Ski touring legendary Mount Ararat
Tour Code WIN 02
Highlights
- Mount Ararat summit climb 5.137m
- Dogubeyazit & Ishak pasha palace
- Van; pearl of the east & the citadel Kingdom of Urartu
- Akdamar Island & the holy cross church
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Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
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8 days / 7 nights
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D/E (challenging/demanding)
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3 nights at the hotel, 4 nights at the campsite
Itinerary
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DAY 1
Arrival at Van airport and transfer via Muradiye waterfalls to Dogubeyazit & Ishak pasha palaceMeet at the Van airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to Dogubeyazit. On route we take time to visit Muradiye waterfalls, a paradise of natural beauty. A quite large waterfall, around 10m tall in a small forest area, where a bridge suspends over the river and it gives you a great view. Dogubeyazit is a settlement with a long history southwest of Mount Ararat, the highest summit of Turkey and resting place of Noah’s Ark. The area has had a rich history since it was settled during the times of the first Armenian kingdom of Urartu; later was subsequently conquered by Persians, Romans, Arabs and Byzantines all of whom would have used the plain to rest and recoup during their passages across the mountains. In Dogubeyazit we take time to visit Ishak pasha palace, built on a hill at the side of a mountain. It was the last large monumental structure in the Ottoman Empire from the "Lale Devri" period. It is one of the most distinguished and magnificent examples of the 18th century Ottoman architecture and is very valuable in terms of art history. The palace was also an administrative complex from which Ishak pasha dominated the trade along the Silk Road, it was a major stop for caravans crossing the legendary roadway to bring goods all the way from China to Turkey and back again. We spend the night in Dogubeyazit at the hotel.Transfer time: 2 - 3 h; transfer distance: 180 km (Van to Dogubeyazit)ON: in Dogubeyazit at the hotelMeals: - / - / D -
DAY 2
Dogubeyazit to camp I (base camp 2.500/2.700m)After breakfast we load our luggage and camping equipment on our vehicle and drive via Topcatan village to Eli village (2.000m). Between an altitude of 1.900 and 2.000m (according to road conditions) we start our ascent. Our luggage will be carried by mules and horses, we only have to carry our own daily-backpack. We climb up to our first campsite (base camp) which is established at a height of 2.500m or 2.700m and our cook will arrange the meals for the evening.Ascent: between 600 - 800m; (4 - 5 h) (depends on road, weather and snow conditions)Transfer time: approximately 1 hON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 2.500/2.700m)Meals: B / L / D -
DAY 3
Acclimatization day to camp II (high camp 3.500/3.700m) and return to camp I (base camp)Today we will climb up to altitudes at around 3.700 - 4.200m for acclimatisation. High altitude is defined as altitudes greater than 3.000m and AMS (acute mountain sickness) may appear above this level. After an easy ascent we will arrive at the Kum-Kampi at a height of 3.700m where we will have time to take a break. We take time to have a picnic and to use the time to acclimatise to the conditions at this height. Later it is possible to continue our ascent even more depending on our limits and weather conditions. In the afternoon we ski down to our base camp on the same way and prepare ourselves for the next day to move up to second camp.Ascent/descent: between 800 - 1.200m; (4 - 5 h) (depends on the altitude of base & high camps)ON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 2.500/2.700m)Meals: B / L / D -
DAY 4
Ascent to camp II (high camp 3.500/3.700m)In the morning we leave our base camp and climb up to the second campsite at a height of 3.500/3.700m. After arrival and a cup of warm tea, we set up our tents and take a little rest. In the afternoon it is possible (optionally) to go a little bit higher to get acclimatized for conditions of this height. In the evening we will have dinner a little bit earlier today as we will go sleeping early in the evening to wake up very early in the morning to be rested and ready to climb Ararat summit.Ascent: between 800 - 1.200m; (4 - 5 h) (depends on the altitude of base & high camps)ON: at the Ararat camp 2 (high camp 3.500/3.700m)Meals: B / L / D -
