Shemshak Winter Mountain scenery Shemshak is the name of a touristic village before the revolution which has now turned mostly into a small town. Shemshak became famous because of the famous Shemshak Ski resort and a lot of old wealthy people before the revolution came to Shemshak for skiing and it was a hub for many active people in the past years. It’s located in the heights of central Alborz Mountains 50 km away from north east of the capital. The video that you see is a collection of 6 months of photography and timelapsing in the winter season from November 2020 till April 2021. Shemshak village is located between 2600 m – 2800m above the sea level surrounded by a lot of mountains above 4000m and it has about 6 months of winter. There is a long story behind this short video and these pictures as it happens after the pandemic situation when I moved from Lavasan to Shemshak to be far from the population. I had decided to make a short documentary about this special lifestyle that can happen in Iran and the things that happen in the village, but I couldn't make it fully and the end result was the aforementioned video. There were two reasons for that. The first was I didn't have much material and footage to make this video and the second was that I needed a crew and a lot of professional equipment to record this live life happening in the village. So I cut short the plan I had in my mind and only took the most special moments that happened during that winter and I asked our editor to make a nice slide show of the magnificent nature that happens in the high mountains of Alborz. Most of the footage
Shemshak Winter Mountain scenery Shemshak is the name of a touristic village before the revolution which has now turned mostly into a small town. Shemshak became famous because of the famous Shemshak Ski resort and a lot of old wealthy people before the revolution came to Shemshak for skiing and it was a hub
Climate and Weather for Travelling to Iran Iran is a large and vast country; it has a very varied climate with different weather systems covering an area of 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq miles). To compare the size of the country, Iran is about 5 times bigger than Italy and about 4.4 times bigger than Japan. Geographically, Iran is located west of Asia and lies between the southern part of the Caspian Sea and north of the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea, (Gulf of Oman). Iran has different types of weather systems in each region with a variable climate. In general, Iran is an arid country compared to east Asian countries but in the west and north, (Alborz and Zagros Mountain ranges), the rains are more abundant than in the east and south, (Dasht-e Kavir & Lut Desert regions). The rainiest area in Iran is along the Caspian Sea coast which is the greenest part of the country with enormous jungles in the various regions. The famous Hyrcanian forest, (UNESCO), is also located in the Caspian Sea region. The north and west of Iran have exceptionally cold winters with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures while in the east and south in the Iran plateau, the climate is continental and arid. The weather along the Caspian Sea coast is mild and quite wet while along the south coast, the Persian Gulf, and Oman Sea region, it is hot. Seasons and their weather based Activities Depending on which season, even which month and the region you would like to visit, we’d like to emphasize the weather varies dramatically from the north of the country, “the Alborz mountains and the Caspian Sea”, compared to the south, “the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea (Oman Sea)”. For example, during late autumn to the end
Climate and Weather for Travelling to Iran Iran is a large and vast country; it has a very varied climate with different weather systems covering an area of 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq miles). To compare the size of the country, Iran is about 5 times bigger than Italy and about 4.4 times bigger than Japan.
