Mount Ararat is a mythical mountain on the eastern borders of Turkey, where, according to tradition, Noah's Ark is said to have docked.
In 2016, the area was declared a military zone, and climbs to the mountain were suspended. These resumed in 2019, and it has since become a popular destination for many mountaineers and nature lovers.The wider area is not particularly developed for tourism, and some services (such as transportation) are less advanced compared to other areas in Turkey.
The usual ascent route followed by the vast majority of visitors is very crowded, and it is also used by mules carrying luggage and supplies to the higher camps. To avoid the crowd and especially the dust of this path, we chose to take a different route, rarely used by visitors, where no mules circulate.
The program was designed with an extra day dedicated to the ascent of Mount Artos, with an altitude of 3537 meters, to ensure proper acclimatization for the Greek climbers who are not well accustomed to high altitudes.
This program also includes a tourist visit to the main attractions of the area, such as the ancient Van Castle, the Van Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, the Ishak Pasha Palace, the Dogubayazit Castle, and Noah's Ark National Park, where it is believed that Noah's Ark docked.
Meeting in the morning at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, at 01:30 AM. Departure at 03:55 for Van in Eastern Turkey via Istanbul, with an arrival time of 10:10 AM.
Check-in at Bianca Deluxe Hotel 3 or another similar hotel, in the heart of the city. Followed by a visit to the Van Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum as well as Van Castle, a castle built during the Kingdom of Urartu.
Departure early in the morning for the ascent of Mount Artos, on the shores of Lake Van. The mountain, with an altitude of 3537 meters, has no technical difficulties and will help us acclimatize to the altitude, making the ascent of Ararat easier.
After descending from the mountain, we will visit Akdamar Island on Lake Van, where the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross is located.
Next, we will drive to Dogubayazit, where we will spend the night at Tehran Boutique Hotel 3*.
Ascent route: 7 ½ km, +880 m, 6 hours including the return
Driving for the day: 180 km, 2 ½ hours.
Road transfer to the slopes of Ararat, to the village of Cevirme, at an altitude of 2200 m, from where we begin the ascent of the mountain. The route initially follows a smooth path that becomes more uphill towards the end. After 4-5 hours of trekking, we will camp at Camp 1 at an altitude of 3200 m. Accommodation in two-person tents. Expected daytime temperature: 25-30°C.
Route: 5 ½ km, +1030 m, 4-5 hours.
Acclimatization ascent to an altitude of 4200 m and return to the same camp for overnight stay. The ascent will be made at a slow and steady pace, allowing the body to adjust to the thin air at these altitudes.
Trekking duration: approximately 6 hours. Route length: 6.5+6.5 km.
Ascent to Camp 2, at an altitude of 4200 m, following a relatively steep and rocky path that leads us to an area with limited space for camping.
The route follows an uphill trail filled with igneous rocks and reddish boulders, creating a unique landscape.
In the afternoon, we will rest for the morning ascent to the summit.
Expected temperature: 20-25°C.
Note: The campsite does not have organized toilets, so caution is required.
Trekking route: 6 ½ km, +920 m, 4-5 hours.
We wake up at midnight, 12:00 AM, to have breakfast, and immediately after, we begin our ascent to the summit, around 1:00 AM. The trail is steep and rocky up to 4950 meters, where the glacier begins. Here, we will put on crampons to continue. The rest of the ascent is smoother until we reach the first peak, Inonu Peak. Then, we follow a ridge to the main summit. On the return, we will pass by Camp 2 and descend to Camp 1 at an altitude of 3200 m for overnight stay.
Expected temperature: depending on weather conditions, from -20°C during the night ascent, to +25°C during the day.
Ascent route: 4 (+4) km, +660 m, -660 m, 5-7 + 3 hours.
Descent to Camp 1: 6 ½ km, -920 m, 3 hours
Immediately after breakfast, we continue the descent of the mountain until we reach 2200 meters, where we will take the vehicle to return to Dogubayazit.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Ishak Pasha Palace (a UNESCO World Heritage site), opposite which stands the mysterious ancient Dogubayazit Castle from the Urartu period. We will end our day with a visit to Noah's Ark National Park, where it is believed that Noah’s Ark docked.
Note: In case of bad weather on the previous summit day, the ascent to the summit will take place today, which will shorten the planned tourist visit.
Depending on how the program has progressed over the previous two days, today will be used either for visiting monuments in the Dogubayazit area or in Van.
In the afternoon, transfer to Van Airport for the return flight to Greece, with a departure time of 19:55 via Istanbul.
Arrival at Athens airport at 03:05 early in the morning.
26 July - 3 August 2025
1.510 € / person (for 16-20 persons)
Accommodation
Accommodation in the cities will be in two of the best hotels in each city, in double or triple rooms with private bathrooms and breakfast. On the mountain, two-person tents with sleeping pads will be provided by the local partner. There is the option to stay in a single room or alone in a tent with an additional charge.
