Climbing Ararat (Ağrı Dağı), 5137 m, Turkey

To climb Ararat you will need a international passport. Visiting Turkey is visa-free for most countries. To climb Ararat you need a permit, which we will issue. Climbing without a permit is a criminal offense.

At Van Ferit Melen Airport, the group will gather before 18:00. Here you will be met by a company representative – a guide, you can also get to Dogubayazit on your own, you will receive all the instructions during the trip planning process. Another option is to arrive by car via Georgia or Armenia.

During the hike, you need to be prepared to live with modest conditions of comfort. The expedition involves walking with a small backpack (water and snacks), the rest of the things are carried on horses, moving along a rocky path, part of the route on the day of the assault goes along the glacier in crampons.

It is worth preparing physically for the hike in advance. Running, swimming, cycling are suitable. Training for 1.5 hours 3-4 times a week. Start training no later than 3 months before leaving for the mountains.

Physical and mental preparation before climbing and hiking in the mountains

During the hike we spend the night in tents, one for every two people.

Three meals a day are provided (breakfast, snack and dinner), the food is prepared by a cook. Breakfasts are included in the price at the hotel. In the city, meals are provided independently in cafes and restaurants.

Breakfast in the camps: traditional Turkish breakfast, without muesli and oatmeal.
Snack: fruits, cookies, chocolate, cheese, bread.
Dinner: soup of the day, rice/pasta/bulgur with meat.

There are also dietary options for vegetarians (please specify in the questionnaire).

There is Wifi in the hotels and in the city. There is mobile internet on the mountain, roaming works. There is mobile communication and internet on the whole mountain. We recommend buying a Turkcell communication package in Dogubayazit.

The best season to visit Ararat is summer, from early June to September. In the first half of June there may be a lot of snow, and September is characterized by cool temperatures. In Dogubayazit, summer temperatures reach +35 °C, at night up to +25 °C. In the base camps during the day 20-25 with a plus, and with sunset frosts come down to -5 °C. At the peak of the mountain there is a decrease to -15, wind, snowfall.

A tour to Ararat is accessible to most people with good physical fitness.

Despite the official ban by the Turkish government on visiting the region due to political instability, the Kurdish people are always happy and hospitable to tourists. The official Kurdish (Turkish) company accepts our tourists, everything is calm there now.

It is necessary to follow all the instructions of the instructor concerning safety. When preparing for the trip, it is necessary to take a personal first aid kit and purchase insurance.

Mandatory accompaniment by a Kurdish/Turkish instructor and leader from the company ExtremeGuide. Also included in the price are the services of muleteers.

In Turkey, the main currency is the lira, you can also pay with euros and dollars, but the exchange rate will not be favorable. It is best to exchange the required amount of lira in the city of Dogubayazit or withdraw from an ATM.

Absence of diseases incompatible with active tourism:

List of diseases.

Before going to the mountains, we recommend that you undergo a medical examination. If you are not physically ready, the guide has the right to refuse to participate in the final assault.

Often our participants do not have an acute problem with adaptation, but it is important to understand that the main symptoms and manifestations of hypoxia can appear already at an altitude of 3000-3500 m. You can read more about acclimatization in the mountains here Features of acclimatization in high mountains