Military area

Mount Ararat (Greater and Lesser Ararat)

Military area · Türkiye

Other zones: Türkiye Check a route

In short

For visitors: permit in advance, via an agency.

No boundary — routes will not see this zone
Checked against the act on 21 October 2026
Local name: Ağrı Dağı / Küçük Ağrı Dağı

Who may enter, and with what

Rules by group of people, as the source states them, with dates. We give no assessments of our own.

Everyone — permit in advance, via an agency. Climbing Greater and Lesser Ararat requires a permit and is allowed only on set routes from Doğubayazıt. Foreigners obtain the permit through a Turkish travel agency; the mountain is a military zone.Issued by: Climbing permit: Doğubayazıt district governorate (FCDO); foreigners — through a Turkish travel agency (Ministry of Culture and Tourism) or the Foreign Ministry (per press) · Processing time: per press: at least 2 months (protocol); travel agencies say from 30 days · Fee: FCDO: «pay a fee», amount not statedExceptions: Set routes only: Greater Ararat — Doğubayazıt – Topçatan – Eli Çiftliği; Lesser Ararat — the north-western route.
Original wording
Dağcıların çıkışları izne tabi olan Ağrı ve Küçük Ağrı dağlarına tırmanışlarında şu noktalarından hareket etmeleri zorunludur.
Ağrı Governorate (agri.gov.tr) · checked 21 October 2026

Legal basis

Open the text

Questions

Permits and restricted zones — FAQ

Do you need a permit: Mount Ararat (Greater and Lesser Ararat)?

For visitors: permit in advance, via an agency. Climbing Greater and Lesser Ararat requires a permit and is allowed only on set routes from Doğubayazıt. Foreigners obtain the permit through a Turkish travel agency; the mountain is a military zone.

Where do I get the permit?

Issued by: Climbing permit: Doğubayazıt district governorate (FCDO); foreigners — through a Turkish travel agency (Ministry of Culture and Tourism) or the Foreign Ministry (per press). The link to the official application page is in the rule above.

Will the planner see this zone on my route?

No: we have no boundary for this zone, so the planner cannot see it. Check your route against the rule above.

Other zones: Türkiye

Hakkari — areas near the Iraq and Iran borders Temporary special security zones

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