Touristic Eastern Express 2026–27: How to Plan the Ankara–Kars Sleeper Trip

The Touristic Eastern Express (Turistik Doğu Ekspresi) has become one of Türkiye’s most talked-about winter journeys: a sleeper train from Ankara to Kars through snowy Anatolian landscapes, with planned sightseeing stops along the way. For the 2026–27 season DHA reported 70 departures, citing the Transport Minister, and individual tickets go on sale through TCDD Taşımacılık’s channels from 26 October 2026. Compartments are limited, so the useful question is not whether the trip is beautiful, but how to plan it well before you start the booking form.

The 2026–27 season at a glance

As reported by DHA on 11 October 2026, the season runs to these patterns:

• Ankara to Kars: departures from 21 December 2026 to 10 March 2027, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Kars to Ankara: departures from 23 December 2026 to 12 March 2027, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
• 35 departures in each direction, 70 in total.
• Sleeping cars with 10 two-berth compartments each, plus a dining car.
• Individual ticket sales from 26 October 2026 through TCDD Taşımacılık’s sales channels.

Two directions, two different trips

The direction you choose changes what you see. Ankara–Kars trains make sightseeing stops in Erzincan and Erzurum. Kars–Ankara trains stop instead at İliç, Divriği and Sivas. Divriği is home to the Great Mosque and Hospital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which makes the return leg attractive for travellers interested in Seljuk-era architecture, while Erzurum suits those who want a larger city stop on the way east.

In the previous season the ministry’s announcement described stops of about two and a half hours in Erzincan and four hours in Erzurum, with roughly three hours in İliç, two and a half in Divriği and three in Sivas, and a total journey of about 32 hours including stops. These figures describe the 2025–26 pattern; use them to imagine the rhythm of the trip, then confirm the current stop lengths before planning a meal or a visit at each station.

Individual ticket or agency package?

Last season the ministry noted that individual tickets were sold through TCDD Taşımacılık while tour packages were sold by authorised agencies. The two suit different travellers. An individual ticket gives you control over hotels in Kars and onward travel. A package can bundle transfers, guided stops and hotel nights, which helps if you do not speak Turkish or are short of planning time. Whichever you choose, check what is included at each stopover and keep a copy of the seller’s terms.

A booking checklist

• Decide your direction first, based on which stopovers you want to see.
• Pick two or three acceptable departure dates before sales open, so you can move quickly if your first choice sells out.
• Agree compartment sharing in advance; each compartment has two berths.
• Enter every traveller’s details exactly as they appear on the travel document used for the journey.
• Read the change and cancellation conditions shown for your purchase and save them with your confirmation.
• Plan the other direction now: a return train, a flight from Kars, or a longer journey through eastern Türkiye.

Packing and practical comfort

Eastern Anatolia in midwinter is genuinely cold, and stopovers happen outdoors. Pack proper winter layers, waterproof shoes with grip, a power bank, some cash for small purchases at stops and any personal medicines you need in your cabin bag. Bring snacks and water for the long stretches between meals, and keep your passport or ID within reach. Book your first night in Kars or Ankara with a flexible check-in, since winter weather can shift arrival times.

If you are combining the train with the rest of Türkiye, our winter travel guide covers the off-season more broadly, and our month-by-month guide helps you fit the journey around other regions. To reach Ankara from Istanbul first, use our Istanbul–Ankara high-speed train checklist.