Meals
Meals on the mountain are fully provided. This includes both cooked meals prepared on-site and dry food, hot beverages, and drinking water.
Breakfast includes hot drinks, juice, bread, butter, jam, honey, cheese, eggs, sausages, olives, and fresh vegetables.
Lunch mainly consists of dry food, such as hot drinks, juice, biscuits, dried fruits, nuts, and fresh fruits.
Dinner includes soups, pasta, rice, bulgur, potatoes, and fresh vegetables.
During each hike, snacks are provided with water, juice, chocolate, cookies, or sandwiches, which everyone carries in their daypack.
Geography - History
Mount Ararat is located in eastern Turkey, just a few kilometers from the Iranian and Armenian borders. Ascents to Ararat officially began in 1998 when the Turkish Mountaineering Federation issued a permit for climbing the summit. In 2004, the area was declared a National Park and part of a protected habitat.
It is a significant mountain in Armenian mythology, the residence of the gods, just like Mount Olympus in Greek mythology. For Armenians, it is a symbol of their national identity and is featured on their coat of arms.
Van (in Greek, Eva) is the capital of the eponymous province in eastern Turkey. It is built on the shores of Lake Van at an altitude of 1730 meters and has a population of about 370,000. It was the capital of the Urartu Kingdom from the 9th century BC and was an important center of Armenian culture until 1915. Today, most of the population is of Kurdish descent.
Dogubayazit, at an altitude of 1,625 meters, is the capital of the eponymous province, the easternmost Turkish province before the Iranian border. It has a population of about 115,000, and the population is mainly Kurdish. The mayor of the city comes from the Peoples' Democratic Party, a left-wing party that primarily rallies Kurds and defends traditional Kurdish demands, as well as the rights of women and other minorities in Turkey.
Climate
The climate is continental, meaning dry and hot, while in winter it is cold with snowfall. Often, the summit is covered in fog due to the outflow of hot gases from the volcano, while the valley on the outskirts has sunshine for 300 days a year. At night, the temperature at the summit, even in summer, drops well below zero, sometimes reaching -20°C. At lower altitudes, however, temperatures range from 17-34°C.
In July, August, and September, there are lower rainfall levels, with August seeing an average rainfall of 2mm.
Nature - Wildlife
On the slopes and around the mountain, wolves, polar bears, deer, roe deer, red foxes, weasels, wildcats, wild goats, and others live. There are few forests of beech, oak, fir, and pine, as well as a unique variety of odorless flowers.
Program Changes
Our guide or the local guide has the discretion to modify the program if weather conditions or other local circumstances (strikes, political unrest, etc.) require it, with the main consideration being the smooth progression of the program and the safety of the participants. Any costs arising from such changes are covered by the participants.
Tipping
Tipping is an optional gesture, often overlooked even by satisfied travelers. However, the local staff on the climb relies heavily on a decent tip, as this is not a permanent job for them. We recommend calculating an amount of approximately 20€ per person, which will be shared among the entire staff.
Insurance / insurance
Before travelling, please contact the Travel Medicine Office of EODY for instructions about our destination.
The cost of the trip includes Basic travel insurance, which covers various contingencies such as health contingencies (eg injury on a course at an altitude of up to 3,000 m, which requires transportation and hospitalization), missed flight and other cases, even coverage of total cancellation of the trip for an amount up to 5,000 € including cancellation due to covid-19
The coverage included is for ages up to 70 years old, while for ages 70 to 80 an additional amount is required, ask us for information.
In the following link you can see the benefits of the program and contact our insurance consultant to answer your questions about Travel Insurance coverage by Trekking Hellas
However, the included travel insurance does not cover evacuation at an altitude above 3,000 meters. And given that the trip takes place in an area with minimal infrastructure, an additional coverage of evacuation and rescue insurance is proposed.
Trekking Hellas cooperates with Global Rescue which covers incidents at altitudes up to 7,500 m with evacuation services. Follow the link below to buy Global Rescue & Trekking Hellas rescue insurance
To book your seat, you must first read the booking conditions and, if you accept them, then fill in the PARTICIPATION FORM here.
After completing the Participation Form, within 3 days, you must send a deposit of €500. Another €500 must be sent by May 31st, and the full payment for the trip must be completed by June 30th.
The deposit and final payment should be sent to the ALPHA BANK account with the IBAN number: GR1001407960796002002013550, under the name OUTDOORS TRAINING IKE.
When transferring or depositing money, please indicate your name and the name of the trip "ARARAT" in the PAYMENT REASON field.
In case of cancellation, the following cancellation fees apply
Price from €1510
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