Iran Ski Touring Dobarar (Ghareh Dagh) Ridgeline is an impressive 52 km long mountain chain that forms a continuous wall in the southeastern portion of the Central Alborz Mountains in northern Iran. This ridgeline consists of more than 20 named peaks and many other unnamed high points. The elevations of 5 of these peaks exceed 4000 m. The highest one is the 4072 m summit of West Doabrar Peak. The ridgeline starts near the Emamzadeh Hashem Pass on Haraz (Tehran-Amol) Road and heads east to end near the village of Seh Band on Firooz Kooh (Tehran-Sari) Road. Many tourists and ski players travel to Dobarar Ridgeline annually to enjoy the exciting experience of Iran Ski touring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tq3UFpvtKE
Iran Ski Touring Dobarar (Ghareh Dagh) Ridgeline is an impressive 52 km long mountain chain that forms a continuous wall in the southeastern portion of the Central Alborz Mountains in northern Iran. This ridgeline consists of more than 20 named peaks and many other unnamed high points. The elevations of 5 of these peaks exceed
4 seasons of life in the Alborz mountains This clip is about one and half years of photography and life in the Shemshak village after Coronavirus from February 2020 till August 2012. The photos and time lapse were taken with Canon EOS-R camera and a few of them recorded with Go pro. The original reason for this was to have an archive of photos from this amazing place and use it in the Adventure Iran website as the Shemshak photo gallery section. After a while when I saw that I have a good collection of photos from different aspects of the region like nature, landscape, people, night photography and the changing seasons, I made the decision to make a photo book for the region as well as making a short clip of the slides of my photos. I hope you enjoy it and would be useful for your information. Shemshak village and in it Shemshak Ski Resort which is one the main three ski resorts of Iran, is about 55 km away from the north east of Tehran. Darbandsar village and the ski resort are also nearby Shemshak which is 4 km away and it’s one of the other ski regions in the area. The third is Dizin ski resort which is Iran's largest ski resort and its 14 km away from Shemshak village. These three villages are located in the valley and many mountains above 4000m in the Central Alborz surround these regions. Shemshak village has an altitude between 2600-2800 m and As it was an important coal mine in the region (about a 100 years ago) which was about the beginning of 20 century, the majority of locals worked in the mine. Afterwards in the middle of 20 century (1949), skiing on Shemshak started. After 10 years in
4 seasons of life in the Alborz mountains This clip is about one and half years of photography and life in the Shemshak village after Coronavirus from February 2020 till August 2012. The photos and time lapse were taken with Canon EOS-R camera and a few of them recorded with Go pro. The original reason
Best Time for Trekking in Iran Iran, with countless mountains above 4000 m, in the two famous mountain ranges of Alborz and Zagros, may well be the ideal trekking destination for mountain lovers. The extraordinary length of these mountains has created very special climatic conditions for all seasons that allows trekkers to climb in various regions and trek in Iran throughout the year. In addition, Iran has the two vast deserts of Dasht-e Kavir and Lut which are amazing destinations for those who would like to experience desert trekking and get to know the lifestyle of locals. These deserts were part of the ancient Silk Road. Besides mountains and deserts, Iran has two seas, the Persian Gulf in the south and the Caspian Sea in the north of the country. These seas make it possible to trek at any time, due to one sea area being pleasantly hot and the other being dry and cold. These weather conditions allow visitors to Iran to enjoy a four-season trekking holiday. With the above information, depending on the traveller’s interest and the trail’s level of difficulty, you have a wide range of options to choose from to find the most suitable trail for you. In Adventure Iran, we have a grading system for different physical levels. We categorize all treks based on the Level of Difficulty. We evaluate these levels according to the mountains’ altitude or length of the trail per day in the desert, or hours of activity during a day. Below is the most useful information for you based on difficulty. Strenuous Trekking in Iran Summer Season For those who would like to climb the highest peaks in different countries, summertime is the best season for the main three highest mountains of Iran which are MT Damavand (5610 m), MT
Best Time for Trekking in Iran Iran, with countless mountains above 4000 m, in the two famous mountain ranges of Alborz and Zagros, may well be the ideal trekking destination for mountain lovers. The extraordinary length of these mountains has created very special climatic conditions for all seasons that allows trekkers to climb in various
