Turkey is gearing up for another majestic winter of rail-tourism as the celebrated Tourist Eastern Express re-launches on December 22, 2025, running through to March 1, 2026. This storied journey links the capital city of Ankara with the far-east city of Kars over a dramatic route of approximately 32 hours, weaving through mountain landscapes, cultural hubs and historic towns. The seasonal service is rapidly becoming one of Turkey’s premier experiential travel attractions, blending scenic grandeur, cultural immersion and sustainable mobility.
A New Season of Spectacular Scenery
Departing from Ankara, the Tourist Eastern Express sets off into Anatolia’s deep interior, climbing toward rugged terrain, snow-capped peaks, frozen plains and shimmering valleys. Over its route to Kars, the train offers relaxing views of natural beauty rarely accessible via more conventional travel. The train tracks traverse remote regions, providing uninterrupted access to regions of Turkey that lie off the typical tourist radar. For travellers seeking both a journey and a destination, this service offers a compelling alternative to flights or motor coach travel.
Stops That Offer Culture, History & Immersion
One of the charms of the Tourist Eastern Express is its thoughtfully designed stops. On the eastbound leg, the train pauses for 2 ½ hours in Erzincan and 4 hours in Erzurum, allowing passengers to step off, stretch their legs, visit historic sites or sample local cuisine. On the return leg toward Ankara, scheduled stops include Iliç, Divriği and Sivas, offering each traveller the chance to engage with local history—such as the magnificent Seljuk-era mosques, traditional bazaars and ancient architectural gems. These excursions reinforce the journey’s status not simply as transport, but as a cultural corridor.
Luxury, Comfort and Rail Tourism Reimagined
The Tourist Eastern Express caters to modern travellers who expect more than a basic train ride. With eight sleeper cars, ten compartments per car and a full dining carriage onboard, the journey provides a blend of comfort and style. Cabins are cosy, well appointed and built for two persons, offering the kind of “moving hotel” experience that elevates the rail journey into a memorable stay. Travellers can choose between more budget-conscious seating or higher-end sleeper compartments, depending on their preference for comfort and service. The aim is to ensure that while the landscapes outside might be vast and wild, the interior experience remains refined and restful.
Sustainable Travel in Focus
At a time when travellers globally are placing greater emphasis on environmentally responsible journeys, the Tourist Eastern Express presents an attractive accord between discovery and sustainability. Rail travel inherently emits far less carbon per passenger than flights or long-haul road travel. By promoting an extended train journey in one of Turkey’s most pristine regions, the service aligns with evolving tourism priorities that blend authenticity, slow travel and minimal environmental impact. Supporting local economies in remote regions—through stops and excursions—also helps spread the benefits of tourism beyond major urban centres.
Economic and Regional Benefits
The revival of this winter route brings more than scenic landscapes—it brings economic realities to Turkey’s eastern provinces. Cities such as Erzurum, Erzincan, Sivas and Kars stand to benefit from increased visitor footfall, higher spending in hospitality, excursions and local commerce. Regional businesses, including boutique hotels, cafés, souvenir artisans and guides, gain exposure to travellers who may previously have passed them by. For Turkey’s national tourism strategy, the train journey represents a tool for dispersing travellers beyond coastal hubs and integrating cultural, natural and heritage assets into the national portfolio.
What to Expect on Your Journey
Travellers embarking on the Tourist Eastern Express should prepare for more than just a ride. Expect early mornings, changing light and perhaps snow-covered terrain. Expect the train to traverse eight- or nine-hundred-kilometres of varied terrain, crossing plateaus, valleys and mountains in one continuous stretch. Meals are served onboard, cabin conditions are comfortably warm and the stops provide the chance to sample regional cuisine, walk cobbled lanes, view ancient mosques and witness local life in less‐visited Turkish towns. For many guests, the train is as much about the journey as the destination.
Looking Ahead
The rise in popularity of the Tourist Eastern Express signals a broader evolution in how Turkey positions its tourism assets. Rather than concentrating only on sun, sea and city, the country is emphasising immersive transport-driven experiences that traverse landscape and heritage. As rail tourism becomes more attractive worldwide, Turkey’s unique geography—its eastern highlands, historic cities and remote beauty—offers significant competitive advantage. Moving forward, one can expect more such ‘slow-travel’ offerings, perhaps with new routes and themed journeys, further cementing the narrative of Turkey as a destination for more than conventional holiday formats.
Final Thoughts
In reviving the Tourist Eastern Express for the 2025-26 season, Turkey invites travellers to experience one of the world’s great rail adventures—from the capital’s bustle to the far east’s winter silence. The journey delivers sweeping natural beauty, immersive cultural stops, comfort and sophistication onboard, and sustainable credentials arguably far ahead of typical mass-market travel options. For those seeking a travel story, a meaningful journey and a destination that unfolds gradually rather than arrives suddenly, the rails from Ankara to Kars await.
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