Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

The acclimatization program will get your body prepared to temperature, altitude, and environment.

The acclimatization program is intended to help adventurers adapt to the higher altitude. Especially if he/she  lives in places on the sea level or less than 1,000meters above the sea level. You will arrive at the first base camp with an altitude of 2,770m above the sea level. Here you will relax, rest for that day and sleep in that altitude to get your body prepared for the climb for the following days.

You will get your body prepared for the climb ahead.  Cause the ascending will continue to 5,610 meters. By taking the program you are getting your body adapted to the surrounding environment.

The season for ascending mount Damavand is the beginning of April till end of August. During these months you will have a greater chance of reaching the summit.

In all the 4 season’s you can try to ascend to the summit, but if you wish you ascend to the summit, your body really needs to be fit, carry professional gear, clothe, and lots of experience in ascending for you and the team members specially during the winter season.

Due to the snowy weather conditions in winter and lack of mule in the region, and frozen ice on the floor, unpredictability of the weather, and large volume of equipment’s that need to be transported,  Adventure Iran will not run the Damavand tour in the Winter seasons.

The route is predefined by the agency but we may alter the route for agencies and individual groups. Due to the higher costs that are involved with operating the tour, most customer’s go for predefined path provided by Adventure Iran.

When ascending Mount Damavand, since you will be carrying one days pack (back pack),  you wont need to be very fit  for the first two days. But the most difficult part will be on the third day of the ascend, which will be from Bargah Sevom to the summit and returning from there.

Please Note: The general time for the ascend from Bargah Sevom towards the summit will be 6-7 hours and returning from the summit to Bargah Sevom 3-4 hours.

For the adventure travelers that have a mid-level of fitness have better chance of reaching the summit.

One of the most  popular reasons that many travelers coming from different parts of the world that take the acclimatization program is to get their body ready for the fourth day of ascend. The traveler gets his/her body more time to gradually pace his body to the altitude. This acclimatization program is recommended for people that live close to the sea level .

It will indeed help travelers coming from sea level locations. This acclimatization program will be done in another mountain called Koloon Bastak.

This Mount Damavand can be done with ONLY one person. But kindly bear in mind that this will increase the price dramatically.

We provide weekly departures for Mount Damavand. Maximum group size is of 12 person’s.

If the required number of people hasn’t been reached, Adventure Iran has the right to cancel or set it up in another specified departure. The traveler’s will be informed one month before the due of any foreseeable cancellation.

The south face trekking route is safe and comes with low inclines and there is no need for ropes or crampons.  You won’t be passing through frozen snow or passing through edge of cliffs.

What type of shoes will I need for Mount Damavand ascending towards the summit?

One of the most important items on this tour, is your shoes. Your shoes should have the following requirements:

• It should cover your ankle.
• It should be water resistant.
• The shoes layers should be breathable.

During the summer, trekking shoes and back packing should suffice (should be sufficient)

Due to the unpredictable weather conditions that may arise on the way to the summit.  You will need the following:

• Warm shirts
• Polar coats
• Gore-Tex coats
• Light fur coat
• Hand gloves
• Sun glasses UV (ultra violet) protection
• Wraparound sun glasses (wind protection)
• Polar caps
• Minimum two pairs of winter  socks
• Base layer pants and shirts
• Flees or polar hat

It will include the following:

• Edible foods
• Drinking water
• Light drinks
• Tent and camping equipment
• Cooking equipment
• First aid kit

The shelter in Bargah Sevom comes with four private rooms and a common room. But due to the high requests in the summer, most of the time we will camp out.

After 5,300m you will smell the sulfur gases but it’s not enough to cause health problems.  If you desire you can use masks or cover your mouth using clothe.

• Trekking poles
• Sun Block SPF min 30
• Bag pack 35-45 liter’s

Adventure Iran provides all of the meals,  and water for the journey. But if the travelers decide to brings along snack or mineral water he can if he wants/wishes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The tour guide has the right to change, alter or cancel the trip due to weather conditions.
Due to the unpredictability of weather conditions, the program may get extended (the extra costs associated to, night stay, guides expense, and food) is NOT included.
Due to the high altitudes that the traveler faces, he/she must inform Adventure Iran of ANY health problems they have.

There aren’t any water fountains to drink or have a fill-up on the way.  You will have access to water between the second (Gusfand Sara) to the third camp ( Bargah Sevom).  On the third camp (Gusfand Sara) you can buy mineral water. There you will a water spring, which is reserved for cleaning which may not be suitable for drinking.

The Damavand Mountain is a volcanic conical mountain with sixteen crests to reach the summit. But out of the sixteen crests, only four of the crests have safe haven or shelters. Out of the four crests ONLY two of the crests have support to the ascenders. The southern crest passes through Polur village, and the path for the Northern crests will be passing through the southern crest.  Thus the path for the southern crests is the most commonly used route and chosen for its fewer gradients for trekking which makes it the ideal choice to ascending to the summit. The south ascending summit you will face less obstacles or large inclines and having access to shelter in 4,250 meters.

Adventure Iran is in charge of handling any permission required for Mount Damavand ascends.

One of the most important items on this tour, is your shoes. Your shoes should have the following requirements:

• It should cover your ankle.
• It should be water resistant.
• The shoes layers should be breathable.?!?!!

During the summer, trekking shoes and back packing should suffice (should be sufficient).

Adventure Iran provides sleeping bags, utensils and tents. The required items to carry along is mentioned in the “what to bring” in every tour package tab column.

A briefing will take place usually one day before the trip. You will be notified for the exact time and place.

