The Touristic Eastern Express (Turkish: Turistik Doğu Ekspresi) is a scenic passenger train operated by the TCDD Taşımacılık.
The service was established as an alternative to the regular Eastern Express, which runs the same line but was mostly sold-out weeks in advance in recent years for sightseeing purposes.
On 15 December 2021, train restarted the operations from Ankara with a ceremony attended by Adil Karaismailoğlu, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.
[2][4][5][3] At the train stop in İliç, passengers are taken by bus to Kemaliye for a visit to the Karanlık Canyon and then to the water source of Lake Kadı, as well as to the historic wooden mansions.
[3] The passengers then travel by bus to Erzincan, where they visit the Ekşisu Picnic Area, the archaeological site of Altıntepe, and the Gürlevik Waterfalls.