Agri Dag, or Ararat as it is known in the west, is the highest mountain in Turkey. Traditionally it is considered to be the spot where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the Great Flood, and numerous expeditions have been mounted in recent years to try and find chunk of it. The Blunttopped Mountain, permanently glacier capped, is in fact a dormant volcano which last erupted in 1840. All sides of the mountain are treeless, as much from the severe climate as the intermittent volcanic activity, but by no means lifeless. The expedition starts with 3 days of acclimatization in two camps at altitudes of 3200 and 4200 m from where we make several ascends and descends. Next is the summit day. We start very early in the morning with a steep climb followed by walking on ice and snow to the top. After some time at the top at sunrise we go all the way down to camp 1 for overnight. The trekking ends on the next day and we finish this amazing trip with some sightseeing around lake Van.
Tour Highlights
♦ The snow capped volcanic cone of Mt. Ararat
Itinerary (Minor changes may occcur):
We recommend the trip in the period: 15th June – 15th September
Necessary equipment: Trekking shoes; loose, casual trousers for trekking; daypack for walking; waterproof clothes; pocket knife; torch; sleeping bags; sun protection creams; hat; walking sticks; crampons. We will provide dome tents per two persons; thick mattress per person; all kitchen equipment. Good quality hiking/climbing boots, base layers, balaclava or warm hat, socks (1000 mile), waterproofs top and bottom, quality jacket (RAB), sun glasses or goggles; walking poles (if you like). We also suggest you bring a basic medicine kit which would include paracetamol, diclufenac, loperamide, anti bacterial wipes and gel. We also suggest that you consider dimox for altitude sickness please consult your doctor for this.
Gallery
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Tours of this level demand that you be really in good shape. The paths are not always in the best condition and the marking can be scarce. There are day-treks with big ascents and descents. Changing weather conditions /even in midsummer/ play an important role when trekking/cycling at a very high altitude and may cause changes of the preliminary route. This is to be decided by the mountain guide on the spot. Normally, the treks are 6/8h per day, but some can be longer. Preliminary hiking experience is an advantage, but not necessary if you are really in a good shape. Note that during some of the days, you should personally carry your baggage, which is naturally an additional difficulty. No rock/ice climbing experience is needed.
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