Mount Ararat Summit

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DAY 1

Meet your guide in Van airport.Transfer to Bayazit and on the way visit the Muradiye Waterfall.

DAY 2

At morning 7:00 o’clok by minibus transfer to Mount Ararat.There is a Eli Village(2200 metres).Then trek to base camp site.(3200).Overnight in the your tent.Drink hot drinks.

DAY 3

Trek to second camp site(4200).Overnight in the tent.

DAY 4

Summit day.Arrive to Ararat Summit take a lots of  pic,then back to first camp places.

Meet minibus and transfer to Dogubeyazit.

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Original Page: http://www.araratsunrises.com/m-t-ararat-2010-special-tour.html

1 day

08.00 – Arrival to Van. Small city tour in Van, lunch. Departure to Bayazet

17.00 – Arrival to Bayazet. Check-in at the hotel “Simer” (4 stars)

19.00 - Meeting with the guide of climbing mount Ararat, discussions and briefing of the details of climbing Ararat. Dinner. Overnight in Bayazet

2 day

After breakfast at the hotel, technical equipments are given out. As soon as some information about the trip is given, the dishes prepared for lunch are taken and the traveller undergo official control. Then travellers are taken to the village Elle, altitude 2000 m by lorries. None of other means can reach this area due to stony ways. Here all the equipments are loaded to horses and mules. From there, the hiking begins. On the way some stops at the so-called summer tent camps. After arriving at the camp of 3200 m, tents are put up and preparations for dinner are made. There is green grass all over there. Also fresh spring water is available.

3 day

It is high time to set out for the camp of  4200 m after having a nice breakfast. Just using footpaths it is possible to arrive there. This area is narrow and stony. And it takes three hours to get there. The area for pitching tents is cleaned  and camping is done. After lunch, a briefing is held with the guide. From this point the scene is great. Here you can see not only Iran, Dogubayazit and the small Ararat but also the great peak. Then  an early bed after dinner because of the forthcoming difficult ascent on the following day. Since the temperature is 0C, clothes to wear should be chosen according to such weather conditions. So, to sleep at such an altitude is both cold and difficult.

4 day

Today is the great day of climbing, reaching the peak. At sunrise, sometimes at 03 sometimes at 02 or 01:30, it depends on the wheather conditions, after preprations, having a short briefing, you set out for reaching the peak.  The ascent is made rather slowly. When climbing up, if the sun shines a great scene is viewed. You see the shadow of Ararat at your feet and it covers the valley. That time to climb to such a mountain thrills you. Glasier begins at the attitude of 4200m. Here a fixed station is set up by the guide. Required shoes are worn. With safety belts, it is climbed one by one in a regular queue. A little bit later you see yourself very close to the peak and feel a great thrill. Now you are on the top, 5165m, the highest peak of Turkey and Europe. Here your thrill is at the highest level. Generally, because the peak is windy you can't stay there long. Then in the same way you turn back. There comes the 4200m camp after passing the plateau and glasier. It takes approximately 8 hours to climb down. Since it is difficult to sleep at the 4200m attitude, you come to the 3200 m camping area even if it is a little bit hard. And after dinner it is time to have a rest.

5 day

Day of turning back. After breakfast, all equipments of camping are loaded to horses and mules again and to the waiting lorry at 2000m, 5 hours' descent begins. It takes 1 hour to arrive the  hotel from 2000 by lorry. At the hotel the celebration of reaching the peak begins after a short rest. The rest of the day is spent having a barbecue. Over the night at the hotel.

6 day

08.00 - After breakfast departure to Van.  On the way stop near Berkri waterfall. Check-in at the hotel “Urartu” (4 stars)

14.00 – Lunch. City tour in Van: visit of Van fortress, Van cat’s farm, Gates of Mher, Aygestan

21.00 – Dinner, overnight in Van. Check-in at the hotel "Sheraton Merit" (4 stars). Back to the hotel. Dinner

7 day

08.00 – Breakfast, trip to Akhtamar Island. Stop in Varagavank and Artamet

13.00 – Lunch in “Akhtamar” restaurant (Vana tarekh and jajik)

14.00 – Trip to the island by boat, visit of St. Cross Church. Free time on the Island

19.00 – Back to the hotel

21.00 – Dinner, overnight in Van

8 day

08:00 – Breakfast. Departure to the airport. Flight to Istanbul. Arrival, check-in at the hotel. City tour, Aya Sofia

14.00 – Lunch

16.00 – Audience with Armenian Patriarch, visit of Armenian cemetery, grave of Hrant Dink

20.00 – Dinner, overnight in Istanbul

9 day

08.00 – Breakfast. Trip to Prince Island. Free time on the Island, back to Istanbul. Free time

14.00 – Lunch

20.00 – Gala Dinner

10 day

Flight from Istanbul. End of the trip

NOTE:

Due  to not being professional, some groups have to wait at 3200m one more night for exercise, acclimatisation. Wheares, because of unfavourable weather conditions the group can be delayed for another day.

Please contact us for tour detailes and your question,Thanks...

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The Great Mount of Agri

Standing the nearby cities of Agri and Igdir, at the borders of Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye) and Iran, Mount Agri is an inactive volcano capped year round with ice and snow and rises to 5137 meters. The Old Testament records that it was on this mountain that Noah's Ark came to rest after the great flood. Southwest of the mountain, the Little Mount Agri (Ararat) reaches up to 3896 meters; the Serdarbulak lava plateau (2600 m) stretches out between the two pinnacles. Climbing the spectacular Agri is a challenging and rewarding experience.

In the summer, the weather in the area and on Mount Agri is sunny, warm and dry. However, in the winter and spring, cold and harsh conditions prevail, and mountain climbers occasionally face blizzards and turbulent weather. July, August, and September are the months when most world mountain climbers come to the area. Climbing up Agri is most enjoyable during this period. However, despite the usual sunny and clear weather at that time of year, high altitude mountain weather swirls around above 3000 meters. The southern side of the mountain offers the easiest and safest climb to the summit. With this route 1 has access to the best route communication and transportation facilities and it is safe. It is not recommended nor permitted to climb Mount Agri alone and without a guide.

The Trabzon - Erzurum - Iran International Transit Highway, an asphalt road skirts the western and southern flanks of Agri before leading into Iran. Dogubeyazit, 270 km from Erzurum and nearby Igdir, the 2 closest towns to the mountain, are located on this route. Planes, trains, and buses connect Erzurum with Ankara.

The area surrounding Mount Agri has retained its natural beauty. The local population still engages in a traditional life styles. In the summer months the villagers move to the "yayla", the summer pastures, to find fresh grazing for their herds of sheep, goats, cattle and horses. Women continue to weave carpets and kilims in time honored designs; Village of Ortulu is particularly renowned as a center of beautiful handicrafts. Other nearby tourist attractions include the Ishakpasha Palace, a fabulous 18th century castle of a local ruler, and the meteor hole near the Iranian border.

Mount Agri (Ararat) became 35th National Park of Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye) with the decision of the Parliament on 1st of November, 2004.

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