Iconic Eastern Anatolian Melody: Eastern Express with Flights, Departing from Ankara
Tour Detail
Get ready to discover the captivating atmosphere of Eastern Anatolia. This special program, extending from Van to Kars and from Erzurum to the Eastern Express experience, brings together historic structures, unparalleled natural beauty, and the region’s cultural richness. An unforgettable Eastern Anatolia experience awaits you, where you will create lasting memories with Akdamar Island, Ishak Pasha Palace, the Ruins of Ani, and the Eastern Express journey, with every moment offering a unique discovery.
Ankara - Van - Kars - Erzurum 3 Nights Accommodation Round-Trip| FlightTour Program
Ankara – Van Breakfast – Gevaş – Akdamar Island – Lake Van – Savat Workshop & Cat House – Tuşpa (Van Castle) – Van
“A Cultural Journey in the Footsteps of Civilizations, Along the Shores of Blue Waters”
On the first day of our tour, we meet at Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 05:00 and are ready to complete our check-in procedures. After completing our procedures, we begin our journey toward the enchanting atmosphere of Eastern Anatolia with Ajet Airlines’ 07:50 Esenboğa–Van flight. Following our approximately two-hour flight, we arrive in Van. At the airport exit, we meet our tour vehicle and guide waiting for us and head to our restaurant for an optional local Van breakfast. After a magnificent breakfast filled with local flavors, we set off toward Gevaş. During our pleasant journey accompanied by the endless blue waters of Lake Van, we witness the fascinating scenery of this unique natural wonder, which the local people call the “Van Sea.” With its saline structure and volcanic mountains surrounding it, Lake Van is one of the most important elements of the region’s geographical and cultural identity. After arriving in Gevaş, we depart on the boats waiting for us for our optional tour toward Akdamar Island, rising like a pearl in the middle of the lake. During our boat journey, we experience unforgettable moments accompanied by the tranquility of the lake and the silhouettes of the surrounding mountains. When we reach the island, the Church of Akdamar, commissioned in the 10th century by King Gagik I of Vaspurakan, welcomes us. One of the finest examples of medieval Armenian architecture, this structure draws attention with its reliefs adorning the exterior walls, stonework depicting scenes from the Bible, and architectural details. At the same time, the legend of Tamar, identified with the island, has enabled love and sorrow to be passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Accompanied by our guide’s explanations, we witness how art, faith, and emotion have been immortalized on this small island. After our visit to the island, we return to Gevaş by boat. Upon our return, we take a pleasant optional lunch break accompanied by views of the lake. This break, enjoyed with the cool breeze of Lake Van, becomes one of the most peaceful moments of the day. After our lunch break, we continue toward Van city center. Along the way, we stop at a workshop where we will learn more about savat craftsmanship, one of the region’s important handicrafts. This delicate art, created by working a black alloy onto silver, has been kept alive for centuries as a combination of patience, skill, and aesthetic understanding. While learning the intricacies of this special craft from its masters, shopping opportunities are also offered to guests who wish to do so. We then visit the Van Cat House, one of Van’s symbols, known for its distinctive local characteristics. We have the opportunity to see and photograph Van cats, famous for their one blue and one amber-colored eye, up close. Our next stop is Van Castle, the most important structure of Tuşpa, the capital of the Urartian Kingdom. Built in the 9th century BC by Urartian King Sarduri I, this magnificent castle draws attention with its commanding position over the Van Plain. Built on a rocky hill, this structure is one of the most important works that carry the Urartians’ advanced stonework and military architectural understanding into the present day. Through our guide’s explanations, we learn more about the traces and historical significance of the Urartian civilization in the region. Before heading to the city center, we visit Urartu Carpet, one of the region’s important representatives of carpet and rug weaving. Here, we have the opportunity to learn more about the meanings of traditional motifs and weaving techniques. After hearing about the cultural heritage behind each knot, we take a short break. We then head to our shop, where we can find many varieties of local products and become closely acquainted with Van’s regional flavors. We take our shopping break by examining karakovan honey, which is difficult to find elsewhere in Turkey, and varieties of cheese unique to the region. After completing our shopping, we proceed to our hotel. Following our day immersed in history, nature, and culture, we settle into our hotel. We enjoy our dinner at our hotel, where local flavors are served, and end our day on a pleasant note. Overnight stay and dinner at our hotel.
