# Private Kars and Ani Tour Canonical: https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/private-kars-ani-tour/ Site: Tubos Travel – https://tubostravelturkey.com/ Language: en Also described in: de, fr, es, it, pt, nl, ru, zh-CN, tr, ar, hi Categories: KARS, Turkey Tours Last updated: 2026-11-04 Summary: A private two-day tour from Kars to the Ani Ruins, with Kars Castle, the Kars Museum and the old town's Russian-era streets. Lunch and a licensed guide. ## Overview This Kars and Ani tour runs for two days, with hotel pick-up in Kars and one night in a hotel with breakfast. A licensed guide, a minivan with driver, lunch both days and entrance fees are included. Day one covers Kars Castle, the Kars Museum and the old town's Russian-era streets. Day two goes 42 kilometers east to the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ani. ## Tour highlights **[Kars Castle](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kars-castle/):** A basalt fortress above the Kars River, with ramparts open for free views over the old town and the Celal Baba Tomb. **[Kars Museum](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kars-museum/):** Urartian bronze belts, medieval ceramics from Ani and regional folk life on the upper floor. **Old Kars:** Basalt buildings from the Russian period of 1878 to 1918, and the 10th-century Kümbet Mosque, built as the Church of the Apostles. **[Ani Ruins](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/ani-ruins/):** The cathedral finished in 1001, the frescoed Tigran Honents Church from 1215 and the 11th-century Menucihr Mosque. **[Kafkas University Botanical Garden](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kafkas-university-botanical-garden/):** Steppe flora from the Eastern Anatolian highlands, best seen from late May to July. ## Itinerary ### Day 1 : Kars city Your guide collects you from your hotel in Kars. The first visit is [Kars Castle](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kars-castle/), which rises on a rocky hill above the center. Its dark basalt walls were built in 1152 during the Saltukid period and rebuilt under Ottoman rule in 1579. Climb the ramparts for views over the Kars River and the old town. Below the castle stand the stone bridge and the 10th-century Kümbet Mosque, built as the Church of the Apostles. Next is the [Kars Museum](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kars-museum/) on Cumhuriyet Caddesi, with Urartian bronze belts and medieval ceramics excavated from Ani. Lunch at a local restaurant follows, with a soft drink. In the afternoon you walk the straight streets of the Russian-era quarter, with their basalt houses, and the guide can show you where to buy Kars honey and gruyère. From late May to July, the [Kafkas University Botanical Garden](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kafkas-university-botanical-garden/) can be added. The day ends at your hotel in Kars. ### Day 2 : Ani Ruins and return to Kars After breakfast at your hotel the guide drives you 42 kilometers east to the [Ani Ruins](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/ani-ruins/). The site sits on a plateau above the Arpaçay gorge, and the river below marks the border with Armenia. Ani was the capital of the medieval Armenian Bagratid kingdom. Your guide walks you past the cathedral, finished in 1001, the Tigran Honents Church with its frescoes from 1215, and the 11th-century Menucihr Mosque. Lunch at a local restaurant with a soft drink is included after the walk. Because the tour is private, the guide can extend the time on the plateau if the group wants to stay longer among the ruins. The tour ends with drop-off at your hotel in Kars. ## Included Lunch at a local restaurant with a soft drink. Comfortable minivan and experienced driver. Professional tourist guide licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Entrance fees to the museums and sites. Local taxes, parking and fuel. One night in a hotel with a 4.5 or higher guest score, in a deluxe room, with breakfast. Highway tolls. ## Not included Travel insurance. Dinners. Optional tours. Tips. Flights or other travel to Kars. ## Details Tours start between 9:30 and 10:00 am and finish between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. Hotel pick-up and drop-off in new comfortable vehicles sized for the group. Since the tour is private, your guide can extend the time at Ani or shorten a museum visit. Price is on request for your dates and group size. Bring warm layers, sun protection and sturdy shoes, since the Ani plateau is open and exposed to wind. Cancellation terms are in our [cancellation and refund policy](https://tubostravelturkey.com/cancellation-and-refund-policy/). ## Who this tour suits This tour suits travelers who care about medieval architecture and the history of the Caucasus border region. Ani draws visitors who want to see a large ruined city with its cathedral, churches and walls still standing above the gorge. It also works for guests who want a calm city day in Kars before the drive to the ruins, since the museum and the castle are close to the old town. Anyone who expects a fast sightseeing day should plan for a slower pace, because the ruins deserve time. ## Best season and getting to Kars Kars has long, cold winters, so late spring to early autumn suits a visit to Ani and the open plateau best. The botanical garden is at its most colorful from late May to July. Kars has its own airport, and many guests combine the tour with a longer trip through eastern Turkey. Flights are not included in the tour price, so book your arrival and departure flights before you confirm your dates. ## Frequently asked questions **How long is the Kars and Ani tour?