The pick-up time will be at 06:00AM on the departure date. If there is any change in the itinerary you will be notified in advance.

Foreign people ATM’s cards from their own country (inclusive Visa, master cards) will not work by the ATM machines in Iran. You can bring the desired amount with you to Iran. The Airport and hotels are good places where you can exchange your currency.

Further information regarding the Alamut trip will be available on the “itinerary” tab on the designated tour.

You will pay the remainder of the cash during our briefing session or in our office.

Spring (March-May)

Summer (June-August)

Fall/Autumn (September-November)

Winter (December-February)

The “backpacking Alamut trek, Garmarud to Yuj” you will be picked up from Tehran and dropped off in Tehran or Tonekabon.

The “trekking from Alamut toward the Caspian and exploring coastal villages” the pickup will be from Tehran and drop off points will be back to Tehran or Tonekabon.

The” Valley of Assassins , trekking through Alborz to the Caspian sea, Masuleh and Rasht”. The pickup point will be from Tehran and the drop-off point will be back in Tehran or Rasht.

You can keep your suitcase in the hotel where you are staying at. They have luggage storage where you can keep your none essential items like suitcase.

Visa will be granted by the Iranian Embassy for 30 days which can be extended to a maximum duration of 90 days.

Kindly look at the hyperlink for a list of Iranian embassy/consulate closest where you reside.  Kindly bear in mind that once you decide upon the location of the pickup of your Iranian Visa stamp. This location cannot be changed.

Adventure Iran accepts ONLY USD and EURO’s.

You can exchange your currency when you  arrive in in Tehran at the Imam Khomaini airport (IKA).

The hotel can also exchange your currency to Iranian Rials but in the lower rate.

We can arrange hotels for the travelers coming to Iran. Travelers are permitted to upgrade their hotel if required. Costs will apply depending on the tour

For bus ticket we can help you to reserve it, it’s not difficult and you can reserve it when you arrive in Tehran.

What is the temperature during that period of time? Average daytime and night time temperature.

During the night the weather will reach below -0 °C. During the day time the coldest will be 5-7 °C

We will provide a vehicle service to pick you up from the designated locations. Please notify us in advanced to pick you guys up from the hotel. The time of the pick-up will be mentioned in the itinerary after final booking and down payment.

Each person can carry around 25-30 Kg’s per person on the flights. On the trip each person can bring along a bag with 15 kg’s per person. It is advised that you do not carry a suitcase. It is advised that you carry an overnight bag or duffel bag for the trip. Extra luggage can be kept in your Hotel storage compartment. If you will be joining us on the day of the trip, you may keep your luggage in our storage office.

For each tour we have assigned a tap called “what to bring” for the designated trip.

After making your reservation, kindly have a look at the hyperlink for more information. Please send us a copy of your down payment once you make the deposit.

It is included in your tour package. You may bring your tenting equipment if you want.

Kindly click on the reserve button and fill out the details completely.

• We can only apply for Agencies, tour agencies and adventurers that book their whole trip with us. For the visa reference number procedure please look at the hyperlink for more information.
• For those members that fit the above criteria, kindly fill out the application form completely and make sure you leave nothing behind. Please attach a copy of your passport page; the file size should not exceed 100KB’s.
• If you have travelled to Iran previously, kindly mention the exact date.
• Necessary documents needed for Visa stamp. Kindly have a look at the hyperlink for more information. You can also double check by visiting the Iranian embassy/consulate of the desired country for the necessary documents.
• For ABC nationals (American, British, and Canadian) we will have to arrange a specific guide ONLY from the Iranian tourism board from the point of entry to Iran until the departure date. This will increase the price of the tour. Kindly have a look at the hyperlink for more information.

Iran is one of the most amazing destinations for MOUNTAIN BIKING in Asia and is one of the countries where you can do cycling and mountain biking year round. Depending on your interests and the level of your experience you will have a wide range of options, cycling in the desert, mountain biking in high altitude mountains, crossing national parks and protected areas, cycling through the Silk Road and staying in the amazing renovated caravanserais along visiting Iran UNESCO sites are among the many destinations that our company covers. We have created a lot of articles, videos and a stocked up Photo Gallery in our web site and we recommend that you check it for more information.

There is no definite answer for this question because there are a lot of factors involved in this answer. The short answer is that April and May are perfect for Iran first timers and those who would like to combine their cycling holiday with cultural and historical tours. Also October and May would be another choice for the above group. For those who have already visited Iran before and would like to only come to Iran for a cycling holiday the answer is that the entire year is the best season. For example, winter is one of the low seasons of Iran for mass tourism but for those who are interested in off the beaten track cycling, winter is the best season for it in Iran. Cycling through the coast of the Persian Gulf or our cycling tour in Sistan and Baluchistan are one of the most amazing cycling tours in Iran. We wrote a couple of valuable articles in our BLOG like CYCLING IN IRAN, MOUNTAIN BIKING IN IRAN, 10 BEST CYCLING ROUTES IN IRAN, BEST TIME OF CYCLING IN IRAN, NORTH TEHRAN MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CENTRAL ALBORZ MOUNTAINS, 11 BEST MOUNTAIN BIKING DESTINATIONS IN IRAN, BEST MONTH OF MOUNTAIN BIKING IN IRAN and you can contact us for more information regarding your cycling holiday in Iran.

In Iran many people do cycle touring and different types of mountain biking like cross country, all mountains, downhill and single track mountain biking. They do it mostly during Iran’s weekends, which are Thursday and Friday. Also during Iran national holiday, there are a few Iranian clubs that have fixed departure mountain biking tours in Iran.

