Hiking Around Mount Ararat: The Best Trails

Q: Are there easy walks around Ararat for non-climbers?

Yes, plenty. The valleys around Dou011fubeyazu0131t, the meadows of the lower slopes, and the approach to the meteor crater are all walkable without special fitness or permits. These trails give you the mountain's presence, the shepherd life, and the landscape of the plain in a gentle, beautiful way.

By All Over InformationUpdated August 10, 20267 min read

Hiking around Mount Ararat is a wilderness experience unlike anything else in Turkey. The trails lead through vast, empty landscapes at the foot of the country’s highest mountain, past volcanic rock fields, high meadows, and shepherd camps, all under the constant presence of the great snow peak. This is not a region of waymarked tourist paths; it is a frontier of open country where walking takes you into the heart of the eastern landscape. For anyone who loves real adventure, the trails around Ararat are among the most rewarding in the country.

Why Hike Around Ararat

The trails around Ararat offer something that the crowded western regions of Turkey cannot: absolute solitude. You can walk for hours across the mountain’s flanks and meet only shepherds, their dogs, and the occasional eagle overhead.

The scenery changes constantly, from the green orchards and fields of the plain to the bare volcanic rock of the mountain, from alpine meadows loud with bees to the silent snowfields of the heights. Every direction offers a different view of the great peak itself.

The scale is humbling. Hiking here means moving in the shadow of a mountain that dominates the sky, and the sense of smallness, of walking through a landscape older than anything you know, is part of the appeal. Ararat is not a walk in the park; it is a walk through the bones of the earth.

The Eli Village to Base Camp Trek

The classic walk begins at the village of Eli, the traditional starting point for the mountain, and climbs through the meadows and rock fields of the lower slopes to the base camp that climbers use.

The route is a long, steady ascent on a clear track through the summer pastures, passing the shepherds’ camps where dogs announce your arrival. The views open out behind you, across the plain to the town of Doğubeyazıt and the silhouette of the Ishak Pasha Palace.

Most walkers take the best part of a day to reach the camp, carrying what they need for the night. The camp sits high on the mountain’s flank, a cluster of tents in a stony basin with the summit towering above, and the sunset and the stars from this height are unforgettable.

Mount Ararat, Turkey — Photo by Makalu on Pixabay

The Summit Ascent Route

For the fit and the determined, the summit route is the ultimate Ararat trail. It begins from the base camp in the dark of a summer night, climbing by headlamp over snow and scree toward the ridge.

The route follows the mountain’s long south flank, a sustained grind that gains altitude slowly in the thin air. You pause constantly to breathe and to look down at the lights of the plain far below, then press on as the sky turns from black to grey to gold.

Reaching the summit at sunrise is the reward: the whole of eastern Turkey at your feet, Little Ararat below to the southeast, and on clear days the glint of Lake Van. The descent is long and tiring, and the trail is not technical, but it is a serious mountain day that demands respect.

The Doğubeyazıt Valley Walks

For travellers who want to walk without the altitude, the valleys around Doğubeyazıt offer gentle and beautiful trails with the mountain always in view. These are the walks that most visitors to the region can enjoy.

A classic route runs from the town toward the old castle rock and the valley below the palace, threading through orchards and fields with views of the great snow peak rising beyond. The walking is easy, the local life is all around, and the light at the end of the day is magnificent.

These valley walks suit families and anyone who simply wants to stretch their legs in the mountain’s presence. They require no permit, no guide, and no special fitness, and they show the softer face of the Ararat region.

The Meteor Crater Trail

One of the most unusual walks in the region leads to the great meteor crater that lies in the hills southwest of Doğubeyazıt. It is a strange and dramatic landscape that few travellers visit.

The walk crosses open steppe and rocky ground before reaching the rim of the crater, a vast depression in the earth that looks almost lunar. From the rim you look down into a bowl of stone, with the peaks of the region on every horizon.

The approach is rough and unmarked, so the walk suits people with a map and a sense of adventure, or it can be combined with a local driver. The reward is a landscape that feels like another planet, barely changed since the day the meteor struck.

