Eastern Express Turkey's Rooftop Van Kars Erzurum Tour
Tour Program
Breakfast in Van, Tushpa Castle, Lake Van, Savat Workshop and Cat House, Gevaş, Van Castle, Akdamar Island Boat Tour, Gagik Church
Breakfast in Van, Tuspa Castle, Lake Van, Savat Workshop and Cat House, Gevaş, Van Castle, Akdamar Island Boat Tour, Gagik Church
For Pegasus Airlines flight 07:05 – Van, at least 2 hours before the flight time, after arriving at Sabiha Gökçen Airport and completing your check-in procedures, after your flight which will take approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, we meet our guide waiting for us at Van Airport and start our Eastern Express Turkey’s Roof Van Kars Erzurum Tour. We start the day with Van’s famous Van breakfast (Extra). After our Van Breakfast break, after receiving information about the art of Savat, which is made with black-colored savat mud, an alloy obtained from copper, lead, and sulfur applied on silver and derived from the word “Esvad,” meaning “black” in Arabic, and after seeing the Van Cats, a rare cat breed, we panoramically view Van Castle, which was built by Urartian King Sarduri I between 840-825 BC, overlooking the Urartian capital Tuspa from above, with a length of 1800 m, a width of 120 m, and a height of 80 m. Leaving Van, we board our boat in Gevaş, located at the foot of Mount Artos, an extinct volcano at an altitude of 3550 m, and accompanied by our guide, after an approximately 30-minute journey on Lake Van, whose water is salty and soda-rich, at an altitude of 1646 m and with a width of 120 km and a width of 80 km, we reach Akdamar Island, Tamara’s Island. After our visit to Gagik Church, which King Gagik I of Vaspurakan had built for Priest Manuel between 915-921 in the name of the Holy Cross, we complete our tour by boat (Extra), then return to Gevaş and board our vehicle to go to our hotel. We arrive at our hotel in Van. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel
Breakfast: Van - Sütçü / Van Breakfast
Lunch: Will be taken freely in Van (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in our prices.
Accommodation: Van - City Hotels
Accommodation: Van Hotels
Accommodation: Van Hotels
Muradiye Waterfall, Tendürek Pass, Mount Ararat, Doğubeyazıt, Tuzluca Cave, Digor, Kars Castle, Hasan Harakani Tomb, Kümbet Mosque, Stone Bridge, Ishak Pasha Palace
Van Muradiye Waterfall, Tendürek Pass, Mount Ararat, Doğubeyazıt, Tuzluca Cave, Digor, Kars Castle, Hasan Harakani Tomb, Kümbet Mosque, Stone Bridge, Ishak Pasha Palace
On the 2nd day of our Eastern Express Turkey’s Roof Van Kars Erzurum Tour, after the breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, we will stop for a photo break at Muradiye Waterfall, which takes its name from Sultan Murat IV, who set out on the Baghdad campaign, and falls from an altitude of approximately 50 m on the Bend-i Mahi Stream. After our break, when we reach Doğubayazıt, which has continuously developed as a customs center on the Trabzon road line, with a name similar to Çaldıran, located near the city of Maku within Iranian borders, we will see the Ishak Pasha Palace, whose construction began in 1685 by Çolak Abdi Pasha of the Çıldır Atabegs and was completed in 1784, 99 years later, during the time of Küçük İshak Pasha from the same lineage, with 366 rooms, the first structure in the world to use a wall-based central heating system, the Milk Fountain said to have milk flowing from one tap and water from the other, the Court Hall, the Dungeons, and the Harem and Selamlık sections, then after the Lunch to be served in Doğubayazıt we pass by Mount Ararat, the highest in Turkey at 5137 m, which last became active in 1840, and visit Iğdır, named after Iğdır Bey, the eldest son of Deniz Khan, who was one of the six sons of Oghuz Khan; Tuzluca, whose name was changed to Kulp due to the salt mine covering 35 acres; and the Tuzluca cave, which has recently been widely mentioned (Extra), then we continue to Digor, established on the slopes of the volcanic Yağlıca Mountain at 2961 m, and head toward Dağpınar to arrive in Kars, which remained under Russian control for about 40 years after the war known as the War of 93, fought between 1877 and 1878, and begin our City Tour. We see the Hasan Harakani Tomb, who lived between 963-1033 and was martyred in Kars after being wounded in a battle with the Byzantine army at the foot of Yahni Mountain; Kümbet Mosque, built by Bagratid King Abbas between AD 932-937 and used as a mosque since 1993; and Stone Bridge, built in 1579 by Lala Mustafa Pasha on the orders of Ottoman Sultan Murat III; after a panoramic view of Kars Castle, built in 1152 by Vezir Firuz Akay on the orders of Sultan Melik Izzetin, we arrive at our hotel in Kars. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.