Yes, for sure you can bring your bicycle to Iran. Many of our clients bring their own bikes for their long holiday and some of them who would like to continue their trip to another destination or come here for a cultural tour and only do a few days of cycling, usually don’t bring their own mountain bikes with them.

AdventureIran offers different types of bicycles for rent. We offer hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes. Also we have a few bicycles which are proper for desert or road cycling. For more information, please check this link: IRAN BICYCLE RENTAL

We have nearly all of the bicycle equipment and parts that you may require. Different sizes of tire, tube and body are available in our storage in Lavasan. Also we have Gel saddles along with our general mountain bike saddles, Shimano SBD Pedal, extra crank arms and crank set, different sizes of helmets, flat tire kits and pumps. If you are curious about a specific part, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Most of the bikes are new and our bicycle engineer maintains all of the bikes after each trip and the bikes are in very good condition.

All of the AdventureIran Rental bikes come with one helmet, water bottle, one tube flat rite kits with a small flat tire bicycle bag.

We offer from XS up to XXL sizes.

We also have another storage in the south of Tehran and a few of our bicycles are stored in the capital. If you require a special bike like full suspension bikes, please inform us in advance and we will arrange a transfer to Tehran.

Please send your inquiry and we will reply to you accordingly.

We offer the finest type of mountain biking tours to our clients. Our mountain biking tours are seasonal and each one of our tours goes to a special region of Iran.

Most of our mountain bike guides are Bike coaches and they are professional mountain bikers as well. Also most of them speak English very well so no worries there.

In Iran there are some Cyclers who are multilingual but unfortunately, they are not tour guides. At this moment we only have a German speaking guide among our staff. For most of our trips that we perform for travel companies, we send a cultural guide along with the tour. If you are a travel company or group, please get in touch for more details

AdventureIran has its own vehicles for transportation. We have jeeps that are designed for our mountain biking tours, with special roof carriers for bicycles. Please have a look at the photo gallery of our MOUNTAIN BIKING LOGISTICS AND OPERATION to have a better picture of how we operate the cycling tours.

Legally you can cycle in all cities of Iran, but in some of them like Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan, and Mashhad we don’t recommend cycling on the streets as they are very crowded and dangerous, especially when you don’t have a cycling guide.

For sure women can cycle in Iran, there is no limitation for it. If you check some of our cycling tours photos in the photo gallery of the web site, you will see that actually most of our customers are women.

For men they can wear what they wear in their country. They can wear shorts as well but we recommend it to be at least above knee and not too short. For ladies, they should cover their hands and legs as well as their hair. This is especially necessary when you are in the society in towns, villages or rural areas. Please check a couple of our cycling tour videos to have a better understanding of the clothes you can wear for traveling to Iran. For more information, please have a look at the below LINK:

The Dress code

Depending on the region of the cycling, we use different types of accommodation for our trips. We mostly use good quality tourist hotels in main cities. If we have a traditional hotel, boutique hotel or renovated caravanserai available in those cities we try to book the best possible one for our tours. In small towns we use the best available hotel. In villages we use Persian traditional guest houses or boutique hotels.

Not only our cycling tour but also all of our tours are done with a small group of people with the Average size being between 4-8 people.

Our cycling tours can be booked like any other tour. Please check the HOW TO BOOK page to find out what is the requirement for your upcoming trip. The only difference is that if you would like to hire a bicycle along your trip, we will send a form after your booking to reserve a suitable mountain bike for your liking.

Yes, it’s possible to have a cycling tour in Iran. As the above ABC group cannot travel to Iran individually and they should book a tour accompanied by a guide and according to their travel itinerary they can travel to Iran for cycling. For more information, please check this link https://www.adventureiran.com/about-iran/iran-travel-visa/american-british-canadian/

Note: Getting a visa for American cyclists is the hardest among the mentioned three. They have some restrictions for traveling in remote areas or mountains. Their travel itinerary should consist of cycling through cities or urban destinations. If you have any questions or inquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Adventure Iran provides sleeping bags, utensils and tents. The required items to carry along is mentioned in the “what to bring” in every tour package tab column.

A briefing will take place usually one day before the trip. You will be notified for the exact time and place.

The pick-up time will be at 06:00AM on the departure date. If there is any change in the itinerary you will be notified in advance.

Foreign people ATM’s cards from their own country (inclusive Visa, master cards) will not work by the ATM machines in Iran. You can bring the desired amount with you to Iran. The Airport and hotels are good places where you can exchange your currency.

Further information regarding the Alamut trip will be available on the “itinerary” tab on the designated tour.

You will pay the remainder of the cash during our briefing session or in our office.

Spring (March-May)

Summer (June-August)

Fall/Autumn (September-November)

Winter (December-February)

The “backpacking Alamut trek, Garmarud to Yuj” you will be picked up from Tehran and dropped off in Tehran or Tonekabon.

The “trekking from Alamut toward the Caspian and exploring coastal villages” the pickup will be from Tehran and drop off points will be back to Tehran or Tonekabon.

The” Valley of Assassins , trekking through Alborz to the Caspian sea, Masuleh and Rasht”. The pickup point will be from Tehran and the drop-off point will be back in Tehran or Rasht.

You can keep your suitcase in the hotel where you are staying at. They have luggage storage where you can keep your none essential items like suitcase.

Visa will be granted by the Iranian Embassy for 30 days which can be extended to a maximum duration of 90 days.

Kindly look at the hyperlink for a list of Iranian embassy/consulate closest where you reside.  Kindly bear in mind that once you decide upon the location of the pickup of your Iranian Visa stamp. This location cannot be changed.

