The Touristic Eastern Express, implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and whose flights were suspended on March 19 due to the Kovid-2020 epidemic, left Ankara on December 15 with a ceremony in the presence of the Minister of Transport and Infrastructures Adil Karaismailoğlu, accompanying his first trip. The Anadolu agency immortalized his trip to Kars and conveyed the impressions of the passengers.

Gülser Kuleli, 69, from Rize, said she was very excited when she learned that the flights were going to resume a few months ago and said: “We joined a team of 40 people from Rize through an agency of travel. The sleeper train that I took for the first time is very comfortable. The elders always told me, I loved it, “he said.

Expressing that the environment and the food on the train were very nice and clean, Kuleli said, “I have never seen a canyon. It was a very different experience for me. I would recommend it to anyone. This type of excursion is very comfortable for the elderly. seated, sohbet We continue our visit. The middle age is very comfortable. Young people sing, we listen. used the expressions.

Tülay Aksu also said that she traveled on the sleeper train 45 years ago, but that this train trip that she took with her friends was a lot more fun and said that they liked the food on the train. .

“We had nostalgic moments”

Stating that he took part in the first expedition with a group of 14 friends, Müslüm Katırcı, 56, said that when they learned that the expeditions were about to start again, they were immediately organized.

Katırcı stated that he had had nostalgic moments aboard the Touristic Orient Express, which he identified with the black train that he traveled in his later childhood, and that the trip was very pleasant, and that they would like to participate with their spouses and children next time.

“No one should be afraid, let’s go”

Zeynep Kasaplı, who was present from Samsun, also expressed that they wanted to have a different experience with the Touristic Eastern Express before the New Year with his eltie, and that it was very special for them to participate in this first time.

Explaining that they had a lovely time, Kasaplı said, “I guess we can live here. We were very comfortable. We made our preparations, we took everything with us. We made our soup, our dinner and we even made our mutton for breakfast. made his assessment.

Gül Kasaplı also said that she joined Muğla Marmaris and that they met his girlfriend Zeynep Kasaplı in Ankara and got on the train. Noting that the room seemed small at first, but when they moved into it, they realized that it was actually enough for them, Kasaplı said:

“We never wanted to get off the train”

“That’s why we didn’t even want to get off the train at the stops. We will come back by train. I never thought it would be such a fun vacation. You work hard to bring the items, you think it’s worth it, but trust me, it’s worth 10 times as much. We would like to come back, but we have to convince our spouses.

Expressing that he does his own business in Marmaris and continues to work on the internet on the train, Kasaplı said, “I both worked, had vacations and had a great time with my hand. We took some beautiful pictures of the landscapes. Above all, it was very nice that two ladies were traveling so comfortably and safely in a car. Nobody should be afraid, that they take the road by being inspired by us. noted.

“A very comfortable trip, read your book and run your business online”

Büşra Girgin said she was very happy when she heard that her husband bought her a ticket as a gift and said: “I have wanted to join this trip for about 3 years. Kismet was the first time to start over in 21 months “Joined us as a newly married couple, we are very happy,” he said.

Recommending everyone to experience this beautiful atmosphere, Girgin said that during the trip, which was very comfortable, he could both read his book and they were running their stores in Denizli online.

Veysel Girgin also said that they were very satisfied and everyone should see the beauties on the train ride, adding: “The train is very comfortable, the scenery is beautiful. How is that possible, we were nervous when we started the trip, but we were worried for nothing. The train is very comfortable. noted.

Saying that this trip is their second honeymoon, Girgin noted that they wanted to join their friends.

Orient Express and Orient Express tourist options

The Eastern Express, which began its maiden voyage on May 15, 1949, is operated by the TCDD Transport Directorate on the Ankara-Kars line.

The train, which covers 1,300 kilometers of track in about 25 hours, stops at 53 stations during the journey. On the Eastern Express, which consists of sleeper and pullman covered wagons, the ticket price is 68 TL per person in the pulman wagons and 93 TL per person in the covered wagon, while discounts such as children, adolescents and teachers are also applied. .

Domestic tourism is on the move

In addition to the Eastern Express, which operates on one of the 4 best rail routes in the world, with the initiatives of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in case of high demand for said route of travel, the “Touristic Eastern Express” began its services on May 29, 2019.

