Winter Season / Departure from Ankara / Train-Based Grand Eastern Tour (Bitlis-Van-Dogubayazit-Kars-Erzurum).

Day 1:

ATAKLI TRAIN TRAVEL

 We gather at Ankara Station and begin our journey with the Van Lake Express, departure 11:20. We head towards Tatvan on a pleasant 25-hour trip.

TRAIN INFORMATION;

Sleeper Compartment (2-person)

Pet Carrier Sleeper Compartment (3 and 4-person)

The train has a restaurant section, and you can also purchase food and drinks from outside.

 Accommodation: SLEEPER TRAIN

Day 2:

TATVAN - AHLAT SELCUKID TOMBSTONES - AHLAT RUINED CITY - BITLIS

We board our vehicle waiting for us in Tatvan at 13:00, stop for lunch first, and then arrive in Ahlat. We visit the Ahlat Seljuk Tombs, which is the largest Turkish-Islamic cemetery from the early period. Here, among the tombstones, each of which is monumental and some reaching up to three and a half meters in height, you may feel as if you are walking through an open-air museum. After enjoying our time in Ahlat, we depart for Tatvan and check into our hotel there. Dinner is served at the hotel.

BREAKFAST: TRAIN (EXTRA)

LUNCH: TATVAN (EXTRA)

DINNER: TATVAN HOTEL (INCLUDED)

ACCOMMODATION: TAVAN CRATER HOTEL 4*

Day 3:

AKDAMAR CHURCH - VAN CASTLE (PANORAMIC) - CAT HOUSE - GREAT URARTU MUSEUM - SILVER ATOLYESI - VAN CITY CENTER

After breakfast at the hotel buffet, we head towards Akdamar Island. With the unique views of Lake Van, we reach Edremit and then Gevaş. At 12:00, we board our boat (EXTRA) to reach one of the five islands in the middle of Lake Van that is alive with life, and Akdamar Island and the Church of Gagik, one of the most important structures in Christian history, are next on our list. After learning about the sad story of the lovers who could not be together on Akdamar Island and the history of the magnificent church named after King Gagik, and listening to our guide explain the sacred texts depicted in the wall reliefs, which are among the finest examples of Armenian stone craftsmanship in the world, we board our boat again and return to Gevaş. We will have our lunch by the shore of Lake Van. Those who wish can taste the famous pearl mullet specific to Van. After lunch, we first visit Tuşpa Castle, the ancient settlement. While our guide provides information about this civilization at the foot of the castle where the capital of the Urartian Kingdom was established, those guests who wish can take photos of the magnificent view of Lake Van from the top of the castle during sunset hours, and others can enjoy their tea during the free time we provide at the foot of the castle. Afterwards, we visit the Van Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, considered one of the best examples of modern museology, where artifacts remaining from the Urartu Civilization, which dominated this region approximately 3000 years ago, and many artifacts from various periods coming from Hakkari and the entire Eastern Anatolia region are exhibited. Witnessing different periods of history while visiting the museum and being enchanted by the displayed artifacts will greatly affect you. After the museum visit, following a short break we will provide, we visit the Van Cat House and settle into our hotel. 

BREAKFAST: HOTEL BUFFET

LUNCH: EXTRA

DINNER: HOTEL (INCLUDED)

ACCOMMODATION VAN KARACA HOTEL 4*

 Accommodation: VAN

Day 4

MURADİYE WATERFALL - TENDÜREK MOUNTAIN - VIEW OF AGRI DAĞI - ISHAK PASHA PALACE - AHMEDİ HANI MAUSOLEUM - DOĞUBEYAZIT SMUGGLERS BAZAAR