Adventure Iran accepts ONLY USD and EURO’s.

The acclimatization program will get your body prepared to temperature, altitude, and environment.

The acclimatization program is intended to help adventurers adapt to the higher altitude. Especially if he/she  lives in places on the sea level or less than 1,000meters above the sea level. You will arrive at the first base camp with an altitude of 2,770m above the sea level. Here you will relax, rest for that day and sleep in that altitude to get your body prepared for the climb for the following days.

You will get your body prepared for the climb ahead.  Cause the ascending will continue to 5,610 meters. By taking the program you are getting your body adapted to the surrounding environment.

The season for ascending mount Damavand is the beginning of April till end of August. During these months you will have a greater chance of reaching the summit.

In all the 4 season’s you can try to ascend to the summit, but if you wish you ascend to the summit, your body really needs to be fit, carry professional gear, clothe, and lots of experience in ascending for you and the team members specially during the winter season.

Due to the snowy weather conditions in winter and lack of mule in the region, and frozen ice on the floor, unpredictability of the weather, and large volume of equipment’s that need to be transported,  Adventure Iran will not run the Damavand tour in the Winter seasons.

The route is predefined by the agency but we may alter the route for agencies and individual groups. Due to the higher costs that are involved with operating the tour, most customer’s go for predefined path provided by Adventure Iran.

When ascending Mount Damavand, since you will be carrying one days pack (back pack),  you wont need to be very fit  for the first two days. But the most difficult part will be on the third day of the ascend, which will be from Bargah Sevom to the summit and returning from there.

Please Note: The general time for the ascend from Bargah Sevom towards the summit will be 6-7 hours and returning from the summit to Bargah Sevom 3-4 hours.

For the adventure travelers that have a mid-level of fitness have better chance of reaching the summit.

One of the most  popular reasons that many travelers coming from different parts of the world that take the acclimatization program is to get their body ready for the fourth day of ascend. The traveler gets his/her body more time to gradually pace his body to the altitude. This acclimatization program is recommended for people that live close to the sea level .

It will indeed help travelers coming from sea level locations. This acclimatization program will be done in another mountain called Koloon Bastak.

This Mount Damavand can be done with ONLY one person. But kindly bear in mind that this will increase the price dramatically.

We provide weekly departures for Mount Damavand. Maximum group size is of 12 person’s.

If the required number of people hasn’t been reached, Adventure Iran has the right to cancel or set it up in another specified departure. The traveler’s will be informed one month before the due of any foreseeable cancellation.

Due to the unpredictable weather conditions that may arise on the way to the summit.  You will need the following:

• Warm shirts
• Polar coats
• Gore-Tex coats
• Light fur coat
• Hand gloves
• Sun glasses UV (ultra violet) protection
• Wraparound sun glasses (wind protection)
• Polar caps
• Minimum two pairs of winter  socks
• Base layer pants and shirts
• Flees or polar hat

The south face trekking route is safe and comes with low inclines and there is no need for ropes or crampons.  You won’t be passing through frozen snow or passing through edge of cliffs.

What type of shoes will I need for Mount Damavand ascending towards the summit?

One of the most important items on this tour, is your shoes. Your shoes should have the following requirements:

• It should cover your ankle.
• It should be water resistant.
• The shoes layers should be breathable.

During the summer, trekking shoes and back packing should suffice (should be sufficient)

It will include the following:

• Edible foods
• Drinking water
• Light drinks
• Tent and camping equipment
• Cooking equipment
• First aid kit

The shelter in Bargah Sevom comes with four private rooms and a common room. But due to the high requests in the summer, most of the time we will camp out.

After 5,300m you will smell the sulfur gases but it’s not enough to cause health problems.  If you desire you can use masks or cover your mouth using clothe.

• Trekking poles
• Sun Block SPF min 30
• Bag pack 35-45 liter’s

Adventure Iran provides all of the meals,  and water for the journey. But if the travelers decide to brings along snack or mineral water he can if he wants/wishes.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The tour guide has the right to change, alter or cancel the trip due to weather conditions.
Due to the unpredictability of weather conditions, the program may get extended (the extra costs associated to, night stay, guides expense, and food) is NOT included.
Due to the high altitudes that the traveler faces, he/she must inform Adventure Iran of ANY health problems they have.

There aren’t any water fountains to drink or have a fill-up on the way.  You will have access to water between the second (Gusfand Sara) to the third camp ( Bargah Sevom).  On the third camp (Gusfand Sara) you can buy mineral water. There you will a water spring, which is reserved for cleaning which may not be suitable for drinking.

The Damavand Mountain is a volcanic conical mountain with sixteen crests to reach the summit. But out of the sixteen crests, only four of the crests have safe haven or shelters. Out of the four crests ONLY two of the crests have support to the ascenders. The southern crest passes through Polur village, and the path for the Northern crests will be passing through the southern crest.  Thus the path for the southern crests is the most commonly used route and chosen for its fewer gradients for trekking which makes it the ideal choice to ascending to the summit. The south ascending summit you will face less obstacles or large inclines and having access to shelter in 4,250 meters.

Adventure Iran is in charge of handling any permission required for Mount Damavand ascends.

One of the most important items on this tour, is your shoes. Your shoes should have the following requirements:

• It should cover your ankle.
• It should be water resistant.
• The shoes layers should be breathable.?!?!!

During the summer, trekking shoes and back packing should suffice (should be sufficient).

You can exchange your currency when you  arrive in in Tehran at the Imam Khomaini airport (IKA).

The hotel can also exchange your currency to Iranian Rials but in the lower rate.

