Early bird discount: book by 31 October 2024 and enjoy a 250 € discount!
This fascinating train journey through Anatolia is like traveling through a living mosaic of history, culture and breathtaking landscapes. Anatolia, the heartland of Turkey, unfolds its diverse beauty as the train winds through the ancient terrain of rolling landscapes and a kaleidoscope of colours and textures. The train passes through picturesque villages and provides insights into rural Anatolia life. Fields of traditional Turkish houses made of sun-dried bricks and vibrant carpets provide a picturesque picture.
Locals greet you while the train passes and their smiles reflect the genuine hospitality that is deeply rooted in Anatolian culture.
You will visit historic cities where ancient ruins tell of civilizations long gone. The remains of the Hittite, Phrygian, Urartian, Greek and Roman civilizations are silent witnesses to Anatolia's rich heritage. The cuisine on board is a culinary journey through the different flavors of Anatolia. You will enjoy hearty kebabs, aromatic spices and delicious sweets, with each bite a celebration of the region's gastronomic treasures. As day turns to night, the train's windows frame a starry sky, free from the light pollution of cities. The serene beauty of the Anatolian night sky becomes the tranquil backdrop for the train's rhythmic lullaby.
On this trip, you will admire the most important sights of Turkey within a few days. You will cover the long distances in this vast country in the comfortable atmosphere of our charter train. The tour is designed in such a way that in most cases the overnight stays are planned alternately in hotels and on the train.
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1 Wednesday 17 September 2025
Departure with Turkish Airlines from Frankfurt to Istanbul in the late morning. Departures from other airports on request. Transfer to the hotel and dinner in a typical fish restaurant. Overnight stay in Istanbul.
Day 2 Thursday 18 September 2025
You will visit the unique Istanbul city center (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with the famous Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque, followed by an impressive boat trip across the Bosphorus Strait. A traditional meat restaurant with Turkish specialties awaits you in the evening on the Asian side of the city. You will then board your compartment on our special train and travel through the night towards Pergamon. The train is pulled by a diesel locomotive of the Turkish state railway TCCD, and in addition to the sleeping cars, it also offers 2 dining cars and a lounge car. Each sleeping car on the train consists of 9 two-bed compartments, various service rooms, a western toilet at each end of the car and 1 shower. Each compartment is equipped with a sink. An armada of service employees keeps the train immaculately clean... Depending on the capacity of the train, 1 or 2 dining cars are used. Dinner in Istanbul and overnight stay on the train.
Day 3 Friday 19 September 2025
After a sumptuous breakfast in the dining car, you visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pergamon. The train has meanwhile pulled up to Aliaga station, where it is waiting for you. You will enjoy lunch in the dining car and then visit the historical site of Ephesus, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Railway enthusiasts will surely enjoy the large locomotive museum in Camlik which is truly worth seeing. You will spend the night in the hotel in Kusada.
Day 4 Saturday 20 September 2025
Breakfast in the hotel followed by a train ride to Pamukkale (another UNESCO World Heritage Site). You will visit the unique natural wonder of Pamukkale with its white travertine terraces and the Roman cities of Hierapolis and Laodicea. Back on the train, you will continue to Konya. Dinner and overnight stay on the train.
Day 5 Sunday 21 September 2025
Enjoy a hearty breakfast in the dining car and visit the Mevlana Monastery, the St. Paul's Church, the Seljuk Alaaddin Mosque and the 13th century Islamic religious school Karatay during a city tour of Konya. Short bus ride to Sille to visit the charming historic town. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel in Konya.
Day 6 Monday 22 September 2025
Today, the Trans-Anatolia Express takes you on the famous Baghdad Railway through the spectacular Taurus Mountains. The Baghdad railway was started in 1903 to connect Berlin in Germany with the then Ottoman city of Baghdad, from where the Germans wanted to establish a port on the Persian Gulf. The project barely survived WW2 and most of its tracks in war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq have been destroyed or abandoned. If the train schedule allows, the train will stop on the Varda Viaduct, built by German engineers between 1907 and 1912, for a photo opportunity at this historic site. The train continues its journey past the Cilician Gate towards Cappadocia. You will visit the Paul's Fountain, the old wooden houses and the Roman road in Tarsus. Dinner and overnight stay on the train.
Day 7 Tuesday 23 September 2025
After breakfast, you will take a bus tour through the bizarre landscape of Cappadocia (UNESCO World Heritage Site), including photo stops at the most spectacular places! You will visit the open-air museum of Göreme and a hammam (Turkish bath). Dinner and overnight stay on the train.