Dining and Accommodation Information:
Breakfast: A local Van breakfast will be served at a restaurant in Van (Optional/at an Additional Cost)
Lunch: Will be served at a restaurant in Gevaş (Optional/at an Additional Cost)
Dinner: Will be served at the hotel as an open buffet or set menu (Included in the Tour Price)
Accommodation: Van / Edens Hotel, Reform Hotel, Van Life Hotel, Karaca Hotel, Roccia DownTown Hotel Van, and similar hotels.
Van–Muradiye Waterfall–Doğubayazıt–İshak Pasha Palace–Tuzluca Salt Cave–Ruins of Ani–Kars
“From the Enthusiasm of Water to the Silence of Stone, A Civilization Journey Beyond Borders”
On the second day of our tour, after having an open-buffet breakfast at our hotel, we depart from Van and set our course for Muradiye Waterfall, one of nature’s most impressive destinations. Brought to life by the rushing waters of the Bendi Mahi Stream, this unique natural wonder captivates visitors with its frozen appearance especially in winter and its roaring waters in summer. We enjoy the beauty of nature by taking a photo break accompanied by the waterfall’s cool breeze. After our break, we continue our journey toward Doğubayazıt. Our first stop is Ishak Pasha Palace, one of the most magnificent structures in Eastern Anatolia. Construction of this splendid palace began in the 17th century and was completed in approximately 99 years; it is one of the rare works that carries traces of Ottoman, Seljuk, and Persian architecture side by side. While touring the palace, which draws attention with its central heating system considered advanced for its time, we feel the elegance and power of the Ottoman Empire in the east as we visit the harem, selamlık, mosque, courtyards, and mausoleum sections. From the palace terrace, we view the Doğubayazıt Plain from above and immortalize this unique panorama. After our palace visit, we take a lunch break. We have our meal at a restaurant with an atmosphere reflecting the Iranian and Eastern Anatolian culture of the region. After the meal, we take a short shopping break at the carpet store located at the same site, giving us the opportunity to get to know more closely the art of carpets and kilims, an important part of Iranian and Eastern culture. Following our shopping break, we have some free time at Doğubayazıt Kaçakçılar Bazaar, which bears vivid traces of border trade. Afterwards, subject to the participation of all our guests, we visit Tuzluca Salt Cave in Tuzluca. Notable for its natural rock salt formations, this cave is one of the region’s interesting destinations, both for its visual richness and its clean air. During a short walk inside the cave, we observe salt layers in different shades of color. Continuing our tour, we set out toward the Ruins of Ani, which stretch along the deep valley of the Arpaçay and were once known as the “City of 1,001 Churches.” Located on the banks of the Arpaçay, which forms a natural border, this ancient city is a unique open-air museum housing traces of Armenian, Georgian, Byzantine, and Seljuk civilizations side by side. During our tour with our guide, we discover the traces of this multilayered civilization by viewing the Cathedral of Ani, the Tigran Honents Church, the Menucehr Mosque, and other important structures panoramically. Carrying the traces of different beliefs and cultures in each of its stones, Ani impressively makes us feel how history has accumulated layer upon layer. After our visit to Ani, we depart for Kars and check into our hotel. Overnight accommodation and dinner at our hotel.
Dining and Accommodation Information
Breakfast: Open-buffet or set-menu breakfast at the hotel (Included in the Tour Price)
Lunch: Will be served at a restaurant in Doğubayazıt (Extra/Optional)
Dinner: Will be served at the hotel as an open buffet or set menu (Included in the Tour Price)
Accommodation: Kars / Işıl Park Hotel, Büyük Kale Hotel, The Kars Park Hotel, Sapran Hotel, and similar hotels.
