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- Güney Kurtalan Express Train Tour from Diyarbakır to Bitlis, Van, Kars, and Erzurum / Train Departure, Flight Return / 4 Nights Hotel Accommodation / Departure from Istanbul
Güney Kurtalan Express Train Tour from Diyarbakır to Bitlis, Van, Kars, and Erzurum / Train Departure, Flight Return / 4 Nights Hotel Accommodation / Departure from Istanbul
Diyarbakır - Kırıkkale - Kayseri - Sivas - Diyarbakır - On Gözlü Bridge - Hevsel Gardens - Goat Castle - Mardin Gate - Four-Legged Minaret - Diyarbakır Grand Mosque - Bitlis - Tatvan
Güney Kurtalan Express Train Tour from Diyarbakır to Bitlis, Van, Kars, and Erzurum / Train Departure, Flight Return / 4 Nights Hotel Accommodation / Departure from Istanbul
Day 1
- Istanbul - Ankara – Kurtalan Express – Diyarbakır
- 22:47 Departure from Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme Train Station
- 10:30 Meeting at Ankara Train Station
- 11:20 Departure from Ankara Train Station
- We board the train from Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme Train Station at 22:47 to Ankara. In the morning, at Ankara Train Station, we take our places on the Kurtalan Express for our Diyarbakır Bitlis Van Kars Erzurum Tour and embark on an unforgettable 24-hour journey. Accompanied by beautiful scenery, we travel through the Anatolian steppes to Diyarbakır.
- Breakfast: Will be served on the train. (Extra)
- Lunch: Will be served on the train. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be served on the train. (Extra)
- Accommodation: Overnight on the train
Day 2
- Diyarbakır - Kırıkkale - Kayseri – Sivas – Diyarbakır – On Gözlü Bridge – Hevsel Gardens – Keçi Burcu – Mardin Gate – Four-Legged Minaret – Diyarbakır Great Mosque – Bitlis - Tatvan
- We meet our guide and vehicle, and continue our journey by land. First, we move to a restaurant to taste the famous dishes of ancient Diyarbakır by the Dicle River. After our meal, we begin to explore Diyarbakır. Our first destination will be the Great Mosque of Diyarbakır, which is the most important point in the historic city surrounded by 5 km of walls. We will take a tour of the Great Mosque, which is the first of its kind in Anatolia and the 5th Harem-i Sharif of the Islamic world. Next, we visit Hasanpaşa Han, the largest inn in the region. Then we see the house of the poet Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı, known for his poem "At thirty-five, the road is half done," and Ahmet Arif's house. Following this, we will visit the Four-Legged Minaret (Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque), built by Akkoyunlu Kasım Bey in 1500, and the oldest of the Diyarbakır walls, Keçi Burcu, and Mardin Gate. After a panoramic view of the Hevsel Gardens along the Dicle River, we arrive at the On Gözlü Bridge. During the right timing, there will be a photo break here. After bidding farewell to Diyarbakır, we travel for about 4 hours to Bitlis' Tatvan district. We then head to our hotel in Tatvan, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
- Breakfast: Will be served on the train. (Extra)
- Lunch: Will be served in Diyarbakır. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
- Accommodation: Tatvan/ Kardelen Hotel, Karaman Hotel, etc.
Day 3
- Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery – Emir Bayındır Tomb – Lake Van – Van Castle (Tuşpa Castle) – Van Museum - Cat House – Lake Van – Akdamar Island and Church
- On the 3rd day of our Kurtalan Express tour from Diyarbakır Bitlis Van Kars Erzurum, we begin with breakfast at the hotel, followed by a visit to the Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery, one of the masterpieces of the Seljuk period. Here, we will see monumental gravestones, some up to 3.5 meters tall, and the most interesting of the various built tombs is the Emir Bayındır Tomb. After bidding farewell to Ahlat, we head to the seaside of Lake Van in the Gevaş district of Van.