Breakfast: Will be served as an open buffet at the hotel.
Lunch: Doğubayazıt - Ararat Restaurant / Abdigör Menu
Dinner: Will be served at the hotel and is included in our prices.
Accommodation: Kars - Sapran Hotel
Accommodation: Kars Hotels
Accommodation: Kars Hotels
Ani Ruins, Menucerh Mosque, Cathedral, Bloody Bastion, Lake Çıldır, Sledding on Lake Çıldır with Horse-Drawn Sleds, Kars Cheese Shopping, Caucasian Night, Ashik Contest
Ani Ruins, Menuçerh Mosque, Cathedral, Kanlı Tabya, Lake Çıldır, Sleigh Enjoyment on Lake Çıldır with Horse-Drawn Sleighs, Kars Cheese Shopping, Caucasian Night, Aşık Improvisation
On the 3rd day of our Eastern Express Turkey’s Roof Van Kars Erzurum Tour, after the breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, we leave Kars, which was left to the Ottomans by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk made after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1918 and became the capital of the Armenian Dynasty, and reach Ani, which was conquered by Sultan Alparslan in 1064 after a 25-day siege, where the Illustrated Church built in 1215 by an Ani merchant named Tigran Honents, the Great Cathedral whose foundations were laid by the Bagratid King Sembat II in 990 AD but completed in 1001 by his wife Queen Katranide after the king’s death, and Menuçerh Mosque, built in 1072 by Ebu’l Menuçehr Bey and bearing the distinction of being the first Turkish mosque in Anatolia, are located. After finishing our visits, we reach Kars and visit the Caucasian Front War History Museum, which was built in 1803 as “Yeni Tabya” during the reign of Sultan Selim III, used for repelling the Russian attack in 1828, winning the Kars Victory in 1855, and for defense during the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War. Then, heading toward Arpaçay, traveling along the Arpaçay River, which forms the Turkey-Armenia border, is an important tributary of the Aras River, and has a total length of 186 km, we reach Lake Çıldır, where it originates. With an elevation of 1959 meters above sea level, a deepest point of 42 m, and formed by lava flows as a natural dam lake, Lake Çıldır offers magnificent scenery; in winter, its surface is generally frozen. Our guests who wish may take a horse-drawn sleigh ride on the lake or take plenty of photos. After completing our Lake Çıldır visit, we go to our store where we can shop for local products such as the famous Kars cheese and gravyer, which is a must in Kars. After a presentation and tasting of Kars cheese here, we complete our shopping and proceed to our hotel. With those who wish, we attend the indispensable Caucasian Night of Kars, where we can get to know the region’s culture and taste local foods. Dinner at tonight’s accommodation is not included in the tour price. Guests who do not wish to attend the Caucasian Night can have dinner on their own.
Caucasian Night: At Kale Cafe, Caucasian Show, Aşık Improvisation, Live Music; Fruit Plate, Shelled Pistachios, Baked Gartol; Piti (Bozbash), Local Soup, Yogurt, Pickled Beets, Salad, Çeçil Cheese, Local Halva (Extra)
Breakfast: Will be taken as an open buffet at the hotel.
