3 COUNTRIES 3 PEAKS 22-DAYS EXPEDITION
MT. ARARAT & MT. DAMAVAND & MT. ELBRUS

The final resting place of Noah's Ark, Turkey's highest peak Mount Ararat combined with Iran's Mount Damavand and one of seven summit's Mount Elbrus in Russia, a 22 days program in 3 different countries...

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival at Istanbul, transfer to hotel, free rest of the day.
Welcome to Istanbul. Our transfer man will be waiting you at the arrival gate with a nameplate. Your hotel is approximately 25 km distance from the airport and located in the old city. According to your arrival time, free time at leisure. Welcome dinner in the evening.

Day 2: Arrival at Van, Transfer to Dogubeyazit, Overnight at hotel
Early transfer to Istanbul Ataturk airport and fly to Van city (2 hours). Welcome at Van Ferit Melen Airport by your guide, transfer to border town Dogubeyazit which takes approximately 3hrs. Heading toward Dogubeyazit, we take a short break at the "Muradiye waterfalls" for some Turkish tea and the outstanding scenery. After we check in our hotel, we have our lunch in a local restaurant in the city center. Having collected our climbing permits from the military and a gear check at the hotel, we taste the best examples of the Turkish Kebap for dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Transfer to Mount Ararat, trekking to 1st Camp called "Green Camp"
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Mount Ararat by minibus which takes 1,5 hrs approximately. We stop by former Eli village region at 2200m / 7250 ft. Loads will be carried by animals starting from this point and we trek until we arrive at first camp at 3340m / 10850 ft. On the way up to Ararat Base Camp at 3200m we will be able to see the Nomads and observe the Ararat mountain way of life. Total trekking time: 3-4 hrs based on performance.

Day 4: Acclimatization day. Overnight at 1st Camp
This is our acclimatization day on the mountain. We trek up to 2nd camp at 4100m / 13150ft then return back to 1st camp for overnight. This enables us to “climb high and sleep low” - an important step in acclimatisation. Total trekking time: 4-5 hrs based on performance.

Day 5: Move to 2nd camp
We hike on the south ridge up to 2nd camp at 4100 meters. Animals carry all the camp loads up to 2nd camp, and trekkers carry only personal belongings in their backpacks. Total trekking time: 2-3 hrs based on performance.

Day 6: Summit day. Overnight at 1st Camp.
We wake up at 3:30 and have a fine breakfast in the kitchen tent. We start the summit walk at 4:30, crossing the upper snow covered slopes; we reach 4950m where we put our crampons on before the summit glacier. We finally reach the Ararat summit at 5137m / 16854ft after 5-6 hrs hiking performance in total. Taking as many photographs we can and celebrating our success to the peak, we descend back to 1st camp to spend the night and refresh ourselves. Lunch is lunchpacks on this day, and given to everybody before the start of the day. Total trekking time: 5-6 hrs ascent, 5-6 hrs descent based on performance.

Day 7: Return back to Dogubeyazit, Overnight at hotel
Packing everything in the campsite, we start our descent until the Eli village region at 2200 meters. The minibus meets us at the village road and we drive towards our hotel in Dogubeyazit. After having lunch in a local restaurant in the city center, we visit local handcrafts and carpet house to see demonstrations of their very best examples. We then visit monumental Ishak Pasha Palace, a 17th century Ottoman gem, whilst watching the dramatic sunset sky. If necessary, in case of bad weather, this day may be used as a spare day for the summit ascent. In this case, we walk all the way down to Eli village from the summit point. Dinner and overnight in hotel. Total trekking time: 2-3 hrs

Day 8: Drive to Iran border, fly Tehran, overnight in hotel.
After an early morning breakfast, we will drive to the IRAN border for the transfer to Tabriz. Fly to Tehran, and Dinner and overnight in hotel

Day 9: 1st Camp at Damavand
Drive to Damavand south face. We will trek to the first camp Goosfand Sara at 3000 m.

Day 10: Acclimatization day.
Trek up to 4000m for acclimatization. Back to the 1st camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: 2nd camp at Damavand
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 Middle East. 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: Return back to Tehran. Dinner and overnight in Tehran.
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 sightseeing in Tehran.
Full day excursion to see the details of the great Persian history including the 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: Early morning flight to Moscow. Transfer to Min'Vody. Overnight in Baksan Valley.
Fly to Moscow in early morning by Aeroflot from Tehran airport. We take the direct flight to Mineralnye Vody the same day. After a 4 hours bus ride, we reach our mountain hotel in the Baksan valley near the foothills of Mt. Elbrus. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 16: Acclimatization Day
Acclimatization ascent to the beautiful waterfall and observatory of the Russian Academy of sciences (3100 m./ 10170 ft)). Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 17: Acclimatization Day
Acclimatization hike to Mount Cheget (3400 m/ 11155 ft)). This is the last day before you leave the valley and after hike you can visit equipment store in order to hire something. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 18: High camp. The Barrels Hut.
We ride two gondolas up to the Mir Station,  and then take a chairlift to Garabashi Hut (3800 m/ 12,467 ft). Also referred to as "The Barrels", Garabashi Hut is where we stay while on the mountain. We take an acclimatization hike on the lower reaches of Mount Elbrus' glaciers and snowfields to approximately 4200 m/ 13,780 ft, to the hut Priyut 11. The barrels huts are not the highest huts but the most comfortable ones. There are electric power, light and heaters, personal beds, separate big dining room and kitchen. One of the important rules for acclimatization is: walk as high as you can but sleep as low and comfortable as it is possible. This gives you you relax and rest after hard day. Having night on high elevation in bad conditions makes climber tired without any activity and you can get up even more exhausted than you were several hours ago.

