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| Home | Arrive | Istanbul | A Sofya | Chora | Cistern | Dog | Camp | Top! | |||
With over 100 years of world travel experience to more than 60 countries on 7 continents, Your Ararat AdventureClimb Turkey’s highest peak, legendary Mount Araratand explore the cultural splendors of Istanbul and Anatolia including Noah’s Ark National Park |
Traveling to and climbing Mount Ararat is more than a journey,it is a charged cultural and physical pilgrimage that will generate lifelong memories. |
Your Ararat AdventureEarth View Adventures is the only US company offering this exotic journey. Our two-week adventure starts in Istanbul, with its swirling mix of cultures straddling Europe and Asia. After sampling some of Istanbul’s sights, we fly east across Turkey to Van on the shores of Turkey’s largest lake, Lake Van where we visit a 10th century Armenian church on Akdamar Island, then climb 10,006-foot Nemrut Dagi and camp by the mountain’s 5 unique crater lakes. After trekking between two lakes, we climb 13,315-foot Mount Suphan, Turkey’s third highest peak. Then it’s on to Dogubayazit, where we spend 4 days climbing to the famous, ice-clad summit of 16,854-foot Mount Ararat, Turkey’s highest peak. The ancient volcano dominates all within sight of it, and from the summit, you can see 4 countries. After descending from the mountain, we visit Noah’s Ark National Park and Ishak Pasha Palace before returning for another look into Istanbul’s myriad sights and shopping. |
Expedition DetailsWe will run this expedition on request with a minimum of 10 people.Trip duration is 15 Days from Istanbul All flights within Turkey are included in the expedition cost; international airfare is excluded. Contact Earth View Adventures Attn Gerry Roach and Stan Havlick 1317 S. Mesa Ave. Montrose CO, 81401 303 819-5556 Gerry 303 995-8130 Stan earthview@me.com |
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Your host Gerry RoachGerry moved to Boulder Colorado as a lad in 1954, and started climbing rocks and mountains shortly thereafter. Over five decades later, he continues pursuing his travel and mountaineering passion with all the energy he can muster. In the intervening years, Gerry became a world-class mountaineer. After climbing Mount Everest in 1983, he went on to become the second person to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents in 1985. In over 50 years of mountaineering that span 6 different calendar decades, Gerry has been on more than 30 major expeditions and traveled in dozens of countries. In 2003, Gerry became the first person to climb every major peak over 16,000 feet in North America and he received the Sierra Club’s coveted Farquhar lifetime achievement award for mountaineering in 2005. |
Your host Stan HavlickStan is the first person to bicycle across 6 continents. In 2006, Stan completed a 14-year quest to cycle nearly 20,000 miles coast-to-coast across all of earth’s six bike-able continents. Stan’s other passion is climbing; he is a ski instructor, triathlete and mountaineer. He has climbed in the Himalayas, Karakorum, on Denali in Alaska, the Matterhorn in Switzerland, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Russia, Aconcagua in Argentina, and all the 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado. Stan’s lifetime of extraordinary adventures and unique cultural experiences give him a superlative world view that he is eager to share. |
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Overview of your Ararat Adventure |
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| Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul |
| Day 2: Sightseeing in Istanbul |
| Day 3: Fly to Van in Eastern Turkey on the shores of
Lake Van Tour Van Castle, visit Akdamar Island, then camp by Nemrut Dagi’s crater lake |
| Day 4: Summit 10,006-foot Nemrut Dagi in the morning, then trek between two lakes Camp below Mount Suphan |
| Day 5: Day climb up 13,315-foot Mount Suphan, Turkey’s third highest peak |
| Day 6: Drive to Dogubayazit near Mount Ararat |
| Day 7: Hike to Green Camp at 10,700 feet on Mount Ararat |
| Day 8: Acclimatization day hike to 13,000 feet; sleep at Green Camp at 10,850 feet |
| Day 9: Hike to High Camp at 13,615 feet on Mount Ararat |
| Day 10: Climb to Ararat’s 16,854-foot Summit! Descend to Green Camp |
| Day 11: Return to Dogubayazit; possible spare day for a summit climb |
| Day 12: Sightseeing near Dogubayazit Visit Noah’s Ark National Park and Ishak Pasha Palace |
| Day 13: Drive to Van, fly back to Istanbul |
| Day 14: Sightseeing in Istanbul |
| Day 15: Departure from Istanbul |
Click a photo for additional photos of that activity |
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Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul After your transfer from the airport, enjoy a welcome drink in the open air from the rooftop of one of Istanbul’s fine hotels. There are stunning views of both the Blue Mosque and the ancient Aya Sofya. At dusk, listen to Islam’s traditional call to prayer. |
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Day 2: Sightseeing in Istanbul Bordered by 8 different countries and 5 seas, Turkey sits in a swirl of cultures aged like fine wine. The modern, prosperous country bridges east and west as well as north and south. All ancient roads passed through this region, and Christianity and Islam meet here. We spend the day touring a combination of the following sights: Aya Sofya (in photo), Chora Church, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, and the Suleymaniye Camile Mosque. Click the photo for information about these famous sites. |
