MOUNT ARARAT & MOUNT DAMAVAND

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival at Istanbul. Welcome at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city center. Free time to explore the old city. Welcome dinner and tour briefing. Overnight in hotel.

Day 2: Transfer to airport and fly to VAN city in Eastern Anatolia and drive to Dogubeyazit town in 3hrs average. On the way we stop by the "Muradiye waterfalls" and enjoy the view with Turkish tea. After lunch, check in hotel, permits and gear check. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 3: Transfer to Mount Ararat, former Eli village region at 2200m / 7250 ft. We then load the duffle bags onto our horses and start the trek of 4 hrs before arriving to "Green Camp" at 3300m / 10850 ft.

Day 4: Rest at camp. Acclimatization hikes up to 4000m / 13150ft for 4-5 hours. Dinner and overnight at Green Camp.

Day 5: Hike up from Green camp to 2nd camp at 4150m / 13615 ft. (2-3 hours)

Day 6: Summit day. Early wake up call at 3:30 and start for the summit bid at 4:30 after a fine breakfast. We reach the summit at 5137m / 16854ft after 5-6 hrs hiking performance. It will take 2-3 hrs to descend back to the camp site at 4150m / 13615ft. Dinner and overnight in the 2nd camp.

Day 7: Descend all the way down to the village road to reach the minibus for the transfer to the hotel in Dogubeyazit before lunch time. After lunch, we will see art demonstrations of the very best examples of local handcrafts and carpets. We will visit ancient Ishak Pasha Palace during the beautiful sunset. / Spare day in case of bad weather / Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 8: We will drive to the IRAN border early in the morning for the transfer to Tabriz. Fly to Tehran, and Dinner and overnight in hotel

Day 9: Transfer to Damavand and start trek to the first camp Goosfand Sara at 3000 meters altitude.

Day 10: Acclimatization day. We will trek up to 4000 meters for acclimatisation. Descend back to the first camp for dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 11: Today we trek up to Bargah Sevom camp at 4150 meters for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Summit Day! Wake up early in the morning, and possibly in the night, to start the hike up to the highest summit in the MiddleEast. After 7-8 hours and one long break at 4900 meters we arrive at the crater. After viewing the great panorama we will descend back to the Bargah Sevom camp or to Goosfand Sara according to timing for dinner and overnight.

Day 13: After breakfast, we descend down from Damavand and transfer to the Tehran hotel before dinner. In case of bad weather we may try to summit a 2nd time and descend down all the way down to Tehran on this day.

Day 14: Full day excursion to see details of the great Persian history including Covered Bazaar, Carpet Museum, National Treasure & Jewelry Museum. We will also have time for shopping and packing for the next day's flight.

Day 15: Transfer to airport for International departures or continue with extension tours.

DETAILS

A 15 days itinerary covering two mountains in two neighboring countries: Mount Ararat in Turkey and Mount Damavand in Iran.

Our tour starts in Istanbul Ataturk International Airport. After we meet you at the airport, we transfer to our hotel in Taksim square, downtown Istanbul, where we will stay overnight. We allow free time to explore the city and will meet back in the evening for the gala dinner and a tour briefing. Next day we wake up early with no chance to take a breakfast at the hotel. This is because we take an early transfer to the airport, to conect with our flight to Van that departs at 07:20am. Turkish airlines offer very nice in-flight services, so we will have the chance to eat and drink on board. We arrive at Van city at about 09:30am. Our driver will meet us in Van airport and we will drive directly to Dogubeyazit town after a short stop at Muradiye Waterfalls for a tea/coffee break. After check-in at the hotel in Dogubeyazit we will have some rest and dinner in the evening. The guide will check your equipments and confirm no one is short of gear. Equipment rental will be possible at this point.

Next day is the departure for the mountain. We load all bags onto our minibus and drive towards Mount Ararat. The journey will take approximately 1 hour, then we will stop at Eli village and load our bags and equipment to mules/horses, and continue the route on foot. On the way up to the 1st camp we will be able to see the Nomads and observe the Ararat mountain life. We arrive at Ararat base camp after 3-3,5 hours of walking. We spend two nights on this "Green Camp" at approximately 3300 meters of altitude. Once acclimatized, we hike up to the second campsite on the south ridge at 4150 meters.

