Mount Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey at 5,137 metres and one of the most symbolically loaded mountains in the world — Noah's Ark, according to the Book of Genesis, came to rest on its slopes after the flood receded. Expeditions have been searching for the Ark for centuries without finding anything convincing, but the mountain retains its mythic status regardless. For Armenians, Ararat is the national symbol, visible on the coat of arms, even though the mountain itself has been inside Turkey since 1921.
The standard ascent takes four to five days from Dogubeyazit via the southern face. The route passes through alpine meadows, then volcanic rock and glacier to the summit cone. A permit is required, obtainable only through licensed operators. The climbing season runs from June to September; July and August are the busiest months. Dogubeyazit is the assembly point for most expeditions, with guides, pack horses, and equipment available in town.
Even for non-climbers, the mountain is the defining presence in Dogubeyazit — visible from the town, from Ishak Pasha Palace, and from the plains for miles around, its twin peaks (Greater and Lesser Ararat) shifting colour from dawn to dusk.