Let's climb Mount Ararat (5137 m)!
Ararat — a dormant volcano with a majestic history, rising over 5000 m, the highest peak of the Armenian Highlands, a sacred mountain for local peoples.
Locals say that Ararat awakens a person's sixth sense. Perhaps it is because, according to biblical myths, the wreckage of Noah's ark rests on the slopes of Ararat. Perhaps it is because mountains generally have this property — to touch a person in some way. differently.
Next summer, you have the opportunity to come to Ararat with us and find out for yourself how things are really going there!
Ararat is located in eastern Turkey, near the borders of Iran and Armenia. In our immediate area, it is one of the easiest ways to set foot on a mountain peak over 5000 m high. Technically, it is a fairly easy mountain - no complicated climbing equipment is needed, it is more of a leg job to climb. However, on the snow and glaciers above, you can get a great feeling of mountaineering in high mountains. In addition to Ararat, we will first climb another peak, Mount Zor (3178 m), to acclimatize to the altitude, from where beautiful views of Ararat open up.
Who is this trip for?
Beginner mountaineering enthusiasts. Ararat is one of the easiest 5000+ meter mountains in our vicinity. And the high snowy peaks there give a very good taste to the mouth!
Mountain enthusiasts who have already climbed mountains here and there, but have not yet conquered Ararat or the 5000+ meter mark remains unreachable.
Overview short & sweet
Goal: Mount Ararat (5137 m)
Dates: 11.08-20.08.2024
Activity: mountain hike (some snow and glacier too!)
Adventure guide: Helena Meriste
Technical difficulty level: 2/5 (suitable for beginners)
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (moderate effort)
Group size: min 6, max 12
Early bird (until 31.12.2023) — €1100
For those less dizzy (from 01.01.2024) — €1250
Please note: For community members discount -5% applies (1045 € / 1190 €)
👉 SEE EQUIPMENT LIST HERE 👈
Trip price
Price includes the entire mountain program and the accompanying
Entire trip organization and on-site guidance
Adventure train with diverse mountain experience (including Ararat)
Local mountain guides
Local transportation in Turkey and all transfers from the airport to the bottom of the mountain and back
Horses and mules to carry equipment to camps
All overnight stays throughout the trip (we will stay in tents on the mountain, in hotels in the city below)
All food and cooking on Ararat — there is a chef in the local support group who takes care of this; on Zor, everyone brings their own snacks and drinks
All climbing and camping equipment (including climbing crampons, tents and mats for camping)
Mountain permits to Mount Ararat
Visiting Ishak Pasha Palace and Noah's Ark resting place near Dogubayazi
Elamus+ sports shirt for each participant
Group pharmacy (including high-altitude medications) and health assessment
Price does not include flights, personal belongings and optional activities
Flight tickets Tallinn-Agri-Tallinn (~500€) (we fly via Istanbul, overnight stay required — this is included in the basic price)
Insurance (travel insurance and mandatory sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking)
Personal hiking equipment, no personal specific climbing equipment required
Meals off the mountain (downtown)
Tips for on-site helpers (optional, but if tipping for a group, you can expect to pay around €10-30 per participant)
Unscheduled excursions, transportation, etc. (or if you want to do something extra)
Registering for the tour
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, a deposit (3%) must be paid within 20 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by email; if there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
Schedule and activities
In brief
11.08 flight Tallinn-Istanbul
12.08 flight Istanbul-Agri, transfer to Dogubayazit city
13.08 day trip to Mount Zor (3178 m), Dogubeyazit in the evening
14.08 ascent to Camp 1 (3200 m)
15.08 acclimatization climb to 3800 m, then back to Camp 1
16.08 ascent to Camp 2 (4200 m)
17.08 summit day (5137 m), back to Camp I by evening
18.08 we return to Dogubayazit, free time and sightseeing
19.08 transfer to Agri, flight Agri-Istanbul
20.08 flight Istanbul-Tallinn
DAY 1-2 JOURNEY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
We will fly from Tallinn to Istanbul (11.08) and from there to Agri in Eastern Turkey (12.08). There will most likely be a night in a hotel in Istanbul between the two flights, so we can get to know Istanbul a little bit in the evening. The next day we will fly to Agri and from there we will take a bus to the town of Dogubayazit (about 100 km from Agri) This is our base camp at the foot of the mountain. Then we will have dinner and go to the hotel to rest.
DAY 3 MOUNTAIN!