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Day 3: Flight to Van Transfer to the Istanbul airport for an early, 2 1/2 hour non-stop flight east across Turkey to the town of Van on the shores of Turkey’s largest lake - Lake Van. Tour Van Castle, visit Akdamar Island, then camp by Nemrut Dagi’s crater lake |
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Day 4: Explore Mount Nemrut Summit 10,006-foot Nemrut Dagi in the morning, then enjoy one of Turkey’s most touted treks between two suspended lakes In the afternoon we rejoin the vehicles and camp below Mount Suphan at 9,025 feet. |
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Day 5: Climb 13,313-foot Mount Suphan Suphan Dagi is Turkey’s third highest peak. After this exciting all day hike, we will spend a second night below the peak. |
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Day 6: Drive to Dogubayazit After a leisurely breakfast, we drive to the town of Dogubayazit at 5,100 feet where you check into the Hotel for a welcome shower and rest. You can see Mount Ararat from the hotel’s top floor. |
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Day 7: Hike to Green Camp on Ararat Today, begin your ascent of Ararat. Drive one hour from Dogubayazit to the small, summer village of Eli at 6,500 feet (1,981 m), where we meet our muleteers. After the animals are loaded, we hike up 4,200 feet (1,280 m) to Camp 1 at 10,700 feet (3,261 m), which is called the “Green Camp.” While the elevation gain is substantial, the hike is on gentle grades, and there is a trail all the way. This hike typically takes 4 to 5 hours. Depending on the season, there is a small creek gurgling through the Green Camp, and this is a delightful place. The mountain now looms overhead and you can preview the rest of the route. |
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Day 8: Acclimatization hike to 13,000 feet on Ararat You can use this day to gather yourself and prepare for the summit climb. You can hike above Green Camp for acclimatization, or perhaps, just rest in Green Camp. We’ll spend our second night in Green Camp at 10,700 feet. |
Day 9: Hike to High Camp on Ararat |
Today’s hike takes you from the Green Camp at 10,700 feet (3,241 m) to High Camp at 13,400 feet (4,084 m). The elevation gain of 2,700 feet (823 m) is less than the hike up to Green Camp and the distance is shorter, but the terrain is steeper, and of course, the elevation is higher. The trail to high camp is up loose pumice through the lava, and the average hiking time from Green Camp to High Camp is 2 to 3 hours. Mules carry your supplies to High Camp, then return to Green Camp for the night. You spend the afternoon acclimating and preparing for your early start on the summit climb. |
Day 10: Climb to Ararat’s Summit! |
The great day finally arrives! Up at 3AM and hiking by 4AM, you hike
the first hour and a half by headlamp. Switching off your lights, you can enjoy
the sight of the peak’s triangular shadow streaking toward the western
horizon. The point at which the hiking ends and one must switch to crampons
varies depending on the season. In August, you can hike to nearly 16,000
feet (4,877 m) before stepping onto the snow. The snow can be hard and
crampons are needed. Crunching up on the sacred summit ice
is a summit ride to remember, and from Anatolia’s highest point your mood
is free to match the wide open, 360 degree horizon. The elevation gain on summit day is 3,453 feet (1,052 m), and the typical climbing time from High Camp to the 16,853-foot (5,137 m) summit is 5 to 6 hours. |
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Day 11: Descend or spare day On the summit day we will descend to Green Camp. If you were successful on Day 10, we will descend to the trailhead and return to Dogubayazit on Day 11. If the summit weather was bad or you were unsuccessful on Day 10, you can remain at high camp and make a second summit attempt on Day 11 then descend all the way to Dogubayazit. |
Day 12: Sightseeing near Dogubayazit |
Today, you tour several fascinating sites near Mount Ararat and Dogubayazit. First, you visit Meteora, which is a strange meteor crater. This open area also offers a nice view of both Mount Ararat and its companion peak, Little Ararat. Next, visit the intriguing Noah’s Ark National Park, which contains an ark-shaped rock formation that many believe is the remains of Noah’s Ark. Return to Dogubayazit for lunch at a rooftop restaurant with a view of Mount Ararat. In the afternoon, when the light is favorable for photography, visit the famous Ishak Pasha Palace (in photo), then return to the Hotel for the night. |
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Day 13: Return to Istanbul With an early start from the hotel, we drive to Van to connect with a mid morning flight back to Istanbul. You are back at your hotel in Istanbul by early afternoon, which leaves several hours for shopping and sightseeing. There are many sights within walking distance of the hotel, including the Grand Bazaar. |
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Day 14: Sightseeing in Istanbul It is impossible to absorb all of Istanbul’s cultural offerings in one day, so we spend this day shopping and visiting sites that we missed on the first day. You can add the Bhosphorous Bridge, the Beylerbeyi Sarayi Summer Palace and the Basilica Cistern to your feast. |
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Day 15: Departure from Istanbul Transfer from your hotel to the Istanbul airport for your flight home. |
I am a part of all that I have seen. |
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Copyright 2001-2021 by Gerry Roach and Stan Havlick. All Rights Reserved. |
