Van Lake-Eastern Express Adventure

DAY 1:
We set off from Kayseri with our bus at 18:00 to reach Van.

DAY 2:
We reach Van in the morning and have a wonderful Van breakfast.
We go to the Gevaş district on the shores of Lake Van. Here we will board boats from Akdamar Pier and cross to Akdamar Island. The history of the island dates back to 900 BC. Here we see the historical Surp Haç (Holy Cross) Church, also known as Ahtamar Church. The church actually has the same name as the island. According to legend, a shepherd who fell in love with a girl named Tamar, the daughter of a monk, would swim to the island constantly to see the girl and it is said that he called out ‘’Ah Tamar!’’ with his last breath while drowning here, and that is where the name of the island comes from. The word Ahtamar evolved over time and became Akdamar. After having a good time watching Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey, and taking our photos, we return to the city center. After lunch, we see the Van Castle, believed to have been built by the giants of the period, from a panoramic point. Then, we go to the carpet workshop to see the Van Carpets, where handcrafts are made in the region. Guests who wish can shop here after getting information. Afterwards, we visit the Van Cat House and have a good time with our cute friends, and then we have free time in our workshop where silver and unique filigree embroidery to the region are made. Then, we go to our hotel to rest after a tiring day. Dinner and accommodation are at our hotel.

DAY 3:
After a nice breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we leave our hotel and come to the Muradiye district of Van, where we see the magnificent Muradiye Waterfall, which shares the same name with the district. After taking some fresh air and taking some photos at the waterfall, which is not considered very high but has a different atmosphere with the beautiful surrounding vegetation in every season. We enter the area of influence of Mount Ararat, which is the subject of legends with its height of 5165m. We see it wherever we go and visit the Ishak Pasha Palace, which is the largest structure and historical structure of Ağrı. Ishak Pasha Palace is one of the most important historical structures of our country that you always see in photos and the most important works of the Tulip Era. Then we head to our hotel in Kars to rest. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.

DAY 4:
After having breakfast at the hotel, we go to the Ani Ruins, which was an important trade point in its time due to its 3600-year history on the Silk Road route and has served humanity for centuries. Here we see important works such as the Virgin Mary Church called Ani Cathedral, Ebu'l Menuçehr Mosque, Tigran Honents Church, Nuns Monastery, Seljuk Palace and take lots of photos. Then we go to Çıldır Lake. In the freezing winter months, Lake Çıldır freezes towards the end of November due to the extremely cold weather. You can ride on the frozen lake with horse-drawn sleighs, which have become the symbol of the region. (Extra) The ice of the lake does not thaw until the beginning of April. We spend time around the lake and after taking our photos, we explore the area around Lake Çıldır, return to Kars City Center and start our Kars center tour. During our Kars tour, we see the Catherine Palace, built in the Baltic architectural style by the Russian Tsar Nicholas II at the end of the 19th century, the Governor's Mansion and the surrounding stone buildings, the Orthodox Church (Central Mosque), İsmet Pasha Primary School, the Doctor's House (Opera Building), Alexander Nevski Church, Kars Castle, Stone Bridge and the 12 Apostles Church. After our tour and visits here, we shop for local products such as honey and cheese. Then we go to our hotel to rest. Dinner and accommodation are at our hotel. After our dinner, we will attend the regional Caucasian Night and Lovers' Quarrel program.

DAY 5:
After breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we go to the train station. We get on our train that will depart at 08:00 and reach Erzurum with the Eastern Express, which takes about 5 hours. We get on our bus again and tour Erzurum and set off for Kayseri. We arrive in Kayseri at around 04:30 at night.

3 NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION 4 DAYS
DEPARTING FROM KAYSERİ

DAY 1:
We set off from Kayseri with our bus at 18:00 to reach Van.

DAY 2:
We reach Van in the morning and have a wonderful Van breakfast.
We go to the Gevaş district on the shores of Lake Van. Here we will board boats from Akdamar Pier and cross to Akdamar Island. The history of the island dates back to 900 BC. Here we see the historical Surp Haç (Holy Cross) Church, also known as Ahtamar Church. The church actually has the same name as the island. According to legend, a shepherd who fell in love with a girl named Tamar, the daughter of a monk, would swim to the island constantly to see the girl and it is said that he called out ‘’Ah Tamar!’’ with his last breath while drowning here, and that is where the name of the island comes from. The word Ahtamar evolved over time and became Akdamar. After having a good time watching Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey, and taking our photos, we return to the city center. After lunch, we see the Van Castle, believed to have been built by the giants of the period, from a panoramic point. Then, we go to the carpet workshop to see the Van Carpets, where handcrafts are made in the region. Guests who wish can shop here after getting information. Afterwards, we visit the Van Cat House and have a good time with our cute friends, and then we have free time in our workshop where silver and unique filigree embroidery to the region are made. Then, we go to our hotel to rest after a tiring day. Dinner and accommodation are at our hotel.

DAY 3:
After a nice breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we leave our hotel and come to the Muradiye district of Van, where we see the magnificent Muradiye Waterfall, which shares the same name with the district. After taking some fresh air and taking some photos at the waterfall, which is not considered very high but has a different atmosphere with the beautiful surrounding vegetation in every season. We enter the area of influence of Mount Ararat, which is the subject of legends with its height of 5165m. We see it wherever we go and visit the Ishak Pasha Palace, which is the largest structure and historical structure of Ağrı. Ishak Pasha Palace is one of the most important historical structures of our country that you always see in photos and the most important works of the Tulip Era. Then we head to our hotel in Kars to rest. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.

DAY 4:
After having breakfast at the hotel, we go to the Ani Ruins, which was an important trade point in its time due to its 3600-year history on the Silk Road route and has served humanity for centuries. Here we see important works such as the Virgin Mary Church called Ani Cathedral, Ebu'l Menuçehr Mosque, Tigran Honents Church, Nuns Monastery, Seljuk Palace and take lots of photos. Then we go to Çıldır Lake. In the freezing winter months, Lake Çıldır freezes towards the end of November due to the extremely cold weather. You can ride on the frozen lake with horse-drawn sleighs, which have become the symbol of the region. (Extra) The ice of the lake does not thaw until the beginning of April. We spend time around the lake and after taking our photos, we explore the area around Lake Çıldır, return to Kars City Center and start our Kars center tour. During our Kars tour, we see the Catherine Palace, built in the Baltic architectural style by the Russian Tsar Nicholas II at the end of the 19th century, the Governor's Mansion and the surrounding stone buildings, the Orthodox Church (Central Mosque), İsmet Pasha Primary School, the Doctor's House (Opera Building), Alexander Nevski Church, Kars Castle, Stone Bridge and the 12 Apostles Church. After our tour and visits here, we shop for local products such as honey and cheese. Then we go to our hotel to rest. Dinner and accommodation are at our hotel. After our dinner, we will attend the regional Caucasian Night and Lovers' Quarrel program.

DAY 5:
After breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we go to the train station. We get on our train that will depart at 08:00 and reach Erzurum with the Eastern Express, which takes about 5 hours. We get on our bus again and tour Erzurum and set off for Kayseri. We arrive in Kayseri at around 04:30 at night.