Türkiye's Touristic Eastern Express, the sleeper train that has become one of the country's most sought-after winter journeys, will return on Dec. 21 for the 2026-2027 season, Türkiye Today reported on Oct. 13. Tickets for individual passengers go on sale on Oct. 26 through the official channels of TCDD Taşımacılık, the state rail passenger operator.
The train will run 70 services in total, 35 in each direction. Departures from Ankara to Kars start on Dec. 21, 2026 and continue until March 10, 2027, while the return services from Kars to Ankara operate from Dec. 23, 2026 to March 12, 2027.
Schedule and sightseeing stops
Trains leave Ankara on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and depart Kars on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Unlike a standard intercity service, the tourist train builds sightseeing breaks into the trip. Eastbound trains from Ankara pause in Erzincan and Erzurum, while the westbound journey from Kars includes stops at Ilıç, Divriği and Sivas. Divriği is home to the Great Mosque and Hospital complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The consist includes sleeping cars, each with 10 private two-bed compartments, plus a dining car. Fares and journey times were not included in the announcement, so travellers should check TCDD Taşımacılık's website or app when sales open.
Tips for booking
With only 35 departures in each direction, capacity is limited, so anyone set on a particular date should be ready when sales open on Oct. 26. Kars itself is a gateway to the ruins of Ani, a UNESCO-listed medieval city on the Armenian border, and many winter visitors combine the train with a stay in the snowbound city.
Travellers should pack for severe cold: eastern Anatolia regularly sees heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures during the train's season, which is exactly the scenery most passengers come to see from the window. The sightseeing breaks are the main difference from an ordinary rail trip on the corridor, giving passengers time on the ground in historic towns along the way.
Sources
- Türkiye's Touristic Eastern Express to resume Dec. 21 – Türkiye Today
- Touristic Eastern Express to make 70 trips in 2026-2027 winter season – Hürriyet Daily News
Photo: Oyuncubaba / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