Waking up early in the morning (03:30), we make a pre-dawn start at 04:30 for our summit ascent, crossing the upper snow covered slopes. When we reach 4950m we will put our crampons on before the glacial summit. Finally reaching the summit of one of the world's most enigmatic peaks, we are rewarded by superb panoramic views of the surrounding plains and valleys on the frontiers of Turkey, Iran and Armenia.

Spending the night at 2nd camp after descending down from the summit, we will refresh ourselves for the next day's further descent, all the way to Dogubeyazit town before lunch. After lunch we will visit ancient Ishak Pasha Palace and see art demonstrations of the very best examples of Turkish handcrafts before dinner and overnight.

Damavand has 6 main routes and a number of side routes to climb. Our route is to climb the southern route, which is non-technical and enjoys a mild slope up to the altitude of 5,000 m, from there the remaining trek to the summit (5,671 m) becomes slightly steeper.

On the first day of the tour, we will meet you at Imam Khomeini International Airport, we transfer to the hotel where we stay in Tehran overnight. After a short brief from the guide about the tour, you will have free time to rest until dinner. Next day, we will have our breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Mount Damavand. After 3 hours drive, we reach Reineh, the village on the slopes of the south face. From the village a gravel road turns left and it is another 30 min. drive up to the base camp at Goosfand Sara (3000 m.). Goosfand Sara consists of a mosque, a concrete shelter, and some tents from local shepards. We spend two nights at Goosfand Sara and do day treks up to 4000 m. for acclimatization purposes during this time. Next day we hike for approximately 3,5 hours to reach the 2nd camp at 4150 m. At second camp, there is a shelter called "Bargah-e-Sevom" which holds about 30 people, while we choose to stay at shelters for sleeping, it is also possible to put up tents near to the shelter. After an overnight rest at Bargah-e-Sevom camp, we wake up early to start the summit ascent. The summit ascent may take between 5 to 7 hours according to personal performances.

At about 500 m from the summit, there is a place called Sulfur hill or Dood Kooh which is the result of the latest volcanic activities of this mount. The area is covered with Sulfur stones and in summer when the sun shines on them, sulfur gases rise from the stones, and have given this place it's name, Sulfur hill. The sulfur gas smells like a spoiled egg that may cause some irritation to the eyes and throat.

There is also, just before reaching Sulfur hill, at the altitude of 5000 m, a frozen waterfall named Abshar-eYakhi (7 m high). This frozen waterfall never melts and does not flow to any river. In the warmer seasons, when the upper frozen snow begins melting, the coldness of weather and wind prevent the melting of snow on this waterfall and the waterfall always remains frozen.

Among other things that can be seen at the top are the corpses of some sheep that have died after reaching the peak. Due to the coldness of weather on the top of the mount they have mostly retained their shape.

Damavand is a volcanic peak and when reaching the top, climbers are able to see and walk in the crater. The circumference of this crater is 450 m and it remains covered with snow all year round.

We descend from the summit back to Bargah Sevom camp or to Goosfand Sara and, according to our timing, for dinner and overnight. The descend back to Bargah Sevom camp is between 2-4 hours and back to Goosfand Sara camp is between 5-8 hours.

On our return back to Tehran, we will have a full day of cultural excursions which includes the Covered Bazaar, Carpet Museum, National Treasure & Jewelry Museum. We will also have time for shopping and packing for the next day's flight. Tour ends in Imam Khomeini International Airport.

For any additional services you may need in Iran or Turkey, such as extension tours, international flights, etc, please don't hesitate to ask for a quote from our office staff.

PERMITS & VISAS

CLIMBING PERMITS & VISAS FOR MOUNT ARARAT

It is well known that the Ararat Mountain, which had been a favorite for climbers until 1980 was closed to the public during the Kurdish insurgence. It was reopened to visitors in 2001 when security in the area was reestablished. Nevertheless, to ensure continuance of security, visits to Mount Ararat are now under strict government control.