10 Best Off the Beaten Path Hiking Trails in Iran Iran’s geographical location has made it one of the most exceptional countries in the world for hiking. There are two seas in the north and south of the country, as well as the two long mountain ranges of Alborz and Zagros. Moreover, a lot of sub-ranges and mountain chains, high-altitude peaks in each corner of the country, the famous Hyrcanian forests (UNESCO), and two vast deserts of Dasht-e Kavir and Lut (UNESCO) plus numerous springs and lakes have made Iran unique. Iran, with so much to see as well as numerous Off the Beaten hiking trails, is perfect for all types of hikers who wish to experience an unusual and exciting journey. The varieties of terrain and climate have created amazing opportunities for freak (atypical) hikers to hike in different regions all year round. Having excellent information about the Off the Beaten hiking trails in Iran and knowing the right regions in the right month is one of the main steps to have a memorable trekking holiday. Another advantage of Iran is enjoying a varied climate and ecosystem simultaneously in its different regions. To give you a better idea, we will explain a few of Adventure Iran’s tours during spring. While we perform hiking tours in the forests, south of the Caspian Sea, we also have other hiking tours in the central Alborz mountains, north of Tehran. At the same time, we have another hiking tour in the Dasht-e Kavir desert located in central Iran. We have had a lot of experience performing these tours. As there is still snow on the high-altitude mountains in the central parts of the country, you will see a lot of flowers and trees in bloom while people in the south of Iran, in
10 Best Off the Beaten Path Hiking Trails in Iran Iran’s geographical location has made it one of the most exceptional countries in the world for hiking. There are two seas in the north and south of the country, as well as the two long mountain ranges of Alborz and Zagros. Moreover, a lot of
Iran Ski Resorts Iran is a vast country with different weather conditions on every corner. Some areas are desert and dry, some humid and mild, and others are mountainous. The two mountains of Alborz and Zagros, with their high peaks, are covered with snow most of the year. This weather is perfect for those who are passionate about skiing. Ski resorts in Iran host a large number of ski enthusiasts each year, which come from different cities, as well as different countries. Here is a brief introduction to some of Iran's ski resorts. Tochal Ski Resort Tochal complex, located in the north of Tehran city, consists of many recreational and sports facilities. This piste is open for at least 7 months of the year depending on the snow (Tochal is one of the last resorts to be closed in Tehran). It is situated near the summit about 3800m to 1900m. The piste is equipped with a gondola for reaching the middle of the mountain (station No.5) and another one for reaching the summit (station No.7). Then, you can ski from the summit. There are 2 chairlifts and 1 ski lift in the resort. There used to be another piste on the other side facing Tehran city that is now closed. One of the advantages of this resort is the Tochal Hotel near the summit in 3500m alleviation. It is perfect for a ski holiday with a restaurant and easy access to the resort. Darbandsar Ski Resort This ski resort, located in Tehran province, is one of the largest ski resorts in Iran. Equipped with a snowmaking machine, the quality of the snow is almost good and it is one of the best ski areas for some maneuvers and actions. It has also hosted international ski competitions several
Iran Ski Resorts Iran is a vast country with different weather conditions on every corner. Some areas are desert and dry, some humid and mild, and others are mountainous. The two mountains of Alborz and Zagros, with their high peaks, are covered with snow most of the year. This weather is perfect for those
Best time for Cycling in Iran (A Cycling Guide for Traveling in Iran by Bicycle) When is the best time to travel to Iran for a cycling holiday? You can cycle all year round as every corner of the country has something to offer, depending on the season and the region, and it is a great advantage. This means there is not a high season, low season, or off-season for cyclists like in many other countries. To answer this question, we need to explain a little more about Iran to find out when is the best time for cycling in Iran. Iran is a vast country with a lot of high mountains, deserts, rivers, many national parks, and natural protected areas. It has a varied climate with two seas, the Caspian Sea in the north and the Persian Gulf in the south, and has different ecosystems. It means when we have winter in the north, people are skiing in the Alborz mountains, north of Tehran, whereas other people in the south are