In the Genesis account, Noah first saw mountain tops after the Flood waters receded.
Genesis 8:5 says that on the first day of the tenth month, the tops of the mountains became visible. This occurs after the ark has come to rest and after the waters continue to decrease. The passage does not say that Noah immediately saw a specific mountain or a populated settlement.
The next stages involve waiting, opening the ark’s window, and releasing birds to test whether the ground has dried. Thus, the appearance of the mountain tops is an early sign of receding water, not the conclusion of the process.
Readers sometimes blend this verse with the later mention of the mountains of Ararat, where the ark rests. Genesis 8:4 names the resting region; Genesis 8:5 describes the later visibility of mountain tops.