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Day 1 The City of Kars

Start your day off by exploring the Kars Citadel, dating back to the year 1153. Its dark-stone walls will grab your attention from a distance as they dominate the horizon. From there, visit the Church of the 12 Apostles, a historical Armenian church built in the mid 10th century. After visiting a mosque that houses the tomb of Ebu’l Hasan Harakani, sample famous local cuisine that dates back to the time when the Russians had control of the city. Learn about the rich history of the area at the Kars Museum and then take a tea break amidst historical Russian architecture. From there you can pick up souvenirs from local merchants along the road before heading to Fethiye Mosque, whose 16th-century origins as a Russian church are still evident. After visiting the church, watch an impressive battle of sorts, as local musicians duke it out on the saz! Finally, visit the Kars War Museum before finishing off your day by trying local cuisine—complete with an exciting cultural Caucus dance show (seasonal). 

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Day 2 The Surrounding Region of Kars

Your second day in Kars begins with an early morning trip to a nearby village for a fresh farm-to-table breakfast, just as the locals do. While you’re there, sample regional cheese and see how it’s made at the village’s cheese museum. They say this place resembles the Swiss Alps, but we’ll let you be the judge! When you’ve had enough of the warm laid back village lifestyle, say goodbye to your new local friends and travel to the winter wonderland at frozen Lake Cildir where a picturesque horse-drawn sleigh ride awaits! From there, it’s back to the city center for lunch before heading onward to the captivating ruined Armenian city of Ani, also called The City of 1001 Churches. In its prime, Ani was one of the world’s largest cities, with an estimated population of 100,000. Today, the ruins of Ani are a Unesco World Heritage Site. Barbecue at sunset as you take in those last few moments of the glorious history.