Mt Ararat Expedition (5137m)
from2024 Departure Dates: 3-9 August 2024 // 10-16 August 2024 // 17-23 August 2024 // 24-30 August 2024 // 31 August – 6 September 2024 | A Journey to the Top of Anatolia’s Sacred Mountain
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Reviews 0 Reviews0/5
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Activity Level Moderate
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Group Size Small Group
Mt Ararat , the highest summit in Anatolia, is an extinct volcano with an elevation of 5165 m , tough some sources give it as 5137 m. Located in Eastern Anatolia , 25 km inland from the borders of Armenia and Iran,this immense, cone shaped mountain has a diameter of 40 km at its base. So this gigantic volcano massive is not something that you can easily missed and stay uncaptivated.
Some of the fame in the history,Marco Polo, was also very much impressed ages ago and expressed as ‘’ …there is a very high mountain upon which Noah’s Ark is said to rest. It is so wide andd long, that it takes over 2 days to travel around it. The deep snow on the summit stays year-round and none can climb to the summit’’ ( around 1295 AD ).The belief, which Marco Polo expressed had been perpetuated till to 1829, when Parrot did the first ascent.
This expedition is a wonderful choice as a week trip to the highest peak of Turkey.Beside the focused target to the top, the itinerary also consists side trips to the spots that are marvels tobehold. The mountain has a biblical attribution as the final resting of Noah’s Ark. Mt Ararat attracts the attentions and interests of adventure seekers beyond the sportive purposes.The local life, authentic atmosphere allows participants to discover the Eastern Anatolia’s character.
7 days program suits the best for acclimatization for all type of participants. It is recommended to have longer programs out of the best season periods mentioned above to minimize the risk due to climate facts.
This 7-day program affords a relatively easy ascent of the summit to all who are in good physical condition and are accustomed to hike in higher elevations. It is even suitable for those who have never been to elevations above 5,000 meters.While designing this classic program we have allowed for one day to acclimatize by ascending to 4,200 meters, then returning to base camp. Both camps will include kitchen and dining facilities quite luxury up on a mountain.Participants will accommodate in high altitude tents for two. Instructions will be done by your guides including how to use technical equipment.
It is possible to combine your trip with other tours and extend your vacation in East Anatolia or in Turkey.If you would like a longer trip in Eastern Anatolia and climb Mt Ararat, or visit some of the ‘musts’ in Turkey, please contact us.
For sure that fabled Mt. Ararat will leave you in its spell – definitely an adventure worth the pursuit.
Itinerary Outline
Day 1: Meet at the airport of Van and transfer to the hotel in Dogubayazit
Day 2: Transfer to Mt Ararat –Cevirme Village,2200 m – Ascent to 3350 m camp
Day 3: Acclimatization Camp 1 – Camp 2 ( 4200 m ) – Camp 1
Day 4: Camp 1 – Camp 2
Day 5: Camp 2 – Summit Attempt – Camp 1
Day 6: Camp 1 – Dogubeyazit
Day 7: Dogubeyazit – Van. Return
- Montis Trips & Expedition Mountain Leaders
- All Kitchen Services
- All Meals During The Treks
- All Ground Transfers in The Program
- All Camping Equipment (Tent,Mattress,Sleeping Bag)
- Transfer of the Equipments
- 3* Hotel Accommodation (HB)
- Personal Safety Equipment(Helmet, Ice-axe, Crampon, Safety harness)
- General Safety Equipment( Ropes, Karabinas, etc.)
- First Aid Kit
- Entrance Fees for Historical Sights and Parks
- Mt. Ararat Permits( 50 USD, subject to change )
-Small groups of 6-14 pax only with minimum 2 MONTIS Trips & Expeditions Mountain Leaders
- International Transfers, Domestic Air Fares
- Out Of Program Demands
- Lunches During The Car Trips
- Beverages in the hotels and restaurants
- Backpack, Walking Sticks, etc.
- Personal Gear
- Insurance
- Tips
SNG Supplement:
95 Euro
NOTE: Due to permit procedures, fees and operational obligations price for non Turkish citizens is different than the prices for TR citizens.
Our proper Mt Ararat expeditions have overnights in Dogubayazit and on the mountains. For exceptional itineraries which are specially built or extended tour programs may include overnights or stays in other places.