Individual climbers are subject to security investigations and only those who are approved are allowed to visit.

The permit procedures generally take up to two months for individual applicants, but if you join in our Ararat tours, we carry out the proper procedures on behalf of you which is the fastest and easiest way to obtain the necessary permissions.

CAREFULLY FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1) In the booking form, please fill all personal and passport details completely.

2) Send your booking form together with a scanned photocopy of your passport either by fax to number: +902164184522 or by email to address: info@anatolianadventures.com

then inform the participants to go to this consulate or embassy and collect their special purpose visas.

IRANIAN VISA

In order to apply and get your visa you must send us your visa support form at the time of your booking. After receiving your personal data , we apply with that form via our Iranian partner agency, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your behalf. Your visa will then be authorized by the MFA and faxed to the Iranian Consulate near you. We will give you a visa authorization number with which you can refer to at the consulate to get your visa . The visa authorization number, however, is valid only in the consulate you have asked for your visa to be issued in. The number they give you is just an "authorization". This reference number means that your visa has been authorized and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but it is not the visa itself.

After we inform you of the visa authorization number you should first get a visa application form from the consulate and follow the requirements of the application form. The form can either be collected personally from the consulate or, if the service is available, downloaded from the website of the Iranian Embassy for your country. Then you should refer to the consulate to lodge your passports and application forms with the visa authorisation number we have issued you (it can be either in person or by post). From then it will take between one to five days for the consulate to issue your visa.

Normally, all tourist visas issued by Iranian consulates have a "3-month" validity. The visa allows you to stay in Iran for up to 30 days, although the duration of your visa is at the discretion of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Note: A visa cannot be issued for passports which have a validity of less than 6 months. Exit permits required by all (often included with visa).

Please download the visa support form and send us together with your booking form: http://www.anatolianadventures.com/eng/files/IRAN_VISA_SUPPORT.pdf

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS IN IRAN

Islamic law is strictly enforced in Iran. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.

Local Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are enforced by law in any public place e.g. hotels and restaurants men should wear long trousers and long-sleeve shirts and women must cover their heads with a headscarf, wear trousers (or a long skirt), and a long-sleeved tunic or coat that reaches to mid-thigh or knee. There are occasional crackdowns on dress particularly in the summer months and during times of religious commemoration. If you blatantly disregard these rules you may encounter difficulties or even face arrest. There are additional dress requirements at certain religious sites, where e.g. women may be asked to put on a chador (a garment which covers the whole body except the face) before entering. During the climb, women can wear western-style climbing clothes.

The import, sale, manufacture and consumption of alcohol in Iran is strictly forbidden on religious grounds, with exceptions only for certain recognised Iranian religious minorities (not foreigners). Penalties can be severe.

Photography near military and other government installations is strictly prohibited. Many such places are often difficult to identify and great care should be taken with photography in areas away from tourist locations, including urban areas. You may be arrested and detained on serious criminal charges, including espionage, which can carry the death penalty. It is better to ask before taking photographs of people.

You should carry some form of identification with you at all times.

Behaviour regarded as inoffensive elsewhere can lead to serious trouble in Iran, particularly with regard to sexual relations, alcohol and drugs. In general, it is best to err on the side of caution. Relationships between non-Muslim men and Muslim women are illegal. Unmarried partners and friends of the opposite sex travelling together should be discreet at all times in public. Iranian hotel managers could insist on seeing a marriage certificate before allowing any couple to share a double hotel room. During the holy month of Ramadan, you should in general observe the Muslim tradition of not eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset each day, though there are exemptions for travellers who will be able to eat in hotel restaurants.

You should also be aware that:

• Homosexual behaviour, adultery and sex outside of marriage are illegal under Iranian law and can carry the death penalty.
• Penalties for importing and possessing drugs are severe and enforced. Large numbers of convicted drug traffickers have been executed in recent years.
• The importation of all alcohol and pork products is banned.
• Women's magazines and DVDs/ videos depicting sexual relations are also forbidden. Although cultural restrictions have loosened, there are periodic clampdowns and satellite dishes and many Western CDs and films remain illegal.