Day 19: Acclimatization Day
Acclimatization hike up to 4300 m/ 14,107 ft to begin of the two parallel rocky ranges.

Day 20: Acclimatization Day
Hike up to the Pastuckhov rocks and probably higher (4800 m/ 15,748 ft) .

Day 21: Relax day
We think that it is good to have a good rest before a summit day. That is why this day we will go for an acclimatization hike not higher than 4100 m (13,451 ft) and return to the huts for rest. Depending on weather and time your guide may offer to have a short snow/ ice/ rope/ self-belay technique courses.

Day 22: Summit day.
Leave base camp about 3 a.m. for the climb of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,510 ft). Descend to base camp. Overnight stay in the Barrels hut. We stand up early in the morning (at about 2 a.m.) and leave The Barrels after breakfast at about 3am. The idea is to meet sunrise somewhere over the Pastuckhov rocks. It is possible to hire a snow-cat (Ratrak) for a group. This vehicle carries climbers (12 people) up to Pastuckhov rocks and saves 4 hours and a lot of energy. Generally, for an average group, it takes about 9 hours to reach the top and 5 hours to come back to The Barrels. Generally we stay at the Barrels this night. If a group returns to the Barrels before 2 p.m. we can discuss the possibility to descend to the valley and have overnight at the mountain hotel. However this will require additional payment for hotel, because this night is paid for the huts.  

Day 23: Extra Day
This extra day is scheduled into the itinerary in case we encounter bad weather or need additional time for acclimatization. Having this extra day has proven to dramatically improve the team's success. If we do not use this day for our summit attempt, we can spend the day relaxing, horseback riding, fishing and/or visiting the local market. Overnight in hotel.

Day 24: Extra Day
Another one extra day in case the two previous days the weather did not allow to make a summit attempt. In case we use this extra day we need to keep in mind that we have to descend to valley today. That will be a very hard day!

Day 25: Drive to Mineralnye Vody airport for onward flight. End of Services in Min'Vody airport.

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

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 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

RUSSIAN VISA

All foreign nationals are required to have entry visas to travel to the Russian Federation. Russian entry visas can be obtained at your local Russian Embassy or Consulate. A proper invitation (visa support) from a specially authorized travel agency (host company) is required.

A visa for the Russian Federation is a document, permitting a stay in Russia for a specific period of time. A visa lists exact entry/exit dates. You can enter/leave Russia on any date within the visa period but to overstay is a serious violation and in the case of an overstay, leaving the country could become much more troublesome than entering it.

We can send visa support for more days than the period of our main service but for not more than 20 nights. If you need a greater period please make real reservations in hotels through us for the extra days or contact a visa company to purchase the proper kind of visa. A sample of a visa company: www.visatorussia.com

Requirements for foreign citizens to enter Russia (tourist visa)

- Passport: must be valid 6 months beyond intended stay
- Russian Visa: required
- Vaccination: not required

Requirements for obtaining Russian tourist visa in a Russian Consulate.

- Your original passport with at least 2 blank visa-designated pages (passport must be valid for at least 6 months after intended departure date from Russia).
- Two copies of Russian visa application form (Consulate's Questionnaire), completed and signed.
- One passport-size photo signed on the back.
- Visa support (invitation) page(s) from host company. ('Voucher' and 'Confirmation' forms)
- Consular fee (different in different countries) must be paid.

We will send you your visa support (invitation) page as an email attachment. It is a page with two forms: "Voucher" and "Confirmation of Hosting". You have to print it out and take to the Consulate along with the other necessary items. There will be some comments sent out with the visa support, these comments will help you fill out the Consulate application form (questionnaire). If you are going to apply for the visa in a country that is not of your citizenship, let us know the country as some Consulates (such as in France, Japan and others) have their own demands for the visa support edition.

All Russian Visas should be registered upon arrival to the Russian Federation.

According to Russian law, your Russian visa must be registered within 72 hours upon your arrival (excluding weekends and official holidays).

If you stay at a hotel, the hotel will register your visa. You will be asked to provide your visa and passport, a small registration fee may be imposed.
If you are not staying at a hotel and travel on a tourist visa you will have to register your visa at the Passport and Visa Department of the local Police Precinct (OVIR/UVIR office).
In the case that you have a tour organised with a tourist company, they will register your visa themselves.

Please note that not registering your Russian visa may lead to serious problems: detention by police, fines on departure, prevention from boarding the plane, etc. We strongly advise you to register your Russian visa to avoid possible unnecessary inconveniences. Paying a fine does not free you from registering. If you do not register within 72 hours you must pay fine before you may be registered.

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.