We can arrange hotels for the travelers coming to Iran. Travelers are permitted to upgrade their hotel if required. Costs will apply depending on the tour

For bus ticket we can help you to reserve it, it’s not difficult and you can reserve it when you arrive in Tehran.

What is the temperature during that period of time? Average daytime and night time temperature.

During the night the weather will reach below -0 °C. During the day time the coldest will be 5-7 °C

We will provide a vehicle service to pick you up from the designated locations. Please notify us in advanced to pick you guys up from the hotel. The time of the pick-up will be mentioned in the itinerary after final booking and down payment.

Each person can carry around 25-30 Kg’s per person on the flights. On the trip each person can bring along a bag with 15 kg’s per person. It is advised that you do not carry a suitcase. It is advised that you carry an overnight bag or duffel bag for the trip. Extra luggage can be kept in your Hotel storage compartment. If you will be joining us on the day of the trip, you may keep your luggage in our storage office.

For each tour we have assigned a tap called “what to bring” for the designated trip.

After making your reservation, kindly have a look at the hyperlink for more information. Please send us a copy of your down payment once you make the deposit.

It is included in your tour package. You may bring your tenting equipment if you want.

Kindly click on the reserve button and fill out the details completely.

• We can only apply for Agencies, tour agencies and adventurers that book their whole trip with us. For the visa reference number procedure please look at the hyperlink for more information.
• For those members that fit the above criteria, kindly fill out the application form completely and make sure you leave nothing behind. Please attach a copy of your passport page; the file size should not exceed 100KB’s.
• If you have travelled to Iran previously, kindly mention the exact date.
• Necessary documents needed for Visa stamp. Kindly have a look at the hyperlink for more information. You can also double check by visiting the Iranian embassy/consulate of the desired country for the necessary documents.
• For ABC nationals (American, British, and Canadian) we will have to arrange a specific guide ONLY from the Iranian tourism board from the point of entry to Iran until the departure date. This will increase the price of the tour. Kindly have a look at the hyperlink for more information.

Like all women in Iran aged nine and older female travellers will need to respect the Iranian dress code for women (hijab) while travelling in Iran. Some Iranian women wear long black chador, but it’s not mandatory. Women need to cover their hair, arms and legs.  Female tourists who don’t comply with the dress code may be refused entry into the country. Bring long and loosely cut clothes and if you want to look less like a tourist, shop for a manteau (an overcoat up to your knees) once you arrive. Your scarf or shawl can be colourful. You will see that many women in Iran might prefer to wear black because it is more formal, especially on working days. A special dress code applies in Iran. A light-weight long dress and a head scarf are recommended for women and long trousers for men.

There is no control over dress in remote areas where there are no checks in force. As the most of our tours pass through villages, we respect the locals and will advise to do so in public areas.  Women should wear what they would ordinarily for trekking with the exception of shorts which are prohibited. It is recommended for women to bring buffs which can be worn around the neck and then pulled up over the head to cover the hair should the need arise such as entering a village (see picture).

According to Iran’s Islamic law alcohol is prohibited in Iran. Alcohol is not available in shops and restaurants.

No, Iranian food is delicately flavoured with herbs and mild spices such as saffron and turmeric (see section on About Iran on ‘Cuisine’). LINK It is not hot and spicy in the sense that Indian food can be.

Iran has about 13 ski resort in different region of Iran.

There are Dizin, Darbandsar, Shemshak, Pooladkaf, Fereydoonshahr, Khoshakoo, Kakan, Alvars, Chelgerd, Tarik Dareh, Bijar

The most famous and largest Iran Ski Resort is DIZIN. After that Darbandsar is the second important Iran Ski resort. Touchal and Shemshak are the other Iran well known ski piste as well.

Dizin, Pooladkaf, Touchal and Shemshak has hotel inside of the piste and their facilities are better than the other Iranian piste.

Dizin is the best piste for skiing in Iran. It’s the biggest and has most ski lifts and gondolas to compare with the others.

In general Iran ski season start from December and its finish around April.

Iran volume of snow of the ski regions are very good and the quality of the snow is one of the best in the world. The service facility and type of accommodations is not as well as the world class ski resorts.

Yes you can. In the most Iran ski resort there are ski shops inside or around the piste and you can hire your skis, ski boots, helmet, ski cloths. In the most famous Iran ski resorts like Dizin and Darbandsar you have all ski size and brand new skis for rent.

Yes there are. In Iran there are many ski instructors from beginner up to professional and advance skiing.

Most of the ski instructors can communicate with their student and minority of them can speak English very well.

The most famous Ski-Touring destinations of Iran are Mt Damavand (5610m), Dobarar chain(+4000), Mt Alamkuh(4850m), Zardkuh chain(+4000m), Mt Azadkuh(4385m) and around the ski resorts of Dizin, Darbandsar and Shemshak

Depend of the region you would like to ski; in general, the ski touring season will start from February till June. The best season for famous destinations is as follows:

Mt Damavand & Dobarar Chain: March & April

Zardkuh mountains: January-March

Alborz Ski Region (Shemshak, Dizin & Darbandsar): February & March

Alamkuh & Takht-e Soliman chain: April-June

Yes, Iran has good quality powder of snow which is perfect for off-piste skiing and ski-Touring. In some region the volume of snow is above 2 m.

Yes, they do. Ski-touring sport officially started 15 years ago but recently the number of adventurous skiers’ increase.

No, unfortunately there is no ski-touring rental services in Iran. There is a lot of new skis and boot for skiing in the piste but there is no Telemark or Randonee Ski Gears available for rent in Iran.

