Eastern Turkey Tours

Eastern Anatolia Tours – Van, Kars, Ani & Mount Ararat

Eastern Anatolia is one of Türkiye's most diverse regions, stretching across high plateaus, volcanic mountains, deep valleys and the shores of Lake Van. Shaped over thousands of years by Urartian, Armenian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman and other regional cultures, it offers a very different journey from the country's better-known western routes. Our Eastern Anatolia tours explore this landscape through Van, Ahlat, Doğubayazıt, Mount Ararat, Kars, Ani and Erzurum, with longer journeys extending toward Erzincan, Kemaliye, Tunceli and Hakkari.

Around Lake Van, the remains of Tushpa, capital of the ancient Kingdom of Urartu, rise above the city at Van Castle. A boat journey leads to Akdamar Island and the Church of the Holy Cross, known for its remarkable 10th-century stone reliefs. Continuing around the lake, Ahlat preserves an important medieval Turkish-Islamic heritage through its monumental cemetery and distinctive stone tombstones. Nearby Nemrut Caldera, with its crater lakes and volcanic landscape near Tatvan, adds a striking natural dimension to the journey.

Further east, Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı), Türkiye's highest mountain at 5,137 meters, dominates the landscape around Doğubayazıt. Long associated with the Biblical tradition of Noah's Ark, the area also includes an observation point overlooking the geological formation popularly linked to the Ark. For outdoor travellers, Mount Ararat is also one of Türkiye's major mountaineering and climbing destinations, with guided summit programs arranged separately by season and local requirements. Nearby, the historic İshak Pasha Palace reflects the cultural influences that met along this important eastern frontier.

In the northeast, Kars reveals another side of the region through its castle, stone architecture and Russian-period heritage. Nearby Ani, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was an important medieval Armenian capital and commercial center on a branch of the Silk Road. Its city walls, churches and other monuments reflect centuries of cultural exchange between Anatolia, the Caucasus and the wider region.

Eastern Anatolia extends far beyond these better-known routes. Erzurum preserves important medieval monuments, while Erzincan and Kemaliye combine traditional architecture with the dramatic valleys of the Euphrates. The landscapes of Tunceli and the Munzur Valley, together with Hakkari and the Cilo Mountains, open the way to nature, trekking and mountain-focused journeys through some of Türkiye's most remote highland scenery.

Eastern Anatolia can also be combined with Southeastern Anatolia, Cappadocia or the Black Sea for longer regional journeys. Since 1996, Alsero Tours has planned Eastern Anatolia tours around realistic driving times, carefully selected routes and experienced licensed guides, bringing together archaeology, local culture, UNESCO heritage and the remarkable geography of Eastern Türkiye.

Short Summary od Eastern Anatolia Region

Explore Eastern Anatolia through Van, Lake Van, Mount Ararat, Kars, UNESCO-listed Ani, Ahlat, Nemrut Caldera and the mountain landscapes of Eastern Türkiye.