Orient Express Tour

The itinerary for the day includes breakfast followed by a full-day city tour. In the morning, we will start with a visit to Hagia Sophia, an iconic architectural masterpiece and one of the largest churches in the world. Next, we will visit Topkapi Palace, a complex of historic structures that served as the residence of Sultans from 1478 to 1856. Our tour will then take us to the Blue Mosque, renowned for its striking architecture featuring six minarets, terraces and domes. In the afternoon, we will visit the Roman Hippodrome, an ancient arena built during the time of Septimus Severus for horse races and circuses that entertained the people of Constantinople for over a millennium. Our final stop will be the Grand Bazaar. After the tour, we will provide a transfer back to your hotel. Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will provide transfer to the airport for a flight to Ankara. Upon arrival in Ankara, we will arrange for transportation to the train station where we will board the Orient Express train to Kars. The sleeper train is scheduled to depart from Ankara at 15:50. Accommodation on the train will be provided in a double room (DBL). Breakfast will be served in the morning, and an additional dinner may be provided. Meal: Breakfast (extra dinner)

After breakfast, we will embark on a sightseeing trip aboard the Orient Express train, which will last approximately 33 hours. The train will make two stops along the way, the first in Iliç-Kemaliye and the second in Erzurum. At the first stop, the train will arrive at Erzincan Station at 07:00 (subject to no delay) and take a break of 3 hours and 20 minutes. Guests will have the option to visit Kemaliye individually during this break. At the second stop, the train will arrive at Erzurum station at 4:30 pm and take a break of 3 hours and 15 minutes for guests to visit the city and try Cağ Kebab, a local specialty dish. We recommend booking the restaurant in advance. Throughout the day, we will travel and enjoy unique landscapes. If there are no delays, the train will arrive in Kars at 23:50. Our tour guide for the Kars region will welcome guests at the Kars train station, and we will provide transfer to the hotel for accommodation. Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Çıldır Lake, one of the most stunning freshwater lakes at high altitudes in the country. Guests will have free time to enjoy the lake, which freezes in winter and offers a unique view. When the lake is frozen, guests can even go sledding on it. Note that the freezing period of Çıldır Lake varies each year, but it is typically frozen between January 10th and March 30th. Afterward, we will return to Kars, where guests can savor local delicacies like goose meat. Kars, also known as "the fortress city" in the eastern part of Türkiye, was a crucial location of resistance against the Russian invasion. During our visit, we will explore landmarks like the Armenian Church of the Holy Apostles (930 AD), the citadel, the bridge, and the Turkish bath from the Ottoman era, as well as the archaeological museum. Guests will also have time to take a walk downtown. The tastes, customs, and architecture of Kars are similar to those in the Caucasus, and the population is a mix of Terekam (a Turkish group) and Kurds. We will have dinner and accommodation in Kars (1750m altitude). Meals: Breakfast, dinner

After a delicious breakfast we will leave for the border with the Armenian Republic. Less than 50km later we will arrive at the ruins of the city of Ani, which was once a very large and very rich town, becoming the capital of Armenia in those days. Now Ani is on the side of the border, at zero point by the Harpa River. Ani is considered as "Ephesus of the East '' because of the extent of ruins and number of monuments from the Middle Ages. We will visit the wonderful walls, several mosques, churches and the Cathedral itself, the Palace, the Turkish baths, etc., in a very particular natural setting. We will continue to the city of Erzurum, where we will stay near the Palandöken mountain. Erzurum was almost always the most important city in Eastern Anatolia given its location between several trade/caravan routes: Trabzon, Persia, Cappadocia, Bagdat and peoples of the Caucasus. The commercial activity of the Turks, Persians and especially Armenians, until the last century, made Erzurum a cosmopolitan commercial city par excellence; here we have examples of Seljuk architecture (Madersa of Çifte Minare - 13th century, Madersa of Yakutiye - 14th century and Ulu Mosque - 12th century), Ottoman architecture (Mustafa Paşa Mosque 16th century) and pre-Seljuk architecture (Mausoleums of Salyu Cida twelfth century). In many buildings, the exterior is beautifully decorated with ceramic/tiling. We will also visit an old market. Dinner and accommodation in Erzurum. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

After breakfast, you will have free time for skiing. Overnight in Erzurum. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. You will be accommodating in Istanbul. Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport for your final departure. Meal: Breakfast