Ararat is located in eastern Turkey near the Russian and Iranian borders. As the crow flies, it is about 250 kilometers east of Erzurum, 130 kilometers southeast of Kars, and 160 kilometers north of Van. The main road between Turkey and Iran goes from Erzurum through Doğubayazıt (just south of Ararat) to Tabriz. The summit of Mt. Ararat is 5,165 meters above sea level. It is higher than any mountain in the continental United States except for Alaska or in Europe outside the Caucasus.
Ararat is a dormant volcano; the last eruption was on June 2, 1840. At present the upper third of the mountain is constantly covered with snow; the last hundred meters or so around the top has turned to ice. For climbers on the mountain, fresh running water is available after the sun has been up a while to melt the snow, but it is cut off in the late afternoon when cold air has overcome the heat of the sun. Below the snow the slopes are covered with great blocks of black basalt rock some as large as village houses.
Over the years various groups have explored Ararat in the hopes of finding remains of Noah’s ark. Both Josephus in about 70 A.D. and Marco Polo about 1300 AD. mention its existence on the mountain, but their reports are based on others’ accounts. Josephus remarks that its remains are on display for all to see without need of an organized exploration. In more recent years many groups have hunted for it there. The possibility that ancient fables are historical fact is intriguing, and each new discovery of previously discredited records gives additional strength to continuing the search for archeo-logical confirmation.
However, the problems of establishing exactly what the biblical record in this case means are serious ones that need to be settled even before one accepts this particular high mountain as the right place to look for the ark. (In itself even that ignores the possibility that Noah and his family used up the ark in bits and pieces to build their new homes a fate that has destroyed many other famous structures in the Near East since.)
The story of Noah’s ark, as it is told In the Bible, is a reworking of an earlier Babylonian myth recorded in the Gilgamesh Epic The hero of the earlier version is one Utnapishtim, the favorite of the god Ea. It seems probable that the Babylonian story was based on an unusually devastating flood In the Euphrates River basin, and that the ark in it grounded on the slopes of one of the Zagros mountains. The biblical word that we read as “Ararat” could as well be read “Urartu”: the text has merely “rrt” and the proper vowels must be supplied. Urartu was the name of a historical kingdom, but the word also meant “a land far away” and “a place in the north”. So, while Büyük Ağrı Dağı Is a spectacular mountain and not a difficult one to climb for those experienced in high altitude exercise, it still seems less than likely that Noah’s ark will be found there. That doubt does not detract from the continuing interest in it, nor from the Important achievements of archeologists in deepening our understanding of the Old Testament.
On the north side, Ararat has its roots in the Araxes (Aras) River valley. There it rises from the valley elevation of about 760 meters above sea level. In that area the Aras River is the border demarcation between Turkey and Russia. The top of the mountain is only about 30 kilometers from the border. For some years both the Turkish and the Soviet governments have been touchy about foreigners exploring on Ararat because of military security precautions. Therefore it is difficult to get permission to elimb it.
If one has that permission, it is best to plan the trip starting from Doğubayazıt on the south. The south side is nearly 1,980 meters above the sea, a saving of more than a kilometer in climbing. One can start from Doğubayazıt by jeep or sturdy station wagon, travelling across the valley to the base of the mountain where local guides (who must be engaged beforehand) will meet the party. The average person can make the climb in three days, but it is better to plan four days to allow for exploration of the top. Late August is the best season.
Mountains of Ararat as seen from Yerevan
Mountains of Ararat,
Mt. Ararat is a dormant volcano located in between Doğubayazıt and Iğdır, near the border with Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Many people already had made an expedition on its summit which is located 16kms west of Iran and 32kms south of the Armenian border. Biblical accounts narrates that this is the place where Noah's Ark came to rest.
The mountain…
I did a tour in Turkey which finished with a climb of Ararat. You are mini-bused in from Dogubeyazit to the start point which takes about an hour and along some very bumpy and uncomfortable roads and tracks. At the start point the local crew meets you and the bags are loaded onto donkeys to be carried up to base…
A unique experience to climb Turkey's highest summit, and one of the worlds rare beauty spots, in a culturally fascinating region. This is a challenging but truly rewarding and unforgetable experience, we would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys hiking and achieving a summit. Our trip was organised by local (Van based), family run company Eastern Turkey Tours, who we…
Accomondation in Dogubeyazit at Hotel Sim-er near the biblical Mount Ararat.
It is nice to have breakfast under Ararat.
An amazing experience of climbing the Great Mount of Ararat, Turkey's highest mountain, and the final resting place for Noah's Ark!
Mt. Ararat, the extinct volcano with a height of 5,137 meters, is a rewarding experience for adventurers in beautiful South-East Turkey. The actual Mount Ararat trek takes 5 days, with 4 nights camping on the slopes of the mountain….
Mount Ararat is in eastern Turkey. Its summit is 5137m and is snow-cover all year. Climbing permits and a licensed guide are required to climb. The standard trek is 3 nights on Ararat, including acclimatization. The climbing season is June-September. June can be rainy. July and August are best. Spring skiing is in March and April.
It was excellent choice to go to Hotel Ararat and to climb Mount Ararat with Tamzara in Dogubeyazit (Director of Dogubeyazit office is Mustafa Arsin) The whole staffs are really nice and very experienced professionals. I really appreciate their wonderful hospitality and innocent warmheartedness, great service and helps whenever I needed something on the mountain always. I want to go…
From my experience. Do not be in a hurry and take your time enjoying nomads hospitality and breathtaking views. Go for a real altitude acclimatization and feel like in expedition. Perhaps you´ll be rewarded with the summit if not the mountain will remain there just waiting for you.
We were in Dogubeyzit at Hotel Ararat for our Mt. Ararat Tour. We used Tamzara Tours for coordination and guides. What an amazing time! We were treated like honored guests. Hopefully we will return someday!