Things to Do in the Eastern Anatolia Region

In this guide Eastern Anatolia consists of thirteen provinces: Ağrı, Ardahan, Bingöl, Bitlis, Elazığ, Erzincan, Erzurum, Iğdır, Kars, Malatya, Muş, Tunceli and Van. Türkiye’s highest mountain, Mount Ağrı (5,137 m), lies in the region. High plateaus, volcanic mountains, crater and glacial lakes and deep canyons form the natural setting for the routes.

The Threshold of Anatolia: Ani, Ahlat and Malazgirt

The region’s historical route also covers the opening of Anatolia to the Turks. In Muş is the site of the Battle of Malazgirt, where Sultan Alparslan defeated the Byzantine army on 26 August 1071. In Bitlis is the Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery, known as the world’s largest Turkish-Islamic cemetery with 8,200 gravestones. Kars has the medieval capital of Ani, which joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016, and Kars Castle, built in 1152. In Erzurum the Twin Minaret Madrasa, Yakutiye Madrasa, Grand Mosque and Üç Kümbetler (Three Tombs) date from the Saltukid, Seljuk and Ilkhanid periods. In Van you can visit Van Castle, Çavuştepe and Hoşap Castle, relics of the Urartian capital Tuşpa, as well as Akdamar Church on Lake Van. In Malatya the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arslantepe Mound (2021), in Elazığ Harput Castle and the Harput Grand Mosque, and in Ağrı İshak Paşa Palace, which took 99 years to complete, round out this historical trail.

Lakes, mountains and canyons

Highlights include a horse-drawn sleigh tour on Lake Çıldır in Ardahan, which freezes over in winter; Nemrut, Türkiye’s largest crater lake, in Bitlis; the Floating Islands Nature Monument, the glacial lakes of the Bingöl Mountains and the Hesarek Ski Centre in Bingöl; Karanlık Canyon, Taş Yol and Girlevik Waterfall in Erzincan; Munzur Valley National Park in Tunceli; and Tohma Canyon in Malatya. The Tuzluca Salt Galleries and the foothills of Mount Ağrı in Iğdır, and the plains around Ani in Kars, can be added to the plan.

Cuisine and local products

• Erzurum: Oltu cağ kebabı (horizontal spit-roasted lamb), kadayıf dolması (walnut-filled kadayıf), su böreği; Erzurum civil cheese.
• Kars: goose meat, erişte pilavı (noodle pilaf), hangel (pasta with butter and cheese); Kars Gruyère and kaşar cheese.
• Ardahan: goose meat, kaz etli erişte (noodles with goose meat), Göle kaşarı; Ardahan flower honey.
• Van: Van breakfast, otlu peynir (herbed cheese), murtuğa; Lake Van pearl mullet.
• Bitlis: büryan kebabı (pit-roasted lamb), avşor çorbası (wheat and yoghurt soup), içli köfte (stuffed bulgur meatballs); Bitlis honey.
• Malatya: analı kızlı köfte, kağıt kebabı, içli köfte; Malatya apricots, köpük pestili (apricot fruit leather).
• Elazığ: orcik (walnut-filled grape sweet), sırın, Palu tava; Ağın chickpeas (leblebi), Öküzgözü grapes.
• Erzincan: tulum cheese, kesme kadayıfı, rice pudding (sütlaç); Cimin grapes.
• Bingöl: burma kadayıfı, Çobantaşı kavurması (fried lamb); Bingöl honey.
• Muş: Muş köftesi, çorti aşı, lobik.
• Ağrı: Abdigör köftesi, yaprak döner (sliced döner), haşıl (wheat porridge), tandır bread.
• Iğdır: bozbaş (lamb and chickpea stew), taş köfte, omaç aşı; Iğdır apricots.
• Tunceli: şorbik çorbası (lentil and bulgur soup); Munzur honey.

Getting There

Ağrı, Bingöl, Elazığ, Erzincan, Erzurum, Iğdır, Kars, Malatya, Muş and Van can be reached by air; Bingöl, Bitlis, Elazığ, Erzincan, Erzurum, Kars, Malatya and Muş by rail. Ardahan is reached via Kars, and Tunceli only by road. On Lake Van there is a ferry connection on the Bitlis side. Because the distances between provinces in the region are long, it is easier to explore in small circuits such as Van–Bitlis–Muş, Erzurum–Kars–Ardahan and Malatya–Elazığ–Tunceli. In winter, high-altitude roads can become difficult, so check current conditions before travelling.

Below you will find the guide to each province, along with its districts, food and transport information.