Mount Ararat Trek      Dogubayazit, Agri, eastern Turkey    Mountain Climbing ~ Film Expeditions ~ Cultural Tours ~ Searching for Noah's Ark
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		Contact: amybeam@yahoo.com Phone: 001 240-696-1905 Skype: amyLbeam Mount Ararat Difficulty This is a non-technical climb at 30 to 45 degrees. You must be in very good physical fitness with very good heart and lung endurance. The summit is lower than Mount Kilimanjaro, but because of incline and cold weather, it is a harder climb. Mount Ararat Weather Mount Ararat Weather Forecast June 1 - September 15 summer climbing season July 15 - September 5 best climbing; warm and dry September 15-February 29 Blizzards may delay climbing. Only the fearless or foolish climb in these months. March and April best ski months May and June highest rain and hail At camp 2, even in August, temperatures turn extremely cold after sunset, and you crawl into your sleeping bag to arise at 1 AM for the summit climb. The last 400 meters are snow- and ice-covered year-round requiring crampons. Winds can be 40 knots or more on the summit, making it bitterly cold even in August. You must dress in layers to keep warm, including your hands. Mount Ararat in June, snow line at 3800 meters Mount Ararat in August, driest month, meltback to 4600m March - April best spring skiing on Mount Ararat 2012 Full Moon Dates Tuesday, February 7 Thursday, March 8 Friday, April 6 Sunday, May 6 Monday, June 4 Tuesday, July 3 Thursday, August 2 Friday, August 31 Sunday, September 30 Monday, October 29 Wednesday,November 28 Friday, December 28 Full moon setting in shadow of Mount Ararat REQUIRED Gear sleeping bag (-15C or -20C) backpack or soft-sided duffle bag for horse to carry small day pack you carry sturdy trekking shoes waterproof rigid boots for crampons on summit gaiters (recommended) jacket waterproof heavy coat with hood waterproof pants thermal under clothes waterproof poncho waterproof ski gloves warm glove liners hat for sun protection cotton neckscarf warm wool hat wool scarf or neck guard facemask (optional) 2 pairs thick wool socks 2 pairs inner socks 2 water bottles (aluminum or hard plastic) ski goggles (optional) dark reflective sunglasses headlamp for summit mini pocket flashlight whistle for emergency crampons walking poles #30+ sunscreen chap stick or lip balm tissue packs water purification tablets mini-first aid kit for pain, swelling, head cold, nose congestion, sore throat, infection, insect bites, diarrhea, constipation, sunburn, cuts, blisters, bad knees Mount Ararat Standard Tour (7VRA) Day 1 - From Van airport take Lake Van boat tour to 10th century church on Akdamar Island. Photo stop at Muradiye Waterfalls. Optional 3-hour acclimatization climb to 2900m above Murat Camping. Day 2 - Transfer to 2250m and trek to camp 1 at 3200m. Horses carry equipment, food, and big backpacks. You carry small backpack with lunch. Visit in nomad summer tent. Days 3 - Take acclimatization climb to 4000m, return for 2nd night in camp 1. Day 4 - Climb to camp 2, 4100m. Temperature turns cold after sunset. Little Ararat in distance. Day 5 - 2 AM start for summit. Crampons required for last 400-600m. Arrive at sunrise. Mount Ararat summit is snow-covered all year. Return to town by 6:30 PM. Enjoy celebration dinner at Murat Camping. View Kurdish kilims and Persian carpets. Don't go home without one! Day 6 - Dogubayazit tour (optional) Day 7 - Departure from Agri or Van on Turkish Airlines, Anadolu, SunExpress Mount Ararat History Mount Ararat is the highest point in Turkey, rising in isolation above the surrounding plains and valleys and providing a panoramic view of Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Ararat is a dormant volcano with no crater. It has not erupted in historic time. The most recent eruption was probably in the last 10,000 years. However, an earthquake rocked the mountain in 1840, burying a chapel, convent, and village on the slopes in Ahora Gorge. Today nomadic Kurds reside on the mountain from June 1 to September 1 with their herds of cattle and sheep. A smaller cone, Little Ararat (3896 meters) rises just southeast of the main peak. The Search for Noah's Ark continues to attract archeologists, geologists, and historians from around the world. According to Old Testament legend, Noah's Ark came to rest on the "Mountains of Ararat" following the Great Flood. Each year our guides lead an American scientific research expedition in search of Noah's Ark. We are not associated with the Noah's Ark Ministries International (NAMI) who fraudulently claim to have discovered Noah's Ark.				