Day 8 Wednesday 24 September 2025
After breakfast, visit the underground city of Derinkuyu and experience the unique limestone landscapes of Cappadocia once again. On the way, you will make several stops with optional short and easy hikes into the rustic rock formations and also have the opportunity to spend a few Turkish lira at some regional craft markets. Dinner on the train and night trip to Malatya.
Day 9 Thursday 25 September 2025
Breakfast on the train, followed by a minibus ride to Mount Nemrut (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and a visit to the natural viewing terraces at an altitude of 2,150 m. You will then drive to the city of Aslantepe, which was continuously inhabited from 5,500 BC to around 1,000 AD. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner on the train and overnight trip to Tatvan.
Day 10 Friday 26 September 2025
After breakfast on the train, you will travel by bus along Lake Van to the city of Van. Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey and the largest soda lake in the world. On an altitude of 1,648 m it is surrounded by volcanoes and mountains up to 4.000 m high and has no outflow. On the way, you will take a boat trip to Akdamar Island on Lake Van and visit the Holy Cross Church from the 10th century. Dinner and overnight in Van.
Day 11 Saturday 27 September 2025
Breakfast in the hotel, then delve deep into the mysterious history of the Artaian Empire and visit the fortress residences of Cavustepe and Tusba. The archaeological museum in Van also houses evidence of the long-lost civilization. Free time in the afternoon - how about looking at one of the few remaining railway ferries in the world? The ancient and unreliable railway ferries between Tatvan and Van were replaced a few years ago by two new ships, which no longer have the classic look of a 19th century ship, but work without any downtime. Dinner and overnight stay in Van.
Day 12 Sunday 28 September 2025
Breakfast and transfer to Van airport. Flight home to Germany (with a change of plane) and arrival in Frankfurt in the evening. Rail&Fly and flights to other airports on request. We would also be happy to arrange a hotel for you at Frankfurt Airport if you are unable to book an onward journey in the evening.
End of the journey.
TOUR PRICE
5.580 Euro per person in a shared double room (no air tickets included)
5.960 Euro per person in a shared double room (air tickets included)
1.470 Euro Single room/compartment supplement
Minimum number of participants 50, maximum number of participants 100. Registration deadline: 30 June 2025, thereafter on request.
Early bird discount: book by 31 October 2024 and receive a 250 € discount!
SERVICES
• Economy class flights from Frankfurt to Istanbul and back from Van (connecting flight)
• Train journey in the booked carriage class on a special train
• 5 nights in 4-5* hotels in a double room including breakfast
• 6 nights on the train in a two-person compartment including breakfast
• All other meals according to the itinerary
• Coffee and tea on the train
• 1 bottle of mineral water (1.5 liters) per day and person on the train
• All entrance fees according to the itinerary
• All local bus transfers
• Specially qualified, expert English-speaking tour guides on the excursions
• Tour Manager Peter Patt
NOT INCLUDED
• Beverages during meals
• Personal expenses
• Local tips (bus drivers, special train staff, local tour guides) approx. 20 € per participant/day
• Travel insurance (luggage, intl. health insurance, travel cancellation costs)
GOOD TO KNOW
Please inquire about the entry regulations for your nationality that apply to you. There are no mandatory travel vaccinations, the weather is pleasantly warm, in the mountains and on the Anatolian plateau it can get cooler, especially in the evenings/nights.
Our train is a special train that runs according to its own timetable and is not open to the public. As a rule, the scheduled passenger trains of the Turkish State Railways have priority over our train. Timetable changes can occasionally occur. As with a cruise, the train does not wait for late-arriving travelers who have run their own itinerary instead of traveling with the group. Smoking is not permitted on the train.
Turkey is a safe country to travel to, the people are open and friendly. As in any other tourist attraction in the world, petty criminals in Turkey try to get their hands on money, mobile phones, watches and jewelry from careless visitors. With simple self-care measures and a little thought, you can easily put a stop to these people's activities (or at least make them much more difficult).
Please remember to book your travel insurance: no one is immune to unpleasant health surprises or life events that make a trip impossible. Low-cost flight fares are often not refundable except for a few pittances from the airline, and hospital and doctor visits abroad can quickly reach very unpleasant levels.
This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. If you are unsure whether this trip is suitable for you, please contact me.