Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat

The scrappy frontier town of Dogubeyazit (doh-oo-bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous mountain, the majestic Mt. Ararat (Agri Dagi). Not far from the Iranian border, the place seems neglected, if not downright forgotten, with dusty streets and crumbling buildings. But the pace here is laid-back and the locals are friendly. You'll share the town with sheep and Iranian travelers bringing in contraband cigarettes and other cheap goods from Iran. There aren't too many carpet and kilim shops here compared to tourist spots in western Turkey, so you can wander the main street, Çarsi Caddesi, without being bothered too much. A day is probably enough time to spend here, catching an early visit to the sites around Mt. Ararat and then the Ishak Pasa Saray at sunset.