While the Touristic East Express consists of sleeping compartments for two people, the price for a one-way ticket is 650 TL per person. If a single person wants to travel in a compartment for two people, 1300 lire must be paid. A 25% discount is applied on the round trip ticket for round trip purchases.

With the Touristic East Express, where the 1,300-kilometer trail stretching from Ankara to Kars is completed in approximately 31.5 hours, guests are treated to a feast of sightseeing and scenery.

Two trains will be operated mutually per week.

The train, which has been set up to increase domestic tourism, departs from Ankara at 3:55 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, and from Kars at 10:35 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays.

In the direction of Ankara-Kars, the tourist train stops for 3 hours 25 minutes in Erzincan, 3 hours and 20 minutes in İliç and 3 hours and 25 minutes in Erzurum. minutes break.

During the break in Erzincan, passengers can visit Terzibaba Tomb, Taşçı Baths, Erzincan Castle and the Clock Tower.

Passengers will have the opportunity to taste kete and Erzincan soup, one of the local specialties, fried pulp served with nuts poured over fried pulp and gendime soup made with chickpeas, beans , bulgur, ayran, mint and butter. Kemah salt is mined to a depth of 100 meters from salt mines established at the time.

At the tourist train stop in İliç, it is possible to see Bağıştaş Bridge, Kemaliye Dark Canyon and Kemaliye Houses. Passengers can also enjoy outdoor sports such as paragliding, rafting and horse safari.

“Cağ kebab” break during the trip

The third station, where the train stops for a long time, is in Erzurum, the bastions, the Three Cupolas, the largest of which belongs to Emir Saltuk, among the finest examples of Anatolian mausoleums, the Madrasa Double Minaret , which has become the symbol of the city, and the Turkish-Islamic Museum of Works and Ethnography. Yakutiye Madrasa, which also serves as a mosque, welcomes its visitors.

The building where the Erzurum Congress was held and the house-museum where Atatürk stayed in the city are among the must-see places. Passengers who have the option of tasting cag kebab and stuffed kadayif on site can purchase local moldy cheese and İspir beans with rosaries and oltu stone jewelry.

The largest shopping center of the Middle Ages

Passengers arriving in Kars can see examples of the Baltic architectural approach applied in the Yusufpaşa, Ortakapı and Cumhuriyet neighborhoods during the Russian occupation. The buildings attract attention with their false columns, their copings, their rooms and halls which fit around a long corridor, and their heating systems called PEÇ.

The tomb and the mosque of the famous mystic Ebü’l Hasan Harakani, the Kars museum, the stone bridge dating from 1579, the Kümbet mosque are among the must-see places in the city.

Considered the largest shopping center of the Middle Ages and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016, the archaeological site of Ani awaits its visitors eager to travel to the past. The Fethiye Mosque attracts tourists with its testimony of centuries and beliefs.

Tandoori-pulled goose, casserole shish kebab, sour meat, sizzle, kete and hasuda are some of the flavors unique to Kars. Long apples grown only in Kağızman, honey and cheddar, goose feather pillows are among the keepsakes passengers can bring to loved ones.

After a 10-minute sleigh ride on Çıldır Lake, you can enjoy the tea brewed in the stove installed on the frozen lake.

Divrigi Ulu Mosque, famous for its shadows

Orient Express tourist passengers, on the way back, will visit the castle, which is an authentic Turkish artefact from its foundation to its stronghold, and the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği, known as the ‘Alhambra of Anatolia ”and included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1985. can travel.

800 years of history

In the center of Sivas, the Palace of Congresses, where the Grand Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk laid the foundations for the War of Independence, the Double Minaret Madrasa and Gök Madrasa, which are among the finest examples of Turkish decorative arts and witnesses from an era of 800 years, await its visitors.

Buruciye and Şifahiye Madrasa, Sivas Ulu Mosque and Archeology Museum are also some of the must-see places.

Pehli, charnièrel, meatballs from Sivas, beetroot wrap, dımak are some of the delicacies of Sivas’ cuisine that you must absolutely taste.

The Sivas knife, the Sivas cigarette holder, the bone comb, examples of silver crafts are some of the souvenirs that can be bought from the city.

Touristic Eastern Express, which offers its passengers the opportunity to taste different flavors of Turkish cuisine, see the natural beauties, historical and cultural heritage on its route, consists of 1 service, 1 meal, 11-bed wagon and serves with a capacity of 220 passengers.