everything in Versailles is worth a look, from the 250-foot-long Hall of Mirrors, with themed salons- "war" and "peace" -on either side, to Marie Antoinette's faux country hamlet. When being a queen became too much to bear, she would pretend to be a commoner, tending her sheep and wearing peasant clothes. (Please note Versailles is closed on Mondays.)

A lively role-play puts you in the shoes of the monarchy, clergy, nobility, bourgeoisie, or peasantry to explore the issues underlying the French Revolution.

Line up to climb to the top floor of this iconic landmark for a spectacular birds-eye view of the glittering City of Light.

Explore the land of fairytales across 5 amazing lands filled with classic attractions, shows and street parades. Please note that this excursion includes entrance to Disneyland Park. Entrance to Disney Adventure World is not included.

Untouched by bombing during World War II, Krakow has preserved much of its delicate beauty and deep historical character. (UNESCO has even named the entire city one of the 12 most significant historic sites in the world.) Its magnificent, airy castle—built by Sigismund the Old in the style of an Italian villa—once served as the seat of Poland’s royal government. Meanwhile, the Rynek Glówny, medieval Europe’s largest town square, handled the city’s everyday life, and the market stalls and merchants that still gather there continue traditions centuries old.

Explore the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, the main cultural center of Polish Jewry with its unique Oriental atmosphere. Its soul perished during the traumatic events of the Second World War, but many of the buildings, some still with Yiddish inscriptions, survived. Today, the revival of Jewish life and activity in Kazimierz is visible in the numerous restored buildings, fashionable cafes, and restaurants.

Explore the Auschwitz I main camp and Auschwitz II-Birkenau on a powerful and sobering guided tour. Discover the permanent exhibition and original buildings at Auschwitz I, then continue to Birkenau to witness key sites including the prisoner barracks, the infamous unloading platform (ramp), and the haunting ruins of gas chamber and crematoria II or III. Learn how over a million people (mostly Jews) were murdered here between 1940 and 1945. Reflect at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, now preserved as a museum and memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Confront the legacy of racism, anti-Semitism, and hatred that led to such atrocities.

Explore Alexanderplatz, known to locals as simply "Alex", once a cattle market and now Berlin’s bustling central square. Gaze up at the iconic TV Tower, built by East Germany to showcase socialist strength. Nearby, admire the ornate Neptune Fountain and the striking red-brick Rotes Rathaus, Berlin’s historic town hall.

Take interactive learning to another level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt of Alexanderplatz, Berlin's most famous public square! Enjoy an after-dinner adventure, complete exciting activities and solve fun clues. Each clue and every activity is built to maximize on-tour experiential learning.

Join a professional, licensed tour guide as you discover one of the most historical cities in Germany. Although nothing remains of the mortar and cement-block barrier between East and West Berlin, the Berlin Wall (built in 1961; destroyed in 1989) is still a main “site” in Berlin. View the well-known Brandenburg Gate, once a main gate hidden behind a 10-foot barrier and now known for celebratory dancing on its flat top during the reunification. Travel to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the most famous border crossing point. Checkpoint Charlie, once a wooden guard hut, was the most (in)famous border-crossing point between East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. All that remains of the checkpoint itself is a skeletal watchtower and a memorial of attempted escapees. Follow your guide as they lead you through the museum’s accounts of the most ingenious of these escape attempts— even a few by hot air balloon.

Step into the shoes of the people whose lives were impacted by the Berlin Wall. Participate in a group activity that involves reciting personal accounts of the event and discussing its repercussions. Live through their experiences and gain a personal insight into Germany’s history.