Hotel in Dogubayazit: Accommodation in Dogubayazit in tourist class hotels which has private facilities in the rooms. (3*, Ertur Boutique Hotel, http://www.butikerturhotel.com/).
Camps: Camp with kitchen facilities. We provide 4 – 5 season tents for DBL accommodation. Single accommodation should be asked in advance. Every camp will have a kitchen tent or compartment. But only first camp has dining tent. We provide portable chairs and tables for dining in first camp only. Camps do not have shower and WC facilities.Guides instruct about these issues on your arrival to our camps.But we have water for personal cleaning in our camps.
Meals:
At the basecamp we also serve hot dishes for breakfast and dinner. Lunches are served as lunch pack and hot dishes as well in the rest day. We have minimum 3 course for any meal beside the side dishes, snacks, biscuits, dried fruit, cereals and etc. Hot drinks are available all day long in the base camp for free. No beverages and no alcoholic drinks are sold at the basecamp but wine is occasionally served complimentarily.
Breakfast at the basecamp: Buffet
Black Tea,Herbal and Fruit Tea Sorts
Instant coffee , coffeemate ( cream ) , milk for coffee
Black olive
Green olive
White Cheese
Yellow Cheese ( Cheddar )
Cream cheese or gravier cheese
2 different sorts of jam
Honey
Cream Chocolate
Tomato
Cucumber
Baked sausages , omlet with tomato and sausage for the first and the last day
Soup bread and cake late at night before the summit attempt as breakfast.
Lunch Pack
1 bar of chocolate wafer
2 packed cake
1 pack of cracker
200 ml fruit juice ( every day different sort)
80 gr – 180 gr of 1 canned food
1 Fresh fruit or vegetable (apple, cucumber etc.)
2 sheet of bread (Lavas)
1 sandwich (on the first day)
Tissues
Plastic Fork and Spoon
Dinner: Buffet
Soup (tomato, lentil, Mushroom with cream, vegetable, chicken)
Pasta or Rice sorts
Salat
Main Dish (Bean meal with meat or sausage, Orman Kebabı (A Turkish dish with meat), Mixed Vegetable Meal , Green bean meal with chicken )
Desert (Pudding , Kemal Paşa (A Turkish Desert ) , Sekerpare ( A Turkish Desert ), Cake with sherbet, fruit)
Travel Plan
Recommended Domestic Flights:
Our airport meeting times for transfers are determined based on the latest arriving flights for arrivals and the earliest departing flights for departures at each airport. The airport meeting times and the times we will drop you off at the airport are provided below. You can also find sample recommended flights that match these times below.
Van Ferit Melen Airport DEPARTURE-RETURN:
Istanbul Airport
Departure: IST – VAN, TK2746, 08:40 – 10:45
Return: VAN – IST, TK2749, 16:05 – 18:25
Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Departure: SAW – VAN, VF3348, 07:20 – 09:30
Return: Please select direct or connecting flights based on the airport drop-off time.
Esenboğa Airport
Departure: ESB – VAN, VF4302, 07:30 – 09:05
Return: VAN – ESB, VF4305 17:55 – 19:35
Antalya Airport
Departure: AYT – VAN // XQ7614 // 08:35 – 10:35 (Antalya Airport)
Return: Please select direct or connecting flights based on the airport drop-off time.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For group transfers at Van Ferit Melen Airport, our vehicles will be ready at 11:15 on the first day of our tour upon your arrival. On the last day of our tour, our transfer will be arranged to be at the airport at 15:00 for your departure.
Ağrı Ahmed-i Hani Airport DEPARTURE-RETURN:
Istanbul Airport
Departure: IST – AJI, TK2730, 13:25 – 15:35
Return: AJI – IST, TK2741, 11:20 – 13:45
Esenboğa Airport
Departure: ESB – AJI, VF4108, 11:10 – 12:45
Return: AJI – ESB, VF4109, 13:20 – 15:05
IMPORTANT NOTE: For group transfers at Ağrı Ahmed-i Hani Airport, our vehicles will be ready at 16:00 on the first day of our tour upon your arrival. On the last day of our tour, our transfer will be arranged to be at the airport at 11:30 for your departure.