Mt. Ararat Slide Show 2012 Dates to Climb Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi) Groups of 6 or more choose your own dates at a discounted price. Small Groups or Individuals may also choose your own dates at a premium price. Individuals may join a Mount Ararat public trek at a budget price.Public trek start dates are: Saturday June 21 Sunday July 1 (full moon) Saturday July 14 Tuesday July 31 (full moon) Saturday August 11 (4 nights for less physically fit) Saturday August 18 Saturday August 25 (4 nights for less physically fit) Wednesday August 29 (full moon) Thursday September 6 Mount Ararat Summit Tour You must stay in Dogubayazit at least one night before and one night after the mountain trek. The standard trek is 3 nights/4 days on the mountain. Athletes may do it in only 2 nights, skipping acclimatization. Less fit groups may spend a 4th night at camp 1 after returning from the summit. You cannot get to the airport on the same day you go to the summit. Day 1 - Arrive Dogubayazit Arrive to Dogubayazit the day before the climb begins. If you arrive early, you can do self-guided, 3-4 hour acclimatization climb to 3000m above Murat Camping. Day 2 - Dogubayazit to Mount Ararat Transfer by private mini-bus from Dogubayazit to Eli village at 2250 meters, walk 3-4 hours to base camp 1 at 3200 meters with transportation of equipment by horse. Overnight at camp 1. Day 3 - Mount Ararat Acclimitization Climb to 4000 meters and return to camp 1. Spend the night there. Day 4 - Mount Ararat Camp 2 Climb 3 hours to camp 2 at 4100 meters; transportation of equipment by horse. Go to sleep early. Day 5 - Mount Ararat Summit Wake up at 1 AM, drink tea/coffee, eat, fill thermos with hot tea, depart from camp 2 at 2 AM, climb 3-5 hours to Mount Ararat summit at 5137 meters for sunrise, return to camp 2, eat, rest, pack gear for horses. 10 AM return to 2250 meters and transfer to hotel by 6:30 PM. Have shower and short rest, then go for celebration dinner with Kurdish music, receive certificate, view Kurdish kilims and carpets (for sale). Day 6 - Departure or Optional Dogubayazit Tour Mount Ararat Summit Tour Includes: transportation to and from Mount Ararat, 2250m starting point 3 nights and 4 days on Mount Ararat acclimatization day government climbing permit mountaineer guide cook food water, coffee, tea, juice porter and horse to transport backpack and gear horses to transport food and cooking gas kitchen tent at camps 1 and 2 dining tent at camp 1 tent shared by 2 mat certificate Upgrades are available for a surcharge: crampons single tent horse to ride private guide from camp 2 to summit return to town ahead of group NOT included: sleeping bag clothing boots skis walking sticks headlamp alcoholic or soft drinks (buy or bring your own) medicine tips Mount Ararat Trek Extended Tours Contact us for prices and tour itineraries. We specialize in taking you to the summit of Mount Ararat. We package tours that combine the following airports, mountain treks, and cultural/historic tours. Mountain Treks: Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi) Kackar Mountains, Turkey Nemrut Crater Suphan Mountain Murat Camping above Dogubayazit, 3-4 hours acclimatization to 2900m Cultural Tours: - See Cultural Tours web page for descriptions and slide shows. Dogubayazit Tour Lake Van Tour Van Castle Tour Ani Tour Fish Lake Tour Erzurum Tour Istanbul Tour Airports: Agri Van Kars Erzurum Istanbul (IST) Istanbul (SAW) Tour Codes: All of our tours have a code made with these letters. The code begins with the number of days followed by arrival location, destination, and departure location. A – Agri airport V – Van airport K – Kars airport E – Erzurum T - Trabzon D – Dogubayazit area cultural tour without Mt. Ararat Summit Tour R – Mount Ararat Summit Tour (with or without cultural tours) Y – Yaylalar/Kackar Mountains trek P – Posof, Georgia border (by car or bus) I – Istanbul SKI – ski tour from Dec – April Example: 7VRA: 7-day/6-night