Kars and Van Tour with Flight from Izmir & Eastern Express 3 Nights

VAN – LAKE VAN – AKDAMAR ISLAND - CAT HOUSE - SILVER CRAFTSMANSHIP

Our tour begins in the morning at 07.30 by arriving at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport on our own. We complete our check-in procedures at the airport with our national ID or driver's license. After completing our check-in and passing through security, we arrive in Van with the 09.50 Izmir - Van flight operated by Sunexpress. After meeting our professional guide and tour vehicle waiting for us at Van Ferit Melen Airport, we start exploring our ancient city of Van, known as the "Paris of the East". We continue our tour with the Akdamar Island and Akdamar Church tour (extra), which is the most fascinating structure that comes to mind when Van is mentioned. We listen to the sad story of the star-crossed lovers of Akdamar Island and its historical church, which we will reach with a pleasant half-hour boat trip on Lake Van, and the architectural history of King Gagik's magnificent church from our professional guide. After our Akdamar Island trip, we go to the Van Cat House, one of the city's greatest symbols, where we will see the world-famous Van Cats, which are under protection, up close. After visiting these noble creatures, which are carefully kept in special areas and are forbidden to be taken outside, we stop by a local silver workshop to get information about Savat and Arubani techniques, which are Van's famous Urartian silver arts. We listen to the masters' special presentation at the silver workshop and find the opportunity to shop for unique silver products that will remain as souvenirs for our loved ones. After a pleasant day, we set off for our hotel to rest.

Lunch: Will be taken as an extra.

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Van Hotels etc.

Route: Van - Gevas (70 km) Gevas - Van (70 km) Van City Center (20 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 160 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 18.00

MURADIYE WATERFALL - DOGUBAYAZIT – ISHAK PASHA PALACE – ANI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE - KARS

Our tour begins after the pleasant breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning. Today, we embark on a unique journey where we will watch the magnificent view of Mount Ararat, the highest peak of our country with its majestic height of 5137 meters, all day long. On the first stop of the day, we set off towards the Muradiye district of Van and visit the Muradiye Waterfall, a natural wonder that flows enthusiastically from a height of approximately 20 meters. After walking on the suspension bridge of the waterfall and taking wonderful photos, we start our journey through the Tendurek Mountains, which fascinate with their volcanic formations. The extraordinary geography of the Tendurek Mountains will make you feel as if you are at the top of the world. After crossing these fascinating mountain roads, we reach the historical Dogubayazit, established at the foot of Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in Turkey. In Dogubayazit, we visit the Ishak Pasha Palace, an architectural masterpiece that frequently appears in Turkey's international promotional photos. We explore the harem section, mosque, and courtyards of this palace, which is positioned against the view of Mount Ararat and offers the most beautiful synthesis of Ottoman, Seljuk, and Persian architecture, with the narration of our guide. After our Ishak Pasha Palace trip, we set off towards Kars, the mysterious city of the East, famous for its historical stone houses built in the Baltic architectural style during the Russian occupation. Our first route in the Kars region is the Ani Archaeological Site (Ani Ruins), which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, located on the Armenian border and overlooking the fascinating canyon view of the Arpacay River. In the Ani Archaeological Site, known as the "Ephesus of the East" and the "City of 1001 Churches"; we visit priceless historical ruins such as the magnificent walls, Lion Gate, Great Cathedral (Cathedral of Ani), Church of the Redeemer (Saint Prkich), Seljuk Palace, and the Ebu'l Menucehr Mosque, which has the distinction of being the first mosque built by Turks in Anatolia, accompanied by our guide. After this journey into the depths of history, we end our day by taking our last photos at the Ani Archaeological Site and settle into our hotel in Kars to rest.

Morning Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken as an extra.

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Kars Hotels etc.

Route: Van - Dogubayazit (171 km) Dogubayazit - Kars (189 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 360 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 18.00

LAKE CILDIR – NAMIK KEMAL HOUSE - FETHIYE MOSQUE - CAUCASIAN NIGHT

Our tour begins after the pleasant breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, with our departure towards Lake Cildir, a natural wonder that is the highest lake in the Eastern Anatolia Region. We take a very pleasant and unforgettable sleigh ride on Lake Cildir, which turns into a magnificent whiteness by freezing completely in winter, with traditional horse-drawn sleighs (Extra). After this exciting experience, we have a delicious lunch consisting of the famous yellow fish menu caught with Eskimo-style nets by breaking the thick ice layer of Lake Cildir. After our lunch, we return to Kars city center, which has a rich cultural mosaic. Among the historical points we will discover in the city center within the scope of our Kars cultural tour are the magnificent Kars Castle (Panoramic) overlooking the city from above, and the Kumbet Mosque (Church of the 12 Apostles), which is one of the important structures of Armenian architecture and is used as a mosque today. Then, we see the historical house where our famous poet Namik Kemal, one of the great plane trees of Turkish literature, lived for a period and set out to explore the streets of Kars that smell of history. During our walk in the streets of Kars, we give free time to taste the world-famous delicacies of the city and to shop. During this time, our guests who wish can purchase local products such as geographically indicated Kars gruyere, aged cheddar cheese, and Kars honey with the recommendations of our guide. After a short shopping break, we visit the historical Fethiye Mosque, which was built as a cathedral during the Russian occupation and is one of the most magnificent examples of Baltic architecture in the city. After spending a pleasant free time in the streets containing wide avenues and stone buildings built according to the grid plan system by Russian architects, we meet with our vehicle and set off for our hotel for dinner. In the late hours of the night, we participate in the traditional Kars Caucasian Night (Extra), one of the most enthusiastic events of Eastern Anatolian culture, with our guests who wish. We experience an unforgettable Kars night full of music and entertainment by watching the fascinating Caucasian dance performances exhibited accompanied by the accordion.