Kars – New Redoubt – Caucasus Front War History Museum – Kars Castle – Kümbet Mosque – Kars Gruyère – Kars City Center
From Fronts to Cities, a Journey Through History Carved in Stone
On the third day of our tour, we begin our city tour after having an open buffet breakfast at our hotel. This ancient city has hosted many civilizations throughout history, serving as one of the most important cultural stops not only in Anatolia but also at the gateway to the Caucasus. First, we visit the tomb of Hasan Harakani, one of the spiritual figures of the 11th century. One of the important figures in the Sufi tradition in Anatolia, Harakani is considered one of the symbols of the understanding that “let people live so that the state may live” and holds an important place in Kars’s spiritual identity. Then, we see the Kümbet Mosque, one of the most important structures in the medieval history of Kars. Built as a church during the Bagratid Kingdom in the 10th century, this structure was converted into a mosque centuries later, becoming one of the rare examples where different faiths meet within the same architecture. Afterwards, we enjoy a panoramic view of Kars Castle, one of the city’s symbols. Founded during the Seljuk period in the 12th century, this castle has served as a defensive point throughout the city’s history due to its commanding position over the Kars Plain. We continue our tour with Yeni Tabya, built for strategic defense purposes during the Ottoman period and one of the most important lines of Kars’s defense. This structure played a critical role in the defense of the region, particularly during the Ottoman-Russian wars in the 19th century, and has survived to the present day as one of the most important examples of military architecture. We then visit the Kars Caucasus Front War History Museum, which bears the traces of the Caucasus Front. Here, we witness the region’s recent history through documents, military equipment, and reenactments from World War I and the Ottoman-Russian wars. During a short walk in the city center, we closely observe the streets shaped by Kars’s stone architecture and its historical texture. During our lunch break, we have the opportunity to discover the rich culinary culture that developed under the influence of Kars’s geographical conditions. Cheese varieties, which emerged particularly as a result of livestock-based production, are among the region’s most important gastronomic values. After the meal, we receive information about the production process of gravyer and kashar cheeses, two of Kars’s best-known local products, and take a tasting and shopping break at a location offering regional products. We then move to our hotel for a short rest. Later in the day, guests who wish may join the optional Dinner and Caucasian Night program. Accompanied by Caucasian folk dances, local melodies, and flavors from the regional cuisine, we have the opportunity to experience the cultural richness of this region in an entertaining atmosphere. Dinner is not included in the tour fee for tonight’s accommodation. Guests who do not participate in the Caucasian Night program may enjoy dinner freely according to their personal preferences. Overnight at our hotel in Kars.
Food, Beverage and Accommodation Information:
Breakfast: Open buffet or set-menu breakfast at the hotel (Included in the Tour Fee)
Lunch: At a restaurant in Kars (Extra/Optional)
Dinner: During the Dinner and Caucasian Night program (Extra/Optional)
Accommodation: Kars / Işıl Park Hotel, Büyük Kale Hotel, The Kars Park Hotel, Sapran Hotel, or similar hotels.
Kars – Eastern Express Experience – Erzurum – Twin Minaret Madrasa – Three Tombs – Cağ Kebab – Taşhan – Oltu Stone – Istanbul
“Time Flowing on the Rails, Civilization Living in the Stones”
On the fourth day of our tour, after having breakfast at our hotel, we depart for Kars Train Station to embark on one of Anatolia’s most nostalgic journeys. Our journey between Kars and Erzurum aboard the scheduled Eastern Express, departing at 08:00 with standard coach seating, offers not merely transportation but an experience in its own right. As we travel along the rails, endless steppes, snow-covered mountains, frozen streams and small Anatolian settlements flow before our eyes like a tableau viewed through glass. This fairytale-like journey allows us to closely experience the harsh yet equally poetic geography of Eastern Anatolia. After arriving at Erzurum Train Station, we meet our waiting vehicle and begin our city tour. We set out to discover Erzurum, standing tall on Anatolia’s high plateau and drawing attention with its deep-rooted history. Our first stop is the Yakutiye Medrese, which has survived from the Ilkhanid period to the present day. Reflecting the elegance of Seljuk–Ilkhanid art with its stone decorations on the portal, this structure takes us back to the world of learning in the 14th century. We then move forward to the Ottoman period and visit the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque. A work by Mimar Sinan, this mosque is one of the simple yet impressive examples of classical Ottoman architecture. In the middle of our city tour, we take a break for Cağ Kebab (extra), one of the first delicacies that comes to mind when Erzurum is mentioned. We have the opportunity to experience this unique delicacy, cooked over a wood fire and served on skewers, at a traditional venue. Following our meal break, we head to the Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai (Taşhan), one of the important stops of the Silk Road in Anatolia. During our free time here, you may visit the workshops producing Oltu stone, which has become a symbol of Erzurum, and learn more closely about the story of this precious stone shaped by the hands of master craftsmen. We continue our tour with the Twin Minaret Madrasa, one of the city’s most magnificent structures. One of the most impressive examples of Seljuk stonework, this building is regarded as a symbol of Erzurum. Afterwards, we visit the Three Tombs. Among the most elegant funerary monuments of medieval Turkish architecture, these structures reflect the aesthetic understanding of the period and its belief in the afterlife. A short walk through the streets of Erzurum, which still preserve their historic texture, gives us the opportunity to observe the city’s traditional architecture and daily life. At the end of the day, we depart for Erzurum Airport. We begin our return journey on AJet Airlines’ scheduled 21:25 Erzurum–Ankara flight. We bid farewell to you, our valued guests, hoping to meet again on another cultural journey.
