From : Ask a Price
14 days / 13 nights
From Jun. to Sep.
15 Person
5 Min
Embark on an unforgettable 14-day expedition blending the wild beauty of the Kaçkar Mountains with the historic grandeur of Mount Ararat. This journey offers challenging summit climbs, exploration of ancient sites including Armenian and Georgian heritage, and immersive encounters with local mountain cultures. Experience pristine alpine landscapes, sacred churches, and majestic peaks culminating in the ascent of Mount Ararat, Turkey’s highest summit.
Summit climb of Mount Kaçkar (3,937m) with breathtaking views
Visit to authentic Georgian churches and traditional mountain (Yayla) villages
Discover Kars and Ani, the ancient Armenian kingdom capital
Challenging Mount Ararat summit climb (5,137m)
Tour of Dogubeyazit and the impressive Ishak Pasha Palace
Explore Akdamar Island and its renowned Holy Cross Church
Upon arrival at Istanbul International Airport, you will be welcomed by a Nature and Sea Travel representative. Transfer to your hotel located in the historical Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul, rich with history and culture. Settle in and rest for the exciting journey ahead.
Start your day with a visit to the magnificent Hagia Sophia, an architectural masterpiece that has served as a basilica, mosque, and museum through the centuries. Walk through the Hippodrome Square, once the social and sporting center of Byzantine Constantinople, where ancient obelisks still stand. Continue to the Blue Mosque, a pinnacle of Ottoman and Byzantine architecture, famous for its intricate blue tiles. End your cultural immersion at the bustling Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets with thousands of shops. Enjoy a traditional Turkish tea (çay) before returning to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast / – / –
Fly from Istanbul to Erzurum early morning. Drive towards the Kaçkar Mountains, stopping at Tortum Waterfall, one of Turkey’s tallest waterfalls at 48 meters. Enjoy a cup of traditional Turkish tea in the village of Yusufeli. Continue to Barhal village, a timeless community where stone and wooden houses cluster on terraced hillsides, irrigated by ancient water conduits. Visit the remarkable 11th-century Georgian Barhal Church located on the village’s outskirts. Finally, drive to Yaylalar village and check into a family-run pension, savoring the authentic mountain atmosphere with a warm cup of tea.
Transfer time: 1 hour (Hotel to Istanbul Airport)
Distance: 45–50 km
Transfer time: 3 hours (Erzurum to Yaylalar)
Distance: 190 km
Overnight: Pension in Yaylalar village
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Trek from Olgunlar Village to Dilberduzu Camp (2,840m)
Begin hiking along Buyuk Çay Deresi, accompanied by horses carrying your luggage. Walk approximately 30 minutes to Olgunlar village, then ascend steadily to Dilberduzu campsite. On this route, you may encounter local shepherds tending their flocks in summer. Enjoy the alpine scenery and prepare for the summit climb tomorrow.
Depart early before sunrise for the summit climb. The ascent takes about 9-10 hours and begins with a 2-hour hike to Denizgolu Lake at 3,300m. Continue to the base of the Kaçkar massif, passing a giant glacier on the left. The final hour involves a demanding scramble over sheer rocks to the summit. On a clear day, enjoy panoramic views spanning the entire Kaçkar range and even distant Mount Ararat. Descend back to Dilberduzu camp for rest
Walking time: 9–10 hours
Ascent/Descent: 1,097m
Overnight: Dilberduzu campsite (2,840m)
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Descend to Olgunlar village, passing lush pastures and unique stone-wooden settlements inhabited by nomadic herders. After a scenic break, return to Yaylalar village. Following rest and tea, drive to Kars, a city rich in history that once served as the capital of the Vanand region. If time allows, visit Kars Castle and the Armenian Church of Holy Apostles, along with Russian-influenced Baltic architecture unique in Turkey.
Walking time: 2–3 hours
Ascent: 0m
Descent: 640m
Transfer time: 4 hours
Distance: 250 km (Yaylalar to Kars)
Overnight: Hotel in Kars
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Depart Kars for Dogubeyazit, stopping to explore Ani, the medieval Armenian capital known as the “City of 1001 Churches.” Wander its ruins atop a plateau surrounded by ravines, reflecting its former glory and rich heritage as a Silk Road hub. Later, arrive in Dogubeyazit, gateway to Mount Ararat, a site with layered histories of Armenian, Persian, Roman, Arab, and Byzantine civilizations
Transfer time: 3–4 hours
Distance: 245 km
Overnight: Hotel in Dogubeyazit
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
After breakfast, load camping equipment and drive via Topcatan and Eli villages (2,000m). Trekking begins between 2,000 and 2,400 meters (depending on road conditions) with pack animals carrying luggage; you carry only your daypack. Hike up to Base Camp I established at 3,200m. Enjoy the rugged terrain and the possibility of meeting semi-nomadic shepherd families grazing in the green plateaus.
Walking time: 4 hours
Ascent: approx. 1,200m
Overnight: Ararat Base Camp I (3,200m)
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Ascend gradually to Camp II (High Camp) at 4,200m for acclimatization, stopping at Kum-Kampi (3,700m) for rest. This helps mitigate acute mountain sickness risks. Picnic at Camp II and then descend back to Base Camp I, preparing for the summit push.
Walking time: 5–6 hours
Ascent/Descent: 1,000m
Overnight: Ararat Base Camp I (3,200m)
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Leave Base Camp early to climb to Camp II at 4,200m. Set up tents and rest. Optionally, ascend a bit higher in the afternoon for further acclimatization. Early dinner and rest prepare you for the summit attempt tomorrow.
Walking time: 3–4 hours
Ascent: 1,000m
Overnight: Ararat Camp II (4,200m)
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Start very early (around 2-3 am) after breakfast to ascend Mount Ararat for a sunrise summit experience. The climb involves traversing rocky terrain and reaching a glacier at 4,750m where crampons are fixed. From the summit, on a clear day, enjoy sweeping views including Mt. Damavand (Iran), Elbrus (Caucasus), and Kaçkar Mountains. Descend via Camp II and Base Camp I for overnight rest.
Walking time: 9–10 hours
Ascent: 937m
Descent: 1,937m
Overnight: Ararat Base Camp I (3,200m)
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Descend from Base Camp to Eli village, then drive to Dogubeyazit. Visit the spectacular Ishak Pasha Palace, an 18th-century Ottoman architectural masterpiece and former administrative hub on the Silk Road. After lunch, drive to Van, known as “The Pearl of the East,” rich in history and scenic beauty.
Walking time: 3 hours
Descent: 800–1,200m
Transfer time: 2–3 hours
Distance: 180 km (Dogubeyazit to Van)
Overnight: Hotel in Van
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Travel to Gevaş town and take a short ferry ride to Akdamar Island on Lake Van. Explore the famous 10th-century Holy Cross Armenian Cathedral, renowned for its intricate biblical bas-relief carvings. Return and visit Van Castle, a Urartian fortress overlooking the ancient capital ruins of Tushpa, including the rock tomb of King Argisti I and inscriptions from Xerxes the Great. Evening is free for personal exploration in Van.
Transfer time: 30 minutes (Van to Gevaş one way)
Distance: 45 km
Ferry: 15–20 minutes (one way)
Overnight: Hotel in Van
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
After breakfast, transfer to Van Airport for your onward flight, concluding the tour.
Transfer time: 15 minutes
Distance: 10 km (Van city center to airport)
Meals: Breakfast / – / –
