Kars - A Land of Snow, and Final Destination of the Eastern Express
Turkey offers a beautiful winter experience all across the country. If you love to witness an ancient history covered with snow, the district of Kars in the eastern Anatolia region should be the top choice for anyone. From skiing and snowboarding opportunities at high altitudes with excellent snowfall throughout historical Anatolia, hobbyists will find themselves surrounded by mesmerizing terrains and alpine forests.
Turkey’s top winter ski resorts can be found from the slopes of the Marmara region to Eastern Anatolia. From resorts for your family to the extreme skiers, there is something for everyone. The Turkish winter tourism has made an excellent effort to remain ahead of the pack by providing convenience for all. With elevated skiing and cross country campaigns through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, and extreme sports like kite skiing and heli-skiing at the top of its highest mountains, Turkey is ready to welcome you in luxury.
Just a car ride from the city of Kars on the eastern border of Turkey with Georgia and Armenia, the district Sarıkamış is famous for its ‘crystal snow’ which is a global phenomenon rarely occurring anywhere and creates the perfect skiing conditions. The Sarıkamış Ski Resort is perfect for any level of winter fan as the center is divided into two stages, for beginners and the other for the skilled hobbyists
While the tracks are perfect for all, the real snow treat can be found at the Cıbıltepe Ski Resort which is settled at the lower stages. The scenery around Cıbıltepe is like a painting, with scotch pine forests and a view of pure white snow covering the region under a blanket of itself.
Horse pulled sleighs are given to the guests for scenic enjoyment as well as being used for transportation and freight transport around the resort. While some enjoy their usage as a means of getting around the resort, the rides have become an attraction on their own.
The Eastern Express
While the province is home to an airport with its name, going on an all across car trip or taking the magical Eastern Express through the Anatolia regions is highly recommended.
Doğu Ekspresi in Turkish, this train ride runs between the capital Ankara and Kars on a whopping 1,130 km. This overnight passenger train travels across 7 provinces in the Eastern regions. Due to the increasing popularity of the train, TCDD (Republic of Turkey Railways) added a second train named the Touristic Eastern Express. This new train operates three times a week with fewer stops and costs more than the regular Eastern Express train. The Touristic Eastern Express began on 29 May 2019 from Ankara. You can buy tickets for the train ride on TCDD's official website http://www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/
