Itinerary
- Day 1
Van
A driver meets you at Van airport and takes you to your hotel in the city center. Once you drop off your bags and settle in, you'll have time to rest before dinner is served that evening.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Van to Dogubeyazit
After breakfast, the drive takes you to Dogubeyazit at the base of Mount Ararat. Along the way, you'll stop at Muradiye waterfalls and have traditional Turkish tea. In the evening, you'll see Ishak Pasha Palace, which blends Seljuk, Armenian, and Ottoman architectural styles. The day wraps up with Turkish coffee.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Muradiye waterfalls with suspension bridge crossing
- Traditional Turkish tea at local café
- Visit Ishak Pasha Palace
Landmarks Muradiye Waterfalls Ishak Pasha Palace Mount Ararat - Day 3
Dogubeyazit - Mount Ararat Base Camp
Following breakfast, you'll drive on gravel roads to where the hiking starts at about 1,900-2,000m elevation. Pack animals carry your gear while you bring just a day pack. The hike lasts around 4 hours with a 1,200m climb to reach base camp at 3,200m, where you'll sleep in a tent.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking to Mount Ararat base camp
Landmarks Mount Ararat - Day 4
Mount Ararat Base Camp - Acclimatization Day
This day is lighter on the schedule for your body to adjust to the altitude. You'll hike through rocky volcanic terrain up to high camp at 4,200m, taking frequent breaks. You get nice views across the Anatolian highlands, and later in the afternoon you'll head back down the same way to base camp for another night in the tents.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Acclimatization hike to high camp at 4,200m
- Views of Anatolian highlands and Little Ararat
Landmarks Mount Ararat - Day 5
Mount Ararat High Camp
You'll climb back up to high camp at 4,200m with pack animals handling the luggage again. After resting and having tea, there's a chance to go up another 100-200m higher for more acclimatization work. You'll stay the night at high camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ascent to high camp at 4,200m
- Additional acclimatization climb of 100-200m
Landmarks Mount Ararat - Day 6
Mount Ararat Summit
The alarm goes off around 3:00 a.m. for the summit attempt. You'll move through rocky terrain toward the Ararat Glacier at roughly 4,750m, where you'll put on crampons. Reaching the summit happens at sunrise, and on clear days you might see Elbrus in the Caucasus, Damavand in Iran, and the Kackar Mountains. After the summit, the descent takes you back to base camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Summit ascent of Mount Ararat
- Sunrise at the summit
Landmarks Mount Ararat Ararat Glacier - Day 7
Mount Ararat to Van - Akdamar Island
After eating breakfast at base camp, you'll hike down to the starting point where your vehicle is waiting. From there, you drive back toward Van across volcanic plateaus. You'll check out Van Castle, which was damaged during World War I but still shows an inscription from Persian King Xerxes I. In the late afternoon, a ferry takes you from Gevas village out to Akdamar Island to see the 10th century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, known for its biblical relief carvings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Descent from Mount Ararat base camp
- Visit Van Castle ruins
- Ferry to Akdamar Island
Optional Activities
- Ferry crossing to Akdamar Island & Church entrance
Landmarks Van Castle Akdamar Island Church of the Holy Cross 
- Day 8
Van - Departure
You'll be driven to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.
- Meals
- Breakfast
