Mount Ararat (5.137m)

Mount Ararat, also known as Ağrı Dağı (in Turkish), Çiyayê Agirî (in Kurdish), or Masis (in Armenian), is a dormant volcano in the Northern Kurdistan (extreme east of Turkey). It consists of two major volcanic cones: Greater Ararat (5,137 m) which is the highest peak in Turkey and the Armenian Highland, and Little Ararat (3,896 m).

Mountains are regarded as sacred by the Kurds. On the other hand, despite lying outside the borders of modern Armenia, this mountain is the principal national symbol of Armenia and is also considered as sacred by Armenians.

It is described in the Bible as the resting place of Noah's Ark.

To properly acclimatize for this summit, the ascension is usually done in 5 stages:

• Day 1 (Trail Head > Camp 1): 6km (1.200m+)


• Day 2 (Acclimatisation Day: Camp 1 > 4000m > Camp 1): 6km (700m+ 700m-)


• Day 3 (Camp 1 > Camp 2): 3km (900m+)


• Day 4 (Camp 2 > Summit > Camp 2 > Camp 1): 7.6km (1000m+ 1900m-)


• Day 5 (Camp 1 > Trail End): 6km (1.200m-)

However, we did it in 4 stages, as the group preferred to descend all at once.

The nights are spent in two camps: Camp 1 (3300m) and Camp 2 (4200m), equipped with dining tents and sleeping tents.

Here's a brief description of my day-to-day experience:

Day 1 (Trail Head > Camp 1): 6km (1.200m+)

A minibus took us from Doğubayazıt to the starting point of the route.
This stage has no more complication than the accumulated elevation gain. Unfortunately, we had bad weather, got soaked by the rain, and when the sun went down, the cold seeped into our bodies. Fortunately, dry clothes and a good sleeping bag make a difference!
Do not forget to bring your raincoat and pants 🙂
We started the route around 10 a.m. and reached the C1 at 3 p.m.

Day 2 (Acclimatisation Day: Camp 1 > 4000m > Camp 1): 6km (700m+ 700m-)

A day without further complication, but since the day before it had rained so much, there was snow a few meters above C1. Therefore, the day's challenge was to forge a path through untouched snow.
We started the route at 9 a.m. and came back to C1 at 2 p.m.

Day 3 (Camp 1 > Camp 2): 3km (900m+)

Since the terrain had already been trampled from the previous day, progress was easier. In the final part, just before reaching Camp 2, it got a bit complicated as we had to cross a scree field with large rocks. As there was snow, it was easy to slip or mistake a solid foothold for a hole).
We started the route at 9:30 a.m. and arrived at C2 at 3 p.m.

As it is the day before the ascent, at dinner time (5 p.m.), the guide provides a briefing on the schedule, clothing, gear, and guidelines for the next day.
At 6 p.m., you are sent to sleep (or rest as much as you can) because it's an early start the following day.

Day 4 (Camp 2 > Summit > Camp 2 > Camp 1): 7.6km (1000m+ 1900m-)

1 am: Wake up + breakfast
2 am: Departure time.

For 4 hours, with the light from our headlamps and bone-chilling cold, we ascended a steep slope filled with icy rocks and snow.
After overcoming this climb, just as dawn was breaking, the slope became less steep, and the terrain was easier (less rugged and with more snow).
100 meters from reaching the summit, we put on our crampons as the snow was icier, and beneath us lay the glacier.
At 6:30 a.m., we reached the summit, where 360-degree amazing views greeted us. This left us breathless. The white summit under a radiant blue sky and above a sea of clouds was just a gift from heaven. What a beauty, what an excitement to reach this iconic summit after so much effort!
After celebrating and taking some photos, we began the descent, which lasted about 3 hours, arriving at Camp 2 at 10 am.

Once we reached Camp 2, a hot tea with some snacks (cookies, fruit) awaited us in the dining tent. We rested for a couple of hours in the tent, and at 12 p.m., we set out again to descend.

This time, we took a much easier path (but more frequented by mountaineers and pack horses), and after 3 hours (at 3 pm), we arrived at Camp 1, where the agency's 4x4 pickup collected us and brought us back to Doğubayazıt.

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From my point of view is necessary to hire an agency to manage the organization of the ascent (guide, cook, horse porters and muleteer, meals, camps, etc.). I contracted the service with B4Experience (a Spanish agency) which partners with Ararat Travel (a local agency).