- We will take a half-hour boat tour on the salty and soda-laden Lake Van to Akdamar Island. (Extra) Akdamar Island is the second-largest island in Lake Van, which is situated between Van and Bitlis. Upon our arrival at Akdamar Island, we listen to the touching tale of unhappy lovers told by our guide. After hearing about the Church built for the Holy Cross by the Armenian King I. Gagik between 915 and 921 by Priest Manuel, we will enjoy some time alone with this magnificent structure and nature. After taking photos, we will return to the boat and have our lunch break. Then, we head to Van Castle, known as Tuşpa, which is actually named after King I. Sarduri, from where we will see the walls, Castle Mosque, Urartian Kings' Rock Tombs, and Castle Gates, gaining information from our guide. We will then visit Van Museum, which has impressive collections from the Urartians to recent history. After the museum, we go to the Cat House to see and photograph the famous Van Cats. Next, we visit the Savat art workshop to learn about Savat and shop for the artisan products, and we head to the Carpet Cooperative, where we can learn about and purchase handwoven carpets made by local women. After our shopping, we head to our hotel for dinner and accommodation.
- Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
- Lunch: Will be served by the shore of Lake Van. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
- Accommodation: Van: Eden's Hotel
Day 4
- Van - Tendürek Mountain – Muradiye Waterfall – Ağrı - Doğubeyazıt – İshakpaşa Palace – Iğdır - Tuzluca Cave - Kars
- On the 4th day of our Kurtalan Express tour from Diyarbakır Bitlis Van Kars Erzurum, after breakfast at the hotel, we head to the Muradiye Waterfall fed by the Bend-i Mahi River from Tendürek Mountain. After our photo break, we set off for Doğubeyazıt, which is adjacent to the Iranian border. Our destination in Doğubeyazıt will be the İshakpaşa Palace, built 220 years ago, which symbolizes the East Anatolia and was once the administrative center of the Bayezid Sanjak until World War I. The palace, with 116 rooms and its magnificent stone-carved monumental doors, will impress you. After our guided tour of the İshakpaşa Palace, we will have some free time to enjoy the view of the Old Bayezid. After our free time in Doğubeyazıt, we have lunch and shopping breaks. After saying goodbye to Doğubeyazıt, we see Mount Ararat, which is 5137 meters high, resting on Iğdır. For those who wish, we will visit the Tuzluca Salt Caves (extra). The Salt Caves are formed by the excavation of salt mountains over a 55-dune area that has been used and operated for many periods. After being mesmerized in the cave used for natural asthma treatment, we reboard our bus to arrive in Kars via Digor, following the Armenian border. After our hotel check-in, we will have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
- Note: The İshakpaşa Palace is closed to visitors on Mondays. If it coincides with special periods, it will be viewed from outside.
- Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
- Lunch: Will be served in Doğubeyazıt. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
- Accommodation: Kars: The Karspark Hotel, etc.
Day 5
- Kars Castle – Stone Bridge – 12 Apostles Church – Fethiye Mosque – Kanlı Tabya - Ani Ruins – Menuçehr Mosque – Çıldır Lake
- On the 5th day of our Kurtalan Express tour from Diyarbakır Bitlis Van Kars Erzurum, we start the day with breakfast at the hotel, then proceed to the Ani Ruins, which is one of the most important points of intersection between Armenian and Seljuk cultures located on the Turkish-Armenian border. Ani was the richest city in the region 1000 years ago. You will immediately notice this from the sacred buildings found in the area. In this historical ancient city, we will visit walls, gates, the Surp Pirgiç Church (Keveli Church), the Surp Kirkor Church (Tigran Honents Church), the Cathedral (Mary Church), the Small Bathhouse, the Ebul Muhammeran Mosque, the Sultan's Palace, and the Menuçehr Mosque, which is the first Turkish mosque in Anatolia, as well as the Silk Road Bridge, with explanations from our guide. After seeing these sites in this historical city, we bid farewell to Ani while overlooking the Arpaçay, which forms the border between the two countries, and head to Çıldır Lake. We will have leisure time at Çıldır Lake. In this natural barrier lake, which freezes in winter, our guests can ride on horse-drawn sleds, fish in the ice, and take many photographs to immortalize these moments. After our leisure time at Çıldır Lake, we head to Kars center. Our lunch in Kars will feature Kaz Eti, Hangel, Piti, Haşil, and meat dumplings at the restaurant. Afterward, we will take a city tour to get to know Kars. Kars, although located at the easternmost point of our country, has characteristics of the westernmost point of the Caucasus, meaning it has both eastern and western features. We will visit Kars Castle, Kümbet Mosque (12 Apostles Church), Kars Stone Bridge, and the home of our famous poets such as Namık Kemal, discovering the streets of Kars with our guide. We will also see the Fethiye Mosque, originally a church, that was turned into a mosque, which is one of the finest examples of Russian Baltic architecture. Afterward, we will visit a local shop to purchase Kars' famous cheeses and honey. After our shopping, we will visit one of the most meaningful museums in our country dedicated to our Sarıkamış Martyrs, the Kanlı Tabya Museum. During our visit, you will feel the spirit of that era within the interactive rooms of this small museum. After the museum visit, we will return to our hotel for accommodation.
