Protected Areas and National Parks in Iran Iran with different wet and dry lands with a combination of high mountains, desert lands, forests, and seas has created a special ecosystem in the Middle East and the east of Asia. It is located in the southern part of the Caspian Sea and north of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. There are two long mountain ranges named Alborz (900 km) and Zagros (1400 km) located in the north and west of Iran. In addition, the two main deserts of Dasht-e Kavir (77,600 km2) and Kavir-e Lut (51,800 km2)- the first Natural UNESCO site in Iran- are other natural attractions of the country. Rivers and lakes, wildlife, and the Hyrcanian Forest (UNESCO Natural Site), besides the different types of birds, a wide range of medical and therapeutic plants, Islands, and lagoons create the protected areas and national parks all over Iran. Here, we have listed the ten most beautiful ones below: 1. Golestan National Park 2. Kavir National Park 3. Lar National Park 4. Turan National Park 5. Tandoureh National Park 6. Dena National Park 7. Khar Touran National Park 8. Khojir National Park 9. Jahan Nama Protected Park 10. Alborz Markazi Protected Area
Protected Areas and National Parks in Iran Iran with different wet and dry lands with a combination of high mountains, desert lands, forests, and seas has created a special ecosystem in the Middle East and the east of Asia. It is located in the southern part of the Caspian Sea and north of the Persian
Golestan Province Tourist Highlights Turkmen Plains Golestan province is one of the untraveled routes of Iran offering a wide range of attractions, activities, and tourist highlights. It is located in the northeast of the country, southeast of the Caspian Sea, and southern part of Turkmenistan country. Golestan means the land of flowers. The rural parts of this province are rich in flora and fauna, and you will be amazed at its variety of animal and plant species. In fact, Golestan province is one of the greenest parts of Iran. Golestan Main Tourist Highlights Golestan National Park Golestan National Park is one of the tourist highlights of Golestan province which enjoys remarkable ecosystem diversity. There is a large variety of wildlife in the park, and a huge variety of birds live there. Golestan National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Iran. The park is a protected area managed by the Iranian Environmental Organization. Along with the natural attractions, there are many other historical and cultural attractions in Golestan province too. Gonbad-e Qabus (UNESCO) Gonbad-e Qabus also written Gonbad-e-Kavos is the tallest brick tower in the world registered on the list of Iranian UNESCO sites in 2012. It is a good example of historical highlights of Golestan province. This region used to be a part of the Ancient Silk Road many years ago, and there are still a few Iranian Caravanserais left in different parts of the province. Gorgan (the Provincial Capital) Gorgan, the capital of Golestan province, embraces charming historical attractions as well. The remains of the old part of the town, as well as a few historical houses back to a few hundred years ago, located downtown, are worth visiting. A couple of them were renovated as boutique hotels which are proper for
Golestan Province Tourist Highlights Turkmen Plains Golestan province is one of the untraveled routes of Iran offering a wide range of attractions, activities, and tourist highlights. It is located in the northeast of the country, southeast of the Caspian Sea, and southern part of Turkmenistan country. Golestan means the land of flowers. The rural
Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar Introduction Pir Shaliar, also written Pir-e Shalyar, is one of the historical Iranian ceremonies which take place in the Kurdish region of Iran. Iranian Kurdistan is one of the most active provinces with a lot of activities. The instruments of Daf and Tanbor (Tanbur) were born in the Kurdish regions of Iran and music and dance are the two major elements in the Kurdish culture. Every year, there are different celebrations and music festivals performed in the mountain region of Hawraman (Uraman) which is a huge valley located in Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces. Nowrooz (Nowruz) celebration or “Persian New Year", Palangan Daf Music Festival, and the Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar in Uraman Takht are the most famous Kurdish ceremonies which annually attract tourists from different countries. Location & history of Pir Shaliar Kurdish Dance and Music Festival of Pir Shaliar in Iranian Kurdistan is an old traditional ceremony that goes back to over 950 years ago. It is still alive in Oraman-e Takht village located in Uraman valley (UNESCO) which is 65 km (1.5 hours) from Marivan. Pir Shaliar's Festival Date It is held on two different dates; the 1st festival is held on the 40th day of winter and the 2nd is held on the 40th day of spring. The festival is celebrated for three consecutive days in each season. The winter festival shows the social participation of people in the ceremony. It symbolizes getting rid of material attachments and salvation. The spring festival, named Komsai, is known as the ceremony of breaking the holy stone. The celebration is accompanied by more Daf drumming and ritual dances. People chip a small piece from a large stone at Pir Shaliar’s tomb. They believe the chip can heal the ill and it will
Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar Introduction Pir Shaliar, also written Pir-e Shalyar, is one of the historical Iranian ceremonies which take place in the Kurdish region of Iran. Iranian Kurdistan is one of the most active provinces with a lot of activities. The instruments of Daf and Tanbor (Tanbur) were born in the Kurdish regions
Best Persian Cookbooks Iranian dishes or Persian food have been increasingly popular around the globe compared to the past. In recent years, many travelers and tourists travel to Iran to have an authentic experience. Moreover, the number of visitors who are looking for Persian cookbooks or cooking classes in Iran has increased. We have many inquiries from people who are interested in a one-day Persian Food Tour in Iran during their trip to the country. They would like to taste Persia through its delicious and nutritious traditional food, especially via Iran gastronomy tours. Some of them are also curious to know what the best Persian cookbooks are. They sometimes ask us for the best Persian cookbooks as souvenirs so that they can repeat their delicious experience in their home country. Persian cooking has not been only about mixing ingredients and nutrition, but also about Persian traditional medication. Since Iran embraces various geographical regions, climatic conditions, and different groups of ethnicities with different cultures, it is an amazing destination for all foodies and gourmets. Regarding the popularity and complexity of Persian food around the world, some Iranian cooks and writers wrote Persian cookbooks for those who are interested in Persian cooking. They have tried to simplify the traditional Persian food, sometimes requiring a longer time to be prepared, as far as possible to make it suitable for the modern fast life and western kitchens. Below is the list of the top ten Persian Cookbooks in English. Nush-e Jan! (It is the Persian expression similar to the French "Bon Appetit", which you will hear commonly by Iranians at the dining table, during your travel to Iran). 1. Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies By Najmeh Batmanglij This book,
Best Persian Cookbooks Iranian dishes or Persian food have been increasingly popular around the globe compared to the past. In recent years, many travelers and tourists travel to Iran to have an authentic experience. Moreover, the number of visitors who are looking for Persian cookbooks or cooking classes in Iran has increased. We have many
Ten Useful Tips for Traveling to Iran As one of the ancient cradles of civilization, Iran is a vast country embracing various climatic conditions, ethnic groups, and cultures. The variety in attractions, landscapes, traditions, customs, and activities is so amazing that may make you bewildered. If you wish to travel to Iran for the first time or you are a tour operator thinking about adding Iran as a destination to your tour list, there might be a long list of different topics that you have to know before preparing your travel itinerary to Iran. There may also be many questions in your mind, and sometimes it is hard to find the right answer or source of information altogether. So, you had better know about some useful tips before traveling to Iran. Questions about how to get an Iran visa, when is the best time for traveling to Iran, what to visit in Iran, how to wear as a female traveler in Iran, and how and where to exchange currency in Iran are some of the questions that come first to the first-time travelers’ minds. In this travel advice and post, we create the most popular topics that you have to know to lead you through a good path for preparing your package for this authentic traveling destination. Here read about the ten essential tips for traveling to Iran: 1. Visa Information 2. Covid Latest Information and Travel Requirements 3. Iran Weather and Climate for Traveling 4. Iran Best Tourist Destinations 5. Iran’s Most Famous UNESCO Sites for Visit 6. Classic Iran – Famous Traveling Route for First Visitors: 7. Best Time to Visit Iran 8. Best Traveling Time for Different Activities 9. Dress Code 10. Iran Currency (Iranian Rials) If you do
Ten Useful Tips for Traveling to Iran As one of the ancient cradles of civilization, Iran is a vast country embracing various climatic conditions, ethnic groups, and cultures. The variety in attractions, landscapes, traditions, customs, and activities is so amazing that may make you bewildered. If you wish to travel to Iran for the first
