6 days · Eastern Anatolia
Eastern Anatolia from Kars to Van
The churches of Ani, Lake Çıldır, the İshak Paşa Palace below Mount Ağrı, Akdamar on Lake Van and the Nemrut Crater Lake.
- Day 1
Kars and Ani
- 09.00–11.00 · KarsKars CastleA castle on the hill above the city, overlooking the Kars stream.
🚗 47,7 km · 46 min
11.46–13.46 · KarsRuins of AniA UNESCO-listed medieval city of churches and walls on the Arpaçay.
🍽️ What to eat: Goose
📍 Where to eat:- Goose: The emblem of Kars cuisine.
- Kars gruyère: Hard cheese from highland milk.
🛏️ Where to stay: Central Kars: city hotels
- Day 2
Lake Çıldır
🚗 99,6 km · 85 min
10.25–12.25 · Çıldır, ArdahanLake ÇıldırA large lake that freezes in winter, crossed by horse-drawn sleighs.
🛏️ Where to stay: Kars or Çıldır
- Day 3
Doğubayazıt
🚗 251,1 km · 200 min
12.20–14.20 · Doğubayazıt, Ağrıİshak Paşa PalaceAn Ottoman palace on a hillside facing Mount Ağrı.🚗 34,1 km · 108 min
16.08–18.08 · Doğubayazıt, AğrıMount Ağrı (Ararat)Türkiye's highest mountain, its summit snow-capped all year.
🍽️ What to eat: Abdigör köfte
🛏️ Where to stay: Doğubayazıt
- Day 4
Muradiye and Van
🚗 112,7 km · 169 min
11.49–13.49 · Muradiye, VanMuradiye WaterfallA roadside waterfall on the Bendimahi stream, easy to reach.🚗 89,3 km · 76 min
15.05–17.05 · Tuşba, VanVan CastleThe fortress of the Urartian capital Tushpa, a rock above Lake Van.
Don't miss a breakfast house in Van.
🍽️ What to eat: Van breakfast, Pearl mullet
🛏️ Where to stay: Central Van
- Day 5
Akdamar
🚗 45,4 km · 36 min
09.36–10.21 · Gevaş, VanAkdamar Island and ChurchA 10th-century church famous for its reliefs, on an island in Lake Van.
🍽️ What to eat: Van breakfast, Pearl mullet
🛏️ Where to stay: Central Van or Tatvan
- Day 6
Ahlat and Nemrut Crater Lake
🚗 130,9 km · 94 min
10.34–12.34 · Ahlat, BitlisAhlat Seljuk CemeteryA vast Turkish-Islamic cemetery of carved gravestones.🚗 30,7 km · 55 min
13.29–15.29 · Tatvan, BitlisNemrut Crater LakeA large crater lake in the caldera of an extinct volcano.
The crater road closes in winter.
🍽️ What to eat: Büryan kebab