- * Those who wish can participate in the Caucasian night after dinner, where magnificent dances are performed; men seem to fly in the air, and women dance like they are gliding on water. (Extra)
- Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
- Lunch: Will be served by the Çıldır Lake. (Extra)
- Dinner: Can be enjoyed at the Kars Caucasian night (Extra)
- Accommodation: Kars: The Karspark Hotel, etc.
Day 6
- Eastern Express Journey – Allahu Ekber Mountains – Sarıkamış – Erzurum Congress Building - Erzurum Great Mosque – Old Erzurum Houses – Yakutiye Madrasah – Double Minaret Madrasa – Taşhan
- On the 6th day of our Kurtalan Express tour from Diyarbakır Bitlis Van Kars Erzurum, we have breakfast at the hotel and then head to Kars station to embark on a delightful and nostalgic train journey (Eastern Express with Pullman Seat). While traveling on the Eastern Express, which hosts the most beautiful views, you will be mesmerized by the breathtaking scenery climbing the Allahuekber Mountains. We will also have a panoramic view of Sarıkamış, where we lost 90,000 martyrs, and then arrive in Erzurum. Our first stop in Erzurum will be the famous Cağ Kebap restaurant. After our lunch, we will start our Erzurum tour. Erzurum is one of the largest cities in Eastern Anatolia and also the highest city center in our country at 1900 meters. All the ancient structures in Erzurum are made of volcanic, basaltic black stones. We will first visit the historical building where the foundation of our Republic was laid during the Erzurum Congress, which took place from July 23 to August 7, 1919. This building was constructed in 1864 and is currently functioning as a museum of paintings and sculptures. Next, we will go to eat the famous Cağ Kebabs from Erzurum. Following our meal, we will begin a tour to the Çifte Minareli Madrasah, known for being one of the finest examples of Seljuk architecture. After that, we will visit Üç Kümbetler, which dates back to the Saltukid period and is among the most beautiful examples of Monument Graves in Anatolia and the Ulu Mosque of Erzurum, which admires you with its ceiling crafts. Next, we will see the Old Erzurum Houses, an ethnographic museum formed by the combination of 11 houses, and have a tea break. After our tea break, we will visit Taş Han, one of the most desired spots in the city featuring Ottoman architecture and Yakutiye Madrasah with its fascinating tiles. Lastly, we will head to Erzurum Airport to return to Istanbul on a flight from Erzurum to Sabiha Gökçen. The Kurtalan Express tour from Diyarbakır Bitlis Van Kars Erzurum comes to an end, and we bid farewell to our valuable guests, hoping to meet again in another Dgn Travel organization.
- Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
- Lunch: Will be served as Erzurum Cağ Kebab. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be served at local restaurants. (Extra)
• Akdamar Island Ferry: 350₺
• Tuzluca Cave Tour: 250₺
• Çıldır Lake Horse Sleigh Short Track: 400₺
• Çıldır Lake Horse Sleigh Medium Track: 700₺
• Çıldır Lake Horse Sleigh Long Track: 1000₺
• Kafkas Night Without Dinner: 1000₺
• Kafkas Night With Dinner: 1700₺ -2000₺
**Extra tour prices may vary according to the seasons. The prices listed are the current rates at the time of reservation. DGN Travel is not responsible for any price changes that may occur before or on the date of the tour.
What's Included
• 4 nights accommodation in hotels
• 4 open buffet breakfast at the hotel
• 3 open buffet or set menu dinner at the hotel
• Istanbul Ankara Train Ticket
• Outbound Flight Ticket
• Return Train Ticket
• Transportation with luxury vehicles (Vehicles are provided according to the number of people.)
• Sightseeing tours as mentioned in the program
• Professional guiding service
• Bottled water in the vehicle
• Assurance of DGN Travel
• Mandatory Travel Insurance according to the Law No. 1618
Not Included
• Meals on the first day as specified in the program
• Dinner on the last day as specified in the program
• Beverages served with all meals
• Lunches
• All extra organizations specified
• All personal expenses
• Entrance fees for museums and archaeological sites (valid for municipal and private enterprises.)
• Museum Card (valid for museums affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.)
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