swimming in the Persian Gulf. Moreover, when people in the southern part of Iran, or around the desert, are experiencing a very hot temperature between 50-60 centigrade in summer, other people in the north enjoy a pleasant temperature of 20-25 centigrade in the Alborz mountains. These varieties make ideal conditions for cycling tours in Iran, so depending on your time of travel and your interests, you can cycle all year round. Iran is not yet a well-known cycling destination among cyclists because of the lack of information for travelers and marketing for cycling tours. There aren’t any cycling maps or specific official trails for cycling either. Adventure Iran is a pioneer company that has started serious official research concerning the potential cycling routes of Iran. We
Best time for Cycling in Iran (A Cycling Guide for Traveling in Iran by Bicycle) When is the best time to travel to Iran for a cycling holiday? You can cycle all year round as every corner of the country has something to offer, depending on the season and the region, and it
Ski in Iran Iran is a mountainous country with great ski resorts. Skiing in Iran is a special winter sport with its own fans. Many tourists annually travel to Iran for skiing in its high peaks. In the north of the capital city of Tehran, there is the Tochal ski piste located on the high mountain of Tochal at 3964m altitude. In the north of Tehran province in the Central Alborz Mountains, there are three other main Iran Ski areas that were opened before Iran's revolution. Dizin is one of these ski resorts. It is 80 km away from Tehran capital in heart of the Alborz Mountains. Dizin is Iran's biggest and main ski piste. Dizin’s weather condition offers the longest period for skiing, normally starting in mid-December and ending in late March. There are two other fantastic ski resorts near Dizin in the Alborz Ski Region in the north of Tehran, called Darband Sar and Shemshak. It is only 60 km from Tehran downtown to Shemshak and Darbandsar Ski pistes and the driving time takes about 2 hours through mountainous roads at high altitudes. The resort has a reputation for powdery snow, high altitude (one of the world's 40 highest ski centers), and north-facing slopes. Average snowfall is 1.5 meters (5 feet) at the base but doubles on the upper slopes. Shemshak village could be the best place to have access to those three ski areas. It embraces a hotel, lodge, and private houses. Depending on your interest and level of skiing, you can choose any one of them for skiing during your trip. The altitude of the village is around 2700 m above sea level. These ski resorts are above the village and you have to reach them on foot. Under the skiing tour tab of Adventure Iran’s website,
Ski in Iran Iran is a mountainous country with great ski resorts. Skiing in Iran is a special winter sport with its own fans. Many tourists annually travel to Iran for skiing in its high peaks. In the north of the capital city of Tehran, there is the Tochal ski piste located on the high
Shemshak Ski Resort Shemshak is a village and a ski resort located in Alborz Ski Region, 65 Km away from Tehran city in the northeast. The piste is in the Central Alborz Mountains and is one of the three largest in Iran. Shemshak was a small and unknown village, lost in the mountains, before the beginning of the 20th century. Soon after discovering coal deposits in the region, Shemshak’s importance grew so much that a road was built to connect it to Tehran. After a few years, at the end of the mining operations, the village became a leisure resort for wealthy people due to the heavy snowfall in winter and the beautiful mountains surrounding it. In 1958, the Shemshak ski resort was built, offering Tehran’s upper class a place to learn and practice this trendy sport from Europe. Today, Shemshak is a well-known venue for people to visit for relaxation and to enjoy its invigorating weather. Even though the resort has not expanded since its opening, it is still one of the largest in Iran. The proximity of Shemshak to other ski resorts such as Darbandsar and Dizin makes it the Ski Capital of Iran! The ski resort's base elevation is about 2,550 meters with the top elevation being about 3,050 meters. There is a hotel, some restaurants, as well as ski, snowboard, and sleigh rentals available in the vicinity. Moreover, there are electric lights, including LED lamps along the piste allowing better visibility for night skiing. The ski season in northern Tehran changes year by year, but generally, the best time for skiing in Shemshak is early December to late March. Darbandsar and Shemshak Skiing are two of the easy ski tours we offer.
Shemshak Ski Resort Shemshak is a village and a ski resort located in Alborz Ski Region, 65 Km away from Tehran city in the northeast. The piste is in the Central Alborz Mountains and is one of the three largest in Iran. Shemshak was a small and unknown village, lost in the mountains, before the