DAY 5
Mount Ararat summit ascent 5.137m and return to camp I (base camp 2.500/2.700m)Very early in the morning we will have breakfast and afterwards start our ascent to the summit to get a good view at the sunrise on the top. After a long ascent through a rocky terrain we reach the glacier at 4.750m. Depending on snow conditions it can happen that we need to use crampons. Afterwards we continue our ascent to the summit, where we can see, if the weather is clear, 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 back again via high camp down to our base camp where we spend the night.Ascent: 1.437m; descent: between 2.637m and 2.437 m; (7 - 8 h)ON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 2.500/2.700m)Meals: B / L / D -
DAY 6
Camp I (base camp 2.500/2.700m) to Dogubeyazit and VanIn the morning we return down to the village of Eli where our vehicle is waiting to drive us to Dogubeyazit. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we drive to Van, known as "the pearl of the east" because of the beauty of its surrounding landscapes, situated in a green, fertile oasis in the midst of a mountain area. The city has a long history, under the ancient name of Tushpa it was the capital of the Urartian kingdom in the 9th century BC and once especially famous for its jewellers' bazaar on the Silk Road and for its fine silverwork. We spend the night in Van at the hotel.Descent: between 600 - 800m; (4 - 5 h)Transfer time: 2 - 3 h; transfer distance: 180 km (Dogubeyazit to Van)ON: in Van at the hotelMeals: B / L / D -
DAY 7
Akdamar Island & Van castle (citadel)After breakfast we first drive to Gevas town where we take the ferry to visit small island of Akdamar in Lake Van, home to the famous 10th century Armenian holy cross cathedral. The unique importance of the church comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. Later we continue to Van castle, constructed by Urartian king Sardur, a massive stone fortification and the largest example of its kind. It overlooks the ruins of Tushpa, the ancient Urartian capital during the 9th C, which was centred upon the steep sided bluff where the fortress now sits. The most remarkable structures around are the rock tomb of Argisti the first, outside which is a long inscription relating the events of his reign and the inscription of Xerxes the great upon a smoothed section of the rock face.Transfer time: 30 - 40 min.; transfer distance: 40 km (Van to Gevas / one way)Ferry to Akdamar Island: 15 - 20 min. (one way)ON: in Van at the hotelMeals: B / L / D -
DAY 8
Trip concludes at Van airportAfter breakfast; transfer to Van airport where the trip concludes.Transfer time: 15 min.; transfer distance: 10 km (hotel in the city centre to Van airport)Meals: B / - / -
Inclusions
- All transfers and transportations with private vehicles to the places stated in the itinerary
Day 1: one/one way arrival transfer from/to Van airport/hotel in Dogubeyazit
Day 8: one/one way departure transfer from/to hotel in Van city centre/Van airport - Luggage transfers and transportations with private vehicles & mules/horses to the places stated in the itinerary
- Demavend Travel English speaking tour leader/Mountain guide (logistic guide/no specialist of ski)
- Hotel accommodations, in standard rooms on double/twin share base
Service: bed & breakfast (BB) and half board (HB) / Important: HB dinner service available until 20:30/21:00 h - At Mount Ararat in comfortable and high quality 2-person tents (already built and set up)
With necessary camping equipment (mattresses, necessary kitchen gears & dinnerware) of high quality and Demavend Travel cook & staff support throughout provided - 7 x breakfast / 6 x lunch (lunch packages & local restaurants where available) / 7 x dinner
- Mt. Ararat permit fees
- Professional ski guide
- All international and domestic flights
- Travel insurance
- All kind of extra transports & transfers other than stated in the itinerary / extra arrival/departure transfers
- All kind of entrance fees for historical and natural sites
- Day 7: Ferryboat transfer to Akdamar Island & church
- All kind of optional activities
- Meals other than stated the itinerary
- All kind of soft and alcoholic drinks, bottled water, tea & coffee (except tea & coffee service at the campsites)
- All kind of personal expenses
- Extra nights & single supplements / accommodation upgrades
- Personal equipment
- Tips