Touristic Eastern Express Kars Tour (Departing from Istanbul - Train Outbound - Return by Plane)

Day 1. (Istanbul – Ankara)

Dear Guests, according to the schedule announced by TCDD, we will complete our boarding procedures for our Touristic Eastern Express Train, which will depart at 13:55, and settle into our rooms. During our train journey, you can purchase your hot and cold drink needs, as well as sweet and savory snacks, from the cafeteria section inside the train.

Lunch: Will be taken freely at Ankara Train Station.

Accommodation: It will take place in a sleeper carriage on the Touristic Eastern Express Train.

Dinner: Will be taken on the Touristic Eastern Express. It is not included in the tour fee.

Day 2. (Erzincan – Kars Train Journey)

Dear guests; early in the morning we wake up on our train and when we look outside from our window, we see the unique scenery that will fascinate us. We continue our journey through Anatolia’s geography, which captivates with its beauty. According to the planning made by TCDD, we will have a long break at Erzincan train station at 06:00 in the morning. During this break, with our guests who wish to join, we will carry out the extra Erzincan city program detailed below. After our Erzincan tour, we return to the Eastern Express Tourist Train. Our next stop will be Erzurum. Based on the train’s arrival time in Erzurum, during the break given in Erzurum, we walk with our guide from the train station to Erzurum city center and taste the famous cağ kebab. After the meal, we go to Taşhan and have a shopping break. At the meeting time determined by our guide, we return to the train station and continue our journey from where we left off. According to TCDD’s planning, we will arrive at Kars Train Station at 22:30. (Although planning is made, there may sometimes be changes in the times due to technical faults or road conditions) With our transfer vehicle waiting for us at Kars station, we reach our hotel and settle in. Overnight at our hotel.

Extra Erzincan Tour:

Dear guests; during the 3-hour break our train will have at Erzincan Station, guests who wish may join the Erzincan Tour. First, we go to the Ekşisu area and have our breakfast, then we head to Girlevik Waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Turkey. After our waterfall visit, we return to Erzincan center and proceed to Bakırcılar Bazaar. At the end of free time, we return to the train station and continue our train journey.

Breakfast: Will be taken at local restaurants. Not included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken at local restaurants. Not included in the tour price.

Dinner: Will be taken on the Eastern Express Tourist Train. Not included in the tour price.

Accommodation Hotel: Kars Hotels

Day 3. (Ani Ruins – Kars – Lake Çıldır)

Dear Guests; after the breakfast we will have at our hotel, we head to the Ani Ruins, established on the banks of the Arpaçay, which forms the border between Turkey and Armenia. We begin our tour of the Ani Ruins, which have hosted many civilizations and are regarded among Turkey’s most important cultural assets, accompanied by our guide. We see Ani Cathedral (Church of Saint Mary), Surp Stephanos Church, Tigran Honentz Church, Abugamir Pahlavuni Church, Halaskâr (Amenaprgiç) Church, and the Ebu'l Menuçehr Mosque. We complete our visit to the Ani Ruins and come to the city center of Kars. Rebuilt while under Russian occupation for 40 years after 1877, Kars bears traces of Baltic architecture. We begin our Kars tour first with the Kümbet Mosque in the city. To experience the city’s historical fabric, we start walking through the streets of Kars. Passing over the Stone Bridge built during the Ottoman period, we see panoramically the house where Namık Kemal stayed with his grandfather in 1850. Leaving Kars, we head to Lake Çıldır, the largest freshwater lake and the second largest lake in Eastern Anatolia, located between the borders of Ardahan and Kars. During the free time we will have at Lake Çıldır, which freezes in winter, you can walk around the frozen lake and ride horse-drawn sleds. After our photo break, we will have a coffee break to warm up. After sipping our hot drinks, we return to our hotel in Kars. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at the hotel where we will stay.

Lunch: Will be taken at local restaurants. Not included in the tour price.

Shopping Stop of the Day: Filigree Shop

Dinner: Will be served as an open buffet or set menu at the hotel where we will stay. Included in the tour price.

Extra Caucasian Show: An event held after dinner at the hotel, featuring local folk dance performances.

Accommodation Hotel: Kars Hotels

Day 4. (Caucasus Kars War Front Museum – Erzurum – Istanbul)

Dear Guests; after our breakfast at the hotel, we continue our tour of Kars city center. We begin our tour with the Caucasus Kars War Front Museum, known as Kanlı Tabya, which played important roles in the defense of the city against the invasion of the Russian armies in the 19th century, in repelling the Russian attack in 1828, in winning the Kars Victory in 1855, and in being used for defensive purposes during the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War, and then we will have free time in Kars city center. After our Kars tour and lunch, after a shopping break at the cheese shop where Kars gruyere and other cheese varieties are available, we go to the cheese shop where Kars gruyere and other cheese varieties are available and give you free time. At the time specified by our guide, we transfer to our vehicle and proceed to Erzurum airport. We fly to Istanbul Airport with Turkish Airlines and conclude our tour here. We bid farewell to our valued guests, hoping to see you again on another Coral Travel organization.

Breakfast: It will be served as an open buffet at the accommodation hotel. Not included in the tour price.

Lunch: It will be taken as an extra at local restaurants. Not included in the tour price.

Dinner: This dinner is not included and will be taken as extra at local restaurants.