Istanbul & Kars – Eastern Anatolia – 7 Days

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW) and meet-and-greet with our representative. After a short welcome briefing, private transfer to your hotel and check-in. Depending on your arrival time, you will have free time to rest, get to know the area around the hotel or enjoy your first taste of Turkish cuisine.

After breakfast we start exploring Istanbul’s historic peninsula. In the Hippodrome square we see the obelisk, the Serpent Column and other Byzantine remains. We then continue to the Blue Mosque (interior/exterior visit depending on current regulations) and, opposite, Hagia Sophia, a symbol that brings together centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history.
After free time for lunch, and depending on season and schedule, we may take a short Bosphorus cruise or enjoy some free time around the Spice Bazaar. The rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure to continue exploring the city on your own.

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our domestic flight to Kars. After around two hours’ flying we arrive and transfer to the hotel. Following a short rest, we take an orientation walk in Kars city centre: stone buildings from the Russian period, views of the castle and grid-like streets reveal the city’s imperial past.
The rest of the afternoon is free to begin exploring the local cuisine, renowned for its cheeses, honey and hearty dishes suited to the cold climate.

After breakfast we leave Kars and drive towards Ani, close to today’s border with Armenia. At this impressive archaeological site we wander among city walls, cathedrals, churches and bridge remains over the Arpaçay valley, while your guide explains Ani’s role on historical trade routes.
There is free time for lunch in the area before returning to Kars, with photo stops on the wide plateau along the way. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free in the city.

After breakfast we set off from Kars towards Lake Çıldır. In winter, the lake is usually frozen; as long as weather and safety conditions allow, horse-drawn sleigh rides and photo stops out on the ice may be possible. In spring and summer, the scenery is different: lakeside walks, fishing boats and open steppe dominate the horizon.
We have the chance to glimpse local rural life and pause for hot tea and regional bites. In the afternoon we return to Kars, where you will have free time for shopping (cheese, honey and other local products) or rest.

After breakfast we head towards the Sarıkamış area. Its pine forests and gentle slopes, often snow-covered in winter, have made it a well-known ski resort; we view the area panoramically and, depending on the season, enjoy a short walk or photo stops.
In the afternoon we transfer to Kars Airport for our domestic flight back to Istanbul. On arrival we transfer to the hotel and you have your last night in the city at leisure; your guide can suggest restaurants or activities for a memorable farewell evening.

Breakfast at the hotel (depending on flight time) and final free moments in Istanbul. You may take a short farewell walk or simply relax at the hotel until your transfer. At the agreed time, transfer to the airport for your international departure flight.
After this 7-day journey that combines Istanbul’s skyline with the quiet landscapes of Kars and Ani, you leave not only with photos but also with memories of two very different faces of Turkey.