Yes, we have many of Ski-Touring guides who are mountain guide and professional skiers

There are a few number of Iranian Ski Instructors who can speak English.

Yes we have. All of the guides we use for Ski-Touring are English Speaker mountain guide. Some of speak very well and some of them speak weaker.

All foreign visitors require a valid visa to enter Iran except for citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Bolivia, Slovenia, Malaysia and Turkey. This list is subject to change, please make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of six months.

Holders of normal passports traveling as a tourist can obtain a visa on arrival (under certain conditions) for a maximum stay of 30 days at most airports except for citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, United States, and Uzbekistan. These nationalities are required to apply at an Iranian embassy/consulate for the Iranian visa prior to their arrival to Iran

Your application will be rejected if you have a travel visa from Isreal. This rule also applies if the passport holder has an entry or exit stamp from Egyptian/Israeli, Jordanian/ Israeli border.

Presently you can get visa on arrival at the following airports: Tehran (Imam Khomaini), Bushehr, Shiraz, Isfahan( Shahid Beheshti), Mashhad, Gheshm, Kerman Shah, Kish and Tabriz.

You can extend your visa two times. The duration for each visa extension is for 30 days.

Visas for those travellers are subject to particular regulations. Presently the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) does not allow these nationals to travel to Iran independently.  They are required to travel along with a licensed tour guide provided by registered travel company from the moment of arrival to departure. A fixed itinerary, a copy of the first page of passport plus detailed information of all travellers inculding thier CVs & social media Ids must be submitted via the travel agency in advance and the tourism board will check the itinerary and details of travelers. After confirmation of tourism board, the agency will apply for the visa in Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The finalized itinerary is not subject to change. Due to the requirements we advise the travellers to make the necessary arrangements minimum two months in advance prior to their travel date.

We are a registered travel agency with more than a decade of experience in providing services. We can apply for visa authorization number for those intrested to book a tour with us. We can apply visa for agencies and groups. After approval, we will forward the Visa reference number to the customer. Please note that we are unable to apply for this code (visa reference number) if you don’t book all duration of your trip with us.Lately the rules for applying visa have changed to make them easier. You can simply, by yourself, at the airports mentioned above get a 30 day visa upon arrival.

When you apply for a visa at an approved Iranian travel agency, the agency will apply for your visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Upon approval of your visa, a visa reference number will be generated by MFA and faxed to the Iranian consulate nearest to your residence. Your tour agency will send you this reference number. You can hand over the reference number to the Iranian Embassy to obtain your Visa.

Please note: The visa reference number is an “authorization code” and means that your visa has been granted by MFA. You will use this number to pick up your visa at the designated consulate/embassy of Iran or have it posted to your address. For further information, please contact the Iranian Embassy closest to you.

bellow is the list of world wide Iranian Embassies for Iran Visa

Bellow is the list of world wide:

Iranian Embassies for Iran Visa

Bellow is the link of an worldwide list of the countries can get visa on arrival:

Visa on Arrival countries list

Fill out the booking /application form. Please make sure your information matches with the contents of your passport.
A copy of the first page of your passport. Kindly scan the passport page and make sure the size of the scan does not exceed 500kb. The passport photo should be clearly visible.
A passport sized photo in JPEG format.
For ABC (American, British and Canadian) countries we need CV and social media Id of all travellers.

The visa process for ABC (US, UK and Canadian) passport holders will take about one month. For other nationalities the process will take about 7-10 working days. Please note during Nowrooz (Iranian New Year) the MFA will be closed from 17-25 March.

You can send your documents to Adventure Iran and in the visa application form there is a box for the location that you would like to collect your visa. You should mention that you would like to collect your visa from the following airports:

IKA: Tehran Imam Khomaini Airport

MHD: Mashhad Airport

SYZ: Shiraz Airport

TBZ: Tabriz Airport

ISF: Isfahan Airport

BUZ: Bushehr Airport

KIH: Kish Airport

KSH: Kerman Shah Airport

Note: It is vital to have your visa reference number to collect your Iranian visa

For more information please visit the link below:

Visa on Arrival countries list

Once we send you the authorization code, you need following documents to get your visa.

• Visa application form
• Your passport
• Visa fee
• Visa insurance fee
• Photos
• Copy of your travel insurance.
• Some consulates may have different requirements, please check beforehand!

The return time of your visa (stamped in your passport) to your home address is usually within a week but can take longer. Visiting the embassy personally might speed up the process. Some Iranian embassies and consulates may only be open for 3 or 4 days a week and might have limited opening hours. We recommend the flight dates not to be fixed and be refundable in case of possible delays.

Visas are valid for a maximum period of three months from the time of its issue.

There is no extra charge for visa invitation. This is a part of our service when you book a tour

Iran is one of the most amazing destinations for MOUNTAIN BIKING in Asia and is one of the countries where you can do cycling and mountain biking year round. Depending on your interests and the level of your experience you will have a wide range of options, cycling in the desert, mountain biking in high altitude mountains, crossing national parks and protected areas, cycling through the Silk Road and staying in the amazing renovated caravanserais along visiting Iran UNESCO sites are among the many destinations that our company covers. We have created a lot of articles, videos and a stocked up Photo Gallery in our web site and we recommend that you check it for more information.

