Mt. Ararat & Mt. Artos — 9-day trek and ascent — Aventures Anatoliennes
Ascent of Mt. Ararat (5,137 m), the roof of Turkey, with acclimatisation via Mt. Artos and Lake Van. 9-day trek plus Akdamar, Van and Ishak Pasha visits.
Mt. Ararat, the highest point in Turkey, is the objective of the trip. Mt. Artos on Day 2, a lower day around Lake Van on Day 3 and two acclimatisation days on Ararat itself give a graded profile before the summit attempt. The cultural visits — Akdamar, Van Fortress and the Ishak Pasha Palace — are spread through the programme rather than added at the end. Led by an English-speaking Turkish mountain guide affiliated to the Turkish Mountaineering Federation.
9 days · Level 5/5
- Ascent of Mt. Ararat (5,137 m), the roof of Turkey, at sunrise
- Graded acclimatisation via Mt. Artos (3,537 m) and two days on Ararat
- Akdamar island and its 10th-century Armenian church on Lake Van
- Van Fortress and the ruins of Tushpa, capital of the kingdom of Urartu
- Ishak Pasha Palace, a 17th-century masterpiece on the old Silk Road
- Comfortable private camps, full local team and high-altitude safety equipment
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1 — Arrival in Van — Met at Van airport by your guide and driven to the city-centre hotel. Van was the capital of the kingdom of Urartu from the 9th century BC under the name Tushpa, and the old town still carries that depth of history; the…
- Day 2 — Ascent of Mt. Artos (3,537 m) — Drive to Gevaş on the southern shore of Lake Van, then to the start of the walk at around 1,700–1,800 m depending on road conditions. Four to five hours of climbing bring you to the summit of Mt. Artos, one of the best-…
- Day 3 — Lake Van, Akdamar and Van Fortress, then Doğubayazıt — A lower, welcome day after Artos. Drive to Gevaş and ferry to Akdamar island for the 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, known for the biblical scenes carved on its outer walls. Then Van Fortress, built by t…
- Day 4 — Ascent to base camp (3,200 m) — After breakfast, drive up through the villages of Demirtepe and Çevirme on rough gravel tracks to the trailhead, at around 1,900–2,000 m depending on conditions. The crew is waiting; luggage goes onto the pack animals a…
- Day 5 — Acclimatisation day — An unhurried day given over to acclimatisation. You first cross rocky volcanic ground, then follow well-trodden paths up to the high camp at 4,200 m. A long break here with, in clear weather, the Anatolian highlands and…
- Day 6 — Ascent to high camp (4,200 m) — After breakfast you climb the same route as the previous day up to the high camp; luggage again goes onto the pack animals. Before leaving, your guide goes over the use of ice axe and crampons and the basics of moving o…
- Day 7 — Ararat summit day (5,137 m) and descent to base camp — You leave camp in the early hours, around 3 a.m. A narrow path climbs steadily through rocky terrain, and at around 4,750 m you reach the Ararat glacier and put on crampons. The aim is to stand on the summit of the sacr…
- Day 8 — Descent, the Ishak Pasha Palace and return to Van — After a last breakfast on the mountain you descend by the same route to the trailhead, where the vehicle is waiting. Once luggage and equipment are loaded we drive to Doğubayazıt. In the late afternoon you visit the Ish…
- Day 9 — Departure from Van — Transfer to Van airport and onward flight. Breakfast included.