The highly popular Touristic Eastern Express, set to begin its 2024-2025 winter season on December 23, has seen its tickets, priced at 5,250 liras, sell out rapidly. The train will depart from Ankara and conclude its scenic 31-hour journey in Kars, stopping in Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan, and Erzurum along the way.
Kars tourism professionals are gearing up for the influx of visitors, with hotels reporting a surge in reservations. Mehmet Duman, a local tourism expert, highlighted the appeal of the journey, which showcases UNESCO-listed Ani Archaeological Site, Baltic architecture, Lake Çıldır, and Sarıkamış’s crystal snow.
Tour operators are offering package deals, including tours, accommodation, and flights, ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 liras. The route, ranked among the world’s four most beautiful railway journeys, continues to draw interest from photographers, hikers, and travel enthusiasts.
Işık Çapanoğlu – Serkan Erkoç