DAY 1 - CHECK IN TO HOTEL
Pick up from Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport and transfer to your hotel.
Accommodation in Istanbul Sultanahmet
DAY 2 - FLIGHT TO ERZURUM - BARHAL
Transfer from your hotel in Istanbul to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport to catch an early flight to Erzurum. Pick up from Erzurum Airport and transfer to Barhal Village.
Accommodation in Barhal (Pension)
DAY 3 - BARHAL VILLAGE - YAYLALAR PLATEAU (UPLAND - 1850m)
Today, you will get more information about the fauna and flora of Mt. Kackar while we drive from the village to Yaylalar Plateau.
Accommodation in Yaylalar Plateau (Upland)
DAY 4 - YAYLALAR PLATEAU (1850m) - OLGUNLAR PLATEAU - NASTAF PLATEAU - DILBERDUZU BASE CAMP (2900m)
Today, our expedition will begin. We will walk to Olgunlar Plateau on the road and then we will follow the path which takes us to Dilberduzu Base Camp. We will walk along to a stream. We will also visit Nastaf Plateau when we walk half of the way. We arrive to Base Camp in the noon. Afternoon, you will get a briefing about the summit day (tomorrow) and then we should rest for acclimatization rest of the day.
(Total trekking time 4 hours, Average ascent 1050m, distance 12 km)
Overnight in Dilberduzu Base Camp (in tent)
DAY 5 - DILBERDUZU - DENIZ LAKE (3380m) - SUMMIT*(3937m) - DILBERDUZU BASE CAMP
Summit day! We wake up before the dawn and begin to climb to the Deniz Lake. We will have a long break at side of the Deniz Lake. We can see the peak -if the fog does not hide it-from the lake. After that, we will pass by a valley which involves a few glacial lakes. Then we will start to walk up again to the summit which is the top point of the Black sea region. If sky is not foggy, you can see other peaks of Kackar Mountains, a few lakes, Black sea etc.
After enjoying the summit and writing our names in the summit book, we will turn back to Dilberduzu Base Camp.
(Total trekking time 8 hours, Average ascent/descent 1200m, distance: 26 km)
Overnight in Dilberduzu Base Camp (in tent)
DAY 6 - DILBERDUZU BASE CAMP (2900m) - DOBEDUZU PLATEAU (UPLAND - 2250m)
Today, we will walk to Dobeduzu. We will see a few lakes, streams and miscellaneous upland flowers and butterflies on the way.
Overnight in Dobeduzu Camp II (in tent)
DAY 7 - DOBEDUZU PLATEAU (UPLAND - 2250m) - BARHAL VILLAGE
We will walk back to Olgunlar Plateau and drive to Barhal village. Time for cleaning, resting :)
Accommodation in Barhal (Pension)
DAY 8 - TRANSFER FROM BARHAL VILLAGE TO DOGUBEYAZIT
Today, we will move to Dogubeyazit for Mount Ararat expedition. We will visit a few places on the way there. First, we will see the Barhal Church and continue to Kars to visit the old Armenian ruin city of Ani. After that, we will drive to Dogubeyazit.
Accommodation in Dogubeyazit
DAY 9 - DOGUBEYAZIT - BASE CAMP (3200m)
After breakfast, we will transfer you to the starting point of the expedition (2.200 m) by a truck. Then we will start to walk up to the Base Camp (3.200m). We will load all packs to the mules except our daily-pack. Today, we will walk about 4-5 hours on soft inclined path to reach the Base Camp which is also called Green Camp because it the only area that has grass. Drinks and snacks will be ready when we arrive at the Camp. You will have free time until dinner which is cooked by our cooker.
Overnight at the Base Camp in a tent
(Total trekking time 4-5 hours, average ascent 1000m)
DAY 10 - ACCLIMATIZATION DAY (Base Camp (3200m) - Camp II (4200m) - Base Camp (3200m)
Today we will only walk for acclimatization. The route to Camp II will be harder yet shorter than Base Camp Path. We will reach Camp II in 3 hours trekking time and then return back to Base Camp in 2 hours trekking time.
Dinner and overnight at the Base Camp in a tent
(Total trekking time 5 hours, average ascent/decent 1000m)
DAY 11 - BASE CAMP (3200m) - CAMP II (4200m)
Today, we will leave the base camp and walk to Camp II by following yesterday's route. First, we will pack all equipment and load the mules again. After 5 hours of trekking time, we will reach the Camp II. We will relax with drinks and snacks while getting a briefing about how to use crampon, rope, ice axe and the other technical information by your guide. Then you can enjoy the perfect view of the Camp II. You can see Little Ararat, Dogubeyazit and Iran at the same time. Tomorrow is the summit day. So we should rest and sleep early.
Dinner and overnight at the Camp II in a tent
(Total trekking time 5 hours, average ascent 1000m)
DAY 12 - CAMP II (4200m) - SUMMIT (5137m) - BASE CAMP / CAMP II*
Summit day! We will start to climb early in the morning. Then we will wear our crampons where the Glacier starts about 4900m. After 7 hours of trekking time, we will reach the peak of the highest mountain in the West European and Anatolian. We generally can not stay for a long time on the Peak due to strong wind; therefore, we will return back to Camp II to rest and drink something for a while. After that we will continue to Base Camp for overnight.
* If we can not climb to the peak due to bad weather condition, we can try tomorrow again.
Dinner and overnight at the Base Camp or Camp II*
DAY 13 - BACK TO HOTEL / SPARE DAY (Second try for the peak)**
Today we are leaving from Mt. Ararat. We will load all pack to the mules once again. A truck will be waiting for us to take us back to our Hotel. After resting and cleaning, we will celebrate our achievement of reaching the Mt. Ararat Summit.
**If bad weather condition did not let us climb to the peak yesterday, today we will try "day 6 schedule" again. In this case, we have to turn back to our Hotel in the summit day.
Accommodation in Dogubeyazit
DAY 14 - DOGUBEYAZIT TOUR
We will start visiting Ishakpasa Palace which has 336 rooms, tomb, mosque and also harem. This palace was built by Ishakpasa who was the governor of Ottoman. After that we will see the trace of the Noah's Ark and then the second largest crater of the World (60 m depth and 35 m width). Return to your hotel.
Accommodation in Dogubeyazit
DAY 15 - FLIGHT TO ISTANBUL - HOME
After breakfast, transfer to Van Airport.
END OF OUR SERVICE
NOTES
• Programmes may change due to bad weather conditions.
• The cost of this tour is changeable according to your travel dates. Please let us know your travel dates to check package tour cost.
• You can make any changes on the programme, if our programs are not suitable for you. We can work together on your itinerary.
• We can also arrange ticket bookings for domestic flights. Flight fares are changeable according to your travel dates.