The Little Ararat Trek

Little Ararat, the smaller companion peak, offers a quieter and more manageable mountain walk than its great neighbour. The ascent is long and steep but non-technical, and it is done with a guide and a permit.

The trail climbs through barren volcanic country, with the great peak of Ararat rising beside you for the whole day. The summit of Little Ararat gives extraordinary views across to the big mountain and down to the plains of the Ararat region and beyond.

Fewer climbers attempt the little peak, so you may have its slopes almost to yourself. For hikers who want a true summit without the full expedition of the main mountain, Little Ararat is the perfect challenge.

The Highland Meadow Walks

In high summer, when the snow retreats, the mountain’s upper meadows become a world of green, and the shepherd trails that cross them make wonderful high-country walking.

You follow tracks between the summer camps, where families live in tents and stone shelters with their flocks, and where tea is offered with a generosity that is part of the region’s character. The meadows are full of wildflowers, butterflies, and the sound of water running off the snow.

These walks sit at a moderate altitude and can be done as long day trips from the villages. They offer the beauty of the high mountain without the commitment of a summit climb, and they are the best way to meet the people who live in Ararat’s shadow.

What the Trails Are Like

The trails around Ararat are wild and largely unmarked, so a map, a guide, or both are part of the equipment. The lower walks follow tracks and shepherd paths; the higher routes are climbs over rock, scree, and snow.

Altitude is the defining factor. Above the camp, the air is thin, the pace slows, and the sun is intense, while the nights are cold even in summer. The terrain underfoot is volcanic and rough, and sturdy boots are essential.

Water is scarce on the upper mountain, and springs and streams appear only where the snow melts, so carrying plenty is part of the plan. In every other way the trails are straightforward; their challenge is distance, height, and exposure rather than technical difficulty.

When to Hike and How to Prepare

The hiking season runs from June to September, with July and August the most reliable months for the high routes. Outside this window, snow and storms close the mountain to all but the most experienced.

Preparation is a matter of fitness and gear. Train with long uphill walks before you come, break in your boots, and carry warm layers, sun protection, and a good headlamp for the early starts. Your guide will handle the permits, the camp, and the food.

Respect the mountain’s rules: the permit and guide requirements exist for your safety, and the authorities take them seriously. With proper preparation, the Ararat trails are achievable for anyone of reasonable fitness, and the experience stays with you for life.

A final note on equipment: a daypack with water, food, a spare layer, and your own snacks keeps you independent on every route, and a camera with spare batteries is essential, because the light on Ararat will not stop offering pictures. Cash helps at the shepherd camps, where a cup of tea or a glass of milk is often the best reward of the day.

Combining the Trails

The region rewards a stay of several days, and the trails combine naturally. Many visitors begin with the easy valley walks and the crater, acclimatising in the mountain’s presence before attempting the base camp or a summit.

A common programme runs like this: a day for the valley and palace walks, a day for the crater, then the base camp trek, and finally the summit ascent before dawn. The shepherd meadow walks fill the rest days, and Doğubeyazıt makes a comfortable base throughout.

Guided multi-day treks are the standard way to combine the routes, and local operators tailor them to your fitness and your time. However you assemble it, a few days of walking around Ararat turns a famous mountain into a personal wilderness story.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a guide to hike on Mount Ararat?

For the mountain itself, yes. Climbing Ararat requires a permit and a licensed guide, and the high routes should never be attempted alone. For the easy valley walks around Doğubeyazıt and the lower foothills, no guide is needed, and those trails are open to everyone.

How fit do you need to be for the Ararat trails?

The easy valley and meadow walks require only ordinary fitness. The base camp trek needs a full day of steady uphill walking, and the summit ascent demands serious stamina at altitude, with several hours of continuous climbing and descending. Training with long walks in the months before is the best preparation.

Are there easy walks around Ararat for non-climbers?

Yes, plenty. The valleys around Doğubeyazıt, the meadows of the lower slopes, and the approach to the meteor crater are all walkable without special fitness or permits. These trails give you the mountain’s presence, the shepherd life, and the landscape of the plain in a gentle, beautiful way.

All Over Information

The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.