Lunch: Local meal will be served in Kars Center (Extra)
Dinner: Kars - Kale Cafe / Piti Menu (Extra) (Caucasian Night Program includes dinner.)
Accommodation: Kars - Sapran Hotel
Accommodation: Kars - Sapran Hotel
Traveling from Kars to Erzurum by the Eastern Express Train, Erzurum Congress Building, Three Kümbets, Historic Erzurum Mansion, Yakutiye Madrasa, Atatürk House, Oltu Stone Shopping at Erzurum Taşhan, Çifte Minareli Madrasa, Ulu Mosque
Journey to Kars and Erzurum by the Eastern Express Train, Erzurum Congress Building, Üç Kümbetler, Historic Erzurum Mansion, Yakutiye Madrasa, Atatürk House, Oltu stone shopping at Erzurum Taşhan, Çifte Minareli Madrasa, Grand Mosque
On the 4th day of our Eastern Express Turkey’s Roof Van Kars Erzurum Tour, after the breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, we head to the train station for our Eastern Express train journey waiting for us at 08:00 a.m. and set off towards Erzurum. We arrive in Erzurum, the gateway to Anatolia, which was attached to the Ottoman Empire by Yavuz Sultan Selim in 1517. After the lunch break in Erzurum, we visit from the outside the Çifte Minareli Madrasa, built by Hundi Hatun, daughter of Alaaddin Keykubat, or by Padişah Hatun of the Ilkhanid dynasty; then, after visiting the Grand Mosque, built in 1179 during the reign of Saltuklu Melik Nasirüddin Muhammed Bey, we continue our journey to Erzurum Airport after shopping for Oltu Stone at Taş Han, built in 1561 by Rüstem Pasha, the grand vizier and also the son-in-law of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, known to be beneficial for rheumatic pain and to significantly strengthen the nervous system. We complete our check-in procedures for our 21:55 Sabiha Gökçen flight operated by Pegasus Airlines and begin our flight to Istanbul. At the end of our 1.5-hour journey, we arrive at Sabiha Gökçen Airport and complete our tour. We bid farewell to see you again in another Turlasana.com organization with our valued guests.
Breakfast: Will be Served as an Open Buffet at the Hotel.
Lunch: Cağ Kebab Menu in Erzurum Will Be Served on a Free Basis (Extra)
Dinner: Erzurum - Free Time
Accommodation: Not Included
What's Included
- 3 Nights Accommodation in Hotels
- Mandatory Travel Insurance No. 1618
- All Surrounding Tours Included in the Program
- Ferry, Parking, Highway and Bridge Fees
- Professional Guidance and Escort Services
- Transportation by Luxury Vehicles and Onboard Water Service
- 3 Breakfasts to be Taken at the Hotels
- 2 Dinners to be Taken at the Hotels
- Pulman (Seated) Train Ticket between Kars - Erzurum
- Istanbul / Van - Economy Class Outbound Ticket with Pegasus Airlines
- Erzurum / Istanbul - Economy Class Return Ticket with Pegasus Airlines.
Not Included
- All Lunches
- All Personal Expenses
- 1 Dinner in Kars
- Drinks Taken During All Meals
- All Museum and Archaeological Site Entrance Fees
- All Extra Specified Activities
- Breakfast on the First Day and Dinner on the Last Day
- Transfer from Sabiha Gökçen Airport
General Information
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The balloon watching tour is not operated because balloons do not take off when weather conditions are not suitable. This activity is carried out by renting a tour vehicle or a vehicle different from the tour vehicle; if there is not enough participation or if a different vehicle is not available, this extra tour may not take place.
