Mt. Artos & Mt. Ararat

Ascent of Mt. Ararat (5,137 m), the highest point in Turkey, with graded acclimatisation via Mt. Artos (3,537 m) and Lake Van. A demanding trek punctuated by major cultural stops: Akdamar, Van Fortress and the Ishak Pasha Palace.

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.

CODE AA-ARA-01

9 days · Level 5/5

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. 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 shops, restaurants and cafés of Cumhuriyet Caddesi make it the liveliest city in the east. Rest of the day free. Dinner included. Overnight hotel in Van.
  2. 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-known peaks in Eastern Anatolia, with wide views over the lake and the highlands. Descend the same route, stop by the lake for a glass of çay, then return to Van. A deliberate first stage of acclimatisation. Ascent/descent ~1,737 m, 7 to 8 hrs walking. B / L / D. Overnight in Van.
  3. 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 the Urartian king Sarduri, overlooking the ruins of Tushpa — nearby, the rock tomb of Argishti I and the inscription of Xerxes. Late afternoon, drive to Doğubayazıt at the foot of Ararat; luggage not needed on the mountain can be left in a room reserved for the group. B / L / D. Overnight in Doğubayazıt.
  4. 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 and you carry only your day pack. The first stage climbs on well-trodden paths through wide pastureland to base camp, with open views of Little Ararat (3,900 m) and the border mountains of Iran. ~4 hrs walking, +1,000 m. B / L / D. Overnight tented base camp, 3,200 m.
  5. 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 Little Ararat in the distance. Late afternoon, descent by the same route to base camp: climbing high and sleeping low is what makes acclimatisation work. 5 to 6 hrs walking, +/- 1,000 m. B / L / D. Overnight base camp, 3,200 m.
  6. 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 on hard snow. On arrival, after a rest and tea, there is the option of climbing a further 100 to 200 m to help acclimatise for the night. Equipment check and rest. 3 to 4 hrs walking, +~1,000 m. B / L / D. Overnight tented high camp, 4,200 m.
  7. 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 sacred mountain at sunrise. In clear conditions the view carries to Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus, Damavand in Iran and the Kaçkar range near the Black Sea. After a rest on top you descend by the same route to the high camp and, after a tea break, continue to base camp. 9 to 10 hrs walking, +~937 m / -~1,937 m. B / L / D. Overnight base camp, 3,200 m.
  8. 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 Ishak Pasha Palace — part pleasure palace, part mountain fortress, an architectural set piece of the 17th century blending Seljuk, Armenian and Ottoman influences. The old trade route to Iran, part of the Silk Road, passed below it. Drive back to Van. ~3 hrs walking, -~1,000 m. B / L / D. Overnight hotel in Van.
  9. Day 9 — Departure from Van — Transfer to Van airport and onward flight. Breakfast included.

Related