Doğubayazıt Trip Overview
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
Additional Info
Duration: 8 days
Starts: Doğubayazıt, Turkey
Trip Category: Outdoor Activities >> Hiking & Camping
Explore Doğubayazıt Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Doğubayazıt, Ağrı, Turkey
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
Itinerary
Day 1: DAY 1: MEET AT VAN AIRPORT TRANSFER TO DOGUBAYAZIT
Stop At: Van, Van
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: –
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Van city centre 3 *
Day 2: DAY 2: ASCENT TO MT. ARART CAMP 1 – 3200 M
Stop At: Ishak Pasha Palace, Dogubeyazit Yolu 5., Dogubeyazit 04400 Turkey
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
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner
• Lunch
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: camp
Day 3: DAY 3: ACCLIMATISATION DAY
Stop At: Mount Ararat, Eastern Turkey on the Armenian border, Agri Turkey
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
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner
• Lunch
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: camp
Day 4: DAY 4: Mt. ARARAT (Camp II, 4200m)
Stop At: Agri Dagi Milli Parki, Agri 06510 Turkey
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
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: camp
Day 5: DAY 5: Mt. ARARAT SUMMIT (5165m)
Stop At: Agri Dagi Milli Parki, Agri 06510 Turkey
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
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: camp
Day 6: Day 6: Mt. ARARAT – DOGUBEYAZIT
Stop At: Mount Ararat, Eastern Turkey on the Armenian border, Agri Turkey
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.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: camp
Day 7: DAY 7: AKDAMAR CHURCH -ISLAND of AKDAMAR
Stop At: Noah’s Ark site, 7-10 km east of Dogubeyazit, Turkey on D-100, Dogubeyazit Turkey
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.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Akdamar Island, Lake Van Bitlis Van Yolu, Gevas, Van Turkey
Akdamar island and Akdamar church visit, boat trip to armenian akhurian church
Duration: 8 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 8: DAY 8: TRANSFER TO VAN AIRPORT FLY HOME
Stop At: Mount Ararat, Eastern Turkey on the Armenian border, Agri Turkey
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.
Duration: 15 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.