** The tour lasts two days. Day one covers Kars Castle, the Kars Museum and the old town, and day two covers the Ani Ruins. One night in a hotel with breakfast is included. **How far is Ani from Kars?** The Ani Ruins are 42 kilometers east of Kars, so day two begins with a drive. The road runs along the Arpaçay gorge, and your guide will time the stops on the way back. **Will a guide take us around Ani?** Yes. A licensed tourist guide walks the site with you and explains the cathedral, the Tigran Honents Church and the Menucihr Mosque. Because the tour is private, the pace of the walk is set around your group. **Can we climb the walls of Kars Castle?** Yes. Visitors can climb the ramparts of Kars Castle for views over the Kars River and the old town. The Celal Baba Tomb is on the route too, and your guide will point it out. **How can I get a price?** The price is on request for your dates and group size. Message us on WhatsApp +90 544 674 42 28 with your dates and group size, and we will send a quote. **Can we visit Kars in winter?** Yes. Many visitors come in winter for the snow and for [Lake Çıldır](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/lake-cildir/), which is outside this route. Ani is open and very cold in those months, so pack warm layers. We confirm the road conditions for your dates when you ask for a price. ## Summaries in other languages - de: Eine private Tour über zwei Tage ab Kars mit einer Hotelübernachtung und Frühstück. Am ersten Tag stehen die Burg von Kars, das Museum von Kars und die Straßen der Altstadt mit Bauten aus der russischen Zeit auf dem Programm. Am zweiten Tag fahren wir 42 Kilometer nach Osten zu den Ruinen von Ani, einer UNESCO Welterbestätte. - fr: Un circuit privé de deux jours au départ de Kars, avec une nuit d'hôtel et le petit-déjeuner. Le premier jour couvre le château de Kars, le musée de Kars et les rues de la vieille ville aux architectures de l'époque russe. Le second jour mène à 42 kilomètres à l'est, aux ruines d'Ani, site de l'UNESCO. - es: Un tour privado de dos días desde Kars, con una noche de hotel y desayuno. El primer día recorre el castillo de Kars, el Museo de Kars y las calles de la ciudad vieja con arquitectura de la época rusa. El segundo día viaja 42 kilómetros al este hasta las ruinas de Ani, sitio de la UNESCO. - it: Un tour privato di due giorni da Kars, con una notte in hotel e colazione. Il primo giorno copre il castello di Kars, il Museo di Kars e le vie del centro storico con architetture dell'epoca russa. Il secondo giorno percorre 42 chilometri verso est fino alle rovine di Ani, sito UNESCO. - pt: Um passeio privado de dois dias saindo de Kars, com uma noite de hotel e café da manhã. O primeiro dia cobre o castelo de Kars, o Museu de Kars e as ruas da cidade velha com arquitetura da era russa. O segundo dia segue 42 quilômetros a leste até as ruínas de Ani, sítio da UNESCO. - nl: Een privétour van twee dagen vanuit Kars, met één hotelnacht en ontbijt. Dag één bezoekt het kasteel van Kars, het museum van Kars en de straten van de oude stad met architectuur uit de Russische tijd. Dag twee rijdt 42 kilometer oostwaarts naar de ruïnes van Ani, een UNESCO werelderfgoed. - ru: Частная экскурсия на два дня из Карса с одной ночью в отеле и завтраком. В первый день крепость Карса, музей Карса и улицы старого города с постройками русского периода. Во второй день 42 километра на восток к руинам Ани, объекту ЮНЕСКО. - zh-CN: 从卡尔斯出发的为期两天的私人游览，包括一晚酒店住宿和早餐。第一天参观卡尔斯城堡、卡尔斯博物馆和老城中的俄罗斯时期建筑街区；第二天向东行驶42公里，前往联合国教科文组织遗址阿尼古城。 - tr: Kars'tan başlayan, bir gece otelde konaklamalı ve kahvaltılı iki günlük özel tur. Birinci gün Kars Kalesi, Kars Müzesi ve Rus dönemi yapılarının bulunduğu eski şehir sokakları gezilir. İkinci gün 42 kilometre doğuya, UNESCO alanı olan Ani harabelerine gidilir. - ar: جولة خاصة مدتها يومان من قارص، مع ليلة في الفندق ووجبة إفطار. يشمل اليوم الأول قلعة قارص ومتحف قارص وشوارع المدينة القديمة بعمارة الحقبة الروسية. ويتجه اليوم الثاني 42 كيلومترا شرقا إلى أطلال آني، وهي موقع لليونسكو. - hi: कार्स से शुरू होने वाला दो दिन का निजी टूर, जिसमें एक रात होटल और नाश्ता शामिल है। पहले दिन कार्स किला, कार्स संग्रहालय और पुराने शहर की रूसी दौर की वास्तुकला वाली गलियाँ देखी जाती हैं। दूसरे दिन 42 किलोमीटर पूर्व में यूनेस्को स्थल आनी के खंडहरों तक जाया जाता है। ## Images - https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kars-castle2.jpg — Kars Castle – Wide daytime view of Kars Castle on its hill above city buildings. Photo: Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) - https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kars_castello_veduta_01-scaled.jpg — Kars,_castello,_veduta_01 - https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kars-Ani-Ruins-09126-616x411-1.jpg — Ani Ruins – Conical-domed church viewed through stone wall ruins at Ani. Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) - https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/27338.jpg — 27338 - https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/33a54444-1001-4972-af79-a9b5d2cd9016.jpg — 33a54444-1001-4972-af79-a9b5d2cd9016 - https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/c29cb02a-8e7c-4635-8b07-0d882ca00cfa.jpg — c29cb02a-8e7c-4635-8b07-0d882ca00cfa - https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/3501.jpg — 3501 - https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/kayak-merkezi.jpg — Sarikamis – Panoramic winter view of pine forest ski slopes overlooking snow-covered Sarikamis town an ## Sources - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ani - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_of_Kars - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kars_Museum - https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1518/ - https://kars.ktb.gov.tr Markdown twin generated by Tubos Travel for AI agents; the HTML page is canonical.