This private tour is based at one hotel in Ardahan for five nights and combines sightseeing with local culture: a castle tour with Lake Çıldır, a day in Kars and at the ruins of Ani, a cooking class with regional recipes and a visit to a traditional hamam, with arrival and departure via Kars Airport.
Ardahan sits on a high plateau in Turkey's far north-east, close to the Georgian border, where long winters and green summer pastures shape daily life. The province is dotted with fortresses that guarded this frontier for some 3,000 years, and a single guided day lets you see the most important of them, from the Ottoman citadel in town to the dramatic Şeytan Castle on its rock above the river and Urartian Kalecik.
The castle route ends at Lake Çıldır, one of Turkey's highest large lakes, ringed by villages and pastures and known for the little island of Akçakale. In winter the lake freezes and horse-drawn sleighs cross the ice; in summer it is a peaceful spot for photos and fresh fish by the shore.
The Kars day visits the city museum, the 10th-century Kümbet Mosque and the Fethiye Mosque, then the ruins of Ani, the medieval capital set on a gorge on the Armenian border with cathedral, churches and long city walls. Back in Ardahan, a cooking class teaches dishes of the high plateau such as ayran soup, katmer and pişi, and another day starts in the hamam with free time to follow. Breakfasts, two lunches, guiding, entrance fees and transfers are included.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 Days 5 Nights |
| Price | From €727 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 6 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours · TÜRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Our driver meets you at Kars Airport and takes you to your hotel in Ardahan. Check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Ardahan.
Spend the day on Ardahan's castle trail. Start at Ardahan Castle, built on the orders of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent in the mid-16th century on a site where Bronze Age finds have been made. Continue to Şeytan (Devil's) Castle, used from the Hellenistic era to Ottoman times, with cisterns, a chapel and a rock-cut stairway leading down to the water. Visit Kınzı Castle, believed to pre-date the Christian era, the Urartian Kalecik Castle from the 8th century BC, Kurtkale (Wolf's Castle) close to the Georgian border and Kırnav Castle, whose walls share the building technique of Ardahan Castle. End at Lake Çıldır, a large freshwater lake on a high plateau, with views of Akçakale Island. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Ardahan.
Drive to Kars for a day in one of eastern Turkey's most historic cities. Visit the Kars Museum, the 10th-century Kümbet Mosque, originally built as the Church of the Holy Apostles, and the Fethiye Mosque, then continue to the ruins of Ani, the medieval capital on the edge of a gorge, with its cathedral, churches and city walls. Return to Ardahan in the evening. Overnight in Ardahan.
Join a local cook at a restaurant in town and learn to prepare regional dishes such as ayran soup, katmer, feselli and pişi, then sit down to eat what you have made. Later you have time to browse the shops downtown before heading back to the hotel. Overnight in Ardahan.
Visit a local hamam at a time that suits you and experience this long-standing Turkish bathing tradition – heat, scrub and foam massage. Afterwards stroll and shop in town; the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Ardahan.
Enjoy a free morning, then transfer to Kars Airport for your flight home.
Ardahan – Arrival → Ardahan – Castles & Lake Çıldır → Kars – City Tour & Ani → Ardahan – Cooking Class → Ardahan – Turkish Bath → Ardahan – Departure
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Ardahan – Arrival, Ardahan – Castles & Lake Çıldır, Kars – City Tour & Ani, Ardahan – Cooking Class, Ardahan – Turkish Bath, Ardahan – Departure.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!