„And the Ark of Noah stopped on the mountain Ararat“.
This sentence from the bible has made Mt. Ararat famous in the world. In the East of Turkey, on the Anatolian high plateau, its crown of ice and snow is floating to the blue of the sky. Independently from its biblical importance Mt. Ararat is emanating fascination. Here, in the Eastern Anatolia the foothills of the Toros and Ponthus mountains merging together on a huge plateau, on 1.700 m, from where the Mt. Ararat is piling up more than 3.000 m. The dome is even in Midsummer covered by snow and ice, the ridges without any vegetation. The clouds below the summit seems the huge massive floating.

Tour itinary:

1st day:
Arrival in Antalya, transfer to the city hotel, rest of the day free for use.

2nd day: Flight to Van
Early transfer to the airport, domestic flight to Van via Istanbul or Ankara. transfer to the hotel in Van. In the afternoon we will visit the Van castle from the Urartean time period and watching the sunset. Overnight in the hotel in Van..

3rd day: Cultural trip around Van
We are starting at 09.00 h from the hotel. First we are visiting the Urartean ruins of Cavustepe, further the ruins of the "7 Churches" in Yoncatepe and finally having a lunch at the lake. After the lunch will be a boat trip to the Akdamar Island with the famous church from the Armenian. We will be sleeping one more night in Van.

4th day: Van - Dogubayazit
In the morning we have a 3 hours drive to Dogubayazit, on the way to there we will have a stop at the Muradiye waterfall. In the afternoon last preparations for the climb. Over night in the hotel in Dogubayazit.

5th day: Dogubayazit - Basecamp (3.270 m)
After the breakfast driving to Eli on bumpy roads where are packing our main luggage to pack horses and ascending to our base camp on 3.270 m. We will be sleeping here in tents.

6th day: Basecamp (3.270 m) - High camp (4.200 m) - Basecamp
Day for acclimatising. We will ascend to the high camp and come back to the basecamp for overnight.

7th day: Basecamp - High camp (4.200 m)
As we are acclimatised, we are ascending to the upper camp on 4.200 m and staying here. Having an early dinner to get as the summit climb will be very early in the morning.

8th day: Summit (5.137 m) - Basecamp
Today is summit day! Hoping on having the best weather, starting very early around 03.00 h, to ascend to the summit. The trek up takes around 4 - 6 hours. After having a great panoramic view to the nearby countries like Armenia, Iran and the mountains around we are descending to the upper camp and having a second breakfast here before we are descending further to the basecamp. We will be staying one more night in the base camp.

9th day: Basecamp - Eli - Dogubayazit
Descending down to Eli takes 3 hours. After packing the luggage from the horses to the coach we are driving the same bumpy, dirty roads back to Dogubayazit to stay in the hotel.

10th day: Cultural trip around Dogubayazit - reserve day
This day is a reserve day. If this day wont be used on the mountain, we´ll have a visit to Noahs´Ark and IShak Pasa Palace from the Ottomans time period. Our last night in the East of Turkey.

11th day: Dogubayazit - Van - Antalya
Early in the morning transfer to Van airport and domestic flight to Antalya. After arriving to Antalya, one hour transfer to the beach hotel in Side. Begin of the beach holidays.

12th - 14th day: Relaxing days at the beach
3 days for relaxing. These days will be used for relaxing. There is an option to go for canyoning, rafting or some other facultative activities.

15th day: Flight home
Transfer to the airport, flight home

Tour dates:
28.06.- 12.07.2008
12.07.- 26.07.2008
19.07.- 02.08.2008
16.08.- 30.08.2008
06.09.- 20.09.2008

Price:
EUR 1390,-- in double room (sgl. suppl. EUR 180,--)

Services included in the price:
Flights from destinations in Europe (oversea flights on request) to Van and back
All neccessary land transports
All accommodations in hotels based on Bed and breakfast
4 nights in a Beach hotel * * * + in Side
Mountain program accommodation in tent based on full board
Tents and cooking equipment (tents for 2 person)
Luggage transport by pack horses to base camp, limited luggage transport supply to the upper camp
Entrance fee for sightseeing in Van and Dogubayazit (lunch not included)
Permit for the climb (permit fees excluded)
English speaking local mountain guide