There is no definite answer for this question because there are a lot of factors involved in this answer. The short answer is that April and May are perfect for Iran first timers and those who would like to combine their cycling holiday with cultural and historical tours. Also October and May would be another choice for the above group. For those who have already visited Iran before and would like to only come to Iran for a cycling holiday the answer is that the entire year is the best season. For example, winter is one of the low seasons of Iran for mass tourism but for those who are interested in off the beaten track cycling, winter is the best season for it in Iran. Cycling through the coast of the Persian Gulf or our cycling tour in Sistan and Baluchistan are one of the most amazing cycling tours in Iran. We wrote a couple of valuable articles in our BLOG like CYCLING IN IRAN, MOUNTAIN BIKING IN IRAN, 10 BEST CYCLING ROUTES IN IRAN, BEST TIME OF CYCLING IN IRAN, NORTH TEHRAN MOUNTAIN BIKING IN CENTRAL ALBORZ MOUNTAINS, 11 BEST MOUNTAIN BIKING DESTINATIONS IN IRAN, BEST MONTH OF MOUNTAIN BIKING IN IRAN and you can contact us for more information regarding your cycling holiday in Iran.

In Iran many people do cycle touring and different types of mountain biking like cross country, all mountains, downhill and single track mountain biking. They do it mostly during Iran’s weekends, which are Thursday and Friday. Also during Iran national holiday, there are a few Iranian clubs that have fixed departure mountain biking tours in Iran.

Yes, for sure you can bring your bicycle to Iran. Many of our clients bring their own bikes for their long holiday and some of them who would like to continue their trip to another destination or come here for a cultural tour and only do a few days of cycling, usually don’t bring their own mountain bikes with them.

AdventureIran offers different types of bicycles for rent. We offer hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes. Also we have a few bicycles which are proper for desert or road cycling. For more information, please check this link: IRAN BICYCLE RENTAL

We have nearly all of the bicycle equipment and parts that you may require. Different sizes of tire, tube and body are available in our storage in Lavasan. Also we have Gel saddles along with our general mountain bike saddles, Shimano SBD Pedal, extra crank arms and crank set, different sizes of helmets, flat tire kits and pumps. If you are curious about a specific part, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Most of the bikes are new and our bicycle engineer maintains all of the bikes after each trip and the bikes are in very good condition.

All of the AdventureIran Rental bikes come with one helmet, water bottle, one tube flat rite kits with a small flat tire bicycle bag.

We offer from XS up to XXL sizes.

We also have another storage in the south of Tehran and a few of our bicycles are stored in the capital. If you require a special bike like full suspension bikes, please inform us in advance and we will arrange a transfer to Tehran.

Please send your inquiry and we will reply to you accordingly.

We offer the finest type of mountain biking tours to our clients. Our mountain biking tours are seasonal and each one of our tours goes to a special region of Iran.

Most of our mountain bike guides are Bike coaches and they are professional mountain bikers as well. Also most of them speak English very well so no worries there.

In Iran there are some Cyclers who are multilingual but unfortunately, they are not tour guides. At this moment we only have a German speaking guide among our staff. For most of our trips that we perform for travel companies, we send a cultural guide along with the tour. If you are a travel company or group, please get in touch for more details

AdventureIran has its own vehicles for transportation. We have jeeps that are designed for our mountain biking tours, with special roof carriers for bicycles. Please have a look at the photo gallery of our MOUNTAIN BIKING LOGISTICS AND OPERATION to have a better picture of how we operate the cycling tours.

Legally you can cycle in all cities of Iran, but in some of them like Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan, and Mashhad we don’t recommend cycling on the streets as they are very crowded and dangerous, especially when you don’t have a cycling guide.

For sure women can cycle in Iran, there is no limitation for it. If you check some of our cycling tours photos in the photo gallery of the web site, you will see that actually most of our customers are women.

For men they can wear what they wear in their country. They can wear shorts as well but we recommend it to be at least above knee and not too short. For ladies, they should cover their hands and legs as well as their hair. This is especially necessary when you are in the society in towns, villages or rural areas. Please check a couple of our cycling tour videos to have a better understanding of the clothes you can wear for traveling to Iran. For more information, please have a look at the below LINK:

The Dress code

Depending on the region of the cycling, we use different types of accommodation for our trips. We mostly use good quality tourist hotels in main cities. If we have a traditional hotel, boutique hotel or renovated caravanserai available in those cities we try to book the best possible one for our tours. In small towns we use the best available hotel. In villages we use Persian traditional guest houses or boutique hotels.

Not only our cycling tour but also all of our tours are done with a small group of people with the Average size being between 4-8 people.

Our cycling tours can be booked like any other tour. Please check the HOW TO BOOK page to find out what is the requirement for your upcoming trip. The only difference is that if you would like to hire a bicycle along your trip, we will send a form after your booking to reserve a suitable mountain bike for your liking.

Yes, it’s possible to have a cycling tour in Iran. As the above ABC group cannot travel to Iran individually and they should book a tour accompanied by a guide and according to their travel itinerary they can travel to Iran for cycling. For more information, please check this link https://www.adventureiran.com/about-iran/iran-travel-visa/american-british-canadian/

Note: Getting a visa for American cyclists is the hardest among the mentioned three. They have some restrictions for traveling in remote areas or mountains. Their travel itinerary should consist of cycling through cities or urban destinations. If you have any questions or inquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

You can send your requirements online through our Rental Inquiry Form

• After sending your request via our Rental Equipment Inquiry Form, one of our staff checks your rental items to be sure about the availability of your stuff according to your date. Then they will send the confirmation of availability including the total prices of all the items requested plus the amount of the deposit according to the value of the gears.
• Then you have to confirm the amount and let us know how you would like to collect your rental gears.
• When you arrive to Iran, you have to come to our office to take your gear (Please inform us of the approximate time of your arrival). Then you can check your rental items in the storage unit. If for some reason the sizing has gotten mixed up/wrong you can try another one that suits you best and get that. Then you collect your proper gear and we get back to the office (which is located upstairs) for some paperwork. After signing the rental agreement form and paying for the equipment, you’ll get a receipt.
• When you got back from your trip, you can inform us of the arrival date/time that you want to give back the rented gears and take your deposit back.

