Transasia Express is not running since 2019 due to Covid. Please send us an e-mail to get in to our contact list so we can update you whenever the journey re-starts.
Tabriz Cappadocia train is a part of the well-known Transasia Express which operates from Tehran to Ankara. Cappadocia is considered to be the most touristic destination in Turkey. Have you ever seen photos of wonderful hot air balloons floating all together? Yes, this magical event takes place in Cappadocia. This train is a great solution if you are traveling from Iran to Turkey and would like to stop for a few days in this unique town.
The Tabriz – Cappadocia train departs on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and arrives in Kayseri on Saturday night at 1:08 a.m. Kayseri is the closest railway station located near Cappadocia. After your arrival in Kayseri, you will be provided with a transfer to your booked hotel or other accommodation in Cappadocia. Even though you are missing a part of a trip that starts in Tehran, you will still cover more than 1500 kilometers. Your trip will last nearly two days and within it, you will change 4 means of transportation.
An interesting and unforgettable experience is anticipating you on board. You will see dozens of picturesque views and meet many friendly people mainly from Turkey and Iran. Don’t worry about not knowing a word in their languages. Friendliness doesn’t need any words.
Thursday – 11:00
Tabriz Railway Station (Google Map)
Saturday – 02:30
Urgup / Goreme (Google Map)
The Transasia Express’s uniqueness hides in its route. It is a well-planned way that is aimed at sharing with you all the beauty of the two countries. Maybe you imagine yourself getting on a train that takes you directly to Kayseri, don’t you? It is going to be much more interesting. Your trip will start in Tabriz on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. You will be traveling in an air-conditioned train of 4-seat compartments operated by an RAI (Islamic Republic of Iran Railways). In a compartment, you will find 4 berths that can easily be converted into beds. One of them will be yours.
There is a dining car on board where you will be able to taste delicious Persian cuisine. Just after leaving Tabriz, you will be able to observe a beautiful scenario over Urmia lake. This lake is known to be one of the largest salt lakes in the world. Later on, the train will stop in Kapıköy where passport control takes place. You will have to prepare your passport for a regular check that will not last more than 2 hours. Finally, you will be ready to move to Van, another beautiful town located on a famous lake.
Van lake is the largest lake in entire Turkey. There are a few islands that have stayed in peace for years rarely being visited by tourists. However, Akdamar island where you can find an Armenian church built in the 11th century attracts most tourists. It is likely you will want to come back here to explore everything around. This place is like a magnet. Here, in Van, you will get on a ferry that will take you to the other coast, town Tatvan. A ride on a high-speed ferry will last almost 4 hours, yet you will have an opportunity to spend time drinking a cup of tea and chatting with other passengers or having a nap because this is an overnight ride.
Afterward, you will get on a train operated by Turkish railways that heads to Ankara, however, your final stop is Kayseri. The train departs from Tatvan at 07:00 a.m. on Friday morning makes stops in Elazığ, Malatya and other cities. You will be passing Keban Dam over the Ismetpasa bridge and a lot of distant villages. Enjoy wonderful landscapes in a dining car of the train. Alike on the Iranian train, you will be traveling in a 4-berth compartment with all the necessary bedding given to you. your approximate time of arrival to Kayseri is 01:24 a.m. At this time, you will be met by a driver who will transfer you by a comfortable Mercedes van to your hotel in Cappadocia. This transfer is also included in the price and you will not be charged for it.
The trip on the Transasia Express train is one of the best ways to explore Iran and Turkey and their cultures, as life exists also on board. You will broaden your mindset and get amazing emotions. However, you know that any trip requires some preparation. If it is your first trip to Iran, you would be interested in knowing that your credit and debit cards will not work there. Therefore, you will need to exchange money in rials, the Iranian currency, beforehand.
On the train from Tabriz to Van, you will also be able to pay only in rials. A piece of good news is that you have an opportunity to bring your own food on boards of the two trains and the ferry. So, get your favorite snack because you might not find it during the way.
On both trains, you will be traveling in a compartment suitable for 4 people. There is a division for males and females so you shouldn’t worry about safety. Everything is well-planned. Moreover, there is no WI-FI and you may be interested in booking a packet of mobile data for your phone. Besides, most nationalities are obligated to get a visa in order to travel to Iran, whereas Turkey is more loyal in this question and allows to stay up to 90 days on its territory. Anyway, you are advised to check this information and obtain a visa before your journey.
There is gender segregation at the sleeping time in Transasia Express. You can avoid it by booking for 4 people and you can have a private compartment for yourself.
A highly comfortable train with 4-people compartments welcomes passengers every Thursday at 11:00 a.m. The train goes directly to Van and crosses the border in a town called Kapıköy. There is a dining car on board, as well as clean shared restrooms at the end of each wagon. In almost 9 hours after departing from Tabriz, you will reach Van where you will continue your trip on a ferry.
The Van – Tatvan ferry ride takes 3,5 hours to get to another coast of the largest lake in Turkey. You will be able to enjoy the serenity and drink a cup of coffee in one of the cafeterias on board. Don’t miss a chance to have a nap as you will arrive in Tatvan at around 05:30 a.m. on Friday.
On the second day of your journey, you will change a mode of transport to another train operated by Turkish railways. The train has 4 berths in each compartment and shared lavatories at the end of a wagon. You may also find a dining car where you can have a nourishing breakfast. You will arrive in Kayseri at 01:08 a.m. on Saturday night.
After arriving in Kayseri, you will be transferred to Cappadocia by a quick and comfortable van of the Mercedes brand. Beforehand, you will be asked about your place of staying in Cappadocia, so we could drop you off at your final destination.