Morning Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken at Lake Cildir (Extra).

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Kars Hotels etc.

Route: Kars - Lake Cildir (70 km) Lake Cildir - Kars (70 km) City Tours (30 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 170 km

JOURNEY TO ERZURUM BY EASTERN EXPRESS - YAKUTIYE MADRASAH - TASHAN

Our tour begins after the delicious breakfast we will have at our hotel. At 08.00, we take our seats in the Pullman (seated) wagon of the Eastern Express, one of Turkey's most iconic railway routes, and set off for Erzurum, the land of the dadas. We reach Erzurum after a pleasant train journey of approximately four hours, which we will carry out accompanied by the fascinating winter landscapes of Eastern Anatolia. (In case of possible disruptions in train services, the transfer between Kars and Erzurum will be carried out by our tour vehicle. If the journey is made by vehicle, the Sarikamis Martyrs' Cemetery, which is on the way and left a deep mark in our history, will be visited.) With our arrival in Erzurum, we start our Erzurum city tour, where we will discover the city's thousands of years of deep-rooted history and its importance during the National Struggle period. Among the historical places we will see within the scope of our cultural tour are the Yakutiye Madrasah with its magnificent architecture that has survived from the Ilkhanid period, the Double Minaret Madrasah, a Seljuk masterpiece that is the most important symbol of the city, the Great Mosque, the oldest and largest place of worship in the city, the Three Tombs, one of the most beautiful examples of monumental tombs in Anatolia, and the Erzurum Congress and National Struggle Museum (if open), where the foundations of our Republic were laid. The Ataturk University Ata Ice Works Museum, which is the first and only ice museum in our country, offers us unforgettable moments by offering both an artistic and cultural experience with its unique works where art is reflected in ice. After our historical discoveries, we go to the historical Tashan (Rustem Pasha Caravanserai) to see the craftsmanship of black amber, namely Oltu stone, the world-famous symbol of Erzurum, and to shop. After the free time we will give in this authentic inn, we move to our local restaurant to taste the registered Cag Kebab and delicious Kadayif Stuffed, which are the indispensable flavors of Erzurum cuisine. After our pleasant free time in the streets of Erzurum, we set off for Erzurum Airport. We return to Izmir with the Sunexpress HY Izmir 23.15 flight. Goodbye until we meet again on our other tours...

Morning Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken as an extra in Erzurum.

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: It is the return day, there is no accommodation.

Route: Erzurum City Tours (40 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 40 km

Total Tour Distance: 260 km

Important Note: The departure point of our tours is Ankara, and the intermediate flight or connecting tickets that our guests who will join the tour from different cities will purchase individually are entirely their own responsibility. In case the tour is canceled due to insufficient participation or the flight times are changed by the airline company, our agency is absolutely not responsible for the cancellation, refund, or change costs of the tickets that the guests have purchased from other provinces.

NOTE: All extra activities such as ATV safari, boat tour, diving, jeep safari, parachute, hot air balloon, and similar activities that are not included in the package tour program and are offered or suggested to guests during the tour are outside the scope of the Package Tour Contract and are a separate service. Such extra services are not organized by our agency, and the relevant services are provided by independent third-party suppliers. Guests purchase and participate in these services entirely at their own request and initiative. The guest accepts and declares that they establish a direct contractual relationship with the relevant local service provider before participating in extra activities, and that information regarding the scope, safety, and conditions of the service will be provided by the relevant provider. In this context; our agency has no responsibility for any accidents, injuries, deaths, material and moral damages that may occur during extra tours, and negativities caused by third parties. The guest accepts that they know that such activities involving risk contain danger by their nature, that their health status is suitable for participation, and that all necessary responsibility belongs to them. In addition, all dangerous activities are not covered by insurance.

MIDIBUSES

ISUZU TURKUAZ: 31+1 Or 27 + 1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, Abs, Asr, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcement, Cd And Dvd Player.

NOVO LUX: 31+1 Or 27 + 1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, Abs, Asr, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcement, Cd And Dvd Player.

TEMSA PRESTIGE: 31+1 Or 27 + 1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, Abs, Asr, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcement, Cd And Dvd Player.

MINIBUSES

MERCEDES SPRINTER: 12+1 or 16 + 1 Seating, Specially Designed Reclining Bus Seats, Abs, Asr, Air Conditioning, 1 Refrigerator, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcement, Cd And Dvd Player.

WOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER: 12+1 or 16 + 1 Seating, Specially Designed Reclining Bus Seats, Abs, Asr, Air Conditioning, 1 Refrigerator, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcement, Cd And Dvd Player.

NOTE: Any of the vehicle types mentioned above are used in our tours depending on the number of people.

NOTE: IF THE EASTERN EXPRESS IS NOT AVAILABLE, THE KARS - ERZURUM JOURNEY WILL BE MADE BY VEHICLE.

OUR TOUR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSUMER LAW NO. 6502.