tour arriving Van airport (V), Mount Ararat Summit Tour of 3 nights/4 days (R), departing Agri airport (A) Mount Ararat Trek Extended Tours Point to each tour code to see popup window with itinerary. You must allow popup window (activeX scripts). If you do not see itineraries, please tell us. Tour Code (days-arrival-Ararat-departure) Description Included in all tours: airport transfers, ground transportation, hotel, meals on and off mountain, cultural tours, and full service on Mount Ararat Summit Tour as described above. *Exceptions (these tours are not all-inclusive): 6GUIDE, 6BUDGET, 6BUDGET+1, 6SOLO, 6EYKD-Kacker, and 6EYED-Kacker. *6GUIDE 2 transfers between Dogubayazit and Murat Camping (5km), 5 nights total camping at Murat Camping and on Mount Ararat, acclimatization climb may be taken above Murat Camping or on Ararat, transportation to/from 2250m Mount Ararat, mountaineer guide, permits. Bring and carry everything yourself. Minimum 4 people! (NOT included: airport transfer, hotel, horses, meals, cook, gas, tent, equipment, cultural tours) *6BUDGET airport transfers, 4 nights total camping at Murat Camping and on Mount Ararat, 1 night shared room at Murat Camping after Ararat, acclimatization climb may be taken above Murat Camping or on Mt. Ararat, transportation to/from 2250m Mount Ararat, mountaineer guide, permits, cooking gas, horse(s) to carry gas and food. Bring and carry everything else yourself. Minimum 4 people! (NOT included: horses for your backpacks and gear, meals, cook, tent, equipment, cultural tours) *6BUDGET+1 same as 6BUDGET tour plus Lake Van tour; must arrive Van airport, depart Agri or Van airports. Minimum 4 people! (NOT included: horses for your backpacks and gear, meals, cook, tent, equipment) *6SOLO 2 nights at Murat Camping shared room, 3 nights on Mt. Ararat full service; must join public group on available dates. This tour is best for 1-3 people or groups arriving on their own. (NOT included: Airport transfers and cultural tours). 6ARA arrive and depart Agri airport, Fish Lake tour, 2 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights on Mt. Ararat 6VRA arrive Van airport, Lake Van tour, 2 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights on Mt. Ararat, depart Agri airport 6KRA arrive Kars airport, Ani tour, 2 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights on Mt. Ararat, depart Agri airport 6ARASKI (March-April) arrive and depart Agri airport, Ishak Paşa Palace tour, 2 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights/4 days ski tour on Mt. Ararat 6PRPSKI (March-April) pick up and return from Georgian border, Ani tour, 2 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights/4 days ski tour on Mt. Ararat 7ARA arrive and depart Agri airport, Fish Lake tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour 7VRA (standard tour) arrive Van airport, Lake Van tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, depart Agri airport 7KRA arrive Kars airport, Ani tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, depart Agri airport 8ARV arrive Agri airport, Fish Lake tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, 1 night hotel Van, Lake Van tour, Van Castle tour, depart Van airport 8VRV arrive and depart Van airport, Lake Van tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, 1 night hotel Van, Van Castle tour, depart Van airport 8VRA arrive Van airport, Lake Van tour, 4 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, Ani tour, depart Agri airport 8KRV arrive Kars airport, Ani tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, 1 night hotel in Van, Lake Van tour, Van Castle tour, depart Van airport 8TRT pickup/return from Trabzon, Kars tour, Ani tour, 1 night hotel Kars, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour 8PRV pickup from Georgian border by noon, Ani tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, 1 night hotel in Van, Lake Van tour, Van Castle tour, depart Van airport 9KRV arrive Kars airport, Ani tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, 2 nights hotel in Van, Lake Van tour, Van Castle and museum tour in city, Hosap and Cavustepe Castles south of Van, depart Van airport 9PRV pickup from Georgian border by noon, Ani tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, 2 nights hotel in Van, Lake