Tourist Eastern Express
Tour Detail
TOUR PROGRAM
DAY 1: Friday, 29 January 2027 | DEPARTURE FROM KAYSERİ
We begin our tour at 17:00 by departing in our bus from in front of our Extragezi Travel Agency. After a journey of approximately 3.5 hours, we arrive at Kayseri Train Station at 20:30. Boarding our waiting train, we begin our tour of the Tourist Eastern Express, a magnificent winter fairytale, and head towards Kars.
Accommodation: Special luxury 2-person sleeper compartment on the train. (The compartment has 2 separate beds with clean linens, a sink, a refrigerator, a table and a wardrobe.)
Each carriage has 2 WC facilities.
DAY 2: Saturday, 30 January 2027 | ERZINCAN – ERZURUM – KARS
With the rising of the morning sun, we are greeted by the breathtaking beauty of pristine, enchanting nature that you will never forget. Watching these scenes, we rest our spirits. Then at 07:55 we arrive in Erzincan. Here we take a 2 hour 30 minute break. Boarding our waiting bus, we first head to our restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast we return to our train and our journey continues.
At noon, on the train, in a night-party format with meatballs (çiğ köfte) and a music and entertainment program, we have a wonderful time and enjoy the pleasures of the Tourist Eastern Express. In the afternoon we pull into Erzurum Train Station. Here we take a 3 hour 30 minute break. Boarding our waiting bus, we begin our sightseeing in Erzurum with our first stop, the Yakutiye Madrasa. Then we visit the Üç Kümbetler, the Çifte Minareli Madrasa and the Ulu Mosque. Afterwards we enjoy a tea and coffee break at an authentic Erzurum House. We end our day with a visit to the Taşhan, where we can see the famous Oltu stone and works made from it, and do some shopping. For dinner we enjoy cağ kebab, an Erzurum essential. Afterwards we return to our train and continue our fun tour from where we left off.
During the journey we spend a pleasant time on the train with music and entertainment activities. At 21:52 we arrive at Kars Train Station. Here we board our waiting bus, head to our hotel where we will stay, and settle into our rooms.
Breakfast: Erzincan Çağlayan Gül Restaurant
Lunch: Meatballs (Çiğ Köfte) in Night-Party Format on the Train
Dinner: Cağ Kebab in Erzurum
Accommodation: Kars (Qrista Managed by Dedeman)
DAY 3: Sunday, 31 January 2027 KARS (Kars Castle, Kümbet Mosque (Church of the 12 Apostles), Kars Taşköprü, Namık Kemal House of Culture, Kars streets, Yemen Coffeehouse, Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Mansion, Fethiye Mosque, Çıldır Lake, Ani Ruins, Surs, Lion Gate, Great Cathedral, Illustrated Church, Seljuk Palace, Menuçehr Mosque)
After breakfast at our hotel, we begin exploring Kars, which is notable for its stone structures built during the Russian administration. First we visit Kars Castle, the Kümbet Mosque (Church of the 12 Apostles) and the Kars Taşköprü. We see the house where our famous poet Namık Kemal once lived, and at the Namık Kemal House of Culture we have the opportunity to listen to the aşık (folk poet) contests and get closer to this important cultural tradition.
Afterwards we give free time to explore the streets of Kars. During this time, guests who wish may shop for Kars' famous cheeses and local honey. After the free time we visit the Yemen Coffeehouse and photograph the historic venue's ceiling decorated with angel figures. Then we see the Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Pasha Mansion and visit the Fethiye Mosque, which was built as a church in the Baltic architectural style during the Russian administration and later converted into a mosque.
Our next stop is Çıldır Lake, which captivates visitors with its surface covered in ice in winter and its unique scenery. On the lake, whose surface can be completely covered with ice in winter months, guests who wish may take a pleasant sleigh ride pulled by horses, weather permitting. Then we have lunch where we can taste the delicious local fish caught using the traditional fishing method of breaking the ice on the lake.
Afterwards we reach the Ani Archaeological Site, located on the banks of the Arpaçay River, which forms the Turkey-Armenia border. In this unique historical area that has hosted many civilizations throughout history, we visit the walls, the Lion Gate, the Great Cathedral, the Illustrated Church, the Seljuk Palace, and the Ebu'l Menuçehr Mosque, which is considered the first mosque built by Turks in Anatolia. After the informative presentations, we take our final photographs at Ani, known as the "Ephesus of the East," and complete our tour.
Then we return to the center of Kars and head to the restaurant where we will have dinner, to taste the local goose meat menu, watch Caucasian dance shows and enjoy a pleasant time.
After dinner and the entertainment program, we sadly complete our tour and begin our return journey to Kahramanmaraş. Following a tradition specific to Kars' cold weather, when conditions allow we throw water into the air, creating ice crystals, and set off on our return route with unforgettable memories.
After a journey of approximately 10 hours, we plan to be in Kahramanmaraş by 11:00 in the morning.
See you on another Extra Happiness filled tour...
Breakfast: At the Hotel (Buffet)
Lunch: Çıldır Lake (Fish Menu)
Dinner: Kars Center (Goose Meat and Caucasian Show Entertainment)
DAY 4: Monday, 01 February 2027 | At 11:00: Kahramanmaraş
Departure Points
- Extragezi Travel Agency
What's Included
- Touristic Eastern Express Ankara–Kars Direction Sleeping Car Compartment Ticket
- Kahramanmaraş–Kayseri and Kars–Kahramanmaraş Bus Transfers
- 1 Night Accommodation at Kars Qrista Managed by Dedeman Hotel
- 2 Breakfasts
- 1 Dinner (Erzurum Cağ Kebab)
- Çiğ Köfte Entertainment Program in the Train Under the Row Night Concept
- Transfers by Luxury Buses, Transportation and All Surrounding Tours
- Professional Guide Services
Not Included
- Ani Archaeological Site Entrance Fee (Free for Teachers and Students; MüzeKart Is Valid.)
- Caucasus Night with Dinner
- Compulsory Travel Insurance Under Law No. 1618
- Fish Menu Lunch at Lake Çıldır