In the morning we pack our things for the day hike and drive down the first mountain. We climb to the top of Mount Zori (3178 m) to acclimatize and warm up. A nice hiking mountain, from the top of which there are beautiful views of Ararat. By the evening of the same day we reach the bottom of the mountain and enjoy dinner again in the familiar town of Dogubayazit.
DAY 4 FIRST DAY OF ARARAT
In the morning we pack all our mountain gear back onto the bus and then head down to Mount Ararat. We drive to an altitude of 2200 m. But from there we have to put on our backpacks and start hiking upwards ourselves. Horses help us carry our equipment, so we can enjoy the surroundings more happily. When we reach the first camp (3200 m), food and drinks are already waiting for us on site, and after that we can crawl into the tents to rest.
DAY 5 WE ADAPT TO THE ALTITUDE
Since the altitudes are already quite high compared to the Estonian average and some participants feel a little dizzy or complain of a slight headache, we will take the day easy and adapt to the altitude, or acclimatize. Since it is not very effective to lie down in a resting position, we will ascend the slopes of Ararat at a leisurely pace and with a light backpack to an altitude of about 4000 m and descend back to the first camp to the tents (3200 m) in the evening.
Day 6 further up!
Now we have slept for two nights at an altitude of 3200 m and it is time to move the camp further up. Because we still have a long way to go to the summit, it is quite a long way! So breakfast in the stomach, bags on our backs and we climb to the second camp, which is already at a decent altitude of 4200 m. Dinner (as usual, we leave this to the local chef, convenient!), camp life and overnight stay in tents again.
Day 7 FINALLY TO THE TOP!
We wake up very early, already at midnight, and get our bags and equipment ready for the summit climb. A quick breakfast and then there's nothing left to do but to head for the summit! The weather gets windier and crisper with altitude, but the views get more and more beautiful. At the end, we also look for cats to crunch up along the snow and glacier. We reach the summit around 6-7 am, when the views are at their most scenic!
After the summit, we descend to the second camp (4200 m), have lunch, rest, and descend further to the first camp (3200 m), where we will stay overnight again.
DAY 8 DOWN TO REST
After breakfast, we hike down to the cars and drive back to Dogubayazit, where we can sleep between the sheets at the hotel again. We reach the city around noon, so after a light rest and laundry, we can still visit the main local attractions and get acquainted with the lifestyle and cultural values. For example, you may come across a palace or fortress. Or maybe a nice place to eat or drink. Or maybe a steamy hamam, where you can pleasantly sweat out the mountain dust and let skilled hands massage all the excess tension out of you.
DAY 9-10 MEETING END AND GOING HOME
Everything comes to an end. So does our mountain trip. Last views of the city and the mountains and we are already being taken back to the airport. There we have to start acclimatizing back to civilization. The plane flies through Istanbul, similar to the one we came from, where we will most likely have another overnight stop. So we can use the time in between to enjoy Istanbul!
NB! There may be minor changes to the schedule and planned activities. for example, due to weather and conditions or the wishes of passengers.
Don't worry, let's do it!
My altitude record is Munamägi. Can I still do it?
Yes, you can. Ararat is indeed high, but the climb does not require special mountaineering knowledge or equipment. It requires toughness and determination, prior general physical training is recommended. Attitude is key!
But I don't have any hiking gear, who can afford to buy it?!
No special equipment is needed for Ararat, the main thing is proper clothing and boots. The only necessary camping equipment is a sleeping bag. Tents and mats are available on site. Hiking equipment and clothes can be rented at a very reasonable price and you can also borrow some from friends. In addition, you can use any kind of existing clothing - for example, a ski jacket is also very okay for the mountain. The more resourceful can manage almost without additional expenses.
Will I survive?
It's an extreme sport/hobby, but you shouldn't be too afraid here. Of course, there are certain dangers in the mountains and you have to take that into account, but at the same time, you could get hit by a bus walking across the street tomorrow. The most important thing for the group leader is to ensure the safety of the participants — to do this, we move at a reasonable pace, monitor everyone's condition, and turn around if the weather gets too bad. In addition, we have a decent local support team and guides. The point is still to have an enjoyable experience and not let this mountain go away. ;).
Travel documents
The participant is responsible for the validity and orderliness of their travel documents. The following documents are required for this trip:
passport(no visa required);
sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking (read more on the FAQ page). A suitable sports insurance policy must be carried and is a prerequisite for participating in the mountain hike;
travel insurance.
If the trip is cancelled due to circumstances caused by the Covid pandemic, we will of course refund the advance payment in full.
Any more questions? Feel free to ask the adventure guide!