Iran Rose Water Festival in Kashan Kashan, located on Iran Classic Route, is one of Iran's five major tourist destinations. It is not only home to invaluable historical and cultural attractions, including Tangible and Intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage, but also festivals and activities. Rose Water Festival in Kashan is a popular and famous festival celebrated annually in May in Iran. Being made from the Damask rose (also called Mohammadi rose in Iran), rose water is an aromatic tonic liquid. The cultivation of Mohammadi roses in Iran dates back to around 7,000 years ago; however, the rose water festivals have been feasted since 1,000 years ago. The early rose water was made by rose distillation, but over the years, this procedure continued with the distillation of Damask roses (Mohammadi roses) as well. Although the ancient method of rose water making has changed over time, it has still retained its originality. There were no varieties of methods in the past, but new fashions have been generated for rosewater making due to the current technological developments. It is worth mentioning that special equipment (congruous to the regional climate), used in the traditional method, is still applied by those who prefer to make rose water in the old manner. festival in Iran. Qamsar, located 30 km south of Kashan, is another city well-known for the rosewater festival. Although the name Golab (Rosewater) is more closely tied to Qamsar, other cities in the Kashan district, such as Niyasar, are also professional in this field. It should be mentioned that not only Iranian people come to visit this festival, but also people from all over the world are interested in it. So, Kashan is a host to many tourists every year for the Rosewater festival. This experience is unique since it is a festival full of
Iran Rose Water Festival in Kashan Kashan, located on Iran Classic Route, is one of Iran’s five major tourist destinations. It is not only home to invaluable historical and cultural attractions, including Tangible and Intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage, but also festivals and activities. Rose Water Festival in Kashan is a popular and famous festival celebrated
Oraman (Uraman) Takht Village in Iran (UNESCO) Oraman or Uraman-e Takht is the name of a village located in Hawraman in the Kurdish region of Iran. The Cultural Landscape of Hawraman was registered in the list of Iranian UNESCO sites in July 2021. Hawraman is the name of the valley and mountain region located within the provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah in western Iran and the north-eastern Kurdistan Region in Iraq. The majority of the property of Hawraman is situated in Iran. Only a small northern part of this valley is located in Iraq. The Oraman village is one of the most exotic villages in Iran. It is 63 km away from the south of Marivan, Kurdistan Province, in Iran. Uraman Architecture The village stone houses are stair-like fashion, with beams covering the ceilings. Here, the roof of one house is the courtyard of the other. There are many other villages in Hawraman and other parts of Kurdistan with similar architecture. The following villages' pictures present the traditional architecture of this region of Iran. Uraman Attractions Oramanat Takht village is undoubtedly one of the attractive rural areas of Kurdestan. It is also among the Top 10 Iran Tourist Villages. The spectacular panoramic views of this area, like the rivers in the valley, are not the only attractions. Kurdish old traditions, such as Kurdish dance, traditional clothes, and customs are other attractions unique to the region. The annual performance of an ancient wonderful ceremony of Pir Shalyar put this village on the list of best Iran villages as well. Ancient fire temples and remnants of this region indicate that the inhabitants were Zoroastrian before converting to Islam. The fertile lands here are full of walnut, pomegranate, fig, and mulberry trees. The tomb of Pir Shalyar (Peer Shahriar) is one of
Oraman (Uraman) Takht Village in Iran (UNESCO) Oraman or Uraman-e Takht is the name of a village located in Hawraman in the Kurdish region of Iran. The Cultural Landscape of Hawraman was registered in the list of Iranian UNESCO sites in July 2021. Hawraman is the name of the valley and mountain region located within
Iran Mountain Ranges Iran with 1.64 million km2 has two major mountain ranges called Alborz and Zagros Mountain Ranges. Alborz Mountain Range The first range is Alborz Mountains, also spelled Elburz, Albourz, Alburz, or Elburs. In the Persian language, it is called Reshte Koohe Alborz or Koohhayeh Alborz. This 900 km (560 miles) long mountain is the major mountain range in northern Iran. It stretches from Azerbaijan in the northwest of Iran (also southwest of the Caspian Sea) towards northeastern Iran in the Khorasan region (southeast of the Caspian Sea). The Alborz Mountains range made a big wall between the Caspian Sea and Iran Plateau. It created two different climate systems on the northern slopes of Alborz against the southern side of the huge mountain range. There are a few famous mountain chains and a lot of high peaks in different parts of the Alborz ranges. Talesh mountain chains, Takht-e Soleyman mountain chains, and Shahkuh mountain chains are subranges of the Alborz range located in the western, central, and eastern parts of the range. Moreover, two of Iran’s highest mountains, Mt Damavand 5610m and MT Alamkuh 4850m, are located in the Alborz range. The Alburz mountain system traverses virtually all of the northernmost portions of Iran from east to west. In addition, there are plenty of high-altitude famous mountains above 4000m extended in the Central Alborz Mountains which is in the north of Tehran province. Mt Kholeno (4375m), MT Azadkuh (4355m), MT Kolonbastak (4150m), MT Sarakchal (4210m), and MT Tochal (3963m) are the most famous high peaks located in central Alborz Mountains. The weather on the northern side of Alborz, called the Caspian slopes, has a distinctly humid climate. The famous Hyrcanian forests, which are Iran's natural UNESCO heritage site, are located in that region too. On