Dining and Accommodation Information:
Breakfast: Open buffet or set-menu breakfast at the hotel (Included in the Tour Price)
Lunch: Cağ Kebab menu will be served in Erzurum (Extra/Optional)
Dinner: No dinner will be organized on the return day
Accommodation: There is no accommodation on the return day.
General Information
Child Discount and Circular Rules
The child discount is valid for the age range of 7–12.
The tour circular is valid as of its publication date, 19.01.2026. Circulars published on later dates for the same tour invalidate the previous circular.
Mandatory additional services are included in the tour price.
Important Information About Tours Including Flights
- For tours including flights, all procedures related to flights are subject to the provisions of the airline agreement.
- Cancellation insurance does not cover air transportation.
- A tiered pricing system is applied; the advertised prices start from the lowest class.
- Economy-class flights are used in tour programs including flights.
- Flight tickets are issued together as round-trip tickets. If the outbound flight is not used, the return flight also becomes invalid in accordance with the airlines’ “sequential use” rule. Therefore, participation only in the return flight is not possible.
Museum – Archaeological Site – National Park Entrance Fees
All museum, archaeological site and national park entrance fees are the responsibility of our guests. At museums and archaeological sites where the Müzekart is valid, our guests may obtain a card from Müzekart sales points before or during the tour in order to benefit from its advantages.
Package Price Inclusions
Our package tour prices include hotel accommodation, transportation and the sightseeing tours specified in the program.
Rest Stops
Breaks are taken at rest facilities along the route. Due to crowding, renovations or similar force majeure reasons, rest stops may be changed provided that they are equivalent in terms of service quality and location.
Extra Tours and Program Flow
The night tours and extra excursions included in the tour program are arranged depending on the number of participants and the availability of the assigned personnel. Extra tours conducted en route may take place even if not all guests participate. Guests who do not wish to join the extra tour will be directed by our guide to rest areas before the city entrances or to city centers. In this case, guests who agree to wait at the rest area will be considered to have participated in the tour.
Due to weather conditions, road conditions or similar reasons, the guide may change the order of the program (visiting points within the day or between days) if deemed necessary.
Go-Turkey cannot be held responsible for points that cannot be visited despite being included in the program due to force majeure (weather conditions, road conditions, crowds at visiting points, etc.) or because guests fail to comply with the timings provided by the guide.
Health Notification
Our guests must carry with them any reports and information concerning health problems they may experience during the tour, pregnancy, or medications they regularly use.
Accommodation Information
The hotel names specified in the program are the primary accommodation facilities. Hotels may be changed depending on availability. If requested, information about the hotel where guests will stay is shared with them no later than 48 hours before the tour departure. If the hotel is changed due to crowding or force majeure reasons, provided that the standards remain the same, our guests will be informed by Go-Turkey representatives.
Important Notes
- On tours including flights, flight delays may occur due to congestion.
- Night tours are extra and are arranged according to participation.
Vehicles Used
Tour vehicles are planned as follows according to the number of participants:
Bus (28–46 people):
Mercedes Travego / Tourismo, Neoplan Cityliner / Tourliner, Mitsubishi Safir
(ABS, ASR, air conditioning, monitor, refrigerator, kitchen unit, reading lamps, announcement system, CD/DVD)
Midibus (17–27 people):
Isuzu Turkuaz
(ABS, ASR, air conditioning, monitor, refrigerator, announcement system)
Minibus (up to 16 people):
VW Volt, VW Volt EL, Mercedes Sprinter, Mercedes Sprinter EL
(Specially designed reclining seats, ABS, ASR, air conditioning, refrigerator, announcement system)
Recommendations
- Clothing and footwear suitable for the geographical structure and weather conditions of the tour region should be preferred.
- It is recommended that you bring the necessary charging equipment for taking photographs and videos.
- Regularly used medications should not be forgotten; allergic, chronic or hereditary conditions should be reported to the guide.
- Personal care products, a backpack and personal items that will make the journey more enjoyable should be kept with you.
- For programs including boat tours and swimming breaks, it is recommended that you bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and similar beach equipment.
The tour program and explanations above have been prepared originally by Go-Turkey. They may not be copied, reproduced or published without permission. The program has been arranged in accordance with Law No. 6502 on the Protection of the Consumer and should be evaluated as a whole.
Ankara Esenboğa Airport