The specified extra tour, activities, and programs may or may not be carried out depending on the density of the regions and the timing of the tour program; the guide reserves the right not to run extra programs and activities when deemed appropriate. If there is not enough participation, the specified extra tour and activities may not be carried out. In such cases, the fee collected for the extra activity or program will be refunded in full or with a certain discount (for reasons such as adverse weather conditions or similar force majeure, or if the activity area was visited and a reservation had to be made there).
During the tour, a specific seat number promise or guarantee cannot be given under any circumstances. Please do not insist.
Our vehicles depart from the designated departure points for each tour at the specified times; please be ready at the departure point at least 5 minutes before departure time. Our vehicles depart at the scheduled time. Guests who are late and cannot join the tour cannot make any claims.
Before the tour participation date, the contact number of the tour staff will be sent as a text message to the phone number you provided during reservation. Please make sure that the contact number you provided is correct. Otherwise, responsibility lies with you.
In cases where children under 18, who are not considered adults, do not join the tour with one or both of their mother or father, the consent forms required for tour participation must be carried with them during the trip.
If the Guide deems it necessary due to adverse weather conditions, heavy traffic, the density of places to visit in the region, etc., they have the right to make changes to the timing, program flow, and the area to be visited, provided that the tour program is carried out. Hotels specified in the program may be changed as long as they are similar in terms of standards and location.
Our tour is a package consisting of guiding, transportation, accommodation, and local excursions, and cannot be considered separately. Unused transportation, accommodation, local excursions, etc. rights are non-refundable. If a sufficient majority is not reached, provided that guests who purchased the package are informed in advance, the tour may be postponed to a different date, guests may be transferred to a different tour program, or the tour may be canceled and the fees of the guests who made the purchase will be refunded. In such a case, our Agency is obliged to inform our guests personally 1 (one) day in advance. The minimum number of participants is 25 people.
Turlasana.com is definitely not responsible for places that cannot be visited in our tour program due to force majeure (weather, road, crowded visiting areas, places/regions closed due to special days or renovation works, etc.) or because our guests do not comply with the timings given by our guide.
When the agency does not reach the required number, in order not to cancel the tour, it may send its guests to a different agency with the same or a similar tour program, so that our guests can carry out the tour program they purchased without their vacation plan being disrupted.
The return times of tours may vary depending on traffic density; no exact or definite return time is given.
For tours with accommodation, the 0–6 age child discount applies for one child accompanied by two adults.
Our foreign guests who are not citizens of the Republic of Turkey do not pay any additional difference on this tour. Since the museum card application is special to citizens of the Republic of Turkey, a museum card is not issued. The latest published circular supersedes the previous circular.
Additional Information
Additional Information
RECOMMENDATIONS
Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers should be preferred during the trip.
Do not forget to bring a cardigan or similar clothing for the night, lip balm and a hat since we will do all our trips during the day, a small bag for your shopping, and of course most importantly a camera, spare memory card, charging kit, and spare battery.
RESERVATION DETAILS
As a result of the reservation you made online, your Tour Registration approval will be sent to the email address you specified.
After the Tour Registration approval reaches you, you can participate in our tour. Guests who do not receive the tour approval email cannot participate in our tour.
During reservation, please provide us with your Turkish ID number and your date of birth as day, month, and year.
It is mandatory to provide the necessary contact information for the person for whom the reservation is made. Turlasana.com is not responsible for any possible problems that may arise if incomplete information is provided to us.
VEHICLES TO BE USED
Our vehicles used in tours are determined according to the number of people and road conditions, as well as regional conditions; no promise can be made regarding the type of vehicles to be used in tours.
All vehicles used in our tours are tourism vehicles.
For 38 people and above, Otokar Doruk, Mercedes Travego – Tourismo, Man Fortuna, Mitsubishi Safir, Neoplan Tourliner-Cityliner; up to 31 people, luxury Otokar Sultan Maxi; up to 27 people, luxury Isuzu Novo – Isuzu Turkuaz - Otokar Sultan; up to 15 people, luxury Mercedes Sprinter – Volkswagen Crafter vehicles are used.