Van tour, Van Castle and museum tour in city, Hosap and Cavustepe Castles south of Van, depart Van airport 9VRAI all airport transfers, arrive Van airport, Lake Van tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, depart Agri airport, arrive Istanbul airport, 2 nights in Istanbul historic centre 10IVRA 3 nights in Istanbul hotel in historic centre, all airport transfers, arrive Van airport, Lake Van tour, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, depart Agri airport 10VRA-SUPHAN arrive Van airport, Lake Van Akdamar Island tour, drive south around lake, 1 night hotel in Ahlat or Tatvan, 2 nights camping near Nemrut Crater and Suphan summit, 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, depart Agri airport 11VRA-GEO arrive Van airport, 4 days geological survey of 2011 earthquake damage in southeast Turkey, including Ercis, Lake Van, Van and southeast; Lake Van standard tour, 4 nights camping in Van region; 3 nights hotel Dogubayazit, 3 nights Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, depart Agri airport *6EYKD-Kackar arrive Erzurum airport, 2 nights Yaylalar pension (before and after trek), 2 nights camping Kackar Mountains, 1 night hotel in Kars, Ani tour, drive to Kars airport or Dogubayazit (NOT included: Mount Ararat Summit Tour, priced separately) *6EYED-Kacker arrive Erzurum airport, 2 nights Yaylalar pension (before and after trek), 2 nights camping Kackar Mountains, 1 night hotel in Erzurum, Erzurum tour, drive to Erzurum airport or Dogubayazit (NOT included: Mount Ararat Summit Tour, priced separately) 13EYERV-Kackar-Ararat arrive Erzurum airport, 2 nights Yaylalar pension (before and after trek), 2 nights camping Kackar Mountains, 1 night hotel in Erzurum, Erzurum tour, 3 nights hotel in Dogubayazit, 3 nights on Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, 1 night hotel in Van, Lake Van tour, Van Castle tour, depart Van airport 15EYERVI-Kackar-Ararat-Istanbul arrive Erzurum airport, 2 nights Yaylalar pension (before and after trek), 2 nights camping Kackar Mountains with full services, 1 night hotel in Erzurum, Erzurum tour, 3 nights hotel in Dogubayazit, 3 nights on Mt. Ararat, Dogubayazit tour, 1 night hotel in Van, Lake Van tour, Van Castle tour, depart Van airport, 2 nights in hotel with breakfast only in Istanbul, depart Istanbul airport Government Climbing Permits Mount Ararat is a controlled military zone. For your safety, the government of Turkey requires all climbers on Ararat to be led by a Turkish licensed guide. It also requires special permits to climb Mount Ararat. We get the permit for you. It costs $50 USD and is included in our tour prices. Prices Please contact us for prices and tours. We offer 20% to 50% discounts for groups. We work closely with travel agencies, climbing clubs, and organizations to customize package tours and support your marketing efforts. For group discounts please include your contact information and travel agency or group name. Reservations Please contact us for prices to begin planning your trip. If you would like us to call you, please include your phone number. When you have decided on your tour program, we will email you a reservation document that includes day-by-day itinerary, dates, price, services, and payment instructions. In order to complete your reservation, we will need the following for each person: a copy of passport photo page (or Turkish ID) full name address email address (for photo sharing and follow-up evaluation) mobile phone (set to roaming for Turkey arrival and emergency on mountain) profession emergency contact information blood type (optional for your benefit, but accidents occasionally happen) flight arrival and departure information We do not share or sell your information to anyone. Payments To confirm your reservation, guarantee the price, and begin the permit application process, a 50% payment is required. Payments are only refunded (minus expenses already incurred) if you cancel at least 4 weeks before your start date or if the government closes the mountain (highly unlikely). People may be added to a reservation or dates may be changed without penalty. Payments may be made online with PayPal or by bank transfer. Full payment must be received two weeks before arrival. We handle people, not money when you arrive.