A Train to East : Route Kars

Upon arrival, meet and greet local guide and proceed to Istanbul Old City. Our first visit is going to be Blue Mosque which was built by Sultan Ahmet the first on 1616 and very famous with its stunning blue tiles on its Wall. Afterwards we visit Hagia Sophia which was built as an Orthodox Church by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD. However the giant worship center was converted in a Mosque by Sultan Mehmet the Second in 1453. It is now a museum where you can enjoy the harmony of two culture in the same building. After our time finishes at Hagia Sophia, we continue our trip visiting Topkapı Palace which was built by Sultan Mehmet the Second in 1475. Topkapı Palace is the biggest palace in Turkey and also one of the biggest in the World by its 80 acres area. Topkapı Palace is the most visited palace in Turkey while it offers to its visitors many beautiful small mansions with nice view of Bosphorus Strait or Golden Horn, many valuable jewelleries which was used by the Sultans, Holy Relics such as David’s sword, Moses’ Staff and so on. After we have our dinner, we proceed to hotel and check in.

Overnight in Istanbul.

After we have our breakfast, we check out from hotel and we will be transferred to airport for domestic flight to Ankara. On arrival in Ankara, we proceed to train station to complete registiration for Doğu Ekspresi (Eastern Express) where our unique experience starts. This journey starts at Ankara Train Station and finishes at Kars which is located on the most east of Turkey and border with Armenia. The route is about 900 kilometers and takes approximately 29 hours including all the visits during the journey till Kars. We have our own compartment with bed so overnight will be at the train.

We wake up to a great morning in Kemaliye Town which is located in Eastern Turkey. After we have our breakfast at the train, we have 3 hours stop at Kemaliye where we will be take to see famous Dark Canyon and Stone Road which took 132 years to built (started to be built in 1870 and finished to be built in 2002). After this unforgetable journey we go back to our train and continue our trip. At 11:00 o’clok we arrive in Erzincan and then we have a break for lunch in city center of Erzincan which is another important point in Eastern Turkey. Later, we take our seats back in the train while enjoing photogenic journey and arrive in Erzurum at around 17:00 afternoon and then we have a break of 2,5 hours in the biggest city of Eastern Turkey. In Erzurum, you will be taken to try most famous kebab of Eastern Turkey which is known as Cağ Kebab. By night, we continue our trip and arrive in our final destination, Kars and on arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel and check in for a rest till next day.

After breakfast at hotel we start our excursion in Kars. Kars is one of the most lovely city in Turkey. The city itself inspired famous Turkish Novelist Orhan Pamuk write his famous novel Kar (Snow). One of the few cities that you can see Russian architectural style because the city was ruled by russian after the second half of 19th cetury till 1918. So there are many Russian remainings at the city. First we are going to visit Kars Citadel which was build by Turkish Seljuk Empire in 12th century then  we proceed to Kümbet Mosque which was built by Armenian Kingdom in 10th Century as a church and then converted into a mosque by Seljuk Empire after 11th Centry. Later, we continue our trip by visiting Fethiye Mosque which was also built as a church by Russians in 19th Century but converted into a mosque after Kars was recontrolled by Turks. This building is one of the rare example of Russian Baltic Architectural style in Turkey. Later on, we will have a free time to stroll thru famous streets of Kars with many stone buildings along with them. After we end today’s programme, we go back to our hotel and have a rest for the next day.

On this morning after we have our breakfast at hotel, we are going to visit a World Heritage Site  Ani Ruins that was built by Armenian Kingdom on 10th century AD. But that city was conquered by Turkish tribes that first entered Anatolia on 11th Century AD. After we enjoy few of still standing remainings there with the view of Armenian land, we continue our trip to Çıldır Lake which is located at 1959 meters altitude and mostly frozen during winter. There we enjoy our local lunch while enjoying the view. After todays sceneric tour, we will be transferred to our hotel then have a rest for the next day.

After breakfast at hotel, we check out then transferred to airport for domestic flight back to Istanbul. upon arrival, we will proceed to port to take a boat trip aroud Bosphorus Strait and enjoy beautiful Istanbul from a strait that divides Europe with Asia. After we have our dinner, we will be transferred to hotel and have a rest for the next day.

After breakfast at hotel we late check out and then we are going to have free time shopping local souveniers at Grand Bazaar which is the oldest and the biggest shopping center in Turkey. Afterwards we proceed to Taksim Square to enjoy free time experiencing local daily life of Istanbul. Later on we are going to be transferred to airport for the flight back to your country.

Till we meet on another trip…