MOUNT ARARAT & MOUNT DAMAVAND

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival to 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 on our horses and the start trekking for 4 hrs before arriving "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 hotel in Dogubeyazit before lunch time. After lunch, we will see the art demonstration 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 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, possibly at night to start hike up to the highest summit in the MiddleEast. After 7-8 hours and one long break at 4900 meters we arrive to 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 Tehran hotel before dinner. In case of bad weather we may try 2nd time and descend down all the way down to Tehran.

Day 14: Full day excursion to see the details of the great Persian history covering 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 neighbor 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 give free time to explore the city and we meet back in the evening for the gala dinner and tour briefing. Next day we wake up early and we won't have the chance to take a breakfast at the hotel. Because we take an early transfer to airport, to reach our flight to Van, which departs at 07:20am. Turkish airlines offer very nice in-flight services, so we will have chance to eat and drink on board. We arrive 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 tea-coffee break. After check-in hotel in Dogubeyazit we will have some rest and dinner in the evening. The guide will check your equipments and ask if anyone is short of gear. Equipment rental is possible.

Next day is departure for mountain. We load all bags to 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 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 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; we will reach 4950m where we will put our crampons on before the summit glacier. 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 descend all the way to Dogubeyazit town before lunch. After lunch we will visit ancient Ishak Pasha Palace and see the art demonstration 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 choice is to climb from southern route, which is non-technical and enjoys a mild slope up to the altitude of 5,000 m up to the summit (5,671 m) a bit steep.

On the first of of the tour, we meet you at Imam Khomeini International Airport and transfer to the hotel we will stay in Tehran for overnight. After a short brief of the guide about the tour, you will have a 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 we do day treks up to 4000 m. for acclimatization purposes. Next day we hike up approximately 3,5 hours to reach 2nd camp at 4150 m. In 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 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.

About 500 m left to reach the summit, there is a place called Sulfur hill or Dood Kooh which is the result of latest volcanic activities of this mount. This area is covered with Sulfur stones. In summer when the sun shines on them, sulfur gases rise from the stones, this is why that area is called Sulfur hill. The sulfur gas smells like a spoiled egg that may cause some irritation in the eyes and throat.

Also, before reaching the Sulfur hill, in the altitude of 5000 m, there is a frozen waterfall named Abshar-eYakhi (7 m high) which never melts. This frozen waterfall does not flow to any river. In warm seasons of the year when the upper frozen snow begins melting, the coldness of weather and wind prevent the melting of snow of this waterfall. This is why this waterfall is always frozen.

Among other things that could be seen on the top are the corpses of some sheep died after reaching the peak which have not lost their shape very much because of the coldness of weather in the top of the mount.

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

We descend from the summit back to Bargah Sevom camp or to Goosfand Sara according to 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 cultural excursion which includes 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

As it is well known, 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 investigation and only those who are approved are allowed to visit.

Foreigners traveling alone who wish to climb Mt. Ararat should apply to the Turkish consulate in their country and apply for an "ARARAT CLIMBING" visa. Even individuals from those countries that do not require an entry visa to Turkey, should have their passports stamped with a special purpose visa by the Turkish consulate in their own countries. Applications made through the consulate are then sent to the office of the General Staff of Turkey, the Ministry of Interior Affairs, and the Ministry of Tourism. Those applications that are approved are then forwarded to the office of the governor of Agri city and the local military police. The same documents are sent to the Turkish consulate of the originating country. Upon entry to Turkey these special visas are shown to the appropriate offices.

These 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 visas and 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

3) It is important that all participants should inform Anatolian Adventures about the name/location of the Turkish Consulate or Embassy closest to their hometowns. This location can't be changed after we send the application, and it is the place where you will pick-up your special purpose visa stickers after the permit procedure finishes.

Because of the sensitive position of Mount Ararat, being on the border of Turkey, it is officially declared to be 2nd degree Military zone. So without any exclusion, all EU members, USA citizens and citizens of all countries which Turkey does not demand ordinary visa procedure, will have to apply for the Special purpose visa, stating sportive aim.

As soon as we get the passport & Consulate information we apply to Ministry of Tourism for the permit authorization with an official paper. Ministry of Tourism applies to the other authorities for authorization. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Military. When Ministry of Tourism gets authorization from all these authorities, Anatolian Adventures will be informed about the permit. At the same time, Ministry of Foreign Affairs will send an official paper to the Turkish Consulate or the Embassy which the participants should have informed the location before. We then will inform all the participants to go to the consulate or the embassy they have stated in their application forms to get 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 the consulate to get your visa . The visa authorization number, however, is valid only in the consulate you have asked them 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 announce you the visa authorization number you should first get a visa application form from the consulate and follow the requirements of the application form (you may either personally go to the consulate to get the application forms or - if the service available - download it from the web site of the Iranian embassy in your country). Then you should refer to the consulate to lodge your passports and application forms with the visa number we gave you (it can be either a physical presence or by post). Then it might take from 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.