Mount Ararat Expedition (5165 m.), Turkey

About this activity

MOUNT ARARAT EXPEDITION

8 days – 7 night trekking and climbing. The southern route spreads the climb over three days up and one day down, using two campsites at 3200m and 4200 meters, and mules to carry supplies to the first camp. It starts from Eliköyü, an abandoned village in the foothills and sticks to a ridge for much of the way, thus avoiding the Ulker glacier which careers down the face into deep and jumbled gorges below. The path, though rocky, is clearly marked. Above 5000m are permanent ice fields, so crampons, ice axes and ropes are required. The summit is reached via a long ridge and is no more than a rounded hump marked by cairns

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At a glance

Duration: 8 days
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–4
Guide: English
Operated by: Overland Travel Trekking

What is included

Included

Included: Lunch
Included: Dinner
Included: Breakfast

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: National Park Tax 50 USD per person

Itinerary

Day 1 · DAY 1: MEET AT VAN AIRPORT TRANSFER TO DOGUBAYAZIT

Van

one hour

DAY 1: MEET AT VAN AIRPORT TRANSFER TO DOGUBAYAZIT

An Overland Travel guide meets you at Van Airport and we drive to Dogubeyazıt. 175 km (2 h, 15 min)

Depending on arrival time, overnight in Van.

Overnight: in Dogubeyazit at a hotel

Meals: -

Hotel in Van city centre 3 *

Day 2 · DAY 2: ASCENT TO MT. ARART CAMP 1 - 3200 M

Ishak Pasha Palace

8 hours

After breakfast we load our luggage and camping equipment on our vehicle and drive to Eli Village (2.000m), Our luggage will be carried by mules and horses.. On the way it’s possible to meet some semi nomadic families, who use the fresh green Plateaus of the Mt. Ararat for their sheep flocks. We walk to our first Camp Site (Base Camp) which is set up on elevation of 3.200m.

Walking time: 4 h; ascent: approximately 1.200m (depending on road conditions & starting point)

Overnight: at Mount Ararat base camp 3.200m

Meals: B / L / D

camp

Day 3 · DAY 3: ACCLIMATISATION DAY

Mount AgrI

8 hours

Trek to camp II (4. 2OOm), about 4 hours trekking time. Return to camp 1. Afternoon is free for preparation for next day, because we will go up to the summit. Dinner and overnight in camp. (Ascent = 1100m / Descent = 1100 m)

Overnight: camp in 3200m.

Meals: B/L/D

camp

Day 4 · DAY 4: Mt. ARARAT (Camp II, 4200m)

Agri Dagi Milli Parki

8 hours Admission included

Trek to camp II (4. 2OOm), about 4/5 hours trekking time. All luggages will be carried by pack animals. A short course will be given on how to use ice-axe and crampons. Overnight in camp. (Descent = 1200 m)

Overnight: Camp in 4200m.

Meals: B /L/D

camp

Day 5 · DAY 5: Mt. ARARAT SUMMIT (5165m)

Agri Dagi Milli Parki

8 hours Admission included

Between 2:00 - 2:30 in the morning we will have breakfast and start walking between 3:00 or 3:30 to get a good view at the sunrise on the top. After 650 m. ascent, we reach Glacier at 4.850m. After we fixed our Crampons we continue our ascent till we reach the Summit of the Mt. Ararat. If the weather is clear we can see the Mt. Damavand in Iran, the Elbrus in the Caucasus and the Kackar Mountains near the Black Sea. We enjoy the great panoramic view from the Summit and afterwards start descending to our Base Camp at 3.200m.

Walking time: 9/10 h; ascent: 937m; descent: 1.937m

Overnight: at Mount Ararat base camp 3.200m

Meals: B / L / D

camp

Day 6 · Day 6: Mt. ARARAT – DOGUBEYAZIT

Mount AgrI

8 hours Admission included

Extra day, depending on the weather conditions on Day 5, we may make another summit attempt. Otherwise, omit this day. If the extra day isn’t necessary, that day will be spent in Dogubeyazıt. Descend to Cevirme Village about 3 hours and return to Dogubeyazit. We visit Ishakpaşa palace. There is a chance of trying Turkish Bath. Late afternoon free for visit city center Doğubeyazıt.

camp

Day 7 · DAY 7: AKDAMAR CHURCH -ISLAND of AKDAMAR

Noah's Ark site

5 hours Admission not included

Transfer to Van and we visit Akdamar Island which is the most important Armenian Church in East Turkey. On the island it stands the 10th-century Church of the Holy Cross, Architect Monk Manuel built the church between the years 915 and 921. The Church was consecrated in honor of the holy cross. Reliefs, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, daily Iife such as hunting, run along the exterior of the church. Overnight at hotel in Van.

Meals: B / L / D

Overnight: hotel in Van.
Akdamar Island

8 hours Admission not included

Akdamar island and Akdamar church visit, boat trip to armenian akhurian church

Day 8 · DAY 8: TRANSFER TO VAN AIRPORT FLY HOME

Mount AgrI

15 min

Group transfer to Van airport from hotel (15 minutes) fly back or depending on request we organize hotel and transfer in İstanbul and add 1 or 2 days extra sightseeing tour in İstanbul. Meals: B- -

Tour ends.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

End point

Pickup points

Erzurum Airport
Van Airport

Let us know where you want to meet with us ,then we can customise acording to the city. Our preferance is Dogubeyazıt Golden Hill hotels reception, or Van airport