Iğdır Şehit Bülent Aydın Airport DEPARTURE-RETURN
Istanbul Airport
Departure: IST – IGD, TK2720, 13:15 – 15:25
Return: IGD – IST, TK 2721, 16:10 – 18:35
Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Departure: SAW – IGD, TK7392, 13:50 – 15:55
Return: Please select direct or connecting flights based on the airport drop-off time.
Esenboğa Airport
Departure: ESB – IGD, TK7098, 12:00 – 13:35
Return: IGD – ESB, TK 7099, 14:15 – 15:55
IMPORTANT NOTE: For group transfers at Iğdır Şehit Bülent Aydın Airport, our vehicles will be ready at 16:30 on the first day of our tour upon your arrival. On the last day of our tour, our transfer will be arranged to be at the airport at 13:00 for your departure.
In recent years, airlines may make changes to flights during our tour season and may open new flights. We recommend booking your flights based on the most recent updates. Our agency is not responsible for flight changes made by airlines.
Visa
Holders of most European passports,UK, Austrian, Irish, Portuguese, Spanish and US passports require visas. Visas must be obtained in advance, passengers need to obtain an e-visa prior to their arrival. This can be done online at https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ for approximately US$20. The visa is valid for a stay of up to three months (dependent on passport holder’s nationality). For a longer stay a visa from a Turkish Embassy is required. Please click for visa requirements to Turkey for detailed information:
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
Vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements.
Eating and Drinking
Food in Turkey is generally very good and varied, making use of fresh local ingredients. Breakfasts normally include boiled eggs, omelets, cucumber, tomatoes, cheese, honey or jam and yoghurt, olives and bread. Picnic lunches are provided for trekking days.
Hotels in this trip are specialized in local dishes such as beef dishes, pasta, pide with vegetable meals and soup. Vegetarians are well catered for.
Weather
If travelling in July and August you must be prepared for high temperatures up to 38 deg C down in the cities. Protracted spells of bad weather are unlikely at any time of July and August in the cities. However, Mt Ararat is quiet different than this.The Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey has a reputation of the worst, the coldest and driest general weather conditions. But as all mountains Mt Ararat has its own weather and climate characteristics. Mt Ararat is a strato volcano that self stands on a huge plateau. That is why it collects all the clouds that rise during the day by heating. That creates its precipitation characteristics. Ararat Mountain generates its own weather conditions; it is not wise to depend on weather forecasts. The peak is subject to severe winds, and sudden changes in temperature.. One has to be equipped for the worst, and one has to know when to quit. Daytime temperature is usually 16-24 C degrees and night temperatures are -5 to 12 C degrees at the campsites without windchill affect. But the temperature can decrease to -15 C degrees above the second camp to the top.
Is this trip for you?
Activity Level: 4-5 (Moderate-Hard)
This trip gives you the chance to climb the highest summit of Northern mountains of Turkey. Mt Kackar is also one of the highest summits of Turkey as well. The region is known as the Swiss Alps of Turkey. En route from and to airport we have chance to visit the highlights such as Tortum Waterfalls and Georgian. However, to enjoy this trip to the full, a fair level of fitness and physique are required.
We have a day-off to rest at the basecamp if this day is not spent as a reserve day in case of bad weather or so. Trip leaders may take you a lovely hike from camp back to camp. Depending on the weather, we have an opportunity to enjoy a bath in the creek as well as lakes. So, a pack-towel and swimsuit might be a good idea. Then, you do not miss a Turkish Hamam option with your own bathing clothes. Please note that the Tour Leader reserves the right to refuse participation of any client on any activities on safety grounds or if they feel that their participation will compromise the safety and enjoyment for the rest of the group.
The order of activities, trekking routes may be changed to suit local weather conditions.
Packing
You are recommended to have a duffle bag. Only a day pack will be carried during the day. Duffle bags will be transferred by vehicles and mules to the camp.
Transportation Of The Equipments
Your entire luggage will be transferred to the hotel by coach. We use trucks and / or a coach again to transport the luggage and only coach for passengers depending on the size of the group. Luggage, equipment and camping stuff is carried by the mules to the camps (Cevirme Village,2200 m- Camp 1,3350 m – Camp 2, 4200 m – Camp 1, 3350 m, CevirmeVillage, 2200 m )