Mount Ararat is not only breathtaking to look at, but it is also Turkey’s tallest peak. This mountain is a popular choice due to its simple access, relatively straightforward ascent compared to other mountains in the area, and well-organized features. The main difficulty in climbing Mount Ararat is the altitude because it is 5137 m high. Additionally, taking an extra day to adjust to the altitude can improve your chances of succeeding in reaching the top.
The actual Mount Ararat hike lasts five days, with four nights spent camping on the mountain’s flanks. While Mount Ararat’s last 200 meters demand the use of crampons and ice axes, substantial technical climbing skills are not necessary to ascend the summit.
Starting and ending in AGRI-VAN or IGDIR Airport, the trip lasted 4-5 nights of camping and 2 nights in a hotel in Dogubayazit.
We meet you at Van, Igdır or Agri Airport and drive to Dogubeyazit in our private transfer vehicle. Arrive at Dogubeyazit and check-in to the hotel, followed by an orientation meeting, equipment check, and dinner.
After breakfast at the hotel, we leave unnecessary items in a storage room and drive to the Cevirme village or Eli village is a starting point at an altitude of 2250 mt. On mount Ararat. Unload gear, luggage and trek 4 hours to the base camp at 3200 mt. Horses and mules will carry all our backpacks and gear. You will carry your lightweight a day pack only with a lunch box, fruits, water inside. We will stop for tea break and take some photos in a nomad tent on our route. Continue our walk to our base camp and enjoy a nice dinner.
After breakfast, trek to camp II (4.100 m) and return to camp I. Our hiking takes about 4 hours. Dinner and overnight on camp I
We prepare our luggage after we have a great breakfast. The luggage is loaded by the horses. We got our lunch-boxes and we started hiking to the 2. camp at 4100 m. Our hiking takes about 4-5 hours. On the 2. camp we drink tea and eat some sweets and we rest and wait for dinner. Dinner in the camp. Overnight in the tents.
We will wake up long before sunrise (usually about 1-2 am) and eat something. Then we will take necessary equipment, thermoses with hot tea and lunch packets and we will start the ascent to Ararat summit. We should reach peak of Mount Ararat within 5-7 hours, depending on weather conditions and the pace of the group. It may be necessary to use crampons on last 200-300 meters before summit. On the summit we will have some time to celebrate and take photos. Afterwards we will descent to Ararat Camp 2, where meal will wait for us. We can rest about 1-2 hours in our tents. Then we will pack our luggage and walk down to the point where minibus will wait for us (on the way we can make a short break on the Camp 1). We will return to Dogubayazit, to our hotel. At the evening we will have dinner in one of local restaurants.
Overnight at a hotel in Dogubayazit.
Last day of our tour we will few interesting places located close to Dogubayazit. First we will drive to Ishak Pasha Palace – one of the most important palaces in Ottoman history, built in 17th century.
Then we will visit Durupinar site (a ship-shaped area that some people believe could be the “footprint” of Noah’s Ark).
The last point of our tour will be Meteor Crater, located just next to the border crossing with Iran. It is the second largest meteor crater in the world, after the largest one in Alaska. Then we will back to the town for lunch. On the afternoon those who want can go to Turkish bath (Hamam).
Overnight at a hotel in Dogubayazit.
Transfer to airport (Van / Igdir / Agri) and end of our expedition.
There is an emergency extra day in our program. Weather conditions on the mountain sometimes make the climb impossible. With a extra day, you’ll have a chance to wait in the second camp area to wait for the weather conditions to improve and then try again the next day when the weather gets better. If there are no bad weather conditions, this day will be used after the summit descent to rest at the Base Camp area at 3200 meters.
*Fixed departures work well for anyone who want to join the planned expedition at a reasonable fee. All national and international mountaineers are welcome to board these guaranteed trips.
*The group tours have set departure dates and unmodifiable itineraries.
*Meals are provided as a fixed buffet. There is also an A-La-Carte menu available. You have a good opportunity of meeting and befriending people from all around the world. Although 50 people is the maximum group size, we still guarantee departure with just one person.
Mount Ararat Climbing Guaranteed Departure Dates
MONTHS | DEPARTURE - FINISH |
MAY | 01.05.2024 - 07.05.2024 09.05.2024 - 15.05.2024 20.05.2024 - 26.05.2024 |
JUNE | 01.06.2024 - 07.06.2024 09.06.2024 - 15.06.2024 18.06.2024 - 24.06.2024 26.06.2024 - 03.07.2024 |
JULY | 05.07.2024 - 11.07.2024 13.07.2024 - 18.07.2024 18.07.2024 - 24.07.2024 24.07.2024 - 30.07.2024 |
AUGUST | 06.08.2024 - 12.08.2024 16.08.2024 - 22.08.2024 23.08.2024 - 29.08.2024 31.08.2024 - 06.09.2024 |
SEPTEMBER | 03.09.2024 - 09.09.2024 |
1 – Meeting points : AGRI-VAN-IGDIR Airport & DOGUBEYAZIT Bus Station ( Alternatives : Van or AGRI Airports )
2 – The itinerary is changeable and modifiable as per need and time frame of the party. Program may change according to weather and road conditions. Cost will be re-calculated if the itinerary is changed or modified. Additional activities may be added as per party members request with appropriate additional cost. The cost may also be affected due to the requirement of number of guide and auxiliary guide.
3 – Please give a notice for one or more extra Night/ Day Before and / or after the activity.
Travel: Recommended arrival and departure airport is : IGDIR (There are winter flights available via Istanbul). Alternatively Transfers VAN or AGRI airports is also available to a minimum extra cost. Please note that the flight information may change rapidly and not all flights run daily. Please check directly with the airlines website.Please do not book your flights before we have confirmed your booking.
Private Transfers : All private transfers will be arranged according to the itinerary and you will find the confirmation and the details for your private transfer in the itinerary .
Luggage transfers & logistics : Luggage transfer on hiking (Walking) days is included and your baggages will transferred from the current hotel to the next one. After the checkout you will leave the baggages at the hotel reception and begin to hike. On arrival to the next hotel , baggages will there waiting for you arrival.
Accommodation : Hotel – Pension- Camping Ground- Base Camp (Hotels are subjected to availability). Accommodation is Hand-picked and monitored facilities (Hotels) offering good level of Comfort.
*Single Room & Solo Traveller Supplement :
Where individual members of a group require a single room, a single room supplement is applicable.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner is always included.