After having our buffet breakfast, we leave our hotel and head towards Doğubeyazıt. After taking a photo break at Muradiye Waterfall on the Bendi Mahi River, we will see the solidified lavas while passing through Tendürek Mountain Pass (2644 m) and the areas where battles took place, which hold an important place in history, while passing through the Çaldıran Plain. We continue our way towards Doğubayazıt. We fall under the mesmerizing influence of Holy Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in our country with its height of 5137 m, and after the photo break we provide, we arrive in Doğubeyazıt. After our lunch break, we visit Ishak Pasha Palace, built in 1685 by II. İshak Paşa and Çolak Abdi Paşa from the Chıldiroğulları family and given its final form in 1784, which is the last great monument of the Ottoman Empire during the Tulip Era. After visiting the mausoleum of Ahmed-i Hani, we give free time in the Doğubeyazıt Bazaar, then board our bus and move towards Kars, the largest city of the Middle Ages, following the Armenia border, and then settle into our hotel.

BREAKFAST: HOTEL BUFFET

LUNCH: EXTRA

DINNER: HOTEL (INCLUDED)

ACCOMMODATION :KARS ARIFOĞLU HOTEL 4* 

 Accommodation: KARS

Day 5:

ÇILDIR LAKE - ANI RUINS - KARS CITY CENTER  

After breakfast at our hotel, we head towards Ani. The Great Cathedral, Painted Church, Seljuk Palace, Menuçehr Mosque (the first mosque built in Anatolia), etc., are just a few of the historical monuments we will see here. After the explanations, after photographing Turkey's easternmost historical city one last time, our journey begins towards Lake Çıldır, the highest lake in Eastern Anatolia. During our time by the lake, those guests who wish can take a sled tour with horse-drawn sleds. (Sled tours can be done when the lake freezes.) (Extra) Afterwards, we eat our lunch consisting of fish caught by breaking the lake ice and arrive in central Kars. We visit the Fethiye Mosque, one of the finest examples of Russian Baltic architecture. Then we give free time in the streets of Kars. Afterwards, we go to a local products store where you can buy Kars' famous cheeses and honey. We give free time in the streets until evening where you will see the best examples of Russian architecture covered in snow.. Afterwards, we head to our hotel.

We go to watch the Caucasus Night with guests who wish. (extra)

BREAKFAST: HOTEL (INCLUDED)

LUNCH: KARS (EXTRA)

DINNER: CAUCASUS NIGHT (EXCLUDED)

ACCOMMODATION: KARS ARIFOĞLU HOTEL 4*

 Accommodation: KARS

Day 6

SARIKAMIŞ-ERZURUM CITY- ERZURUM HOUSES-YAKUTYE

KARS CITY CENTER - KARS CASTLE (PANORAMIC) - SARIKAMIŞ - ERZURUM DOUBLE MINARE - GRAND MOSQUE - ERZURUM HOUSES - THREE DOME TOMB - YAKUTİYE MADRASA - OLTUCALARS BAZAAR - ERZURUM FREE TIME

After the buffet breakfast at the hotel, we start exploring Kars. We visit Kars Castle (panoramic) and Kümbet Mosque (Church of the 12 Apostles), see the house where our famous poet Namık Kemal lived for a period, and explore the streets of Kars. Afterwards, we visit the martyrs of Sarıkamış and then head to Erzurum.. Our first stop in Erzurum will be the famous Cağ Kebapçısı. After our lunch, we start our tour of Erzurum with Yakutiye Madrasa. Afterwards, we will visit Üç Kümbetler, Çifte Minareli Medrese, and Grand Mosque. After these visits, we take a tea and coffee break in authentic Erzurum Houses. We end our day with a visit to Taş Han, where we can see famous Oltu stone and artworks made from this stone and shop. We head to Erzurum Airport and

✈️Erzurum-Ankara 19:30 (AJET) (OUR FLIGHT TIME MAY VARY ON SOME DAYS.)

✈️Erzurum-Istanbul (saw) 20.25 (OUR GUESTS WHO WANT TO RETURN TO ISTANBUL IN OUR PROGRAM DEPARTING FROM ANKARA MUST INFORM US.)

return by plane..

BREAKFAST: HOTEL (INCLUDED)

LUNCH: ERZURUM (EXTRA)

DINNER: RETURN

ACCOMMODATION: RETURN