Iran Mountain Ranges Iran with 1.64 million km2 has two major mountain ranges called Alborz and Zagros Mountain Ranges. Alborz Mountain Range The first range is Alborz Mountains, also spelled Elburz, Albourz, Alburz, or Elburs. In the Persian language, it is called Reshte Koohe Alborz or Koohhayeh Alborz. This 900 km (560 miles) long
Top 10 Iran Tourist Villages Iran is a vast country with varied climatic conditions and different weather systems with mountain regions, desert terrains, forests, lakes, and seas which create many tourist villages in different corners. Each tourist village is distinct from others regarding the climate, natural beauties, landscapes, plants, and geographical features, as well as the indigenous culture, architecture, traditions, and customs. The differences between Iran's tourist villages are so amazing that you think you have traveled to a different country! If you pay attention to the Iran map below, which is spotted with the locations of the villages, you will see the tourist villages are scattered in different provinces all over the country, and the visiting time of each one is different from the others. With an astonishing variety of geographical and cultural distinctions, villages provide a wide variety of activities and tourist destinations in Iran for all adventure seekers and culture lovers who travel to Iran with special interests, from landscape photography or hiking on the off-the-beaten-path trails, to those who are into rural tourism and plan their trips based on sustainable tourism principles. The villages on the highlands overlooking snow-capped peaks, in the desert oases with an extended desert landscape, or at the foothills of spectacular mountain forests offer ideal opportunities for trekking, hiking, mountaineering, skiing, photography, and most of all communicating with the hospitable local communities in the rural areas and Iran off-the-beaten paths. Whether you are the kind of traveler bored with the common tourist hubs and in seek of some adventure in the less known attractions in a new destination, or a second-time visitor who already visited the Iran Classic Route and now plans for a deeper experience of the ancient Persia, we advise you to put Iran tourist villages on your bucket
Top 10 Iran Tourist Villages Iran is a vast country with varied climatic conditions and different weather systems with mountain regions, desert terrains, forests, lakes, and seas which create many tourist villages in different corners. Each tourist village is distinct from others regarding the climate, natural beauties, landscapes, plants, and geographical features, as well as
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlights Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is the name of a small Province in the southwest of Iran, situated in the west of Esfahan province. Geographically, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is located among the central Zagros Mountain Range, full of tourist highlights for adventure seekers. In this part of Zagros, the Zardkuh mountains chain is the most famous sub-range, making it the best spot for adventurous travelers. Zardkuh “yellow mountain” has a few important peaks above 4000m. Zard in Persian means yellow and Kuh means mountain. MT. Kolonchin (4200 m) is the most famous one, perfect for summer ascent. These mountains have huge volumes of snow in winter, and they are the main sources of water for the two main Iran rivers of Karun and Zayande-Rud. Moreover, there are a lot of springs, waterfalls, and underground water reserves in various parts of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in different parts of the mountains. The weather and climate of this province along with the high-altitude mountains and geographical features of this region made this land a perfect place for livestock breeding for the local tribes. The highlight of this province is the nomadic lifestyle of Bakhtiari tribes who live in a different part of the Central Zagros Mountains. Bakhtiari Lifestyle, The Most Prominent Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlight The most important tourist highlight in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province is visiting the Bakhtiari tribes who are living in the mountains with a very basic life. They have a long history and for thousands of years, they have been living with their traditional culture in this land. Seeing their tribes and staying in their houses in villages or their basic nomadic tents in the mountains would be one of the most unforgettable experiences that you could have in
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Tourist Highlights Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is the name of a small Province in the southwest of Iran, situated in the west of Esfahan province. Geographically, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is located among the central Zagros Mountain Range, full of tourist highlights for adventure seekers. In this part of Zagros, the Zardkuh mountains
