3 COUNTRIES 3 PEAKS
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 to Istanbul. Welcome at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city center. Free time to explore the old city.

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: Fly to Moscow in early morning by Aeroflot from Tehran airport. We take the direct flight to Mineralnye Vody 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 ascent (using ski lifts) of Cheget Mountain, 3600 m (11,800 feet). Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 17: Ride ski lifts. Set up base camp. Acclimatization hike. Overnight stay in the Barrels hut on the slopes of Elbrus.

Day 18: Acclimatization hike and relax day. Overnight stay in the Barrels hut

Day 19: Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 ft). Descend to base camp. Overnight stay in the Barrels hut.

Day 20: Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather) or descent to the Baksan valley

Day 21: Reserve day. Descend to the Baksan valley. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 22: Drive to Mineralnye Vody airport for the flight to Moscow. Tour ends in Moscow Airport. We continue with international departures.

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

RUSSIAN VISA

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

A visa to the Russian Federation is a document, permitting 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 visa period but overstay is a serious violation and in case of overstay leaving the country could be much more troublesome than entering it.

We can send visa support for more days than a period of our real service but for not more than 20 nights. If you need wider period please make real reservations in hotels through us for the extra days or address a visa company to purchase proper kind of visa. A sample of 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 visa support (invitation) page as email attachment. That is a page with two forms: "Voucher" and "Confirmation of Hosting". You have to print it out and pass to the Consulate along with other necessary items. There will be some comments sent with visa support. Those comments will help you to fill out the Consulate application form (questionnaire). If you are going to apply for visa not in the country of your citizenship, let us know that country. Some Consulates (such as in France, Japan and some 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 of 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 case you have a tour from 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.