Mt. Ararat (5.137 m) and Mt. Süphan (4.058 m), two gigantic volcanoes of Turkey in 12 days in one itinary. With this tour you will be acclimatised with Mt Suphan climb and be ready for a 5.000 m peak. Combine two challenging climbs with the oppurtunity to discover eastern city Van, one of the biggest cities in East Turkey which is famous with its Urartean civilisation remainings, two different colored eyes (one is blue and the other is green) cat and breakfast avenues which serve many traditional type of breakfast dishes such as honey, butter, typical Van cheese etc. Depending on your flight times you will also time to explore Istanbul in your free time.

According to the story; Mt Ararat is the last stop for the Noah Ark after the flood and with this reason it is accepted as holy mountain by Christians, Jewish or Muslims. Some people still look for the Noah Ark's remainings at the mountain. With this tour we take you to the glacier covered summit of Mt Ararat (5.137 m), to the highest point of Turkey. On the summit you will look to Anatolian high plataeu from the roof of it and you will see Armenia and Iran lands far behind Turkey border. For this tour mountaineering experience is not neccessary but you must have a good conditional situation and health and be prepared for high altitute conditions. 

Included services:

• Single group transfer from airport and to airport
• All land transfers with private minibus
• 8 nights in the 3 star hotel, at BB basis
• 4 camp days full board service and hot drinks
• Cook and cooking equipment
• Lunch pakets for camp days
• English speaking mountain guide
• Carrying bags on horses until base and to upper camp
• Tents for 2 people share basis
• Service for getting permit (we apply for the clients and get the permit but permit fee is extra)

Not included services:

• International and domestic flights (fligths from Istanbul to Van around 150 Euros if you purchases early and we can buy for you if you wish)
• Lunches and dinners in the city, drinks
• Entrance fees in sightseeing tours
• Tips
• Climbing permit (50 USD per person) and visa fee

Tour itinary:

1st day: Departure from own country and arrival to Istanbul
Transfer to Hotel in Sultan Ahmet which is the heart of Istanbul famous with old historical places such as Ayasofia, Blue Mosque, Yerebatan cistern. Depends on the flight time you can walk in Sultanahmet and see these above places.

2nd day: Flight to Van
Domestic flight to Van, transfer to the hotel in the city centre. The afternoon could be used for to explore the city and visiting the old Van castle from the Urartean time period. We are staying in the hotel in Van, 1.720 m above sea level.

3rd day: Sight seeing tour around Van lake
After the breakfast first we are visiting the old ruin city Cavustepe, then further to the Akdamar island by boat, visiting the famous Armenian church. After having a lunch near the lake we are driving around the lake to the small town Ahlat. Our accommodation will be an hotel in Ahlat.

4th day: Mt. Süphan - Ahlat
Early in the morning we are driving to the last village on the way to Mt. Süphan, Kiskilli which is located on 2.400 m. Ascending from here to the summit of the mountain takes approx. 5-6 hours. After enjoying the breathtaking view overlooked on to Van lake we are descending to Kiskili and further we drive by coach  to the hotel in Ahlat. We will overnight in Ahlat.

5th day: Ahlat - Dogubayazit
In the morning we have a 3 hours drive to Dogubayazit, on the way, we will stop at the Muradiye waterfall. In the afternoon we will do last preparations for the climb. Overnight in Simer hotel in Dogubayazit.

6th day: Dogubayazit - Basecamp (3.200 m)
After the breakfast driving around 30 min.on bumpy roads we arrive to Eli vilage.Giving the bags to horses we walk to base camp, 3.200 m (4-5 hours). We overnight in tents at the base camp

7th day: Basecamp - High camp (4.200 m)
As we are acclimatised from the Mt Suphan climb, we are ascending to the upper camp on 4.200 m and staying here. Having an early dinner to sleep early because we need to get up very early for the summit climb.

8th day: Summit (5.137 m) - Basecamp
Today is summit day! Hoping to have the best weather, starting very early around 03.00 a.m., 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 taking the luggage from the horses to the coach we are driving back to Dogubayazit to stay in the hotel.

10 th day: Reserve day for the summit / cultural trip around Dogubayazit
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 Pasha Palace from the Ottomans period. Our last night in the East of Turkey.

11th day: Dogubayazit - Van - Istanbul
Early in the morning 3 hours transfer to Van airport and domestic flight to Istanbul. We have one more night in Istanbul to enjoy a celebration night.

12th day: Flight home
Transfer to the airport and flight back home

Due to weather conditions program is subject to change!