Route at a glance
See the journey before comparing the details
Key stops and sub-routes are planning structure, not a live timetable. Verify current service with the operator before travel.
- 01Ankara
- 02Erzincan / Erzurum
- 03Kars
The short answer
Pick the option that fits the trip
Choose Ankara → Kars for Erzincan and Erzurum stops and a strong arrival into Kars. Choose Kars → Ankara if İliç, Divriği, and Sivas are the more compelling excursions. In either direction, treat the train as an overnight hosted journey rather than ordinary transport.
Best fit
- Choose Ankara → Kars when Kars is the destination and the eastbound Erzincan and Erzurum excursion stops are part of the appeal.
- Choose Kars → Ankara when the longer return-side stops at İliç, Divriği, and Sivas fit your interests better than the eastbound program.
Think twice if
- Avoid treating the Touristic Eastern Express as simple overnight transport: the long programmed stops and seasonal operating pattern are central to the product.
Key trade-offs
- The two directions are not mirror images; TCDD publishes different excursion stops and stop lengths in each direction.
- Winter creates the signature snowy atmosphere but also makes daylight, weather, and arrival resilience more important.
- Sleeping compartments improve privacy and make the overnight journey part of the experience, but the train uses shared toilets rather than private en-suite bathrooms.
Common mistakes
- Assuming Ankara → Kars and Kars → Ankara have the same sightseeing stops.
- Confusing the seasonal Touristic Eastern Express product with every service using the Eastern Express name.
- Booking the train as the whole trip and leaving too little time for Kars, Ani, or the wider region.
Decision matrix
The direction changes the experience
This comparison intentionally avoids a numeric score. The useful answer depends on itinerary fit, not a universal ranking.
| Decision | Ankara → Kars | Kars → Ankara |
|---|---|---|
| Published 2026–27 stops | Erzincan and Erzurum. | İliç, Divriği, and Sivas. |
| Best role | Build toward Kars as the destination. | Use the return as a second sightseeing program. |
| Onboard night | Sleeping-car journey before eastern Turkey. | Sleeping-car journey back toward central Anatolia. |
| Main planning risk | Treating Kars as only an endpoint. | Assuming return stops mirror the outbound trip. |
Decision 01
Direction is the first decision
TCDD’s announced 2026–27 program gives the two directions different long sightseeing stops. That makes direction a content decision, not simply a question of where your flight arrives.
Ankara → Kars currently includes extended stops in Erzincan and Erzurum; the return uses İliç, Divriği, and Sivas. Recheck the exact departure before booking because this is seasonal operating information.
Decision 02
The sleeper is part of the Life List value
TCDD describes sleeping compartments with daytime seats that convert into beds, bedding, a washbasin, power, table, mirror, and small refrigerator. Toilets are shared within the carriage.
That distinction matters: the product feels more private than coach travel but is not a hotel room on rails. Pack and set expectations accordingly.
Decision 03
Kars deserves its own time
The official tourism material positions Kars, Ani, Çıldır Lake, and the wider region as part of the experience. A first trip is stronger when the train leads into a real stay rather than a quick photograph and reversal.
For the same reason, avoid locking a flight or fixed transfer tightly to a long overnight train arrival.
Decision 04
Winter is not just decoration
The Touristic Eastern Express is scheduled as a winter product. Snow is part of its visual identity, but winter also changes road conditions, daylight, walking comfort, and the reliability margin you should leave around excursions and onward travel.
Current-sensitive notes
Recheck these details before booking
Operational information below was reviewed on 2026-09-03. Operator rules, prices, schedules, and inventory can change.
2026–27 operating season
TCDD currently lists Ankara → Kars departures from December 21, 2026 through March 10, 2027 and Kars → Ankara departures from December 23, 2026 through March 12, 2027, on specified days of the week.
Verify with TCDD Touristic Eastern ExpressDirection-specific excursion stops
The published eastbound and westbound programs use different long stops. Verify the exact stop pattern and times for your departure before booking non-refundable activities.
Verify with TCDD Touristic Eastern ExpressBuild the trip
A sensible planning sequence
- Choose direction by the excursion program first, then add at least one meaningful night in Kars instead of treating the city as a turnaround point.
- Keep onward flights or fixed transfers away from the rail arrival window and verify the exact seasonal departure before committing the rest of the itinerary.
Continue planning
Related decision guides
Use the next guide only when it solves an adjacent decision in the same trip.