We advise you to book your required outdoor equipment’s two weeks in advance. In a later notice, some of our equipment like Expedition Tents may not be available, and they might be booked for the duration of you visit

Unfortunately, we don’t have credit card terminal “POS” in our office, and at the moment you can pay in cash at site.

For a total above € 200, we can provide you a bank account in Europe which you can wire the money into.

You have to come to our office which is in Lavasan town to collects your rented items. Our storage is in the same building as our office.

Lavasan is in the outskirts of Tehran city and is located in the northeastern side of it. There are no form of public transportation from Tehran to Lavasan and you have to come with a private car or shared taxies. We can send a taxi to pick you up from your hotel in Tehran but if you prefer coming with shared taxies, they are located at the east (Tehranpars area) and north (Tajrish area) of Tehran. The Tajrish station is located at Qods square. You can take the Metro (Line 1/RED) and at the end of the line you will reach Qods square. Bahonar Street is in the east side of the square and after a hundred meters of walking you will see the Lavasan (a yellow sign) Taxi station. For the Tehranpars station the rout is a bit more complicated, you can take the metro (Line 2/BLUE) to the Tehranpars stop and a shared taxi to Tehranpars 4^th square you can reach the Lavasan Taxi station. Our office is at a walking distance from the station when you reach Lavasan, so from there walk from the station towards east and our building name is also LAVASAN (No 688).

Yes, we can send it to your address.  You can mention the name, phone number and the address of the hotel you are staying in Tehran in your rental booking form or if you have already sent your inquiry, you can send it by email. After fixing a time that works with you, we will send your stuff to your address.  Also please put your telephone number (Iran mobile number or a number that you have WhatsApp on) in the form/email as well.

We will contact you to confirm where and when we can send you your rented items. Then we will send a staff/delivery man to your address to give you the stuff and you can pay them if you haven’t paid online.

You can call us or send us an email to inform us of the extended duration of your rental equipment.

Yes, we will inform you by email of the amount that needs to be deposited according to the gear after we received your inquiry

We have the most important items for camping in our storage. Most of the items are suitable for spring, summer and autumn. For winter ascends or expedition mountaineering equipment please contact us. Also we have different cross country mountain bikes. Our full suspension Mountain Bike sizes are limited but we have all bike sizes for hardtail mountain bikes. The spare parts of the bikes are also available. For more information, please check our Outdoor & Camping Rental Equipment / Mountain Bike Rental pages on the website.

Each trip is unique, and for an exact breakdown of what is and isn’t included you should consult the specific trip itineraries. However, generally included on all trips are the following: all accommodation depend on the itinerary a twin shared basis, guest house or local home stay and most meals, tents and other camp related equipment, internal travel and veteran guides equipped with first aid.

Depending on which trip you would like to book! Our active trips were designed with adults in mind. Older teenagers from around the age of 15 are certainly welcome to accompany their parents under their supervision. It is up to their parents’ judgment to decide whether they can handle the trip. But some of our trip like soft adventure trips suitable for the families that would like to travel with children.

Yes. Regular ski gear and boots are rentable and the equipment might not be up to the standards of Gstaad or Chamonix. How ever this is for regular ski equipment only. Randonee, Telemark or any other specialized ski-mountaineering gear are not available. You have to bring your own.

We pride ourselves on trying our best to provide good, organic, healthy and delicious local food. For our various trips we have made a concerted effort in providing local dishes served only in those parts of the country. Iranian cuisine is quite varied and in different regions you have very specific and seasonal dishes.

Yes we do. On our forms we ask this question and plan accordingly. Please note this is for standard vegetarians and not vegans, since it is too difficult to cater by eliminating all dairy and other requirements of vegans.

No, Iranian food is delicately flavoured with organic herbs and mild spices such as dill, tarragon, saffron and turmeric. Most Iranian people have a terrible time handling hot foods from places like India and Pakistan.

If you have a special request for your group, we will be happy to tailor an itinerary to match your specifications. We require a minimum of 4 people to customize an itinerary. We will help you build it from the ground up at a price that’s a lot more affordable than you might think. Contact us with your detailed request, and we will do our best to accommodate you. Please refer to Tailormade segment on the site.

Women should wear what they would ordinarily for trekking with the exception of shorts which are prohibited. It is recommended that women bring Manteau and buffs which can be worn around the neck and then pulled up over the head to cover hair should the need arise such as entering a village. In cities and towns a head scarf is mandatory.

The water is quite drinkable and safe. High standards and full chlorination are used for Iranian municipal water systems. Like most places in the world these days a variety of plastic bottled mineral water is also available.

Similar to practically all international airports one can exchange money there, no matter what time; but only a certain number of bank branches have currency exchange windows. In addition there are specialized exchange houses available in most big cities. In Tehran these Casas de Cambios (as they are called all over Latin America) are quite numerous. We will assist in every way possible to make sure you can exchange currency easily and efficiently at current rates.

Travel Insurance is mandatory for our trips. We recommend you research various options available from your country and make sure you are fully covered for travel and health insurance out of the country.

It depends on your itinerary. If your trip includes an airport pick up, you will be picked up accordingly.

There are many great opportunities for buying exciting and valuable souvenirs on many of our tours. However, it is not always practical to carry large items around. Most places can arrange for items such as carpets to be shipped home at relatively low costs and this is usually a better and safer policy.